homemade dog food joints

Recipe: Homemade Dog Food for Joint and Hip Health

Did you know that 1 in 4 dogs will suffer from arthritis or other joint problems in their lifetime? In some dogs, these problems develop with age. In others, hip and joint problems are genetic and can affect them at a very young age. If your dog shows signs of joint or hip problems, this homemade dog food for joint and hip healthmay be appropriate to add to their diet.

Just like arthritis in humans, hip and joint pain can be debilitating. You should seek veterinary care immediately if you think your dog is showing signs of joint pain. Preventative care can help ward off these health issues, but once your dog shows signs, he needs a treatment regimen to stop degeneration.

One of the tools in your treatment arsenal will be proper nutrition. There are many ingredients and supplements that you can add to your dog's food to help with the inflammation and pain associated with joint and hip pain. If you plan to make this homemade dog food for joint and hip health, be sure to check with your veterinarian to make sure it will meet your dog's nutritional needs.

MORE:How You Should Feed Dogs with Arthritis

Homemade Dog Food for Joint and Hip Health

Ingredients

• 6 cups of water
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 cup of celery
• 2 cups of carrots
• 2 cups of kale
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1.5 cups of barley
• 1/2 cup brown rice
• 1/2 cup lentils
• 1 cup parsley (fresh or dried)
• 1 cup nettles (fresh or dried)
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Directions

What I like best about using a slow cooker to prepare your dogs food is that once you add the ingredients, you barely have to tend to it. Unlike cooking meals on the stovetop, there is no need to constantly stir the food or check on it all the time to ensure its not burning.

Add all the ingredients into the slow cooker and set it on low. It will need to cook for about 6-8 hours. You can also cook the food on medium/high heat for 3-4 hours if you'll be home to tend to it. You'll need to stir it about every 20 minutes if you turn the heat up.

If cooking on low, youll want to stir the food occasionally to break up the ground turkey, but no worries if youre not home to do it. You can always use a large spoon to break the ground turkey into smaller pieces when the food is finished cooking.

You can cook this dog food recipe during the day while youre away at work or overnight while youre sleeping. Once its finished cooking, just let it cool, and you can serve it immediately. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

If you'd like to prepare this recipe in bulk, you can also freeze this homemade dog food for joint and hip health in an airtight container for storage of up to 3 months! If you prepared a batch of this food daily for a week, youd have enough to store for months of easy doggy dinners.

READ NEXT:6 Natural Supplements to Soothe Your Dog's Joint Pain

Pin and share with other dog owners:

Homemade Dog Food For Arthritis (Easy Make-Ahead Recipe)

Key Takeaways

• Just like any other animal with bones, your canine companion can contract arthritis as their bodies weaken due to various causes.
• Although most prevalent in aging dogs, it also sometimes appears in younger ones, especially if the dog is overweight or obese.
• Fortunately, its fairly simple to make homemade dog food for arthritis thats free of inflammation-worsening refined grains and full of anti-inflammatory ingredients.

In order to best fight arthritis in dogs, youll need a recipe that makes use of ingredients like prepared oats, carrots, kale, celery, spinach powder, parsley, flax seeds, and coconut oil, with an inoffensive protein such as chicken breast and maybe a bit of cottage cheese to taste. This homemade dog food for arthritis is easy to prepareyou will only have to combine all the ingredients and its ready to serve.

As is true for any vertebrate thats getting on in years, dogs can develop arthritis as they get older, although it can come up sooner. They also tend to be more prone to the disease than most other common pets. Fortunately, its easy to help dogs who suffer from arthritic conditions with proper nutrition. You will have to trade up affordable dry kibble and other types of commercial dog food, as they tend to be filled with refined grains and other ingredients that arent ideal for arthritic dogs because of their potential to worsen inflammation.

But the great thing is that apart from that, youre not too restricted when it comes to ingredients. There are even some people food recipes that work great for dogs with arthritis if you want to meal prep for both you and your pup with one go. But the homemade dog food for arthritis recipe Im going to share with you in this article isnt anything like that. Instead, its what Ive found to be provide both optimal nutrition quality for your dog, as well as having potent anti-inflammatory properties. But if youre busy pet parents and cooking just doesnt fit in your schedule, getting the best fresh dog food brands or subscribing to the best dog food delivery service companies is also a great solution, as they can prepare special meals for dogs with specific dietary needs.

