How to Ensure a Dog's Carbohydrate Intake

Don't forget the carbohydrates when making homemade dog food. Most veterinarians agree that 40 to 50 percent of a dog's food intake should come from high quality carbohydrates. High quality carbohydrates are complex carbohydrates and of "people quality" for homemade dog food.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Mix the carbohydrates with the protein in homemade dog food. Most carbohydrates should be cooked to make them more palatable and easier to digest. Even if you're feeding a raw meat diet to your dog, cook the carbohydrates for your dog.

2. Include different complex carbohydrates in different meals for your homemade dog food. Complex carbohydrates include vegetables, rice, grains, pasta and potatoes. Diced cooked potatoes are great when combined with ground meat. Add a few vegetables, like carrots and green beans, for more flavor, texture and nutrition. Your dog will love pasta or rice when mixed with chicken. Try brown rice or wild rice for variations. Oatmeal is a good addition to stews because it adds carbohydrates and thickens at the same time. Beans are a good source of carbohydrates and protein at the same time, but can cause gas and bloating in some dogs.

3. Add corn or cornmeal to different types of homemade dog food. When mixed with ground meats, corn is a great source of energy for your dog. Cornmeal can be used to add texture to dog food. Finely ground corn meal can be used to thicken stews. Vary the homemade dog food by using sweet potatoes and yams for enhanced flavor and added sweetness.

4. Buy fresh vegetables whenever possible for homemade dog food. If fresh vegetables aren't available, use frozen. If you feed your dog high quality carbohydrates that you would eat, your dog will be much healthier and happier.