It's a fact, feeding your pup a diet of 100% human-grade dog food is easy, cost-effective, and WAY better for them than a traditional doggie diet of processed kibble! My easy homemade dog food recipe combines lean ground sirloin, wholesome brown rice, fresh vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, and tender herbs for a healthy, vibrant alternative to traditional dog food that has given our 11-year-old dog a new lease on life!
***Please note, I am not a veterinarian, just a very passionate dog owner! The information in this blog post documents our own personal experiences, research, and the recipes that we feed our dogs under our veterinarian's careful supervision. Please, consult with your vet and use your own personal judgment when considering transitioning to a 100% human-grade food diet for your pup. This post was updated with a video on August 16, 2020, updated with additional recipe links 9/14/2020, updated 1/7/2021 with metric measurements, updated 1/3/2022 with recipe links for hydrating meals.***
Our Journey with a Dog with Kidney Disease
When we found out our fur baby Hooch had kidney disease, we immediately dove headfirst into figuring out how to help our dog with kidney disease and learned some seriously eye-opening stuff along the way.
When people find out we make our own dog food at home they always ask us, "What about a raw diet?", so let's get that out of the way first....
There are LOTS of thoughts and theories on feeding your dog a raw diet especially a dog that is living with kidney disease. Our vet however, was personally opposed to feeding a raw diet due to the fact that dogs, just like us, are very susceptible to food poisoning. Besides that, a raw diet can be tricky to get just right! You run the risk of giving your dog a horrible belly ache by mixing a raw diet with cooked treats, so if you decided to go raw it is important to have both raw meals and raw treats planned for your pup at all times. NO MIXING the two! Since raw and cooked foods digest at different rates any combination of the two can wreak serious havoc on your pup's gut which can lead to some pretty unpleasant situations for you - if you get my drift.
Now, let's break down the recipe for my Easy Homemade Dog Food shall we?
The recipe box below contains a printable version of my go-to recipe for homemade dog food, which consist of lean ground sirloin, brown rice, carrots, hard boiled eggs, parsley, and a few tablespoons of oil that is high in Omega's. But sometimes, especially since social distancing, I've found that it is helpful to have a list of easy substitutes for when ingredients run low. Plug in or swap out any of the items below based on what foods your pup likes/needs and what you have on hand to create your pup's ideal dog food flavor profile.
***It is important to note that dog's can have food allergies too!!! The top 5 (in order) foods that dogs can be allergic to are beef, dairy, wheat, chicken, & egg. If you notice your dog having any issues after ingesting these ingredients you should contact your veterinarian.***
Meat || Lean ground beef, ground chicken, ground white or dark meat turkey, & ground pork are all great options. Just be sure to make sure that any meat you feed your animals is free of seasonings when purchasing! Dog's living with a kidney disease diagnosis need meals that are lower in phosphorus - so for us a lean ground beef like ground sirloin is best the way to go!
Grains || Brown rice has all of the fiber from the hull of the rice grain still intact and it's easily digestible, which makes it a great ingredient for homemade dog food! If you are limiting phosphorus in your dog's food due to kidney disease you can use white rice instead. Other grains like oats, quinoa, and even whole grain pasta are also easily digestible options. Gluten grains can be included in a dog's diet too, however it is important to note that gluten is one of the top 5 dog allergens. In our personal experience with Hooch over the years, gluten has been a real problem that causes him extreme gastrointestinal discomfort, so we avoid it.
Can Dogs Eat Brown Rice? Homemade Meals That Your Pups Will Love!
Many dog owners wonder: can dogs eat brown rice? I have all the answers, nutritious facts, and recipes for you here!
Eggs || Eggs are one of the top 5 allergens for dogs and the yolks are very high in phosphorus -which you want to limit in dog's with kidney disease. But, eggs are also one of the highest quality forms of protein you can feed your pet! Ultimately, a hard-boiled egg is Hooch's favorite thing on the planet so, with our vet's approval, we opted to leave them in his food.
