How to Make Homemade Dog Food

Wsith recent consumer trends favoring a move to conscious, sustainably-sourced cuiine, food for pets seems to be following a similar trajectory, especially since many packaged feeds often contain insufficient nutrients, high levels of fat, and low-quality fillers. Due to overwhelming feed options on the market, now more than ever consumers have pledged to make their own quality dog food from scratch. Here is everything you need to get started.

The Essentials

A balanced diet is crucial to keep your pet happy and healthy. Make sure your homemade dog food includes these important nutrients:

• Fat and Fatty Acids: Try using eggs, meat, and added oil to give your pup the fatty acids he needs.
• Quality Protein: A dog’s active lifestyle requires more protein than the average human diet. Make sure your homemade food uses protein from meat, seafood, poultry, or eggs to keep your dog energetic and athletic.
• Carbohydrates: Rice and oats are both good options for adding carbohydrates to your homemade dog food. You can also use starchy vegetables, such as potatoes or peas.
• Calcium: Some pet owners add dairy to homemade dog food, such as yogurt, or powdered eggshells for added calcium.

Getting Started

Before you begin, make sure you read these tips:

• Buy a Food Scale: Food scales are more accurate than using measuring cups, especially when portioning meat. Using a scale to measure your ingredients will ensure you get the right result every time.
• Follow the Recipe Precisely: Ask a vet or trusted friend if they know of any homemade dog food recipes, or browse a reputable website. Once you find the right recipe, go over the instructions with a fine-tooth comb, and then follow them. Accidental swaps may throw off the nutritional balance of the finished product, unintentionally adding or decreasing fat, protein, or calories.
• Cook All Ingredients Thoroughly: Bacteria in undercooked foods like meat or poultry can make your dog sick, so make sure all raw ingredients are heated correctly. Even foods like beans and grains should be cooked so they’re easier for your pup to digest.

Supplements

Depending on the recipe you decide on, you may want to supplement your dog’s diet with oils and other additives so you can be sure he’s getting all the nutrients he needs:

• Fish Oil: If seafood isn’t a large part of your dog’s diet, incorporate fish oil drops or capsules. Fish oil provides fatty acids to regulate the immune system. It can also add calories, however, so don’t overdo it.
• Organ Meats: Liver is especially nutritious for dogs, and should make up a small portion of their overall diet. It’s best to feed small amounts of liver to your dog regularly, instead of serving large amounts infrequently.
• Plant Oils: If your dog is allergic to or does not regularly eat poultry, supplement with plant oils such as walnut, hempseed, soybean, or safflower. They are essential for providing omega-6 fatty acids.

Making dog food from scratch is a great way to streamline your pet’s diet, as the process gives owners the ability to control the ingredients that go into every blend. For more information about diet, health, and obedience training for dogs, follow the Australia Pet Doors blog each week. We share tips for dog and cat ownership, as well as information about the quality pet doors we sell. To learn more, call us at 0414 922 751.