Nutrition is integral to raising a healthy and strong dog, regardless of breed or size.
And if you're a small breed owner, you should know that our tiny, adorable dogs grow and develop differently than larger breeds.
Therefore, their nutrition needs to be catered to these differences.
“Young, small breed puppies should be fed a calorie-dense food three or four times a day,” wrote Jennifer Coates, DVM, in her PetMD article. “Small breed puppies have their own unique concerns. They have extremely high metabolic rates and can burn through a meal in just a matter of hours.”
But before making this homemade dog food for small breeds, be sure to check in with your veterinarian first.
In fact, you should always seek your vet's go signal before making a dietary switch, whether it's home-cooked or commercial food.
Why?
Many common diseases among puppies and small-breed dogs stem from a poor diet.
“If a small breed puppy doesn’t take in sufficient numbers of calories on a frequent basis, it can develop hypoglycemia resulting in weakness, lethargy, muscle tremors, seizures, and sometimes even death,” Dr. Coates wrote.
She also stressed how a small dog needs to take in more calories per pound of body weight than large breeds.
“For example, a ten-pound dog may need 400 calories (kcal) per day to maintain a healthy weight, while a 100-pound dog could require 2,250 calories per day.
A little math reveals that the small dog requires 40 calories/pound, while his large breed friend needs only 22.5 calories/pound,” she added.
Anyway, one thing is for sure. There is no single best food for small breeds or any canine.
The only thing you can do is learn about your dog's specific nutritional needs and analyze the ingredients of each recipe.
That's why it's best to consult your veterinarian or a trained canine nutritionist before changing your dog's diet.
Homemade Dog Food for Small Breeds
In this recipe, we are mainly using oats and chicken.
Oatmeal is high in fiber and contains many nutrients, minerals, and antioxidants.
However, this homemade dog food may not offer balanced nutrition for your dog specifically, so check with your veterinarian before switching Fido to this diet.
PrintRecipe: Homemade Dog Food for Small Breeds
Oatmeal makes a good substitute carbohydrate for dogs with wheat and grain allergies. Being a good source of soluble fiber, oatmeal is beneficial for dogs with bowel irregularity issues and aids in regulating blood glucose levels.
On the contrary, feeding a diet that offers too much fiber can cause gastrointestinal issues. For this reason, this food should not be the only recipe you feed your pet. You can interchange it with other homemade recipes or serve it once in a while to help keep Fido's bowel movements regular.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: about 36 cookies 1x
- Category: Cooked Food
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Dog Food
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts (diced)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup dog-friendly vegetables (chopped)
- 1/4 cup quick oats
- 1 tsp. vegetable oil
Instructions
Add the oil to a frying pan over medium heat. Sauté the chicken in the oil until browned.
Once the chicken has been cooked, add the broth, oats and vegetables to the pan. Simmer the recipe for 10 minutes.
Be sure the recipe is completely cooled before feeding to your pet.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 33
- Sugar: .4 g
- Sodium: 138 mg
- Fat: 1.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: .4 g
- Protein: 3.6 g
- Cholesterol: 7 mg
How to store: You can store the leftover dog food in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days or freeze them, and they’ll keep for up to 3 months.
Remember that this recipe does not include preservatives; 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.
