Please share this healthy homemade dog food recipe again because both dogs love it so much! use We feed raw as the meat in this recipe, and you can use FITNESSISTA40 at a 40% discount! It saves me a trip to the farmer’s market and is an amazing mix of meat and offal with no fillers or preservatives.
Hello friends! how are you Hope your day is going well! Today, I am going to the children’s school to volunteer and I am looking forward to coming some time the sauna blanket after training. Should be a pretty low-key day!
For today’s post, I’m calling all dog owners. I wanted to share our dog obsession with you: homemade dog food. If you’re looking to upgrade what you feed your dog, this simple recipe is PACKED with nutrients and both dogs love it.
(See the crazy eyes? They’re IN.)
TBH, I always felt a little bad about giving Maisey packaged dog food because this creature LOVES fresh food. She is constantly begging for pieces of broccoli and peppers (her two favorites), has stolen a whole brisket from the counter (and ate it on our new white couch..), a whole chicken breast (bones and all, and luckily she didn’t get sick), as well as ramen and curry. But can you blame her? Knowing her flavor profile, I put her kibble in her bowl and felt a little bad for the gourmet girl. To top things off, we were going to put Fresh Pet on top from Whole Foods (so expensive and still feel like a package of packaged meat), but I knew there had to be a better way.
I started researching a ton and found a vet-approved recipe online that inspired me to finally make our own.
I’m excited to share all the details with you! It’s less expensive than Fresh Pet, with certified organic, farm-fresh and wild-caught ingredients, and I love that I know everything that went into it. No preservatives or extra stuff. Friendly reminder: always talk to your vet or veterinarian before changing your dog’s food. While this works for Maisey and Lola, it is important to note that dogs may have different allergens or may simply not be able to tolerate certain things. It’s also helpful to gradually increase new foods so the transition is gentler on their stomachs.
*Please note that this post may contain affiliate links. They don’t affect the purchase price, but they do allow me to earn a small fee which I use to keep this lil blog going. On that note, thank you so much to those of you who chose to shop with my affiliate links!
Healthy homemade dog food recipe
Benefits of homemade dog food:
Making your dog’s food at home can have many benefits, including:
Check the ingredients: By preparing your dog’s food from scratch, you have full control over the quality of the ingredients used, ensuring that your furry friend gets only the best.
Avoid schematic components: Conventional dog foods often contain 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 specific protein source or have allergies to certain ingredients.
Increased digestibility: Whole, fresh ingredients are easier for dogs to digest, leading to better nutrient absorption and overall health.
Ingredients and their benefits:
The recipe that inspired this is Dr. Judy’s Puploaf. He has it full post hereand you can actually order it online! Since this is more of a topper, Maisey still gets some “I and love and you” Nude Super Food kibble (you can order it from Thrive Market) in her bowl — I didn’t have to be so specific with the proportions of the ingredients.
I also include a few extra ingredients that are not in the original recipe, but are just as beneficial and delicious for your dogs. Just like humans, dogs thrive on meat and vegetables. (Just be sure to avoid garlic and onions.)
Ground beef: 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 packed with essential nutrients. It is also considered hypoallergenic, making it a great choice for pups with allergies.
Organ meats (heart, liver, gizzard, spleen): Rich in vitamins and minerals, including iron, zinc and vitamin B12, vital to 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: An excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which promote healthy skin and coat, reduce inflammation and support joint health. Sardines are one of Maisey’s all time favorite foods!
Green leaves: Provide essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin K, calcium and folate, for overall health and vitality.
Green Beans and Carrots: Excellent for providing vitamins, minerals and a high dose of fiber. Green beans and carrots help with things like vision, the immune system, and bone health. I was surprised to learn how much Maisey loves certain vegetables!
Eggs: Rich in choline, protein and essential nutrients. If you are using farm fresh eggs, you can also add the shell. Since I use organic eggs from the grocery store, I use the membrane inside the egg whenever I use this ingredient in my recipe.
Oysters: High in zinc and selenium, important for immune function and thyroid health.
Cranberries: Rich in antioxidants and beneficial for the health of the urinary system.
Broccoli: Contains fiber, vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C and calcium, for optimal health.
Peppers: Provides vitamin A, vitamin C and antioxidants to support immune function and eye health.
Flaxseed Oil: Source of omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, as well as joint support.
Ginger: It has anti-inflammatory properties and helps digestion.
Brown rice: A healthy addition to any diet due to its fiber, vitamins and minerals.
Healthy homemade dog food recipe
Instructions:
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, organic meats, butternut squash, sardines, leafy greens, oysters, cranberries, broccoli, bell pepper and ginger. You may find it easier to blend in a food processor, but it’s personal preference.
I keep the linseed oil in the fridge and drizzle a little before serving.
Mix the ingredients well to ensure even distribution.
Transfer the mixture to a baking sheet and lightly bake for 20-30 minutes at 325°F.
Allow the food to cool before serving it to your dog. It keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days and you can freeze the rest in individual portions. use Super Cubes to feed our fur babies this super tasty meal until it’s time to make more! I just put them in the freezer.
Imprint
Healthy homemade dog food recipe
This healthy homemade dog food recipe is based on Dr. Judy’s pup loaf. It’s a great way to give your dog fresh food with tons of nutrients!
2 kilos of organic grass-fed ground beef
1 cup from chicken hearts
Add in any other organ meats such as spleen, stomach or liver – we used a blend from a local farm that contained heart, spleen and liver
2 cans of sardines in water
2 cans of mussels in olive oil
3 eggs (if farm fresh, use the shell. If grocery store, use the egg membrane inside the shell)
1 cup butternut squash, chopped
1 cup broccoli, chopped
2 peppers, seeded and chopped
a handful of leafy greens (I used chard), chopped
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
1/2 c dried cranberries (make sure there is no added sugar and no extra ingredients)
cold-pressed linseed oil, for serving
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, organic meats, chopped butternut squash, sardines, leafy greens, oysters, cranberries, broccoli, bell pepper and ginger. I keep the linseed oil in the fridge and pour it over just before serving.
Mix the ingredients well to ensure even distribution.
Transfer the mixture to a baking sheet and lightly bake for 20-30 minutes at 325°F.
Notes
Allow the food to cool before serving it to your dog. It keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days and you can freeze the rest in individual portions. i used Super Cubes.
It is so nice to give our dogs fresh food that is also packed with nutrients!!
So tell me friends: do you make your own dog food? 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 in this. It’s perfect and she’s crazy about it. You can check it here and use FITNESSISTA40
Homemade dog treats are here.
