Homemade Dog Food Recipes in 2025 (Vet Approved)

 Homemade Dog Food Recipes (Vet Approved) – 

A Comprehensive Guide for Pet Owners (2025)

As pet parents, we try to do what is best for our beloved furry family members, and that includes what goes into their food bowls. Creating homemade dog food is a growing trend, with pet parents looking to be more involved in the ingredients, avoid artificial ingredients, and to meet specific dietary needs or allergies. Although commercial dog food is convenient, a balanced feeding with a veterinarian approved homemade diet can provide more individualized nutrition that actually helps a dog's health and vitality. 

This guide is for new pet parents and seasoned pet owners who are looking to connect with homemade dog food recipes. We will discuss the benefits of feeding homemade dog food, the essential nutritional components, and sample recipes that emphasize balanced feeding. In addition, the MOST IMPORTANT PART of this guide is that you must consult your veterinarian or board-certified veterinary nutritionist before making any changes to your dog's diet, no exceptions. Your veterinarian or board-certified veterinary nutritionist is best equipped to help you make sure that these homemade meals are complete and balanced for your dog's needs.

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Why Use Homemade Dog Food? 

There are a number of reasons why homemade dog food can be beneficial: 

Control Over Ingredients: You know what you are feeding your dog, and they are free from fillers, artificial preservatives, colorants, and mystery meats. 

Food Allergies/Sensitivities: It is easier to remove specific ingredients from your dog’s diet. 

Freshness and Quality: You can use human-grade, fresh ingredients that may have improved bioavailability of nutrients. 

Fussy Eaters: Many dogs appreciate the variety and palatability of fresh, homemade food. 

Medical Conditions: Once you have consulted with your veterinarian, customizing a diet in the case of a medical disorder/body condition (e.g. kidney disease, pancreatitis) may be a good idea. 

The Basics: Nutrients Needed for Dogs 

It can be complicated to create a healthy, balanced, homemade diet. Dogs need a specific amount and balance of nutrients to remain healthy. The basic types of nutrients are: 

1. Protein: Required for the growth and repair of muscle and part of body structure. 

Sources: Lean meat- chicken, turkey (ground or whole), beef, lamb, fish- salmon, cod, and eggs. 

2. Carbohydrates: Provide the energy source. 

Sources: Brown rice, sweet potatoes, oats, quinoa, barley. 

3. Healthy fats: Provide energy source, skin and coat health, and absorption of certain nutrients, if they have been added to food. 

Sources: Fish oil, flaxseed oil, fat from cooked lean meat.

4. Vitamins & Minerals: Essential for all bodily functions.

Sources: This can come from a wide variety of vegetables (broccoli, carrots, green beans, spinach), fruits (apples, blueberries), and a vitamin and mineral supplement that is appropriate for your dog (species specific) that is designed for homemade dog food diets. This is sometimes the most important item to meet nutritional adequacy.

5. Fiber: Aids digestion, promotes gut health.

Sources: vegetables, some grains.

On achieving balance: Getting the correct amount of all nutrients (including trace minerals and vitamins), is the biggest hurdle for homemade diets. This is why consulting with a veterinarian is non-negotiable.

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Important Disclaimer: Check with your veterinarian first!

The recipes below are for examples only and are to help understand the components of a balanced recipe. None of the recipes provided are complete and balanced for all dogs. All dogs have different nutritional needs based on their age, breed, size, activity level, health issues, and sensitivities.

You must check with your veterinarian or a board certified veterinary nutritionist before you feed any homemade diet: They can:

        Assess your dog's specific situation.

        Help you write a recipe that is truly complete and balanced.

        Guide you to appropriate supplements to avoid deficiencies.

        Monitor your dog's health on the new diet.

        Long-term poor health can result from not providing a nutritionally complete and balanced diet.

Examples of Home Cooked Pet Food Recipes (Veterinary Considered)

These recipes are intended to reflect a general balance of macronutrients, but you can modify by changing and adding ingredients with the advice of a veterinarian. Make sure to cook meats completely and use digestible vegetables.

Example 1: Lean Chicken & Rice Bowl

Ingredients:

1 lb (~450g) boneless skinless chicken breast cooked and shredded/diced

1 cup (~200g) brown rice, cooked

1 cup (~150g) mixed vegetables, cooked (any combination of steamed green beans, carrots, peas, and any other digestible vegetables - avoid corn)

1 tablespoon fish oil (or salmon oil)

Very important: a supplemental vitamin and mineral product approved by your veterinarian for home cooked dog food.

