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.
Staci says
I have been using extra virgin olive oil in this recipe. Do you recommend using Salmon oil? Or any input on it? I have seen it suggested in a few other recipes online. Thank you so much!!
Eliza Clendenin says
Hi Staci!!
We have not tried using Salmon Oil yet, but have heard great things about it! As usual, we always recommend talking with your vet before trying a new oil/diet!
I hope this helps!
Eliza
Jeff says
Do you include raw veggies or cooked?
Eliza Clendenin says
Hi Jeff!
We usually use raw / frozen veggies in our dog food!
Eliza
Emily says
So you mention not mixing raw and cooked foods. Do you add the carrots and parsley raw to this recipe, or are they cooked?
meg@thismessisours says
Hi Emily - when we are talking about raw vs cooked we are mainly concerned about items like raw meats and eggs mixing with cooked items in the belly since they digest at very different rates. Carrots and parsley are good to be included raw, they won't cause any issue.
Ellie says
Question, The serving size is one cup a day or one cup twice a day for 10lb? My dog weighs 16 lb.
Thanks.
Eliza Clendenin says
Hi Ellie!
It is 1 cup per 10 pound of body weight. For example, our Hooch is 80 pounds so we feed him 8 cups a day.
We always ask that you talk to your vet about measurements when changing your dogs diet to make sure they are getting enough!!
Hope this helps!!
Eliza
Nydia says
My small dog poodle, torn her knee ligament, the vet advised me to change her diet, her joints are weak, so I will start with cooked food.
meg@thismessisours says
Oh my goodness Nydia! Your poor pup, we hope that she heals quickly!
Karen says
I am not sure who was more excited about this recipe, my Dachshund /Doodle or me. I made a small portion to see if he would like it. He loves it! So easy! I will definitely continue to make this recipe, and I am excited to try more! I shared this site with some coworkers with fur friends, and they are excited to try this, too!
Barbara says
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! I've prepared it for my dog and she absolutely loves it! Now there is one confusion for me: is the described weight of the meat before or after cooking? The weight can be quite a difference between before and after when it's minced frozen beef.
meg@thismessisours says
Hi Barbara! I am so glad that your pup loves the recipe! Great question! The weight is prior to cooking.
Jesy says
I love the recipes and my dogs love them. I have one issue though and I can't find a solution. I make a months worth at a time for two dogs. I strain the meats and rinse and I let completely cool down and then put them into freezer bags and freeze.
Every time we open up a bag it gets slimy the first day. I don't get what we are doing wrong.
We incorporate a lot of your recipes into one. Some beef, and turkey meat, some eggs, two or three kind of vegetables that we have, some canned pumpkin, and sweet potatoes. Though, we do add in a handful of blueberries into the mix and smash them up in each batch.
A little olive oil, some flaxseed as my dogs are allergic to both fish, fish oil and chicken.
The food, smells and tastes fresh even though it does feel... maybe slimy isn't the truest word but a little slimy is the best way I can think of to call it.
What can I do to keep that from happening?
How does it stay drier and crumblier for your dog food?
meg@thismessisours says
Hi Jesy!!! I know what you mean about the texture change after freezing. Although our dogs don't seem to mind it does bother me a bit too! It is the eggs that are changing texture in the freezer - they can become watery almost upon defrosting. The whites become tough and rubbery, and they release excess water when they're thawed. Since our dogs don't seem to mind too much we will in a pinch freeze premade food for them, especially when we plan to travel.
Emily says
Silly question but do you warm the food up a bit before serving it to your dog or just give it to them cold?
meg@thismessisours says
My dogs don't care if it is cold from the fridge or warm from the stove. We feed it both ways - the day of the week I make fresh food dinner is warm. On the other days, it is cold from the fridge. Either way, they seem to be happy campers. I have had some people say that their dogs like the food warmed at meal time though. It is really personal preference.
Lisa Pool says
Thank you so much for this recipe! we just adopted our furbaby from a city shelter and we absolutely could not find anything he would eat. We bought, science diet, Blue Wilderness, Taste of the wild, kibble and wet. Even fresh pet. I added green beans and the cooked sweet potato. He LOVES it!!!
Audrey says
I found this site about 5 weeks ago and started making this recipe 4 weeks ago on a weekly basis for our dogs. Our dogs look forward to eating now! In the past our Boston would pick at her food and often not eat but once a day, even she sits at attention when I get ready to feed them. We still had some dry food that we were using up so we started out by mixing the two and made the transition to just homemade two weeks ago. The only tummy issues we had came from the Bassett eating too fast so we had to move to a slow feeder bowl for her. We did not do this because of an illness, but because they are on up there in years and thought we would try something to keep them healthy and going as long as we could keep them. Our Boston Terrier is now facing some arthritis issues and while looking for vegetables to add to help with inflammation found the Anti-Inflammatory recipe that I look forward to using for her! Thankful for this recipe for the simplicity and the ability to make it in bulk.
