Want to treat your furbaby to some healthy homemade dog food?
So, how does taking the same kind of food every meal sound? Boring, don’t you agree?
Or are you wondering if your pooch is getting all nutrients necessary for a healthy life?
You can make mealtime enjoyable and take control of what goes into your dog’s tummy.
This article gives you guidelines on making balanced dog food from your kitchen, the benefits, and some recipes to try.
Read on for this and much more.
Should You Cook Your Dog’s Food?
Why cook? Besides bringing variety to your canine’s diet, cooking for your dog will ensure you are in control of what he takes by including all essential ingredients in the proper proportions.
Homemade dog food vs Shop bought
Commercially sold dog food is usually highly processed, making it lose most of its nutritional value. On the other hand, homemade dog food is cooked from scratch, maintaining more essential nutrients.
Besides, you are fully aware and sure of what your dog is getting with fresh food, unlike in shop-bought food where you go with what’s written on the package.
Some other benefits of homemade dog food include:
- Gives you control over your dog’s diet
- Helps to calm fussy eaters
- It’s satisfying and helps build a strong bond between you and your dog
- Helps you respond to the changes in the dietary needs of your dog
- Can help identify and avoid allergens for your dog
Homemade dog food drawbacks
- Difficulty in finding the right nutrient balance
- It requires a lot of time to prepare
- Difficulty in determining the proper feeding portions
- Inaccurate recipes can lead to fatal mistakes
Guide to A Complete Nutrition Dog Food
Well-balanced canine nutrition should include all the necessary nutrients for good health.
What are the best ingredients for homemade dog food?
A proper dog diet should have the following main ingredients in adequate portions.
Meat and other meat products
This is the most important ingredient which should make at least half of the diet. Meat consists of flesh from cattle, poultry, pigs, and game animals. Meat products consist of fresh meat that has undergone processing.
Grains
Grains, especially gluten-free ones, can be well tolerated by many dogs. The best grains include brown rice, oatmeal, barley, pasta, and quinoa. These should be well cooked.
Dairy
This comes in the form of milk and milk products from cattle. Some of the best include cottage, kefir, ricotta, cheese, and plain yogurt. Dairy should be given in limited quantities.
Eggs
These wholesome ingredients are mostly from chicken and are highly beneficial in a dog diet. Large dogs can consume a whole egg daily while smaller ones should have less.
Fish
Pink salmon, jack mackerel, and sardines are good sources of vitamin D. Fish should not form more than a single ounce per pound of other meats. A limited amount can be given daily.
Organs
The liver, especially beef, and chicken liver, is the most common organ. Other organs include the heart, kidneys, and intestines. Only one ounce of liver per pound of other animal products should be included.
Raw meaty bones
These uncooked bones have some meat and should be limited to between one-third and half of the diet. Cooked bones should never be fed to dogs.
Boneless meat
This mainly consists of steak from beef, chicken, pork, turkey, and any other source of meat.
Leafy greens
These are dark green and have a low caloric count. They include kales, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, among others.
Starchy veggies
These form good sources of carbohydrate calories and must be given in small quantities. They include pumpkins, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and legumes. These should be well cooked before feeding.
Fruits
Good fruits include pawpaws, apples, melon, bananas, and berries. Others like raisins and grapes should be avoided.
Read our article on Dog-Friendly Snacks That Your Frenchie will Love Anytime
Summary
| Ingredients | Benefits |
| Proteins | Helps in the growth and maintenance of tissues, cells, muscles, antibodies, and hormones. |
| Carbohydrates | It supplies energy and keeps promoting intestinal health. |
| Fats and Oils | Protect and insulate organs and promotes healthy skin and coat |
| Vitamins | It helps boost immunity, eye, and skin health |
| Minerals | It helps in building strong bones and teeth |
Dietary supplements for homemade dog food
At times dogs may require supplements in addition to the homemade diet. These include:
Calcium
Calcium is necessary for maintaining strong teeth and bones, muscle building, a strong heart, and healthy kidneys. Giving your dog this supplement will help prevent calcium deficiency-related health problems.
Oils
Oils are essential sources of fat, calories, and other necessary nutrients. They help add sheen to your dog’s fur and help alleviate dry and itchy skin for healthy skin and coat.
Fish Oils
Fish oils provide unsaturated omega 3 fatty acids in the form of DHA and EPA. These fatty acids are helpful in immune system regulation and alleviation of inflammation.
Cod liver oil
Provides vitamin A, D, DHA, and EPA. It helps reduce inflammation, promotes brain and eye development, supports heart health, and maintains healthy skin and coat.
Plant oil
These are sources of omega 6 fatty acid in the form of Linoleic acid, which helps in immune, skin, and coat health. The most popular plant oils are in the form of coconut and olive oils.
Minerals and vitamins
Minerals and vitamins help fight diseases, maintain good health, and promote the body’s energy level.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E supports cell function metabolism and acts as a defense against oxidative damage. It helps prevent muscle degeneration and reproductive problems.
Iodine
Iodine is essential in maintaining the proper functioning of the thyroid glands. It helps prevent thyroid disorders, including hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism in dogs.
