*NOTE: THESE RECIPES MAKE 4 SERVINGS = 2 DAY SUPPLY OF FOOD. Feed your dog once in the morning and once in the evening.
| DOG’S WEIGHT | PROTIEN (ABOUT THE PROTEIN) | CARBOHYDRATES(ABOUT THE CARBOHYDRATES) | VEGGIE/FRUIT COMBO (ABOUT FRUIT AND VEGETABLES) | SALT (iodized) (ABOUT THE SALT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 pounds → → | 1 cup | 3/4 cup | 1/3 cup | pinch |
| 10 pounds → → | 1 1/2 cups | 1 1/3 cups | 1/2 cup | 1/8 teaspoon |
| 15 pounds → → | 2 cups | 1 1/2 cups | 1 cup | 1/8 teaspoon |
| 20 pounds → → | 2 ½ cups | 2 cups | 1 1/4 cup | 1/4 teaspoon |
| 30 pounds → → | 3 1/4 cups | 2 1/2 cups | 1 2/3 cup | 1/4 teaspoon |
| 40 pounds → → | 4 cups | 3 cups | 2 ¼ cups | 1/4 teaspoon |
| 50 pounds → → | 5 cups | 3 1/2 cups | 2 3/4 cup | 1/2 teaspoon |
| 60 pounds → → | 5 1/2 cups | 4 cups | 3 1/4 cups | 1/2 teaspoon |
| 70 pounds → → | 6 1/4 cups | 4 1/2 cups | 3 3/4 cups | 3/4 teaspoon |
| 80 pounds → → | 7 cups | 5 cups | 4 cups | 3/4 teaspoon |
| 90 pounds → → | 7 3/4 cups | 5 1/4 cups | 4 3/4 cup | 3/4 teaspoon |
| 100 pounds → → | 8 1/4 cups | 5 3/4 cups | 5 1/4 cups | 1 teaspoon |
| 120 pounds → → | 9 1/2 cups | 6 1/2 cups | 6 1/4 cups | 1 teaspoon |
| 130 pounds → → | 10 cups | 6 3/4 cups | 6 1/2 cups | 1 teaspoon |
| 140 pounds → → | 10 1/2 cups | 7 cups | 7 cups | 1 teaspoon |
| 150 pounds → → | 11 1/4 cups | 7 1/2 cups | 7 1/4 cups | 1 teaspoon |
HOW MUCH HOMEMADE DOG FOOD TO FEED MY DOG
These homemade dog food feeding amounts are for 2 days, at 2 servings per day ( eg. separate the finished product into 4 equal servings, and give your dog one portion for breakfast and once again at supper, and this is enough for two full days meals):
Simply find your dog’s weight on the left.
Making and feeding a homemade dog food diet requires the addition of the right mix of minerals, vitamins, and supplements.
**Without these your dog will become nutritionally deficient which will ultimately make them sick and unhealthy.**
* NOTE – The above Chart is for a cooked food diet, and intended for a healthy adult dog.
|
The above chart is an example of amounts you should make for different sized dogs when you are feeding a homemade dog food diet.
Each recipe is to be divided into 4 servings.
Feed 2 servings per day, one in the morning and one in the evening.
This dog food recipe in the chart above makes a two day supply for one dog, but you can double the recipe, which is what I do.
This can be kept refrigerated for up to four days, or make big batches and freeze in serving size portions for easy meals. Ready to thaw and serve.
Mix all the ingredients well and serve at room temperature or slightly warm. Never serve hot food to your dog.
Always introduce new foods one at a time. If it isn’t tolerated well, then discontinue. My dogs can eat most human grade foods I prepare, but I have learned which ones upset their tummies.
Dogs with special medical needs or illnesses are not candidates for home prepared dog food unless specifically ordered by your veterinarian.
Also puppies under the age of 12 months should receive special premium chemical free and additive free PUPPY FOOD.
