Homemade Beef & Rice Dog Food

There are a variety of dog foods on the market, but for the most part the ingredients are unknown. Some use low-grade meat and leftovers from slaughterhouses, as well as carbohydrates that make your dog sluggish and unhappy. Making your own dog food is a great way to ensure that your dog gets the nutrients he or she needs--and your dog needs beef and rice.

  1. Raw Meat

    • There are two camps of dog food thought: those for cooked meat and those for raw meat. Those in the raw-meat camp think cooking the meat gets rid of essential vitamins and bacteria that help a dog's digestion. Those for cooked meat may argue that modern meat processing makes raw meat dangerous for the animal. But as long as you pick the meat source carefully, such as a local butcher who also buys locally, raw meat can be a healthy option for your dog.

      Prep your raw beef by pouring 1 cup of water into the meat and mixing it together. Once mixed, this raw meat can last in the fridge for four or five days. Add vegetables and rice to the mix.

      For an adult dog, the ratio should be one part vegetables and rice to two parts meat. For a puppy, the ratio should be one part vegetables and rice to three parts meat.

    Healthy Beef and Rice

    • If your dog is a bit overweight or if your dog is a breed susceptible toward weight gain in old age, it is a good idea to make the dog healthier food options. A great healthy recipe is a simple brown rice and beef dish mixed with vegetables.

      Take 2 cups brown rice, 1/2 cup carrots, 1/2 cup broccoli, a tablespoon of sunflower oil, 1/2 pound of ground beef and one teaspoon garlic powder. Cook the garlic and the beef in a pan and heat gently. Steam the vegetables in a separate pan and add to the beef and garlic mixture. Once cooked, served at room temperature. You can freeze the extra portions for later.

    Beef Cakes

    • For an occasional treat you can make these beef cakes for your dog. Take 1.5 cups brown rice, 3 cups water, 2 grated potatoes, 4 grated carrots, 2 celery sticks, chopped, 6 pounds of ground beef, 8 eggs, some salt, 3 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 1/2 cups rolled oats.

      Cook the rice and let it cool. Combine all the vegetables, beef and eggs in a mixing bowl with a wooden spoon. Once all these ingredients are thoroughly combined, mix in the last of the ingredients. Take some muffin cups and fill each with the mixture. Preheat your oven to 420 F and cook the muffins for 35-45 minutes. Allow them to cool before serving them to the dog.