What are Homemade dog food recipes vet approved

What are Homemade dog food recipes

If you would like to cook for your dog, most professionals in animal care would recommend that you use recipes that are nutritionally complete. In the same way commercially prepared dog foods meet certain requirements for nutritional value; the same should apply for homemade dog food. In fact, this should exceed the minimum needs that a well- balanced diet requires. Your vet will guide you towards the right direction in preparing dog diets that are homemade or ask about the appropriateness of specific vet-recommended diets for your dog.

Components of a well-Balanced Dog Food

Homemade Dog Food Recipes.Your home made dog meal requires having carbohydrates, protein and fiber. Meals of young puppies require about 25 % protein while adult dogs require 18%. Nonetheless, protein requirements change according to the age of your dog and vary according to the breed. As such, there is need to check with your vet what is enough for your dog. You may have realized that commercial dog foods in most cases don’t list the carbohydrates percentage. This is because the right percentage of carbohydrates in a dog’s diet has still not been set by regulators and the veterinary community. If you are making the dog’s food yourself, you are at liberty to buy ingredients that are freshest and of high quality. Ensure that you frequently weigh your dog to ensure that he maintains a healthy weight. Before starting any homemade diet on your dog, take him to the vet to determine his ideal weight.

Example of Vet-Approved Recipes

For the dogs whose weight is 15, 30 and 60, the Massachusetts’ MSCPA-Angell Animal Medical Center offers sample recipes on its website. The same simple ingredients are recommended for all sizes and only at varying amounts. Dark chicken is the primary source of protein but can be substituted with lamb, turkey, beef, eggs or pork in similar proportions. Included in carbohydrates is pasta, brown or white rice, barley, sweet potato corn, oatmeal or peas. Meat and grains should be cooked. Fiber is available from carrots, green beans, bell peppers, squash, baby spinach, broccoli or squash. However, the fibrous matter should not exceed 10% of a dog’s dietary consumption. Vegetables may be eaten raw or cooked.

Dietary intake mix for a 15-pound dog

• • 3 ounces cooked protein source (turkey, dark chicken, pork, lamb, eggs or beef)
• • 1 1/3 cups cooked carbohydrates (sweet potato, rice, barley, oatmeal or corn, peas)
• • 1 tablespoon of cooked or uncooked vegetables (bell peppers, baby spinach, green beans, carrots, broccoli or squash)
• • 1 – 2 teaspoons of a source of fat like vegetable oil.

Dietary intake mix for a 30-pound dog

• 4 1/2 ounces source of cooked protein (turkey, lamb, dark chicken, eggs or beef, pork)
• 2 cups cooked carbohydrates (sweet potato, rice, peas, barley, oatmeal or corn)
• 1 1/2tablespoons vegetables (bell peppers, carrots, baby spinach, green beans, broccoli or squash)
• 2 – 3 teaspoons of a  source of fat like vegetable oil

Dietary intake mix for a 60- pound dog

• 8 ounces of cooked source of protein (turkey, dark chicken, pork, lamb, eggs or beef)
• 3 1/2 cups cooked carbohydrates (sweet potato, rice, barley, oatmeal or corn, peas)
• 3 tablespoons vegetables
• 3-5 teaspoons of source of fat like vegetable oil

Balance IT which is available from veterinarians has always been the recommended supplement by MSPCA-Angell AMC

Inquire from Your Vet

In case your dog is suffering from medical issues, you will need to adjust to veterinary-recommended diets. Inquire from your vet the particular nutritional requirements and so that he may also recommend a certified veterinary nutritionist. You can eventually come up with a homemade diet that can meet the dietary requirements of your dog. Whether the dog has a particular problem or not, you need to tell your vet that your dog is fed on homemade diet. There is need to also include veterinarian-approved supplements to the basic components of the homemade diet.

Opinions of Homemade Raw Food Diets

Also referred to as BARF or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, the raw food diet is nowadays gaining popularity. Dr. Ian Billinghurst is an Australian veterinarian who developed the concept of BARF diet. This was backed by the philosophy that ‘the best way to feed a dog is to give it what it evolved eating throughout the evolution years.’ Even though some veterinarians recommend dogs raw made food same as that which ancient dogs ate, this is not what the American Veterinary Medical Association recommends. This organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine do not support the idea of preparing raw dog food on your own due to risks of public health and also bacterial contamination.