Preparing homemade dog food at home provides your pet with fresh nutritious meals that match their specific dietary requirements. Home cooking allows you to select all ingredients for your dog's meals because you can use lean ground beef or ground turkey or basic green beans and sweet potatoes. The practice of home cooking provides your pet with nutritious meals that promote digestive health and minimize food allergies while creating a dining experience similar to family meals. This guide provides information about dog food portions and lists safe vegetables and forbidden ingredients.
Why Make Your Own Dog Food?
Many dog owners are choosing to prepare their own dog food at home. The benefits include:
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Control over ingredients and freshness.
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The ability to tailor meals to food sensitivities or special diets.
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Offering your dog more variety than dry food or canned food.
Home-cooked meals for dogs can include ground turkey and lean ground beef and chicken breast which provide affordable protein sources while adding sweet potatoes and green beans and brown rice for fiber and energy. Preparing meals at home prevents your dog from consuming unwanted preservatives and additives because it allows you to serve nutritious food that promotes digestive health and energy levels.
How to Prepare Homemade Food for Dogs
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Plan the recipe. Aim for 50 % ground meat, 25 % cooked grains such as white rice or brown rice, and 25 % fresh veg.
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Batch-cook safely. Use a crock pot or slow cooker so food reaches 75 °C; cool completely within two hours and chill below 5 °C. The NHS gives clear cooling steps for leftovers.
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Blend for digestibility. A small food processor breaks down fibrous green beans and frozen vegetables so picky eaters digest them better.
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Add healthy fats. Stir in a teaspoon of cod liver oil or coconut oil after cooking; heat destroys some nutrients.
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Portion by weight. As a rule of thumb, feed 2–3 % of your dog’s body weight in prepared food per day, adjusting if your dog needs to lose a few pounds. Keep a dog bowl just for homemade food to avoid cross-contamination with raw diet prep.
UK Pantry Staples for Pups
You do not need exotic items—your local Tesco, Aldi, or farm shop has almost everything:
| Pantry item | Why dogs love it | Tip for dog owners |
| Lean ground beef or ground turkey | High-value protein for strong muscles | Drain fat to keep calories in check |
| Sweet potato & mixed frozen veggies | Fibre for healthy digestion and immune system boosters | Microwave, then mash with a fork |
| Scottish oats or cooked brown rice | Gentle energy for dogs with sensitive stomachs | Great base for soft foods |
| Olive oil & coconut oil | Shine-boosting essential fatty acids | 5 ml per 10 kg dog |
| Bone broth | Extra minerals and collagen | Freeze in ice-cube trays for quick use |
Top 10 Homemade Dog Food Recipes
Below are the dog food recipes in our ten-recipe set. Each one hits FEDIAF nutrient targets and uses easy UK ingredients:
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Chicken & Sweet Potato One-Pot – A great recipe for first-time cooks. Combine ground chicken, diced sweet potato, and green beans; simmer, then finish with olive oil.
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Beef, Barley & Kale Stew – Lean ground beef, pearl barley, and shredded kale slow-cooked in bone broth. Dogs love the rich taste and owners love the shiny coats.
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Turkey & Butternut Tray-Bake – Roast lean ground turkey, butternut squash cubes, and frozen mixed vegetables on one tray; stir cod liver oil through after baking.
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Salmon, Oats & Spinach Cakes – Tinned salmon (in spring water), Scottish oats, egg yolks, and chopped spinach formed into patties and baked. A powerhouse of omega-3s for healthy skin.
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Lamb & Pea Shepherd’s Bowl – Minced lamb, peas, and cooked white rice sautéed together; cooled before serving to protect a dog’s digestive system.
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Haddock, Rice & Carrot Mash – Steam white fish, fold into cooked white rice, grated carrot and a splash of olive oil. Great for sensitive stomachs.
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Pork, Apple & Parsnip Hash – Lean ground meat from pork loin, shredded apple, diced parsnip; simmer in bone broth until soft. Vitamins A and C boost the immune system.
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Veggie-Power Lentil Hotpot (with taurine) – Red lentils slow-cooked in a crock pot with frozen veggies and egg shells powder for calcium; finish with coconut oil for shine.
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Duck & Quinoa Sunday Roast Mix – Duck mince, cooked quinoa, frozen peas; a richer option for very picky eaters who tire of the same recipe.
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Sardine & Pumpkin Breakfast Muffins – Tinned sardines, mashed pumpkin, oat flour and egg yolks baked into soft foods ideal for senior dogs.
For each recipe, feed guides cover how much food per body-weight bracket, plus freezer tips so you can make the same recipe in bulk and store portions safely for up to three months. Dogs absolutely love the variety, and you gain the peace of mind that every meal offers all the nutrients of a well-balanced dog food.
Do Vets Approve Homemade Dog Food for Nutritional Needs?
Veterinarians confirm homemade diets can be both safe and nutritious when properly balanced. The main difficulty lies in providing dogs with their complete set of necessary vitamins and minerals. A homemade dog food recipe appears balanced in writing yet owners need to plan carefully to avoid missing vital amino acids and calcium and sufficient calories. Veterinarians generally advise pet owners to consult with a canine nutritionist when planning to use homemade diets as their long-term food source. The nutritional needs of dogs can be supported through supplements which include salmon oil and coconut oil and finely ground egg shells. Consult with your veterinarian before making a complete transition to homemade dog food.
