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Top 5 Homemade Dog Food Recipes

March 2, 2020 by Mary Telesz

Woman making homemade food for dogThere are a lot of reasons why you should consider making these homemade dog food recipes. Initially, the idea of homemade dog food may seem to be more expensive than store-bought food, but the difference is probably not as much as you think. Homemade food is almost always more nutritious, too.

Dry dog food loses a lot of nutrition as part of the manufacturing process. Storebought dog food is often made with ingredients that are questionable, even in the premium brands. Most of them have vitamins and nutrients artificially added, rather than included in whole foods. All of them have more starch than a dog really needs.

Homemade Dog Food Recipes To Try

Making your own dog food gives you complete control over the ingredients in your dog’s food. You will know exactly what they are eating and you can be sure that they are getting their nutrition from quality, whole foods. Making quality dog food is not hard, there are only three things that every meal needs: 1. Muscle meat 2. Raw, meaty bones and offal 3. Leafy vegetables. Here are some recipes to get you started.

No Limit Protein Bowl

Dogs can live entirely on meat, so there is no limit to the amount of protein you give to your dog. Since you cannot give them too much, err on the side of more protein than they need. Too little protein is bad for them. In addition to meats like chicken, beef, lamb, or pork, dogs can and should be fed fish as well. Fish is rich in protein and healthy fats.

Dogs are perfectly happy eating raw meat, too. Unlike humans, their digestive system can handle raw food just fine. For this bowl, you will combine fish, meat, and veggies.

Mackerel and salmon are the most common fish to feed dogs. Salmon is easier to find fresh. You can probably find both salmon and mackerel in the canned fish aisle. Just do your research before you buy canned fish- you want to be sure that you are buying fish sourced from a reputable brand and that the only ingredients in the can are fish, salt, and water or olive oil. Canned salmon in the US is always wild-caught Alaskan salmon, which is an excellent choice.
Add fish, and then add three different meats. Dogs, like us, love variety in their food. It is good for them in terms of nutrition, too. Deboned chicken, ground beef, and cubed pork is a good combination. A handful of spinach leaves or peas will round everything out and give a huge nutrition boost.

Man feeding dog raw chicken

Offal-y Good Dog Food

Offal is the word for organ meat and other animal parts that we do not regularly consume. These are some of the most nutritious parts of the animal, and should make up about 10% of your dog’s diet. Livers, kidneys, hearts and necks are all good to include in your dog’s diet. These meats are all rich in vitamins and minerals that your dog needs.

Beef liver is the easiest offal meat to find, followed by beef hearts. Many grocery stores will carry these in the meat section or the frozen section. Take a portion of liver and slice it into bite-sized pieces for your dog. Mix this with a vegetable of your choice (spinach, carrots, lettuce, peas, any type of squash, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumber, and asparagus are all good for dogs), and cooked sweet potato.

Alternative Calci-yums

By far, the best source of calcium for your dog is a raw meaty bone. These are not the same types of bones you give dogs to chew on. They are specific types of bone for eating. They are raw, not dried, and still have muscle meat and tendons attached. They are also big enough that the dog cannot swallow them whole.

Not every dog can handle these, though. Some do not like or are not able to chew through bone. In that case, ground eggshells are an excellent way to ensure that your dog gets enough calcium. You can add ground eggshells to any meal your dog eats. This recipe is more of a supplement to regular meals.

Combine ground eggshells, spinach, pumpkin, and a small serving of grains. Grains are not bad for dogs, but they are not a necessary part of the diet. They are also very starchy. They can be a good, filling source of protein but should only really be used in supplements like this.

Very Veggie Bowl

For a hefty dose of nutritious vegetables, combine three of your dog’s favorite veggies (peas, carrot, and pumpkin usually works well) with fresh meat. Deboned chicken or sliced beef are good choices, as is fresh salmon. Simple, tasty, and nutritious.

Array of homemade meals prepared for dog

Classic Meat & Potatoes

The name is a little misleading, because dogs actually should not eat potatoes, which can be toxic to them. Instead, we use grains to add a filling, starchy component to this bowl.

Combine two different proteins- cubed pork shoulder and cubed beef sirloin are easy to mix together and very affordable- with a small serving of cooked grains like oats or brown rice, and you are done.

Speak To Paw Pals To Learn More

For more dog food ideas similar homemade dog food recipes, or to hire a dog sitter or dog walker, contact Paw Pals. Our friendly and professional staff would be happy to speak to you about your dog’s needs.

