Whole Dog Journal readers have learned how to identify the best commercial foods when they shop for their dog’s diet. But whether you feed dry kibble or canned food, even the best commercial diets can be improved with the addition of appropriate fresh foods. We know that, when it comes to enhancing an already complete & balanced diet, real foods are often better than supplements. Show Keep the following things in mind when adding fresh foods to your dog’s diet. Decrease the amount of commercial food your dog gets, so that you don’t increase the total number of calories you feed your dog, which can lead to unhealthy weight gain. Limit the amount of fresh food you add to about 25 percent of total calories consumed; if you want to feed more than that, you need to be careful to feed an appropriate variety of foods in order to keep the diet complete and balanced. Here are some of the best foods you can add to your dog’s diet: 1. EggsFew foods can beat the nutritional impact of eggs, with their combination of high-quality protein and fat along with a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. Eggs are inexpensive and easy to feed, too. Egg whites are more easily digested when cooked, while yolks retain more of their nutritional value if fed raw. Most dogs have no trouble with bacteria in raw eggs, but it’s fine to feed soft-cooked, hard-cooked, or scrambled eggs. A large egg provides about 70 calories; this amount is fine for medium-sized and larger dogs, but smaller dogs would do better with half an egg daily, or one egg every other day, with meals reduced proportionately. Do not include the shell when you feed eggs, as the shells contain far more calcium than your dog needs. Too much calcium can be harmful to large-breed puppies, and also binds other minerals, making them less available to your dog. 2. YogurtA natural source of probiotics, yogurt is another food that is inexpensive and easy to feed. Stick to low-fat or nonfat plain yogurt, as your dog doesn’t need the sugar provided in the flavored varieties. The probiotics (beneficial bacteria) in yogurt provide benefits for all dogs, but are especially good for dogs with digestive problems. Use yogurt with live and active cultures. Varieties that contain more than just Lactobacillus acidophilus may provide additional benefits to the digestive tract. 3. SardinesFish supply omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA that are good for the skin and coat. In addition, they help regulate the immune system and reduce inflammation, and so can be helpful for dogs with allergies, arthritis, and autoimmune disease. DHA is also good for brain health, which can benefit both puppies and senior dogs. One small canned sardine provides about 25 calories and 175 mg omega-3 fatty acids, a good amount for a small dog (20 pounds or less). Give larger dogs proportionately more. Use sardines packed in water (not oil). Feed soon after opening so the fatty acids are still fresh. Other canned fish options, especially for larger dogs, include jack mackerel and pink salmon. 4. Vegetables and FruitsBerries, especially blueberries, are packed with antioxidants. Other good fruits to include in your dog’s diet are bananas, apples, and melon; some dogs even like citrus. Don’t feed the pits, and avoid grapes and raisins, which can cause kidney failure when eaten in large quantities. Leafy green veggies are a much better choice for your dog’s diet than starchy foods such as grains and potatoes. Vegetables are more nutritious when fed cooked, but raw veggies, such as carrots, zucchini slices, and even frozen peas, make great low-calorie snacks. Non-starchy vegetables can also be included in your dog’s diets to increase the quantity you feed without adding significant calories. Cruciferous veggies, such as broccoli, are especially nutritious, but watch out: too much can cause gas. 5. Healthy LeftoversI know that pet food companies and often veterinarians discourage giving leftovers to dogs, but as long as you stick to healthy foods and limit portions, there is no harm in sharing your meals with your dogs. Feed the same foods you eat yourself, such as meat and vegetables, not fatty scraps that lead to weight gain and have little nutritional value. Keep amounts small, or reduce meal size to accommodate the extra calories. It’s easy to overdo leftovers, particularly with small dogs; I learned this the hard way when my 11-pound Norwich Terrier, Ella, began gaining weight. Extra calories add up fast with our little guys, so keep portions small!
If you’re looking for recipes your dog will love that are super healthy and nutrient-rich you’ve come to the right place. As you know, there’s no shortage of dog food recipes. We looked through literally hundreds of recipes and separated the wheat from the chaff to give you the absolute cream of the crop in one article. Whether you’re a new pet parent of a rambunctious puppy paving the way for a healthy future or have a senior dog with special needs, these recipes are nutritious, wholesome and dogs love them.
There’s no better way to ensure that your dog is getting exactly what he/she needs in their diet than making meals for your dog. But for some the idea of hand making meals is just another thing we don’t have enough hours in the day for. That’s why when selecting the top 20 recipes we ensured that they were simple enough to make, both in regards to the ingredients and the time and steps to make them. And we’ve already done the research for you so click through our list of amazing recipes and bookmark your favorites! Remember to keep any dietary restrictions (like food allergies) in mind, and be sure to talk to your vet about the switch to homemade meals and how it could affect your pup. Now, onto 20 of our favorite homemade dog food recipes available online!
Love cooking for your dog but never have the time? Rocky Kanaka from The CW’s SAVE our SHELTER, Dog's Day Out and founder of The Dog Bakery, has a solution. This easy to make salmon meal for yourself can also be made for your dog.
Rocky Kanaka is an Emmy nominated host and creator of The CW’s SAVE our SHELTER in addition to pet dad to multiple rescue dogs. Rocky also has a passion cooking and baking for dogs and is the founder of TheDogBakery.com
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Calories: 412 per cup ( use our dog food calorie calculator)
ChungahThis recipe was created by Chungah, the creator of the blog Damn Delicious. She's a self-taught foodie who loves dogs.