Signs of Osteoarthritis in Dogs

Dogs, just like people, can suffer from arthritis. Arthritis is caused by deterioration in the joint tissues. The following are some of the signs ofosteoarthritis in dogs.

• Loss of interest in daily activities
• Limping
• Difficulty getting on and off furniture
• Stiff joints
• Reduced mobility
• Difficulty with stairs or getting up on ledges
• Licking or chewing atsore joints

If your dog exhibits any of these signs, it may be necessary to see your vet. In addition to homemade dog foods, many pet owners findCBD oil for canine arthritisbeneficial.

What Causes Arthritis in Dogs?

Canine arthritishas various causes^[1].

The following are some of the most common ones.

• The aging process (Related article: Homemade Dog Food For Senior Dogs)
• Hip dysplasia and other congenital defects
• Osteochondritis
• Elbow dysplasia
• Old injuries or surgeries
• Repeated joint trauma
• Poor or compromised immune system
• Metabolic diseases like diabetes
• Obesity

Is Your Dog Overweight?

One of the first things you need to consider when your dog has arthritis is if he is overweight. Overweight dogs are more likely to experience arthritis pain due to the high weight pressure placed on their vulnerable joints.

Your vet can help you determine if yourdog is overweight. If your dog is found to be overweight or obese, the best thing you can do apart from making use of homemade dog food recipes is to cut down their caloric intake, which a vet can help you with.

Discuss Dietary Changes With Your Vet

It is important to note that not all homemade food is right for every dogs nutritional needs. Please discuss any dietary changes with your vet before making the switch.

I recommend you feed your arthritic dog about one cup of homemade dog food for every 25 pounds of body weight. You should split up this serving throughout the day into smaller portions.

Homemade Dog Food Recipe For Arthritis

After years of being a dog owner, extensive research on dog food ingredients, and a whole lot of trial and error, Ive arrived at this recipe as being one of the best homemade dog food recipes for arthritis, if not the best. I prefer it for the ease of getting ingredients for it, and its highly time-efficient and simple procedure. You can freeze your dogs food in small portions, and it will be good for a week in the fridge.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of cooked and chopped chicken breast
• 1 cup of prepared oats
• 1/2 cup of cooked and chopped carrots
• 1/2 cup finely chopped kale
• 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
• 1/4 cup cottage cheese
• 1 teaspoon of spinach powder
• 1 pinch of parsley
• 1 tablespoon flax seeds
• 1 tablespoon of coconut oil

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl until mixed thoroughly. Once thats done, youre ready to feed your dog. If taking out leftovers from the fridge, slightly heat the food or allow it to come close to room temperature before serving your dog.

This recipe is ideal for dogs that suffer from arthritis as it is one of the best anti-inflammatory foods. This homemade dog food is rich in Omega-3s which excels at reducing inflammation in general. The beta carotene in the carrots also fights inflammation, particularly in your dogs joints.If you dont have any carrots on hand, you may also try sweet potatoes, however bear in mind that these are starchy and thus high in carbs.

Consider adding Green-Lipped Mussels

While I did not list green-lipped mussels in this recipe, you may want to consider adding them to your dogs diet because they help arthritis pain.

As always though, it would be good to ask your vet about this addition to be sure if it will help your dogs arthritis symptoms improve.

Frequently asked Questions

1. What natural foods are good for dogs with arthritis?

Foods that are rich in Omega-3s are integral for joint health. Salmon, sardines, and mackerel are all oily fish that offer a high level of Omega-3. Omega-3 is a beneficial anti-inflammatory that also lubricates the joints and promotes mobility without discomfort.

2. What can I cook for my dog with arthritis?

In addition to the homemade dog food recipe above, there are other options available. Cooking your dog lean ground sirloin is an excellent way to treat his arthritis. This protein source is packed with Omega-3s which will help improve your dogs mobility.

3. What can I give my dog daily for arthritis?

Arthritis is a serious condition that can degrade your dogs joints and lead to the need for awheelchairor even joint replacement.

While some pet parents give their dogs over-the-counter pain medications, this is not recommended and could be dangerous. Your vet can offer canine-safe NSAID options like Galliprant, Meloxicam, and Carprofen.

4. Are eggs good for dogs with arthritis?

Some dogs suffer inflammation when eating eggs. If your dog suffers from arthritis, feeding eggs may not be a good idea. You can feed your dog eggs occasionally because they are an excellent source of vitamins and protein. Eggs are not a food you should feed daily.

