How to Make Homemade Dog Food

Sometimes the dog food you buy in stores are not safe and to be on the safe side you will want to feed your dog homemade dog food. Should that ever be the case, all that is required is a simple mix of meat, vegetables and starches.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Garlic
• Dog Food Bowls
• Eggs
• Meat Grinders
• Meats
• Vegetables
• Starches

1. Know that it is wise to check with your vet before switching to homemade dog food.

2. Understand that dogs need a diet that consists of 40 percent meat, 30 percent vegetables and 30 percent starch. Follow this formula to ensure that your dog has a well-balanced diet.

3. Consider the fact that many experts believe commercial dog food is actually unhealthy for dogs. Often the meat that is used in dog food is of a quality considered unfit for humans.

4. Try making a mixture of ground turkey, rice and carrot for your own dog food. Meals made of ground beef, brown rice, brewer's yeast and carrots are also popular.

5. Rotate the foods you feed your dog so that the dog gets a variety of foods.

6. Use oatmeal, pasta, rice or potatoes for your dog's starch requirement.

7. Keep cooked dog food in the refrigerator no longer than three days.

Tips & Warnings

• When you first switch to homemade dog food, try mixing commercial dog food to the food you have prepared to help your dog make the transition.
• Do not feed your dog chocolate.
• The American Animal Hospital Association lists raw and spoiled garlic as poisonous and potentially fatal to dogs. Use garlic only in small doses and make sure it is cooked.

[trtripp]

on 10/11/2009 DO NOT feed garlic to your cats or dogs. It is unknown what amount is toxic, only that garlic IS toxic.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2&aid=2414

[occupant]

on 8/5/2009 RE: raw meat. Unless you feed an animal with the digestive bacterium necessary to eat carrion,(wolf, ferret, rat, crow, etc.) it is advisable to cook meat.

From day one, meat tartare was fine enough for humans as well, and it is still a menu item, (just not here in less than a five star restaurant.) We are the carnivore history also.

The health of meat animals in the US, and the cleanliness in the processing thereof, has been compromised; and it affects all meat eaters here regardless of leg quantity.

If you had raised and slaughtered that cow or fed and gutted and plucked that chicken yourself, than this would be a matter for little debate (I would also like to buy some meat!)

That being said, and good health being the concern, why don't you feed a raw meat diet to yourself first to test it? Chances are fair that you will never get sick or die from it, but there are odds.

[lillithree]

on 7/16/2009 MOst of the sites I have researched to make home made healthier dogfood have said to cook the meat.

[ljsomma]

on 7/6/2009 sounds great! i don't have a dog yet but when i do im trying this one!

[alaskadeb]

on 7/6/2009 And no, I am not a vegetarian. I only eat salmon, halibut, moose, bear and once in a while, chicken.