Can Dogs Eat Eggs? The Incredible, Edible, Treat All Dogs Love!
Not only CAN dogs eat eggs, they absolutely SHOULD! A moderate daily amount of egg in addition to a regular diet can greatly improve a dog's health.
Vegetables || My dogs both really LOVE fresh shredded carrots and fennel, so if I have either of those on hand I use them, but there are LOADS of other great dog-friendly veggies too! Frozen veggie blends that contain peas, corn, carrots, and green beans are a wonderful choice that our dogs love! Cooked sweet potatoes are a great addition to bulk up their meals too, just never feed your dog raw sweet potato as it can cause serious blockages! Canned 100% pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling, is another great addition to your dog's daily meal. A tablespoon or two mixed in at each feeding really ups their fiber intake and can work wonders for your dog's digestive system!
Can Dogs Eat Carrots? A Biscuit Your Pup Will Love!
Can dogs eat carrots? Let's see the benefits of carrots for dogs and make a scrumptious carrot biscuit recipe that your pup will surely enjoy!
Herbs || Lots of fresh and dried herbs are great for dogs! The curly, not flat-leaf, variety of parsley is great for preventative kidney health. It’s cleansing for the organs (which will help prevent disease). However, for a dog with an actual kidney disease diagnosis, you may want to limit their intake of parsley altogether. Herbs like cilantro, thyme, or basil are delicious options for your pup that are loaded with health benefits too!
Homemade Dog Food Seasoning
It's no secret that fresh herbs and spices are beneficial to a person's health and diet, but did you know that your dog's diet could benefit from them too!?
Oil || You will want to drizzle a few tablespoons of oil that is high in Omega 3's into each batch of dog food you make. I usually just stick with olive oil or safflower oil because I typically have them on hand and they are affordable. There are great Omega oil blends available on the market too that contain Omega's 3,6, & 9 but they tend to be a bit pricier.
Hydration is VERY important for dog's with kidney disease.
Dog's with kidney disease are in need of hydrating fluids wherever they can get them! The benefit of feeding food that is saturated instead of dry is that the kidneys won't have to work as hard to perform their normal function in the body.
There are lots of ways to add more liquid to your pup's meals. Obviously, a bit of water mixed in is one option, but we prefer hydrating with a liquid that adds nutritional value as well.
Dog-Friendly Bone Broth Recipe
Bone broth recipes for dogs should be very different than those for humans! Dog's cannot eat certain ingredients that are typically used in bone broth for humans like onions.
This recipe is full of dog-friendly ingredients like apples, ginger, and mushrooms and can be made on the stove, in the Instant Pot, or slow cooker!
You can hydrate your dog's food while also boosting their immune system, improving liver health, supporting healthy digestion, and helping to relieve joint pain by adding homemade bone broth to your dog's daily meals.
Beef Bone Broth Topper from The Native Pet
Native Pet's bone broth contains only natural ingredients and is sourced and packaged in the USA.
Our bone broth delivers on the nutritional benefits of a homemade broth in a convenient powder form and is used to re-hydrate dry food, or as a simple, nourishing drink.
Use code "THISMESSISOURS20" at checkout for 20% off your order!
Goat's Milk
Unlike most pet food, which is feed grade, this 100% human-grade goat milk from The Honest Kitchen is made with human-grade ingredients and produced in a human food facility. That means higher quality ingredients and more safety standards, just like you would expect from your own food!
This topper is easy to make too —simply add warm water to the dehydrated mix and stir to combine.
How much and when should you feed your dog?
This will vary from dog to dog, but a general rule of thumb is for every 10 lbs your dog weighs they should be fed roughly 1 cup of prepared food.
For our 80 lb Hooch, that means 2 meals a day each containing 4 cups of food. It is important to note that, dogs with kidney problems often feel better when fed several small meals throughout the day rather than just one or two large meals, so you may find that you need to adjust your feeding schedule as time goes on accordingly to keep your pup comfy!
What kind of snacks can I feed my dog with kidney disease?
