Can I Make My Own Dog Food

Beef Stew Doggie Style

Beef stew is a very good homemade dog food for your pet. It is rich in protein and fat thanks to the beef and the vegetables provide the vitamins and minerals that your dog needs. This recipe should make four cups and enough to feed your dog for 2 days.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup of diced tomatoes
• A pound of beef stew meat
• ½ cup of flour
• ½ cup of diced green beans
• ½ cup of water
• 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil

Step by step guide:

• Start by cooking the sweet potato in the microwave. It should take around 5 to 8 minutes for the potato to become firm and tender. Once it is done, set it aside.
• Slice the beef stew meat into smaller pieces. Then cook them in a tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium heat. You would want the meat to be well done. This should take around 10 to 15 minutes.
• Remove the beef from the pan. Reserve the drippings.
• Heat the drippings over medium-low heat before adding flour and water. Whisk the ingredients until a thick gravy has been created.
• Dice the sweet potato. Add this to the gravy along with the meat, carrots, and green beans. Stir to coat.
• Cook for 10 minutes or until the carrots are tender.
• Let it cool before serving. You can store the remaining stew in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Homemade Dog Food Is Easy You Just Need To Provide A Variety Of Wholesome Foods

While it is true that wholesome, natural foods will provide your dog with the maximum degree of nutrition, striking the right balance of those nutrients can be fairly difficult. Commercial dog foods follow strict formulas to ensure that they meet the AAFCO requirements for balanced nutrition. When you make your own dog food at home you may not be using the ingredients in the right proportions to meet your dogs nutritional needs.

Is Homemade Dog Food Good For Dogs

While I am not a vet, and I certainly cant speak for all animals I can tell you that switching to homemade dog food made a world of difference for Rascal. We had a very unique case with him and his food allergies, but we have also seen other positive changes.

On traditional dog food, Rascal was lethargic, he shed in abundance and his appetite was mediocre. Since the dog food switch, he has been energetic, focused and calmer. On a traditional diet we were vacuuming at least once a day but now 1-2 a week. We no longer have to coax Rascal into mealtime and have finally developed a great eating schedule.

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Now Lets Break Down The Recipe For My Easy Homemade Dog Food Shall We

The recipe box below contains a printable version of my go-to recipe for homemade dog food, which consist of lean ground sirloin, brown rice, carrots, hard boiled eggs, parsley, and a few tablespoons of oil that is high in Omegas. But sometimes, especially since social distancing, Ive found that it is helpful to have a list of easy substitutes for when ingredients run low. Plug in or swap out any of the items below based on what foods your pup likes/needs and what you have on hand to create your pups ideal dog food flavor profile.;

Meat ||;Lean ground beef, ground chicken, ground white or dark meat turkey, & ground pork are all great options. Just be sure to make sure that any meat you feed your animals is free of seasonings when purchasing! Dogs living with a kidney disease diagnosis need meals that are;lower in phosphorus so for us a lean ground beef like ground sirloin is best the way to go!;

Eggs ||;Eggs are one the top 5 allergens for dogs and the yolks are very high in phosphorus -which you want to limit in dogs with kidney disease. But, eggs are also one of the highest quality forms of protein you can feed your pet!;Ultimately, a hard boiled egg is Hoochs favorite thing on the planet so, with our vets approval we opted to leave them in his food.;

Raw Meaty Bones And Other Animal Parts

Here is the trickiest component of homemade dog food. Raw meaty bones refer to a specific type of animal bone that is for eating, not just for chewing . RMBs are fed to dogs unprocessed, with muscle meat and tendons still adhered. They arent dried and therefore are not brittle, and usually are big enough not to be swallowed whole. Raw meaty bones are an essential source of calcium for dogs; if for whatever reason your dog cant handle RMBs, alternatives like ground bones, or ground eggshells, in their food can supply the calcium.

Organ meats like liver, kidney, hearts, and necks are required for home-fed dogs as well. For raw-fed dogs, organs should make up about 10% of their overall diet, which may be a challenge for some dog guardians. Offal meats contain all the rich vitamins and minerals that make your dog glow, but since they arent widely eaten , they arent widely available.

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Make Your Own Dog Food Its Not That Barking

Worried about additives and allergens, or just want more control over your pets diet? Commercial foods are not the only option

Every morning when I get home from the school drop, the dog and I have a race to minesweep the childrens breakfasts. I am more intelligent and better informed than him, so I know whos left half a croissant and who has just shoved a banana under their pillow, but he is much faster and more determined, so we end up about even. Im just setting the baseline here for human foods that I will allow Romeo the dog to eat: pretty much anything. And a baseline for what he will eat: also pretty much anything, except raw fish, grapes and edamame beans.

