Experts in canine nutrition will tell you that homemade dog food is the only way to provide your pet with the exact nutrition that he needs.
When done properly, making homemade meals allows you to provide your pet with a diet that meets his needs through every life stage.
This simple homemade food won't be appropriate for all dogs, but your veterinarian can help you add supplements or additional ingredients to cater the recipe to your pup's needs.
Unless you plan on studying canine nutrition yourself, it's imperative that you speak with your veterinarian and/or a canine nutritionist before switching your pet to a homemade diet.
Even homemade dog food recipes that have been formulated/recommended by veterinarians may not provide all of the essential nutrients that your dog needs.
If the diet you feed isn't nutritionally balanced, your dog can become nutritionally deficient within just a matter of days.
Similarly, eating too much of a certain nutrient could actually poison your pet over time.
It’s important that you work with a professional to figure out the right balance of carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals that your dog’s body requires each day.
They can also help you figure out how many calories are in the recipes you're feeding and how many calories your dog should be eating each day.
Simple 5 Ingredient Homemade Dog Food Recipe
Your dog's nutritional requirements are based on a number of variables including:
- age
- weight
- breed
- activity level
- metabolism
- overall health condition
This is why it is so important to discuss this (or any other) homemade dog food recipe with an expert.
Before you switch your dog's diet, whether you're going with a commercial food or a homemade option, you need to be sure that it will give him the nutrition that his body requires.
PrintRecipe: Simple 5 Ingredient Homemade Dog Food
Making your dog's food at home allows you to have full control over all of the ingredients used. You can choose to use organic ingredients or make a grain-free recipe. I recommend using the healthiest ingredients that you can afford, and adding variety to your pet's diet to keep him healthy and happy.
This simple recipe uses just 5 ingredients. Your vet may guide you in adding more ingredients to provide the exact nutrition that your dog requires. Either way, this recipe is simple to prepare and store.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: about 14 cups of food 1x
- Category: Cooked Food
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Dog Food
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked organic brown rice
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 4 hard boiled eggs
- 3 medium sized carrots (diced)
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
Instructions
Cook the ground beef fully in a skillet. Drain the grease. Cook the rice according to the instructions on the packaging. Hard boil the eggs, and dice the carrots into small pieces. If your dog will not eat raw vegetables, you can steam the carrots until soft.
Mix all of the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and stir until evenly combined. When all of the ingredients are completely cooled, you can serve this homemade food to your pet.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 144
- Sugar: .7 g
- Sodium: 31 mg
- Fat: 4.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 17.1 g
- Fiber: 1.2 g
- Protein: 7.9 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
How much to feed
I recommend feeding about 1/2 cup of food for every 20 pounds of body weight.
This recommendation is for 2 servings per day.
This is just a guideline.
Lazier pets and senior dogs may not need as many.
It is extremely important to consult your veterinarian about the best serving size for your dog.
How to store
You can store the leftover homemade 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.
Keep in mind that this recipe includes no preservatives, so it won't last nearly as long as commercial dog food.
For More Information
We publish many homemade dog food and treats 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.
