20 Healthy Homemade Dog Food Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I cook for my dog to eat everyday? ›

Your pet needs protein (animal meat, seafood, dairy, or eggs), fat (from meat or oil) and carbohydrates (grains or vegetables). They also need calcium (from dairy or an ingredient such as egg shells), and essential fatty acids (from certain plant oils, egg yolks, oatmeal, and other foods).

Creating a Balanced Dog Diet

Your dog needs protein (chicken, beef, lamb, duck, etc.), fat from meat or oil, carbohydrates like grains and vegetables, and essential fatty acids, often from plant based oil, oatmeal, and/or eggs. Eggshells provide a good amount of calcium, along with other dairy products.

The first five ingredients of your dog's food should always start with protein. Dogs are omnivores, so they receive energy and nutrients from both plant and animal nutrients. But protein is essential to their muscle and tissue development, immune system health, energy, and healthy skin and nails.

Can Dogs Eat Chicken And Rice Every Day? It is not a good idea to keep your dog on a daily diet of chicken and rice for long. While this dish is extremely healthy for dogs, it does not contain all of the nutrients they need, which they get from other sources such as red meats and vegetables.

Why Sweet Potatoes Are Good for Dogs. Sweet potatoes provide an excellent source of dietary fiber, which helps the digestive system function more effectively. Eating fiber on a regular basis lowers the risk of heart disease and certain types of cancers.

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.

Recommended serving amounts for homemade dog food

As a general rule, dogs will eat around 2 to 3 percent of their ideal body weight in fresh food daily. Larger breeds may need as little as 1 1/2 percent, and smaller breeds may need as much as 4 percent.

What is the best ratio for dog food? ›

A good recommendation is 40% protein, 50% vegetables and 10% starch. Some dogs cannot handle high amounts of protein, though, so it is important to visit your vet to determine the best ratio to suit their dietary needs.

Meat. It should be no surprise that meat is the most important component of your dog's diet. Dogs are pre-programmed to go crazy for meat for a reason! Every dog is different, but a general rule is that your dog food should be 30 percent lean protein — dogs will not thrive on an all-meat diet.

Try blueberries as an alternative to store-bought treats. Yes, cantaloupe is safe for dogs. Cantaloupe is packed with nutrients, low in calories, and a great source of water and fiber. It is, however, high in sugar, so should be shared in moderation, especially for dogs who are overweight or have diabetes.

Bacon, Ham and Fat Trimmings

Bacon, bacon grease, ham, and fat trimmed off meat or bones contains a lot of salt and/or fat and at the least can cause indigestion, vomiting, and diarrhea in both dogs and cats. These foods can also cause pancreatitis, a serious, potentially deadly inflammation of the pancreas.

Many dog foods contain fish because it is high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. But can dogs eat tuna? The answer is no. You shouldn't feed your canine companion the saltwater fish because it could lead to a number of different health problems.

Raw and cooked carrots are healthy options for dogs and make a nutritious add-on to meals. While carrots are generally safe, it is important to cut whole carrots and even carrot sticks into bite-size chunks before feeding them to your dog. As a result, you will prevent choking, especially in small dogs.

While dogs don't actually need large amounts of fruits and vegetables to live healthy lives, certain ones do make suitable treats on occasion and can even provide health benefits. Broccoli is high in fiber and vitamin C and low in fat. It is safe for dogs to eat, raw or cooked, as long as no seasonings are added.

Safe: Cooked White Rice and Pasta. Dogs can eat plain white rice or pasta after it's cooked. And, a serving of plain white rice with some boiled chicken can sometimes make your dog feel better when they are having stomach problems.

Is Quinoa better than rice for dogs? ›

Many dog foods use cheap carbs and fillers – often corn, rice or wheat – and they don't always provide the best source of carbohydrates for your dog. Quinoa, on the other hand, is a nutritious complex carbohydrate source, providing your pooch with a steady stream of clean energy.

No, most vets don't recommend making dog food yourself because of the risk that you will forget essential nutrients and other health concerns. There are some exceptions, and your vet may suggest homemade foods to meet your dog's nutritional needs if they are precise.

There's nothing wrong with salt, however excess salt or high salt intake in a short amount of time can present health risks. Puppies require at least 0.45% salt in their food, but this reduces to just 0.12% minimum as they reach full age.

Can Dogs Eat Raw Eggs? Although cooked eggs can be a nutritious treat for your dog, raw eggs are dangerous. As with humans, raw eggs can expose dogs to harmful salmonella, which can then spread back to their pet parents (especially those with a compromised immune system).

Dietary Advice. What's important to remember is that too much of any human food can be upsetting to a dog's stomach. Just because you're eating oatmeal daily for breakfast doesn't mean your dog should, too. Generally, you can feed your dog one tablespoon of cooked oatmeal for every 20 pounds of their weight.

Spinach contains large amounts of vitamins A, B, C, and K. It also contains iron, antioxidants, beta-carotene, and roughage, which stimulate the digestive tract. Your dog food should be contain all the nutrients your pup needs, but small amounts of spinach can provide some benefits.

Pumpkin: Pumpkin has much of the same nutrients as sweet potatoes do, and has the added bonus of often regulating a dog's digestive system.

Indeed, the statistical study showed that dogs fed with industrially processed food live an average of 10.4 years, while dogs fed with home-made food can reach an average age of 13.1 years. Increased lifespan is just one advantage of feeding your dog a raw food diet.