How Much Should I Feed My Dog?
Feeding the right amount keeps your pup at a healthy weight and protects the joints, heart and immune system. Most vets follow the FEDIAF energy chart that starts at 110 kcal × (body-weight kg)^0.75 per day, then adjusts for age and activity. For an easy rule, give 2 % of body weight for couch-potato adults, 3 % for active dogs, and 4 % for lean pups or those needing to gain a few pounds.
| Dog Weight | Daily Cooked Food | Example Meal Split |
| 5 kg toy | 100–150 g | 50 g morning, 70 g evening |
| 15 kg spaniel | 300–450 g | 150 g meals twice |
| 30 kg lab | 600–900 g | 300 g meals twice |
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Always check body shape—ribs should be easy to feel but not see. The British Veterinary Association calorie tool is handy if you mix dry food and homemade dog food. Top tip: Use a digital scale, not a scoop, so meals stay consistent and you know how much healthy food your furry friend really gets. |
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What to Watch for When Feeding Homemade Dog Food
A fresh homemade diet can transform dull coats into glossy ones, yet imbalance shows quickly. Watch for:
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Loose stools or upset stomach – may signal too much olive oil, not enough fibre from green beans or mixed vegetables.
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Dandruff or itchy skin – often low essential fatty acids; add 1 tsp cod liver oil per 500 g prepared food.
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Sluggish energy – increase cooked brown rice or white rice for complex carbs.
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Weight gain – switch from ground beef to lean ground turkey or ground chicken and cut coconut oil in half.
If vomiting or itch persists beyond a week, call your vet or Animal Poison Line in case a toxic food slipped in. Keeping a simple food diary helps dog owners trace patterns and refine well balanced dog food portions.
Portion Storage & Food Safety
Food poisoning hurts dogs just as it hurts us. The Food Standards Agency says cooked meat should cool from 60 °C to 20 °C within two hours, then drop under 5 °C in the fridge. Cool completely before sealing portions.
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Fridge life: 3 days for soft foods; label with date.
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Freezer life: 3 months; thaw in the fridge, not on the counter, to protect the dog’s digestive system.
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Use shallow containers or silicone muffin trays—perfect single-serve “pucks.” Re-heat to room temperature only; piping-hot food destroys vitamins and may burn tongues. A dedicated dog bowl avoids cross-contamination with raw diet prep, keeping both people and pets safe.
What Vegetables Can Dogs Eat?
Dogs love many vegetables, and they’re an excellent source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Safe veggies include:
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Green beans, peas, broccoli, carrots, and butternut squash.
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Leafy greens like spinach or kale (in moderation).
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Pumpkin for digestive health.
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Sweet potato and white rice for energy and easy digestion.
Using frozen vegetables or frozen peas is fine—just thaw, gently cook, and cool completely before serving. A food processor can help turn harder vegetables into soft foods for easier digestion.
What Not to Put in Dog Food
Some foods are harmful—even toxic—to dogs and should never be included in a dog food recipe:
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Onions, garlic, and chives.
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Grapes, raisins, and certain nuts.
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Foods with high sodium content or heavy seasoning.
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Cooked bones (they can splinter and cause injury).
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Too much cod liver oil (risk of vitamin A toxicity).
Always check ingredients before adding them to your pup’s bowl. When in doubt, consult your vet to keep your dog’s health and digestive system safe.
Know Before You Cook
Handle raw meat safely. The FSA warns that Salmonella and Campylobacter in raw dog food can spread to people if worktops or bowls are not cleaned thoroughly.
Balance is key. RVC dietitians say a dog’s diet must supply protein, fat, calcium, vitamins, and essential fatty acids in the right amounts. Too much or too little of one nutrient can upset stomachs or weaken bones.
Follow recognised standards. The European pet-food body FEDIAF sets energy and nutrient targets for home-prepared meals.
FAQs
What are the best ingredients to put in homemade dog food?
Lean ground beef or turkey, sweet potato, green beans, brown rice, plus small amounts of cod liver oil for essential fatty acids.
What homemade food can dogs eat every day?
A base of cooked ground beef, frozen vegetables, and cooked brown rice gives a balanced diet when paired with a canine multivitamin.
What should top 3 ingredients be in dog food?
Animal protein, complex carbs, and fibrous vegetables. These build muscle, fuel play, and aid healthy digestion.
Do vets recommend homemade dog food?
Most UK vets will approve recipes as long as they follow established nutritional standards and receive veterinary assessment during check-ups. The Royal Veterinary College and British Veterinary Association have established safe-cooking guidelines which support pet owners according to their publications.
Conclusion
You can create dog food at home that matches premium brands through the combination of scientific methods with common household ingredients while spending less money. Your furry friend will receive daily nutritious meals through meal weighing and protein rotation and portion freezing of excess food.
Read More： https://funnyfuzzy.co.uk/blogs/pet-encyclopedia/can-dogs-eat-salmon
