Re-sharing this recipe for healthy homemade dog food because both dogs absolutely love it! I used We Feed Raw as the meat in this recipe and you can use FITNESSISTA40 for 40% off! It saves me a trip to the farmers market and is the perfect blend of meats and organ meats with no fillers or preservatives.
Hi friends! Are you OK? I hope you are doing well today! Today I’m going to volunteer at the kids’ school and I’m looking forward to spending some time on the sauna blanket after my workout. It should be a pretty low-key day!
In today’s post, I’m calling out all dog owners. I want to share with you our dogs obsession with homemade dog food. If you’re looking to upgrade your dog’s food, this simple recipe is packed with nutrients that both dogs will go crazy for.
(See the crazy eyes? She loves it.)
To be honest, I always feel a little bad about giving Macy packaged dog food because the creature loves fresh food. She was constantly begging for scraps of broccoli and bell peppers (two of her favorites), stealing whole beef briskets off the counter (and eating them on our new white couch…), whole chicken breasts (bones and all, thankfully not sick), and ramen noodles and curries. But can you blame her? Knowing her taste, I would pour her kibble into her bowl and feel a little sorry for the foodie. To keep things interesting, we would top it with fresh pet from Whole Foods (too expensive, but still feel like a piece of packaged meat), but I knew there had to be a better way.
I started doing a lot of research and found vet-approved recipes online, which inspired me to eventually make my own.
I’m excited to share all the details with you! It’s cheaper than Fresh Pet, contains certified organic, farm-fresh, and wild-caught ingredients, and I love that I know everything about it. No preservatives or extras. Friendly reminder: Always consult your veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist before changing your dog’s food. While this works for Macy and Lola, it’s important to note that dogs may have different allergens or may simply not be able to tolerate certain things. It’s also helpful to introduce new foods gradually so the transition is gentler on their stomachs.
*Please note, this post may contain affiliate links. They do not affect the purchase price, but allow me to earn a small kickback, which I use to keep this little blog running. On that note, a huge thank you to those of you who choose to shop using my affiliate links!
Healthy Homemade Dog Food Recipes
Benefits of homemade dog food:
There are many benefits to making dog food at home, including:
Ingredients Control: By preparing your dog’s food from scratch, you have complete control over the quality of the ingredients used, ensuring your furry friend only gets the best.
Avoid sketchy ingredients: Traditional dog food often contains questionable ingredients such as fillers, artificial preservatives, and low-quality meats that can be harmful to your dog’s health.
Customized nutrition: Homemade dog food allows you to tailor your dog’s diet to their specific needs, whether they need a certain protein source or are allergic to certain ingredients.
Increase digestibility: Whole, fresh ingredients are easier for dogs to digest, resulting in better nutrient absorption and overall health.
Ingredients and their benefits:
The recipe that inspired this was Dr. Judy’s Puploaf. She has the full post here and you can actually order it online! Since this was more of a topper, Macy still included some Me, Love & You Naked Superfood Kibbles (which you can order from Thrive Market) in her bowl—I didn’t have to be so specific about the ratios of the ingredients.
I’ve also added a few extra ingredients that aren’t in the original recipe but are just as good for your dog and delicious. Just like humans, dogs thrive on a diet of meat and vegetables. (Just be sure to avoid garlic and onions.)
Ground beef: Excellent source of protein and essential amino acids needed for muscle health. If it’s lean beef, bonus points!
Ground turkey: Low-fat, lean protein, rich in essential nutrients. It is also considered hypoallergenic, making it an excellent choice for puppies with allergies.
Internal organs (heart, liver, gizzards, spleen): Rich in vitamins and minerals, including iron, zinc and vitamin B12, essential for your dog’s overall health.
Butternut Squash: Rich in vitamins A and C, fiber and antioxidants to support immune function and digestion. (Sweet potatoes are a good choice.)
sardine: A great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which promote skin and coat health, reduce inflammation and support joint health. Sardines are one of Messi’s all-time favorite foods!
Green leafy vegetables: Provides essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin K, calcium and folate to maintain overall health and vitality.
Green beans and carrots: Great for providing vitamins, minerals and a high dose of fiber. Green beans and carrots help with vision, immune system, bone health, and more. I was surprised to find out how much Macy loves certain vegetables!
egg: Rich in choline, protein and essential nutrients. If you use farm fresh eggs, you can also add eggshells. Since I use organic eggs from the grocery store, I use the membrane inside the egg whenever I use this ingredient in a recipe.
Oyster: Rich in zinc and selenium, important for immune function and thyroid health.
cranberry: Rich in antioxidants, good for urinary tract health.
broccoli: Contains fiber, vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C and calcium, for optimal health.
bell pepper: Provides vitamin A, vitamin C and antioxidants to support immune function and eye health.
Flax oil: Source of omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat and joint support.
ginger: Has anti-inflammatory properties and aids digestion.
brown rice: Due to its fiber, vitamins and minerals, it is a healthy addition to any diet.
Healthy Homemade Dog Food Recipes
route:
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, organ meats, butternut squash, sardines, leafy greens, oysters, cranberries, broccoli, bell pepper, and ginger. You may find this is easiest to combine in a food processor, but that’s a personal preference.
I keep flax oil in the refrigerator and drizzle on a small amount before serving.
Mix ingredients thoroughly to ensure even distribution.
Transfer mixture to baking pan and bake lightly at 325°F for 20-30 minutes.
Let the food cool before giving it to your dog. Keeps in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, the rest can be portioned and frozen. I feed our fur babies this super delicious meal in stock cubes until it’s time to make more! I just put them in the refrigerator.
Healthy Homemade Dog Food Recipes
This healthy homemade dog food recipe is based on Dr. Judy’s puppy bread recipe. This is a great way to give your dog fresh, nutritious food!
2 lb. organic grass-fed ground beef
1 cup Chicken-hearted
Add any other organ meats such as spleen, gizzard or liver – we used a blend from a local farm which contains heart, spleen and liver
2 Canned sardines in water
2 Canned mussels in olive oil
3 Eggs (if farm fresh, use eggshells. If from the grocery store, use the egg membrane on the inside of the shell)
1 cup Butternut squash, chopped
1 cup broccoli, chopped
2 Green peppers, seeded and chopped
A handful of leafy greens (I used beets), chopped
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
1/2 c Dried cranberries (make sure there is no added sugar or extra ingredients)
Cold pressed flax oil, for consumption
In a large bowl, stir together ground beef, organ meats, chopped butternut squash, sardines, leafy greens, oysters, cranberries, broccoli, bell pepper, and ginger. I keep flax oil in the refrigerator and drizzle on it before serving.
Mix ingredients thoroughly to ensure even distribution.
Transfer mixture to baking pan and bake lightly at 325°F for 20-30 minutes.
notes
Let the food cool before giving it to your dog. Keeps in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, the rest can be portioned and frozen. I used stock cubes.
It feels so good to give our dogs fresh, nutritious food!
So, tell me, friends: Do you make food for your dog? Do you have a favorite brand?
Western Europe
Gina
More:
If you want to outsource the meat for this recipe, I use We Feed Raw + regular ground beef as the meat mixture in this recipe. It was perfect and she was crazy about it. You can view and use FITNESSISTA40 here
Homemade dog food is here.
