Is Homemade Food Healthy For Puppies
Like humans, dogs have specific caloric requirements and need certain vitamins and minerals to stay healthy. Puppies have even more specific needs in order to grow at an appropriate rate and thrive. The food you feed your puppy must be complete and balanced. It must also be designed to support growth.
One of the biggest mistakes pet owners make when they decide to feed home-prepared diets is not following the right recipes . Preparing the right puppy diet is about more than just feeding enough calories. It must also have the proper balance of protein, fat, and calories for a growing puppy. The diet must also contain the right amounts of vitamins and minerals.
When you begin to develop a home-prepared diet, make sure your puppy gets everything it needs in its diet to keep it as healthy as possible and help it grow. The best way to do this is to consult with your veterinarian. You might even want to ask for a referral to a veterinary nutritionist.
Working with a vet, you can design a diet that meets all of your puppy’s nutritional needs. Your vet may have recipes for you to use or may guide you to a website like BalanceIT.com or PetDiets.com. These websites have recipes developed by veterinary nutritionists. They can help you choose a diet that is complete and balanced but also meets other needs. In many cases, you can choose your preferred ingredients or find formulas designed for puppies with specific needs or health issues .
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:
Chicken And Turkey With A Fish Twist
- 12% 15% Ground chicken and turkey bones
- 35% 50% Herring a marine fish, the herring is an exceptional source of protein, omega 3 fatty acids, and essential oils
- 10% 30% Chicken and turkey hearts and liver
- 5% lightly boiled chicken eggs
- 5% 10% Organic spinach
- 5% 10% Chickpeas highly rich in natural fiber
Simply mix and freeze or serve. The eggs should be lightly boiled as protection against Salmonella.
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Feed Smaller Meals More Often
Dogs with kidney problems often feel better when fed several small meals throughout the day rather than just one or two large meals. You may find that you need to adjust your feeding schedule as time goes on to keep your pup comfy! Hooch has really benefited from smaller meals throughout the day and seems to have much more energy all the way into the evening.
Recommended Serving Size For Homemade Dog Food:
The amount of homemade dog food that your dog will require is dependent upon how much your dog weighs and how active he or she is. This amount varies from dog-to-dog. I suggest talking to your vet and getting their advice on a good starting point.
You can also monitor your dog to make sure they are maintaining their weight and staying happy and active.
This recipe makes about 6 cups of food, which is 3 days worth of food for Charlie who is about 45 pounds. You can easily adjust this amount based on the weight of your dog. Also, feel free to scale this recipe up and double or even triple it, if you wanted to cook less often.
Also Check: Iams Grain Free Dog Food Review
Extra Tips When Following Raw Dog Food Recipes
Moreover, as you plan and make your dogs raw food, here are some extra tips to keep in mind:
- Firstly, know how much raw food to give your dog. It should be about 2-3% of your canines ideal body weight per day. You can increase this a little for very active dogs. If your dog is pregnant, talk to your veterinarian for ideal quantities.
- However, if the recipe calls for a bone meal, always get it from a grocery store or other food-related retailer. Never get it from hardware stores or garden centers as it could contain chemicals and fertilizers to stabilize it. To avoid issues, always read the label to confirm that your chosen bone meal is just the bone meal and nothing else.
- Try incorporating your dogs omega-3 supplements into their meals.
- Furthermore, when you buy organ meat for your dogs food, try to get enough for a few batches at once. You can chop or grind them, put them in a labeled bag, and freeze them. This saves you the hassle of buying organ meat as often, especially if you dont eat it yourself.
- Try to choose meats with a fat content of 10-20% .
- Always buy the highest quality ingredients that fit your budget.
- However, if you want to give your dog raw food but dont have the time to prepare it yourself, you can buy it. Just beware that pre-made raw food for dogs will be more expensive.
Carbohydrates In Homemade Raw Dog Food
Oats, quinoa, and brown rice are all excellent sources of complex carbohydrates which provide sustained energy throughout the day. They also help to regulate blood sugar levels and can improve digestion.
