Many dog food recipes are formulated to make numerous pounds of food. While these large meals may be right for pet owners with multiple dogs or large breeds, someone with a single small pooch may not be interested. This homemade dog food for small dogs does not only meet the nutritional needs of small breeds, it also will not make enough to feed a canine army.
Small breeds have unique nutritional needs. Without proper nutrition, small dogs can develop conditions like diabetes, nutrient deficiencies or obesity. This recipe is appropriate for most adult small breed dogs, but be sure to check with your veterinarian to see if they recommend adding any supplements to meet your dog's needs.
Commercial dog food is nutritionally balanced for the group specified on the packaging, but unfortunately the same can not be said for homemade recipes. Most recipes that you find online or in books are not nutritionally balanced for canines, even recipes that claim to be recommended or formulated by veterinarians.
The only person that can tell you exactly what your dog's unique nutritional needs are is your veterinarian or a canine nutritionist. These requirements vary based on the dog's age, weight, breed, activity level, overall health condition and many other factors. This is why it is extremely important that you discuss any changes in your dog's diet with a trained professional.
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Homemade Dog Food for Small Dogs Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup 90% lean ground beef (fat drained)
- 1 cup brown rice (cooked)
- 1 cup non-fat cheese
- 1/2 cup carrots
- 1/2 cup broccoli
Directions
You'll need to cook the ground beef and drain the fat before preparing this homemade dog food for small dogs. You will also need to cook the rice according to the instructions on the packaging.
I used carrots and broccoli in this recipe, but feel free to substitute any other canine-friendly vegetables that you have on hand. These could include:
- green beans
- beets
- spinach
- kale
- brussels sprouts
No matter which vegetables you choose, you'll need to boil or steam them to soften them for easy chewing. Once all of the ingredients are prepared separately, it's time to combine them all together in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
Once the ingredients have cooled and are combined thoroughly, you can feed this homemade dog food for small dogs to your pet. The serving size recommendation is about 1/4 cup for every 10 pounds of body weight.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you'd like to make it in bulk, you can freeze leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
