You Need To Find A Verified And Reliable Recipe Source
Again, it is important for your dogs health to provide nutrients in the correct amounts to avoid excess or deficiency. So, while you can find recipes for generic homemade dog food online, in books, or in magazines, not all recipes have been checked to make sure they are nutritionally balanced.
Consult with a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist to make sure that the recipe or recipes you use are balanced to meet your dogs nutritional needs.
An alternative option is to use the online consulting service called BalanceIT, a site operated by a veterinary nutritionist, to formulate a basic, nutritionally balanced recipe.
Dietary Supplements For Home
Some supplements are required in addition to natural food for dogs. Others may be needed if you are not able to feed a variety of foods, or if you leave out one or more of the food groups above. In addition, the longer food is cooked or frozen, the more nutrients are lost. Here are some dog supplements to consider:
Calcium
Unless you feed RMBs, all homemade diets must be supplemented with calcium. The amount found in multivitamin and mineral supplements is not enough. Give 800 to 1,000 mg calcium per pound of food . You can use any form of plain calcium, including eggshells ground to powder in a clean coffee grinder . Animal Essentials Seaweed Calcium provides additional minerals, as well. And here is a good list of calcium-rich foods your dog may like. Just please note this list is for humans and includes orange juice, which is not a good thing to give your dog as the acidity can cause stomach upset.
Oils
Most homemade diets require added oils for fat, calories, and to supply particular nutrients. Its important to use the right types of oils, as each supplies different nutrients.
Fish Oil: Fish oil for dogs provides EPA and DHA, omega-3 fatty acids that help to regulate the immune system and reduce inflammation. Give an amount that provides about 300 mg EPA and DHA combined per 20 to 30 pounds of body weight on days you dont feed fish. Note that liquid fish oil supplements often tell you to give much more than this, which can result in too many calories from fat.
Save Money With Homemade Dog Food
When suppertime rolls around, theres nothing like a healthy home-cooked meal. This is true not only for the human members of your family, but for your dog as well. Cooking for your canine companion has many benefits, including fewer preservatives and additives, more varied and potentially better ingredients, and, of course, more interest for the canine palate.
Homemade meals may even make it possible to feed your dog well for less. A 15-pound bag of high-end dry dog food costs approximately $42, and a 5.5 oz. can of high-end wet food runs approximately $2. Feeding a medium-sized dog two cans of wet mixed with two cups of dry food costs about $5 per day. That doesnt include the treats, bones and tidbits that inevitably make their way into her tummy! Compare that with four cups of Puppy Stew at $2.25 per day. Add the cost of a vitamin/ mineral supplement and calcium, and it is still less than the cost of feeding high-end commercial food.*
As both able hunters and scavengers, dogs ate from a diverse menu when they began accompanying humans. An omnivorous diet of protein, carbohydrate and fat sources suits them dogs in good health can also handle the fat in their diet more effectively than you can their bodies use it for energy and then efficiently clear it from the bloodstream.
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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.
Brown Rice Turkey And Veggies

VetCo has some great vet-approved homemade dog food recipes and resources, including this one for a simple, healthy meal ofbrown rice, turkey and vegetables. Once the mixture cools, you can divvy it up into single servings and either refrigerate the portions for up to five days or freeze them.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp organic vegetable oil
Directions:
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Best Homemade Dog Food Recipes
“Why make dog food at home when you can just buy it at the store?”
The #1 reason is simply this: Control. You have full control over every single ingredient with no surprises.
Dog’s with allergies, sensitivities, or intolerance can live a happy life and you can live worry free. Which is why we like making grain free treats at home too.
The second reason is money savings! When it comes to healthy dog food the top brands are quite expensive, but you can simply use the same ingredients at home and save an absolute ton.
Of course, the next biggest concern is your time investment.
But surprisingly this isn’t as bad as it looks, and with just an hour or less per week you can make enough food to last for several days. We recommend you make use of a some big ziplock bags or containers and freeze what you’re not immediately using.
Each recipe allows for customization based on your dog’s individual nutritional requirements and tastes. But, before you get started you must speak with a Vet to see what your dog should and should not eat, as each dog’s diet will vary.
One Dog Food Expert Shares 4 Low
There are many health conditions in dogs that are best controlled with a low-fat diet, especially hyperlipidemia , which can lead to pancreatitis. Other conditions that may respond favorably to a low-fat diet include chronic pancreatitis, EPI , IBD , and lymphangiectasia. In some cases, owners may choose to reduce dietary fat as a preventive measure for dogs who may be predisposed to pancreatitis, including those with diabetes or Cushings disease, or who are given anti-seizure drugs.
In Healthy Low-Fat Diets , we described how to calculate the amount of fat in various foods, and offered guidelines for preparing a homemade low-fat diet. This month, owners who feed their dogs home-prepared low-fat meals will share their diet plans with us.
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How Much To Feed
There’s no exact feeding guide for homecooked diets, as the ideal portions depend on the caloric density of the diet and your dog’s specific needs.
To calculate your dog’s daily requirements, use a reliable calorie calculator. Be sure to record how many total calories you used in your recipe and divide it into appropriate portions. If you received your recipe from a brand such as JustFoodForDogs, they provide recommended feeding guidelines for your pet.
In general, the average 10-pound dog needs around 200 to 275 calories a day, whereas a 50-pound dog should have somewhere between 700 and 900 calories. It’s always best to work with your veterinarian when calculating your pet’s daily nutritional requirements as they know your dog’s full medical history.