Filed Under: Pet Advice, Pet Care

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

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Centreville – 20120, 20121
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4.9
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
4.9
Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith
21:22 03 Oct 21
I never worry when Mary and team take care of my dog!
Michæl Silva
Michæl Silva
21:38 01 Jul 22
Mary at Paw Pals Pet Sitting is the greatest! She has helped me train my pooch Chico how play nice with other dogs and for that I am extremely grateful! A+A+A+A+A+A
Kwi Kim
Kwi Kim
22:37 17 Jun 22
I hired Paw Pals based on my sister’s referral. Meet & greet was very thorough and detailed. I was surprised that my finicky cat came to check the sitter out. Subsequently, a sitter watched my cat over several separate visits, and it was clear through the visit reports that my cat loved the sitter. All the visits were completed having followed my directions & with professionalism.I would highly recommend Paw Pals to anyone who’s looking for a dependable, personable, & professional sitter.
Joseph Walter
Joseph Walter
19:55 13 Jun 22
Paw Pals provided a large number of photos of our pets along with a personalized message on how our pets were doing with every single visit. I would highly recommend using Paw Pals, we'll be continuing to use them whenever we go on vacation.
Ashley Manning
Ashley Manning
09:50 11 Jun 22
Highly recommend as pet sitters!Initially, a sitter from the company will visit the house to meet the pets and learn where everything is. Tatiana took careful notes and we got her some spare keys.While we are away, Paw Pals sends sitters to come and look after our boys. They feed them, scoop litter, bring in mail and packages, and they will even manage trash, recycling, blinds and lights so that everything is comfortable for our kitties. Each time they check in, we receive an email message with updates and pictures, which is so comforting when we are on the road.Also, if you don’t let Paw Pals know when you are home, they assume something has happened and will continue to care for your babies. If something were to happen, I know they would be okay.Five stars for Paw Pals!
Brian Wood
Brian Wood
04:08 22 May 22
We have used Paw Pals for a number of years now and would highly recommend to anyone looking for help with their pets. Great communication from owner Mary and flexibility to make adjustments in schedule as life changes over time. Have had a consistent set of walkers who have gotten to know our pup and the various walking routes around our neighborhood quite well.
Lesley Bush
Lesley Bush
13:58 18 Mar 22
We can't rave enough about Paw Pals. They took care of our 18 year old Cat and 20 year old Chinchilla while we were away and when our flight got cancelled, they were so accommodating and available last minute for an extra day. We worked with Jen to coordinate visits from Miko and Danny. I loved the pictures and updates on how our Lil geriatric guys were doing. Thanks a million, Paw Pals!! Our special pets were so well cared for.
Sebastian Barnes
Sebastian Barnes
01:06 17 Jan 22
I have used Paw Pals for several trips over the last few months, and they have been phenomenal every time! Mary is extremely kind and responsive, and she makes sure that my cat and dog have the care that they need every time I am out of town. All of the pet sitters that I've had have been incredibly sweet to my pets, and they treat them like their own! Will gladly continue using Paw Pals every time I need a sitter.
Julie Shildt
Julie Shildt
17:45 14 Nov 21
It has been a pleasure doing business with paw pals. We have used this company for several trips we have taken over the past 6 months. They have been wonderful caretakers for our 2 cats. Anytime there is ever a question they don't hesitate to give us a call and they leave the best notes and pictures in the emailed report of each visit. We are so glad have found such a great company.
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Katie McCune
Katie McCune
19:19 15 Jul 21
I honestly cannot recommend Mary and her whole crew enough! We started using Mary originally about 7 years ago to stop by occasionally when our Aussie Lana was younger. Over the next couple years Lana stayed with Mary and her family for a couple weekends when we went on vacation. When we moved to our new house in Manassas, Lana stayed with Sam, who lives in Manassas, overnight for moving day, and did great. Right before the pandemic, we adopted our second Aussie, Goose, and Mary recommended a fantastic trainer for him.We now have weekly walks for the dogs, and they love all of their walkers! Trevor, Paul, Hazel, Sofie, and probably a couple others have helped Goose get used to more people, and have helped my husband and me when our schedules are crazy.Paw Pals is our go-to for any help with our dogs, so I highly recommend them!
Alexandra Hill
Alexandra Hill
22:43 23 May 21
I was a nervous mommy to leave my cats with a sitter service for the first time. Paw Pals went above and beyond to care for my cats and ease a nervous mommy. I already made a reservation to use them again!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
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