How Do You Make Ground Beef for Dog Food?

Making your own dog food has become a trend in recent years. The reason may possibly be that people just want to save money by making their own dog food or because of all the contaminated dog food that has left the manufacturers over the past few decades.

Whatever your reason for making your own dog food, it is not hard to do. All you have to do is buy some ground beef or grind your own and heat it up till it is well done. Then mix it in with other food items for a balanced diet for your treasured pet.

That is all there is to it. Keep reading to get more information on this process and some top recipes to try.

Should dogs eat ground beef? Check out our post “Can I Feed My Dog Ground Beef?” to learn more.

How Do You Make Homemade Hamburger and Rice for Dogs?

The hamburger part is simple. You either buy some lean ground beef at the store, or you buy some different cuts of lean meat and grind it yourself. The key is to watch the fat content as fat is not healthy for dogs and can lead to obesity.

When it comes to adding in the rice there are more recipes than you would think available to help keep your dog’s meals interesting. They will all have different preparation times depending on the type of rice and how much you are using. Here is one recipe you can try:

How Long Do I Boil Ground Beef for My Dog?

This is also a very easy task to do. The first step is to get a pot that is large enough to hold the water needed and the amount of beef you are going to boil. Get the water boiling first before you add the ground beef.

The beef should be as lean as possible. No more than 85 to 15 ratio. Once the water is boiling, add the beef. You can boil for 10 minutes or until all the pink color is gone. You want the meat well done before mixing it with other ingredients.

Make sure to drain off all the fat and water before mixing it with other ingredients. Also, if your pet is allergic to beef, you can substitute pork, chicken, turkey, or lamb in any homemade dog food recipe.

Mix With Healthy Ingredients

Cooked ground beef is not going to be enough for a balanced diet for your pet. That meat does not contain calcium thus you need to add in other ingredients to make up for the nutrients and minerals beef may lack.

Here are some other food items you can mix n with the beef to make it a well-balanced meal:

1. Cooked whole grains such as brown rice, whole-wheat couscous, cornmeal, oatmeal, and quinoa.
2. Cooked legumes such as split peas, lentils, kidney beans, and pinto beans.
3. Raw vegetables and herbs such as carrots, zucchini, alfalfa sprouts, parsley, and basil.
4. Cooked vegetables such as corn, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, and sweet potatoes.
5. Eggs and cottage cheese are good sources of protein. (source)

These recipes should be served in portions related to how much they weigh. A small dog should not get more than 1/2 while large dogs can eat p to 4 cups each day (approx. For both sizes).

Remember when changing your dog’s diet, you need to start with a small amount mixed in with their current dog food. Then increase that amount slowly each day until your pet is eating nothing but the new dog food.

Is Cooked Hamburger Good for Dogs? Click here to learn more.

Some Final Words

Preparing beef for your dog to eat is simple. The key is not to add in any spices, herbs, or vegetables that are harmful to your pet. To be on the safe side just make plain ground beef and avoid using onions and garlic.

There are other food items you should avoid mixing with beef or other meats. So do some research to protect your pet.

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Please note: We are not veterinarians and you use our advice at your own discretion. We always recommend that you consult your veterinarian whenever you have health-related conditions your furbaby is facing. With that in mind, as pet parents ourselves, we wish nothing but the best for your pet and their healthy and happy lives.