homemade dog food protein ratio

Homemade Dog Food Calculator

Providing fresh, homemade food for your dog is one of the best things that you can do for his health and well-being and you can do it using a homemade dog food calculator.

Whenever pet owners broach this subject with me, they often bring up how difficult a homemade dog food calculator can be.

Yes, creating recipes to meet your dog's nutritional needs can be a challenge. But, thishomemade dog food recipe calculator will make the process a little easier.

Many pet owners believe that they can feed their dog the same quantity of homemade food as recommended by their old commercial kibble brand.

That could not be more wrong!

Homemade dog food is more nutritionally dense than most commercial foods. This means that your dog won't need as much to get the same nutritional benefits.

I've also heard pet owners share misinformation about watching a dog's weight and adjusting the serving sizes accordingly. That's why it is important to use a homemade dog food calculator.

If the dog is gaining weight, lessen the serving size. If he's losing weight, increase the serving size.

Why Do We Calculate Dog Food?

The consequences of feeding your dog too much food are obvious.He'll become obese, which could lead to a slew of other health conditions like diabetes, joint problems, certain types of cancer, and heart and respiratory issues.

Did you know that feeding your dog too much food can also lead to nutrient toxicity? In the case of nutrition, too much of a good thing could be very bad! For example, Vitamin A toxicity can cause bone spurs, lethargy, constipation, stiffness, and limping.

On the other hand, if you're not feeding your dog enough, he couldbecome nutrient deficientquite quickly. If you don't realize your dog isn't getting the proper nutrients, he may become weak and his organs could start to fail. Ultimately, nutrient deficiency can lead to death if it's not corrected.

In short, it's crucial that you discuss a switch in your dog's nutrition with your veterinarian. It's also important to use this homemade dog food recipe calculator as a guideline for figuring out how much food to feed Fido at each serving.

Calculating Homemade Dog Food Recipe

The first thing you'll need to do when following a homemade dog food recipe calculator is to figure out your pet'sDaily Energy Requirements (DER). This is the amount of energy (also called calories) that your dog's body burns in a typical day.

Before you can find the DER, you'll need to find Fido's Resting Energy Requirement (RER).RER is the energy that your pooch needs to perform essential bodily functions like heart functions, brain functions, digestion, and respiration.

To find your dog's RER, you'll need to multiply his body weight in kilograms raised to the 3/4 power by 70. In equation form this looks like this:

70(body weight in kg. ^.75)

Let's take a look at an example. If your dog weighs 53 pounds, that converts to 24 kg. Now, raise 24 to the .75 power and you get 11.2 (rounded to the nearest tenth). The last step is multiple 70 x 11.2, which equals 784. A 53-pound dog's RER is 784.

Once you figure out the RER, you can move on to the DER. This gets a little trickier. To find the DER, you'll need to multiple the RER by a certain factor that meets Fido's description.

According to The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center, these are the factors that you can choose from:

Neutered adult	=1.6 x RER
Intact adult	=1.8 x RER
Inactive/obese prone	=1.2-1.4 x RER
Weight loss	=1.0 x RER for ideal weight
Weight gain	=1.2-1.8 x RER for ideal weight
Active, working dogs	=2.0-5.0 x RER
Puppy 0-4 months	=3.0 x RER
Puppy 4 months to adult	= 2.0 x RER

Summary of Homemade Dog Food Calculator

Remember, these are just estimates. They can vary by as much as 50%, so you have to understand that these numbers are just a general starting point. The best thing that you can do is discuss your homemade dog food diet with your veterinarian or a canine nutritionist who can help you understand your dog's caloric needs better.

READ NEXT: How Seasons Affect Your Dog's Dietary Needs

Ratio of Meat to Vegetables & Grain for Homemade Dog Food

Experts agree that protein, usually in the form of meat, should equal or exceed vegetables in a dog's diet -- they just don't agree on how far this should go. They also appear to disagree on the definition of vegetables; some include grains as vegetables and some separate the two.