When you cook for your dog, though, you have to get a bit more on it, with an eye on nutrition and balance. Cooking for your pet seems to be a growing trend among owners worried about additives in commercial dog food, or just wanting more control over their their animals diets. Whether or not its reflected in actual statistics will have to wait until the ONS understands counting this activity as its core business, but people are certainly talking about it a lot.

The most common allergies for dogs are wheat, dairy and beef. Theres rarely cause to give them dairy, and beef is at the pricier end of protein anyway, so if youre worried about allergies, just dont give them pasta or bread and use buckwheat rather than regular flour, which most dog-food recipes stipulate anyway.

How To Make Homemade Dog Food

• Food Processor: Before I start cooking a batch of homemade dog food, I blend up all the vegetables in my food processor. This Cuisinart food processor is my go-to. Its a bit smaller than traditional food processors but works just as well as a larger model. Blending up the veggies nice and fine will speed up the cooking process.

• Dutch Oven: I make the entire batch in my large Le Creuset round Dutch oven. I love using a Dutch oven because I can ground the meat first, and then finish off the batch right in the same pot. The process is very similar to making chili except for dogs. Ya know Dog Chili.

• Measuring Cups: Rascal has his own set of measuring cups now because it makes measuring out food ingredients and the finished batch WAY easier.

• Meal Prep Containers: This is basically meal prepping for your dog, so you will need some great Tupperware. I love using these stainless steal Tupperware bins made just for pups.

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Homemade Dog Food Recipes

• About 9 ounces of raw chopped beef or lamb
• 1 cup of chopped raw carrots
• 1 cup of chopped raw apples
• 1/4 cup of defrosted frozen peas
• 1 and 1/2 cup of chopped pumpkin or squash
• 2/3 cup of uncooked brown or basmati rice
• 4 Teaspoons of sunflower oil
• 4 Grams of fish oil
• Nutritional supplements

Directions

First, cook the rice and pumpkin together. You should end up with approximately 3 cups of cooked rice mixed with softened pumpkin. Let these ingredients cool. Then, simply mix the rest of the ingredients with this mixture.

You can portion this food up and keep it in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.

When People Find Out We Make Our Own Dog Food At Home They Always Ask Us What About A Raw Diet So Lets Get That Out Of The Way First

There are LOTS of thoughts and theories on feeding your dog a raw diet especially a dog that is living with kidney disease. Our vet however, was personally opposed to feeding a raw diet due to the fact that dogs, just like us, are very susceptible to food poisoning. Besides that, a raw diet can be tricky to get just right! You run the risk of giving your dog a horrible belly ache by mixing a raw diet with cooked treats, so if you decided to go raw it is important to have both raw meals and raw treats planned for your pup at all times. NO MIXING the two! Since raw and cooked foods digest at different rates any combination of the two can wreak serious havoc on your pups gut which can lead to some pretty unpleasant situations for you if you get my drift.

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Addressing Common Myths And Misconceptions

Before deciding whether or not a homemade dog food diet is right for your pet, take the time to consider some common myths and misconceptions. Many dog owners believe that a homemade dog food diet will improve their dogs nutrition, but they do not understand how difficult it is to create a well-balanced homemade dog food. Below you will find a list of several misconceptions regarding homemade dog foods:

My Dogs Nutritional Needs Are Similar To My Own So I Can Just Feed Him What I Eat

In reality, dogs have very different nutritional needs than humans. Humans are omnivores and the average human diet is composed primarily of carbohydrates with some protein and fat. Dogs, on the other hand, are primarily carnivorous so they require a diet that is high in protein. In order to ensure that your dogs nutritional needs are met, you need to learn what they are by speaking to an animal nutritionist or by doing your own research.

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I Should Use A Lot Of Vegetables In My Homemade Dog Food So My Dog Gets The Nutrients He Needs

Fresh vegetables are an important part of a homemade dog food diet, but they should not make up the majority of the formula. Protein is more important than carbohydrate for dogs and that protein should come from animal-based sources, not plant-based sources. There is a great deal of debate regarding how much carbohydrate a dogs diet should include and certain vegetables are better than others for dogs. In fact, some vegetables actually interfere with your dogs absorption of nutrients. Some vegetables are also too high in certain nutrients and others are too starchy.

Make Sure The Diets Working

After your dogs been dining on your kitchen creations for 2 to 3 weeks, take them to the vet to make sure they are not gaining or losing too much weight. If their weight is changing, check it again in a couple of weeks.

Take your pooch for a checkup twice a year. The vet can look at their skin, coat, body condition, and any type of problems that might be happening as the result of the diet, Larsen says.

