Homemade Puppy Food: Recipes & Advice
Providing puppies with essential nutrients is key to their ideal growth and development. While you are feeding the commercial kibble or wet food, cooking for our little ones can satisfy us in another way. Home-made puppy food is not only healthy for your puppy but can also provide your puppy with the exact requirements it needs.
However, before deciding on homemade puppy food, you need to know what to put in it and how much. Also, mind that consulting your vet about it is a good option to consider.
How to prepare homemade puppy food?
Preparing homemade puppy food requires some amount of commitment and dedication from the parents’ side. While cooking, you need to ensure proper ratios of different nutrients that are crucial for the puppies' growth.
Here’s a chart with the ingredients, their respective ratios, and examples of such food to include in the diet.
To simplify the food preparation for your puppy, start by cooking a batch of meals once a month (or weekly). You can easily freeze them for later use. They last for months in the freezer and about five days in the fridge. The feeding portion depends on the age and size of your puppy. Consulting a vet would be your best option.
Cooked vs Raw Diet
Homemade cooked food is always considered the best option to feed puppies or adult dogs. But, are raw food safe to feed puppies? Although there are some health benefits of raw food for dogs, it also poses some dangers like the presence of pathogens.
In the case of raw food for puppies, it is usually recommended to steer clear of it. Puppies have a weaker immune system as compared to adult dogs, hence, it is best to feed them well-cooked food.
However, if you want to introduce a raw diet to your puppy, consult the veterinarian first and consider your options. You can start by providing a combination of raw and cooked food during the transition process only when the puppy is of the right age. Raw diets are strictly not recommended for puppies or dogs that have immune system issues.
Best Homemade Puppy Food Recipes
1. Chicken and Rice Delight
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Servings: About 10 cups
Total Time: 45 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 cups boneless chicken (cooked and shredded)
- 1 cup cooked white rice
- 1/2 cup carrots (cooked and finely chopped)
- 1/4 cup peas (cooked)
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
Nutritional Values:
- Protein: High
- Fat: Moderate
- Carbohydrates: Moderate
- Vitamins & Minerals: Rich in Vitamin A and C
- Cost: Affordable
Benefits:
- Supports muscle growth and energy
- Promotes healthy coat and skin
- Provides essential vitamins for immunity
Instructions:
- In a mixing bowl, combine shredded chicken, cooked white rice, chopped carrots, peas, and coconut oil.
- Mix the ingredients thoroughly.
- Divide the mixture into meal-sized portions.
- Store the portions in airtight containers in the freezer.
- Thaw before serving and gently warm if needed.
2. Turkey and Lentil Stew
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 40 minutes
Servings: About 12 cups
Total Time: 1 hour
Ingredients:
- 2 cups ground turkey (cooked)
- 1 cup cooked lentils
- 1/2 cup spinach (cooked and finely chopped)
- 1/4 cup pumpkin (cooked and mashed)
- 1 tablespoon ghee (clarified butter)
Nutritional Values:
- Protein: High
- Fat: Moderate
- Carbohydrates: Moderate
- Vitamins & Minerals: Rich in Iron and Fiber
- Cost: Affordable
Benefits:
- Supports lean muscle development
- Aids digestion and bowel health
- Provides energy and essential nutrients
Instructions:
- Mix cooked ground turkey, cooked lentils, chopped spinach, mashed pumpkin, and ghee in a bowl.
- Ensure the ingredients are well combined.
- Portion the mixture into containers.
- Freeze the containers for future use.
- Thaw before serving and gently reheat if desired.
3. Fish and Vegetable Medley
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Servings: About 8 cups
Total Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked fish (deboned and flaked)
- 1 cup cooked brown rice
- 1/2 cup carrots (cooked and finely chopped)
- 1/4 cup green beans (cooked and chopped)
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
Nutritional Values:
- Protein: High
- Fat: Moderate
- Carbohydrates: Moderate
- Vitamins & Minerals: Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- Cost: Affordable
Benefits:
- Supports brain and heart health
- Enhances coat and skin condition
- Provides essential nutrients
Instructions:
- Combine flaked cooked fish, cooked brown rice, chopped carrots, chopped green beans, and coconut oil in a bowl.
- Mix until the ingredients are well incorporated.
- Divide the mixture into serving portions.
- Freeze the portions in containers.
- Thaw before serving and gently warm if desired.
Remember to consult your veterinarian before introducing new foods to your puppy's diet to ensure their nutritional needs are met.
Homemade Food Advice for Puppy
Before introducing homemade food to your puppy, consider what it has been fed since weaning. Start providing homemade food in smaller quantities at first to see if it suits your puppy.
A great way to begin is by mixing cooked lean protein like chicken, turkey, or fish, along with cooked complex carbs like brown rice or sweet potatoes. Don't forget to add some veggies for extra vitamins and minerals.
Before completely shifting to homemade food, consider having a conversation with your vet and assess the benefits and risks of feeding your puppy homemade food.
Benefits of Homemade Puppy Food
- Control: You know what your puppy eats, ensuring quality.
- Tailored: Meals can match your puppy's specific needs.
- Minimal Additives: Fewer artificial extras compared to some store-bought food.
- Variety: Different flavors encourage a healthier appetite.
Risks of Homemade Puppy Food:
- Imbalance: Careful planning is needed to avoid nutritional gaps.
- Expertise: Lack of knowledge can lead to nutrient deficiencies.
- Time-Consuming: Preparing meals takes time and effort.
- Contamination: Mishandling can risk bacterial issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Homemade food healthy for a puppy?
Homemade food is healthy for a puppy as long as it has been prepared according to the correct nutrient requirements. When making homemade puppy food, remember to have a mix of protein, carbs, and good fats, along with important vitamins and minerals. Use ingredients like lean meats (chicken, turkey, fish, etc.), eggs, and cottage cheese for protein.
Do vets recommend homemade food for puppies?
Vets do recommend homemade food for puppies as long as it is well-prepared and nutrient-rich. A lot of veterinarians support this approach because it lets dog owners know exactly what their dogs are eating. This keeps them safe and makes it simpler to keep track of their diet.
When to feed my puppy?
After the weaning stage, puppies should have at least three regular meals each day. Calculate the total daily food quantity according to their weight and divide it evenly into the three feedings. You can give the first meal to your puppy at 7 AM. Refer to the puppy feeding schedule for a more detailed understanding.
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