Which Type Of Dog Is Hills Science Diet Best Suited For
Hills is suitable for pretty much any dog out there. They make food for dogs of all ages, from puppies to seniors, as well as for all breeds. Their foods are particularly good for those with health issues, though, as they carry a range of dog foods meant to help with common health problems such as obesity, joint issues, food sensitivities, digestive issues, and more.
Hills Science Diet Dry Dog Food Adult 7+ For Senior Dogs Chicken Meal Barley & Brown Rice Recipe
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Wondering How Much Homemade Dog Food Your Dog Needs Each Day
This will obviously vary from dog to dog, but a general rule of thumb is for every 10 pounds your dog weighs they should be fed roughly 1 cup of prepared food. If needed you can always call and consult with you vet about transitioning your dog’s diet and the amount of food your dog should eat each day. Just remember, if your pup is living with kidney disease like ours you will want to break up the amount of food they receive into smaller meals throughout the day. Instead of one big meal each day you will need to divide meals up into 2-3 smaller feedings. This will make it much easier for your dogs’ kidneys to do their job.
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Why We Switched To Homemade Dog Food
Recently, I shared a blog post about our dog’s health issues and why we decided to make the switch to a diet that is made up of 100% human grade food.
In our experience, the switch was easy, cost effective, and so much healthier for our dogs than a traditional doggie diet of processed kibble! The homemade dog food recipe that I make for our dogs combines lean ground sirloin, wholesome brown rice, fresh vegetables, hard boiled eggs, and tender herbs. This healthy, vibrant alternative to traditional dog food has given our 11 year old dog, Hooch, a new lease on life!
Since making the switch 8 months ago I have been so inspired by the improvements we have seen in Hooch! It’s pushed me to continue to research different ingredients that might help even more. I’m excited to share my first Homemade Dog Food Seasoning blend with you and your pup! I really hope you will benefit as much as we have.
Should You Cook Your Dogs Food
Is cooking dog food at home really better for your pup? While there may be claims made to that effect, theres no hard scientific evidence to support it.
Owners are told by many sources that homemade food is superior to commercial products. However, there is no proof to support this claim, says Dr. Larsen.
Larsen cautions dog owners to be aware of fearmongering within the pet food industry. This is often driven by myths about ingredient quality. While there are no scientifically-supported benefits to homemade diets, whole ingredient-based diets are better in the long term. Commercial foods are made to be complete and balanced, adds Dr. Bartges, albeit not the most exciting of meals.
Think of it as eating the same highly processed food for every meal, day after day, for years, he affirms.
Put that way, feeding your dogs a variety of whole foods makes a lot of sense. In fact, there are a multitude of reasons why you might want to prepare homemade foods for your dog, according to Dr. Larsen and Dr. Bartges.
These include gaining control over your dogs diet, appeasing picky eaters, combatting food intolerance issues, concern over food recalls, or simply for the bond-building joy of preparing a home-cooked meal for your dog.
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Cost Of Homemade Vs Store
$20 of ingredients made 40 individual 1 cup homemade servings or about $.50/serving. Store-bought dry food is about $.41 per serving. So yes, homemade is more expensive but has fresh nutrition and ingredients I believe are good for your dog, after all, dogs ate human leftovers and scraps way before dog food was manufactured!
This serving size is for my 11-pound dog, she is small. So you would need to calculate the number of daily calories your dog needs.
PRO TIP: This recipe for homemade dog food calculates the calories for you in 1 cup servings.
Healthy Homemade Dog Food Ingredients
Homemade dog food needs to be made with the appropriate ingredients to keep your dog healthy and maintain his energy levels. Heres what to include:
Meat and animal organs: should be about ½ of your dogs diet. Make sure to use lean meats, and remove any skin and fat. Be sure to include sources of red meat and poultry in your dogs diet. You might even choose to include fish and lamb, if your dog likes these. When it comes to organs, liver is a very healthy option for your dogespecially beef liver. You can also include others such as chicken liver, etc. Only use about 5% of organ meat in your dogs overall diet.
Eggs: a great choice for your fur babys food! Dogs 20 lbs and over can have one egg a day, while smaller dogs should have less.
Dairy: including yogurt, cottage/ricotta cheese are healthy choices for your pet. Dont use too much dairy, however, as it can cause digestive problems in some dogs.
Fruits and veggies: these are generally not thought of as part of a dogs natural diet. However, they can provide needed fiber and nutrients. If you choose to use veggies and fruits, be sure to cook them down first. They should be very tendernot crisp. Dogs have a hard time digesting plant material, so cooking it down will aid his digestion. Your dog may be happy to have potatoes, squashes, beans and more added to his diet. Just be sure to check with the vet to see which veggies and fruits are safe for dogs before including them in your pups diet.
