Share a recipe for healthy homemade dog food!
Hello friends! How are you? Hope your day is going well! Today, I am going to the children’s school to volunteer and I am looking forward to coming some time the sauna blanket after training. Should be a pretty low-key day!
For today’s post, I wanted to share with you Maisey’s latest obsession: homemade dog food. This simple recipe is packed with nutrients and crazy about it.
(See the crazy eyes? They’re IN.)
TBH, I always felt a little bad about giving her packaged dog food because this creature LOVES fresh food. She’s constantly begging for pieces of broccoli and peppers (her two favorites), she’s stolen a whole brisket from the counter (and ate it on our new white couch…), a whole chicken breast (bones and all, and luckily she did” get sick), as well as ramen and curry. Knowing her flavor profile, I put her kibble in her bowl and felt a little bad for the gourmet girl. To top things off, we were going to put Fresh Pet on top from Whole Foods (so expensive and still feel like a package of packaged meat), but I knew there had to be a better way.
I started doing a ton of research and found a recipe online that inspired me to finally make our own.
I’m excited to share all the details with you! It’s less expensive than Fresh Pet, with certified organic, farm-fresh and wild-caught ingredients, and I love that I know everything that went into it. No preservatives or extra stuff.
Healthy homemade dog food recipe
Benefits of homemade dog food:
Making your dog’s food at home can have many benefits, including:
Check the ingredients: By preparing your dog’s food from scratch, you have full control over the quality of the ingredients used, ensuring that your furry friend gets only the best.
Avoid schematic components: Conventional dog foods often contain questionable ingredients such as fillers, artificial preservatives and low-quality meats that can be harmful to your dog’s health.
Customized Nutrition: Homemade dog food allows you to tailor your dog’s diet to their specific needs, whether they need a specific protein source or have allergies to certain ingredients.
Increased digestibility: Whole, fresh ingredients are easier for dogs to digest, leading to better nutrient absorption and overall health.
Ingredients and their benefits:
The recipe that inspired this is Dr. Judy’s Puploaf. Has the full post here and you can actually order it online! Since this is more than a top – Maisey still gets some I and love and you Nude Super Food kibble (you can order it from Thrive Market) in her bowl – I didn’t have to be so specific with the proportions of the ingredients.
Ground beef: Excellent source of protein and essential amino acids for muscle health.
Organ meats (heart, liver, gizzard, spleen): Rich in vitamins and minerals including iron, zinc and vitamin B12, vital for your dog’s overall health.
Butternut Squash: Packed with vitamins A and C, fiber and antioxidants to support immune function and digestion.
Sardines: An excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which promote healthy skin and coat, reduce inflammation and support joint health. Sardines are one of Maisey’s all time favorite foods!
Leafy vegetables: Provide essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin K, calcium and folate, for overall health and vitality.
Eggs: Rich in choline, protein and essential nutrients. If you are using farm fresh eggs, you can also add the shell. Since these were organic from the grocery store, I used the membrane inside the egg.
Oysters: High in zinc and selenium, important for immune function and thyroid health.
Cranberries: Rich in antioxidants and beneficial for the health of the urinary system.
Broccoli: Contains fiber, vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C and calcium, for optimal health.
Peppers: Provides vitamin A, vitamin C and antioxidants to support immune function and eye health.
Linseed oil: Source of omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, as well as joint support.
Ginger: It has anti-inflammatory properties and helps digestion.
Healthy homemade dog food recipe
Directions:
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, organic meats, butternut squash, sardines, leafy greens, oysters, cranberries, broccoli, bell pepper and ginger. I keep the linseed oil in the fridge and pour it over just before serving.
Mix the ingredients well to ensure even distribution.
Transfer the mixture to a baking sheet and lightly bake for 20-30 minutes at 325°F.
Allow the food to cool before serving it to your dog. It keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days and you can freeze the rest in individual portions. i used Super Cubes.
Healthy homemade dog food recipe
This healthy homemade dog food recipe is based on Dr. Judy’s pup loaf. It’s a great way to give your dog fresh food with tons of nutrients!
2 kilos of organic grass-fed ground beef
1 mug from chicken hearts
Add in any other organ meats such as spleen, stomach or liver – we used a blend from a local farm that contained heart, spleen and liver
2 cans of sardines in water
2 cans of mussels in olive oil
3 eggs (if farm fresh, use the shell. If grocery store, use the egg membrane inside the shell)
1 mug butternut squash, chopped
1 mug broccoli, chopped
2 peppers, seeded and chopped
a handful of leafy greens (I used chard), chopped
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
1/2 c dried cranberries (make sure there is no added sugar and no extra ingredients)
cold-pressed linseed oil, for serving
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, organic meats, chopped butternut squash, sardines, leafy greens, oysters, cranberries, broccoli, bell pepper and ginger. I keep the linseed oil in the fridge and pour it over just before serving.
Mix the ingredients well to ensure even distribution.
Transfer the mixture to a baking sheet and lightly bake for 20-30 minutes at 325°F.
Notes
Allow the food to cool before serving it to your dog. It keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days, and you can leave the rest in individual portions. i used Super Cubes.
It’s so nice to give Maisey fresh food that is packed with nutrients too!!
So tell me friends: do you make your own dog food? Are there any brands you love?
xo
Gina
Homemade dog treats are here
