homemade dog food recipes butternut squash
9 Vet-Approved Homemade Dog Food Recipes
Want to try your hand and learn how to make homemade dog food? The classic proportions are 50% protein (including meat or eggs), 25% vegetables, and 25% carbohydrates (like rice or oats). But which ingredients should you use, and how can you make sure your dog food recipe is healthy?
To help you find the best recipes, weve put together this list of 10 healthy dog food recipes to try today. Making dog food at home can save you money and give you more control over what your dog eats. Scroll down to try one of our favorite homemade dog food recipes! And if you have questions, take a look at our recipe tips at the end.
Top 9 Healthy Dog Food Recipes
1. Beef, Herb, and Egg Dog Food Recipe
This recipe is so easy, it only has one step: combine the ingredients! Your pup will love the mixture of ground beef, protein-packed eggs, and dog-friendly herbs like parsley.
2. Turkey and Rosemary Dog Food Recipe
This is another incredibly simple recipe. You probably already have these ingredients in your kitchen! All you need is a package of frozen vegetables, ground turkey, rosemary, and rice.
If you want to feed your dog human-grade food without the hassle of having to prepare the meals yourself, you need to try Spot & Tango.
Their pre-packaged meals full of human-grade ingredients get delivered right to your door, so all you need to do is pop them into your dogs dish!
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3. Simple Chicken and Vegetable
Heres another healthy dog food recipe so beautiful we want to try it! This recipe from Damn Delicious combines vegetables like spinach, zucchini, and peas with lean ground chicken. Its a beautiful and nutrient-packed mixture.
4. Instant Pot Dog Food Recipe
If you have an Instant Pot, youll love this simple recipe! You can cook everything in your pot, including rice or oats, lean ground meat, and vegetables of your choice.
5. Non-Allergenic Dog Food
If your pup has food allergies, this recipe might be just what youre looking for. Nikki at Wheres the Frenchie? was inspired by her French Bulldogs newly discovered allergies to create this straightforward recipe, which includes whole grains, pumpkin puree, and ground turkey.
7. Chicken and Bean Dog Food
Heres another incredibly easy Crock-Pot recipe that you could eat for dinner yourself! This delicious-sounding dog food recipe features chicken, kidney beans, butternut squash, and peas. Plus, Katie Crenshaw of A Forks Tale offers great suggestions for supplements and substitutions! Did you know that you could add eggshells or chicken livers to your dogs food?
8. Turkey Macaroni Dog Food
Brought to you by The College Housewife, this dog food recipe substitutes macaroni noodles for the usual rice or oats but still includes plenty of healthy protein and vegetables. Cook up your ground turkey, broccoli, and sweet potatoes, and youll have a delicious, human-grade dog entree.
9. Doggie Meatball Recipe
These meatballs may look mouthwatering, but they are intended for your dog! Best of all, you can use them to get your pup to take medications. Whip some up, sneak in a pill, and youll be the best dog parent ever.
Dog Food Recipe Tips
Trying new foods is fun for humans, but it can be hard on our pets stomachs. The most important thing to remember is to change your dogs diet slowly. Veterinarians recommend mixing new foods with your dogs previous food. Start with about 25% new food and 75% old food. Then gradually increase the amount of new food until you reach 100%. If you notice any changes in your dogs digestion, you may want to stop the transition and talk to your veterinarian.
Like people, dogs can have food allergies. Common dog allergies include wheat, eggs, chicken, and beef. Keep in mind that some ingredients may be particularly toxic to dogs, like grapes, onions, and garlic. If you notice symptoms like gastrointestinal issues, youll probably want to consult your veterinarian about your dogs ideal diet.
Storing Your Homemade Dog Food
These recipes are really simple, but you probably dont have time to cook a full meal for yourself and your dog every night. An easy solution? Make a big batch and divide it into individual portions. Put each meal in a Ziploc bag in the freezer and pull it out at dinner time!
Making Your Own Dog Food: The Bottom Line
Now that youve learned how to make homemade dog food quickly and easily. We hope youve found your new favorite healthy dog food recipe. Cater to your furballs specific dietary needs, learn a new cooking skill, and maybe even save a little money. Your dogs will love their upgraded diets!
Looking for more dog recipes?
Featured image credit: stockcreations, Shutterstock
4 ingredient butternut squash dog treats
Flour, butternut squash, banana and eggs are all you need to make these easy 4 ingredient butternut squash dog treats. Making homemade dog treats is less expensive than store-bought and better for your pup.
For another quick and easy recipe for dog biscuits, try these pumpkin dog treats.
Butternut squash dog treats
Ive made a few pumpkin dog cookies for Sugar over the years, but I recently discovered that she loves butternut squash.
Shes a big fan of sweet potato treats, so it shouldnt have come as any surprise that these would be a big hit.
Butternut squash is naturally sweet and a good source of fiber. It makes a healthy, low fat dog biscuit with plenty of vitamins for your pup.
DIY dog treats, like thisoatmeal pumpkin dog treat recipe, are less expensive than store-bought treats and I feel better knowing exactly what is in them.
Ingredients
Four simple ingredients are all you need to make this dog cookie. This is a perfect way to use up an overripe banana!
