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The Benefits of a Homemade Diet for Dogs!

4/18/2013

40 Comments

 
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A homemade dog food diet is packed full of real wholesome meat, nutritious fruit and hearty vegetables. This whole food diet is the perfect way to provide your furry family members with real nutrition that will promote health and longevity.

Second only to a Raw Food Diet for dogs, a homemade diet is an extremely healthy alternative to often unhealthy commercial kibble diets. With a homemade dog food diet you can control the ingredients, potential allergens, additives and nutrition of your dog's food. Better nutrition means a longer, healthier life and ultimately less time your dog will spend being sick and less money you will spend at the veterinarian hospital! Making your own homemade dog food is a great opportunity to provide your dogs with a wide variety of different meat, fruits and vegetables which results in a nutrient dense diet!

A homemade dog food diet is perfect for dogs suffering from allergies, since you can control exactly what ingredients your dog is eating. Adding supplements that improve skin and coat condition while feeding ingredients that do not create allergic symptoms in your dog can alleviate allergies or eliminate symptoms completely! People often notice their dogs smell much better, as that infamous "doggy odour" often goes away when dogs are fed a clean diet. Homemade dog food can also improve a dogs' physical condition, improve symptoms of various medical conditions, promote good dental health and strengthen their immune system to ward off illness and disease!
Homemade diet recipes are created with both cooked and raw whole food ingredients, looking much like meals you yourself would eat! Homemade diet recipes use meat (muscle meat and organ meat) with processed (cooked or pureed) whole vegetables and a moist carrier (yoghurt, cottage cheese, kefir, tomato sauce, applesauce) to mix a multivitamin into. The multivitamin is of vital importance to a homemade dog food recipe because it replaces any nutrients lost during the cooking process and ensures complete and balanced nutrition. The multivitamin used in homemade dog food recipes must be a complete whole food multivitamin, as some are not balanced or complete enough to be used in a homemade diet recipe There are several excellent choices, but it is best to consult a dog nutritionist who can help you learn how to properly balance meals.

There is a list of vitamins and minerals that must be added to a cooked homemade diet in order for it to be nutritionally complete, you can learn about these nutrients in my eBook "The Healthy Canine". Since fruits and vegetables are difficult for our dogs (who are carnivores) to digest, we must process them by cooking them and/or making a fruit and veggie puree. Breaking vegetables down for our dogs helps them absorb the nutrients found within.

Get started on a homemade diet for dogs with this "try me" recipe: Beef and Sweet Vegetables

Interested in feeding your dogs a healthy homemade diet? Check out my eBook: The Healthy Canine: A Guide to Feeding a Homemade Dog Food Diet.


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40 Comments
Kimberly
4/21/2013 11:19:21 am

I have cooked for my dogs for over 11 years, my first Great Dane India was allergic to so many things it was my only option. Feeding her my natural home made diet allowed her to live a long and happy life (she was almost 12 when we finally had to put her down due to hip problems.) I have two now, who are both fed only home made food or 'people' food. I cook once a week, making meat loaves that I freeze and then bake when I am ready for them. I don't even feed my dogs processed cookies from the store - I either give them animal crackers or make my own treats. I know I spend over $300 a month feeding those giants - but they are like my kids and they would lay down their life to protect anyone in my family, so why wouldn't I do what was best for them.

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Anna
12/23/2014 05:27:16 am

So true. Not cheap, but the only right way to keep our dogs healthy.

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Laurie Rodrick
2/27/2015 10:38:04 am

Kimberly. Wondering what you put in your meat loaves for the dogs! Thanks Laurie!!

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Susanne
3/7/2016 01:46:40 pm

My dog is diabetic know any recipes for diabetic dogs

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Amy N
7/17/2013 10:43:52 am

Since starting my epileptic dog on a home cooked diet, he has had no seizures. Admittedly its only been 2 months, but he was having them every 2 weeks.

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LauraOgorzat
12/15/2014 07:15:24 am

i had the same thin happen no siezures once I started home cooking

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charlyn kwiatkowski
2/11/2015 08:52:31 am

Hi Laura! I read your comment on this blog about feeding your epileptic dog home cooked meals. I have a 6 year old Boston Terrier that has Gran Maal seizures every 4-7 weeks, which I give her Keppra and Pheno to control. They are quite severe seizures, where she looses bowel/bladder control, foaming, disorientation, etc. I would like to ask you your recipes for your dogs meals that keep them from having seizures? How often does your dog have them? I appreciate your time and help with this issue. Thank you in advance for any specifics you have. ~Charlyn Kwiatkowski

charlyn kwiatkowski
2/11/2015 08:51:19 am

Hi Amy! I read your comment on this blog about feeding your epileptic dog home cooked meals. I have a 6 year old Boston Terrier that has Gran Maal seizures every 4-7 weeks, which I give her Keppra and Pheno to control. They are quite severe seizures, where she looses bowel/bladder control, foaming, disorientation, etc. I would like to ask you your recipes for your dogs meals that keep them from having seizures? How often does your dog have them? I appreciate your time and help with this issue. Thank you in advance for any specifics you have. ~Charlyn Kwiatkowski

