Homemade Dog Food Recipe Vet Recommended

Safe Dog Food Toppers Using People Food

Table foods that are well-tolerated by most dogs include cooked, lean meats such as turkey or chicken breasts, whitefish, lean beef and canned tuna. Starch sources that most dogs do well with are rice cooked with extra water so its mushy, cooked pasta, cooked potatoes, cooked sweet potatoes and baked bread.

Not all dogs will accept fruits and vegetables but many dogs seem to really enjoy them. Fruits and vegetables that are safe for dogs include broccoli, asparagus, peas, carrots, kale, cabbage, blueberries, watermelon, apples. Either chop these finely in a food processor and/or cook themotherwise, your dog cant digest them very well.

What Type Of Dog Bowl Is Best

Experts recommend avoiding plastic bowls for a dog’s food and water. This is because your dog can develop an allergic reaction or sensitivity, resulting in a rash or type of acne on the chin and face. Not only is the plastic a potential irritant, but the bowl may harbor bacteria or other microbes that affect your dog. Plastic bowls are harder to keep clean because of microscopic nooks and crannies where germs can live. It’s best to use metal or ceramic bowls for dog food and water.

Best Dog Food Recipes

Homemade dog food should be nutritionally complete and balanced just like the high-quality dog food you buy from a store.

Its not that easy to create a dog food recipe that meets AAFCO standards and its even harder to make it perfectly day after day, week after week. But it is possible! If you are interested in making nutritionally complete homemade dog food, check out my resources below.

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What Nutrition Guidelines Should You Follow

Like humans, every dog is different, so this is not a one-pup-fits-all rule. Serving size, your dogs weight, health conditions, size, and activity level are all factors you should consider when determining whats suitable for your dog.

However, in general, dogs need six basic nutrients to maintain a healthy, balanced diet: water, protein, fat, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. A mix of these nutrients provides energy for your dogs body to metabolize and grow.

To ensure your dog is getting all the vitamins and minerals he needs, you may want to add a fully balanced nutrition blend, like one of these blends from Just Food For Dogs. And in addition to meals, you may also want to add a multivitamin like Zesty Paws Multivitamin Chews to ensure your pup gets the recommended balance of vitamins and minerals.

Check with your vet before adding any type of supplement to your dogs diet because over-supplementation of vitamins and minerals can sometimes have serious health consequences in dogs.

How To Prepare Homemade Food For Dogs

When preparing a diet at home for your dog, it is essential that you follow a recipe that is complete and balanced. Once you and your vet have chosen an appropriate recipe, it’s time to get started.

Many owners choose to prepare food in bulk and refrigerate or freeze it in pre-portioned containers. This is a great idea to save time and money, but you might want to begin by making smaller quantities so you can see how your dog does on the diet.

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Chicken And Spinach Puppy Food

Chicken and spinach can also be used for puppy Cane Corso food. Using the above components, you can prepare 60 servings for a small dog .

Ingredients:

Directions:

Prepare the brown rice.

Use a fork to poke the yams once they have been cleaned. Afterwards, microwave them for seven minutes at high power . Youll flip the yam halfway through the iteration to ensure it cooks evenly. Once chilled, cut into cubes and refrigerate.

Add oil and chicken to a large soup pot. The chicken should be cooked in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat.

It is time to add cooked rice and tomato sauce, yams, and raw spinach to the saucepan. A big spoon works well for mixing everything.

Submerge the blender into the mixture and blend until smooth. There should be no enormous bits of any of the ingredients.

Then put it in the fridge for the night and let it cool down for an hour. Set the mixture by doing this.

Put parchment paper on two big baking sheets and use an ice-cream scoop to scoop out individual servings.

Put the trays in the freezer.

Ziplock bags may be used to store the frozen dog food that has been taken out of the freezer.

Do you have a food-allergy-prone canine? If the answer is yes, then this easy-to-make dish is for you. It has a wide range of healthy nutrients, and your dog will love it. The above ingredients will provide 28 servings .