Diabetic Home Made Dog Food
If your dog has a diabetes problem, this recipe may be a lifesaver. The author has made this diabetic dog food recipe for seven years now and has run through her vet for approval. With the main ingredient consisting of a beautiful yellow bean from India called chana dal that ranks incredibly low on the GI chart, its a good complement to your pet’s diet.
Ingredients
- 1 can Libbys 100% Pure Pumpkin
- 2 bags frozen broccoli cuts
- 2 bags frozen crinkle cut carrots
- 2 bags frozen green beans
- 2 packages frozen chopped spinach
Directions
For the full recipe and instructions check out Myuntangledlife
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Diy Homemade Dog Food With Chicken
If you think about a dogs closest modern relative, the grey wolf, Pendelton AL, et al. . Comparison of village dog and wolf genomes highlights the role of the neural crest in dog domestication. DOI: 10.1186/s12915-018-0535-2 it makes sense that a canines diet should incorporate at least some produce perhaps a few greens in the belly of whatever omnivorous animal the wolf hunted down .
To that end, this recipe includes some of the other ingredients youve seen already, plus a few cups of spinach. Dogs dont need much in each serving a little greenery goes a long way.
Pro tip: You can also sub in ground turkey for this recipe.
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Homemade Dog Food Recipes For Senior Dogs
Homemade dog food recipes for senior dogs and those with medical issues arent as difficult to make as it may seem. If you use the author’s tips it doesnt even take that much time! This recipe was given to the author by her vet to feed her dog that has kidney failure. It is meant to be low protein. Talk to your vet before feeding to your pet.
Ingredients
- 1/4 pound ground beef,
- 2 cups cooked white rice,
- 1 hard cooked egg, , peeled and chopped
- 3 slices white bread, , crumbled
- 1 teaspoon calcium carbonate,
Directions
For the full recipe and instructions check out Pop Sugar
Chicken And Pumpkin Mix

Here’s another great recipe that uses chicken and white rice as its base. The unique thing about this food is that it uses plain canned pumpkin. Pumpkin is a great ingredient for dogs with a sensitive stomach. It has plenty of vitamins, acts as a source of fiber, and absorbs slowly into the body.
Ingredients
- 1 and a half cups of white rice
- Half a cup of lean chicken chunks
- 1/4 of a cup of yogurt
- 1/4 of a cup of plain canned pumpkin
Directions
First things first, you should start by cooking the rice separately. Follow the instructions on the package or use a rice cooker. As the rice cooks, you can prepare your chicken. The chicken should already be in manageable chunks. Just cook the chicken in a pot with a bit of water until it’s soft and opaque.
After transferring the chicken to a large bowl, shred it. Let everything cool down before adding the rest of the ingredients and the cooked rice.
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Woof Woof I Want More Beef & Veggie Crockpot
If you own a slow cooker, then this recipe is the perfect choice for you. You can simply gather all the ingredients and dump them in the cooker. Let it cook before you go to work and come home to find a 10-days worth of homemade dog food. You can also customizable the veggies to your dogs liking. Easy-peasy!
total time:6 hours
- 1 1/2 cups brown rice
- 1 can kidney beans
- 1 kilogram ground beef
- 1 1/2 cups chopped butternut squash
- 1 1/2 cups chopped carrots
- 1/2 cup peas
How To Prepare Homemade Puppy Food
In general, puppies need about twice as many calories per day than their adult counterparts. According to the Committee on Nutrient Requirements of Cats and Dogs of the National Academy of Science, a 10-pound puppy that is expected to weigh 33 pounds at adulthood needs to eat about 990 calories per day. In addition, puppies need more protein, fat, vitamins and minerals than adult dogs.
A homemade puppy diet should contain the proper balance of:
- Protein, such as chicken, turkey, fish, lean beef
- Carbohydrates, like rice, pasta, potatoes
- Vegetables, such as peas, green beans, carrots
- Fat, often in the form of vegetable oil
- Vitamin/mineral supplements
Once you have chosen a recipe, it’s time to prepare it for your dog. Many owners who feed home-prepared diets set up a regular schedule, setting aside time weekly or monthly to prepare and portion the diet. The food can be prepared in bulk and portioned into containers . You can keep meals frozen for several months or refrigerated for about 5 days. When the supply of pre-prepared meals runs low, it’s time to make a new batch. If you like to feed a variety of foods, you can make multiple batches and color code by ingredients, rotating out the different meals.
Remember to increase portions appropriately as your puppy grows. It’s best to weigh your puppy every week or two to make sure you are feeding the proper amount of calories
The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
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Who Let The Dogs Out Lentil And Barley Vegan Loaf
If you wish to cut down your dogs meat intake, why not try this healthy dog food recipe? It has plenty of nutrients and it can be prepared in under 40 minutes. If yourdog gets picky and turns down the food, try adding another source of protein in the food, like an egg. Or you can add different flavours, such as garlic powder or cheese. Bon appétit doggy!
total time: 40 minutes
- 2 cups water or veggie stock
- 1/2 cup dried lentils, washed
- 1/3 cup barley
Low Carb High Protein Home Made Dog Food
Your pet is family, and thus deserves only the best ingredients with no fillers or added sugars or spices. Your dog needs protein from animal meat, seafood, dairy, and eggs. They need fat from meat or oil and carbohydrates from grains or vegetables. In addition, essential fatty acids from plant oils, egg yolks, oatmeal, and other foods. The question is in what amounts? After much research, the author has created a recipe that their dogs love. A must try!
Ingredients
Directions
For the full recipe and instructions check out Tasty Low Carb
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