How do I know if my homemade food is balanced

[Tarky]

After all I have read about commercial dog food, I would like to feed my puppy homemade food, but not raw.

The question is, how do I know if what I am preparing is balanced and how much should I feed him?

Is there a software I can download that can help me, or can I use one I have to calculate the nutritional value of our food?

Where can I find information on which minerals and vitamins my puppy needs the amount he needs?


Thank you

[Sarah]

The safe way to go about it, is discuss it with your Vet Tarky. Dogs need raw meat, beef, lamb preferably 'free range". There are some kibble that is good also, and you can certainly combine the two. Never give raw fowl to a dog, it is more likely to get them sick, with runs and upset stomach. There are some people who do not like to give their dogs grains. However, I feel that their bodies work just like ours, and a little grain is good for them. Raw bones are also good for the dog,

just my 6 cents!

[Tarky]

Thanks Sarah

I'll mention it to him again, but last time I did he was not in favor of this type of feeding. He says that it is very hard to control exaclty the quantity the puppy eats and that kibble is better for his teeth.

[Sarah]

Then lets do some research tarky about a balanced "barf" diet for your dog, so you can see what a balanced meal is for a dog. Then you can do your own thing with it, mix up meat, veges and fruit..

raw dog bones [meat bones] are also very good for dogs teeth, and they enjoy working on getting what meat is on the bone. I would suggest more lamb than any other, but beef is good. I say this only because dogs and people are more use to beef in some areas of the world then they are lamb and the bodies get use to it and its not so good on the bodies.

We all need a variety, including dogs. If you meat is free range, then I would suggest any meat would be wonderful for your dog. Lamb beef venison.

Do you plan on brushing your dogs teeth? I would suggest it.

[Sarah]

Here is one article for you, that I believe is pretty thorough in the information.

The Raw Diet

Here is something else for you to review. Now this person also on the website, tells us that if we had any questions about how to feed our pets raw you can email her.

This is what she says about a balanced meal.

Putting it all Together

The amount of food to feed each dog will vary.
If your dog normally eats 4 cups of kibble daily you would make up approximately 4 cups of the Natural Raw Diet and feed once a day. If your dog wants more or less simply adjust the size of the recipe to suit their needs, keeping the proportions the same.

This example recipe is for a large dog.

1) I thaw 1 package or roughly 1 pound of turkey.
2) Have 1 cup of oats softened (which plumps up to more when softened).
3) Juice enough veggies for 1/2 cup of juice (for example: 2 carrots and 1 large leaf of swiss chard). Vary the combination of veggies daily using carrot as the base.
4) Supplements : 1 Tablespoon flax seed oil, 1 Royal Jelly Capsule (dig out the royal jelly from the capsule and mix in with the meal), or use 1/4 teaspoon of frozen Royal Jelly.

Mix all of the ingredients together with about 1\2 cup warm water.

OUT OF THE EARTH-Natural Raw Diet for Dogs

If you need more, let me know and I'll do more research for you....

[Tarky]

Thank you for the raw diet link I found it very interesting, however I wasn’t able to open the other link.

I’m not sure I’d like to go with a raw diet, at least for now.
Tarky eats very little (1,8 kg and only 2 months old), I’d feel more confident cooking his meals, and I must say that if I prepare a batch I can freeze it.


Thank you for the raw diet link I found it very interesting, however I wasn’t able to open the other link.

I’m not sure I’d like to go with a raw diet, at least for now.
Tarky eats very little (1,8 kg and only 2 months old), I’d feel more confident cooking his meals, and I must say that if I prepare a batch I can freeze it.

Yes, I think brushing his teeth is a good idea. I’ll have to investigate to know how to do it.

As we will be sailing and living on our sailboat from May till September I might have a problem with either home cooked or raw meals. I guess Tarky will be eating fresh fish this summer.


Yes, I think brushing his teeth is a good idea. I’ll have to investigate to know how to do it.

[Carolian]

Hi, I've recently started feeding my pups homemade food I brought a book called Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs by Lew Olson and found it so helpful it has menu plans in it too. I make a batch of food up weekly and freeze some and feed twice a day. With a puppy meal at lunch time .My pups are 14 weeks and 22 weeks and are doing well I monitor their weight and poohs and general health and think I made a good decision to make their food myself if you want more info let me know

[kitkat92627]

Hi, I've recently started feeding my pups homemade food I brought a book called Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs by Lew Olson and found it so helpful it has menu plans in it too. I make a batch of food up weekly and freeze some and feed twice a day. With a puppy meal at lunch time .My pups are 14 weeks and 22 weeks and are doing well I monitor their weight and poohs and general health and think I made a good decision to make their food myself if you want more info let me know

Hi Carolian, are you feeding your Dogs raw food? I have a very picky Yorkie. She doesn't like anything. She's allergic to beef and some other minor ingredients. I struggle every day with her pickiness. The vet said to feed her turkey, rice, and carrots. Well she likes it some days and others she doesn't. I'm trying to find a food that she will love and eat by herself everyday. I can't feed her raw turkey. Not sure what to do? Can anyone help? Kathy

[Tillies Mum]

Hi Kathy, I have a very picky Yorkie too. I cook all her food and she has some allergies as well. At the moment she is having
chicken thighs roasted with carrots, peas (chicken juices mixed in) and rice. I use olive oil in my cooking. Believe it or not she prefers the chicken thighs to the chicken breasts! She also likes beef mince with carrots, peas and rice. I also roast beef and chop it into small cubes served with vegis and rice. I find mixing the juices in makes it tastier for her. I am slowly introducing foods to work out what she is allergic to. It looks like it could be potato, sweet potato or lamb. I have stopped giving her dog biscuits and will slowly re-introduce those as well. She likes oats which i soak in the chicken juices and use instead of rice some days. Tillies Mum