Choosing Protein For Homemade Dog Food Topper

• Proteins like Beef, Venison, Lamb, Rabbit, Hamburger, Chicken and Turkey help with growth of your dog, maintenance of tissues, organs and provides the amount of hormones and enzymes.

• Fats from oil and meat help with the absorption of vitamins, protect the internal organs, and help maintain good skin and hair. I prefer using fish as the major source of fat.

• Carbohydrates like rice, beans and corn helps to keep the intestines healthy while supplying glucose to the organs and the brain.

• Vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K promote the greatest benefits to the skin, eyes, and provide immunity for our dogs.

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Is Homemade Dog Food Good For Dogs

While I am not a vet, and I certainly cant speak for all animals , I can tell you that switching to homemade dog food made the world of difference for Rascal. We had a very unique case with him and his food allergies, but we have also seen other positive changes.

On traditional dog food, Rascal was lethargic, he shed in abundance and his appetite was mediocre. He was also low in his weight class, weighing in at just 64 pounds for a full-sized male Golden Retriever.

Since the dog food switch, he has been energetic, focused, and calmer. He has also put on about 15 pounds in just one year after switching to homemade food. On a traditional diet, were vacuuming at least once a day but now only 1-2x a week. We no longer have to coax Rascal into mealtime and have finally developed a great eating schedule.

How To Make Your Own Homemade Puppy Food

Puppies need twice as many calories per day.

According to the Nutrient Requirements of Cats and Dogs of the National Academy of Science, a 10-pound puppy expected to weigh up to 33 pounds when it reaches adulthood needs to eat 990 calories a day.

Additionally, puppies need to eat more protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals than adult dogs.

A homemade puppy food diet should consist of:

• Vitamins and minerals supplements

Once you settle with what ingredients you will use, you can now start preparing the food for your puppy. Also, you can keep these foods frozen for months or refrigerated for a week for storage.

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Proper Nutrition For Dogs

Like humans, dogs have nutritional needs that must be met in order for them to thrive. Dogs’ nutritional needs differ from our own, so you can’t exactly start sharing your own dinner with your dog. Feeding an incomplete or imbalanced diet can lead to vitamin and nutrient deficiencies in dogs.

Dogs need enough calories to meet their energy requirements. A dog’s daily caloric need depends on the dog’s life stage and activity level. Your veterinarian can help you determine how many calories your dog needs each day.

A homemade dog diet should contain an appropriate balance of protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and fat. Vitamins and minerals must be added to the food to ensure it is complete and balanced.

• At least 10% protein, such as chicken, turkey, fish, lean beef
• Up to 50% carbohydrates, such as rice, pasta, and potatoes
• About 2.5-4.5% fiber, which can come from vegetables like peas, green beans, and carrots
• At least 5.5% fat, usually in the form of vegetable oil
• Vitamin and mineral supplements

If you are ready to get started cooking for your dog, the first step is to talk to your veterinarian. Your vet may have recipes for you to try. Or you may need a referral to a veterinary nutritionist or a vet that focuses on canine nutrition.

Snacks To Pair With Home Cooked Dog Food

• 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: Rascals 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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Cane Corso Senior Diet

Consult your vet doctor about switching your dog to senior food. As a large breed, they reach old age around 6.

However, each dog is unique, and your Corso may achieve senior status sooner or later. The vet will look at your dogs activity level and general health to establish its age.

When the time comes, switch to senior food from puppy to adult food. Like many animals, a Cane Corso becomes less energetic as it ages.

Their slower metabolism means they should consume less. As a pet parent, you should adapt their calorie intake to match their daily activity.

Feeding them the same quantity of food may lead to obesity, especially dangerous for seniors. Because a dogs immune system isnt as effective as it once was, illness prevention is critical.

Senior dogs do not need less protein than adult dogs. Giving them additional protein helps maintain healthy muscle mass.

Muscle loss is a significant issue in older dogs that dont move as much. Give them 28-32% protein. This should stop muscle loss.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin are the most fabulous nutrients for keeping dogs nimble. These aid in maintaining their joints healthy even as they age.

