homemade senior dog food recipes

4 DIY Senior Dog Food Recipes

The dietary needs of canines change as they grow up and you need to make corresponding modifications to your recipes. The basic purpose of all these variations is to maintain the right balance of nutrients to keep your pup healthy. For this reason, we have compiled a list of homemade dog foods that are safe for senior pets. Not only are these recipes nutritious, but they also serve as scrumptious treats for your furry friend.

Chicken and Veggie Slow Cooker

The slow cooking process of this recipe extracts every bit offlavor from all the ingredients. Consequently, your dog gets a complete andhealthy meal that is too good to resist. You can also store this dog food inthe freezer for future use.

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless chicken thighs and breasts (3 lbs. each)
• 1 large-sized apple, cored and cubed (no seeds)
• 2 cups frozen peas
• 2 cups frozen green beans
• 1 sweet potato, cubed
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 1 can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Directions

1. Place meat in thecrockpotand addwater so that it just covers the chicken. Then, add potato, carrots, kidneybeans, green beans, and apple.
2. Cook on low for 8-9 hours, when it is aboutfinished, add the frozen peas and cook for another 30 minutes.
3. When finished, drain off excess liquid, addolive oil, and stir to mash (or place in a food processor).
4. When cooled, scoop daily servings intoindividual Ziploc bags and freeze. Each night, remove one bag from the freezerand place it in the fridge to defrost overnight.

Thank you to The Dog Bakery for this recipe.

Chicken Gourmet Dog Food

Being carnivores, chicken is one of the favorite ingredientsof dogs in their diet. The following recipe is incredibly easy to cook andhardly takes around 30 minutes. In addition to that, it offers a lot ofnutritional value through brown rice and different vegetables.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. Chicken (or Turkey)
• 5 cups of brown rice
• 4 cups of veggies Carrots, Broccoli, SweetPotatoes
• 3 tbsp Coconut Oil
• Daily Multivitamin in powdered form

Directions

1. Pour coconut oil in a pan.
2. Cut up Chicken and pan fry.
3. Place rice into a separate pan and boil.
4. Mix Rice and Veggies of your choice into the mixture.
5. Stir until mixed.
6. Add your powdered nutritional supplements.
7. Let it cool and then serve it to your dog.

Thank you to House that Barks for this recipe.

Beef Stew for Dogs

Looking for a nutritious combination of meat and vegetablesfor your senior dog? This homemade dog food will take care of all thenutritional requirements of your canine. Therefore, its an excellentalternative for commercial wet foods that are quite expensive.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. beef stew meat
• cup of diced carrots
• cup of diced green beans
• 1 small sweet potato
• cup of flour
• 1 tbsp organic vegetable oil
• cup of water

Directions

1. Microwave the sweet potato for five to eightminutes until tender but still firm.
2. Cut up the beef stew meat into nickel-sizedchunks.
3. Heat the vegetable oil over medium heat in alarge pan. Add the stew chunks and cook for about 10 to 15 minutes or untilwell done.
4. Take the beef out of the pan but reserve thedrippings.
5. Dice the cooked sweet potato.
6. Turn the heat to medium-low and heat thedrippings. While whisking, slowly add the flour and water to the drippings tomake a thick gravy.
7. Add the sweet potato, meat, green beans, andcarrots to the gravy and mix to coat.
8. Cook about 10 minutes or until the carrots aretender.
9. Let the stew cool completely before serving toyour senior dog.
10. The leftovers will keep in the refrigerator forup to five days.

Thank you to Dog Quality for this recipe.

Homemade Food for Senior Dogs

The slowing down of a dogs metabolism can lead to severalhealth issues, like obesity. In these circumstances, it can become achallenging task to find the recipes that are safe for senior dogs. Thefollowing dog food provides your pet with all the essential nutrients withoutoffering too many calories.

NOTE: Its highly advisable to check with your vet beforeswitching to any homemade recipe.

Ingredients:

• pound 75-80% lean ground beef
• 2 cups of COOKED brown rice
• cup of pureed pumpkin
• 1 hard-boiled egg (with shell)
• cup of blueberries

Directions

1. Brown the beef in a frying pan until cooked completelythrough.
2. Cook about -1 cup of brown rice to get 2 cups ofcooked rice.
3. Mash the boiled egg.
4. Combine the egg, cooked brown rice, cooked groundbeef, pureed pumpkin, and blueberries in a medium-size mixing bowl. Mix untilthoroughly blended.
5. Once the food has cooled, you can feed it to your dog.Therecommended serving size is about 1/2cup for every 25-30 pounds of body weight.This recommendation is for 2 servings per day.
6. You can store leftovers in an airtight container for3-5 days. You can also make this homemade senior dog food in bulk and freeze itin an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Thank you to Top Dog Tips for this recipe.