Diet Plays an Essential Role in Controlling Arthritis Pain

Diet plays an integral role in controlling the progression of osteoarthritis in dogs. Getting your dogs weight under control is also critical.

Your dogs arthritic condition needs management from the vet. If your dog does not respond to diet changes alone, your vet may have other beneficial recommendations.

Arthritis damage cannot be reversed, but it can be slowed. Your dogs diet can increase or decrease inflammation, depending on what you feed him. You should avoid refined grains because these increase inflammation.

With the homemade dog food recipe above and the help of your vet, you should be able to give your dog relief. The earlier you start making changes, the less damage will be done.

Best Homemade Dog Food Recipes: 7 Vet-Approved & Nutritionally Complete

Imagine if you had to eat the same food every day of your life. Beyond being painfully dull, wouldnt you question whether youre getting a nutritionally complete and balanced diet? Welcome to a dogs life. Long ago, before commercially produced dog food, dogs ate many of the same foods as humans. Theres a reason our dogs beg for our food theyre meant to eat a variety.Weve cooked up some tips on how to make dog food, nutrition guidelines, and our favorite homemade dog food recipes.

What Are The Benefits Of Homemade Dog Food? 3 Advantages

Homemade dog food can benefit your canine companion in several ways:

1. If you have a pet who suffers from allergies, skin problems, or gastrointestinal sensitivity.
2. Highly-processed foods also lose nutritional value, whereas making dog food from scratch maintains more vital nutrients during the cooking process.
3. With fresh food, you know exactly what your dog is getting versus reading the label and being confused by all the additives and preservatives.

Complete Nutrition From A Veterinarian

That said, homemade dog foods can require a significant amount of time and effort to get right. Homemade dog food needs to contain nutrients dogs need to be healthy. But those nutrients should be right amounts so as not to get too much or too little ofany nutrient.

A veterinary nutritionist has specialized training to help pet parents like yourself make nutritionally balanced meals for your dog. The recipes in this article have all been reviewed by our veterinary consultant with this goal in mind. So you can rest assured these homemade dog food recipes are vet approved.

Its a good idea to have the nutritionally complete homemade dog food recipes in this article handy in case you run out of dog food. Treat your dog like any of your other family members by preparing nutritious food from trusted ingredients.

Get Multiple Pet Insurance Quotes Instantly

What Nutrition Guidelines Should You Follow?

Like humans, every dog is different, so this is not a one-pup-fits-all rule. Serving size, your dogs weight, health conditions, size, and activity level are all factors you should consider when determining whats suitable for your dog.

However, in general, dogs need six basic nutrients to maintain a healthy, balanced diet: water, protein, fat, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. A mix of these nutrients provides energy for your dogs body to metabolize and grow.

To ensure your dog is getting all the vitamins and minerals he needs, you may want to add a fully balanced nutrition blend, like one of these blends from JustFoodForDogs. And in addition to meals, you may also want to add a multivitamin like Zesty Paws Multivitamin Chews to ensure your pup gets the recommended balance of vitamins and minerals.

Check with your vet before adding any type of supplement to your dogs diet because over-supplementation of vitamins and minerals can sometimes have serious health consequences in dogs.

Necessary Nutrients

Here are the benefits of the necessary nutrients and why its essential your pup has adequate amounts of each (listed in order of priority).

• Protein (chicken, lamb, turkey, beef, fish, and cooked eggs) Helps with the growth and maintenance of cells, tissues, organs, antibodies, hormones, and enzymes.
• Fat (from oil and meat) Assists with absorbing specific vitamins, protects and insulates internal organs, and promotes good skin and hair growth.
• Carbohydrates (rice, corn, and beans) Keeps intestines healthy and supplies glucose to critical organs, including the brain.
• Minerals, including calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, etc. Give dogs structurally sound bones and teeth, among other benefits.
• Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K Promotes eye and skin health, immunity, and more.

Water accounts for 60-70% of a dogs body weight, so its critical that your dog stays hydrated and eats a well-balanced diet. Dehydration can lead to some health issues, so give your dog access to plenty of clean, fresh drinking water throughout the day.

Before embarking on a homemade meal plan, consult your veterinarian to ensure your dogs diet sufficiently meets all of his nutritional needs.

Low-Calorie Dog Food Recipes

The recipes listed below are low in calories but should be consumed in moderation (serving sides similar to what they currently eat). Work with your vet to ensure that the amount you feed matches your dogs daily caloric needs.

