Homemade Dog Food Recipes to Improve You Dog's Health

I was shocked to learn that my two small dogs had developed tooth decay problems after I had fed them good quality commercial dog food from the supermarket. My vet warned that most dog foods you buy contain inferior ingredients and are loaded with sugar and fat. The situation is very similar to the processed foods that we humans eat. My vet suggested feeding the dog with fresh meat soft bones or a good quality homemade dog food. Shown below are some advice and recipes to get you started.

The recent recalls of commercial dog food and other pet products in America and other countries after several dogs died high highlighted quality control and contamination problems. The pet food industry is poorly monitor and regulates and there are only rudimentary controls and checks on quality and ingredients. Clearly you cannot the dog food industry to self-regulate and self-monitor the quality of their products and government authorities are no help.

Composition of Commercial Dog Foods

I am not going to go into the scary details about the ingredients used for dog food as they are too disgusting. You can do your own research if you are game.

It is worth considering making your own dog food at home to suit your dog's size and breed. This is perhaps the only way to guarantee your dog's a healthy and safety.

Ideal Ingredients for homemade dog food

Rice is a good source of basic carbohydrate for dog food. Brown rice is best as it has lots more nutrients than white rice.
Brewers yeast is a great source of vitamin B and Bakers yeast is also very good.
Whole wheat flour, corn flour or soy flour - wholemeal preferred.
Small amounts of flaxseed, wheat germ or Cod liver oil in small amounts that boosts the omega 3 fats in the food and helps maintain a shiny coat.
Various meats can be used such as a combination of two or more of liver, beef, lamb, tuna, or chicken (ground meat is easier to handle).
Some chopped meat attached to soft bones such as ribs.
Most dogs love peanut butter and simple dog biscuits can be made by combining flour, brewers or bakers yeast, bone meal and/or powdered milk, and some vegetables such as carrots. (Peanuts are one of the rare nuts that are safe for dogs.
Vegetables such as carrots, spinach, sweet potato, beans, cauliflower and broccoli are fine but they should be put through a food processor to help with digestion.
Bone meal can be added to boost the calcium. Raw meaty bones are also an excellent source of calcium and help keep the dog's teeth clean. Powdered milk is also a very popular key ingredient for calcium in dog food.

Ingredients to Avoid in Homemade Dog Food

Chocolate is dangerous for dogs.
Grapes and Raisins can cause kidney problems
Nutmeg is also dangerous and can trigger seizures in dogs.
Raw eggs could contain salmonella and maybe risky if the food is not cooked.
Onions are not a good idea.
Macadamia nuts and many other nuts can harm dogs.
Keep garlic to a minimum.
Avoid any moldy foods such as old bread.
Coffee and tea can cause similar problems as chocolate.
Preservative such as Ethoxyquin, BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene), BHA (Butylated Hydroxysanisole) and Sodium Metabisulphite are dangerous.
All added sugars are useless ingredients and should be avoided; -corn syrup, cane molasses, sugar, sorbitol, sucrose, fructose, glucose

The Basic Bones and Raw Food (BARF) Diet

One of the most popular dog food options that many people believe in is the Bones and Raw Food Diet( BARF). BARF Diets typically include a variety of uncooked foods such as :

Bones with meat and flesh attached
Offal and Organs
Muscle
Fruit
Yogurt
Eggs
Herbs
Vegetables
Various Supplements
Various Cereals

You can use virtually any type of meat including: beef, goat, buffalo, chicken, pork or whatever is fresh and available.

Various vegetables can also be used with emphasis on availability, freshness and variety.
While many pet owners are very pleased with BARF diets, some vets have claimed that BARF diets can lack essential minerals and nutrients and they recommend that users be careful to add a complete supplement .

There are many websites with recipes and many excellent books with fabulous information.

Some example are provided below.

Basic Dog Food Recipe 1

Ingredients

2-3 cloves garlic
3 eggs with shells
1/2 cup of parsley
1 lb. raw ground meat
half cup plain yogurt
1 teaspoon ground kelp
Half cup apple cider vinegar
2 cups ground or pureed vegetables
2-4 oz (125 g) raw organ meat (liver, gizzards, etc.)

Method

Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and store in the refrigerator.

Basic Dog Food Recipe 2

Ingredients

1 cup water
1 cup brown rice, cooked
1/2 cup mixed vegetables, cooked
1 kg (2 lb) chopped pumpkin, cooked
1/2 teaspoon yeast extract such as Vegemite, Marmite, Oxo
1 kg (2 lb) lean and boneless cooked chicken, beef or Iamb (boiled)

Method

Mash the cooked pumpkin with a fork and combine with the rice, and cooked vegetables. Finely cut the meat and add to the rice mixture. Add a teaspoon of meat extract and mix well. Store in the refrigerator.

Basic Dog Food Recipe 3

Ingredients

1 large whole baked potato with skin on
1/2 cup mixed vegetables, cooked
1/2 kg (2 lb) lean, cooked meat
1/2 kg (1 lb) pumpkin, cooked

Method

Bake the potato and slice into wedges, leaving on the skins. Add the cooked mixed vegetables, pumpkin and the diced meat. Mix well.

Meatloaf with Vegetables Dog Food Recipe

Ingredients

6 cups water
2 cups brown rice
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 pound (500 g) ground turkey
1 pound (500 g) frozen broccoli, carrots and cauliflower or other vegetable combination

Method

Place the water, rice, ground turkey and rosemary into a large Dutch oven or deep heavy pan. Add the ground turkey and mix well to distribute through the mixture. Bring to a boil over moderate to high heat. Then lower the heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Add the frozen vegetables to the mixture and simmer for an extra 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Keep in the refrigerator.

Dog Biscuit Recipe 1

Ingredients

1 cup white flour
3 oz (125 g) minced steak
3 1/2 cups wholemeal flour
1 teaspoon Marmite, or Vegemite

Method

Combine the flours with the mince until well mixed and crumbly. Add enough water to make a stiff dough. Roll out the dough and spread thinly over an oven tray. Cut into the mixture into small squares on the oven tray and bake in a slow oven until brown and crisp.

Dog Biscuit Recipe 2

Ingredients

2 teaspoons kelp
1/2 cup rice pollard
1 tablespoon of tallow
1/2 cup blood and bone
2 teaspoons yeast powder
1/2 cup cracked wheat or rolled oats
2 cups flour (either barley, wheat or rye)

Method

Rub the tallow into the dry ingredients in a medium size bowl. Add enough water to make a firm dough. Press the mixture thinly onto baking trays. Using a sharp knife score the dough on the tray into small bite sized pieces. Bake in a moderate oven until hard and brown. Cool, cut into biscuits. Store in air-tight containers.