Vet Approved Homemade Dog Food

Dog owners should be asking questions about what their dog eats. It may say “chicken” on the bag. But what does it mean? There are many homemade options available that will meet your dog’s nutritional needs. You can ask your vet for help in preparing homemade dog food or if you have questions about veterinary-approved diets that may be suitable for your dog.

Vet Approved Homemade Dog Food

Your homemade meals must include protein, fiber, and carbohydrates. For puppies, they need about 25% protein, while adults require 18%. Your dog’s age and breed will affect the amount of protein you need. Talk to your vet about what is best for your dog. You may have noticed that many commercial dog food products don’t include the number of carbohydrates. The reason is that regulators and the veterinary community can still not determine the right amount of carbs for dogs. You have the option to buy the best, freshest ingredients for Fido’s food. To ensure your dog stays healthy, weigh him regularly. Before you start the homemade diet, take Fido to the vet. This will allow your vet to determine Fido’s ideal weight.

Approved Recipe #1

The MSCPA-Angell Animal Medical Center in Massachusetts offers sample recipes for dogs between 15 and 60 pounds. The same ingredients are recommended for all sizes but in different amounts. Although dark chicken is the primary source of protein, you can also substitute turkey, lamb or beef for it. You can find carbohydrates in pasta, sweet potato or brown rice, sweet potatoes, sweet potato, barley or peas, and white or brown rice, sweet potatoes, sweet potato or barley. You should cook grains and meat. Carrots, bell peppers, green beans, baby spinach, and squash are good fiber sources, but they should not exceed 10% of the dog’s total dietary intake. Vegetables may be either cooked or raw.

Mix the following ingredients for a 15-pound dog:

• 3 ounces of cooked protein (dark, turkey, lamb or pork, beef, eggs, etc.
• 1 1/3 cups cooked carbohydrates (sweet rice potato, barley and peas),
• 1 tablespoon vegetables (carrots and bell peppers, green beans or baby spinach), cooked or uncooked
• 1 to 2 teaspoons of a good fat source, such as vegetable oil.

Use:

• 4.5 ounces of cooked protein source (dark, turkey, lamb or pork, beef, eggs, etc.
• 2 cups cooked carbohydrates (sweet rice potato, sweet potato barley, peas or corn)
• 1.5 tablespoons vegetables (carrots and bell peppers, green beans, baby spinach squash or broccoli).
• 2 to 3 teaspoons of a good fat source, such as vegetable oil

For 60 pound dogs:

• 8 oz of cooked protein source (dark, turkey, lamb or pork, beef, eggs, or egg)
• 3.5 cups cooked carbohydrates (sweet rice potato, sweet potato barley, peas or corn, etc.)
• 3 tablespoons vegetables
• Take 3 to 5 teaspoons of a good fat source, such as vegetable oil.

MSPCA-Angell AMC recommends Balance IT as a supplement. It can be purchased from veterinarians.

Approved Recipe #2:

Founder’s Veterinary Clinic of Brea in California offers a sample recipe to feed 20-pound dogs. This can be reduced for dogs under 10 pounds or increased for dogs over 40 pounds.

For dogs 20 lb (Halve for dogs 10 lb, double for dogs 40 lb)

• 1 lb of skinless, cooked chicken
• 1 cup cooked brown rice
• 1 cup peas and carrots
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/4 teaspoon potassium chloride (a salt replacement).

This recipe allows for substitutions that are slightly different from the MSCPA-Angell Animal Medical Center recipe. FVC allows boned fish to be used as a protein source and potatoes as a carbohydrate. FVC recommends adding calcium citrate and bone meal powder to your home cooking to prevent calcium deficiency. FVC also recommends daily multivitamins for dogs.

What about Raw-Diet Foods,

The raw food diet is gaining popularity, also known as the Biologically Appropriate Food (or BARF) diet. Dr Ian Billinghurst, an Australian veterinarian, developed the concept. BARF’s philosophy is that “the diet a canine evolved to eat over millions of years of evolution” is the best. However, the American Veterinary Medical Association doesn’t believe that. The AVMA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine, and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention don’t recommend making your dog food due to the possibility of bacterial contamination and possible public health hazards.

Always get your vet’s approval.

You might have to modify certain diets if your dog has medical problems. Ask your vet for information about your dog’s nutritional requirements and recommendations for a certified veterinarian nutritionist. You can all come up with a homemade diet for your dog. No matter your dog’s medical condition, it is important to inform your vet that your dog is eating a homemade diet. You should also add veterinarian-recommended supplements to the homemade diet’s basic components.