Recipes For Vet-Approved Homemade Dog Food
With recall news and knowledge regarding commercial dog foods always changing, an increasing number of dog owners are deciding to make their own dog food at home. Dogs enjoy home-cooked food, but preparing it is not the same as preparing a dinner for yourself or your human family members. To keep your dog healthy, there are certain crucial regulations to follow.
Should You Feed Your Pet a Homemade Diet?
Homemade diets are becoming more popular, in part because the contents can be monitored, eliminating the need for dog food recalls. Furthermore, many people are attempting to eat healthier, and they want the same for their pets. Some people choose homemade diets because they contain whole-food ingredients that are typically thought to be healthier than commercial dog food.- Be careful to pick a full and healthy dog food recipe. One of the most common blunders is feeding your dog an insufficient or uneven diet.
- It takes time to properly measure materials and cook cuisine. Make a timetable that enables you adequate time to properly prepare your dog's food on a regular basis.
- Make certain that you can afford the supplies for making your own dog food. Homemade dog food is normally less expensive than commercially prepared fresh or raw dog food, but it is slightly more expensive than kibble.
- If you have a picky dog, you may need to find several recipes so you can modify the diet on a regular basis and keep your dog engaged.
Dogs' Proper Nutrition
Dogs, like humans, have dietary requirements that must be addressed in order for them to thrive. Because dogs' dietary demands differ from ours, you shouldn't start feeding your dog your dinner. Inadequate or unbalanced diets can cause vitamin and nutritional deficits in dogs.
Dogs require adequate calories to meet their energy needs. The daily calorie requirement of a dog is determined by the dog's life stage and activity level. Your veterinarian can advise you on how many calories your dog requires each day.
A well-balanced homemade dog diet should include protein, carbs, fiber, and fat. To guarantee that the diet is complete and balanced, vitamins and minerals must be included.
- Protein sources with at least 10% protein, such as chicken, turkey, fish, and lean beef
- Rice, pasta, and potatoes provide up to 50% carbs (and some fiber).
- Approximately 2.5-4.5% fiber, which can be obtained through vegetables such as peas, green beans, and carrots.
- 5.5% fat, typically in the form of vegetable oil
- Vitamin and mineral supplements (dog-specific; available from respectable companies such as BalanceIT.com)
What to Keep an Eye Out For When Feeding Homemade Dog Food
When switching to homemade dog food, it's critical to keep a watchful eye on your dog. Keep in touch with your veterinarian if you observe any changes, whether positive or negative. Keep track of your dog's weight and body condition over time for the greatest outcomes. Weigh your dog at least once a week and notify your veterinarian if you observe any unexpected weight loss or growth. If your dog is allergic to one or more of the components, keep an eye out for vomiting or diarrhea. Take note of these symptoms and report them to your veterinarian.How to Make Dog Food From Scratch
When preparing a diet for your dog at home, it is critical that you follow a full and balanced recipe. It's time to get started after you and your veterinarian have decided on an appropriate recipe.- Before you start, make sure you have a food scale, food processor, pots and pans, and containers or bags for portioning the food on hand.
- Buy fresh, high-quality items that aren't canned, seasoned, or overly processed.
- Set up shop in a clean part of the kitchen that is devoid of foods that could hurt your dog.
- Prepare the ingredients. If possible, use a food scale to ensure accuracy.
- Cook the items according to the recipe.
- Combine the food and supplements thoroughly (preferably, use a food processor to combine the components).
- Store food in containers in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Refrigerated food will generally keep for three to four days. Frozen dog food should be used within two months. Feeding homemade dog food that has been in the freezer for more than six months is not recommended.
Dog Food Recipes Examples
Veterinarians developed the recipes below for general use in healthy dogs. Before giving these or any other homemade diets to your dog, consult with your veterinarian.MSPCA-Angell Dog Food Sample Recipe
We recommend using a nutritional gram scale to weigh out these foods until you become acquainted with the approximate volumes of each. Food scales are available at local grocery stores and major discount stores. To prevent your pet from picking out individual meal ingredients, all things should be blended together. If ingredients are allowed to separate and the animal does not ingest the full meal mixture, a nutritionally balanced handmade food may result in an imbalanced nutrient intake.