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Nutrition And Calories In Homemade Dog Food
Each of my dog food recipes lists its protein and calorie content. If you have an overweight dog, and know your dogâs daily calorie requirements these homemade dog food recipes make it easy to count calories.
Many homemade dog food recipes are not nutritionally balanced. Over time this can lead to serious developmental disorders and health issues.
A General Guideline For Preparing Homemade Dog Food
My DIY dog food recipe is more of a general guideline, rather than an exact meal plan that I follow each week. My dogs diet changes the same way ours does, depending on what we do and what we buy or grow.
However, we almost always stay with this basic formula:
- 50 percent cooked protein
- 25 percent cooked complex carbohydrates
- Fats and supplements
Protein is always meat and usually chicken, though weve also used turkey, pork, and beef. We feed any and all parts of the animals, but most commonly, we saute chicken breasts or chicken thighs in coconut oil and ground turmeric.
Coconut oil has a host of health benefits for dogs, such as improving the skin and coat, increasing energy, aiding digestion, reducing allergic reactions, promoting wound healing, preventing yeast and fungal infections, and supporting arthritis or ligament problems.
Turmeric has long been studied for its powerful medicinal properties, including its use as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
We add it to the coconut oil since it is fat-soluble, and use it to support our pugs joint health.
Speaking of dark meat, we feed thighs and breasts interchangeably. While well remove the skin from poultry and trim off excessive fat from red meat, we dont worry about buying the leanest meat possible for our dogs.
A little fat is necessary for a well-rounded diet.
They tend to be the leftovers in our produce bin, so we never have to buy, say, a whole head of cauliflower just for the dogs.
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So We Went To Work & Spent The Days/weeks That Followed Researching Canine Kidney Disease Like Hooch’s Life Depended On It
After reading what felt like every article on the internet we were excited to know that there were a few really easy lifestyle changes we could immediately make at home. We hoped some of this would really help Hooch and make things easier on his kidneys. Here are a few of thebiggest impact changes we’ve been able to make:
Northwest Holistic Pet Care: Cooked Meal For A 20 Lb Dog
IMPORTANT: Before making any changes to your dogâs diet, please consult with your holistic veterinarian to ensure the changes are compatible with your dogâs current health status. Weigh your dog before making diet changes. Having a baseline tracking their weight will help you in adjusting quantities should they lose or gain too much. The amount of food a dog requires will vary based on activity level, age, and overall health status.
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What Type Of Dog Bowl Is Best
Experts recommend avoiding plastic bowls for a dog’s food and water. This is because your dog can develop an allergic reaction or sensitivity, resulting in a rash or type of acne on the chin and face. Not only is the plastic a potential irritant, but the bowl may harbor bacteria or other microbes that affect your dog. Plastic bowls are harder to keep clean because of microscopic nooks and crannies where germs can live. It’s best to use metal or ceramic bowls for dog food and water.
Our Favorite Homemade Dog Food Recipes
To jump to a recipe youre interested in, click on the link below. We also have some yummy organic dog treat recipes and treats made with Thanksgiving leftovers. You may wish to have a collection of pet food recipes on-hand at all times, making a cookbook an excellent choice. Dinner PAWsible is one of our favorites.
Note: The recipes below do not include serving size because portion sizes will vary depending on breed, weight, activity level, age, and the health of your dog. A recommendation is to feed your dog a comparable amount of ounces/cups to what you would usually feed in kibble BUT check with your vet to be certain.
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Senior Dogs Picky Dogs
One tip I can share is you can use riced frozen vegetables. I have used packages of riced cauliflower, sweet potato, and broccoli. All work great, save time and are convenient, but they are a little more expensive. These will work great for dogs that can’t chew well, are picky, don’t each much food, or won’t eat larger pieces of dog food.
Kitchen Tools Youll Need To Make Diy Dog Food
You dont need any special tools to make your fur babys food and treats at home however, you will need to make sure you have these basic kitchen tools on hand before you start:
- Large stock pot or Dutch oven
- Frying pan & sauce pan
- Blender or food processor/potato masher
- Vegetable peeler
- Antibacterial kitchen wipes
And of course, make sure your kitchen is clean before you start. Youll want to keep your pups food safe and free of harmful bacteria, so be sure all tools, dish cloths and towels, kitchen surfaces and utensils are clean before you start cooking. Be sure to wash your hands before you startfor the same reasonto avoid introducing harmful bacteria and substances into your DIY dog food meals.
