osodecanela | Cooking for the dog…

Arjuna is elderly. At 13 1/2, as a very tall wolf dog hybrid, he is quite the senior citizen.

He has always been a finicky eater for a canine, but in the last several years, if he doesn’t like it, he ain’t eating it. I noted almost 2 years ago that he was really not wanting to eat his kibble any longer, unless it was seriously doctored. It was to the point that he was dropping weight because he simply was refusing to eat it. With age there has been some dental loss , so he’s not working with a full set of choppers. Pretty much ever since we moved back to Sonoma County, I have to cook dinner for him before I make whatever we’re going to eat. Most nights it’s either some ground beef, or a sautéed chicken breast, cut up into some kibble with a moderate dusting of grated cheese. after 13 1/2 years of unconditional love, if that’s what it takes to get him to eat, then so be it. While he is elderly, and not so steady on his feet any longer to leave the confines of the house and deck, he’s not suffering and seems to be pretty content with his surroundings, so will keep keeping on this path from now.

Night before last however, he wolfed down supper & then promptly upchucked it all out on the deck. Bottom line, apparently I have not been cutting things up finely enough. LJ came home yesterday with a dozen boxes of macaroni and cheese, intending to substitute that for his dog kibble. Tonight I made him some sautéed snap peas and red bell pepper in a fine dice, along with half a pound of 85/15 ground beef. In went the cheese sauce from the mac & cheese, some cumin and some butter and finally the macaroni once it was cooked through. Then I had to call LJ down to taste it to make certain that was properly done and seasoned since I can’t touch this macaroni other than to cook it. That’s right, I just called another human being in to taste the food being prepared for the dog, to make certain it was passing muster, since my gluten intolerance prevents me from doing it.

jeez.