Our dogs walk a bit on the wild side when it comes to snacks as they love thin apple slices, banana chunks, carrots, whole unsalted peanuts in the husks, and dehydrated sweet potatoes! Dog's with kidney disease should avoid meat-based chews/treats that are high in phosphorus, so you may find that you need to explore doing friendly fruit and veggies for treats like we have. We still on occasion will offer Hooch bully sticks or a jerky treat, but it is better for him if we limit his intake due to the levels of phosphorous that those treats contain.
Can Dogs Eat Sweet Potatoes? Try This Simple & Tasty Treat
We’ve covered carrots and fruit, but can dogs eat sweet potatoes? The answer is a resounding YES! Sweet potatoes aren't only great for humans, they are an excellent source of vitamins and nutrients for our 4-legged friends as well! Cubed and steamed, mashed, or sliced and dehydrated like this simple treat - there are lots of easy ways to incorporate sweet potatoes into your dog's diet.
Can dogs eat blackberries? A Soft Baked Blackberry Dog Treat.
Our Soft Baked Blackberry Dog Treats are sure to be a hit with any pup but are especially good for dogs that need softer treats due to issues with their teeth.
Can Dogs Eat Blueberries? The Ultimate Canine Superfood
Can dogs eat blueberries? YES and they totally should! Blueberries are one of the most nutritious foods that dogs can eat.
Can Dogs Have Strawberries? A Berry Special Treat
This simple homemade strawberry treat will keep your dog cool and refreshed while providing an extra boost of vitamins and minerals.
Can Dogs Eat Bananas? Easy Banana Bread Dog Treat
Ever wondered can dogs eat bananas? This simple 3-ingredient dog treat recipe for your furry friend is inspired by homemade banana bread. This recipe for soft dog treats is perfect for dogs that require a softer treat but are actually delicious enough that humans can eat them too.
Can Dogs Eat Apples? A Simple No-Cook Apple Dog Treat
This 2-ingredient no-cook dog treat is a BIG hit with our dogs and keeps them entertained for quite some too!
If you’ve made our Easy Homemade Dog Food for your pup I would be so grateful if you would rate the recipe and let me know what you think in the comments below! I just love hearing from you and your reviews and comments really help others that visit This Mess is Ours. Want to be a part of our online community outside of the blog? It’s easy!! All you have to do is follow @THISMESSISOURS on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, YOUTUBE, or PINTEREST to see cooking demos, and peeks into our day to day life.
PrintEasy Homemade Dog Food
To make prepping this homemade dog food a cinch and to save LOTS of time and dishes in the process I like to cook the hard boiled eggs and the rice in my Instant Pot!
I start with cooking the eggs first, then while the rice is cooking the Instant Pot I brown the sirloin and get all of the fresh ingredients together. It really does help make the process of meal prepping homemade dog food so much easier!
See recipe notes for Instant Pot cooking tips and times!
- Prep Time: 30
- Cook Time: 30
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 13 cups 1x
- Category: gluten free
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: homemade dog food
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
6 cups cooked organic brown rice (3 cups uncooked rice)
2 pounds ground lean beef, cooked through, fat drained
4 hard boiled eggs, peeled and diced small
3 medium sized carrots, shredded or thinly sliced
¼ cup minced curly parsley
3 tablespoons of olive or safflower oil
Instructions
Combine all of the ingredients together in a large container and stir to combine completely.
Store tightly sealed in the refrigerator in-between feedings.
Notes
The amount of food you feed your dog each day varies by weight. Our 80+ pound senior dog Hooch eats 4 cups of this food twice per day and our 40 pound Rebel eats 2 cups of food twice per day.
This food can be individually portioned out for smaller dogs and frozen to store for longer periods of time than a week. Just thaw the amount you need when you need it.
