Recipe for Balanced Homemade Dog Food

Since the pet food recall of 2007, more and more dog owners are taking control of their pet's nutrition by feeding them homemade dog food. With homemade food, dog owners can make sure the ingredients used are fresh, healthy and free of harmful additives and preservatives. They can also accommodate special dietary needs and offer that extra bit of tender loving care. When creating homemade dog food, however, you need to take special care with the balance of nutrients provided. Dogs require a careful balance of proteins, vegetables and grains to live a healthy life.

  1. Consult Your Vet

    • Before diving into the world of homemade dog food, make sure to consult your veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist to make sure the recipes you choose accommodate the nutritional needs of your dog. After all, his age, weight, breed and health conditions all determine the proper nutritional balance he needs. Though homemade dog food offers the advantages of fresh ingredients and dietary versatility, the American Veterinary Medical Association warns that homemade pet foods with inadequate nutritional balance can be detrimental to your dog's health, even more so than feeding them commercially produced pet foods. To avoid these risks, team up with a professional to create a homemade diet that will keep you canine healthy and happy.

    Nutritional Balance

    • The nutritional balance your dog requires depends upon his age and activity level. Cornell University guidelines recommend a diet with 16% protein for non-working adult dogs and 24% protein for puppies. Non-working adult dogs require much more carbohydrates, however, than puppies or active adult dogs. Nutritious ingredients for homemade dog foods include meats, poultry, egg, whole grains, vegetables, beans and rice. Organ meats such as liver are also nutritious ingredients to add, and favorites among many dogs. But the amount used should be limited in your dog's diet.

    Canine Recipes

    • Great canine recipes include crunchy baked treats, meaty casseroles and a variety of vegetarian dishes. In his book "Real Food for Dogs, 50 Vet-approved Recipes for a Healthier Dog," Arden Moore suggests an easy liver treat recipe using only fresh liver, corn muffin mix and water. Gourmetsleuth.com suggests a balanced salmon dinner recipe combining such nutritious ingredients as salmon, egg, celery, carrots and potatoes.

    Foods to Avoid

    • When experimenting with dog food recipes, understand there are certain foods you should always avoid. Grapes and raisins, for instance can cause kidney failure in dogs. Nutmeg can cause seizures, tremors or even death. Chocolate, onions, garlic, mushrooms, avocados and macadamia nuts also should be avoided. And to avoid e coli and salmonella risks, cook all meats before serving them to your dog.