Instructions:

1. Cook the chicken before shredding or diced into pieces, boil or bake until cooked through.

2. Cook the brown rice according to the directions on the package.

3. Steam or boil the vegetables until in a soft mashable state.

4. In a large bowl combine the cooked chicken, brown rice and cooked vegetables.

5. Stir in the fish oil and the recommended dosage of your veterinarian approved vitamin and mineral supplement.

6. Mix well so that the fish oil and vitamin/mineral powder is evenly distributed throughout the meal.

Example 2: Beef and Sweet Potato Mash

Ingredients:

1 lb (~450g) ground beef (90% lean), cooked and crumbled

2 medium sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed

1/2 cup (~75g) cooked spinach or kale, finely shredded

1 tablespoon flaxseed oil; 

Essential: A vitamin & mineral supplement recommended by your veterinarian for homemade dog food. 

Instructions:  

1. Prepare the ground beef according to package instructions, say, cooking it until browned and draining any excess fat. Crumble the meat very well. 

2. Cook the sweet potatoes by baking or boiling until they are very soft. Mash the sweet potatoes well. 

3. Steam or boil the spinach/kale until soft. Finely chop (the boys would take large pieces of the vegetables, so be careful about chopping the kale/spinach). 

4. In a large bowl, add the cooked beef, mashed sweet potatoes, and chopped greens. 

5. Add flaxseed oil and the appropriate amount of your veterinarian-recommended vitamin/mineral supplement. 

6. Mix well! 

Recipe 3: Turkey & Quinoa Scramble 

Ingredients:  

1 lb (approx. 450g) ground turkey, cooked and crumbled; 

1 cup (approx. 185g) cooked quinoa; 

1 cup (approx. 150g) cooked broccoli florets, finely chopped; 

1/2 cup (approx. 75g) blueberries (fresh or frozen, thawed); 

1 tablespoon coconut oil (melted when solid); 

Essential: A vitamin & mineral supplement recommended by your veterinarian for homemade dog food. 

Instructions:  

1. Cook the ground turkey according to package instructions, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks. Drain excess fat. 

2. Cook the quinoa according to package instructions. 

3. Cook broccoli by steaming or boiling it until soft. Finely chop the broccoli when soft. 

4. In a large bowl, add the cooked turkey, cooked quinoa, chopped broccoli and blueberries. 

5. Add the melted coconut oil and the appropriate amount of your veterinarians-approved vitamin / mineral supplement. 

6. Mix all of the ingredients well. 

Recommendations for Making and Storing Dog Food

Batch Cooking: Make larger amounts of homemade dog food a couple of times a week instead of cooking every day.

Storage: Each portion should be stored in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days or it can be frozen for up to 2-3 months.

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Portion Sizes: Use a kitchen scale to accurately portion meals for your dog, ensuring you follow the recommendations from your vet in relation to your dog's caloric needs.

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Thawing: If you freeze your dog's meals, remember to thaw in the fridge overnight before you serve it.

Gradually: When transitioning your pet from commercial food, you should gradually introduce your homemade meals over a 7-10 day period. Mix more and more homemade food in with your old food for each meal, until you start to see complete transition into the homemade meals to avoid stomach upset.

Hygiene: Be sure to adhere to good hygiene practices before preparing homemade dog meals (just as you would for yourself). Wash your hands, surfaces and utensils thoroughly.

Final thoughts on Making Homemade Meals for Dogs

Making homemade dog food can be a very rewarding way to provide your beloved pet with freshly cooked, tailored nutrition. Making homemade dog food allows you the ultimate control over the ingredients and quality of what you feed your dog. For dogs with particular health needs or sensitivities, homemade food can be invaluable. However, making homemade dog food relies solely on the nutritional completeness and balance for success and safety.

Now, always remember: the most important ingredient in any homemade dog food recipe is your veterinarian's approval. With the help and approval of your veterinarian, you can create delicious and nutritious meals that help support your dog's health and happiness in the long run.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Although this article presents general information and a sample recipes, it is not veterinary advice. Please contact your veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist one-on-one before making any significant changes to your dog's diet to make sure they are still getting everything they need to be well-nourished.