How To Flavor Homemade Dog Food

Holy Woof Its Another Scorcher At Casa De Kolchak When The Weather Is Hot It Can Be So Hard To Encourage Your Dog To Drink Enough Water

Yesterday, we got to chill out by the lake and have some fun. The breeze off the water was so refreshing and it made the heat feel tolerable, even though it was actually unbearable. I have a ton of tricks and ways to help dogs stay cool during the summer. Dogs have a different internal cooling system than humans, so you cant assume that just because youre comfortable, that they are. An important part of helping dogs beat the heat is making sure they stay hydrated. The loss of as little as 10% of a dogs water can result in serious dehydration. I always makes sure we have a bowl of cold, fresh water, but sometimes when its hot out, my dogs dont always drink as much as I think they should. I work hard to make sure my dogs want to drink enough water to keep hydrated, cool and healthy and I do it with flavored dog water.

Overall Best Dog Food Recipes

Ive broken my top 50 list of best homemade dog food recipes into five separate categories, with 10 recipes in each section. Let me start with my recommendations for what I personally consider some of the overall best dog food recipes, which are the ten recipes Id recommend more than all others for standard, non-specific situations.

1. Chicken Casserole:

• 1 cup chopped vegetables
• 1/4 cup of rolled oats
• 2 cups of chicken broth
• frying oil

Directions: Cook the chicken, rice and veggies separately. Once they are ready, pour them into a large bowl and stir till ready.

2. Doggie Meat Loaf:

• 1/2 cup of white flour
• 1 tablespoon canola or olive oil

Directions: Cook together, adding the vegetables last, before the meat is ready.

8. Homemade Veggie Smoothie

**Note: this is not an every-day main course, since dogs cant live on an all-veggie diet. Its a great recipe for once every other day, however.

• 1/4 cup of combined carrots, squash, zucchini, green beans, spinach, collards
• 1/4 cup of apples, peaches, pears, bananas
• 1/4 cup of fruit juice
• 4 tablespoons of yogurt
• 1 tablespoon of cream cheese

Directions: Simply mix together like a regular smoothie.

9. Fish Patty Dinner

• 1 cup of peanut butter

Directions: Roll into a dough, cut into a bone-shaped pieces, bake for 20 minutes.

7. Frozen Peanut Butter Yogurt Dog Treats

• 32 ounces of vanilla yogurt
• 1 cup of peanut butter

8. Meaty Cheese Bones

• 1 tablespoon of cream cheese
• 1 pound of meat
• 2.5 cups of whole wheat flour or oats

Select A Wholesome Recipe

Many dog food recipes lack certain requirements like calcium, zinc, and manganese. A lot of homemade dog food recipes vet approved also fall short of these necessary nutrients. The best way to do so is to take the guidance of a dog nutritionist. Your dog not only needs proteins, fats, and vitamins, he also needs certain fatty acids and oil. Additionally, if your dog as health issues, he may need a different diet altogether.

Don’t Miss: Who Makes Blue Buffalo Dog Food

Homemade Dog Food Vet Recipes Approved

Questions like is homemade dog food healthy or is homemade dog food recipes vet approved can arise in any concerned dog parents mind. Though there is a platter full of human food that dogs can eat you can always go to your dogs vet to guide you through.

There are three easy steps that you can follow if still confused about what should homemade dog food consist of.

Turkey And Vegetable Dinner

This is a dish that should give your dog the protein and vitamins that he needs. Turkey, if you havent known by now, is rich in protein. It also has less fat than beef, so this is a good recipe to follow for pet owners who have dogs that can afford to lose a few pounds.

The vegetables in this food carrots and green beanswill provide your dog with the vitamins and minerals he needs.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of brown rice
• 1 cup of chopped carrots
• 1 cup of chopped green beans
• 1 tablespoon of fish oil

You should not use heavy oil for this as it can lead to your dog having an upset stomach.

Step by step guide

• In a non-stick skillet placed over medium heat, cook the ground turkey. It should take around 5 minutes for the meat to get cooked.
• Add the brown rice and water to a large pot. Bring to a boil.
• Lower the heat and cook for an extra 5 to 10 minutes or until the rice has become soft and tender.
• Add the carrots and green beans. Cook for 5 to 10 more minutes or until the vegetables have become tender.
• Add the carrots and green beans. Cook for 5 to 10 more minutes or until the vegetables have become tender.
• Cool before serving.

