Published: · Modified: by Ruby Doodle Dog · This post may contain affiliate links · 33 Comments
Homemade Dog Food Recipes Vet Approved for your furry friend.
Cooking for your dog? I love to add extra protein, veggies, and nutrients to my dog's kibble. I've reviewed these recipes with my dogs, veterinarians.
Your dog will love these homemade dog food recipes that are vet approved as its meal. It's one of our friend's dog, Zoey's favorites!You can feed these recipes-raw or cook the entire meal.
Homemade dog food can benefit your pets in several ways. If you have a dog who suffers from allergies, skin problems or gastrointestinal issues.
Kibble is highly processed and tends to lose its nutritional value.
Making dog food or dog treats from scratch maintains vital nutrients, therefore making it easier and healthier for your dogs. Besides, who wants to eat the same thing every day!
Tips and Tricks for Homemade Dog Food Recipes Vet Approved
Just like people, each dog is different and needs different nutritional and amounts of food. There is no one dog fits all rule.
Your dog's weight, health conditions, level of activity and size are all things you should consider when feeding your dog homemade dog food.
A good mix of a dog's basic requirements are enough to maintain a healthy and balanced diet.
Every dog needs protein, carbohydrates, fat, water, minerals and vitamins. I always include a good multi-vitamin like these 5-in-1 Zesty Paws Multivitamin Bites.
Keeping our pets happy and healthy is always my number one concern.
Choosing Protein for Homemade Dog Food Topper
- Proteins like Beef, Venison, Lamb, Rabbit, Hamburger, Chicken and Turkey help with growth of your dog, maintenance of tissues, organs and provides the amount of hormones and enzymes.
- Fats from oil and meat help with the absorption of vitamins, protect the internal organs, and help maintain good skin and hair. I prefer using fish as the major source of fat.
- Carbohydrates like rice, beans and corn helps to keep the intestines healthy while supplying glucose to the organs and the brain.
- Vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K promote the greatest benefits to the skin, eyes, and provide immunity for our dogs.
Vegetables that can be added
| Zucchini | Squash |
| Carrots | Alfalfa Sprouts |
| Asparagus | Green Beans |
| Turnips | Parsnips |
My dogs love raw carrots. They put them between theirpaws and will spend a good half hour just chewing on a raw carrot.
For mealtime, I find my dogs digest cooked vegetables better than raw vegetables. Raw broccolican cause gas.
These are a good basic diet for adult dogs. If your puppy is overweight, has allergies or needs a high protein diet, you'll want to make the adjustments.
A Couple of Easy Ways to Cook Dog Food
If you're cooking the meat instead of leaving it raw, I recommend cooking it a couple of different ways.
The first is to simmer it in waterin a pot on the stove. Then mix the cooking water with the foodand you'll end up with a stew-like bowl for your puppy.
You'll always want to overcook the grains you choose so that it is easily digestible. Some veterinarians now feel grains should be limited, so check with your pet on his particularnutritional needs.
Vitamin and Nutritional Supplements
- I use this multivitamin for my dogs.
- Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplement
- Probiotic Nutritional Blend
- Digestive Enzymes for Dogs
30 Minute Vet Approved Homemade Dog Food Recipe
(This recipe is not a balanced meal for your pet. This recipe is only a topper for your dog's food.)
📖 Recipe
Yield: 2
Beef Gourmet Dog Food Recipe
Dogs love liver! As carnivores, it's a wonderful addition for a dogs meal. Watch your dogs chow down on this tasty and easy to make mixture.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 lb Chicken or Turkey
- 5 cups brown rice
- 4 cups veggies - Carrots, Broccoli, sweet potatoes
- 3 tbsps coconut oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Daily Multivitamin in powdered form
Instructions
- Place your coconut oil in your pan.
- Cut up Chicken and pan fry.
- Place rice into a seperate pan and boil.
- Mix Rice and Veggies of your choosing into your mixture.
- Stir until mixed.
- Add your powdered nutritional supplements.
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Homemade Dog Food Recipes Vet Approved
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Ivana Kinsley says
I'm searching for something new recipe for my little dogs morkie. Can I make for him this recipe or this only for big size dogs or any special breeds?
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linda parkington says
Hi I was wandering if I can freeze this only I have 7kg dog
See AlsoCranberry, Onion, and Ginger Chutney Recipe on Food52Two Prime Rib Au Jus Recipes (Classic Beef and Red Wine)Roast Spatchcocked Turkey Recipe on Food52Pecan Pie Swirl Ice Cream Pie RecipeReply
Ruby Doodle Dog says
For sure you can freeze this...I freeze mine all the time with no issues.
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Julie Parnell says
This is for any dog. Just adjust the portion sizes to suit your dog
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Audrey J. Livingston says
Wow, its a great post for me. I will try it at my home. Thanks for share this awesome post with us. I love it.
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Teresa Cutrell says
My question is, how much do i give? I have 8 dogs, 10 pounds up to 150 pounds
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Ruby Doodle Dog says
Hi, That sounds like a fun household. I'd love to have 8 dogs. To answer your question with all those various weights of your dogs, is that the general rule of thumb is 2-3% of their body weight. It all depends on your dogs individual metabolism and activity level. Generally large dogs tend to eat a lower percentage and toy breeds a large percentage. I know, it seems backwards doesn't it. But it's because larger breeds tend to not be as active as the toy breeds. For a 100 lb dog I would start with 2 lbs of food a day. 1/2 to 3/4 for a 25 lb dog and about a 1/4 lb for the toy breed. If you feed twice a day, cut that amount in half for each feeding. Watch your dogs weight closely when feeding cooked or even raw. You may need to either increase or decrease as you go along to cater to each of your 8 dogs.