A balanced, home-cooked diet for a 30-pound dog would cost $3.52 per day; $5.58 if you go organic. That's two to four times the price of commercial dry dog foods of similar qualities, he says, but up to half the cost of commercial wet foods.

A dog's digestive system is different from a human's. Typical human food is much too rich and fatty for a dog to properly digest; eating it can lead to vomiting, diarrhea and even more severe conditions like pancreatitis. Many human foods also contain an unhealthy amount of sodium for dogs.

What is a good breakfast for a dog? ›

Eggs are a great source of protein for dogs, and they're safe for Fido to eat as long as they're fully cooked. (No eggs over easy for your pup.) Rover recommends preparing your scrambled eggs in a small amount of olive oil. Then, just serve them to your dog over plain, cooked grains with a side of vegetables.

Try treating your dog with raw cucumbers, carrots, broccoli, or celery. You can also try boiling them first to break down some of the insoluble fiber.

Eggs can't be the sole source of protein for your dog, as dog food contains other much-needed nutrients for any dog. Plus, since eggs are packed with protein, if your dog ingests too much it can lead to weight gain from too many calories consumed. In general, dogs shouldn't eat more than one egg per day.

While there are no scientifically-supported benefits to homemade diets, whole ingredient-based diets are better in the long term. Commercial foods are made to be complete and balanced, adds Dr. Bartges, albeit not the most exciting of meals.

White potatoes belong to the nightshade family of vegetables, which includes tomatoes; like tomatoes, raw potatoes contain solanine, a compound that is toxic to some dogs. However, cooking a potato reduces the levels of solanine. If you do feed your dog a potato, it should be baked or boiled, with nothing added to it.

Storing Homemade Dog Food.

Once you've prepared a batch of fresh food, store it in the refrigerator for about four days or freeze it for up to six months in an air-tight container or resealable bag. When serving freshly made dog food, use the same precautions you would when serving canned dog food.

Carrots, green beans, apples, blueberries, or bananas are tasty options. Keep in mind that the bulk of your dog's meal should be kibble. Aim to have your dog's dish consist of 3/4 kibble and 1/4 add-ins. Cut any fruits or vegetables into bite-sized pieces and mix thoroughly with the kibble (don't just sprinkle on top).

While there are no scientifically-supported benefits to homemade diets, whole ingredient-based diets are better in the long term. Commercial foods are made to be complete and balanced, adds Dr. Bartges, albeit not the most exciting of meals.

Can Dogs Eat Chicken And Rice Every Day? It is not a good idea to keep your dog on a daily diet of chicken and rice for long. While this dish is extremely healthy for dogs, it does not contain all of the nutrients they need, which they get from other sources such as red meats and vegetables.

Bacon, Ham and Fat Trimmings

Bacon, bacon grease, ham, and fat trimmed off meat or bones contains a lot of salt and/or fat and at the least can cause indigestion, vomiting, and diarrhea in both dogs and cats. These foods can also cause pancreatitis, a serious, potentially deadly inflammation of the pancreas.

Is canned tuna good for dogs? ›

Many dog foods contain fish because it is high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. But can dogs eat tuna? The answer is no. You shouldn't feed your canine companion the saltwater fish because it could lead to a number of different health problems.

Eggs are a great source of protein for dogs, and they're safe for Fido to eat as long as they're fully cooked. (No eggs over easy for your pup.) Rover recommends preparing your scrambled eggs in a small amount of olive oil. Then, just serve them to your dog over plain, cooked grains with a side of vegetables.

Some proteins are easier than others for dogs to digest. The sources with the highest digestibility are eggs (100%) and chicken, beef and lamb (92%), which are all meats taken from muscle. Proteins derived from organs, such as kidney, heart, and liver, are next with a digestibility of 90%.

Why Sweet Potatoes Are Good for Dogs. Sweet potatoes provide an excellent source of dietary fiber, which helps the digestive system function more effectively. Eating fiber on a regular basis lowers the risk of heart disease and certain types of cancers.

Pathogens in Homemade Dog Food

Human goods do have issues with pathogen contamination as well – 25% of raw chicken on the market will be contaminated with Salmonella, and raw vegetables like Spinach and Lettuce have frequent recalls for pathogens like E.

Indeed, the statistical study showed that dogs fed with industrially processed food live an average of 10.4 years, while dogs fed with home-made food can reach an average age of 13.1 years. Increased lifespan is just one advantage of feeding your dog a raw food diet.

Dietary Advice. What's important to remember is that too much of any human food can be upsetting to a dog's stomach. Just because you're eating oatmeal daily for breakfast doesn't mean your dog should, too. Generally, you can feed your dog one tablespoon of cooked oatmeal for every 20 pounds of their weight.

While both rice and potatoes are perfectly healthy for dogs in limited quantities, rice is typically the healthier food while potatoes are more of a treat. In fact, rice is often helpful for dogs with upset stomachs, but potatoes can contain solanine which can be toxic to certain dog breeds.

While dogs don't actually need large amounts of fruits and vegetables to live healthy lives, certain ones do make suitable treats on occasion and can even provide health benefits. Broccoli is high in fiber and vitamin C and low in fat. It is safe for dogs to eat, raw or cooked, as long as no seasonings are added.

Safe: Cooked White Rice and Pasta. Dogs can eat plain white rice or pasta after it's cooked. And, a serving of plain white rice with some boiled chicken can sometimes make your dog feel better when they are having stomach problems.