This recipe should last for 4-5 days.

Don’t Miss: Where To Buy Royal Canin Dog Food

Many Dog Owners Use Beef Or Chicken Stock To Entice Their Dog To Drink More But To Be Honest Im Not A Fan

Here at Casa de Kolchak, we make our own chicken stock. Its a hassle, but the thing is, most store bought chicken stock isnt dog safe. You would think that chicken stock is just chicken-y water, but its not. All of the commercial stocks available at our grocery store have onion in them and every dog owner knows thats a major no no. So what can you do to help your dog stay hydrated instead?

Add The Right Supplements

Even the best recipes often dont provide enough of certain nutrients, such as calcium. Your pup needs supplements if youre feeding them from scratch. Which ones depend on which nutrients are missing from their meals. A good recipe should include specific supplement instructions. If you’re unsure, talk to a pet nutritionist.

Don’t Miss: How To Make My Dogs Food Softer

Dog Food Toppers For The Home Cook

Dogs love organ meat, and they dont need a whole meal of it to enjoy it . Ask your local butcher or farmers market vendors if they offer pre-packaged organ meat, such as heart, liver and kidney. Cut the meat into tiny bites and scatter a few on top of your dogs meal the meat can be either raw or lightly braised.

Low-prep Topping Ideas:

Youll find a common method in many a canine cookbook, one you can freely adapt based on what you have at home. But you dont need a PhD in animal nutrition to boost your dogs meals. One more home cooking approach: simply buy a medley of vegetables in bulk and oven-roast as many as your dog might eat in four to five days, then store in refrigerator and add at mealtime. A healthy fast food your dog will love. You can even just stock up on frozen vegetablesdefrost and serve!

How To Use Herbs For Your Dogs

The easiest way to use herbs for your dogs food is by adding a small pinch for small dogs and up to a teaspoon for large dogs.

I like to use various herbs in my dog’s treats or adding it on top of my dog’s food, along with their fruits and vegetables.

The antioxidants found in the list below can help your dog’s immune system combat diseases and reduce inflammation.

Recommended Reading: Which Canned Dog Food Is Best

Homemade Dog Food Serving Size: Portion Perfect

Wondering how much homemade dog food to feed your pooch? Time to polish your mathematical skills.

Follow this little formula:Weight of your dog x 16 oz = ________

Take the resultant number and multiply it by .02 to find the minimum daily amount or by .03 to find the maximum.

For instance, if your dog is 25lbs, the formula would look like this:25 x 16oz = 400400 x .02= 8oz min daily400 x .03= 12oz max daily

Easy, right?It is just basic multiplication and a onetime calculation. So, every time you think your dog has put on weight, quickly go weigh him and alter his food measurements.

Note: 1 cup full is equal to 8oz.

Easy Bacon Bit Dog Treats

This recipe is going to be a winner with the dogs because of the rich bacon flavor it brings to the table. Obviously, bacon is included in the recipe.

However, it also has eggs, bacon fat, powdered milk, flour, wheat germ, and cornmeal. Theyre transformed into neat little bite-sized balls of bacon your dog will be happy to eat.

Don’t Miss: What’s The Best Dog Food For Dogs

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
• Eggshells

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.

The Best Ingredients To Use In Homemade Dog Food Are Many Most Whole Food Ingredients Humans Eat Are Good For Dogs Too And Including A Variety Of Foods In Your Dog’s Diet Is The Key To Stellar Health

Whether you want to try feeding your dog raw food or youre looking for home-cooked dog food ideas, the components of a good homemade dog food plan are not complicated, but do require diligence and dedication from you the dog guardian.

Calcium levels in your dogs diet are important: you cant feed too little or too much. A balance of nutrients over time is also essential: mixing and matching different types of vegetables and meat over the weeks and years. So how do you make sure your dogs homemade diet is complete and balanced enough? You need to feed a high variety of foods.

Read Also: Where To Buy Zignature Dog Food

Keep A Track Of The Effect Of Diet

Make sure the diet is working on your dog. After almost 2 to 3 weeks of feeding him your homemade dog food creation, take him to the vet to get his weight checked. The vet can also check if he has conditions on his skin, coat, or internal body which may be due to the diet.