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Vickie Ferguson says
I have a Chiweenie and she last weighed in at ii15 pounds. She is very active. How many cups of this homemade dog food do I give to her. I also give her Kefir in her food every day for her tummy troubles. Will the Kefir interfere with the nutrition of her food?
Thank you.Reply
Ashley says
When you say it should make 2 meals for a 50lb dog, are you saying feed 2 meals a day? Or is that enough for 2 days? I’m sorry I’m really struggling with how much I should be feeding my 45lb dog
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Ruby Doodle Dog says
Every dog is different for how much food they need. A general rule of thumb is that a dog should be fed 2-3% of your dog's ideal weight ( take your dogs weighty and multiply by @% and then again by 3% to see the range of how much to feed daily.
When feeding homemade you'll want to monitor your dog's weight and adjust food amounts up or down as needed to maintain his or her property weight.
Each dog is unique. For some dogs you may need to feed more than 3%, especially if it's considered a lean diet.
I carefully feel my dogs everyday. I can usually tell by feeling them if they are maintaining, gaining or losing weight.
Hope that helps.
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Teresa says
Thank you for this! Finally a simple, complete recipe that I can easily put together for my dogs.
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Ruby Doodle Dog says
Glad you enjoyed it...
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JoAnne says
Can I use non poultry proteins in these recipes?
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Ruby Doodle Dog says
Absolutely! You can swap the poultry out for lean beef, lean pork, lamb, duck, venison, rabbit, goat, kangaroo or fish.
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Jane Steinmetz says
Thanks for these recipes! My 14 pound Cavalier/Pomeranian actually eats at mealtime instead of often leaving kibble behind. I bought some of the supplements you suggested to ensure Cooper is getting all the proper nutrients he needs and have a question - how much of the Purina Fortiflora should I use? The directions say one packet daily, but that could be anywhere from an 8 pound toy dog to an 80 pound large breed - please advise! Thanks.
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Ruby Doodle Dog says
Hi, I'm so happy to hear you're trying the supplements. I know it's confusing since 1 packet can be used for either a 14 lb dog or a 100 lb Lab.
What they've done is insure that each and every packet contains the right amount of beneficial microorganisms ( probiotics ) for each pet, no matter the size.
What I did with Ruby, my Goldendoodle was give her 1/2 packet once a day to start out with. Then I gradually added a little more each day until I was giving her 12 packet twice a day with her food.
Hope that helps.
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Anonymous says
"12 packet twice a day" ?, should be 1/2 packet twice a day, I know this was a typo but don't want someone giving their dog too much....
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Wendy says
What can I do differently if my dog is allergic to grains?
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Yolanda says
Can I feed this to my dog instead of dog food for the long term?
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Ruby Doodle Dog says
Hi Yolanda,
No, unfortunately this recipe is not balanced to be fed for the long term. It's used as a topper for dog food.
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Christine says
Can you explain how to do the calculation again? And really how often do you need to feed dogs? Once a day or twice? I have 3 dogs 1. 12-15 lbs 2. 15lbs 3. 76.9 and I'm struggling with their weight.
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Renee says
I make my dogs food and have for years. My one was always struggling with her weight as my male never did. I added more veggies to her dish and brown rice and chicken. I fed her twice a day a good portion. Over time she lost weight and is even running again and has a lot more energy. Hope this helps.
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Maggie says
Hi, great article and post. So enjoyed reading it and seeing the pics. Thank you
I am puzzled and I just wondered why is it just a topper?? It seems to have all the ingredients , apart from supplements that appears to be various Gourmet “home cooked “ food that is now being sold for dogs?. Eg butternut box food, which looks v good, but not too different from this recipe??
I hope you don’t mind me asking.
Maggie
Ps What food and how much food is it on top,of??
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Ruby Doodle Dog says
I"m so glad you enjoyed the article and the pictures. Because all dogs have different nutritional needs, I always call it a "topper." Plus that is what I personally use it for with my dogs, Ruby and Callie. As for how much, I usually replace about 1/4 cup of my dog's kibble with the topper. I hope that helps.
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Cindy A says
Hi, in your recipe you have 5 cups of rice is that cooked or is it 5 cups of uncooked rice which seems like a lot.
Thanks!
Cindy AReply
Gary Green says
Is salt good to add?
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Leah dixon says
Hello, new to this, I have a cane corso and he is 6months weighs 80lbs, can I use ground chicken and Turkey and do you cook the veggies
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Ruby Doodle Dog says
Hi,
Yes, you can definitely use chicken and turkey. I do cook the veggies, but my dogs love them raw as well.
Reply
Robin says
I also want to know about the rice. Is that 5 cups cooked already? And is 1 pound enough protein for all the rice and veggies ?
Thank you for your adviceReply
Mrscmb says
The carbohydrate ratio in this recipe is higher than the protein. Protein ratio should be higher than carbs and veggies.
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Amy says
my dog cannot have rice. what is the best substitute for that?
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Thomas M Knoll says
I have a 14 year old who wont eat much. He loves liver which is how I get him to eat his meds. Liver sausage and chicken livers. I am confused your recipe begins with "Dogs love liver!" and then there is no kind Liver in the recipe!
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Leslie Meirose says
How much is a serving size for a 80 lb American bully, I make this for him but I substitute ground beef and drain off the grease for the chicken (allergies) I guess on how much to give him?
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