Meat

Dogs are basically carnivores that have become omnivores through living with people. They can eat most of the things we eat, but they need more protein than we do. People can do well on a vegetarian diet and dogs can survive, but not thrive, on one. Experts recommend that anything from 1/3 to 3/4 of a dog's diet be protein, in the form of meat or non-meat protein, such as eggs, cottage cheese or cooked dried beans. Poultry (chicken, turkey, duck) and beef are the most common meats to feed dogs, but they'll also eat things that most people don't care for, from rabbit to possum. Organ meats, such as liver, heart, gizzards and tripe, are also acceptable and very good for dogs in moderation. Here's a good chance to use up that freezer-burned roast or the venison your hunter friend gave you that you don't really fancy.

Vegetables

Green and yellow vegetables and root crops other than white potatoes can make up anything from 1/3 to 1/4 of a dog's diet. These are best cooked to make them more digestible. A dog's digestive tract is shorter than a human's, so they have less time to extract nutrients from raw vegetation -- salads have no place on their menu. Pumpkin is a superfood for dogs, and while dogs aren't usually big fans of leafy greens, you can sneak these into a stew and they'll eat them along with the rest. You can also include some fruit -- offer apple slices (no seeds) as a treat. Vegetables supply vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Grains

Grains can make up 1/3 to 1/4 of a dog's diet, depending on his activity level and his need for quick energy, which is what carbohydrates supply. Whole grains, including rolled oats, barley and more exotic types such as quinoa, are good as long as they're cooked thoroughly, but one of the best and most readily available grains is rice. Brown rice is best for everyday meals, since it supplies some B vitamins and a bit of fiber from the seed coat, but white rice cooked in chicken broth makes a bland diet for a sick dog or one who's just off his feed.

The Other Ratio

There's another important ratio to be considered in a dog's diet -- that of calcium to phosphorus. Ideally, this should be 1:1. If this ratio gets too far out of whack, your dog's body will take calcium from his bones to make up what's not in his diet, and this can lead to osteoporosis and other skeletal problems. Meat, especially organ meat, is high in phosphorus and low in calcium. If you feed a home-cooked diet but don't give your dogs raw bones to gnaw, you need to add a calcium supplement in the form of powdered eggshell or calcium carbonate (indigestion tablets). Your vet can advise you best on how much your dog should get, but 900mg per pound of food is generally considered adequate.

How to Make Vet-Approved Homemade Dog Food

Key Takeaways

• You can make homemade dog food with human foods, but it must have the right balance of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals to be healthy.
• Vets generally dont recommend making your own raw dog food because of the risk of bacterial contamination or possible public health risks.
• Consult with a vet or veterinary nutritionist to make sure a homemade diet works for your pet.

For dog owners, its only natural that you question whats in your pups food. Sure, it says chicken on the bag, but what does that actually mean? If youve been questioning store-bought food, or would just rather have more control over your dogs diet, there are homemade options that can meet your dogs nutritional requirements. Your vet can steer you in the right direction for preparing homemade dog diets, and you should always ask about the suitability of a particular veterinary-endorsed diet for your dog.

The Benefits of Homemade Dog Food

Making your dogs food at home may offer some benefits over commercially available diets. If youre making your dogs meals yourself, you have the freedom to purchase the freshest, highest-quality ingredients available. Home cooking can also be a good option for dogs with food allergies or other dietary sensitivities. When you know what ingredients your dog reacts to, its simple enough to avoid them. Dogs who struggle to eat enough food (because of illness or extreme pickiness) may eat more of a homemade diet. Dry kibble tends to be the least appealing to dogs. Wet foods are better, but a homemade diet can prove to be truly irresistible.

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Before You Start Cooking: Homemade Dog Food Needs to be Balanced

Your homemade meal should contain protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Make sure you weigh your dog frequently to verify they stay a healthy weight. Take your dog to the vet before starting the homemade diet so your vet can determine your dogs ideal weight and you can discuss what recipes are appropriate for your dog.