Now youre ready to consider some healthy ingredients!
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Trying New Dog Recipes
Best advice is to slowly introduce new foods to our dogs. We want to keep our pets healthy and food changes can cause issues to their digestive tract. All dogs are unique, what works for one won’t work for another. Fresh dog food recipes have ingredients your dog might be trying for the first time so go slow, with small portions. Sassy could not handle chicken stock cooked into the rice, and wouldn’t eat it due to her allergies, so I used beef stock or Better Than Buillon when I make the rice and she loves it.
The Healthiest Homemade Dog Food Recipes
Are you looking to feed your dog more nutritionally complete meals, while avoiding harmful ingredients? Are you looking to save money on your fur babys food? Or is your pet on a special diet? If youve answered yes to any of these questions, then youve come to the right spot! Were here to help you create the healthiest homemade meals for your pet!
In this article, well take a look at the reasons some pet parents choose to make homemade dog food, and help you start out with some recipes weve put together. First, lets move on to the reasons for making homemade dog food.
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Common Food Allergies For Dogs
After Rascal turned a year old or so, he started developing really strange eating habits. He wasnt finishing his food, had loud intense stomachaches and frequently threw up. We went through a number of blood tests. He had been diagnosed with things like pancreatitis, anxiety and one vet even thought he had parvo. We were stressed and at a loss at how to more forward. That is until we did an allergy test.
We uncovered that Rascal was allergic to a dozen different food items, one being beef, the main ingredient in his traditional dry dog food. We were introduced to an all-natural human-grade dog food company called Just Food for Dogs. The company sells premade food and teaches people how to make recipes at home. Once we started this all-natural diet the stomach aches subsided and he was the happiest we had ever seen him.
At first, the thought of homemade dog food was so daunting and just downright boujee. I can honestly say that making his food doesnt cost much more than the prescription diet he was on beforehand. After watching the documentary Pet Fooled we realized just how unregulated the dog food industry was and started to feel stronger about our homemade switch.
Lets Talk Dog Nutrition Six Essential Nutrients Dogs Need
Here is a link to an article regarding Dog nutrition, originally published in Dogster Magazine in 2017. You can also link to the article by clicking on the picture below.
Diana Laverdure-Dunetz, M.S., is a canine nutritionist and co-author, with M. Jean Dodds, D.V.M., of two books including Canine Nutrigenomics: The New Science of Feeding Your Dog for Optimum Health. Their online course, Complete Canine Nutrition can be found at myhealthydog.dog.
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The Results From Feeding Our Diy Dog Food
Back to the story of Bug
After only a couple of weeks of feeding her a homemade diet, the hubby and I were blown away by how much her mental and physical health improved. And we wholeheartedly believe she was able to bounce back because of her new food.
She went from an ailing, exhausted, incontinent, tail-down dog to a happy, energetic, curious, communicative pup. While she isnt miraculously walking again, her hip dysplasia also hasnt progressed or caused her any pain.
Weve learned to watch for signs that she needs to relieve herself as weve realized she knows when she has to go, she just cant get there without our help.
We feed both of our pugs the same food, with the hope that we can stave off any potential health problems for our older one.
When we travel, well bring their homemade food on the road in a cooler. On occasion, weve even ordered their dinner from a restaurant when we ran out of food .
If were camping, well usually just feed them whatever were cooking in camp they love corn on the cob, hobo packs , and the whole assortment of tri-tip, sausages, and ribs that weve usually got going on.
As you might imagine they lovecamping trips!
Homemade dog food gives us the flexibility to fine-tune their diet as needed. Im forever grateful for the extra time we were given with our beloved Bug as a result of the food we chose to feed her.
What To Watch For When Feeding Homemade Dog Food
It’s important to monitor your dog closely when changing to homemade dog food. Stay in contact with your veterinarian regarding any changes you notice, whether good or bad. For best results, keep a record of your dog’s weight and body condition over time. Weigh your dog at least once per week and contact your vet if you notice unintended weight loss or gain. Watch for vomiting or diarrhea that may occur if your dog is sensitive to one or more ingredients. Note and report these or any other signs of illness to your veterinarian.
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Where Is Kirkland Dog Food Made
When you walk into Costco, you will be met with a wide range of pet foods, one of which is the retail stores very own Kirkland dog food. The ingredients in the brands pet foods will blow your mind. They are formulated with your dogs holistic health in mind. With deeply nutritious and delectable flavors,