Dogs with cancer need to eat a special diet that is easy for their body to digest. Their entire body is working overtime to help fight the disease, and they are weak. This homemade dog food for cancer recipe is made with limited ingredients that are easy to digest.
Oftentimes, dogs with cancer begin to lose weight. And, some cancer treatments can cause a dog to lose his appetite. For these reasons, one of the most common goals for dog food formulated for pets with cancer is to maintain a healthy weight.
It is also critically important that you create a recipe that will meet your dog's nutritional needs. If not, your dog will become nutrient deficient, making it even harder for his body to fight the cancer.
In a well-known study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 27 home-cooked recipes for dogs with cancer were evaluated. These recipes came from books and internet sources. Unfortunately, none of the recipes met the minimum nutritional contents required for a commercial adult dog food diet.
It is extremely difficult to formulate a recipe that will meet all of your dog's nutritional needs. If you're considering feeding your pet homemade dog food for cancer, you must work with a veterinarian or canine nutritionist.
ALSO READ: 10 Cancer Causing Foods for Dogs
Homemade Dog Food for Cancer Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups boneless/skinless chicken breast
- 1/2 cup kale
- 1/2 cup broccoli
- 1 tsp. coconut oil
- 1 tsp. spinach powder
- 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp. cottage cheese
Directions
This homemade dog food for cancer is easy to make with just 7 ingredients. Before you begin putting the ingredients together, you'll need to cook the chicken. I like to boil it, because it's easier to shred into pieces.
Once shredded and/or cut into pieces that are appropriately sized for your dog, add the chicken to a large mixing bowl. Next, add the kale and broccoli. You can also substitute other green vegetables that are canine-friendly, like spinach or green beans.
Do not cook the vegetables. Most vegetables lose their nutrients when cooked. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until this homemade dog food for cancer is thoroughly combined.
As I mention in my video guide above, if your dog seems to be off-put by the smell of the apple cider vinegar you can leave it out of the recipe. It has a powerful odor. Some dogs (like mine) will be so enticed by the chicken and cottage cheese that they will gobble the food up anyway. But, some dogs won't eat this food with the addition of apple cider vinegar.
If possible, keep the apple cider vinegar in this homemade dog food for cancer. It has nutritional benefits that aid in healthy digestion and helps to lower blood sugar levels. It also helps promote a healthy immune system, which is especially beneficial for dogs suffering with cancer.
Once the food is thoroughly mixed, you can feed it to your pup immediately. Again, be sure to check with your canine oncologist, veterinarian or a canine nutritionist to ensure that this recipe will meet your dog's nutritional needs.
You can store leftovers in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. You can also store leftovers in an airtight container in the freezer for 2-3 months. The daily serving size for this recipe is about 1 cup for every 25 pounds of body weight per day. You should split this amount into at least two meals per day – one in the morning and one in the evening.
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