Metric measurements:
790 grams cooked organic brown rice
700 grams ground lean beef, cooked through, fat drained
4 (200 grams) hard boiled eggs, peeled and diced small
207 grams carrots, shredded or thinly sliced
14 grams minced curly parsley
22 grams of olive or safflower oil
Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs: Place the metal trivet into the Instant Pot and add 1 cup of water. Add uncooked eggs on top of the trivet. Place the lid on top, lock to sealing, and cook high pressure for 5 minutes. Release pressure valve manually at the end of the cooking time and carefully remove the hard boiled eggs to a water bath to cool.
Instant Pot Rice: Combine the desired amount of rice and water in an Instant Pot. Place the lid on and set the pressure to sealing. Select the rice function, allow the pressure to release naturally when the cook time is complete.
No fresh parsley? You can substitute it in this recipe with ¼ cup of our Homemade Dog Food Seasoning Blend.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 288
- Sugar: 1.9 g
- Sodium: 119.7 mg
- Fat: 10.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Protein: 22.9 g
- Cholesterol: 197.8 mg
Want to see more of the delicious homemade dog food recipes we make for our dogs?
Home Made Dog Food recipe for the Holidays
This 100% human grade home made dog food recipe utilizes some of the best fall produce for your dog like sweet potatoes, cranberries, rosemary, and sage. It's perfect for every day feedings and does double duty as a really delicious holiday meal for your dog!
Pumpkin and Yogurt Bowl for Dogs Recipe
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for all of us, even our dogs! Get your dog's day off to a great start with a healthy dose of protein, vitamins, and minerals by feeding him/her a delicious Pumpkin and Yogurt Bowl for Dogs. These yogurt bowls are filled with good for your dog ingredients like fat free Greek yogurt, 100% pure pumpkin puree, plant based vitamin and mineral powder, and my Homemade Dog Food Seasoning which is a blend of 5 herbs that have extraordinary health benefits for your dog!
Homemade Dog Food Seasoning Blend recipe
It's no secret that fresh herbs and spices are beneficial to a person's health and diet, but did you know that your dog's diet could benefit from the addition of them also!? In the summer months, it's easy to include green leafy herbs like parsley and basil in our dog's fresh homemade food because I have lots growing in the garden. But, when fresh herbs are sparse I turn to my spice cabinet where I keep a little jar of spices labeled 'Homemade Dog Food Seasoning Blend'. This easy to make custom spice blend combines dried parsley, basil, dill, rosemary, and oregano for a seasoning blend your dog is sure to love!
We aren't the only people that have converted to making homemade dog food and are LOVING the results! Check out the links below for more homemade dog food recipes your pup will LOVE!
Easy Crockpot Dog Food from Damn Delicious || This simple homemade dog food recipe combines ground beef, brown rice, kidney beans, butternut squash, carrots, and peas in the slow cooker so you can set it and forget it!
Homemade Dog Food Recipe from College Housewife || Elizabeth's sweet dog Rascal suffered from all sorts of health issues which led them to having him allergy tested. Turns out Rascal was allergic to all sorts of things - even beef! So, Elizabeth developed a homemade dog food recipe that is just perfect for Rascal's sensitive belly that is filled with ground turkey, sweet potatoes, carrots, and zucchini squash and macaroni noodles!
DIY Homemade Dog Food from Damn Delicious ||Chungah's dog Butter's battle with stomach issues led her to start making dog food at home. This recipe is easy to make and super good for your pups too! It combines a delicious blend of 50% protein, 25% veggies and 25% grains and is made of ingredients like ground chicken, brown rice, shredded zucchini, spinach, carrots, and peas.
Natalia says
About how much would you feed 10-12lb dog?
Eliza Clendenin says
Our vet recommended 1 cup for every 10 pounds, so that is how we measure out our dogs food. For a 10-12lb we would say 1-1/2 cup of food, but we highly recommend checking with your vet first.
We have been feeding our dogs with these measurements for the past 2 years & they are both healthy & in the healthy weight range. I hope this helps!
Jen says
Hi there! Wondering how much I would feed my 27 lb Boston Terrier. I’m giving him a little under 2 cups and he’s acting like he’s starving (which he may be-eek!)
