One of the most controversial ingredients found in almost all dog food products is grain. Some experts say it's beneficial for canine nutrition, while others say that all dogs should eat a grain free diet. Whether your dog needs to eat grain free for medical reasons or you just prefer to feed him this type of diet, this homemade grain free dog food recipe may be a good option.
Most veterinarians don't recommend a grain free diet unless your dog has an allergy that requires this type of food. However, in recent years there has been a lot of research done on whether or not grains are beneficial to the canine diet, and tons of commercial grain free dog food brands have hit the market.
Usually, you shouldn't make the decision about which diet is best for your dog on your own, and instead ask the experts. Your veterinarian or a canine nutritionist can help you select a dog food diet that will give Fido the nutrients he needs while catering to any health conditions that he may have.
This is especially true if you're planning to prepare your dog's meals at home. It's also important when you're feeding a specialized diet (like grain free, low fat, low protein, etc…) While recent research does point to grains being an unessential part of the canine diet, your veterinarian will know what is best to meet your dog's individual needs.
Before switching your dog to a grain free diet, you need to discuss the transition with your veterinarian to avoid complications. One thing that's important to note is that grains and gluten are not the same thing. Oftentimes people interchange the two, but if avoiding gluten is important to you, then remember that that a homemade grain free dog food recipe may not be gluten free.
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Homemade Grain Free Dog Food Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 1 sweet potato (cubed)
- 1 large apple (cubed)
- 2 carrots (chopped)
- 1 can kidney beans (drained)
- 2 cups frozen peas
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
Directions
This recipe is for a slow cooker. If you have a programmable slow cooker, you'll be able to add the ingredients, set the time and then go about your regular business for 8 hours. Slow cookers make preparing your dog's meals fast and easy!
Place the chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker and add enough water to cover it. Now, add the sweet potato, apple, carrots and kidney beans. Cook this homemade grain free dog food recipe on low in the slow cooker for 8 hours.
30 minutes before the dog food is finished, add the olive oil and peas. Stir the food and then allow it to cook for the remaining 30 minutes. Once the food has finished cooking, you can serve it to your pet as soon as it's cooled.
As you'll see in my video guide above, our dogs love this homemade grain free dog food recipe. It's easy to store, too! You can keep it for 5-7 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you'd prefer, you can also freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
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