Homemade Food For Your Dog
What can I make my dog eat at home? There are many reasons why you should look into preparing dog food at home. Since you have absolute control over what goes into the dog food, you can ensure that the meals you serve are more nutritious and delicious. Home-cooked doggie meals can also save you some precious dollars.
They don’t have to take up a whole chunk of your time either. You can easily make a big batch and serve them in meal-sized portions.
Don’t know where to start? Here are 5 easy dog food recipes that your dog will surely love.
Easy Homemade Dog Food Recipes
Stop wondering what can I make my dog eat at home? These 5 easy recipes will have your dog looking for seconds.
Note: the quantities of these recipes are meant to be prepared in big batches that you can store and freeze as needed.
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Homemade Dog Food With Chicken
Chicken is a good source of protein for dogs. It’s lean, contains healthy omega-6 fatty acids, and is easy to digest while providing lots of flavors. This recipe can be incorporated with regular kibble. It has protein from the chicken and vitamin B from the oats so it’s likely to be one of the vet-approved homemade dog food recipes.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cup of rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons of canola oil
- 4 pounds of chopped boneless chicken thighs
- 1 pound frozen cut green beans
- ¼ cup liquid amigos
- 3 cups water
Directions:
- In a rice cooker, pour the water and cook the oats until tender for about 15 minutes.
- As the oats are cooking, heat some oil in a pan, add the chicken, and saute for around 4 minutes.
- Once the chicken is cooked, add the green beans and cook for another 4 minutes.
- Pour the amino and mix it with the chicken and green beans.
- Cover your pan and simmer under low heat for 10 minutes.
- Your oats should be cooked by this time. Add the oats to the pan and make sure it’s evenly combined.
- Let cool before serving. If you’d like, you can mix it with kibble.
Peanut Butter Dog Treats
Most dogs love peanut butter so this peanut butter dog treat recipe will be an instant favorite. You can replace store-bought treats with this yummy snack. Most types of peanut butter are safe for dogs. They’re a good source of healthy fats, protein, niacin, and vitamins B and E.
Ingredients:
- 1 medium-sized egg
- 1 cup of natural peanut butter
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose gluten-free flour
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line your baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix the gluten-free flour, peanut butter, egg, honey, and water in your stand mixer’s bowl.
- Roll and spread the dough on a lightly floured surface until it is about half an inch thick.
- Use a cookie cutter to separate the dough into bite-sized pieces.
- Arrange them on the baking sheet.
- Bake for an hour or until it becomes hard, similar to store-bought biscuits. You can lessen the bake time if you want a softer and more chewy dog biscuit.
Rice, Turkey, and Veggie Mix
This is one of the best homemade dog food recipes, especially if you want your dog to shed a few pounds.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 2 cups uncooked brown rice
- 6 cups water
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 16 ounces frozen veggies such as broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots
Directions:
- Put the ground turkey, brown rice, water, and rosemary into a large pot.
- Continuously stir until the ground turkey is broken up and mixed into the porridge.
- Bring it to a boil and reduce to low heat.
- Let it simmer for 20 minutes.
- Add the vegetables and cook for 5 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and let it cool.
Feel Good Chicken and Rice Mix
Is your pet feeling down or under the weather? This simple comfort food for dogs will have that tail wagging in no time. This meal is easy to make and easy on the tummy but filling and nutritious.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of rice
- 4 cups low salt chicken broth
- 15-ounce can of cut green beans, drained
Directions:
- In a pot, bring the chicken broth to a boil.
- When the broth starts boiling, stir in the rice.
- Reduce the heat and let the rice cook as you simmer it for about 20 minutes.
- Once the rice is cooked, add the drained beans.
- Let it cool and serve.
Frozen Banana Delights
This is the perfect way to give your dog a cool and delightful dessert in summer.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons of xylitol-free peanut butter
- 3 medium-sized bananas, peeled and mashed
- 4 cups of plain yogurt
Directions:
- Make a puree out of all the ingredients with a blender.
- Pour into ice trays, popsicles trays, or even plastic cups.
- Freeze until the puree is settled and firm.
With these 5 recipes, you’ll never have to ask what can I make my dog eat at home? again.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Homemade Dog Food Better Than Store-Bought?
Homemade dog food gives you greater control over the ingredients and the preparation of your pet’s meals. However, keep in mind that there are human foods dogs can’t eat.
Additionally, home-cooked meals have fewer additives. You can also select premium ingredients without any fillers if you prefer.
How Much Homemade Food Should I Feed My Dog?
A general rule of thumb is 2 to 3 percent of your dog’s body weight. If in doubt, consult your veterinarian for a recommendation based on your dog’s weight, age, and health.
Is It Cheaper To Buy Dog Food Or Make Your Own?
Whether homemade dog food is cheaper than ready-made kibble and wet canned food depends on what kind of store-bought food you’ve been giving your dog.
In general, however, you can save money by purchasing raw ingredients and cooking them yourself.
One pound of chicken can be cooked into several recipes and later mixed and matched with dog-safe vegetables and fruits. Not only will it allow you to whip up several recipes at a time, but it will also ensure that your dog has something new and exciting to look forward to with each meal.
Conclusion
Is homemade food good for dogs? Absolutely. We cited several reasons above like greater nutritional content, fewer preservatives, and more control over the ingredients. You can also adjust recipes based on your dog’s favorite flavors and food.
It may seem like more work at first but if you prepare large batches, you can easily ration them out during meals. Just remember that not all types of food are good for dogs.