Healthy Homemade Dog Food Recipes

Easy Homemade Dog Food Recipes – calorie-controlled and nutritionally balanced – by Veterinarian Dr Charlotte Williamson

Many dog owners find preparing homemade dog food to be highly rewarding. Watching your dog thrive and knowing exactly what he's eating can be reassuring. So if you have the time and inclination, homemade dog food may be a great option for your pooch.

For this reason, I would like to show you how to make your own dog food. My dog food recipes are easy, cost-effective and nutritionally balanced. They can also work wonders in helping to manage your dog’s weight. (Sorry, sausages and peanut butter dog treats are not suitable for dieting dogs!)

Nutrition and Calories in Homemade Dog Food

Each of my dog food recipes lists its protein and calorie content. If you have an overweight dog, and know your dog’s daily calorie requirements these homemade dog food recipes make it easy to count calories.

Many homemade dog food recipes are not nutritionally balanced. Over time this can lead to serious developmental disorders and health issues.

What you should know about Homemade Dog Food

• Homemade dog food is prone to rapid bacterial and fungal growth if it is not chilled. Refrigerate or freeze your prepared homemade dog food in sealed containers at less than 4 degrees Celsius (32-39.2 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Use refrigerated homemade dog food within 3 days. Check for odor and color changes before serving. Serve at just below body temperature. Ensure there are no hot spots if defrosting or warming the food in a microwave.
• Homemade dog food must be supplemented with calcium and dog vitamin and mineral powders. These dog supplements are not optional.
• Each recipe provides 1000 kcal. Serving size is determined by your dog’s dieting calorie requirement.
• Measure out the ingredients using kitchen scales to ensure the protein and calorie content is accurate. 
• Do not cook or heat the vitamin/mineral supplement. Instead, add it to the meal just before feeding.

1. Chicken, Rice and Vegetable Homemade Dog Food

Nutrient Analysis: This recipe provides 1000 kcal and 76 g protein.
Note: Ingredient weights refer to raw weights.

Ingredients

• Chicken breast (skinless) 290g (10oz)
• Brown rice 145g (5oz)
• Broccoli 46g (1.6 oz)
• Carrots 46g (1.6 oz)
• Peas 46 g (1.6 oz)
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2 ½ teaspoons
• Psyllium Powder 2 tablespoons

Method: 

1. Cook rice until tender- follow packet guidelines.
2. Steam broccoli, carrots and peas until just tender. 
3. Cook chicken- Steam, microwave or use non-stick pan to oven bake.
4. Dice cooked chicken and vegetables 
5. Mix chicken and vegetables with cooked rice. 
6. Add 2 1/2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil. 
7. Add 2 level tablespoons of psyllium powder. 
8. Weigh final product and portion according to your dog’s dieting calorie intake.
9. Prior to serving, add a dog vitamin and mineral supplement prior to serving. 
   Or alternatively add: 1/4 teaspoon iodised salt, 1 x crushed 25 mg zinc tablet, 1500 mg calcium, 1 crushed multi-vitamin tablet (Centrum women). Mix it thoroughly through food and serve.

2. Tuna and Vegetable Homemade Dog Food

Nutrient Analysis: This recipe provides 1000 kcal and 149g protein.
Note: Ingredient weights refer to raw weights.

Ingredients:

• Canned tuna in water or brine, drained (577 grams/ 20.4 oz)
• Potato, scrubbed or peeled (288 grams/ 10.2 oz)
• Cauliflower (138 grams/ 4.9 oz)
• Green beans (138 grams/ 4.9 oz)
• Extra virgin olive oil (2 ½ teaspoons)
• Psyllium powder (1 tablespoon)

Method:

1. Steam vegetables until tender. 
2. Dice and mix vegetables.
3. Break up tinned tuna and mix evenly through cooked vegetables. 
4. Add 2 ½  teaspoons extra virgin olive oil. 
5. Add 1 level tablespoon of psyllium powder. 
6. Weigh cooked product and portion according to your dog’s dieting calorie intake.
7. Before serving, add mineral and vitamin supplements: Use a dog vitamin and mineral supplement suitable for home cooking. Or alternatively add:1/4 teaspoon iodised salt, 1 x crushed 25 mg zinc tablet, 1500 mg calcium, 1 crushed multi-vitamin tablet (Centrum women).
   Mix evenly though food prior to serving.

For more homemade dog food recipes suitable for dog weight management-visit WAGSTA Wellness.

Join WAGSTA WELLNESS for more homemade dog food recipes

Things to consider when creating homemade dog food recipes

Before creating your own homemade dog food recipes, ask yourself the following questions:

• Will you be able to accurately determine the calories in you dog food recipes? Human dieting apps such as My Fitness Pal will allow you to breakdown the calorie count of individual ingredients.
• Will you be able to ensure correct nutrient ratios in your dog food recipes, e.g. calcium and phosphorus ratios?
• Can you provide the essential nutrient components in your dog food recipes? This can be very difficult to achieve without the aid of specially prepared supplements.
• Have you factored in the cost and availability of the ingredients in your dog food recipes? Substituting ingredients when there is short supply alters the nutritional balance and calorie content of the recipe.
• Have you ensured that the ingredients are safe for dogs? Some human foods are toxic to dogs. For more information read foods poisonous to dogs.
• Have you considered the possibility of selective eating (where your dog refuses to eat some of the ingredients) such as spitting out the peas? This will alter your dog’s calorie intake and nutrient balance. Avoid selective eating by blending the finished product.
• Have you considered the preparation and cooking time involved in your dog food recipes?
• Have you considered the storage life of homemade dog food and the need for refrigeration or freezing?

The successful preparation of healthy homemade dog food recipes requires planning and attention to detail.

Don’t have time to make your own dog food?

For some pet parents, the homemade dog food option is unfeasible. That’s why we’ve put together a commercial diet dog food index, as part of the WAGSTA dog weight loss program. The comparison chart compares diet dog foods from around the world, indexing them according to calorie and protein content, making it simple to find the right food for your dog.

Introduce your dog to a safe dog workout and individualized calorie plan with WAGSTA Wellness. Help your dog feel like a puppy again- shedding those excess pounds and regaining health, energy and play!