This may also help reduce arthritis-related joint discomfort. Finally, your senior dogs immune system requires vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants from fruits and vegetables.

What Dog Food Recipes Are Good For Your Dog

The concept of well-balanced dog food is crucial when it comes home-cooked meals. What it means is that the meal, with the addition of essential supplements, will cover all of your dog’s nutritional requirements. However, because every dog is different age, breed, daily activities, health conditions, etc. it’s nearly impossible to create a single one size fits all recipe that would be well-balanced for all dogs.

For this reason, it’s crucial that you discuss these recipes with your vet to ensure they’re well-balanced, and if they’re not, make necessary adjustments to make them so. When it comes to recipes in this eBook, it’s unlikely that many of them can be fed for a prolonged period of time without adjustments. Your vet will tell you how and when to do it.

Now, how do you know what the right nutritional balance is for your pet? There are a lot of factors that play into what nutrients and how many calories your dog requires on a daily basis. The five most important variables to consider are:

• Health conditions

No one expects you to figure all of this out on your own, and in fact, its nearly impossible to figure these numbers out and make an accurate assessment without proper training in canine nutrition. Thats why you always, always need to consult an expert before you switch your dog to a homemade diet.

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How Many Cups Of Homemade Food Should I Feed My Dog

Dogs are among the most loyal companions, and they deserve to be treated with the same care and respect that they give us. One way to show your love is by providing them with healthy, home-cooked food. However, how much homemade food should you feed your dog?

The answer depends on the type of diet your dog needs. As dogs age, their nutritional requirements change. If your dog is senior or has a medical condition such as diabetes or arthritis, he or she may need more protein in order to maintain muscle mass. For these dogs, its important to consult with a vet before making any changes to their diet.

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Homemade Food For A 6

Some say that it’s crucial to let your 6-week old puppy eat homemade food.

If you are one of the hesitant people, you can choose to mix your puppy’s commercial food with milk and egg.

But if you are willing to try something new, make sure to base your homemade puppy food with well-ground meat with eggs, milk, and rice.

Puppies also love fruits and vegetables!

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Vegetables That Can Be Added

My dogs love raw carrots. They put them between their paws and will spend a good half hour just chewing on a raw carrot.

For mealtime, I find my dogs digest cooked vegetables better than raw vegetables. Raw broccoli can cause gas.

These are a good basic diet for adult dogs. If your puppy is overweight, has allergies or needs a high protein diet, you’ll want to make the adjustments.

What To Watch For When Feeding Homemade Dog Food

It’s important to monitor your dog closely when changing to homemade dog food. Stay in contact with your veterinarian regarding any changes you notice, whether good or bad. For best results, keep a record of your dog’s weight and body condition over time. Weigh your dog at least once per week and contact your vet if you notice unintended weight loss or gain. Watch for vomiting or diarrhea that may occur if your dog is sensitive to one or more ingredients. Note and report these or any other signs of illness to your veterinarian.

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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.

Nothing Beats A Home Cooked Meal

Theres something wholesome about cooking for your pet, the same way you cook for your family. Plus, home-cooked meals for dogs are beneficial for their digestive system. If youre worried about GMO or filler ingredients, you can take matters into your own hands for peace of mind.

But if you dont have a lot of experience in the kitchen, or you cant find the time, picking the tastiest and healthiest dog food is the next best thing.

Benefits of Homemade Dog Food

Since the 1940s, dry animal food has become so widespread that most people cant even imagine making homemade food for dogs. Still, some guardians choose to feed their furry friends healthy homemade dog food recipes that are vet-approved and discard commercial options. Here are a few reasons why:

Must-Have Ingredients

When it comes to homemade food, building a balanced diet is crucial. Its best to alternate meals to ensure your dog gets all the nutrients it needs. Here are some must-have ingredients you should use:

Harmful Ingredients

If you want to learn how to make your own dog food, you should know what to avoid. Here are some ingredients that might be potentially dangerous and allergic to dogs:

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