Thanks!!!
Eliza Clendenin says
Hi Jen!!
We asked our vet how much to feed our dogs & she recommended 1 cup per 10 pounds. Since your dog is closer to 30 pounds I'd recommend giving him 3 cups instead, but you can also run it by your vet to make sure they feel this amount is right.
Irene Contrades says
My two little fur babies are such finicky eaters. And my chihuahua always seemed constipated. Well, I found this recipe and tried it. Being that I have little 8 lb dogs I pulse it about 4 times in my food processor. I had to give it a week to see if they were going to continue to like it. I am soooo happy to say that I no longer have a problem feeding them. They hear the bowls and come running. And my little Chica is now starting to have normal bowl movements. Thank you soooo much!
meg@thismessisours says
Oh my goodness Irene this is amazing! We are thrilled the recipe is working so well for you and your pups!
David says
My dog is going to benefit a lot from this. Thank you for your taking this to many households, where many pets will love their food even more and us parents love the health benefits this recipe provides. Although I believe human food should always stay on our plate; the ingredients we use to cook our food, are also ingredients that your best friend could benefit from. Thank you once again. I hope that you continue to share your amazing ideas, tips, and knowledge with us.
Eliza Clendenin says
Hi David!
We are so happy that your pup loved this recipe & that you love it too!! We want to make sure as many dogs enjoy their dinners as possible! Thank you for giving this recipe a try!
Synthia says
My 14 year old dog was recently diagnosed with kidney disease and this was all he would eat for 2 weeks, however he had to get dental work and almost all his teeth were pulled. Now he has a difficult time with it even if I grind it up. He likes cream of rice and cream of wheat, is that something I could use to replace the rice? My vet just keeps pushing the commercial Rx diets but my dog will not touch the stuff!
meg@thismessisours says
Hi Synthia!! I am so sorry to hear about your dog!! My dogs refuse to eat commercial diest too! I personally have not tried feeding Cream of Rice or Cream of Wheat to my dogs. I would definitely stay clear of the Cream of Wheat since wheat is a top allergen for dogs. Now for the Cream of Rice, my research says it should be fine to give to your pup but I'd talk to your vet about it just to double-check.
Before completely replacing the rice in the recipe with the Cream of Rice, I'd recommend grinding up the food in a food processor and gradually adding water as you go until you get to the desired consistency for your dog. I hope this helped!
Eva says
Hi Meg, can't thank you enough for your recipes. i tried it and my 2 pups at home loves it!
I'm from Indonesia and from where i live, we rarely use "CUP" measurement and instead, we use gram (metric) measurement. Appreciate if you could inform me how many grams per cup of the dog food you gave to your beloved pups.
and it would be great as well if you could advise me how many grams should i feed my 40 lbs golden retriever puppy (5 months old) and 13.5 lbs of mini poodle puppy (9 months old)
Thank you very much!!! 🙂
meg@thismessisours says
Hi Eva!! I'm so happy to hear that your dogs love the food! For our dogs, we do one cup (136.5g) per 10 pounds.
You should give your golden retriever roughly 546g and your mini poodle puppy roughly 273g. Obviously, you can adjust these measurements to fit your pups best!! I hope this helps!
Lisa says
So excited to try this recipe. My dog hates dog food so he just waits for whatever the baby throws on the floor. I would love to find a food that he loves that has all of the nutrients he loves.
meg@thismessisours says
Oh man, Lisa let me tell you that Hooch was the same way before I created this recipe for him, and now he cries every time we pull out the food container at dinner time!! I'm hoping that your dog loves it as much as ours!
Samantha says
I would like to try this recipe but I want to add sweet potato and cranberries. Do you have a suggestion of how much I should add?
I have a 53lb American Bulldog/Pitbull that is not neutered. Should I give him 2.5 cups or 3 cups a day?
Summer Dickerhoof says
Great ingredients for dogs! I don't have a recipe that substitutes these, but check with your vet and they should be able to help you create a custom diet for your pup!
