Dogs with allergies and other health issues can be difficult to feed. Many dog owners are surprised how well their dogs do during elimination diets which are often homemade due to the necessity of controlling the ingredients. This leads dog owners to consider whether it is possible and beneficial to produce homemade dog food approved by vets.
Although dog owners may want to develop homemade diets for their dogs, they may feel intimidated by ensuring the dog gets optimal nutrition. The good news for owners is that veterinarians and animal nutritionists can assist in developing diets.
1. Maintenance Diet For Healthy Dogs
- 40% protein: beef, chicken, lamb, turkey, duck, fish, and egg.
- 50% vegetables – options are green beans, carrots, corns, pumpkin, peas, and celery.
- 10% starch such as potatoes, oatmeal, potatoes, quinoa, and pasta.
One tablespoon of cottage cheese, plain yogurt, or kefir.
Multivitamin and mineral supplement.
2. Maintenance Diet For A 15-Pound Dog (MSPCA Angell)
3 ounces of cooked protein (dark chicken, turkey, lamb, pork, beef, or eggs)
1 1/3 cups of cooked starch (rice, sweet potato, barley, peas, corn, or oatmeal)
1 tablespoon of vegetables, cooked or uncooked (carrots, bell peppers, green beans, baby spinach, squash, or broccoli)
One to two teaspoons of a fat source such as vegetable oil.
3. Maintenance Diet For A 30-Pound Dog (MSPCA Angell)
4.5 ounces of protein (dark chicken, turkey, lamb, pork, beef, or eggs),
2 cups of cooked carbohydrates (rice, sweet potato, barley, peas, corn, or oatmeal)
1.5 tablespoons of vegetables (carrots, bell peppers, green beans, baby spinach, squash, or broccoli)
Two to three teaspoons of a fat source such as vegetable oil
4. Maintenance Diet For A 60 Pound Dog (MSPCA Angell)
8 ounces of the cooked protein source (dark chicken, turkey, lamb, pork, beef, or eggs)
3.5 cups of cooked carbohydrates (rice, sweet potato, barley, peas, corn, or oatmeal)
3 tablespoons of vegetables
Three to five teaspoons of a fat source such as vegetable oil
5. Founder’s Vet Daily Meal For 20 Pound Dog
¼ pound of skinless chicken
1 cup cooked brown rice
½ to 1 cup peas and carrots
¼ teaspoon potassium chloride
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
250 mg calcium citrate
Multivitamin and mineral supplement
6. Diet For A Dog With Chicken Or Beef Allergy
40% of a novel protein such as duck, turkey, lamb, salmon, or tuna.
50% of vegetables such as carrots, pumpkin, and sweet potato.
10% starch such as rice, potatoes, quinoa, and oatmeal.
One tablespoon of cottage cheese or plain yogurt or kefir to each meal.
Multivitamin and mineral supplement.
Omega oils
7. Diet For A Dog With Grain, Chicken, And Beef Allergy
40% of a novel protein such as duck, turkey, lamb, salmon, or tuna.
50% of vegetables such as carrots, pumpkin, and sweet potato.
10% starch such as potatoes or yams.
One tablespoon of cottage cheese or plain yogurt or kefir to each meal
Multivitamin and mineral supplement.
Omega oils.
8. Diet For A Dog With Chicken, Beef, And Dairy Allergy
40% of a novel protein such as duck, turkey, lamb, salmon, or tuna.
50% of vegetables such as carrots, pumpkin, and sweet potato.
10% starch such as rice, potatoes, quinoa, and oatmeal.
One tablespoon of coconut oil or coconut milk for each meal.
Multivitamin and mineral supplement.
Omega oils.
9. Weight Loss Recipe For Dogs
A one-quarter pound of ground 99/1 beef, chicken, or turkey
One cup of non-creamed cottage cheese or farmer’s cheese
(Freeze/thaw the cottage cheese and pour off the liquid to remove the lactose)
Three cups of canned pureed pumpkin, drained cooked carrots, or cooked cabbage
One cup of drained canned peas or Rosarita fat-free pinto beans
One-half cup of rice bran
Vitamin and mineral supplement
10. Walkerville Vet Raw Dog Food Recipe
About 9 ounces (250 grams) of raw chopped beef or lamb
1 cup of chopped raw carrots
1 cup of chopped raw apples
1/4 cup of defrosted frozen peas
1 and 1/2 cup of chopped pumpkin or squash
2/3 cup of uncooked brown or basmati rice
4 Teaspoons of sunflower oil
4 Grams of fish oil
Directions
First, cook the rice and pumpkin together. You should end up with approximately 3 cups of cooked rice mixed with softened pumpkin. Let these ingredients cool. Then, mix the rest of the ingredients with this mixture.
Multivitamin and mineral supplements
The following supplements are recommended:
1 Cenovis® Zinc Tablet (25mg)
1 Trace Nutrients or Interclinical Copper Plus tablet (2mg)
1 g Iodised salt
1 Centrum® Advance Multivitamin/Multimineral Supplement
Do Vets Recommend Homemade Dog Foods?
Some veterinarians are adamant that dogs should only be fed commercially produced dog food. Other veterinarians take a more holistic approach and acknowledge that dogs may benefit from fresh food. These veterinarians will help their clients develop diets that can be made at home.
Homemade diets have the advantage of being adaptable for dogs with health issues. They are particularly helpful for dogs with allergies. Some dogs may have allergies to preservatives, and fresh food is the only option.
Being able to control each ingredient allows for absolute control of what the dog ingests. It also allows the owner and veterinarian to establish precisely what ingredients underlie allergies, gastric upsets, and other health issues.
The diet can also be adjusted as the dog ages. For example, some older dogs may not digest fats as easily and need the fat content to be reduced. These changes can easily be accommodated in homemade dog food.
Balanced Diets Are Essential In Homemade Dog Food
Some veterinarians are reluctant to support owners making homemade dog food because they are concerned the food may be unbalanced and lack nutrients.
This error can be avoided by consulting with your veterinarian or an animal nutritionist. A veterinary nutritionist in your area can be found by clicking here.
Some internet programs allow you to design a balanced homemade diet for your dog by selecting ingredients that suit your dog’s needs. There are two that veterinarians recommend:
Conclusion
Some veterinarians will assist the owner in developing a homemade diet for their dog. Homemade diets can be very beneficial for dogs with health problems as the food can be designed to meet their unique needs. Healthy dogs also benefit from balanced homemade diets. A key element is that the diets must be balanced.
References
http://www.foundersvet.com/home_cooking.htm
http://support.mspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=latestnews_GenericPetFoodRecipes