Basic Homemade Dog Food Recipe
Many commercial dog foods
lack proper nutrition, are full
of fillers and additives and
can cause allergies in your
dog-such as chronic ear
infections or skin conditions.
Here is a good basic dog
food recipe that you can
make at home. Be sure to
scroll down for ingredients
you want to avoid.
- 2 cups cooked rice or whole grain pasta
- 1 cups veggies, such as grated carrots, mashed potatoes and peas (see below for veggies to avoid)
- 2 cloves of garlic-pressed through garlic press
- 1 tablespoon oil such as safflower or flax seed oil
Combine ingredients well, add water and cook until meat is done.
- serve 1 cup per 30 lbs and freeze into individual servings
Try making a 3 day supply each
time you cook and put the food
in single-serving size containers
in your refrigerator for convenience.
Meat
When choosing meat, choose lean meat. Remove all skin from chicken or bones. If you have access to organic or grain fed meat and can afford it, this is the best not only for you, but for your pet.
Other ingredients to add
Dogs can eat just about anything you eat as long as you
stick to fruits and veggies, lean meat and whole grains.
Avoid processed foods, fried foods and sweets, just as
you would yourself.
Besides rice, you can also use oats, whole grain pasta
and barley For veggies it's best to avoid use frozen
mixed veggies or grate carrot into mixture.
One important aspect of your dog's diet, whether you
purchase food or make your own, is variety. Use a
different type of meat each time you make a recipe a
nd vary the veggies too. Dogs need a variety of nutrients,
just tike people.
Parsley-helps improve breath and digestion.
Dogs can also eat just about anything healthy that you eat:
- other grated or diced veggies (see below for what to avoid)
Another way to make sure your dog is getting and the nutrients he needs is to add a good multi-vitamin made especially for dogs.
What dogs should not have in their diets:
- chocolate can cause seizures in dogs, especially small dogs
- Grapes and Raisins - even a single serving of raisins can kill a dog
- Animal fat and fried foods
- Bones: Bones can splinter and damage a dog’s internal organs.
- Apples, Cherries, Peaches and similar fruit: The seeds of these fruits contain cyanide, which is poisonous to dogs as well as humans. Dogs especially don't know to stop eating at the core/pit
- Raw eggs: Raw eggs can cause salmonella poisoning in dogs
- Salt - too much can cause kidney problems.
- Use caution with veggies like Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Beans, Turnip and Cabbage as these can cause digestive upsets and gas. If your dog isn't sensitive to these, you can add them to the food also.
For dog treats, instead of buying expensive commercial treats, give cheese cubes or beef hot dogs without nitrates. Hot dogs can be purchased now with whole meat and low fat, such as Healthy Choice.
Other foods to avoid for dogs:
- chocolate - never feed your dog chocolate as this can be toxic, especially for small dogs
- Onions, Peppers, Tomato, Spinach, and Cucumbers
Changes to your dogs diet should be made slowly. Watch for signs of diarrhea or allergy conditions such as ear infections to make sure your dog isn't allergic to one of the ingredients you are adding. If allergies occur, go back to basic recipe and try one different ingredient per week to catch the culprit.
As with any health issue, your veterinarian is your best source of information. Discuss changes you plan to make with your vet, especially if your dog has any type of health condition.
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