How to Make Homemade Diets for Dogs With Liver Problems

If your dog has been diagnosed with liver problems, chances are that its veterinarian has recommended a specially formulated diet to support its fragile liver. While various dog foods for liver health are commercially available, you can also make your own dog food. The goal of a homemade diet for canine liver health is to provide your dog with enough energy and nutrients to prevent malnutrition, limit further damage to its liver by preventing copper and free radicals to accumulate and support the regeneration of liver cells. Because decreased liver function results in less protein being broken down by the body, your dog needs more protein in its diet than the average dog.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 large pots
  • Olive oil
  • 3 lb. ground beef
  • 2 cups brown rice
  • 2 cups chopped carrots
  • 2 cups crumbled tofu
  • 1 cup beet pulp
  • 1 cup wheat bran
  • Black pepper
  • Garlic powder
  • Vitamin supplement
  • Small plastic containers

Instructions

    • 1

      Brown the beef in a pot large enough to accommodate all of the ingredients that will later be added.

    • 2

      Boil the 2 cups of rice in 4 cups of water in a separate pot, with just a dash of olive oil to prevent the rice from turning sticky.

    • 3

      Add the cooked rice to the large pot with the browned beef. Then add the remaining ingredients to the same pot, except for the vitamin supplement.

    • 4

      Mix all the ingredients thoroughly. Allow the mixture to cook on very low heat for about 20 minutes to bring out the flavors of each ingredient.

    • 5

      Season with just a tad bit of black pepper and garlic powder. Do not use salt, as sodium can aggravate liver problems.

    • 6

      Crush the vitamin supplement and mix in well with food. Use a vitamin supplement that is rich in Vitamins B, C, E and K, and that also contains zinc, silymarin and phosphatidylcholine, suggests The Dog Health Guide's website.

    • 7

      Store the food in small plastic containers that can be microwaved, and put them in the freezer. Take out only what you will need for a couple of days at a time. If your dog's appetite is gone, warm up the food in the microwave before presenting it to him to create an aroma that it won't be able to resist.