Protein

When a dog eats protein, their body breaks it down into its building blocks called amino acids, which are then reassembled into the proteins they need. Proteins play many roles in a dogs body, including:

• Building and maintaining muscle, skin, hair, nails, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage
• Producing enzymes, hormones, and disease-fighting antibodies
• Acting as a source of specific nutrients, like nitrogen, that are used to make other molecules

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) puts together standards for dog food. The AAFCO minimum protein percentage for dog food is 22.5% for puppies and 18% for adults and seniors on a dry matter basis. Reporting nutrient percentages on a dry matter basis takes into account the differing amounts of water present in various types of dog food (canned versus kibble, for example).

Fats

Fats in the diet are an excellent source of energy and make food taste good. Essential fatty acids play important roles in the body and have to be present in the diet because a dogs body cant make them from other substances. For example, omega-3 fatty acids, like those present in cold-water fish oils, can reduce inflammation.

The AAFCO crude fat minimum percentage on a dry matter basis for puppy foods is 8.5% and for adult and senior dogs it is 5.5%.

Carbs

Carbohydrates arent an essential part of a dogs diet, but they still can have many important roles such as:

• Providing energy
• Reducing the need for protein to be used as an energy source (freeing it up to be available for its other roles)
• Promoting normal gastrointestinal function (especially fiber)
• Supplying specific nutrients that can be used to make other molecules

AAFCO does not set standards for the amount of carbohydrate in dog foods since it is not considered an essential nutrient.

Vitamins and Minerals

Only small amounts of vitamins and minerals need to be provided in a dogs diet, but without them, dogs can quickly become very sick. To make things even more complicated, too much of certain vitamins and minerals can be just as dangerous as too little.

Now lets look at some vet-approved homemade dog food recipes that provide a good balance or proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.

Vet-Approved Recipe #1:

Massachusetts MSCPA-Angell Animal Medical Center provides sample recipes on its website for dogs weighing 15, 30 and 60 pounds.

For a 15-pound dog:

• 3 ounces of chicken, dark meat, cooked
• 1 1/3 cups of white rice, cooked
• 1 tablespoon of mixed vegetables, cooked
• 1 to 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil
• 1.5 black scoops Balance IT Canine vitamin, mineral, and amino acid supplement

For a 30-pound dog:

• 4.5 ounces of chicken, dark meat, cooked
• 2 cups of white rice, cooked
• 1.5 tablespoons of mixed vegetables, cooked
• 2 to 3 teaspoons of vegetable oil
• 2.5 black scoops Balance IT Canine vitamin, mineral, and amino acid supplement

For 60-pound dogs:

• 8 ounces of ounces of chicken, dark meat, cooked
• 3.5 cups of white rice, cooked
• 3 tablespoons of mixed vegetables, cooked
• 3 to 5 teaspoons of vegetable oil
• 4.5 black scoops Balance IT Canine

Directions

1. All proteins, carbohydrates, and vegetables should be thoroughly cooked, allowed to cool, and then weighed.
2. Combine all ingredients and mix them together well. Make sure the supplements are mixed thoroughly throughout the food.
3. This recipe provides one days worth of food. It can be prepared in the morning, divided into multiple portions for the day, and refrigerated until mealtime.

MSPCA-Angell AMC notes that the supplement, Balance IT Canine, mentioned in these recipes is not optional. Leaving it out will produce a diet that has many nutritional deficiencies

Vet-Approved Recipe #2:

Founders Veterinary Clinic of Brea, California, offers a sample recipe for 20-pound dogs that you can half for 10-pounders or double for 40-pound canines.

For a 20-pound dog:

• 1/4 pound of cooked, skinless chicken
• 1 cup of cooked brown rice
• to 1 cup of peas and carrots
• 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil (they recommend Udos Oil 3-6-9 Blend)
• 1/4 teaspoon of potassium chloride (a salt substitute).
• 250 mg calcium citrate
• Daily multiple vitamin/mineral supplement (either a vet-recommended supplement or of a human adult dose)

Allowed substitutions for this recipe include boned fish, lean ground turkey, beef, or lamb as a protein source and potatoes, yams, or pasta as a carbohydrate. As always, the supplements mentioned in this diet are not optional.