Homemade Dog Food Delivered

In the age of UberEats, DoorDash, and having just about anything you wish delivered, you also have the option to buy fresh, natural dog food for doorstep delivery. It can be a huge time-saver and may be worth the cost after adding all the ingredients youll need to buy to cook a recipe.

The Farmers Dog ships frozen, allowing you to keep it on hand or serve it daily as a regular meal. This food is made with fresh, healthy, and easy-to-pronounce human-grade ingredients. And you can spend your time on more important things, like belly rubs and walks.

7 Of Our Favorite Homemade Dog Food Recipes

To jump to a recipe youre interested in, click on the link below. We also have some yummy organic dog treat recipes and treats made with Thanksgiving leftovers. You may wish to have a collection of pet food recipes on-hand at all times, making a cookbook an excellent choice. Dinner PAWsible is one of our favorites.

1. CBD-Infused Treats
2. Beef Stew, Doggie Style
3. Turkey, Rice, and Veggie Mix
4. Easy Slow Cooker Beef & Rice Meal
5. Pumpkin Dog Biscuits
6. Grain-Free Chicken Jerky Strips
7. Frozen Banana Treats

Note: The recipes below do not include serving size because portion sizes will vary depending on breed, weight, activity level, age, and the health of your dog. A recommendation is to feed your dog a comparable amount of ounces/cups to what you would usually feed in kibble BUT check with your vet to be certain.

CBD-Infused Dog Treats

You can purchase already-made CBD dog treats, but if you want to take a whack at making your own, heres a recipe. Be sure to tell your vet that youre adding CBD to your dogs diet. Check with the manufacturers dosing guidelines of the CBD product you plan on giving your dog to verify youre giving the proper amount.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups gluten-free flour
• 1/2 cup oat
• 1 cup pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
• 1 Tbsp coconut sugar
• 1 apple, cored and grated
• 1/2 cup carrots, peeled and grated
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/3 cup olive or coconut oil
• 1/2 cup water
• dash of sea salt
• 120 mg CBD oil

Total: Makes 24 treats

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a dog cookie baking tray with coconut oil.
2. Core and grate the apples, then peel and grate the carrots.
3. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the gluten-free flour, oats, and coconut sugar. In another medium-sized bowl, beat the egg. Then, add coconut oil, water, and grated apples and carrots.
4. Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients bowl; mix thoroughly. Finally, add CBD oil and mix once more.
5. Using a Tbsp measuring spoon, portion the dog biscuits and press them into the dog treat baking pan.
6. Bake for 32-37 minutes or until the biscuits are firm and golden-brown on the outside.
7. Store in an air-tight container.

Recipe from: Truth Theory

Beef Stew, Doggie Style

This recipe is loaded with iron from fresh protein and can be stored in your fridge for most of the week (or frozen and heated up later).

Ingredients

• 1 pound of beef stew meat
• 1 small sweet potato
• 1/2 cup of carrots, diced
• 1/2 cup of green beans, diced
• 1/2 cup of flour
• 1/2 cup of water
• 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil

Total: Makes approx. 4 cups (32 fluid ounces)

Nutritional Info (per 1 cup serving):

• Calories: 301
• Protein: 36.7 g
• Fat: 8.4 g
• Carbs: 17.4 g
• Minerals & Vitamins: Vitamin D, Calcium, Iron, Potassium

Directions

1. Cook the sweet potato in a microwave for 5 to 8 minutes until firm but tender. Set aside.
2. Slice the beef into small chunks about the size of a nickel.
3. Cook the beef stew pieces in a tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium heat for 10-15 minutes or until well-done.
4. Remove the beef chunks from the pan, reserving the drippings.
5. Dice the sweet potato
6. Heat the drippings over medium-low heat. Slowly add flour and water into the drippings while whisking to create a thick gravy.
7. Add the meat, sweet potato, carrots, and green beans into the gravy and stir to coat.
8. Cook until the carrots are tender about 10 minutes.
9. Let it cool and serve.
10. Store remaining stew in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Recipe from: Money Crashers

Turkey, Rice & Veggie Mix

This is an excellent, low-calorie, and low-fat recipe for pooches who may need to keep the pounds off. With a good balance of lean animal protein, healthy carbs, and veggies, it yields 12 cups of dog food and can be refrigerated for up to 5 days.

