Why not try making your own dog food? Recommended ingredients and things to keep in mind

Hello!

What do you usually feed your dog? Dog food? Share your own food? Or... homemade food?

I might be surprised to hear someone say, "I cook homemade food for my dog ​​every day!"

But actually, homemade food isn't as difficult as you might think. In some cases, it can be more nutritionally balanced and cheaper than dog food! This is also thanks to dogs' omnivorous nature. Sometimes, you can even use the same food humans eat without any added seasoning.

Dogs are omnivores, so they'll eat a variety of things. They often even stare at you and beg for human food, as if to say, "Give me some!" They're cute, but food seasoned for humans can be high in calories and unbalanced for dogs. It's probably not a good idea to give them too much.

You might occasionally give your dog human food as a treat. But maybe it's putting a strain on your dog's body...?

Today, we'll introduce what you can and can't feed your dog, as well as some easy recipes for homemade food!

While you're cooking human food, why not try making dog food too? It's actually pretty easy to make as long as you pay attention to the ingredients.

Dog food is great, but it might be nice to give your dog homemade food every once in a while! This time, we're also introducing some easy recipes, so please give them a try! ♪

Foods You Shouldn't Feed Your Dog

Let's start with the foods you should never feed your dog.

• Onion
• Green onion
• Chinese chive
• Pickled radish
• Garlic

Do not feed your dog any of the Amaryllidaceae family.

• Chocolate
• Cocoa

Foods made with cocoa beans, such as these, are also a no-no.

• Grapes
• Raisins

The cause is unknown, but consuming these foods appears to lead to "grape poisoning."

※Grape poisoning is when symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and tremors appear after ingesting grapes, leading to acute renal failure.

There are surprisingly many things you shouldn't feed your dog, including avocados, alcohol, raw egg whites, squid, octopus, human-grade sausages, and ham. There's a risk of poisoning or indigestion. While we've listed many foods that are bad for your dog in small amounts, there are also some foods that can make your dog sick if ingested in large quantities.

We can't cover everything, so if you're unsure whether a certain food is safe, it might be a good idea to do a quick search!

What to Feed Your Dog

【Meat】

Meat in general is fine, but it's safer to cook it thoroughly.

Foods that humans eat raw (such as horse meat) are apparently safe to eat raw.

However, it's generally best to cook it thoroughly.

【Fish】

Most fish should be cooked thoroughly. Don't feed them octopus or squid, as they can cause indigestion, as mentioned above!

Shellfish are also difficult to digest, so don't give them to your dog. Apparently, tuna sashimi is okay.
It's great to be able to eat together!

【Vegetables & Grains】

As for vegetables, almost all are OK, except for onions and other members of the Amaryllidaceae family.

However, all ingredients should be thoroughly cooked.

When it comes to grains, avoid giving them large amounts. For example, limit rice to 50g at a time. Dogs only have a limited amount of the enzymes needed to digest grains. Therefore, feeding them grains can cause indigestion. Bread is especially not recommended.

【Condiments】

Basically, nothing is allowed. The only allowed condiment is honey. However, it's high in calories, so it's almost never given to dogs.
Salt and pepper are also a no-no. While it's true that dogs will be more likely to eat food with seasonings, they may end up consuming too much salt, so avoid seasoning.

The basic premise for all foods is that they should be unseasoned and cooked thoroughly. It's safer to feed vegetables, etc., cooked rather than raw.

If you feed your dog only his favorite foods, your homemade meals will be unbalanced. Make sure to provide a good balance of vegetables, meat, and grains.

Recommended Recipes

Introducing an affordable and easy recipe using chicken breast.

• Chicken breast: 90g
• Broccoli: 30g
• Cabbage: 30g
• Carrot: 30g
• Rice: 30g

① Boil the chicken breast. Skim off any scum and cook thoroughly over medium heat! The broth will be used as soup, so don't throw it away.

② Shred the cooked chicken breast into bite-sized pieces for your dog, finely chop the vegetables listed above, and boil them in the broth from ①.

③ After boiling for about 15 minutes, check that the carrots are cooked through, then add the shredded chicken fillet to the soup and turn off the heat.

④ Once cooled, it's done. If it's too hot, your dog will get burned, so let it cool to body temperature.

Chicken and Vegetable Soup Rice for Dogs by pocopad [Cookpad]

This recipe uses chicken breast, so it's inexpensive.

The other ingredients are also the same as your dog's regular meals, so this recipe allows you to make dog food at the same time. ♪ If you don't finely chop the vegetables, small dogs may choke on them or experience indigestion. Depending on your dog's size, you may need to chop them very finely.

Summary

Making homemade dog food is quite easy.

As long as you're careful about the ingredients you use, there's no need for seasonings, so it might be easier than making human food! (lol) There are plenty of recipes for homemade meals on Cookpad and other sites. Why not give it a try, making sure to check for any ingredients you shouldn't use?

If you have any good recipes, please share them with everyone♪