Green blends
This contains a mix of various vegetables plus alfalfa. Green blends are a source of antioxidants that help reduce the effects of free radicals, which cause cell destruction.
Other key vitamins
These include vitamins A, B, and D, which are all helpful for good health.
Dog Nutritional Needs
Puppies
Puppies require enough nutrients to fuel their speedy growth. As such, a balanced diet with a high protein content of between 25-30% is ideal for supporting their high energy and growth needs.
Small dogs
Small dogs grow faster and have faster metabolism compared to large dogs. Consequently, their caloric requirement is high, and hence they need a calorie-dense, high protein, and fat diet for optimal growth.
Senior dogs
Due to their reduced activity levels and slower metabolic rates, older dogs require a low-calorie, high protein, and fiber-rich diet to curb obesity, maintain muscles, and improve gastrointestinal health.
Large dogs
Large dogs have accelerated growth rates for a longer time. They also have a slower metabolism. Therefore, a balanced diet with a low caloric density and high-quality protein is ideal.
Pregnant dogs
Pregnant dogs, especially in the third stage of gestation, have increased energy requirements. As such, the ideal diet should be balanced, highly digestible, and nutrient-dense to cater to the increasing energy needs.
Is it Cheaper to Make Your Own Dog Food?
In order to determine whether homemade food is cheaper than store-bought food, I carried out a monthly as below:
| Homemade dog food | Cost | Shop – bought | Cost |
| ¼ ground chicken | $0.79 X 30 =$ 23.7 | Wet food high end / can | $3.50 X 30=$105 |
| 1 cup peas and carrots | $0.23 X 30 = $ 6.9 | Average/canlow end/can | $1.2 X 30=$36$0.79 X 30=$23.7 |
| 1 cup of brown rice | $0.14 X 30 =$ 4.2 | Dry foodHigh end/canAverage/canLow end/can | $ 2.15 X 30=$64.5$1.00 X 30=$30$0.50 X 30=$15 |
| Total | Homemade $36.3 | Average cost | Wet food $54 Dry Food $36.3 |
Based on this analysis, although homemade food is cheaper than premium brand store food, it has the same as the average category. It’s, however, more costly than the lower-end brand store food.
However, you should note that the cost of homemade food is exclusive of any supplements.
Therefore, whether it’s cheaper to cook for your dog or get ready-made food from the stores depends on the quality of ingredients used and brand.
Dog Food Feeding Pro Tips
- Carry out your portion research: Find out the daily caloric requirement for your dog based on its breed, size, activity level, and age, and include appropriate portions as per need.
- Try out different vegetables: Try varying the vegetables for different recipes and learn the ones your pet enjoys the most.
- Experiment with textures: Try out different food textures and find out what works best for your pooch.
- Make use of leftover meat from your freezer which you don’t eat but is still safe for dog food.
- You can add some kibble on top of the home-cooked food to trick your dog into trying a new recipe.
Common mistakes when cooking for your dog
Preparing unbalanced meals: Failure to prepare a balanced diet can lead to nutrient oversupply or deficiency, which can impact your dog.
Failure to use trusted sources: Some sources provide recipes that can be inadequate or even harmful to your dog. Always use recipes from trusted sources.
Using unhealthy ingredients: Ingredients like onions, chocolate, grapes, raisins, avocados, macadamia nuts, etc are toxic and should not be used in dog food.
Failure to follow recipes: Recipes should be precisely followed without making their unguided interpretations and substitutions
Failure to seek nutritional advice: Consult a veterinary nutritionist before making dietary changes.
4 Easy Homemade Dog Food Recipe
Homemade dog food recipe for small dogs
Meatloaf Recipe
What better way to treat your small pooch than giving it a hearty meatloaf? Your dog will enjoy munching on this simple and healthy food direct from your kitchen. To prepare this, you will need meat of any kind and vegetables of your choice.
Best for?
This meal is suitable for dogs of all ages and breeds, including small, large, puppies, adult, and Senior dogs.
Ingredients
- 2 Eggs
- 2 lbs of ground meat (your choice but the leaner, the better)
- 3 quarter cups of grated veggies( your choice)
- Ground flaxseed
- ½ cup of cottage cheese
- 1 ½ cups of oatmeal
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- In a large mixing bowl, mix all the ingredients
- Apply some light butter to the meatloaf pan
- Transfer the ingredients into the preheated pan
- Bake for up to 30 minutes. This will leave the vegetables slightly crunchy
Note that you can use any meat, including beef or turkey. The vegetables can include carrots, zucchini, sweet potatoes, and broccoli.
Homemade dog food recipe for skin allergies
Just like humans, dogs are also prone to skin flare-ups. This could result from fillers like soy, corn, wheat, or even artificial additives. Beef, eggs, and chicken are also the leading causes of allergy.
You should take time to identify the specific ingredient your dog is allergic to address it. It’s therefore essential that you give your dog tailored meals that help to solve the issue.
With a recipe like the one below, you can be able to alleviate or even eliminate skin allergies for your dog.