Ingredients

• 6 cups water
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 2 cups uncooked brown rice
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1/2 (16 ounces) package of frozen broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower

Total: Makes approx. 10 cups

Nutritional Info (per 1 cup serving):

• Calories: 220
• Protein: 11.5 g
• Fat: 5 g
• Fiber: 2.5 g
• Carbs: 32 g
• Minerals & Vitamins: Iron, Potassium

Directions

1. Place the water, ground turkey, rice, and rosemary into a large Dutch oven.
2. Stir until the ground turkey is broken up and evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
3. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low.
4. Simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Add the frozen vegetables and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
6. Remove from heat and cool.
7. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Recipe from: Allrecipes

Easy Slow Cooker Beef & Rice Meal

We love this recipe for its nutritional value, quick prep time (10 minutes), and easy crockpot cooking. It yields 12 cups and, like the beef stew, can be frozen for future feedings.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1 1/2 cups brown rice
• 1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 1/2 cups chopped butternut squash
• 1 1/2 cups chopped carrots
• 1/2 cup peas, frozen or canned

Total: Makes approx. 12 cups (or 88 fluid ounces)

Nutritional Info (per 1 cup serving):

• Calories: 400
• Protein: 39.1g
• Fat: 7g
• Carbs: 44.2 g
• Minerals & Vitamins: Iron, Potassium, Calcium

Directions

1. Stir in all ingredients with 4 cups of water in a slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low heat for 5 to 6 hours or high heat for 2 to 3 hours.
3. Stir as needed and cool to room temperature.

Recipe from: Damn Delicious

Pumpkin Dog Biscuits

Are you looking for a doggiedigestive aid? Pumpkin is easy on sour stomachs and can help alleviate your dogs digestive issues. These homemade dog biscuits are a great way to introduce an all-natural tummy aid into your pups diet.

Ingredients

• 1 can pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup oats (optional if your dog is on a grain-free diet, sub an extra 1/4 cup grain-free flour)
• 3 cups whole wheat flour, brown rice flour, or gluten-free flour
• 3 tablespoons of peanut butter (make sure its xylitol free)
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

Total: Makes approx. 24 treats

Nutritional Info (per 1 biscuit serving):

• Calories: 27
• Protein: 1.3 g
• Fat: 1.5g
• Carbs: 2.8 g
• Minerals & Vitamins: Vitamin D, Iron

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a small bowl, stir together the flour, oats, and cinnamon.
3. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the eggs, pumpkin, and peanut butter until combined. Stir wet ingredients into dry.
4. Pour a floured surface and roll the dough to 1/2 thick. Cut out using a cookie cutter.
5. The dough will be a little sticky; add a dusting of flour to your hands and the rolling pin to help. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until golden brown.
6. Place on cooling racks and let cool thoroughly. They will harden as they cool.

Recipe from: My Baking Addiction

Grain-Free Dog Food Recipe: Chicken Jerky Strips

Dont trust store-bought rawhides, which often have a ton of additives and preservatives? Homemade chicken jerky strips are a perfect replacement. This grain-free recipe is a much healthier alternative and very easy to make. Store them in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to two weeks (if they last that long!).

Ingredients

• 2 to 4 boneless, 3-oz skinless chicken breasts
• Total: Makes approx. 10-20 strips

Nutritional Info (per 1 stick serving):

• Calories: 33
• Protein: 7.8 g
• Fat: >1g
• Carbs: 0 g
• Minerals & Vitamins: Vitamin D, Potassium

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
2. Trim all excess fat off the chicken breasts.
3. Cut into 1/8 inch thick strips using a paring knife.
4. Bake for 2 hours on a baking sheet until the strips are dry and hard.
5. Cool completely before presenting to your pup.

Recipe from: Top Dog Tips

Frozen Banana Treats

After a long walk in the hot sun, what pooch wouldnt want a refreshingly cool treat? We love this simple recipe yogurt, banana, and peanut butter. Its a frozen smoothie for your dog. Need we say more?

Ingredients

• 4 cups plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter (make sure its xylitol free)
• 3 ripe bananas, peeled & mashed

Total: Makes approx. 8 1-oz treats

Nutritional Info (per 1 treat serving):

• Calories: 150
• Protein: 8.5 g
• Fat: 3.7 g
• Carbs: 19.5 g
• Minerals & Vitamins: Calcium, Potassium, Iron

Directions

1. Blend all ingredients into a puree.
2. Pour into 4-ounce plastic cups (ice trays or toddler popsicle trays work well).
3. Freeze until firm.
4. Can keep in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.

