Homemade Balanced Diet for Dogs

One sure way of knowing what's in your dog's food is to make it yourself. According to Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, Ph.D; a homemade, balanced diet for dogs can be made using a variety of foods and some added supplements. The amount of food to give a dog depends on the animal's weight, metabolism, temperament and breed. Meal sizes should also be adjusted based on the dog's appetite, daily exercise habits and the climate he lives in.

Things You'll Need

  • Fresh, cooked meats and organ meats
  • Fresh and canned, cooked fish
  • Eggs
  • Yogurt
  • Cheese
  • Cooked, whole grains
  • Whole wheat bread
  • Legumes
  • Vegetables, cooked or grated
  • Vegetable oil high in omega-6 fatty acid such as corn, safflower and sunflower
  • Raw bones, bone meal powder or powdered eggshells
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Instructions

    • 1

      Consider the kind of meat to include in your dog's diet. Meat provides needed protein. The Merck Veterinary Manual says healthy adult dogs need about two grams of digestible, quality protein per kilogram of body weight per day. Choose from beef, chicken, lamb and fish. Rinse canned fish with water to remove excess salt. Vary the type of meats for optimum nutritional benefits. Include muscle and some organ meat. Avoid feeding too much liver, as it's exceptionally high in Vitamin A.

    • 2

      Include eggs and dairy products, like yogurt and cheese, in meals a few times each week.

    • 3

      Use cooked grains such as brown rice, white rice and rolled oats in every meal. Whole wheat bread is also a convenient way to provide grains. Martin Goldstein, DVM, suggests a dog's meal should contain 25 percent meat, 50 percent grain and 25 percent vegetables.

    • 4

      Provide vitamins and minerals in the form of cooked legumes and vegetables in most meals. Cook or grate vegetables before serving, to increase digestibility. Use spinach, peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, chick peas and black beans.

    • 5

      Add beneficial fats to your dog's diet, especially linoleic acid which dogs require. Linoleic acid is an omega-6, essential fatty acid found in corn and other vegetable oils. Additionally, a-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid, can enhance canine health. Docosahexaenoic acid, another omega-3 fatty acid, promotes normal development and growth in puppies.

    • 6

      Supply calcium in your dog's diet with raw bones, bone meal powder or powdered egg shells. Wash and dry the egg shells and bake them in a 300 degree Fahrenheit oven for 10 minutes before pulverizing them. A dog's diet must provide slightly more calcium than phosphorus (a mineral found in meat, fish and dairy products). A ratio of 1.2 to 1.4 parts calcium, to 1 part phosphorus is ideal; but 1 to 2 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus is acceptable).

    • 7

      Read the book "Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats" for guidance on preparing balanced, homemade dog meals. Also read Chapter 3, "It All Starts With Food," in "The Nature of Animal Healing."