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.
Transitioning To Homemade Dog Food
Most dogs dont have a problem making the switch to homemade food. If yours is prone to digestive issues, start slowly by mixing a little bit of the homemade food with the commercial food.
Over the course of a week or two, gradually increase the amount of homemade food while decreasing the commercial food.
If your dog vomits or has diarrhea, try introducing only a couple of new ingredients at a time until their systems are well adjusted to the fresh diet.
For dogs with health issues, please consult with a veterinarian if you arent sure what kind of supplements are needed. Use your best judgment, the way you would when feeding yourself or your family.
Why To Trust Us
When a customer is ready to buy a pure balance wild and free bison dog food, that means they become overwhelmed with a lot of available options in the market. There are hundreds of pure balance wild and free bison dog food you can choose from, and most of them include the detailed reviews that make them totally incredible and attractive to users. To help you enjoy the easy-to-read and go-to-point information, we spend a lot of time researching, reading, analyzing, and experiencing the pure balance wild and free bison dog food, which results in the best choice for many consumers.
During the reviewing process, we make an utmost effort to consider a number of things, such as the brand popularity of pure balance wild and free bison dog food, the shortlist of the best-selling pure balance wild and free bison dog food, the feedback of previous user experience, the Manufacturers Promise, etc.
Our goal is to maximize the customer convenience and efficiency.
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Pure Balance Grain Free Dog Food Chicken & Pea Recipe Food For Dogs 4lbs
Chicken, an ingredient in this dog food product makes it an excellent source of proteins for your pet. For dogs which are highly effective, this Chicken & Pea Recipe is perfect for them since it has more calories required by your dog to play, run and have fun. Peas have amino acids required for overall dog health. To improve your dogs insulin sensitivity Pure Balance has added potatoes, rather than the usual cereal grains. It also has nutrients vitamin E and C required for a fine and smooth skin. Chicken, carrots and peas combined with minerals and vitamins help to boost the immune system, other vital systems and overall great health. For dogs allergic to grains, this product is grain free.
Ingredients:
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Ground Potato, Dried Ground Peas, Poultry Fat, Vegetable Pomace , Manganese Proteinate, Turkey Meal, Flaxseed, Dried Ground Carrots, Tapioca, Pea Protein, Salt, Choline Chloride, Iron Proteinate, Natural Flavor, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Iodate, Fish Oil, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, L-Threonine, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Proteinate, L-Carnitine, Sodium Selenite, DL-Methionine, Biotin, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, and Vitamin D3 Supplement. It is made up of 24% protein, 15% fat, 5% fiber and a maximum of 10% moisture.
Pros
- Excellent for dogs with allergies
Zignature Duck Limited Ingredient Formula Grain
Zignature dog food is a well-known and high-quality brand. This option packs 30% crude protein and 15% crude fat. High-quality fatty acids, L-carnitine, and taurine are also present.
The first ingredients are duck and duck meals. The duck is farm-raised and a primary source of protein.
The formula also contains many added vitamins and minerals. Its complemented with taurine, which is important for any grain-free dog food.
Zignature is on the higher end of the medium-price range. Their ingredients are very high-quality and will provide good nutrition for your dog.
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Pure Balance Grain Free Formula Small Breed
The Pure Balance Small Breed Formula is suitable for all life stages and features small bites for tiny pooches and their smaller mouths. It is also grain-free and doesnt contain any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives which makes it ideal for dogs with food sensitivities.
Chicken and chicken meal help build lean and strong muscles that will allow your pooch to run, jump, and play all day long if he wants to. You might have heard that meal is a low-quality and cheap ingredient, but that isnt really the case. Chicken meal is made of dehydrated chicken meat and has a much higher protein count than actual chicken meat.
Since this is a grain-free formula, ground peas, tapioca, and potato are the main sources of carbs. They are also full of fiber that will give your dogs GI tract a push in the right direction and keep it functioning as it should.
Poultry fat gives this food an amazing taste your dog is going to love and will also keep him energized through the day. To keep your smaller dog healthy and active, this formula has added vitamins and minerals.
Most reviews on Pure Balance dog food for small breeds are full of praises, and the owners love that the bites are the perfect size for their small pooches.
