DIET & NUTRITION
How to Make Food for Dogs at Home: A Canine Nutritionist’s Guide
Want to learn how to make food for dogs at home that is nutritious and balanced? Our canine nutritionist shares a step-by-step guide for preparing balanced, homemade dog food!
Table of contents
Throughout their life, our dogs require a balanced diet, one that incorporates all essential nutrients vital for optimal health and normal bodily functions. Ensuring your dog receives proper nutrition involves careful consideration of various factors such as daily caloric needs, balanced nutrients, digestibility, and the overall health impact of the food provided.
An unbalanced diet may lead to deficiencies over time, adversely affecting your dog's health. For optimal results, whether you feed packaged or home-cooked dog food, it's recommended to have your dog's meals formulated by a certified nutritionist. If the diet hasn't been professionally formulated, you can follow these steps to construct a home cooked diet for dogs that encompasses a wide range of essential nutrients for their well-being.
An unbalanced diet may lead to deficiencies over time, adversely affecting your dog's health. For optimal results, whether you feed packaged or home-cooked dog food, it's recommended to have your dog's meals formulated by a certified nutritionist. If the diet hasn't been professionally formulated, you can follow these steps to construct a home cooked diet for dogs that encompasses a wide range of essential nutrients for their well-being.
Step One: Understand Your Dog’s Caloric Needs
The amount of calories essential for an adult dog varies based on factors like age, metabolism, and activity level. Frequently, dog owners tend to overestimate the activity levels of their adult dogs, resulting in excessive feeding. Conversely, the energy needs of a puppy are often underestimated, as they typically require more calories than their adult counterparts.
While designing a home cooked diet for dogs, it is essential to first ascertain their daily caloric intake. You can use an online dog calorie calculator to do this. These calculators take into account variables like activity level, so it's crucial to provide accurate input. Additionally, note that energy levels are influenced by factors such as whether the dog is spayed/neutered, as spayed/neutered dogs generally have lower caloric needs compared to intact ones.
While designing a home cooked diet for dogs, it is essential to first ascertain their daily caloric intake. You can use an online dog calorie calculator to do this. These calculators take into account variables like activity level, so it's crucial to provide accurate input. Additionally, note that energy levels are influenced by factors such as whether the dog is spayed/neutered, as spayed/neutered dogs generally have lower caloric needs compared to intact ones.
Step Two: Select Bioavailable Ingredients
To ensure the highest uptake of nutrients from homemade dog food, it is important to feed your dog what she/he is meant to eat as part of their species. Even though dogs can survive on a high-carb diet, they require proteins and fats as primary sources of macronutrients. Plant proteins are not as bioavailable to dogs, i.e., they cannot absorb and assimilate the nutrients from plant sources as effectively as animal sources. To ensure a well-balanced diet and prevent deficiencies from building up, include at least one source of ruminant meat and one poultry source in your dog's meals.
The most common ruminant meat sources in India are goat, buff, etc.
Integrate a diverse selection of vegetables, and consider incorporating beneficial complex carbs like oats, millets, and quinoa into the diet.
- Poultry options are chicken, duck, quail, turkey, etc.
- Ideal fatty fish sources are sardines, mackerel, anchovies, etc.
Integrate a diverse selection of vegetables, and consider incorporating beneficial complex carbs like oats, millets, and quinoa into the diet.
Step Three: Select the Appropriate Source of Calcium
Calcium stands as the most crucial nutrient in your dog's dietary requirements, contributing to stronger bones, teeth, and nails. Optimal sources of calcium for dogs are raw meaty bones, with poultry bones such as wings, necks, or poultry bone powder. Bones not only serve as a rich source of calcium but also contribute essential elements like phosphorus and magnesium to your dog's diet.
Eggshell powder serves as an alternative source, but it lacks the inclusion of other essential nutrients found in bones. If you use eggshell powder or a calcium supplement, add magnesium-rich foods like pumpkin seeds for a balanced nutrient intake.
Eggshell powder serves as an alternative source, but it lacks the inclusion of other essential nutrients found in bones. If you use eggshell powder or a calcium supplement, add magnesium-rich foods like pumpkin seeds for a balanced nutrient intake.
Step Four: Add Adequate Amount of B-Complex
Ensure your homemade dog food incorporates sufficient B-complex vitamins. If liver isn't a daily diet component, your dog's diet may lack B vitamins. Vitamin B-12 is crucial for dogs and should be supplemented daily in the absence of liver, particularly in a home cooked diet for dogs that are primarily vegetarian or do not contain liver.
Step Six: Feed Colourful Vegetables and Fruits
Phytonutrients are compounds that give vegetables and fruits their vibrant colours, distinct tastes and smells. Phytonutrients have anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and anti-cancer properties. Red ones (watermelon, cranberries, red bell peppers) have antioxidative properties, orange and yellow (carrot, pumpkin, banana, yellow zucchini) are heart-protective and green ones (broccoli, spinach, kale, cabbage) have cancer-blocking chemicals, etc. While prepping vegetables, boil and blend them before feeding your dog. Including mashed and blended vegetables in your homemade dog food will allow for optimal absorption of nutrients.
Step Seven: Feed Enough Protein
Animal protein sources must contribute half of the calories in your dog's homemade dog food. When choosing the primary components for your dog's diet, prioritise bioavailable protein sources. Dogs require a sufficient amount of amino acids in their diet to prevent deficiencies that may lead to heart, liver, and related disorders. Optimal sources of amino acids for dogs include animal protein sources such as chicken, red meat, organs, fish, and eggs.
Step Eight: Add Other Beneficial Ingredients
Incorporating the following ingredients in small quantities can contribute to your dog's overall well-being:
- Pumpkin seeds: Serve as a rich source of magnesium and fats.
- Sunflower seed oil or Wheat Germ oil: Serve as a rich source of Omega-6 fat and vitamin E.
- Turmeric powder: Is known for its anti-inflammatory properties.
- Spirulina powder: Is known for its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Kefir/Curd: Is beneficial for maintaining balanced gut health in dogs.
In conclusion, providing your dog with a balanced and nutritious home cooked diet is essential for their overall health and well-being. By following these guidelines and regularly rotating ingredients, you can provide your dog with a diverse and wholesome diet that sets the foundation for a long and healthy life. Always consult with a nutrition professional for personalized advice based on your dog's specific needs and health conditions.
Keywords:
About the author
Get daily pet parenting tips to your Whatsapp
thePack.in
Happier together
with dogs
Copyright Interspecies Caretech Private Limited 2023