So, as you can see, there are many benefits to feeding your dog a homemade raw diet.
Not only is it healthy and nutritious, but it is also affordable and easy to prepare.
In addition, raw diets have been shown to improve skin and coat conditions, increase energy levels, boost the immune system and reduce the incidence of allergies and health problems.
If youre looking for a way to improve your dogs overall health then I highly recommend switching him over to a raw food diet!
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Salmon Scramble For Dogs
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup canned butternut squash
- 1 Tbsp. ground flaxseed
Directions:
Cook chicken thoroughly in a skillet. Drain chicken fat and set aside. Blend eggs in a blender with a shell then stir into the chicken. Cook chicken and egg mix until cooked through.
Add 2/3 cup chicken mixture, 2 tbsp. carrots, 1/3 cup rice, and 1/3 cup chicken broth to blender and puree. Mix leftover chicken with carrots and rice in a large bowl. Stir in puree until combined thoroughly. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper and spoon out round portions. Allow cooling completely before serving. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
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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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.
Homemade Chicken Dinner For Dogs
As you have learned from the earlier recipes, dogs cant get enough of chicken. This explains why we are using this poultry again for this simple dinner for our canine friends. Moreover, this simple DIY food for dogs makes use of vegetables like cabbage and spinach. You will also use apples to make this recipe.
You can also swap out some of the veggies used in this recipe, like carrots for red cabbage. But you should cook carrots if you decide to use them because the orange veggies arent the easiest foods for dogs to digest.
Ingredients:
- 5 whole eggs
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
It is up to you what type of chicken to use. You can use whole chicken which includes the heart, liver, and neck. Of you can settle for boneless skinless chicken breast, or frozen chicken breast which is best when cooked.
Step by step guide:
- Chop up the chicken and put in a suitable sized pot. Bring it to a boil.
- Reduce to a simmer then add the remaining ingredients. Let it simmer until the chicken is done.
- Remove the pot from the stove. Add the eggs and olive oil once it is cool then stir.
You can keep the leftover in an airtight container and then put this in the refrigerator. The meal should be safe enough for your dogs consumption up to five days.
As for the serving, you can give a large dog up to 2 ½ cups of this food which should last for 2 days.
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Prepare The Recipe Right
Tempted to experiment in the kitchen? Save it for yourself. Its best not to improvise when you cook for your pooch.
- Follow the recipe. Altering it can have unintended effects. For example, cooking chicken with or without skin and bone changes the recipes nutrient profile, Larsen says. You might also add or subtract calories without meaning to.
- Dont swap ingredients. Some ingredients seem similar but dont provide the same nutrition. For example, corn, canola, and walnut oil provide certain essential fatty acids that olive oil and coconut oil dont. By making swaps, you could very easily unbalance the diet, Larsen says.
- Buy a food scale. They are much more accurate than measuring cups, especially for measuring meat.
Cook all animal products to kill bacteria that could make your pooch sick. Cook grains, beans, and starchy vegetables to make them easier to digest.
Never add foods that are toxic to dogs. These include chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, avocados, and Macadamia nuts.
If you want to mix things up, do it with the treats you feed. Offer dog-safe fresh fruits and vegetables as treats.
How To Make Easy Homemade Dog Food In An Instant Pot
Published: July 23, 2019· Updated: March 29, 2020 by Kari · · This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
Homemade Dog Food is a great way to spoil your dog and feel good about doing it. Made in your Instant Pot, it is a quick, cheap, and easy way to give your dog a nutritious meal that they will think is a treat.
If you are anything like we are, spoiling your dog is a natural part of everyday life. Our border collie, Melly, is 11 years young and is full of energy and love. She is treated like a queen, and although she will eat almost anything, her nutrition is important to me.
I made Melly a batch of homemade food for the first time about a year ago and have been making it for her ever since. It is cheap, easy, and she loves it. I love knowing everything going into it so I know she isn’t eating mystery meat. Our vet compliments her constantly for her weight, teeth, and energy level – she’s 11ish but acts like she’s still a puppy.
