3 Clever, Flavorful Family Recipes, Plus How Your Dog Can Eat Just As Well (2024)

FAQs

What are the best ingredients to put in homemade dog food? ›

Good homemade food for healthy dogs includes all the vitamins, calcium, proteins and minerals your pet needs to stay healthy. You can add ground beef, chicken, lamb or venison, as well as vegetables, such as zucchini, carrots, parsnips, beets, yams, butternut squash, and sweet potatoes.

Fruits and veggies are a great way to change your dog's eating habits for the better. Chopped apples, bananas, green beans, and broccoli are healthy foods you can mix with kibble. Sweet potato puree is another good source of fiber, as well as vitamin A.

“Homemade food is a great option for many pets, but we recommend that owners avoid general recipes from books and the Internet and instead consult with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist,” Larsen said.

There is a wide variety of unhealthy and unsafe foods to avoid when preparing meals for your dog. Potentially toxic ingredients are of special concern, including chocolate, xylitol, avocado, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, and macadamia nuts.

Chicken and rice isn't meant to be given as an everyday dog food, nor is it suitable to be used in place of regular dog treats. It's simply a short-term bland diet option intended for a sick dog.

Carrots, green beans, apples, bananas, blueberries, etc. can be added to the dog food to make it delicious. But keep in mind that your dog's main meal is still dog dry food, so the ratio of dog dry food to other foods should be 3:1.

Can dogs have tuna? Yes, you can feed your dog canned tuna, as long as you do so in moderation and infrequently. Choose the version that's packed in fresh water instead of oil or salted water. Also check the label to make sure there is no extra salt added to the canned tuna.

Perhaps you have a dry guy, who prefers crunchy kibble. Maybe your little dog loves stews and patés. Most dogs prefer a combination of wet and dry foods, and that's where mixing comes in. Both wet and dry dog foods have benefits, so combining them provides the best of both worlds.

If you're considering oatmeal as an easily digestible option for a dog with an upset stomach, go for white or brown rice instead. “Those are much more tried-and-true and safe,” Watkins says. Oatmeal does, however, make a healthy addition to your dog's shampoo, Watkins says.

The amount of food your dog needs depends on their size, lifestyle, age, and other factors. Consult your veterinarian or pet nutritionist if you're unsure how much to feed your dog. As a general rule, the serving size for a portion of homemade dog food should equal two to three percent of an adult dog's body weight.

What do vets say about homemade dog food? ›

Vets generally don't recommend making your own raw dog food because of the risk of bacterial contamination or possible public health risks. Consult with a vet or veterinary nutritionist to make sure a homemade diet works for your pet.

Chicken and rice is a good recipe to give to dogs — simply cook a cup of rice, boil a chicken breast, and shred the chicken into pieces before combining it with the rice. If you want to get even fancier, mix the chicken and rice with a vegetable such as string beans.

Cooked potato (e.g. unseasoned, unflavoured mashed potato). Cooked, peeled sweet potato. Cooked, boneless, unsalted, lean meat (chicken, beef, or turkey). Additive-free cooked, tinned, or pureed pumpkin.

What are the top 3 ingredients to look for in dog food? The top ingredients to look for in dog food are high-quality proteins (named meat sources - chicken, beef, fish, and lamb), natural carbohydrates (whole fruits and vegetables), and healthy fats (animal fats or plant-based oils).

FILLERS --- (Oats, Brown rice, Yams, Cooked potatoes, and Pasta.) These healthy fillers will keep the dog food together. RECIPE: Ground turkey or chicken, brown rice, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, and peas.