Recipe from: Dr. Marty

Best Cooking Practices

Its important not to stray from homemade dog food recipes or substitute ingredients as you might for yourself and your family. Dogs have different nutritional needs that require cooking recipes exactly as instructed. Be sure to cook all animal products thoroughly to kill harmful bacteria, and cook all grains, beans, and starchy vegetables to make them easier for your pup to digest.

When in doubt, an excellent resource is Home-Prepared Dog & Cat Diets: the Healthful Alternativeby Donald R. Strombeck, DVM, Ph.D., a long-time expert in veterinary medicine. First published in 1999, the book is considered by many pet nutritionists to be the Bible of healthy homemade pet nutrition. For even more cooking options, be sure to check out Home Cooking for Your Dog: 75 Holistic Recipes for a Healthier Dog.

We strongly emphasize first discussing your dogs specific nutritional needs with your vet, as every pup is different. And remember that switching your dogs food to homemade from kibble is a slow process, so patience is key.

Cooking For Canines: Online Help

Theres no shortage of homemade dog food recipes you can find online. We found this fun and informative video series that gives you weekly recipe tutorials, tips, and more. Check it out in case you want to subscribe through YouTube.

What About BARF?

You might have heard of a raw diet fad, more commonly known as BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food). The basic idea is to feed your dog raw meats, grains, and veggies like his canine ancestors ate millions of years ago.

BARF has gained popularity among dog owners in recent years. However, the FDA and significant veterinary organizations strongly advocate against raw food diets for dogs. So, we suggest you speak with your vet before starting down this path. Learn more about the benefits and risks and get a raw dog food recipe to try at home in our raw dog food diets article.

Is Grain-Free Dog Food Safe For Dogs?

The FDA has not found a significantlink between grain-free dog food and heart health. However, its wise to talk with your vet before switching your dogs diet if you have any concerns.

What Foods Should Your Dog Never Eat?

As a dog owner, youve likely come across this essential list before, but its always good to have it on hand as a reminder, especially if youre cooking dog food from scratch. The principal toxic foods include:

• Chocolate
• Onions and garlic
• Avocados
• Grapes and raisins
• Macadamia nuts
• Raw bread dough
• Alcohol

For a more extensive list, check out this article on foods not to feed dogs.

Did you know that most pet insurance policies cover accidental injury and poisoning? Find out what else is commonly included inour pet insurance comparison.

Tired Of Cooking?

If all that sounds like a lot of work, but you want yourpup to experience homemade food with the convenience of having it delivered to your doorstep, give The Farmers Dog a shot. With The Farmers Dog, you can have natural, fresh dog food sent right to your house (were big fans and customers ourselves)!

While DIY dog food recipes can be fun to make and a healthy alternative to consuming canned food or kibble, they may still lack all the essential minerals and vitamins needed. In addition to The Farmers Dog fresh food, we encourage you to check out these other dog food delivery options that are specially formulated by dog nutritionists and shipped directly to you for your pup to enjoy. Also, visit our reviews of dog food for all types of diets, ages, and health concerns.

Our Methodology

We analyze hundreds of dog food brands and individual formulas to provide our recommendations for the best nutrition. Each of the following elements helps us determine the best dog food for any dietary need. Our in-depth research includes:

• Scrutinizing all ingredients included in every formula
• Having firsthand experience with our dogs for many of the foods we recommend
• Assessing the guaranteed analysis for every formula, including protein, fat, fiber, and caloric content
• Investigating the latest scientific studies on dogs nutritional needs and benefits of ingredients
• Researching the specific dietary needs for breed sizes and health conditions
• Reading hundreds of customer reviews
• Staying informed on every dog food recall
• Diving into every pet food brands history and reputation
• Keeping on top of pet food trends

Unlike many other review sites, we give unbiased reviews based on countless hours of research. Our goal is to provide our readers with the healthiest options for their pups.

Why Trust Canine Journal?

Sally has researched and reviewed hundreds of different dog food brands and specific formulas. Shes an expert at analyzing dog food ingredients based on current nutritional guidelines and scientific studies for the healthiest food for our pups. Shes part of a team of dog specialists at Canine Journal who have over a decade of experience in researching, testing, and writing about everything you need to know to keep your pup healthy and happy.