Please keep in mind that we may receive a small commission when you click our links and make purchases and as an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you.

Recipe: Homemade Senior Dog Food

Senior dogs can be particularly difficult to feed.Their metabolism has slowed down, and they may even have some health concerns that can be helped with the right diet. Thishomemade senior dog food won't be right for all older pups, so be sure to check with your vet before switching.

As your dog's metabolism slows and he becomes less active, he won't need to eat as many calories each day as he did when he was young and full of energy. He may also need to eat a diet higher in fiber that includes pre- and probiotics for digestive health.

Supplements, like glucosamine and chondroitin, are also beneficial to include in senior food recipes. There are many beneficial supplements that can aid in joint and hip health, digestion, cognitive ability and skin and coat health. Your dog may need assistance in all of these areas, and your vet can help you decide which supplements may be right for your pet.

Before you decide to switch your dog's diet (whether he's a senior or not) you need to discuss the change with your veterinarian or a trained canine nutritionist. Trying to make the switch yourself could lead to malnutrition or nutrient toxicity. This homemade senior dog food will not be nutritionally balanced for every dog, so be sure to check with your vet about supplements and/or multivitamins that would be beneficial to add to the recipe.

MORE: 6 Vet's Tips on How To Care for Senior Dogs

Homemade Senior Dog Food Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/4 pound 75-80% lean ground beef
• 2 cups COOKED brown rice
• 1 hard boiled egg (with shell)
• 1/2 cup pureed pumpkin
• 1/2 cup blueberries

Directions

Brown the beef in a frying pan until cooked completely through. You'll need about 3/4-1 cup of DRY brown rice to make 2 cups of cooked brown rice. Cook the rice according to the instructions on the packaging.

Mash the boiled egg. Combine the egg, cooked brown rice, cooked ground beef, pureed pumpkin and blueberries in a medium-size mixing bowl. Mix until thoroughly blended.

Blueberries are chock-full ofnutrition, including some of the most essential vitamins and minerals that are good for dogs:

• Antioxidants
• Silicon
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B complex
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K
• Selenium
• Zinc
• Iron

Blueberries have the highest antioxidants of all foods and help to improve heart health, and blood pressure, and improve memory/brain function. They have even been shown to protect against aging and cancer! For more on the many benefits of adding blueberries to your pet's diet, check out our science-based guide on the subject here.

Pumpkin is also a superfood for senior pets. Pumpkin is incredibly nutritious with relatively few calories and a huge amount of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals. One of the biggest benefits of adding pumpkin to this homemade senior dog food is its high fiber content, which aids in digestion and helps with weight control.

Once the food has cooled, you can feed it to your dog. Therecommended serving size is about 1/2 cup for every 25-30 pounds of body weight. This recommendation is for 2 servings per day.

If you'd like to feed your senior dog smaller meals throughout the day, divide his daily recommended serving size by the number of meals you'd like to serve. For example, a 50-pound dog would need about 1 cup of food per serving. At 2 servings per day, he would eat about 2 cups of food each day. If you'd rather feed 4 smaller meals each day, feed 1/2 cup over 4 servings.

Keep in mind that more active seniors may need more calories than this, while lazier dogs may not need as many. It's best to check with your veterinarian about the best serving size for your Fido.

You can store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-5 days. You can also make this homemade senior dog food in bulk and freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

READ NEXT: 8 Signs of Aging In Senior Dogs

Our Favorite Homemade Dog Food Recipes for Senior Dogs

A healthy, nutrient-rich diet is important for any dog, regardless of age. However, for senior dogs, its even more essential. Being mindful of what and how much your older pooch eats can go a long way in helping to manage common issues associated with dog aging, includingobesity. There are lots of high-quality, specialty dog foods available and Ive had great success with some of them but they can be expensive. Making your own dog food is a more affordable alternative to commercial versions and youll be able to control what goes into it. If youre concerned about your pooch missing out on nutrients, addingsupplements can be helpful too.

Be sure to keep any food allergies or dietary restrictions in mind and talk with your vet before starting your dog on a diet of homemade food, particularly if they suffer from any health conditions. You might also need to adjust the ratio of protein to grains and veggies to accommodate your dogs needs. With that in mind, here are a few of my favorite homemade dog food recipes for older dogs that contain tasty,safe ingredients.

