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.

This recipe is sponsored by my friends at Idaho® Potato. I am so pleased to work with them. As always, all opinions, recipe and photos are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Pook’s Pantry.

If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.

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.

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.

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.
• Idaho® 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.

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.

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.

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?

• Small heavy-bottomed pot – a Dutch oven is my “go-to” pot.
• Half pint containers for storage – I use reusable containers instead of zip-top plastic bags, plus it’s easier to stack these in the fridge.

Dog food and treat recipes

• How to make oatmeal for dogs
• Peanut butter banana dog treats
• Banana pumpkin dog treats
• Soft pumpkin dog treats
• Potato and cheese dog treats

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Thanks for stopping by! Have a delicious day 🙂

Questions? Send me an email, I’m happy to help. I’d love to send you weekly tips and recipes, so you can get updates about what’s happening in the kitchen!

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