These colder nights have us dreaming about soups and stews, which lead us directly to this doggie style stew created by Happy and Yummy. The story of the stew begins the way a lot of homemade dog food recipes do - Happy and Yummy creator Michelle’s pup got sick and she had to get creative with her meal making in order to right their upset stomach. The bug might have gone away, but the kitchen bug remained, and now their pups (adorable Finnegan and Buford) often receive homemade meals whether they require it or not! Michelle knew she wanted to create something she could whip up once a week and serve all week (another common thread we found across our recipe digging) and settled on a stew that that only takes about 15 minutes of prep and then 5-8 hours in a slow cooker. She says it stays fresh in the fridge for a couple of days and thaws beautifully while she makes human food the other nights of the week. She hilariously writes, “Be warned that it smells really good, and once you make it the first time, the dogs will stalk the crock pot and leave piles of drool on the floor in front of it while it finishes cooking. I recommend a strategically placed washable rug to address this situation to keep you from stepping in a giant puddle.” The stew is named after the sweet pup she originally made it for, Scooby, who lost his battle with cancer over a year ago. We’re so glad he’s forever immortalized with this delicious stew, sharing some of his favorite ingredients with puppies far and wide! Ingredients:
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Melissa HellerMelissa Heller is the chef and author over at happyandyummy.com. The kitchen is her happy place even when it comes to cooking for her two dogs Finnegan and Buford
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Calories: 417 per cup ( use our dog food calorie calculator)
ChungahThis recipe was created by Chungah, the creator of the blog Damn Delicious. She's a self-taught foodie who loves dogs.
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Calories: 176 per cup ( use our dog food calorie calculator)
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Maureen ShaughnessyMaureen Shaughnessy a full time artist and co-owner of 1+1=1 Gallery in Helena, Montana. The diet she is sharing here is the very one she fed her dog who lived to be 20 years old!
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Shirley GirlShirley Girl is a 6-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog living, working, and playing in Mont-Tremblant. A former obedience school dropout, best friend, model, and blogger she created this recipe out of boredom of eating the same food everyday. She gets really hungryy when she gets to run around the forest with her 8 Bernese co-workers.
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Calories: 1 cake = 309 calories
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Amy TokicAmy Tokic, Editor of PetGuide.com, is a passionate animal lover and proud pet parent of Oscar, a Shih Tzu/Chihuahua cross. She writes about her adventures in pet ownership and tirelessly researches products, news and health related issues she can share with other animal enthusiasts. In her free time, Amy loves perusing used book and record stores, obsessing over the latest pet products available and chasing squirrels with wild abandon (a habit attributed to spending too much time with Oscar).
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Trina CooperAn expert on traveling with a pet, Trina has brought her beagle Maggie to the UK, Switzerland, Hong Kong, and all over the United States and other European cities. Her successful blog Wag The Dog UK features advice, tips and stories from how to take your dog abroad, pet care, and recipes for home cooked dog food.
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Andrew KaplanAndrew Kaplan went through both culinary school and the hospitality program at Florida International University. He then worked in the hospitality industry in Miami and under Lee Schrager at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival.
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Calories: 356 per serving. (full recipe totals 3 servings) ( use our dog food calorie calculator)
AnnieAnnie is a Holistic Health Coach and PhD Student at UT Austin who loves creating and sharing simple plant-based recipes for both humans and pets!
Get the full recipe at PrettyFluffy.com
Serena Faber NelsonSerena Faber Nelson is a writer, television producer and fluffy dog owner. In 2010 Serena created Pretty Fluffy as a place where dedicated dog owners could find stylish products, modern advice, and inspiration for living well with their pets.Ingredients:
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Rachelle ShockeyWife, mom and blogger of Mommy? I'm Hungry! Rachelle enjoys blogging about food recipes for people and pets.
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Get the full recipe at HealthfulPursuit.com
Leanne VogelLeanne. is an ultra passionate Holistic Nutritionist and food blogger in Calgary, Alberta, Canada who has two dogs, a 9 year old German Shepherd Border Collie Cross whose loyalty runs deep. And Pebbles, a 6 year old Pomeranian with an attitude that just won’t quit. She was inspired to create this recipe because she knew she wanted to feed her dogs raw, but didn't want to pay $7 per service twice a day, per dog that the pet store was offering.
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Laura BennLaura is the founder and editor of Pawsh, an online magazine devoted to celebrating a dog-friendly lifestyle. They publish heart-melting photographs of animals and write about a life lived well with dogs
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Anna SmithAnna Smith resides in beautiful Santa Monica, CA, where she works as a Pet Nutrition Expert in a leading retail pet store. She is responsible for nutritional strategies for different breeds and development of new products on the market in compliance with Association of American Feed Control Officials. Annas' passions are education about proven methods and best practices in the industry and her dog Max, who is always well-fed.ConclusionSo there you have it! Twenty homemade, dog food recipes straight from dog loving owners around the web. We hope you’ve found a few that speak to you and your pup, and that you’re excited to get in the kitchen and start cooking! We can’t wait to hear how it goes, and to get your advice on making homemade dog food. In the comments below, be sure to leave tips and tricks, and of course include your own tried-and-true recipes that you’ve found or come up with yourself. Together, we can make mealtime a lot more pleasurable for our favorite furry friends.
Rocky Kanaka is an entrepreneur, pet rescue advocate and dog dad to a rescue boxer named Flip, a blind Cane Corso called Kobe, and a terrier mix named Zoey. He's also a pet chef and owner of The Dog Bakery, which specializes in dog birthday cakes and fresh baked dog treats. His three dogs can't get enough of the dog cakes and treats!
Lorna Paxton Ladd is a passionate dog lover and enthusiast of The Dog Bakery. She loves spoiling her 3 rescue dogs with dog cakes and jerky. A 15 year veteran in the pet industry, her aim is to educate pet parents on the best recipes, products, tips and tricks to optimize the human/canine bond. Her favorite product at The Dog Bakery are the customizable dog birthday cakes.
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