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5 Recipes for Homemade Puppy Food

2 bulldog puppies sitting in thick grass

Proper nutrition is extremely crucial for growing puppies because it ensures a healthy foundation for optimal growth and development. Although a commercial diet is much more convenient than homemade puppy food, it can lack some essential nutrients. Therefore, it’s always better to feed your pup homemade food because it gives you total control over the ingredients.

Cooking homemade puppy food will definitely require some commitment on your part as it takes time and effort. Other than being nutritionally balanced, homemade food can also help you save some cash. Keep reading to learn some easy recipes of homemade puppy food that you can make for your canine friend.    

Homemade Dog Biscuits

Yellow Labrador Retriever balancing a dog biscuit on its nose

Dogs are quite fond of biscuits and these peanut butter and coconut cookies are just the thing they need. These homemade biscuits are healthier and cheaper than the commercial alternatives and can be made within minutes. The mentioned quantities of ingredients will yield 15-20 biscuits (medium size).

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Almond Flour
  • ¼ cup shredded coconut, unsweetened
  • ½ cup peanut butter (natural or organic)
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup oatmeal
  • ½ tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon applesauce

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine dry ingredients with a wooden spoon.
  3. Now, add the remaining ingredients and mix well until combined.
  4. Knead dough into a ball.
  5. On a well-floured piece of waxed paper, pat dough ball out until flat. Then, place another piece of wax paper on top of the dough and roll out to ¼-½-inch thick.
  6. Use a cookie cutter or glass to cut out treats and place them on an unlined baking sheet.
  7. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Thanks to Tidy Mom for this recipe.

Chicken and Spinach Puppy Food

Spinach leaves in a wooden bowl

Looking for a healthy and scrumptious meal for your dog? This chicken and spinach recipe will surely work like a charm. The stated ingredients can make 60 servings for a small (5-8 lbs.) dog.

Ingredients:

  • 4 lbs. ground chicken
  • 1 ½ cups dried brown rice
  • 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
  • 4-5 cups fresh spinach
  • 1 extra-large yam (2 medium-sized)
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil

Directions

  1. Cook the brown rice according to package instructions.
  2. Wash the yam(s) and pierce it by using a fork. Then, put them in a microwave (on high) for 7 minutes (or until tender). You will rotate the yam once halfway through the iteration. Let it cool for a while and cut into cubes when cooled.
  3. In a large soup pot, add oil and chicken. Cook the chicken over medium heat until it is cooked thoroughly.
  4. Remove the pot from heat and add cooked rice, tomato sauce, yams, and raw spinach. Mix all the ingredients with a large spoon.
  5. After that, use a submersion blender to blend them until incorporated. No large chunks of any ingredient should be there.
  6. Let it cool for 1 hour and place in the refrigerator overnight. This will help the mixture to set.
  7. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper and scoop individual servings on it by using an ice-cream scoop.
  8. Place the trays in the freezer until frozen.
  9. Take the frozen dog food out of the freezer and put them in ziplock bags.
  10. Keep a week’s worth of food in the refrigerator while store the rest in the freezer.

NOTE: Please consult your vet before changing your dog’s current diet.

Thanks to Pink Pistachio for this recipe.      

Banana Carob Oat Cake

Bananas attached to a banana tree

Want to make a healthy cake to celebrate your pup’s first birthday? This recipe is not only suitable but also extremely delicious for your puppy. The stated quantities of ingredients will make 24 servings.

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups whole wheat flour
  • 2 ripe bananas, mashed
  • 4 Tbsp. honey
  • 1 egg
  • ½ tbsp baking powder
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 2 cups water
  • ½ cup carob chips
  • 1 cup peanut butter

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Using a nonstick spray, coat an 8-inch cake pan and set aside.
  2. In a bowl, mix the bananas, 3 tablespoons honey, egg, and water until combined. Then, stir in the flour, baking powder, and oats.
  3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle the carob chips on top. Use a fork to slightly mix in the carob chips in a marbling fashion; the chips should be slightly visible on the surface.
  4. Bake the cake for 1 hour. Check and bake for an additional 15 minutes if you insert a toothpick and it does not come out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 30 minutes before transferring it to a rack to cool completely.
  5. As the cake is cooling on the rack, mix the peanut butter and remaining honey in a bowl until thoroughly incorporated to create the frosting. Using a spoon or spatula, spread the peanut butter frosting over the cake.

Healthy Puppy Food

Ground turkey on a brown paper bag surrounded by peppercorns on a wooden table

Do you own a finicky dog who is prone to food allergies? If your answer is Yes, this homemade recipe will surely make your life easy. It incorporates a variety of healthy ingredients and is extremely delicious for your canine companion. The given ingredients will make about 28 servings for a small dog (up to 14 pounds).

Ingredients:

  • 3 lbs ground turkey (or any protein)
  • 1 cup uncooked millet (or any other whole grain: quinoa, rice, pasta)
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • ¼ cup unsweetened coconut flakes or coconut oil
  • 1 carrot, shredded
  • 1 zucchini, shredded
  • ½ cup pumpkin puree (canned or homemade)
  • 1 squash, shredded
  • 1 apple, chopped
  • A Tbsp. of Calcium powder

Directions

  1. Bring  1 cup of the whole grain to a boil in a pot of water. I overcook it so that it’s soft and easily digestible. Drain.
  2. While that’s boiling, shred/chop the veggies.
  3. Cook ground turkey with olive oil and drain excess juices.
  4. Mix everything! No need to cook the veggies. The cooked turkey and whole grain will warm them up a bit.
  5. Store in Tupperware or ziplock bags and freeze.

Thanks to Where’s the Frenchie for this recipe.

Low-Calorie Homemade Puppy Food

Jack Russell Terrier eating out of a metal bowl.

Looking for a recipe that could help your puppy lose some weight? You have come to the right place because this low-fat dog food offers a good balance of essential nutrients. The mentioned ingredients will make 12 servings.

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 2 cups uncooked brown rice
  • 6 cups water
  • 1 8-ounce package frozen broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower

Directions

  1. Place the turkey, rice, rosemary, and water into a large Dutch oven.
  2. Stir until the turkey has broken up and is evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
  3. Bring the mixture to a boil (over high heat) and reduce the flame to low.
  4. Simmer for 20 minutes.
  5. Now, add frozen vegetables and cook for 5 additional minutes.
  6. Remove from heat and cool.
  7. Refrigerate until ready for serving.

Thanks to All Recipes for this recipe.

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