Turkey and Veggies Recipe
This is a pretty simple recipe starring turkey as the primary source of protein, with added organs for vitamins and minerals. It also includes wholesome vegetables for a completely healthy diet. With all the ingredients that your dog needs, this meal requires no added supplements.
Best for
This recipe is suitable for controlling itchy, scaly, flaky, pigmented skin, skin rashes, itchy paws, and leathery skin texture.
Ingredients
- Ground turkey(2 pounds)
- Blended turkey liver( 2 spoons)
- Chopped broccoli(1 cup)
- 2 medium-size carrots
- Chopped zucchini( ½ cup)
- Cauliflower(1 cup)
- Olive oil( 2 tablespoons)
Directions
- Remove the stems and cut the broccoli and cauliflower into small pieces.
- Chop the carrots into fine pieces
- Mix and steam the veggies for 10 minutes
- Allow them cool
- Blend the turkey liver until it results in a fine mash
- Mix it with the ground turkey and cook until it attains a brown color
- Allow it to cool to room temperature
- Mix the ingredients together
You can now portion appropriately and feed your dog
Veggies Homemade dog food Recipe
Want to try a vegan diet for a change? It’s certainly not a bad idea to treat your furry friend to a delicious and wholesome vegan meal from time to time.
This recipe is great because it’s made with wholesome ingredients only and super simple to prepare. It can also be of great help in dealing with indigestion.
Best for
The vegan recipe can provide helpful relief to dogs prone to allergies, digestive issues, and senior dogs with inflammatory conditions. It’s also great for weight management and for boosting energy levels.
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet potato
- 15 ounces of black beans(drained and rinsed)
- 6 kale leave stems( chopped in 1-inch pieces)
- ⅔ cups of brown rice (uncooked)
- 1 ⅓ cups of water
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- Place a tin foil on the baking sheet
- Make several piercings around the sweet potato using a fork
- Put it on the baking sheet and let it bake for one hour
- Boil water together with the rice in a stockpot.
- Reduce the temperature and simmer while covered for 45 minutes.
- Remove the cooked potato from the oven and let it cool
- Once cooled, chop it into small pieces
- Mix the cooked rice with kale stems and the chopped potato pieces
- Portion the meal and feed your canine companion.
Homemade dog biscuit recipe
Looking for a perfect homemade treat for your dog? Why don’t try this pumpkin biscuit recipe? Apart from the fact that it’s easy to make, it’s also an all-natural tummy aid if your dog has digestive issues.
It’s, however important to remember that treats should only be fed occasionally and in small amounts in addition to a well-balanced diet.
Best for?
This recipe is ideal for alleviating digestive problems in dogs as pumpkin is easy on the stomach. With this treat, you can address constipation, bloating, acidity, passing gas, etc.
Ingredients
- 2 Eggs
- 1 cup of pumpkin puree
- 3 spoons of xylitol free peanut butter
- ½ spoon cinnamon
- 3 cups of flour (whole wheat, brown rice, or gluten-free flour)
- ½ cup of oats
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Mix oats, flour, and cinnamon and mix in a bowl
- In a separate bowl, whisk peanut butter, pumpkin puree, and eggs to a smooth and consistent combination
- Mix all the ingredients and make a dough
- Roll the dough on a floured surface and cut using a cookie cutter
- As the dough may be sticky, keep dusting your hands and the rolling pin with flour as you roll.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes to a golden brown color
- Allow them to cool thoroughly on a cooling rack. They will attain a hard texture in the process of cooling.
Make sure your diet is working
Take your dog to the veterinarian after giving homemade meals for 3 weeks and regularly after that for observation and evaluation of weight plus any possible conditions resulting from the diet.
Homemade Dog Food FAQs
Is homemade dog food better for dogs?
If balanced and made appropriately with the right ingredients in the right portions following a vet’s nutritional recommendation, Homemade dog food can be better than store-sourced food for dogs.
How many cups of homemade food should I feed my dog?
This is dependent on various factors, including the age, weight, activity level, health condition, and medical condition of your food. Find out what’s sufficient for and feed your dog based on its requirements.
Do dogs live longer on homemade food?
Feeding your homemade dog food that’s specially tailored to meet its specific needs and made with wholesome natural ingredients while avoiding harmful ingredients can help it live longer.
Can I feed my dog chicken and rice every day?
No. Chicken and rice alone are unbalanced, so it’s not advisable to feed on them daily. However, it’s however safe if used together with other foods that supplement what’s lacking in the meal.
Should I add salt to homemade dog food?
Yes, you can add a little salt to your dog’s food. However, if your dog has kidney failure or cardiovascular diseases, it’s best to use low sodium salt or go saltless.
Over to You
If your dog lately seems to be put off by the regular store food, it’s time to try out new recipes from your kitchen. Is that too much for your most faithful buddy? Not.
Go ahead and treat your pooch with a delicious healthy meal directly from your kitchen from our recipes above and get that wail tagging.
Why don’t you try my favorite Turkey and Veggies recipe if you don’t know where to start? Besides being completely wholesome and healthy, this meal is easy to make and is suitable for all dogs regardless of breed, age, or size.