Making Dog Food From Scratch
from Good Dog Food Recipes

What goes into making dog food from scratch

So many people are making dog food from scratch nowadays.

It has so many benefits for you and your pet. It can save you money, make your dog healthier, and offers a higher quality of nutrition.

So, why does not everyone make their own food? The most common answers are time, cost, and where to begin.

It is easy to look up recipes online or guess, but how do you really know what your dog needs. Where to begin is the scariest part of dog food making.

You want to be sure to give your dog the best, as that is the whole point of the endeavor.

How Much Of What

What to put in making dog food from scratch is less of a guess than how much. We all know dogs need protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and vitamin and minerals. It is the ratio and percentage that we all question. The best way to know what your dog needs is to call the vet and ask.

The recommended daily amount of protein for a dog is between 21 – 26% So, this means that this amount of meat your pup needs in relation to the rest of his food mixture. If you plan to feed your dog kibble as well as a homemade blend, you will need to take into account the amount of protein in each cup used.

Too much protein can lead to problems. Another 42% of your dog's food should be a source of digestible carbohydrate such as whole wheat rice or oatmeal. Vegetables also are considered carbs, but are the fiber your dog needs. Both of these are your dog's energy source. The fat content should be between 15-20% of your dog's diet as well.

The best choice for this type of fat is oil. Use a fish or canola oil when making dog food from scratch. This is the best way to get a good type of fat for your dog. If you are worried about trace elements and vitamins, you can use a daily supplement, such as a human daily vitamin, for your dog. You would use half the human dose for every 50 lbs of dog.

What To Cook

What to cook is also another popular dilemma when making dog food from scratch. You need to decide whether to go wet, dry, or a combination of both. The type of dog food you will decide to make your pup will depend on a few things. A younger, healthy dog should not eat wet foods exclusively. They need the dry food for proper digestion and tooth health.

Older dogs with dental issues may need a soft diet to be able to get all the nutrients they need without having to chew hard kibble. Ask your vet what would be the best for your dog. Once you know what you need to supply. Cooking it is easy. There are literally thousands of recipes on the Internet for both wet and dry foods. You can even make up your own if you choose.

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