Nutrition is an integral part of raising a healthy, happy dog. Proper nutrition starts from day one, and it's important to transition a pup from his mother's milk to a diet that will provide optimum nutrition for his needs. These needs depend on the breed, average adult size, activity level and health condition of the puppy. For this reason, it's important to check with a canine nutrition expert before feeding your pooch this homemade dog food for puppies.
It's difficult to create balanced meals for dogs, because the canine is such a diverse species. Large dogs have different nutritional needs than small breeds. Young puppies have different nutritional needs than senior dogs. Your dog's diet will need to be modified over time, and it may need to be tweaked from time to time due to health issues.
In a recent study that examined 200 homemade dog food recipes, 95% were lacking in the necessary levels of at least one essential nutrient and more than 83% had multiple nutrient deficiencies. As important as it is to feed an adult dog proper nutrition, it's even more essential for puppies.
Puppies are growing rapidly, they have boundless energy and their immune systems are weaker than that of an adult dog. Because of this, it's essential that puppy owners find the absolute best food that provides the right nutrition for their pup's unique nutritional needs.
This homemade dog food for puppies recipe provides adequate nutrition, but it's likely that a canine nutritionist would recommend adding supplements to the diet to meet your puppy's unique needs. For example, large breed puppies need more protein and calcium in their diets than small breed pups.
There are some healthy, high-quality commercial puppy foods on the market. Before you decide to feed your puppy a homemade diet, be sure to work with a trained canine nutrition expert to decide the right percentage of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals that your puppy needs. It is extremely difficult to feed a balanced homemade diet for puppies, and you don't want to risk your dog becoming nutritionally deficient because you've provided an inadequate diet.
READ ALSO: 25 Best Puppy Food Brands (2018)
Homemade Dog Food for Puppies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast
1/2 cup UNCOOKED brown rice- 2 peeled and chopped sweet potatoes
- 2 carrots (chopped)
- 8 ounces frozen peas
- 15 ounces diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup fish oil
- 1/2 teaspoon iodized salt
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1.5 cups water
Directions
This is a slow cooker recipe, so it's extremely easy to prepare. Simply add all of the ingredients into your slow cooker and set it to low. This homemade dog food for puppies recipe will need to cook on low for about 5-6 hours.
If you're home while the food is cooking, be sure to stir it every couple of hours. If you'll be letting cook while you're away at work, that's alright. Stirring just helps to distribute all of the flavors evenly and ensures the recipe doesn't burn to the side of the slow cooker.
You can also make this recipe in bulk quantities and freeze it for use in the future. This is a great benefit for busy pet owners who don't have time to cook for their puppy every day or even every week.
Once the food has cooled you can feed it to your dog. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. If you choose to make it in bulk, store the leftovers in an airtight container in the freezer for 2-3 months.