BlessedMom says
First time making dog food from scratch and this was a perfect start out. So easy and the best part???? My fur baby didn’t even hesitate and ate it. Thank you for sharing this!
Lisa Tauzin says
I have a 10 year old Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. He has significant arthritis and dysplasia and is currently being treated with acupuncture, which he responds to well. He weighs 36-37 pounds. I’ve never felt good about giving him dry kibble, so I usually try to top it with a little wet food. I’ve recently decided to try to cook for him, but I need it to be food that will help keep his weight down. Your recipe above looks like it’s low calorie, which would work for him. Do you have any other specific recipes for arthritic dogs? Thank you.
Summer Dickerhoof says
I just have the recipes that are available on the blog. Let me know if you have any questions about the recipes!
Dee Pritchett says
I’m going to start making my 4 black labs food, is there a rule of thumb on making large amounts and freezing for big dogs? Can you add some herbs like Flax seed and Tumeric? Any suggestions would be awesome, Thanks
em says
I add tumeric . Your flax will need to be ground (fresh , or it will oxidize) to get the omega oil from it .
Iain says
What can I say! Murthy my black nosed curtail hound is the smartest I have ever had. Should loves your recipes..chows down like it's a speed challenge! She's still a 20 lb puppy so she's got huge energy. At least 8 walks around our pasture every day! Keeps me fit since I'm retired.
I recommend your recipes to everyone.
Murphy was so board with her high quality dry bought dog food.
No more of that. It's homemade all the way now!!
Tara Jordan says
Can you freeze the homemade recipes?
Eliza Clendenin says
yes!
Kathleen Waddell says
How would you change these recipes and amounts for a fast growing Anatolian Shepherd puppy?
Summer Dickerhoof says
Good question! This is something to check in with your vet about and knowing when to change the amounts as your pup grows!
Kelly says
Thank you for the helpful information and basic recipe! I am excited to begin preparing my nine-years-old Australian shepherd’s food at home. Question- should I transition her slowly from her current wet can food (do one quarter to three-quarter and then half-and-half, etc.) to avoid stomach upset?
meg@thismessisours says
Hi Kelly! That is a great question and we are so happy to have you here. Yes, you need to transition diets slowly and incrementally. Otherwise you may deal with stomach upset. I do always like to add pumpkin or a probiotic powder into their diets when transitioning to help avoid upset tummies. If your dog does have any adverse tummy issues when transitioning diets we have more solutions in this blog post.
ossie says
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! You are a life saver. In this particular case, the life of our 17 and half years old Max, a mixed breed Miniature Pinscher we rescued when he was six months old after being run over by a car and breaking his leg. Max's teeth are in bad shape, and due to his age started developing some renal issues. Our vet does not want to anesthetize him to deal with his teeth because of his age and the renal issues. He cannot eat kibble any more - too hard for him. Spent a fortune on prescription diet wet food - he hated it. Simply refused to eat it (I donated the unopened cans to a local shelter). Tried every other wet food - most he wouldn't touch, and the two or three types that were "passable" in his opinion he would eat grudgingly when he realized there was no other alternative. So I decided to try homemade food. Tried a couple of recipes I found online - still not it... Then I came across your site. Gave this recipe a try, although I wasn't very optimistic. OMG. I have to give him small portions several times a day, otherwise he gobbles everything up as soon as I put it in his plate.
We just finished the first batch. Going to try different types of meat to see if there is any particular one he likes best.
Now I'm looking for the right treat for him - has to be soft, he can't chew on anything hard.
Luckily, despite his advanced years, Max is still pretty active.
Once again, on behalf of Max (and his mom ;-), thank you so much!
Eliza Clendenin says
OMG!! We are so happy to hear that Max is enjoying his meals again! It is truly the greatest feeling when your dogs gets happy to eat!! If your vet says it is okay, you should try giving Max bananas as a soft treat! Hooch & Rebel love, love, love bananas!!!
We hope you & Max are both doing well!
Eliza
Cindy M. Markle says
Hello there, I would love to make this for my chihuahua. She’s 7lbs, what would her serving size be?
Eliza Clendenin says
Hi Cindy!
Our vet recommended 1 cup per 10 pound of weight. You could feed her a little under a cup or exactly a cup. It is up to whatever you & your vet both feel comfortable with!!
I hope this helped!
Eliza