8 Easy Homemade Dog Food Crockpot Recipes Your Dog Will Love You For (2024)

FAQs

What are the most important ingredients in homemade dog food? ›

Your pet needs protein (animal meat, seafood, dairy, or eggs), fat (from meat or oil) and carbohydrates (grains or vegetables). They also need calcium (from dairy or an ingredient such as egg shells), and essential fatty acids (from certain plant oils, egg yolks, oatmeal, and other foods).

DIY dog food can easily be made right in the slow cooker. It's healthier and cheaper than store-bought, and it's freezer-friendly! If you didn't know what your slow cooker is capable of, you'll be very happy to know that you can now add dog food to the crockpot list.

What are the top 3 ingredients to look for in dog food? The top ingredients to look for in dog food are high-quality proteins (named meat sources - chicken, beef, fish, and lamb), natural carbohydrates (whole fruits and vegetables), and healthy fats (animal fats or plant-based oils).

Chicken and rice isn't meant to be given as an everyday dog food, nor is it suitable to be used in place of regular dog treats.

There is a wide variety of unhealthy and unsafe foods to avoid when preparing meals for your dog. Potentially toxic ingredients are of special concern, including chocolate, xylitol, avocado, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, and macadamia nuts.

You can use any cut of beef, chicken, fish, or lamb, but be sure to cut them into bite-size pieces before boiling. You can get bones from a butcher, but be sure not to use chicken bones.

The best dog foods will always have meat as the top ingredient, and you should look for recipes that emphasize real animal proteins, rather than just meat meals. Because your dog's food should have more meat than any other ingredient, it's vital to choose a meat source that will benefit your dog's health.

In a bowl combine the tablespoon of water and tablespoon of cornstarch until smooth and stir it into the dog food mixture. Bring the ingredients to a boil stirring constantly. Boil until thickened (about 1 minute) continuing to stir.

Unfortunately, eating so quickly can be quite dangerous for our dogs. First, they can choke, which is obviously life-threatening. Gagging on their food will often result in vomiting and discomfort, as well. Second, eating quickly increases the risk of a serious medical condition called bloat.

Some of the most commonly used vegetables in dog food are beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, carrots, celery, corn, green beans, peas, spinach and sweet potatoes. These vegetables are not only easily digestible for dogs but they're also rich in essential nutrients.

Is 2 cups a day enough for a dog? ›

Small Breeds (10-20 pounds): 3/4 cup to 1 1/2 cups per day. Medium Breeds (30-50 pounds) 1 3/4 to 2 2/3 cups per day. Large Breeds: (60-100 pounds) 3 to 4 1/2 cups per day, plus 1/3 cup for every 10 pounds over 100 pounds.

Assuming your dog has a typical activity level, toy breeds should have about ¼ cups to 1 cup, small breeds should have about 1 cup to 1 2/5 cup, medium breeds should have about 2 cups to 2 2/3 cups, and large breeds should have about 2 4/5 cups to 3 cups. -Senior dogs should be fed a little less than adult dogs.

For an adult dog between 10 to 20 lbs. – ¾ to 1 ⅓ cups of food per serving. For an adult dog between 30 to 50 lbs. – 1 ¾ to 2 ⅔ cups of food per serving.

“Homemade food is a great option for many pets, but we recommend that owners avoid general recipes from books and the Internet and instead consult with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist,” Larsen said.