They say that dogs are a man’s best friend, and we couldn’t agree more. They’re fiercely loyal and shower their owners with affection everyday. And in return, all every dog parent wants is to keep their precious pups happy and healthy for as long as they can.
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When it comes to maintaining your dog’s health, diet is crucial. While commercially made pet food may contain preservatives and additives, homemade dog food means you get to control every ingredient that goes into your pup’s tummy. To get you started, here are seven homemade dog food recipes to fill your pooch with natural wonder!
What can you NOT put in homemade dog food?
Before you don an apron and start whipping up dishes for your pupper, here are some important tips according to Union Lake Veterinary Hospital to take note of when preparing homemade dog food recipes. Do also be sure to monitor your dog for any health issues like diarrhea, vomiting or allergies, and bring it to the vet once you notice any signs of discomfort.
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Easy homemade dog food recipes
1. Turkey and veggies homemade dog food recipe
While vegetables and fruits are staples in our diet, they are not necessarily so for our dogs. Why? Dogs are carnivores and receive nutrition from protein and fats to stay healthy. However, that does not mean that your pup won’t benefit from an occasional meal that’s chock-full of vegetables! Having some greens in the dog bowl can help increase their fibre intake which may promote better digestion. Vegetables such as spinach and carrots are also rich in antioxidants, minerals and vitamins to support healthy growth. Additionally, they are an excellent source of water to ensure your pup stays hydrated all day long!
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes
Servings: 8 portions
You will need:
- 1 ½ cups brown rice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1.5kg ground turkey
- 3 cups baby spinach, chopped
- 2 carrots, shredded
- 1 zucchini, shredded
- ½ cup peas, frozen
How to make:
- Cook the brown rice and set aside
- Heat the Royal Miller extra virgin olive oil (available on Lim Siang Huat Official Store) in the Carote Essential Woody Stockpot (available on Carote Official Store) over medium heat. Add the ground turkey and break it up into smaller pieces as it cooks.
- Cook the turkey for about 5 minutes until it turns brown, then stir in all the vegetables and the brown rice. Cook for another 5 minutes until the spinach has wilted.
- Let the mixture cool completely before serving it to your pup! You can freeze the excess and heat it up in the microwave for about 30 seconds when ready to serve again.
2. Beefy homemade dog food recipe
Lacking in the cooking department? Here’s a little secret: you don’t really need to be a MasterChef to whip up some yummy homemade dog food for the furry one! This Beefy homemade dog food recipe is unbelievably easy to recreate — all you need is a slow cooker. It’s also nutritious and includes kidney beans which are beneficial for your dog’s heart health, and helps to regulate its blood sugar levels.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 6 hours (3 hours if cooked on high heat)
Servings: 12 portions
You will need:
- 1.2kg ground beef
- 1 2/2 cups brown rice
- 450g organic kidney beans
- 1 ½ cups butternut squash, chopped
- 1 ½ cups carrots, chopped
- ½ cup peas, frozen
How to make:
- Stir in the ground beef, carrots, peas, butternut squash, SongHe jasmine brown rice and Origins organic red kidney beans (both available on Shopee Supermarket) into the Cornell electric slow cooker (available on Cornell Singapore Official Store). Use organic kidney beans instead of canned beans to avoid adding any additional seasoning or ingredients which may be harmful to dogs. Add four cups of water to the mixture.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook the mixture on low heat for six hours, stirring occasionally. This step is great for working pet owners as you can simply keep the slow cooker going while you head to work and come home to a delicious meal for your dog! Alternatively, you can choose to cook the mixture at high heat for three hours.
- Let the food cool completely before storing it in the freezer.
3. Barley chicken soup homemade dog food recipe
It’s pouring outside and your dog has scampered off to hide under the bed again because of the roaring thunder. What can you do to make your pup feel better? Soothe his frazzled nerves with a hot bowl of barley chicken soup! Not only will this bowl of creamy soup warm your dog up and calm its nerves, it’s also a great source of protein. This recipe also contains barley which is low in cholesterol and high in fibre. This homemade dog food recipe is also good for days when your dog has a bad stomach and needs something easy to eat.
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 65 minutes
Servings: 12 bowls
You will need:
- 4 slices chicken breasts
- 8 cups water
- 1 tbsp extra light olive oil
- ⅓ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- ½ tsp basil
- 2 tbsp parsley
- ¼ tsp ground eggshells
- 2 small green peppers, chopped
- 1 cup celery, chopped
- 2 cups carrots, chopped
- 1 cup barley, soaked
How to make:
- Place the chicken breasts (available on GrocerKing Official Store) into the stockpot with water and olive oil (available on Shopee Supermarket). Cook the chicken over medium-high heat until it’s fully cooked. Remove from heat and let it cool.
- Prepare the chicken by removing any bones or skin. Then, shred it into small pieces by pulling the meat apart using two forks and set aside.
- Skim the fat off the top of the broth in the stockpot. Add the ground eggshells, all the seasonings, chopped vegetables and barley (available on Shopee Supermarket) into the pot. Cover the pot and let the broth simmer for about 45 minutes until the vegetables are soft and the barley is cooked thoroughly.
- Add the shredded chicken back into the pot. Let the soup cool before serving.
Pro Tip: You can freeze the excess soup in ice cube trays. Store the cubes in a reusable silicone sandwich bag (available on Trippy Travelers) and pop it in the freezer for future use!