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myrtle
7/31/2015 01:26:58 am

My dog has alot of seizures I would like to make homemade fog food that would help him

Jenny R
3/30/2017 12:27:13 am

Hi Amy

Please advise what home cooked you prepare for your epileptic dog. I have a rescued Maltese Poodle who gets seizures, Been to the Vet who suggested he goes on meds, which I am not fond off as these make my little baby very depressed. So I took him off and cut out all grains (no commercial pet food), Currently he is on Orijen pet food but it is far to expensive. So I want to resort to home cooked meals. You suggestion is appreciated. Regards Jenny

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Erica
1/24/2018 08:04:22 am

I have a Australian Shepherd/collie which started having seizures at 6mths,he is nearly two .With many $ spent at the vet and meds ....I would like to start feeding him homemade food but feel too scared to try in case I'm doing it wrong .Any help would be much appricated
Many thanks .

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Brenda Duwe
12/25/2018 09:29:20 am

Interested to hear more if your story as I too have an epileptic GSD

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Michelle
8/15/2020 07:54:56 am

Hi Amy. Our new rescue -we got him 04/02 has had 2 seizures since then. I'd rather try homeopathic before drugs. What is your recipe for the food you are making? Sounds like it is makinv a difference

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Liz
7/30/2013 01:10:36 am

I love this stuff!! I have a 12 year old GSD AND a 1 year old GSD and a maltreated 2 year old mix with joint and underweight problems. Since I have been home cooking they are like NEW! You can really use your imagination and I get free bags of scraps or old steaks and chicken from my supermarket. Left over bread/pasta/rice/barley and some veg an bingo!! Incredibly it is much much cheaper and HEALTHIER. Eggs, cheese, tinned mackerel. Open your mind!!! My dogs are so happy!! Great site x

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Eva
8/17/2013 07:51:06 am

I cooked for my dog with liver problems for 2 yrs & gave some to my other dogs twice a day along with kibble for them. I cooked for them all for a week but it was too expensive to cook for all 4 dogs. If I had 2 dogs I would cook for them

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Gail
8/18/2013 09:52:06 am

Years ago, "farm dogs" were fed only table scraps and they seemed to do OK. Is animal care kind of going full-circle? Not so much commercial and only from the kitchen. Or @ butchering time!

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Gail Liebeknecht link
9/20/2013 04:56:09 am

How do you know how much to feed?

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jane cali
10/29/2013 05:14:48 am

It"s a very high up vet that established how much to feed my GSD , it"s best to have the quantities established by a good vet. Of course when your vet has established how much to feed, you look how your dog is if he"s getting a bit to fat you lower the quantity and if he"s too thin you give a bit more in quantity.

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Rob ashton
10/27/2013 01:01:50 am

I bought your raw food ebook. I just have one question. Is there anything done different for a 3 mth old gsd

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Peggy b
10/27/2013 03:05:14 am

I buy commercially prepared raw food for my gsd and golden. Has all the nutrition in it. No grains period. Gsd grain sensitive, both dogs love this food.

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Kd
10/27/2013 03:56:56 am

How do you make this affordable? Heck, half the time I avoid meat for myself because it gets so expensive...veggies get expensive too. Any suggestions on how to get the price down?

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K9 Instinct link
10/27/2013 04:03:44 am

I buy bulk frozen vegetables, buy meats on sale, and also buy hearts, livers and meat trimmings from the butcher.

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Sheila
2/22/2015 09:24:25 am

I was recently given fresh venison hearts. My cocker spaniel has trouble with textured meats and doesn't seem to know what to do with boned meats. I am thinking I could slice the heart or grind it in food processor. Do you have any suggestions how to train her on meat with bones?

Tobrio
4/12/2015 01:55:25 pm

I have 5 dogs from 45lbs down to 18lds. They are Disc Dogs, Barnhunters, couch potato, loving pups. I feed raw with muscle, organ, tripe & bone. I but from a distributor. It is mixed proportionately in a 2lb. chub. I buy organic frozen vegetables on sale & stock. Take a large cookie sheet with a mixture of veggies slap some coconut oil on them & roast. When organic cauliflower is on sale I stock up too. Roast cauliflower with turmeric for benefits. It is so good. I keep some for me & some for them. Cool & transfer to food processor give it a whirl. Cook whole grains (oatmeal, quinoa & long grain rice, flax seed) while roasting veggies. Mix...pour a few tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar on mixture. Slap in containers & freeze. One month done! They get yogurt with what ever fruit I have in the house. Just started trying some goat's milk. Sometimes, I scramble or hard boil free-range eggs. It sounds like a lot but I don't make it hard & in an hour done. I save on vet bills & well worth it. I use Young Living Essential oil supplements too!

lisa link
1/26/2014 06:00:46 am

I use all the left over trimmings off my vegies, like the broccoli stalks, peelings from washed potatoes, carrots etc and go to shop and buy seconds of all these. Vegies are cheap that way. My raw supplier also does a oat based muesli with dried vege, fruit and herbs added. You can sprinkle on food or mix with water. My dogs love this diet :) they incrdibly healthy too.