ABOUT THE PROTEIN The protein choices are any cooked lean meat, poultry, or game. Your dog will appreciate a variety such as:
Remove fat and drippings from the meat after cooking. Chop the meat into small bite sized cubes for serving, or use ground meat. |
ABOUT THE CARBOHYDRATES You can use unprocessed oatmeal, brown rice, bulgur, millet, whole wheat couscous, barley, pasta or potatoes as the starch requirement. I slightly overcook this ingredient, as raw grains are not properly digested by dogs. White or Brown rice is the best choice for dogs with digestive issues (gas or diarrhea). Slightly overcook pasta or grains, to make them easier to digest. |
ABOUT THE VEGETABLE AND FRUITS Vegetables must always be cooked. Puree vegetables and fruits together so they will be easily digested by your dog. You can use a combination of fresh, frozen or canned veggies and fruits. I usually use more veggies in the mix, but always add some fruit for sweetness. An example of one of my girls favorite veggie/fruit puree is this: (makes one cup) ½ cup cooked and pureed carrots; 1/4 cup cooked green beans and ¼ cup canned pears. Make your own variations. Some excellent choices of fruits and vegetables are: peas, green beans, carrots, celery, apples, bananas, pears, blueberries. Add new flavours and combinations slowly, to ensure your dog can tolerate the new food. Over time you will be able to give your companion a wide variety of tolerated foods. |
ABOUT THE SALT Dogs need sodium just as we do. Homemade dog food will not contain enough natural salt, so a little needs to be added. Too much is harmful, so make sure you don’t overdo it, and follow recipes correctly. |
IMPORTANT! ABOUT MAKING YOUR OWN VITAMIN/MINERAL/SUPPLEMENT Adding vitamins and supplements to our home made dog food is essential as the food will be deficient of certain necessary vitamins and minerals for optimum health. Follow this guide below if you do not want to use the all in one Canine Supplement that I recommend here.. # 1. ADD YOUR OWN BONEMEAL (CALCIUM) Bone meal (Calcium) is essential to a homemade dog food diet. Dogs calcium requirements are given according to body weight. The calcium is to replace bones that wild dogs originally ate when feeding in the wild. This necessary addition can be found in human grade bonemeal, which is available through pet supply stores, health-food stores and of course speciality on line pet stores. Make sure you NEVER use the garden grade bone meal as this contains toxins, such as lead. I give my two Labs, Lady and Lola this daily all in one canine supplement, so I don’t have to worry about getting all the measurements of the bone meal, vitamins etc. in the correct proportion. TOO MUCH of these will be as harmful as not enough. # 2. ADD YOUR OWN FAT Fat in the form of canola or safflower oil should be added to each meal. Either of these oils provide linoleic acid, which is also known as Omega-6 fatty acid This helps improve their skin and coat. Too much causes obesity as it is high in calories. The wrong kind of fat (butter, animal fat) can be dangerous and cause obesity and/or pancreatitis Amounts per day:
Drizzle the oil over the prepared meal just before serving. # 3. ADD A MULTIVITAMIN AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENT A good Natural Multi-Vitamin. If you are using human supplements, keep in mind that the average human supplement is designed for a 150-pound adult. A cat should get about 1/6 to 1/10 of a human supplement. A dog dosage can be calculated from the weight of the dog compared to 150 pounds. Do not overdose! Some vitamins and many minerals are toxic at high doses. The vitamin-mineral supplement should be a good quality, human-type supplement, at the very least. Some of the cheaper human supplements, particularly those with a heavy coating, are not well digested by people and will not be by animals. |
Always check with your vet, or purchase an excellent dog food recipe book that is focused on canine nutrition. You will find so many excellent books, with choices for variation of recipes that sometimes you will think you are reading a human cookbook.
Your dog can quickly become deficient in certain areas if not given the proper balance of food, nutrients, vitamins, minerals and supplements.
Also there are many foods that can harm your dog:
[RELATED LINKS] :
- Toxic foods that you should NOT feed your dog.
- My Top Worst Commercial Dog Food Brands.
- Ingredients that You DO NOT Want in Your Commercial Dog Food – Check the Label.
- Dog Food Ingredients that Cause Allergies and Illness
Research, read and follow the advice of someone who is a professional.
My guideline above is just that. I am not a specialist or expert, although I have spent a lot of time reading, reviewing and looking into what is needed to feed homemade dog food.
I also give my two healthy Labradors a wide variety of commercial dog foods, (Orijen is my # 1 pick as the best commercial dog food), and sometimes I use pre-mixes, which are usually made from organic ingredients and you add your own meat. These foods have all been introduced slowly to Lady and Lola over the years, so I know which ones can be tolerated, and some that are off the menu. My girls now enjoy a varied rotation diet that is healthy and delicious.
Enjoying a wide variety of food is natural in wild dogs, from rabbits, to venison, wild berries, and grasses, so it not so far fetched that the domesticated companion animal should also enjoy a varied diet.
The above formula in the chart is what I have used for many years and my “girls” are healthy, happy, bright eyed and bushy tailed. My vet and staff, and even strangers are always commenting on how healthy and shiny coated my Labs are.
