Nutrition is one of the biggest factors in your pet's health and well-being. Proper nutrition is important for all dogs, but dog food for small breeds needs to be catered to the unique nutritional needs of pint-sized canines.
Small-breed dogs grow and develop differently than larger-breed dogs. Smaller dogs have a higher metabolism and a smaller stomach.
This means they need nutrient-dense food, and they require more calories per pound than larger breeds.
In order to ensure that you are providing the best nutrition for your pet, it is important to discuss this dog food for small breeds with your veterinarian before making a dietary switch for your pup.
Many common health issues in dogs stem from poor nutrition. If you don't formulate homemade dog food recipes properly, your pet could suffer from malnutrition or nutrient toxicity in a matter of days.
You will never be able to figure out your dog's unique nutritional needs on your own. That's why it's best to consult your veterinarian or a trained canine nutritionist before changing your dog's diet.
Dog Food for Small Breeds
This recipe may not offer balanced nutrition for all dogs, so be sure to check with your veterinarian before switching Fido to this diet. They may recommend adding supplements or a multivitamin or substituting some ingredients.
PrintRecipe: Dog Food for Small Breeds
Oatmeal makes a good substitute carbohydrate for dogs with wheat and grain allergies. A good source of soluble fiber, oatmeal is beneficial for dogs with digestive issues and aids in regulating blood glucose levels.
I used zucchini and carrots, but you could substitute other dog-friendly veggies too. You could even throw in some dog-friendly fruits once in a while to change things up for your pup.
- Prep Time: 4 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 4 minutes
- Yield: about 18 cups of food 1x
- Category: Cooked Food
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Dog Food
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 6 cups water
- 2 cups brown rice
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ cup zucchini
- ½ cup carrots
Instructions
I love sharing the dog food recipes that I create, but I often get comments from readers and viewers who say that they don't have the time to make homemade meals for their dogs.
With a little bit of water and some of the best healthy ingredients, your slow cooker will prepare food for your dog while you're away at work.
I like preparing meals for my dogs in advance and freezing them. I can make enough food for a month in just a few hours. Each day, I check the freezer and choose a meal to thaw for my pups.
If you'd prefer to feed your dog a fresh meal every day, you can make a different dog food for small breeds recipe every few days.
For this slow cooker dog food, all you have to do is add the ingredients to the slow cooker and turn it on. Most slow cookers are programmable, but if yours isn't you'll have to keep an eye on the time.
Set your slow cooker on high heat and cook the recipe for 4 ours. Once it's finished, you can easily stir the recipe to combine the ingredients equally.
Once the food has cooled, you can feed it to your pet.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 64
- Sugar: .1 g
- Sodium: 16 mg
- Fat: 1.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 8.3 g
- Fiber: .4 g
- Protein: 4.3 g
- Cholesterol: 13 mg
Serving Size Recommendation
You can serve this food to your dog as soon as it has cooled. I recommend feeding about 1/2 cup of food for every 20-25 pounds of body weight.
This recommendation is for 2 servings per day. So, a 25-pound dog would eat about 1/2 cup in the morning and 1/2 cup in the evening.
This is just a guideline.
Some dogs, like working dogs and very active breeds, will need more calories than this. Lazier pets and senior dogs may not need as many.
It's best to consult your veterinarian about the appropriate serving size for your dog. They will also help you evaluate the meal to make sure it will meet your pet's unique nutritional needs.
If necessary, they will assist you in choosing the best supplements and/or multivitamins to add.
How to store
You can store the leftover dog food for small breeds in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days or freeze it, and it’ll keep for up to 3 months. Keep in mind that this recipe includes no preservatives, so it won't last nearly as long as commercial dog food.
For More Information
We publish many homemade dog food and treat recipes every month. For more recipes, pet food cooking tips, and advice, see our “Recipes” section.
If you're new to home-cooked dog food subject, I recommend you read more about “How Much To Feed” to understand serving sizes, “What Supplements To Use” to create well-balanced meals, and “How To Store” for tips on simple and easy homemade dog food storing in a fridge or a freezer.