Sheryl Johnston says
Thank you so much for an easy dog food recipe! You’ve inspired us to try making dog food again to help combat our Golden’s allergies and help keep him healthy. Really appreciate your time sharing this with all of us 🙂
Robert says
When it comes to the oil being used. Does avocado oil work as a substitute? Or should I stick with olive oil or safflower oil? Thanks!
meg@thismessisours says
Hi Robert! You can trade avocado oil out for olive or safflower oil.
Monica Hovey says
Hi, I have been thinking of starting to make homecooked meals for a while now and was happy to have found your page. My dog that just went through amputation due to bone cancer and now have to start chemo, so I wanted to get him off of the store brand food and start to feed him healthier food.
I love how easy the recipes are and am I going grocery shopping today to start cooking tomorrow. One question, how do you use the bone broth? do you just add it to the food or just give to them as drink? Thank you!
meg@thismessisours says
Hi Monica! I am so sorry to hear about what you and your dog have had to go through, and I hope that he has made a quick recovery! For the bone broth, you can do it either way!! If my dogs are hurt or are under the weather, I tend to add it to their dinner in addition to letting them both have some with their breakfast!
Christina says
Great article and very good tips! You are my new favorite! I will enter daily to see the updates. What do you think about this Multifunctional Dog Leash from these guys? Thank you! Much love from Germany!
Helen Capone says
OMG OMG GAME CHANGER!!
My finicky pups are so fortunate I found your recipe. First I had half a Turkey in the fridge when it decided to die! Everything in my fridge froze. So after thanksgiving I had to deal with this half a Turkey. I did change it up a bit though. I used white rice because it’s what I had. I boiled and ground the Turkey, cooked the rice in the bone broth, then added the peas, carrots sweet potatoesthat I had canned and cranberries added the rice and some broth. My dogs are loving it!! Thank you so much!!
And don’t worry I still have 3 more turkeys in the freezer!!
meg@thismessisours says
Oh my goodness Helen I hate to hear that about your fridge, but love to hear how your pups lucked out in the process! Thanks so much for sharing!
Rachel says
When you first started the homemade dog food…did you still add kibble to wean them off to straight homemade food? I guess my thought is…are dogs getting everything their body needs in the scoops of homemade food…or should we still add a little kibble to it?
meg@thismessisours says
Hey Rachel,
When introducing homemade food into their diets, yes. We gradually incorporated the homemade food with their kibble. Every 3-4 days we would decrease the kibble and increase the homemade food. Until finally we were feeding 100% homemade food. We do not supplement the dogs at all with kibble and haven't for over 2 years now.
We do include a powdered vitamin and mineral blend which is linked in the blog post to their meals every day so they aren't missing out on any vitamins or nutrients.
Hope this answers your question!
Anonymous says
I am going to try this tomorrow, I do have a question though. My boy Rocky is only 10 months old and he needs to be on high protein because he is a cattle dog/blue heeler. What kind of dogs are yours? The white 1 looks almost just like Rocky except Rocky has a mask.
meg@thismessisours says
Hi! So our dogs are pitbull shepherd mixes. Hooch the older dog, has a history of kidney disease so we keep him on a low phosphorus diet, but Rebel the white one is younger than Hooch and needs more protein and phosphorus!
Here is how we add more protein into Rebel's diet: bone broth meal toppers, pea protein powder, Yak chews, or plain whole milk or Greek yogurt.
Let me know if you have any more questions and happy cooking! I know Rocky is going to love his dinner 🙂
Daphne Durham says
I have been looking at switching my two dogs over to a raw diet and my question is about the teeth. I feel like just a raw diet could be horrible for their teeth? I have older dogs 11 yr old pitty and a 4 yr old bulldog
Eliza Clendenin says
Hi Daphne,
Our Hooch & Rebel aren't on a raw diet so I can't speak from personal experience, but I always recommend talking with your vet.
Now with our Easy Homemade Dog Food Recipe, our dogs have not had any issues with their teeth!
