Before you google “homemade dog food recipe vet-approved,” be sure that you know exactly what your dog's specific nutritional needs are. If a recipe is approved by a veterinarian that just means that it fulfills the recommended daily nutritional guidelines for most dogs.
Your pup's nutritional requirements depend on a number of variables including his breed, weight, age, activity level, and overall health and well-being. As you can probably guess, this means that every dog's dietary needs are different. You should work with your veterinarian or a canine nutritionist to create a set of recipes that meet your pet's specific needs, and you'll need to adjust his diet throughout his life as all of those variables change.
If you're just looking for a homemade dog food recipe vet approved, then I've got a great one to share today. The Massachusetts MSCPA Angell Medical Center has published this generic nutritionally adequate recipe for the average adult dog weighing about 60 pounds with no medical problems.
If your dog falls into this category, this could be a great option for him. You may also want to bring this recipe with you into a consultation with your vet or a canine nutritionist as a starting point. They can explain if this recipe would work well for your Fido or what you should change/add to it to make it more nutritionally appropriate.
The Angell Medical Center also offers sample recipes on their website for average dogs weighing 15 and 30 pounds with no medical problems. You can even find a sample homemade cat food recipe on the site.
MORE RECIPES HERE: Homemade Dog Food & Treats Recipes
Homemade Dog Food Recipe – Vet Approved
Ingredients
- 1 cup protein – I chose chicken (shredded or chopped into bite-size pieces)
- 3.5 cups carbohydrate – I chose steel cut oats, but you could also use potato, rice, barley, etc…
- 3 tbsp. your choice of vegetables – I used butternut squash, peas and carrots
- 3 tbsp. fat source – I used coconut oil
Directions
As you can see, this is a limited ingredient recipe. It also gives you the option to choose the protein and carbohydrate source that works best for your dog. I chose to use chicken and steel cut oats, but you could substitute for other healthy protein and carb sources that your dog prefers.
You'll need to cook the protein and carbohydrate sources. You'll also need to steam or boil the vegetables. Once you've prepared the ingredients, all you have to do is mix this homemade dog food recipe vet approved in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
Again, it's important to speak with your veterinarian before switching your dog to a homemade diet. Even if your dog is the average 60 pound adult pooch with no health problems, your vet may still recommend adding a supplement to his diet.
Many breeds have health conditions that they are more prone to developing. For example, Labrador Retrievers are more prone to hip and joint issues than most other breeds. Even if you have a young Labrador, your vet may recommend adding a joint supplement or dose of glucosamine and chondroitin to his daily meals.
