Most dogs do not need a gluten free diet. Many owners choose to feed this type of food because they want to mimic the diet that they themselves eat. Other owners believe that grains and gluten are not natural sources of nutrition for dogs. Either way, this homemade gluten free dog food may be just what you're looking for.
First, you need to realize that grain free and gluten free are not the same things. As the name suggests, grain free dog food is a diet that does not include any type of grain. However, not all grains contain gluten. For example, both rice and quinoa are grains, but neither contain gluten.
Remember: a grain free dog food diet is always gluten free, but a gluten free diet may or may not contain grains.
Studies show that there's a reason to consider feeding your dog a gluten free diet. Whether your veterinarian has recommended a gluten free dog food diet or you just prefer to feed your dog this way, this homemade gluten free dog food may meet his nutritional needs. Still, you should check with your vet to make sure that this food provides all the nutrients that your pet's body requires. If not, they may recommend adding a supplement or multi-vitamin to the recipe.
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Homemade Gluten Free Dog Food Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups white rice (cooked)
- 1/2 cup dog-friendly vegetables
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup grated cheese
Directions
This recipe calls for 3 cups of cooked rice. If you're new to cooking rice, it will cook to about twice its size. Cook it according to the instructions on the packaging.
I used green beans and peas, but you can substitute any dog-friendly veggies. Some other great choices would be:
- carrots
- beats
- spinach
- sweet potato
- broccoli
I used frozen vegetables that we had leftover from our garden this summer. Of course, fresh vegetables are fine too. Also, I used mozzarella cheese, but you can use any type that you have on hand. I don't recommend american cheese though – the less processed the better!
Preheat your oven to 350°.
In a small casserole dish, layer the cooked rice and vegetables. The vegetables do not need to be cooked. In a small bowl, beat the egg and milk together and pour the mixture over the rice and veggies.
Sprinkle the cheese over the top of this homemade gluten free dog food and bake in the 350° for 20 minutes. Once it's done cooking, wait for the food to cool and you can feed it to your pup. I recommend a serving size of about 1/2-3/4 cup of food for every 25 pounds of body weight. This serving size is estimated based on a twice-per-day feeding schedule.
You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
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