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You Might Want To Add A Supplement

Especially if you plan to stick with just one or two recipes, where your dog eats the same ingredients every day. A multivitamin supplement can help cover your pups nutritional bases and fill any gaps, Hansen says. She likes BalanceIT canine, a powdered supplement that you can sprinkle over your dogs food.

Your vet can help you decide whether its worth adding other supplements, too. Probiotics could help promote healthy digestion and support your dogs immune system, while omega-3s might be a good option for dogs that dont eat fatty fish. And if your dog is older and has hip or joint issues, he might benefit from glucosamine and chondroitin.

What Kind Of Homemade Snacks Can You Make A Dog

• Peanut butter: Rascal has his own dedicated jar of peanut butter. He loves a traditional Kong but you can also mold and freeze peanut butter in any shape for a quick frozen treat. When the jar is almost finished I break out my peanut butter spoon.

• Greek Yogurt Ice Cream: In the summer we blend up unflavored Greek yogurt, fresh berries, and peanut butter. Place a spoonful or two into a silicone cupcake pan and freeze for a few hours. These make for a great dog ice cream.

• Dehydrated Sweet Potatoes: Rascal’s favorite easy treat. We love bringing these over to family and friends’ houses so Rascal always has a healthy treat on hand.

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Tips For Making Your Dogs Food At Home:

• If youre not ready to make the leap to cooking all of your dogs food, try just adding some real, whole foods to their kibble. You can start with simply stirring in a scrambled egg, mixing in some chopped apples or carrots, or adding a small amount of the homemade dog food in with their normal kibble.;
• You should be able to serve this homemade dog food to your dog either hot or cold. Ive found that dogs love this dog food so much, that they are not picky about how its served.
• Its not usually a good idea to;abruptly change your dogs food. Start transitioning them to homemade food by mixing some of this in with their regular food or kibble for a few days until they are used to the new food. Your dogs belly will thank you. And again, remember to always discuss with your vet before feeding your pet something new.
• To give your dog a variety of different nutrients, use different meats, fruits, and vegetables to make your dogs food. However, if your dog has a sensitive stomach, it might be best to stick to one combination that you know works.;

Why Do Dogs Need Homemade Food

Makers of commercial dog food products may want you to believe otherwise, but feeding your dog with homemade food is actually good for him.

Perhaps the most obvious benefit is that you can personally choose the ingredients to be used in the dog food. This is very critical if your dog has allergies, or you just want to spare him from consuming certain ingredients.

You can also be assured that the food you are giving him is 100% safe. In times when dog food recalls due to possible contamination have become a very common occurrence, you will have peace of mind knowing that the food your dog is eating wont make him sick.

It is also possible to save time and effort when you prepare your dogs food. Preparing foods in large branches would let you do so, as you would be able to freeze smaller portions which you can feed to your dog later on.

Of course, you get to benefit from preparing your dogs food, too. While preparation may take up time, you can save a lot of money in the long run especially if you buy ingredients in bulk.

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What Nutrition Guidelines Should You Follow

While there are many benefits that you can get from preparing your dogs food, this doesnt mean that you just give him whatever food that you have at home.

And please, dont even think of giving him table scraps particularly oily and fatty foods. Doing so can increase his risks of health problems like diarrhea and pancreatitis. Worse, he might end up eating toxic foods like onions.

Just like us, our dogs need to have a complete and balanced diet. This means that the food you give to your dogs must meet all of his nutritional needs.

The following is a general nutritional guideline you should follow in feeding your dog:

• 50 percent of his diet should consist of vegetables
• 40 percent should consist of protein from animal meat, eggs/dairy and seafood
• 10 percent should carbohydrates composed of grains and beans

Yet this should not give you the impression that you would feed your dog with the same meal every day. Like people, dogs want variation in their food.

But you may wonderwhat are the ingredients that I can use in making dog food?

For protein, good sources are ground or small strips of beef. I also recommend turkey as it is very easy to digest. It is also widely available and cheap.

You can also give your dog with chicken. Just like turkey, you should have no problems getting it. Lamb is another good source of protein. You may also give beans and eggs, although in moderation.

The Importance Of Complete And Balanced

Dog food must be complete and balanced to provide your pup the necessary ingredients she needs to maintain proper health.

To make that hypothetical chicken and rice dinner suitable for your dog, you may have to add an ingredient like bone meal to boost the dishs calcium content, as well as other items to ensure the dog gets enough vitamins and minerals, Goldstein said. Pet parents can add supplementary items individually or buy a pre-made vitamin and mineral mix to stir into the food.

Another key to a successful homemade dog diet is consistency. If youre changing the food each day, it will be harder to ensure the meals are balanced, said Goldstein.

Morgan, takes a different approach, preferring to rotate things so that if there is an imbalance, it can be made up for somewhere else. Talk to your veterinarian about which option is best for your dogs diet and your budget.

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