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Edd
3/23/2014 02:41:13 am

Yea go to minority food stores and the meat is way cheaper than going to like food for less or wal mart if anyone shopes there for meat...

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Breanna
10/27/2013 07:46:57 am

I have a 5yof GSD and she has horrible food allergies. After a lot of trial and error she is on a prescription Rabit and Potatoe dry food. As much as this seems to have helped some I still don't think it's the best. I would love to start cooking for her and hopefully make her feel a lot better. What could I cook for her and how much should I feed her? We know for sure she is allergic to chicken and cheese...thanks for any advice given!!

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Caroline
10/27/2013 09:33:21 am

This is a tough situation. GSD are known to have sensitive digestive systems..Unless you know exactly all the things she is allergic to eating you will have a difficult time in an effective remedy. My suggestion would be for you to find a holistic vet...even if you have to go out of your way to find one I believe they would be able to get to the source of the allergy and direct you to a better food diet. She does need good nutrition to keep her immune system healthy. That would be my best advice to you...Best of luck and GOD BLESS....we do love our pets....

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Heidi
5/25/2014 12:51:58 am

I feed my GSD taste of the wild ,or born free and the fish varieties are the best fir them I have been told.

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Gayle Lucas
1/26/2014 07:11:56 am

I have been feeding raw for about 3 months now, and I think I finally have it down! Once a week I make my dog’s food so all I have to do every day is warm it up, and add some Nupro Silver and melted coconut oil. With a side of raw meaty bones, my dogs have never eaten so well. I had to do some figuring before I could start so I knew how much of everything to make, but I takes me about an hour from start to finish, including clean-up. I have two dogs, a 90lb. GSD and a 65 lb. lab mix. For both of them I use one medium sized (1 quart) Ziploc freezer container each day (I love these, btw – absolutely perfect!). As for the ingredients, besides the muscle meat and organ meat, I add canned salmon or anchovies, plain Greek yogurt or cottage cheese, green tripe, eggs with the shell, and some vegetable & fruit mash (recipe on K-9’s website). It takes me a few more minutes longer than opening a can of commercial dog food or throwing some kibble in a bowl, but when I watch my dogs eat every last bit, even licking the bowl clean, I can’t help but feel a whole lot of satisfaction knowing how much more nourished they are then before eating raw. The benefits are so obvious, too. Our older dog no longer has a nasty ‘doggy’ smell, his hair is thicker and softer, and he is no longer chewing or scratching himself raw. Our younger dog seems much calmer, her coat is amazingly soft and thick, and her teeth always look clean and white. Even my skeptical husband is a believer after seeing the results.

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Evelina
3/7/2015 07:55:12 am

So is it ok to mix uncooked and cooked products? My dog is 10 month and for the past few days refusing to eat uncooked meat or egg but eating fruit and cheese +bread. She started having skin problems so 3 month ago i decided to start feeding her raw diet and she loved it,but no more. And her skin isn't great still even if she takes coconut oil since started raw diet.

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Jan Green
11/26/2014 05:34:02 am

My 11 year old cockapoo had a chronic UTI condition, so at 2 years old I began cooking for her, following a holistic canine care book. She is 18 pounds; eats 8 oz. of food a day. She is extremely healthy; looks and acts like puppy; has had no problems since. Cheaper than vet bills; and she is happy and loves her diet.

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mary
12/17/2014 09:21:43 am

I have two little dogs. One is a 5-6 lbs deer Chihuahua and a 3-4 lbs chorky (Chihuahua/yorky) what could I put together for them?? I'm sure it may be difficult because they're so small :/

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Pamela link
12/23/2014 09:03:16 am

MY FATHER GAVE AS I DO MY DOGS THIS EVERYDAY, THAT JACK RUSSELL LIVED TO BE 28 YEARS OLD.

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Cleo's Mom
12/23/2014 11:19:42 am

I just love my 19.5 year old Lhasa in September. I miss her so very much. For the past four years, I cooked all her meals and she had a wonderful appetite, eating up until the day before she died. Best option ever is a balanced home cooked meal.

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lucia
1/10/2015 06:15:51 am

Are potatoes peelings safe for dogs, it would be great and cheap if I could incorporate them into my dogs diet, what about other peelings like carrots?

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Lori
4/22/2015 07:23:13 am

I have 2 GSD and 3 small dogs under 10pds and would like to start homemade food. How much and do I mix with kibble?

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Amber
4/19/2016 04:45:27 pm

Anything for dogs that can help with yeast ear infection issues?

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Sharon
1/2/2017 01:00:50 pm

Just had my dog tested for allergies. She is allergic to rice, milk, flaxseed, corn, pork, eggs, peanuts, peanut butter. Does anyone have any suggestions on what kind of dog food can I get or fix her?

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