SUPPLIES
- Ingredients for dog food recipe
- meat
- eggs
- dairy
- grains
- vegetables
Overview
Making your own dog food at home is a healthy way to avoid the preservatives and additives in store bought food. You can also save money by making your own dog food at home. Generally, the rule for making nutritious dog food at home is for the recipe to comprise 1/3 meat, eggs or dairy and 2/3 grains and vegetables. By using inexpensive yet quality ingredients you can increase your dog's physical well being as well as lighten the strain on your budget.
Step 1
Shop for low-cost dog food ingredients. Look for discount meat items in the butcher section of your grocery store. Pig ears, hog jowls and chicken livers are inexpensive and a good source of protein. Try shopping at discount groceries for meat products as well as large bags of rice or oatmeal.
Step 2
Buy in bulk at a warehouse store or when items are on sale. If you find a good deal on meat buy as much as you can, then freeze it.
Step 3
Hit the sales just as you would for your own food. Check the circulars and look for the good deals.
Step 4
Use healthy leftovers from your own meals, such as rice, oatmeal and bread heels.
Step 5
Consider mixing in a healthy, but inexpensive dog food kibble to stretch the meals.
Step 6
Consider this example of a well-balanced and low cost recipe for your dog's homemade food:
Two of Each Liver Recipe
2 cups chicken or beef livers, boiled and mashed or cut into pieces
2 eggs, boiled and mashed
2 cups of cooked rice, white or brown
2 cups steamed vegetables or prepared frozen vegetables
Mix all cooked ingredients together in a bowl and serve according to the dog's nutritional requirements.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- TIP : Before changing your dog's diet you should always check with your veterinarian.
When changing your dog's diet to homemade always do it gradually.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for no longer than three days. Freeze any unused portions for later use.
Ask friends and family if they have any unwanted meat or foods in their freezer or pantry that is still fresh.
- WARNING : Learn about food items that are toxic and even poisonous to your dog. Check with your veterinarian for a complete list of toxic foods and never include them in your dog's homemade diet.
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