Your dog needs some nutrition too. Suppose you are looking for something other than regular dog foods. Why not try some excellent homemade dog food recipes vet-approved? Even though dogs have unique nutritional requirements, you can easily create delicious paw-licking meals for your doggo!
If you make your dog food for your pet buddy, you can provide them with more nutrition and fresh food with varied ingredients. On top of that, you can mix and match ingredients to create special meals for your doggy almost every day. They will also love your cooking!
Here are more details on homemade dog food recipes vet-approved that make you a more capable dog parent. So, read on to start a delicious journey of homemade food for your pet!
Do you have a specific question about homemade dog food recipes that are vet-approved? Then use the table of contents below to jump to the most relevant section. And you can always go back by clicking on the black arrow in the right bottom corner of the page. Also, please note that some of the links in this article may be affiliate links. For more details, check the Disclosure section at the bottom of the page.
Here's what we'll cover:
Do vets recommend homemade dog food?
Wondering if vets recommend homemade food for your dog? Well, they do, and they don’t.
A vet will never recommend you to give your dog raw foods like raw and uncooked meats, etc. Such foods can often lead to bacterial infection and diarrhea in your pet.
On top of that, every dog species also has different nutritional needs and lifestyles. Hence their food also differs.
After all, vet-approved homemade dog food is better as it can be customized as per your pet’s health condition. On top of that, you can also feed them fresh and seasonal ingredients!
Here are the reasons why vets are now recommending homemade dog food recipes for dog parents:
Vet-approved dog foods are free of preservatives and chemicals
Extra chemicals and preservatives are also harmful to your dog. Ready-made dog foods often have chemically extracted minerals and extra added flavorings. Hence, such foods may create some allergic reactions in dog breeds. On the other hand, homemade vet-approved foods are specially curated and do not contain harmful ingredients.
Fresh meat
Being carnivorous, your dog will primarily eat meat and meat items. Buying ready-made or store-bought foods that often contain processed meats may not be great for your pet’s health. But, on the flip side, vet-approved recipes with fresh meat and home-cooked items are fresh and filled with the needed nutrition.
It allows you to customize your dog’s diet
What is the best part of giving your dog homemade dog food recipes? They will get to try different food items and seasonal things, including different types of meats. The cooked foods will also completely satiate your furry friend’s taste buds!
For example, you can cook homemade puppy food recipes vet-approved or special dishes for your small dog or a pregnant dog to suit their nutritional needs better!
So, it is time if you have not tried any homemade dog food recipes for small dogs or other special breeds! You and your pet both will enjoy this journey together!
What are the best vet-approved homemade dog food recipes?
You can ask your vet about some recipes as an initial starting point. Then, the doctor will recommend a few items and dishes. On top of that, you can find many balanced homemade dog food recipes online on different pet community websites.
You can also decide on the best suitable recipes for your dog depending on their age, weight, and special nutritional needs. Here are some dog food recipes that you can try-
Mixed bowl
You will need:
- 1 to 1.5 cup brown rice (cooked as per instruction),
- 2 shredded carrots,
- 1 tablespoon olive oil,
- 1 shredded zucchini,
- any meat like 3 pounds ground meat or ground turkey, etc.,
- half cup peas (canned or fresh),
- 3 cups chopped baby spinach.
Heat some oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Now, add some ground meat and cook the meat until lightly browned. Crumble it as it cooks. Add spinach, carrots, zucchini, and peas, and cook rice on high flame for 1-5 minutes.
Let it cool and serve it to your dog!
If your dog is young or a baby, you can adjust the ingredients and even mash the whole thing to suit their palette.
Meatloaf
Your dog loves meatloaf. So, why not make them some?
You can add lean meat like chicken, lean ground beef, or pork and your favorite grated vegetables like carrots, apples, and broccoli. Add one or two eggs, half a cup cottage cheese, and 1-1.5 cups rolled oats for binding.
Mix everything together and press the mixture evenly in a loaf pan. Now, cook it for 40 minutes inside a preheated oven at 350 degrees F.
Cool it and serve your dog. But, of course, you can also refrigerate the leftovers for later!
Doggy cake
Store-bought cakes and sweets are often not ideal for your dog. So, it is time to make dog-friendly cakes that you can give them as treats and for special occasions.
You will need:
- Two eggs, half cup of peanut butter,
- ¼ cup canola or vegetable oil,
- 2/3 cup of milk or water,
- 1/3 cup of maple syrup,
- 2-2.5 cups of shredded carrot,
- 2 cups of whole wheat flour, and
- 2 tsp of baking soda.
Mix all the ingredients and bake the cake in a preheated oven for 25 minutes.
For dog-friendly frosting, bake 600-700 g of peeled and cut potatoes until they are soft. Cool them and add ¾-1 cup of plain yogurt. Now, whip the mixture till it becomes fluffy. Your frosting is ready!
What are the best ingredients for homemade dog food?
So, you have got permission and a green signal for the vet to give homemade food to your dog. But, you are unsure about the ingredients of healthy dog food recipes. After all, you need to know what you can put and cannot put in your dog’s food.
But fortunately, there are many recipes that you can find. Most of the recipes are created using local and fresh ingredients.
You can also train yourself in dog nutrition to get more details on special breeds like smaller breeds, puppies and senior dogs, etc.
Homemade dog food recipes include a large chunk of protein, like animal meat (red or white meat), dairy items, eggs, and seafood items. But before that, get some allergy tests done to ensure the protein is suitable for your pet.
Besides that, you also need to include healthy fat sources like oil or meat fat. Dogs also need some carbohydrates in food grains or vegetables in any homemade dog food vet-approved dishes.
What else to put in homemade dog food?
For calcium, you can add milk or eggshell powder. On the other hand, oatmeal, plant oils, and egg yolks will fulfill your furry friend’s essential fatty acids.
Meat, fish, and molasses are also great sources of sulfur and iodine. You can also add eggs, lamb, and liver to fulfill the requirement of zinc in your dog.
You can also add supplements to homemade dog food if the vet recommends it. A little supplement never hurts any pet!
Dogs generally love cooked foods as they feel closer to you through them. But, while starting, giving them one item at a time is better to check how they react to it. Try to gradually make them acquainted with home-cooked food over a few days and then switch entirely.
Thanks for the blog graphics: Canva.com
Thanks for the blog graphics: Canva.com
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