4. Salmon and sweet potato homemade dog treat
Salmon is packed with omega-3 fatty acids, protein, potassium, antioxidants and more — which makes it a surefire way to enhance your fur baby’s diet. It is not only proven to help prevent heart diseases, but it also promotes healthy skin! Salmon matches perfectly with sweet potato, which makes for a delicious homemade dog treat packed with vitamins.
When preparing salmon for your pooch, make sure that you pick out every single bone before cooking it. It is also recommended to limit this fish to no more than once a week. In addition, do ensure that you cook the salmon well as they may contain parasites that can cause food poisoning.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 35 minutes
Servings: varies
You will need:
- 1 pc salmon portion (your dog can eat 10g of salmon for every 450g they weigh)
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- 2 small sweet potatoes, mashed
- 1 head broccoli with stem, chopped
How to make:
- Boil the sweet potato for 10 minutes until soft and tender and mash with a fork
- Steam the chopped broccoli for 10 minutes
- Heat the Naturel Organic Extra Virgin coconut oil (available on Shopee Supermarket) in a pan over medium heat and place the salmon (available on Dish The Fish Official Store) on it. Cook for about 8-10 minutes and check that the salmon is well done.
- Let the homemade dog treat cool for 10-15 minutes before feeding it to your pup!
Easy homemade dog treats recipes
5. Homemade peanut butter dog treat recipe
All pet owners know this — dog food and treats don’t come cheap. So if you’re looking to save some cash while keeping an eye on the stuff that’s going into your dog’s food, this homemade peanut butter dog treat recipe will be right up your alley! Pumpkin puree is used in this recipe to supply dietary fibre for your furry friend which can alleviate constipation and diarrhoea. The oils found in pumpkin flesh are also believed to support your pet’s urinary health!
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 65 minutes
Servings: varies
You will need:
- ⅓ cup pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- 2 large eggs
- 3 cups whole wheat flour
How to make:
- Preheat your oven to 175-degree Celsius. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
- Using the paddle attachment on your Aztech silvertone stand mixer (available on Kyla by Aztech Official Store), beat the pumpkin puree, Biona Organic unsalted peanut butter (available on Shopee Supermarket) and eggs on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes until everything is well combined. Gradually pour in 2 ½ cups of flour at low speed and beat until it’s incorporated into the batter. Add an additional ¼ cup flour at a time until the dough is no longer sticky.
- Lightly flour your kitchen counter before kneading the dough for about four times until everything comes together. Roll the dough to ¼ inches thickness with the ANAEAT silicone non-stick rolling pin (available on Anaeat Official Store).
- Using a cookie cutter of your choice, cut out the dough and lay them onto the baking sheet you prepared in the first step
- Pop the tray into the oven and bake for about 25 minutes until the edges of the treats appear golden brown. Let the treats cool completely before rewarding your furry pal for being such a patient pup!
6. Egg and brown rice homemade dog food recipe
For a nutrient-packed yet fuss-free treat, this egg and brown rice homemade dog food recipe will do the trick! Even though dogs are carnivores, grains and eggs can be part of their diet. Eggs are rich in protein and fatty acids, while brown rice contains large amounts of fibre, which is especially helpful if your pooch is having digestive problems. This recipe also contains brewers yeast, which is a supplement that is rich in B vitamins. It can promote healthier eyes, skin and fur, and improve liver function too!
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 35 minutes
Servings: varies
You will need:
- 1 large egg, beaten
- ⅓ cup apple sauce
- 1 cup brown rice, cooked
- 1 cup vegetables (squash, zucchinis, peas or carrots)
- ½ tbsp brewers yeast
How to make:
- Steam 1 cup of vegetables of your choice for 10 minutes
- Add the beaten egg, apple sauce (available on Shopee Supermarket), cooked brown rice, vegetables and brewers yeast (available on Green Earth Organic SG Official Store) in a bowl and mix well.
- Grease a cookie sheet (available on Brund by SCANPAN Official Store) and portion the mixture into balls, with about 2cm space between each other
- Baked in a preheated oven at 180 degrees celsius for 20 minutes
- Let it cool before serving
7. Flourless homemade dog birthday cake recipe
Celebrating the birthday of your canine companion? Try your hand at baking a dog-friendly birthday cake for this special occasion! Here’s a simple recipe that even baking noobs will be able to master. Plus, all you need is four ingredients — sweet potatoes, brown rice, yoghurt and peanut butter.
Pro Tip: Only use unsweetened yoghurt with no artificial ingredients when preparing this homemade dog cake recipe.
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
You will need:
- 1 sweet potato
- ⅓ cup cooked brown rice
- 1 tbsp raw, unsalted peanut butter
- 1 tbsp plain, unsweetened greek yoghurt
How to make:
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees celsius
- Bake the sweet potato in the oven for 45 minutes
- Once done, mash the sweet potato with a fork and add 1 tablespoon of unsalted peanut butter (available on Optimofoods Official Store) into the mix
- Add in cooked brown rice and stir to combine
- Place the mixture on a plate and pat it to form the shape of a cake
- Let it cool in the fridge for 15 minutes
- Frost the cake with 1 tablespoon of plain greek yoghurt (available on SgPrimeMart).
Switch up your doggo’s menu with these homemade dog food recipes
Apart from getting your pooch’s diet in check with these homemade dog food recipes, it’s equally important to keep their fur neat and clean! Check out the best pet grooming places in Singapore to bring your furry kid to for a trim or a well-deserved spa treatment. Have a feline friend at home too? Check out these homemade cat food recipes that you can try for your cat.
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