One of the best ways to help a dog suffering from arthritis is through proper nutrition. Making homemade dog food for arthritis can be tricky, because you need to ensure that the recipes you choose provide adequate and balanced nutrition. For this reason, you must discuss any dietary changes with your veterinarian or a canine nutritionist.
The first thing you must consider when your dog has arthritis is his weight. If your dog is overweight, that could cause his arthritis pain to be even worse. When the joints are already inflamed and in pain, carrying around additional weight will only exaggerate that pain.
Your veterinarian can help you determine whether or not your dog is overweight. If it's decided that he is, they can also help you formulate an appropriate diet that will provide enough nutrition without unnecessary calories.
This homemade dog food for arthritis may not be appropriate for every dog. Be sure to discuss any changes in your dog's diet with his veterinarian. The recommended feeding amount for this recipe is about 1 cup of food for every 25 pounds of body weight per day. This amount should be distributed in 2-3 servings per day.
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Homemade Dog Food for Arthritis Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breast
- 1 cup oats
- 1/2 cup carrots (chopped)
- 1/2 cup kale (chopped)
- 1/4 cup celery (chopped)
- 1/4 cup cottage cheese
- 1 tsp. spinach powder
- 1 pinch of parsley
- 1 tbsp. flaxseed
- 1 tbsp. coconut oil
Directions
First, you'll need to boil the chicken breast and cut/shred it into pieces appropriately sized for your pup. Cook the oats according to the instructions on the packaging. Also, if your carrots are not pre-cooked, you will need to boil them as well.
In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients. Mix until thoroughly combined. Once this homemade dog food for arthritis is completely mixed, you can feed it to your dog.
While they are not used in this recipe, it may be beneficial to add green-lipped mussels to your dog's diet if he has arthritis. Recent research has shown improvement in the arthritic condition of dogs that were fed these mussels.
It is also important to note that fatty meats can aggravate arthritis, and grains can accelerate inflammation causing arthritis pain to worsen. Stay away from grains and fatty meats if you're looking for a homemade dog food for arthritis.
In this particular recipe, the omega 3's found in coconut oil act as a natural anti-inflammatory. Also, the beta carotene found in carrots helps fight inflammation. You can also speak with a canine nutritionist about other beneficial ingredients to include in a dog food diet formulated to help with arthritis.
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