I hope this helps!
Eliza
Robin says
Hi There, if I understand this recipe correctly, the recipe makes 13 cups. For my 2 dogs, total weight is 80 lbs, therefore they should have 8 cups daily, This recipe will have to be made almost daily. Is this what you do or do you have a different method? My pug/sharpie itches all the time and I’m trying to find an alternative, but my pittie will eat about anything. Thanks for the recipe. I’m definitely want to try it out.
meg@thismessisours says
Hi Robin!
I have an 80lb dog and a 50lb dog - so I get it! It is a lot of food to prepare. I make big batches of this recipe for them, but yes I do make their food a few times each week. I have sort of just added the steps into different phases of the meal prep I do for my one family. It is a lifestyle change, but that has been completely worth it for us and our dogs.
Our sweet 11-year-old Hooch has survived 1 1/2 years past our vet's 3-6 month projected life span when he was first diagnosed with kidney disease. Now almost 2 years from that diagnosis he shows no indicators of kidney disease at all in his labs.
I hope this helps your pup's allergy issues! Being itchy is miserable!
Mindy says
Are you reheating or serving the portioned leftovers cold?
meg@thismessisours says
Our dogs like it cold, but they do love the day where they get it fresh and warm from the stove top too!
Sally says
I have found the canned 100% pumpkin has been essential for stopping constipation in my dogs.
Holly L Eubanks says
What a wonderful gift this is to those of us having food-related problems with our dogs. My 15-year-old Aussie developed a red, ulcery, swollen lip several months ago, and three veterinarians have not been able to source the problem. Yesterday Roland (Aussie) had diarrhea during the day, and so I gave him only white rice and organic chicken broth for dinner. Amazingly, his lip was pink this morning instead of cherry red, so I am thinking he is either allergic to his kibble or to chicken. Since there is also chicken in his kibble, I have to do some more work limiting the variables...but I am very encouraged. If he turns out to be allergic to chicken, does turkey tend to work as the meat base?
Such a wonderful page! I'm bookmarking it!
meg@thismessisours says
Hi Holly - oof your poor pup! Chicken is a common allergen for dogs, so definitely omit that altogether. While turkey is considered poultry, its nutrient properties are different from chicken making it a safe protein alternative for chicken-sensitive dogs. You can also try duck, lamb, or even just ground pork with no seasonings as a protein alternative. I hope this helps!
Laurel says
My 12-1/2 year old black Lab has developed what I believe to be some digestive issues. I've tried lamb & rice, salmon and sweet potato or rice but discomfort continues. My vet advises that protein for older dogs should be in the mid 20% ranges to avoid kidney problems. My husband died of kidney failure and protein was restricted for him as well. Any idea if halving the protein in this recipe would through off the balance?
Summer Dickerhoof says
For these specifics, I would check with your vet on how to customize this recipe to fit your pup's needs!
Chris says
Hello,
Does this work well with a senior dog?
My senior dog has very bad arthritis so isn't very active do I still do the 1 cup per 10 pounds. Also how long is this good for in the freezer
meg@thismessisours says
Hi Chris! Yes, it does - our Hooch is 11 and thriving on this diet! I have actually been working with my vet and my senior dog to develop an anti-inflammatory recipe and it has been a game-changer for our dog. I hope to have it up by end of next week. But, this recipe is a great place to start and it freezes well for up to 3 months.
Ashleigh Schultz says
Hi! I am new to homemade dog food and plan to make this recipe tomorrow! Question though! I have read for humans that freezing hard boiled eggs can be not good (not sure if that’s just due to taste or actual safety) can you confirm that you freeze some of this recipe to use for later times and have no issues?!
meg@thismessisours says
Hi!! Great question. So, typically freezing yolks is fine, the issue for humans is actually the texture of the whites after freezing. Hard-boiled whites become a little tougher and can be watery when frozen, but our dogs have zero issues inhaling it. It isn't a safety issue with freezing it is textural for people after thawing. I hope that makes sense.