This recipe is for making homemade dog food with an Instant Pot – if you are looking for my stovetop directions, .
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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.
When Fresh Herbs Are Not An Option
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. I know I’m contributing to fresh breath, happy tummies, and better long term health benefits for both of our dogs!
***Please note, I am not a veterinarian, just a very passionate dog owner! The information in this blog post documents our own personal experiences, research, and the recipes that we feed our dogs under our veterinarians careful supervision. Please, consult with your vet and use your own personal judgment when considering transitioning to a 100% human grade food diet for your pup. POST UPDATE 9/25/20 to add more information on ingredients. The original recipe is still the same***
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Easy Crockpot Recipe Diy Dog Food
If your dog is picky about the food it eats or suffers from food allergies, heres a homemade dog food crockpot recipe that would help your dog. This is an easy homemade dog food crockpot recipe. Just throw all the ingredients in the crockpot and cook for a couple of hours. Out comes healthy homemade dog food that your furry family member will love! You can add in ground egg shells for extra calcium or chicken livers for extra iron too.
Ingredients
For the full recipe and instructions check out A Fork’s Tale
Resources For The Chef
- Your best resource and first stop is your dogs veterinarian, who knows your dog and has a thorough understanding of his health history and current condition.
- A good resource to help find a veterinary nutritionist for a homemade diet consultation is the Diplomate directory at www.acvn.org. If there isnt a nutritionist in your area, you can consult with one remotely.
- 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.
- The American College of Veterinary Nutritionists has prepared an informative brochure, called Your Dogs Nutritional Needs: A Science-Based Guide for Pet Owners
- Answers to frequently asked questions are provided here: ·
- The Veterinary Medical Center Clinical Nutrition Service provides a list of common mistakes pet owners make when choosing and preparing homemade diets:
- Another site that provides answers to your questions is: Ask the Nutritionist
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What Is Raw Dog Food
The raw dog food diet is a type of homemade dog food that consists only of uncooked, fresh, and unprocessed foods.
This means that the ingredients in a raw diet for dogs are either ground up or chopped into small pieces so that the dog can easily chew and digest them.
Some pet owners choose to prepare their own raw food diet for their furry friends while others may purchase pre-packaged raw diets from specialty stores.
In this case, you should also have a clear idea about the BARF diet for dogs
What Are The Benefits Of Homemade Dog Food
Homemade dog food can benefit your canine companion in a number of ways especially if you have a pet who suffers from allergies, skin problems, or gastrointestinal sensitivity.
Highly-processed foods also tend to lose nutritional value, whereas making dog food from scratch maintains more of the vital nutrients during the cooking process. With fresh food, you know exactly what your dog is getting versus reading the label and being confused by all the included additives and preservatives.
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Here’s Exactly How Martha Stewart Makes Homemade Dog Food
What dog wouldn’t love a home-cooked meal from Martha Stewart? On her blog, Martha shared how and why she makes homemade food for her four pups, Emperor Han, Empress Qin, Bete Noire, and Crème Brulee. Martha feeds her dogs a variety of wholesome foods including chicken, quinoa, and plenty of nutritious vegetables such as peas, spinach, carrots, sweet potatoes, and broccoli. “Preparing my own dog food has many benefitsfewer preservatives and additives, more varied and better ingredients and, of course, more of what I know my dogs will enjoy. I also know the food is from wholesome, organic, reputable sourcesand that is very important to me,” writes Martha.
Martha’s recipe for homemade dog food begins by cooking several whole roosters with vegetables and stock in a large pot. She also cooks carrots, four heads of broccoli, spinach, and four bags of frozen peas until they are fork-tender. Another vegetable that her dogs are big fans of? Sweet potatoes, which are “also great for digestive health because they’re high in dietary fiber. They’re low in fat and contain vitamin B6, vitamin C, and manganese, and they’re rich in the powerful antioxidant beta-carotene,” Martha writes.
To see Martha’s entire process, visit her blog for the step-by-step instructions.