These are the cooked weights and daily amounts of each food item for a 15-pound (ideal weight) adult dog. Although water content and cooking times vary, weighing these items is more accurate than measuring by volume.
| Ingredients | ||
|---|---|---|
| Item | grams | common measure |
| Protein source: Chicken, dark meat cooked | 80 | net wt. oz. |
| Carbohydrate source: Rice, white, cooked | 190 | 1 1/3 cups |
| Fiber source: Mixed vegetables | 15 | 1 Tbsp |
| Fat source: Vegetable oil | 5-10 | 1-2 tsp |
| Supplements to be mixed in the food: Balance IT Canine | 6 | 1.5 black scoops |
| Total 300 | ||
A 15-pound dog's daily calorie need is estimated to be 443 kcal, and this food contains around 1.51 kcal per gram as fed, thus the dog should consume approximately 300 grams of this diet daily. We calculate the starting meal dose using a generic dog calculation; however, this generic equation can be inaccurate by +/- 50% for every individual dog. If you believe your dog needs more or less food, simply feed more or less in total, adjusting the amount (-/+ 25%) for optimal weight and condition. Please weigh the dog once a week while on this diet.
MSPCA-Angell granted permission for this recipe to be shared.
Cooked Meal for a 20-pound Dog by Northwest Holistic Pet Care
Tips: The heat from the cooking procedure depletes the food's life power (vitality). Gentle partial cooking retains more of the food's energy while still giving a meal that some pets can digest more easily than raw food. Blanching and finely shredding vegetables improve digestion and nutrient absorption.
Keep track of your dog's urine pH because it is directly related to and influenced by their diet. pH strips are available at most pharmacies. Dogs have a typical pH level of 6.5.
14 teaspoon cod liver oil (3 times per week) *Cod liver oil is extremely beneficial in cancer prevention.
Cooked Meal for a 20-pound Dog by Northwest Holistic Pet Care
Ingredients
- 8 ounces of boneless ground organic turkey thigh
- 2 tbsp organic ground turkey organ meat (liver, gizzards, and hearts)
- 14 cups finely grated organic vegetables
- 1 teaspoon uncooked powdered sunflower seeds
- 12 teaspoons organic coconut oil
- 12 teaspoon salmon oil 500 milligrams calcium citrate (*must include!)
- 40 lb. Dog: Above amounts x 2
- 60 lb. Dog: Above amounts x 3
- 80 lb. Dog: Above amounts x 4
Directions:
Blanch the vegetables and set aside. Cook the ground turkey thigh and organ meat over medium-low heat. Remove from heat when the majority of the meat has gone white but some are still reddish. Place the blanched vegetables in a food processor or clean coffee grinder and pulse until coarsely shredded. After the mixture has cooled enough to consume, combine all of the ingredients and serve.Tips: The heat from the cooking procedure depletes the food's life power (vitality). Gentle partial cooking retains more of the food's energy while still giving a meal that some pets can digest more easily than raw food. Blanching and finely shredding vegetables improve digestion and nutrient absorption.
Important Notes
Please consult your veterinarian if your dog has a history of urinary tract infections, struvite, or calcium oxalate stones.Keep track of your dog's urine pH because it is directly related to and influenced by their diet. pH strips are available at most pharmacies. Dogs have a typical pH level of 6.5.
Nutritional Supplements (for a 20 lb. dog)
These are extra nutrients (supplements) that can be added to the above dish but are not included in the nutritional analysis table.12 tablespoons ground parsley, burdock root, zucchini, or other greens (daily)14 teaspoon cod liver oil (3 times per week) *Cod liver oil is extremely beneficial in cancer prevention.
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