Homemade Dry Dog Food

Every year dog food is pulled from the shelves of local grocery and pet stores due to manufacturer recalls. Many avoid the potential threat of feeding their companion dangerous fillers, preservatives and byproducts by taking the homemade route. Pros include a healthier, more customized diet while cons include expense, preparation time and lack of knowledge. Regardless of your dog's dining preference, some points and a sample recipe could make going homemade much simpler.

  1. Fruits and Vegetables

    • From meats and vegetables to additives and fibers, there are loads of ingredients that are not suitable for canine digestion.

      Skip vegetables such as spinach, garlic, onions and potatoes, as they can cause constipation, indigestion and bad breath. Spinach's level of oxalic acid can cause kidney stones.

      Choose instead vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale and zucchini. Cook vegetables with hard rinds prior to feeding. Select darker vegetables, because they are typically higher in nutritional value.

      Process all vegetables before adding them into the dog food, as many are hard to digest. Use the puree setting on your blender to guarantee that the mixture is as smooth as possible.

    Meats and Proteins

    • Trichinosis is a parasitic disease caused by eating raw, unclean or ill-prepared meats.

      Avoid meats that are more prone to carry these parasites, as dogs are sensitive to contracting the disease. Some include pork, ground squirrels, fox, bear and wolf. Cook all meats thoroughly and dice into small pieces before feeding them to your dog or adding them to a mixture.

      Select lean protein sources such as chicken, tuna, venison, beef and small amounts of organ meats. Too much liver, for example, can cause bloating and diarrhea.

      Eggs are a safe, strong source of lean protein. Add them to dog food mixtures or simply drop a well cooked, scrambled egg or two into the dog bowl as a treat. Don't feed them to your dog raw or undercooked.

      Follow the general proportion of 1 part lean protein to 2 parts vegetables when making dog food at home.

    Dry Dog Food Recipe

    • Ingredients you will need for your homemade dry dog food include:

      2 ½-cups of whole wheat flour
      1 ½-cups of brewer's yeast
      ½-cup of nonfat, dry powdered milk
      ½-cup of cornmeal
      4 ½-cups of water
      3 medium eggs
      2-tsp. of flaxseed oil
      2-tbsp. of natural peanut butter
      ½-cup of pureed cauliflower
      ½-cup of pureed zucchini
      ½-cup of pureed green beans

    Steps

    • 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

      2. Wash cauliflower, zucchini and green beans. Combine vegetables in food processor with ½-cup of water and puree until completely smooth.

      3. Combine dry ingredients in mixing bowl. Add 3 medium eggs and blend thoroughly.

      4. Add wet vegetable puree, remaining 4 cups of water, flaxseed oil and peanut butter. Mix together until consistency is homogenous and resembles a thin pancake batter.

      5. Pour mixture onto cookie sheet and bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes.

      6. Let the hard sheet of kibble dry, break into bite size pieces, and store refrigerated in freezer bags or plastic containers. The food will stay fresh for up to five weeks. Freezing is also an option if you want to make your dog food in bulk.

      This recipe yields 30 cups of dry dog food.