Which Types Of Dogs Might Do Better With A Different Brand
Unfortunately, there are two types of canines that may do better with a different type of food. First, is Puppies. Though Pure Balance offers a puppy formula, it is not grain-free. If you need something with wheat, corn, and rice for your new pup, try the Natures Recipe Grain-Free Puppy Food. This meal is made with real chicken and it is packed with all the nutrients they need.
The second type of dog that may need a different brand of food is a senior pup. Pure Balance does not carry a senior formula in their grain-free or regular line, and many canines require a gluten-free meal.
Senior pups also benefit from additional supplements such as the joint-supporting glucosamine that none of the Pure Balance formulas contain. If you need a tasty and grain-free meal for your older pet, try the Blue Buffalo Freedom Grain Natural Senior Dry Dog Food.
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Vitamins And Nutrients For Dogs
Humans dont get all of the vitamins and nutrients they need from a one-stop-shop kind of a diet and neither do our dogs! Whether your dog is eating a diet that consists of kibble or you are dishing up a homemade dog food recipe like this one, your pup needs vitamins and minerals just like you do! We really like and use the brand Dog Greens every single day! It is a plant based vitamin and mineral powder that we sprinkle over the dogs food with each meal. They love the flavor and we love knowing that all of their nutritional needs have been met each day!
Pure Balance Dog Food Price Tag
What is supposed to set this brand apart from other dog foods is the use of quality ingredients at a substantially lower price than competitors. And this is one place this brand does deliver on its promises.
Compared to many other supermarket brands, this food is much less expensive. It also contains much higher-quality ingredients than many similarly priced foods. For this reason, we do highly recommend this brand to owners on a budget who are restricted to diets at the lower end of the price spectrum.
This is easily one of the highest quality diets you will find at this particular price point.
> > > Do you eat organic? Think your pooch should too? Here are our picks of the best organic dog foods.
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Pure Balance Wild & Free
Pure Balance Wild & Free is suitable for all life stages. The line was inspired by the way dogs ancestors ate. This means it is heavily focused on natural ingredients. In a similar vein, all the recipes are grain-free.
There are three flavors in the Wild & Free brand line:
The first ingredients in this brand line are whole meats, which are a great source of protein. The meat comes from salmon, bison, and grass-fed beef. Turkey meal, venison, fish meal, or chicken meal are also high on the ingredients list.
There are no chicken by-products, a decision that we wholeheartedly support.
Crude protein in these products ranges from 24% to 30%, and crude fat is 15%. This is a good macronutrients ratio it will give your dog a proper nutritional value.
These recipes do not include artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. There is also no wheat, corn, or soy. Its great that these are excluded since they could cause stomach upset or aggravate existing food allergies.
All three recipes feature taurine, just like the grain-free options from the standard line. They are enriched with vitamins, minerals, and L-carnitine.
Pure Balance recommends the Wild & Free line for immune support and better digestion.
Who Makes Pure Balance And Where Is It Produced
As mentioned, Pure Balance is a private Walmart line that was created in 2012. Walmart started this brand after they saw a need for affordable and nutritious pet food that is not easily found on the market.
Walmart, however, does not manufacture the product themselves. They enlisted Ainsworth Pet Nutrition LLC to produce most of their products. This company is owned by J.M. Smucker who added them to their list of pet brand manufacturers in 2018.
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Ainsworth is located in Meadville, Pennsylvania, and they produce their products in the USA. Whats more, they source their ingredients within ten miles of their manufacturing plant.
As you may have noticed, we mentioned that most of Pure Balances products are produced by this company, yet not all of them are made there. Unfortunately, there is no information readily available about where the rest of the pet food is made. What we can say for certain is all their pet meals are manufactured in the US, yet some of the labels indicate the ingredients are sourced from around the world.
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What Other Users Are Saying
There is nothing more reassuring to a customer than seeing positive reviews about a product from other pet parents. It will reinforce all the benefits the product has, and it will help you decide on which food to pick. Take a look at these reviews below.
Walmart.com
Absolutely love this food. My Pomeranian is sensitive to grain, licked all the time, shes doing so much better, my sheltie is sensitive to everything, tried everything until now. We use lamb and both of my furbabies love it and do I !! Thank you for this and now I dont have to buy two separate kinds of food.
Walmart.com
I have three dogs ranging from a 2-year-old weighing 10 pounds to a 9-year-old weighing 90 lbs. Pure Balance is the only food I give them, any of the grain-free flavors. I have seen a huge difference since I switched 2 years ago and its all my baby has ever eaten.
