Homemade Dog Food for Puppies 

It appears that an increasing number of pet parents are embracing the entire DIY lifestyle when it comes to supporting their pets, including their nutrition. Understand the essential factors to consider before making your own homemade puppy food. 

Dog ownership can be extremely DIY-friendly, just like any other aspect of life. For canine bath time, you can make your own dog shampoo, create the dog bed as you like, and provide environmental toys, or try some home remedies for common dog problems. Additionally, you can prepare dog food yourself, which is often a better option than purchasing commercially available dog food and is more financially manageable. Best of all, it could be better for your puppy’s overall health. Would you like to understand what the specific benefits are of making homemade dog food for puppies? If you do, please continue reading this article for more information. 

Reasons for Puppy Homemade Food 

Do you no longer trust commercial dog food companies because of the many recalls? Isn’t your puppy’s energy level or health where you want it to be? Maybe you’re not getting it right with commercial dog food. Maybe you are inclined to experiment with something new. 

One significant reason to switch to puppy homemade food could be your love for an environmentally friendly world. Most commercial dog food is produced and processed in industries that appear to prioritize profit over environmental concerns. However, many companies produce organic brands and prioritize environmental care. Therefore, if you are considering switching, why not try using some of these brands instead? 

Some dog food brands are not 100% organic, but they prevent environmental harm by implementing certain checks. The foods they prepare are organically created and packed. 

Whatever your motivations, if you are determined to switch to homemade puppy food, ensure that you have the energy and time to remain consistent and involve a professional. Your puppy can suffer from nutritional deficiencies without proper attention and care, especially with its food. Therefore, ensure that the food is rounded out by following the basic guidelines below. Do not take our word for it but discuss it with a veterinarian before making the switch. 

Guidelines for Preparing Puppy Food in Your Kitchen 

Your puppy deserves proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals as part of a balanced puppy growth diet. You can add the protein, fat, and carbohydrate ingredients yourself, but the supplements are better added to all homemade dog food, especially for puppies, to ensure their diet is well-rounded. 

Follow the guidelines mentioned below, consulting with your veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist throughout the process, to ensure proportions are maintained. 

Ingredient	Approximate balance	Options
Proteins	40-80%	Boneless chicken, turkey, lamb, beef, pork, or duck; deboned fish especially salmon and eggs cooked with their crushed shells added for additional calcium. Organ meats can also be included but shouldn’t exceed 15% of the diet.
Fruits and vegetables	5-10%	Carrots, blueberries, peas et cetera without considering vegetables toxic to dogs.
Fiber rich carbohydrates	20-60%	Potatoes Sweet and regular brown or white rice, peas, lentils, and oatmeal or barley in tiny amounts.
Fats	5-15%	Poultry skin, rendered poultry fat from cooking, canola or soybean oil, or ground flaxseed oil.
Vitamins and minerals	Vet recommended dosage	Consider puppy supplements with plenty of calcium for your growing puppy. However consult your veterinarian for recommended brands.

Extras 

Some pet parents save items such as tinned tuna juice, broth, leftover chicken soup, and other items to include with their puppy food. Some may even set aside parsley to provide their puppy with fresh breath. Later, it may be beneficial to add supplements such as glucosamine for joint pain, but this is not necessary in puppies. 

When considering making homemade puppy food with chicken and rice, it’s helpful to discuss the appropriate proportioning with your veterinarian, as this can vary between breeds. Experts generally recommend that most puppies be fed at least three times daily during the initial six months. Some even suggest tiny meals as best for small pops. 

How to Prepare a Puppy Growth Diet 

Unless you are determined to provide your puppy with raw food, it is helpful to cook all the ingredients gently when preparing your puppy’s growth diet. 

1. Add all the ingredients in a saucepan without the supplements. 

2. Add some water or a no-sodium solution. 

3. Heat gently until everything is cooked thoroughly. 

4. Allow the food to cool after the cooking is done. 

5. If your puppy is small, you may need to shred, chop, or mash the ingredients into bite-sized pieces that are easy for your puppy to eat. You can consider using a food processor for this purpose. 

6. You can cook in bulk and set aside the leftovers in pre-portioned sizes using small containers in the freezer. 

7. Add the supplements before every meal when serving. 

Disadvantages of Making Puppyhood Homemade Food 

The most common disadvantage pet parents encounter is the lack of consultations with their veterinarians to address deficiencies or overdoses in their puppy diet. Therefore, before embarking on a culinary journey for your puppy, it is helpful to establish a close relationship with your veterinarian. Stay in contact with them during the transition. They can recommend a diet tailored for your puppy. 

Call the veterinarian immediately if you observe signs of lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, or a bloated abdomen. If you observe severe abnormalities, such as dizziness, difficulty moving, or the development of blue and pale gums, take them to the veterinarian right away. 

If your homemade food lacks essential nutrients, you may need to request support from your veterinarian. You can use vitamins or joint supplements for dogs to ensure their bones remain strong, and they don’t have to deal with vitamin deficiencies. 

Puppies also need omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. You can use natural omega-3 oil or salmon oil as a supplement to add essential fatty acids to the food you prepare for the puppy. You can add these flavorless supplements to your dog’s food, confident that the supplement will not alter the food’s taste. 

If you are willing to spare the time and learn a lot, making food for your puppy can be a source of adventure and bonding for you and your furry friend. 

How to handle your puppy’s diet? 

Veterinary specialists recommend the following when matters related to feeding furry friends are concerned. 

• Ensure they are eating a well-balanced diet. 

• Ensure that the food they eat is tailored to their age and size. 

• Make sure strict quality control standards are followed by the brand of food you purchase. 

• Before choosing to prepare food for your puppy yourself, consult with a veterinary nutritionist to ensure it meets your puppy’s dietary requirements. Additionally, all meat must be cooked at an internal temperature of 165° to eliminate unwanted organisms by cooking them off. 

• When changing diets, transition your puppy smoothly by weaning them off their old food for over a week. 

• If you have any questions about your puppy diet, the veterinarian is your best friend. 

Why Do Veterinarians Recommend Puppy Homemade Food? 

Some veterinarians don’t suggest homemade puppy food, but it is not a form of assistance. Some don’t suggest homemade food for puppies because they consider the challenges in providing a complete diet for a puppy. Puppies have more diversified nutritional needs than adult dogs, and they require a specific balance of nutrients, such as calcium, fats, and proteins, that are crucial for proper growth and development. Vets are often concerned that homemade food may not provide the appropriate balance of nutrients’ puppies need, resulting in nutritional deficiencies and health problems.