Just eliminating chemical, preservatives, processed foods, mystery meat, unhealthy additives and whatever else is in cheap commercial dog food will make an extremely noticeable difference in your dog.
* Note * Not all dog foods marked natural are healthy, and are still full of chemicals, additives, artificial colors and dyes, harmful preservatives, by-products, and allergy causing corn as a main ingredient. Remember to check the label!
There are so many healthy nutritious choices now available for feeding your dog that it can be overwhelming, but having a choice is much better than what we had years ago.
Can I use coconut oil instead of canola / safflower?
Hi Nikita:
Coconut oil is a good healthy supplement for dogs as well as people. Not sure if I would replace the other oil with it though, as these are given as a sorce for Omega 3 and 6 which is essential.
Virgin coconut oil should be used. There is a virgin oil supplement such as this
, available through Only Natural Pet Food Store, and many local pet stores carry it as well as health food stores.
It is known to reduce allergic reactions and improve skin health, and can help clear up skin conditions such as eczema, flea allergies, contact dermatitis, and itchy skin. It also improves coat and deodorizes that always present doggy odour. It is also good for digestive problems and nutrient absorption.
Overall it has many health benefits.
Here are some good articles for reading that may help you decide if you want to use this as a supplement. I wouldn’t use it as replacement for the other oils that give you dog the essential Omegas, either from the addition of one on the oils high in Omegas or a good dog supplement that contains the Omega 3/6 supplements.
Thanks for visiting
Jane
Thank you
How much calcium and how multivitamin do you give a dog. My dog is usually around 60 pounds.
Hi Sharon
Sorry for the confusion:
There are many choices, but because of the potential confusion and possible under or overdosing I just use the Canine Supplement that I have featured on my website, and it contains the appropriate amount of supplements, vitamins, minerals and all the other necessary trace elements needed when making a homemade dog food diet. It has been formulated by Dr. Jones specifically for those of us who are making their own pet food, and because I’m lazy and really don’t want to take chances with measuring and formulating my own supplement I simply measure and add the right amount to every meal.
OR:
You can find an all in one supplement at your local pet store, or check out and compare any of these from Amazon.com.
OR:
Combine your own
This is according to Dr. Andrew Jones, the veterinarian that I have used throughout my website.
FOR THE MULTIVITAMIN:
If you are using human vitamins, keep in mind that the average human vitamin is designed for a 150-pound adult. A cat should get about 1/6 to 1/10 of a human vitamin. A dog dosage can be calculated from the weight of the dog compared to 150 pounds. Do not overdose! Some vitamins and many minerals are toxic at high doses.
FOR THE CALUCIUM:
In this recipe from Dr. Jones recommends : *Calcium 400mg (i.e. Tums, which is calcium carbonate), for a 30 lb. dog.
OR
Instead of the tums you can use bone meal which must be an edible, human grade variety. You can also find this at the pharmacy or at your pet store, and given according to weight, which should be on the package.
Do not use bone meal intended for gardening or plants.
Thanks for visiting
Jane
Thank you.
Sharon
You really shouldn’t “cook” the veggies as that cooks out a few of the health benefits; instead steam them. Also, over-ripe fruits and veggies are easier to digest by dogs – so don’t throw those rotting fruits out; serve ‘em to Fido; we steam yams or sweet potatoes, carrots and boil a cup of Lentils. We also server Chicken thighs from Costco, bone and skin included. Chicken bones are only bad if they’ve been cooked. We have four very healthy dogs!
I am going to start fixing homemade food for my 3 dogs. I think it is healthier and might even be less expensive (considering food costs, vet bills, etc.). How can I find out how much and what to feed them? We have a German Shepherd 75-80lbs. & very active, Border Collie/Lab mix 75-80 lbs. not very active, and my Great Pyrenees 90-105lbs and not very active.I have been feeding them Purina One which looks like it’s not very good for dogs. I do give them raw meaty bones and some raw organ meats occasionally. Thanks. Jean
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Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have been going crazy trying to figure out what to feed my sensitive-tummied dog. Your site is VERY helpful (and perhaps the first one that has given me real resources I can use)!!
I have been looking for good homemade food recipe, I have been hit n miss with prep for my 80 lb 12 yr old choc lab with chronic pancreatitis – what I really need too, was the amount to feed her for the size. When you love your friend – you want to do the best for them – Thanks for your help….. Nancy and Tia Maria
I love this site
Thank You for providing much needed information.
Thank You.