Homemade Meals for Dogs

An increasing fad over the past several years has been dog owners making homemade meals for their pets. The fad has come as commercial dog food has been exposed to multiple preservatives, and as people are becoming aware of their pet's specialized needs. Just like a human's diet, a dog should also eat well-balanced meals that are carefully planned, in order to get the proper nutrition.

  1. Protein

    • Dogs and all other canines are known as meat eaters. Domestic dogs do need protein but unlike canines in the wild, their meat should be cooked to avoid the possibility of it being rancid or containing parasites. The type of meat served to the dog should be changed on a regular basis for a variety of nutrients. Adding eggs, dairy proteins such as yogurt and animal organs are also suggested as meat alternatives. Protein should take up the largest part of the dog's meal, which is more than half of the meal.

    Starch

    • Mix in some starch with the protein to add balance to your dog's diet. The starch should not be a high sugar starch such as bread or pasta, but a more natural one like potatoes, rice and wheat-based pastas. These starches need to be cooked well to make it easier for digestion. Just like meat, starches should be changed every few days to help with the variety of nutrients the dog takes in.

    Vegetables

    • Just like any other well-balanced diet, a dog's diet should include vegetables to give them the vitamins and minerals they need to stay healthy. Cooked vegetables such as carrots, peas, pumpkins, and even some fruits are good sources of nutrients that provide much needed energy, and they are also easy to digest. You should test to see which fruits and vegetables your dog likes best. Onions and garlic should be avoided because if consumed in high quantities they can be toxic, and therefore create an allergic reaction. You should serve vegetables with every meal, along with equal parts of starches.

    Do's &Don'ts

    • There are several foods that dogs should not be exposed to because they are toxic to them. According to DogAware.com, chocolate is one of the most infamous poisons to dogs, but dogs are also deathly allergic to onions, garlic, grapes, raisins and macadamia nuts if consumed in large quantities.

      It's important to supplement your dog with the nutrients it may not be getting. One common nutrient is calcium. Try adding ground up egg shells to your dog's food, or give it a ham bone on a weekly basis.