- Whole wheat flour you can substitute regular flour or oat flour
- Cooked butternut squash roast the squash until very tender
- Banana you want a very ripe, speckled banana for this recipe
- Eggs 2 large
How to make
These butternut squash dog treats are made in one bowl, which makes for easy cleanup.
Whisk eggs, then add cooked butternut squash and banana. Mash up until mixture is fairly uniform.
Sprinkle flour over the egg mixture and use a rubber spatula or heavy kitchen spoon to stir together.
Using clean hands, work in all of the flour and form the dough into a ball. If your dough is too sticky to roll out (and it might be), wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 30 45 minutes.
Liberally flour the counter and using a floured rolling pin, roll the dough out to 1/8 thick, then use bone shaped cookie cutters to make treats.
How to store butternut dog treats
If you live in a cooler, less humid climate, you can store these treats in a cutedog treat jaron the counter for about a week. Because I live in a warmer, humid climate, Id only keep them on the counter for a day or two, then store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
You can also freeze them for up to 3 months and take out a few at a time, which is what I do most of the time.
Because these treats do not have preservatives in them like the store-bought varieties, I do not recommend storing these dog treats with butternut squash on the counter long-term. Store in the refrigerator or freezer for best results.
When using a 2 inch cookie cutter, the recipe makes 95 treats plenty for sharing with friends and neighbors!
More dog treats
Peanut butter banana dog treats
Pumpkin peanut butter dog treats
Homemade dog treats with rolled oats
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Butternut squash dog treats
Cheryl BennettQuick and easy, 4 ingredient butternut squash dog treats are an inexpensive way to spoil your pup.
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Additional Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
Course Dog Treats
Cuisine Dog
Servings 95 treats
Calories 19 kcal
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup roasted butternut squash
- 1 ripe banana
- 3 cups whole wheat flour 12 oz.
Preheat oven to 350F / 177C / Gas Mark 4
Peel, seed and chop butternut squash. Place on baking sheet, cover with foil and roast for 30 40 minutes until very tender. Set aside to cool to room temp.
In a medium mixing bowl whisk eggs, then add banana and cooked butternut squash.
Using a potato masher, break up banana and squash until mixture is uniform, with no large pieces remaining.
Sprinkle in whole wheat flour and stir to combine. Use your hands to incorporate remaining flour and form dough into a ball. (Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes if necessary)
Flour your work surface and a rolling pin. Roll dough out to 1/8" thickness. Use 2 inch cookie cutter to cut shapes out of dough.
Place treats on parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 18 20 minutes.
Cool completely before giving to your dog.
Serving: 1gCalories: 19kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 1gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 3mg
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Can Dogs Eat Squash?
Pumpkins and other types of squash are popular vegetables for humans; among other things, they are low in fat and cholesterol. As youre preparing it, you might find yourself wondering if its okay to share it with your dog. But can dogs eat squash?
What Type of Squash Should You Feed to Your Dog?
Depending on how it has been prepared, you may be able to share squash with your dog. Dr. Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer for the AKC, advises that squash itself is safe for dogs to eat, provided seeds, skin, and rinds have been removed. For safety, when cooking and preparing squash, make sure to properly dispose of seeds and rinds in compost or trash bins that your dog cant access.
Dr. Klein explains that the best types of squash to feed your dog are butternut squash, pumpkin, zucchini, and acorn squash. In particular, zucchini is the squash most easily digested by dogs. A cautionary note from Dr. Klein about feeding pumpkin to your dog: Make sure that you are only giving your pet plain, unsweetened pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling contains xylitol, a toxic artificial sweetener to dogs, cautions Dr. Klein. As always, give your dog squash in moderation; we also recommend consulting your veterinarian before adding it to their diet.
Benefits of Squash
Different types of squash can be beneficial for your dogs digestive system, keep dogs hydrated, and improve the sheen of your dogs fur. Squash is high in fiber (key for digestive health), beta-carotene (a powerful antioxidant that can protect cells from damage), and vitamin A (which helps with vision and overall cell function). For example, butternut squash is rich in Vitamin C, integral in body tissue repair processes and protecting the immune system, while zucchini is rich in Vitamin B6, which aids in moderating metabolism. Acorn squash is full of magnesium, which helps the body process other minerals, and varied B vitamins.
Many dogs enjoy squash on its own, in homemade dog treats, or mixed in with their regular food. Plain pumpkin is a common home treatment for dogs with mild stomach upsets; it can help to calm their digestive systems. If stomach upset persists, or you know your dog has eaten something they shouldnt have, consult your veterinarian immediately. For overweight or dieting dogs, squash can be a helpful addition. Squashs fiber content can help a dog feel full if you are cutting the overall calories in their diet. If youre concerned about your dogs weight and considering putting them on a diet, always consult with your veterinarian first.
How to Serve Squash to Dogs
Dogs have the easiest time digesting squash that has been steamed or roasted, advises Dr. Klein. Squash being fed to dogs should be plain, without any butter mixed in. Youll also want to avoid feeding your dog any squash seasoned with onion, salt, and garlic salt, which are toxic for dogs. When serving squash to your dog, keep it simple and unseasoned.
If youre starting to start feeding vegetables like squash to your dogs diet, begin introducing them slowly and consult your vet. If you notice any negative reactions, stop feeding them this food and speak with your dogs veterinarian immediately.