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Pure Balance Food Buyers Guide
Giving your dog a balanced diet is the right step towards promoting your dogs health. The nutrients should be proportional and well-balanced. However, choosing the right food with the right balance may be a daunting task. You may be needed to conduct the necessary research to determine which types to avoid, wet or dry food etc. Fortunately, Pure Balance products are nutritious, healthy and well-balanced in terms of ingredients.
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Ingredients Found In Pure Balance Dog Food
- Calcium carbonate
- L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate
Pure Balance wet and dry dog food packs contain up to 26% protein, 35% essential fat, 39% carbohydrates, and 5.6% fiber per pack, with vitamins like ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, potassium chloride, niacin, calcium iodate, folic acid, supplements of Vitamin D3, E & E amongst others.
Pure Balance dog food is completely Association of American Feed Control Officials -approved and of human-grade.
Pure Balance Vs Blue Buffalo
In this comparison article for Pure Balance vs Blue Buffalo, well highlight the key differences between these two pet food brands. To properly compare Pure Balance and Blue Buffalo, well use up-to-date nutritional and price information.
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best pet food brand for your pet. Factors such as ingredient quality, guaranteed analysis, product safety, brand history, and cost are among the most important factors to consider.
Throughout this Blue Buffalo vs Pure Balance comparison, weve utilized average data to make general comparisons. If youd like to see individual product reviews, visit our Pure Balance Review Page or Blue Buffalo Review Page.
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What Dog Food Is Killing Dogs
Midwestern Pet Foods expanded its recall of dry dog and cat food following reports that dozens of dogs died after eating the Sportmix dry kibble, the FDA said. A pet food recall is widening after the Food and Drug Administration announced that more than two dozen dogs died after eating Sportmix brand dry kibble.
Cooking Our Way To A Healthier Dog Diet
Ever since I started raising my own dogs, Id always wanted to make their food at home but thought it would be too expensive or too time consuming, or that they wouldnt get the nutrition they needed.
During the month of Bugs doggy depression, I vowed to make her precious life as comfortable as possible.
Both of my pugs had a range of health issues growing up, which I unfortunately found out were common for the breed.
My older one had persistent hot spots and itchiness that no commercial dog food could cure .
Bug was overweight for a while when she was younger, even though she ate the recommended amount of food for her target weight. Eventually, I settled on Wellness kibbles and they did well with that brand.
But, I wanted to explore other options. I wanted to give them real food fresh, nutritious ingredients that I recognized and could even eat myself.
Ive mentioned in my post on homemade whole grain chicken feed that the entire household all share the same whole grains and seeds that we buy in bulk, as well as the bounty that comes from our edible garden.
Everything our animals eat, we can eat.
When it comes to homemade feed for our laying hens, we stick to a tried-and-true formula that works for every layer: 16 to 17 percent protein , vitamins, minerals, and amino acids from a wide variety of grains and seeds, and free range of a pasture for weeds, greens, and insects.
Dogs, on the other hand, arent bred for a standard function the way chickens are.
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Your Dogs Age Reproductive Status Activity And Breed
All the above factors are very crucial when choosing the best Pure Balance food for your pet dog. Younger dogs may need dog food with higher calories as compared to older dogs. Also, dogs that are very playful and active may need higher calories than dogs which just sit on the couch all day. Feeding the right type of food with the right ingredients can help alleviate issues such as obesity.
An Overview Of The Products
Pure Balance is not limited to dry or wet foods. They offer varieties such as fresh rolls, wet foods in sauce, and dinners. All of these products are made with natural ingredients, as well as added vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. They also offer grain-free diets, puppy formulas, and LID meals.
Below we will look at the different types of food recipes offered by Pure Balance:
Dry
Dry food is available in a 4, 11, or 24-pound bag to choose from.
Receipts
- Chicken, beef, salmon and egg
With so many options available, its hard not to find an option that will suit your pet. A notable absence, however, is a seniors plan. Generally, an older dog will need a slightly different formula. Plus, they also benefit from ingredients like glucosamine. Unfortunately, none of the Pure Balance diets offer this supplement.
Also, most formulas are grain-free, but not all. If you want a more in-depth look at their grain-free meals, take a look at this article that delves deeper into this type of formula.
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