Directions

1. All proteins, carbohydrates, and vegetables should be thoroughly cooked, allowed to cool, and then weighed.
2. Combine all ingredients and mix them together well. Make sure the supplements are mixed thoroughly throughout the food.
3. This recipe provides one days worth of food. It can be prepared in the morning, divided into multiple portions for the day, and refrigerated until mealtime.

Vet-Approved Recipe #3:

The following recipe was created by Balance.it, for a 9 year old, spayed female dog who weighs 50 pounds. The Balance.it recipe generation tool allows pet parents to create nutritionally complete homemade dog foods for healthy pets using ingredients of your choice.

For a 50-pound dog

• 13 7/8 oz chicken breast, skinless, boneless, cooked, roasted
• 5 teaspoons canola oil
• 1 3/10 mL Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet Liquid
• 1 cups sweet potato, cooked, baked in skin, without salt, flesh fed only
• 3/4 cup spinach, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
• 11/16 teaspoon Morton iodized salt
• 5 teaspoons Balance IT Canine (2.5 g/tsp)

Directions

1. All proteins, carbohydrates, and vegetables should be thoroughly cooked, allowed to cool, and then weighed.
2. Combine all ingredients and mix them together well. Make sure the supplements are mixed thoroughly throughout the food.
3. This recipe provides one days worth of food. It can be prepared in the morning, divided into multiple portions for the day, and refrigerated until mealtime.

The Balance.it generator will also produce recipes that use human vitamin and mineral supplements rather than Balance IT Canine, but they contain many more ingredients and are harder to prepare accurately.

What About Raw-Diet Foods?

Gaining popularity is the raw food diet, also known as the Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, or BARF, diet. The concept was developed by an Australian veterinarian, Dr. Ian Billinghurst. BARFs philosophy states that the diet a dog evolved to eat over many millions of years of evolution is the best way to feed it. While you might find some veterinarians recommending homemade raw foods for dogs, similar to what ancient canines ate, thats not the view of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The AVMA, along with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, dont recommend raw dog food, in part because of the risk of bacterial contamination or possible public health risks.

Always Get Your Vets Approval

If your dog suffers from medical issues, you will need to adjust certain veterinary-endorsed diets. Ask your own vet about your dogs specific nutritional needs as well as for a recommendation for a certified veterinary nutritionist. The three of you can find a homemade diet that meets your pups dietary requirements. Whether your dog has specific medical problems or not, you should always tell your vet that your dog eats a homemade diet because they will need to see your dog more frequently to continue to evaluate the diet and to monitor for nutrition-related health problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best ingredients to put in homemade dog food?

Start by focusing on the protein source in your homemade dog food. Human-grade beef, chicken, turkey, egg, lamb, fish, rabbit, and tofu are all good options. Then round out your recipe with healthy fats and carbohydrates (vegetable oil and brown rice, for example) and vitamin and mineral supplements.

Do vets recommend homemade dog food?

It is not easy to prepare a healthy homemade dog food that is safe for long-term feeding. Therefore, most vets recommend that pet parents feed high-quality, commercially available dog foods instead.

What is a good grain to add to homemade dog food?

Many grains can be included in healthy homemade dog food. Good options include barley, pasta, millet, oats, potato, sweet potato, white rice, and brown rice.

What ingredients should not be in homemade dog food?

Do not include the following ingredients in homemade dog food as they can cause health problems: chocolate, macadamia nuts, grapes, raisins, xylitol (a sugar substitute), onions, garlic, chives, cooked bones that havent been ground up, and raw bones, meat, fish or egg.

What should the top 5 ingredients be in dog food?

Healthy homemade dog foods include proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.