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How to make homemade dog food

Making homemade dog food is a great, healthy option for your pup. Knowing exactly what you are feeding your pet, from food to homemade dog treat recipes, helps to give them the healthiest options with no questionable ingredients. Plus, you can tailor it to your pup’s specific needs and taste buds.

Homemade dog food in small red bowl.

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Homemade dog food

If your pup has some health issues, or you just want to be in control of what your dog is eating, making your own dog food is the way to go.

Before I started doing this for Sugar a few years ago, I didn’t know how to make my own dog food. Turns out, it’s pretty simple.

Salmon and potato dog food in pet bowl.

Before you change your dog’s diet, please consult your veterinarian. A dog’s nutritional needs are not the same as a human’s needs, nor are the needs of all dogs the same.

Your vet can provide specific information based on your pet.

Ingredients

There are so many people who want to know “how to cook dog food”. I get emails almost every week from readers (thank you!) asking about it.

So, let’s start with the ingredient list.

Ingredients for salmon dog food.

My homemade dog food recipe is made from 7 simple ingredients:

  • Spinach – everyone needs leafy greens, even your dog.
  • Pumpkin – great source of fiber, make sure it is 100% pure pumpkin.
  • Egg whites – excellent source of protein, low in fat.
  • Potatoes – these spuds are a great source of vitamins B6 and C, plus potassium.
  • Salmon – nutrient dense protein, full of omega-3s, B6 and vitamin D. Use fresh or canned.
  • Coconut oil – a healthy fat.
  • Carrots – full of vitamin A.

How to make dog food

Our veterinarian recommended a website called balanceit.com a few years ago. This site helps you to determine whether or not all of your pup’s nutritional needs are being met.

This recipe was approved and met all the criteria, so let’s get to it.

How to make homemade dog food.

This salmon dog food recipe is perfect for beginners, it is super simple and fast –

  1. First, let the Idaho® potatoes simmer in a bit of water to soften. This will take about 8 – 10 minutes.
  2. Then add the grated carrot and coconut oil, let it cook for a few minutes, then move it to one side of the pot.
  3. Add in the egg white, breaking it up as it cooks.
  4. Add spinach and salmon, mix to combine and cover. Cook for 7 – 8 minutes, until salmon is cooked through.
  5. Remove from heat, stir in pumpkin purée.
Homemade salmon dog food.

This recipe is perfectly balanced to provide the protein, healthy fats, carbohydrates, calcium and essential fatty acids that dogs need.

Sugar loves salmon, so this is our go-to recipe for her. When she gets tired of the same thing, like we all do, I switch it a ground turkey dog food.

How to transition your dog to homemade dog food

Abruptly changing your dog’s diet could cause them gastrointestinal distress, if you catch my drift, and that’s not fun for anyone.

If you’re currently feeding your pup store-bought dog food, start the transition by replacing a portion of their regular food with homemade.

Salmon dog food.

For example – if your dog eats 1 cup of food a day, replace 1/4 cup of that food with homemade dog food and mix it in. Do this for a few days, then up it to 1/3 or 1/2 of the food.

Dogs with sensitive bellies may require an even slower transition. Trust me on this one – you’ll thank me for it later. In the long run, it will be better for your dog’s digestion.

What do I need to make this salmon dog food recipe?

Homemade dog food in containers.

Dog food and treat recipes

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Yield: 4 cups

Homemade dog food

Homemade dog food

If your pup has some health issues, or you just want to be in control of what your dog is eating, homemade dog food is the way to go.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 11 ounces Russet potatoes, peeled and diced // about 2 potatoes (sub sweet potatoes, if preferred)
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and grated
  • 1 tbsp. coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup egg whites
  • 1 cup chopped spinach, packed
  • 8 ounces salmon, raw or canned
  • 1/3 cup canned pumpkin

Instructions

  1. Heat a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat.
  2. Add 1/2 cup water and diced potatoes. Cover pot and let potatoes simmer for 8 - 10 minutes, until they have softened.
  3. Uncover and add grated carrot and coconut oil. Stir to combine and cook for 2 - 3 minutes. Move potatoes and carrots to one side of the pot.
  4. Add egg whites and let them cook for 4 - 5 minutes until set. Use a wooden spoon to break them up into small pieces, then stir to combine with potatoes and carrots.
  5. Add spinach and salmon and stir to combine. Cover the pot and cook for an additional 7 - 8 minutes until salmon is cooked.
  6. Stir in canned pumpkin and remove from heat. Set aside to cool slightly before feeding to your pup.

Notes

Leftover food can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1 cup

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 260Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 136mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 4gSugar: 2gProtein: 20g

Nutrition information calculated by a third-party company as a courtesy. It is intended as a guideline only.

Did you make this recipe?

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4 Comments

  1. I like the look of your recipe. However, my dog Gaia is allergic to ALL meats except fish. She can not have eggs.
    Can this recipe be made without eggs? If I substitute all sweet potatoes for the addition of white potatoes?
    How can I incorporate more pumpkin? Can spinach be added?
    I want to make it as nutritious as possible. Gaia has SOOOOO many allergies besides those listed above.
    I know you have many other recipes for our fur babies, but my Gaia can not eat them. Do you have other recipes that have fish as the protein source?
    Thank you.

  2. Hi there,
    Just to test, i entered it into the website to test. That way i could swap out ingredients, i thought.
    But it says, you would need a supplement to make this receipe nutritionally complete for dogs.
    Has this changed since this post was released?

    1. I’m not sure if the other website has changed. At the time of my publication, the recipe was correct. Your veterinarian could give you guidance for your specific pup.

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