Note: Do not change your dogs diet suddenly. You can initiate mixing kibble with homemade dog food and then slowly changing his diet over two weeks.

Using Seasonings Herbs And Spices For Flavor

If youre just looking to add flavor to your dogs life, then any of the seasonings listed below can be used. There are a total of 20 spices and herbs mentioned in this article, this means for flavor purposes, your dog should never get bored with their food if you rotate between seasonings every few days.

Don’t Miss: Is Wet Food Bad For Dogs

Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Dogs love peanut butter. My dog will lick her nose, lips, and the inside of her mouth for a prolonged amount of time to make sure she gets every last drop of peanut butter when we give it to her.

Which is a great reason to make your dog homemade peanut butter treats. Theyre easy to make and require only basic ingredients.

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

Read Also: How Long Does Wet Dog Food Last

Homemade Dog Food Benefits

Cooking food from scratch is being aware of the ingredients you add. You will not only have confidence in what you are feeding your dog but also can cook a nutritionally complete homemade dog food.

Homemade dog food has proven to work wonders for dogs that suffer from internal or skin allergies and gastric problems.

DIY dog food can be a savior when you run out of dog food.

Make sure that you prepare nutritious food from trusted ingredients.

How To Season Homemade Dog Food

With the popularity of pet owners making homemade dog foods, it’s no surprise humans want to make sure the dog food tastes good. After all, we’re used to adding a dash of seasoning to our meal, so we may be enticed to do the same for our four-legged companions. According to pet experts doctors Foster and Smith, dogs can’t properly digest many flavorful foods and seasonings that humans enjoy including onions, citrus oils and salt. Some human foods can cause severe illness or death to a pet.

Add an Italian flair to dog food. Mix a can of chopped tomatoes into a beef and rice homemade dog food recipe. Measure 1 tsp.of fresh parsley leaves and stems per 20 lbs.of dog weight, per serving of dog food. Parsley is high in nutrients, strengthens intestinal wall muscles and reduces flatulence.

Spice up the food. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper powder to each serving of homemade dog food for a spicy meal. The pepper strengthens the heart and has anti-inflammatory properties to soothe arthritic pain in dogs.

Season dog food with ginger. Adding a pinch of dried ginger root to each serving of homemade dog food will stimulate the dog’s appetite. The spicy-sweet seasoning also helps reduce nausea and vomiting in ill dogs.

Sweeten homemade dog food with 1/4 cup of peanut butter or fresh blueberries per serving of dog food. These natural foods provide flavor and are palatable for dogs. Blueberries add extra antioxidants to the dog’s diet while peanut butter packs on the protein.

Don’t Miss: When Do You Switch From Puppy To Dog Food

Turkey Gravy Dog Food Flavor Enhancer

Ingredients:

Yummy Thats Delicious Ground Turkey And Veggies Mix

We call this recipe Yummy, thats delicious! because itll become one of your dogs favourite. This dog food recipe has 50% protein, 25% veggies, and 25% grains. If you wish, you can make alterations to the ratios. Prepare your batch and divide it into smaller portions before putting them in the freezer. When your dog is ready to eat some homemade dog food, simply defrost one serving in the fridge overnight and heat it for 30 seconds. Pretty simple, right?

total time:45 min

• 1 1/2 cups brown rice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 cups baby spinach, chopped
• 1.3 kilos ground turkey
• 1/2 cup peas, canned or frozen

Recommended Reading: Is Dog Food Bad For Humans

Top Best Answers To The Question What Can I Flavor Homemade Dog Food With

This easy to make custom spice blend combines dried parsley, basil, dill, rosemary, and oregano. I sprinkle on a little of the seasoning blend at every feeding for added nutrition.

Those who are looking for an answer to the question «What can i flavor homemade dog food with?» often ask the followingquestions:

These Homemade Dog Treats Are So Easy To Make

But, the best part is for me!

Just like when baking for humans, you want to use the least ingredients necessary and these homemade dog treats only require the 2 ingredients mentioned above.

One of which you can pick based on your own dogs needs or personal preference! Plus, they take less than an hour to make and cost only pennies for a whole batch!

Cant find oat flour at your local grocery store?

Recommended Reading: Where To Find Blue Dog Food