How to Make Food for Overweight Dogs

Obesity is now a problem for pets and their owners. Overweight dogs simply need fewer calories. By making your own food for your dog, you can control what is going into their diet. Their food intake will normally be cut in half, but you can ensure that every bite they eat will be filled the absolute best for them.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Start with ingredients that are high in fiber and low in fat. This is the basis of a diet for dogs to lose weight. You can alter any recipe you have for homemade dog food by increasing the amounts of those high fiber ingredients and lessening the amount of fatty foods that you add in.

2. Use brown rice rather than white rice. The brown rice has more nutrients and is higher in fiber, which makes it a good choice for an overweight animal.

3. Add protein in adequate amounts. Protein is just as important to dogs as fiber, so ensure the recipe has protein as one of the top 2 in terms of amounts.

4. Cut out or limit any ingredients that have carbohydrates. Dogs have no need for these calories other than for energy and they can get enough of those from other foods.

5. Make sure the food contains vitamins and minerals. It's always best to derive these from actual foods that you include rather than supplements. Remember balance is the key for homemade dog food.

Tips & Warnings

• Most experts advise against feeding the same homemade diet. You should have several different recipes involving diverse ingredients but always following the same high fiber, low fat rule.
• Read books on making dog food at home and join online groups to learn from others on their trials and errors.
• Always consult with your veterinarian before converting to a homemade diet. They will be able to advise you on any special needs of your pet and the best way to slowly introduce homemade dog food and decrease the store brand.
• Increased fiber in your dog's diet will likely cause an increase of flatulence.

[diggitydogg]

on 8/21/2007 Another good substitute for white rice is quinoa (pronounced kiːnwɑ), which is similar to barley. It's lower in carbs than brown rice and high in fiber. It comes packaged and you just boil it like rice. I learned about it from a vet who put my dog with cancer on a low carb diet.