4 DIY Senior Dog Food Recipes

The dietary needs of canines change as they grow up and you need to make corresponding modifications to your recipes. The basic purpose of all these variations is to maintain the right balance of nutrients to keep your pup healthy. For this reason, we have compiled a list of homemade dog foods that are safe for senior pets. Not only are these recipes nutritious, but they also serve as scrumptious treats for your furry friend.

Chicken and Veggie Slow Cooker

The slow cooking process of this recipe extracts every bit of flavor from all the ingredients. Consequently, your dog gets a complete and healthy meal that is too good to resist. You can also store this dog food in the freezer for future use.

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ boneless chicken thighs and breasts (3 lbs. each)
• 1 large-sized apple, cored and cubed (no seeds)
• 2 cups frozen peas
• 2 cups frozen green beans
• 1 sweet potato, cubed
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 1 can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Directions

1. Place meat in the crockpot and add water so that it just covers the chicken. Then, add potato, carrots, kidney beans, green beans, and apple.
2. Cook on low for 8-9 hours, when it is about finished, add the frozen peas and cook for another 30 minutes.
3. When finished, drain off excess liquid, add olive oil, and stir to mash (or place in a food processor).
4. When cooled, scoop daily servings into individual Ziploc bags and freeze. Each night, remove one bag from the freezer and place it in the fridge to defrost overnight.

Thank you to The Dog Bakery for this recipe.

Chicken Gourmet Dog Food

Being carnivores, chicken is one of the favorite ingredients of dogs in their diet. The following recipe is incredibly easy to cook and hardly takes around 30 minutes. In addition to that, it offers a lot of nutritional value through brown rice and different vegetables.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. Chicken (or Turkey)
• 5 cups of brown rice
• 4 cups of veggies – Carrots, Broccoli, Sweet Potatoes
• 3 tbsp Coconut Oil
• Daily Multivitamin in powdered form

Directions

1. Pour coconut oil in a pan.
2. Cut up Chicken and pan fry.
3. Place rice into a separate pan and boil.
4. Mix Rice and Veggies of your choice into the mixture.
5. Stir until mixed.
6. Add your powdered nutritional supplements.
7. Let it cool and then serve it to your dog.

Thank you to House that Barks for this recipe.

Beef Stew for Dogs

Looking for a nutritious combination of meat and vegetables for your senior dog? This homemade dog food will take care of all the nutritional requirements of your canine. Therefore, it’s an excellent alternative for commercial wet foods that are quite expensive.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. beef stew meat
• ½ cup of diced carrots
• ½ cup of diced green beans
• 1 small sweet potato
• ½ cup of flour
• 1 tbsp organic vegetable oil
• ½ cup of water

Directions

1. Microwave the sweet potato for five to eight minutes until tender but still firm.
2. Cut up the beef stew meat into nickel-sized chunks.
3. Heat the vegetable oil over medium heat in a large pan. Add the stew chunks and cook for about 10 to 15 minutes or until well done.
4. Take the beef out of the pan but reserve the drippings.
5. Dice the cooked sweet potato.
6. Turn the heat to medium-low and heat the drippings. While whisking, slowly add the flour and water to the drippings to make a thick gravy.
7. Add the sweet potato, meat, green beans, and carrots to the gravy and mix to coat.
8. Cook about 10 minutes or until the carrots are tender.
9. Let the stew cool completely before serving to your senior dog.
10. The leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for up to five days.

Thank you to Dog Quality for this recipe.

Homemade Food for Senior Dogs

The slowing down of a dog’s metabolism can lead to several health issues, like obesity. In these circumstances, it can become a challenging task to find the recipes that are safe for senior dogs. The following dog food provides your pet with all the essential nutrients without offering too many calories.  

NOTE: It’s highly advisable to check with your vet before switching to any homemade recipe.

Ingredients:

• ¼ pound 75-80% lean ground beef
• 2 cups of COOKED brown rice
• ½ cup of pureed pumpkin
• 1 hard-boiled egg (with shell)
• ½ cup of blueberries

Directions

1. Brown the beef in a frying pan until cooked completely through.
2. Cook about ¾-1 cup of brown rice to get 2 cups of cooked rice.
3. Mash the boiled egg.
4. Combine the egg, cooked brown rice, cooked ground beef, pureed pumpkin, and blueberries in a medium-size mixing bowl. Mix until thoroughly blended.
5. Once the food has cooled, you can feed it to your dog. The recommended serving size is about 1/2 cup for every 25-30 pounds of body weight. This recommendation is for 2 servings per day.
6. You can store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-5 days. You can also make this homemade senior dog food in bulk and freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Thank you to Top Dog Tips for this recipe.