We’re sharing this healthy homemade dog food recipe again because both dogs love it so much! I use 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 an amazing blend of meat and organ meats with no fillers or preservatives.
Hello friends! How are you doing? I hope your day goes well! Today I’m volunteering to drive to the children’s school and am looking forward to spending some time in the sauna blanket after training. It should be a pretty quiet day!
I’m calling on all dog owners for today’s post. I wanted to share our dogs’ obsession with you: homemade dog food. If you’re looking to improve your dog’s diet, this easy recipe is WAY nutritious and both dogs love it.
(See the crazy eyes? She’s into them.)
Honestly, I was always a little embarrassed to give Maisey packaged dog food because this animal LOVES fresh food. She constantly begs for leftover broccoli and peppers (her two favorite foods), stole a whole brisket from the counter (and ate it on our new white couch), a whole chicken breast (bone-in and all, and luckily she didn’t get sick), and ramen and curry. But can you blame her? Knowing her taste profile, I poured kibble into her bowl, feeling a little sorry for the foodie. To spice things up, we put Fresh Pet from Whole Foods on top (so expensive and still felt like a block of packaged meat), but I knew there had to be a better way.
I started doing a lot of research and found a vet approved recipe online that inspired me to finally make our own recipe.
I look forward to sharing 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 that goes into it. No preservatives or additives. Friendly reminder: Always speak to your veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist before changing your dog’s food. While this works for Maisey and Lola, it’s important to note that dogs may have different allergens or may simply not tolerate certain things. It’s also helpful to gradually eat more new foods so that the change is easier on your stomach.
*Please note that this post may contain affiliate links. They have no impact on the purchase price, but allow me to earn a small kickback that I use to keep this little blog running. With that in mind, thank you to those of you who choose to purchase through my affiliate links!
Healthy Homemade Dog Food Recipe
Benefits of Homemade Dog Food:
Making your dog’s food at home can have a ton of benefits, including:
Control over ingredients: By making your dog’s food from scratch, you have full control over the quality of the ingredients used, ensuring your furry friend gets only the best.
Avoiding dubious ingredients: Conventional dog food often contains questionable ingredients such as fillers, artificial preservatives and low-quality meat that can be harmful to your dog’s health.
Tailored nutrition: Homemade dog food allows you to tailor your dog’s diet to his specific needs, whether he needs a specific protein source or is allergic to certain ingredients.
Increased digestibility: Whole, fresh ingredients are easier for dogs to digest, resulting in better nutrient absorption and better overall health.
Ingredients and their benefits:
The recipe that inspired this recipe is Dr. Judy’s Puploaf. You can find the full post here and you can actually order it online! Since this is more of a highlight, Maisey still gets some I and Love and You Nude Super Food munchies (you can order it from Thrive Market) in her bowl – I didn’t have to be so precise with the ingredient proportions.
I also add a few additional ingredients that are not in the original recipe but are just as beneficial and delicious for your dogs. Just like humans, dogs eat a diet of meat and vegetables. (Just be sure to avoid garlic and onions.)
Minced meat: An excellent source of protein and essential amino acids for muscle health. Bonus points if it’s lean ground beef!
Ground Turkey: Low-fat, lean protein that’s full of essential nutrients. It is also considered hypoallergenic, making it a good choice for puppies with allergies.
Organ meat (heart, liver, gizzard, spleen): Rich in vitamins and minerals including iron, zinc and vitamin B12, which are vital for your dog’s overall health.
Butternut squash: Packed with vitamins A and C, fiber and antioxidants to support immune function and digestion. (Sweet potatoes are a great alternative.)
Sardines: A great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which promote healthy skin and coat, reduce inflammation and support joint health. Sardines are one of Maisey’s absolute favorite foods!
Leafy vegetables: Provide essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin K, calcium and folic acid for overall health and vitality.
Green beans and carrots: Ideal for providing vitamins, minerals and a high dose of fiber. Green beans and carrots help with eyesight, the immune system and bone health, among other things. I was surprised to learn how much Maisey loves certain vegetables!
Eggs: Rich in choline, protein and essential nutrients. If you use farm fresh eggs, you can also add the shell. Since I use organic eggs from the supermarket, I always use the membrane in the egg when using this ingredient in my recipe.
Oysters: Rich in zinc and selenium, important for immune function and thyroid health.
Cranberries: Rich in antioxidants and beneficial for urinary tract health.
Broccoli: Contains fiber, vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C and calcium, for optimal health.
Paprika: Provides vitamin A, vitamin C and antioxidants to support immune function and eye health.
Linseed oil: A source of omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat as well as joint support.
Ginger: Has anti-inflammatory properties and supports digestion.
Brown rice: Its fiber, vitamins and minerals make it a healthy addition to any diet.
Healthy Homemade Dog Food Recipe
Directions:
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, giblets, butternut squash, sardines, leafy greens, oysters, cranberries, broccoli, peppers and ginger. This may be easiest to blend in a food processor, but that’s a personal preference.
I keep the linseed oil in the fridge and drizzle a small amount over it before serving.
Mix the ingredients thoroughly to ensure even distribution.
Pour the mixture into a baking dish and bake gently at 180°C for 20 to 30 minutes.
Allow the food to cool before serving it to your dog. Will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days, the rest can be frozen in individual portions. I use Souper Cubes to feed our fur babies this super yummy meal until it’s time to make more! I just put them in the freezer.
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Healthy Homemade Dog Food Recipe
This healthy, homemade dog food recipe is based on Dr. Judy. It’s a great way to give your dog fresh food packed with nutrients!
2 Pounds of organic grass-fed ground beef
1 cup of chicken hearts
Add any other offal such as spleen, gizzards or liver – we used a mix from a local farm that included heart, spleen and liver
2 Cans of sardines in the water
2 Canned mussels in olive oil
3 Eggs (if farm fresh, use the shell. If from the supermarket, use the egg membrane on the inside of the shell.)
1 cup Butternut squash, chopped
1 cup Broccoli, chopped
2 Peppers, deseeded and chopped
a handful of leafy greens (I used chard), chopped
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
1/2 c dried cranberries (make sure there are no added sugar or additional ingredients)
cold-pressed linseed oil for serving
In a large bowl, stir together ground beef, giblets, chopped butternut squash, sardines, leafy greens, oysters, cranberries, broccoli, peppers and ginger. I keep the linseed oil in the fridge and drizzle a little over it before serving.
Mix the ingredients thoroughly to ensure even distribution.
Pour the mixture into a baking dish and bake gently at 180°C for 20 to 30 minutes.
Notes
Allow the food to cool before serving it to your dog. Will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days, the rest can be frozen in individual portions. I used Supper Cubes.
It’s so good to give our dogs fresh food that’s also full of nutrients!!
So, tell me, friends: do you prepare food for your dog? Are there any brands you love?
xo
Gina
More:
If you want to outsource the meat in this recipe, I use We Feed Raw + regular ground beef as the meat mix here. It’s perfect and she’s crazy about it. You can watch it here and use FITNESSISTA40
Homemade treats for dogs are available here.
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