Ultimate Guide to Homemade Dog Food

Running out of dog food? Here is an ultimate guide to homemade dog food. Instead of risk going to the shops amid the current situation and facing big lines and inflated prices, have you ever considered making your pooch’s dinner? It is not remarkably as difficult as you may think, and what a present it is to give your pet that fantastic, comforting feeling of eating a full bowl of homemade food!

Dogs are not human though, and it is always wise to consult with your vet before any dietary changes. Some animals may be more prone than others to stomach issues and chronic diseases can also prevent a dog from properly digesting some ingredients. If that is the case, your veterinarian will certainly advise you better.

In most cases, however, it is perfectly safe to feed your loved one homemade meals, provide they are well balanced and nutritious. With that in mind, we prepared this guide to help you get started!

Basic principles on cooking dog food at home 

Do not be tempted to follow a human recipe when cooking for Fido. Dogs have different dietary needs that can even change based on their breed and size. Basically, however, we can break their needs down to:

• Protein - that means lean, quality protein, such as chicken, meat, seafood, etc.
• Carbohydrates - some people believe dogs do not need carbs, but that is a misconception. Grains and vegetables like sweet potatoes, broccoli and brown rice can be a great source of energy.
• Fats - natural fats from meat or oil.
• Fatty acids - those can be found in egg yolks and some small fish, like sardines.
• Calcium - a very important component that you can easily find in dairy, like yoghurt and hard cheese. If you have a big dog, you may need to use eggshells, these are extremely high in calcium or even supplements.

It is crucial that you do not include any seasoning while making their food, as dogs can’t stand spicy food - so save the paprika for yourself! Also, make sure you have a full list of toxic ingredients on your mind to avoid. Some of them are quite surprising, like grapes and onions. Try and keep the percentage at around 50% protein, 25% vegetables and 25% complex carbs.

A basic recipe to get started

Here is a fantastic basic recipe to start on your journey of homemade cooking.

• 3 pounds ground chicken
• Kidney beans
• 2 carrots, shredded
• ½ cup cooked pumpkin
• Peas
• Green Beans
• 1 ½ cups of brown rice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Cook the rice as per package on a pot with water and remember to not add any salt or spices. Set aside. On a frying pan, add the tablespoon of oil and cook the ground chicken throughout. Add the remaining vegetables and cook until they are soft, adding the rice in the end. When everything is cooked, turn the heat off and let it cool completely. This recipe yields a lot, so you can portion the food and keep the packages in the freezer to use as you need!

If you are using this recipe combined with dried food you don’t need to worry too much. If this is the main source of food, however, remember to add calcium and fatty acids to your dog’s diet. We are sure he will thrive on it!

The most important thing is to keep things balanced and to always check with your vet for the specific needs of your four-legged friend. Dry food is not the villain, but it is great to be able to know exactly what goes into their bodies and to make sure it’s all healthy and whole food. Good luck!

Have any other homemade recipe of Dog food you want to share with our NYP Family, comment below. We hope you liked our guide to homemade dog food, do try and let us know how much your furry friend liked it. 

 Author: Laila Newman