Brown Rice, Turkey and Veggies

VetCo has some great vet-approved homemade dog food recipes and resources, including this one for a simple, healthy meal ofbrown rice, turkey and vegetables. Once the mixture cools, you can divvy it up into single servings (the recipe makes about 12 cups) and either refrigerate the portions for up to five days or freeze them.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground turkey
• 2 cups brown rice
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• package frozen broccoli, carrots and cauliflower (or chop two cups of fresh vegetables and cook them for about four minutes until theyre just starting to get tender but still firm)
• 6 cups water

Directions:

1. In a large pot, add the water, rice, ground turkey and rosemary.
2. Stir to break up the turkey and ensure the ingredients are well mixed.
3. Bring the pot to a boil and then reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Add the frozen or fresh vegetables. Continue to cook for five minutes.
5. Remove the pot from the heat and let the mixture cool before serving.

Beef Stew

This beef stew fromMoney Crashers is one of the best homemade dog food recipes to replace commercial wet food.

Ingredients:

• 1pound beef stew meat
• 1 small sweet potato
• cup diced carrots
• cup diced green beans
• cup flour
• cup water
• 1 tbsp organic vegetable oil

Directions:

1. Microwave the sweet potato for five to eight minutes until tender but still firm.
2. Cut up the beef stew meat into nickel-sized chunks.
3. Heat the vegetable oil over medium heat in a large pan. Add the stew chunks and cook for about 10 to 15 minutes or until well done.
4. Take the beef out of the pan but reserve the drippings.
5. Dice the cooked sweet potato.
6. Turn the heat to medium-low and heat the drippings. While whisking, slowly add the flour and water to the drippings to make a thick gravy.
7. Add the sweet potato, meat, green beans and carrots to the gravy and mix to coat.
8. Cook about 10 minutes or until the carrots are tender.
9. Let the stew cool completely before serving to your senior dog.
10. The leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for up to five days.

Dry Dog Food

Wondering how to make dry dog food? Henrietta Morrisons cookbookDinner for Dogs is an excellent place to turn. Its filled with tons of ideas, ranging from oatmeal breakfast for dogs to homemade dry dog food recipes. The Bark breaks down the process of how to make dry dog foodhere it takes about an hour using one of Morrisons recipes featuring lentils, turkey, carrots, sweet potato, apples, steel-cut oats, parsley and rosemary.

Chicken Casserole

I stumbled upon quite a few homemade dog food recipes on Genius Kitchen, including this one forchicken casserole. While cabbage has antioxidants that are good for senior dogs, it can cause gas. If this is an issue, you may want to decrease the amount the recipe calls for. As for the spinach, its safe for dogs, however, not all pooches like it, so adjust accordingly.

Ingredients:

• 4 pieces boneless chicken with skin
• cup carrots, peeled and sliced
• 1 cup cabbage
• 1 cup broccoli
• cup green beans
• cup spinach
• 1 cups brown rice
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Directions:

1. Rinse your vegetables and steam them until theyre almost soft enough to mash. When theyre done, set them aside.
2. While your veggies are cooking, put your chicken in a pot and add water to cover it. You want the water to be about an inch above the chicken.
3. Bring the pot to a slow boil and boil the chicken until the meat is cooked and the water turns into an aromatic broth, about 20 to 30 minutes.
4. When the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pot but reserve the broth.
5. Cook the brown rice in three cups of the chicken broth.
6. Remove the chicken skin and chop the chicken and steamed vegetables into small, bite-sized pieces.
7. When the rice is finished, combine it with the veggies, chicken and olive oil in a large bowl and mix together. You can also add some chicken broth.
8. Let the casserole cool completely before serving to your dog. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge in a sealed container for up to three days.

Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Biscuits

No compilation of homemade dog food recipes would be complete without a treat! If youre watching your senior dogs weight, moderation is key, but for a special occasion, try thesepeanut butter and banana dog biscuits from All Recipes.

Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
• cup mashed banana
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• cup wheat germ (can also try oats instead if your dog isnt a fan of wheat germ)
• 1 lightly beaten egg white for the egg wash

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit (150 degrees Celsius). Lightly grease a cookie sheet.
2. In a medium bowl, stir the peanut butter, egg, banana and honey until well blended. Add the wheat germ and flour and mix thoroughly. Put the dough on a floured board and use a floured rolling pin to roll it out until its about -inch thick. Use a cookie cutter to cut into your desired shapes. Place the biscuits on the baking sheet and gently brush the tops with the beaten egg white.
3. Bake the biscuits in the oven until theyre golden brown and dried, about 30 minutes. Take them out and cool them on a wire rack.

Whether you go with commercial food or you try one of these homemade dog food recipes for senior dogs, combining a nutritional diet with exercise will keep your older pooch healthy and energetic.

Looking for a quick way to add some nutrition to your dog's diet? Check out Nibbles, our line of freeze-dried fruit and vegetable dog treat alternatives, which are single ingredient selections carefully chosen to help dogs with dietary restrictions such as food sensitivities, kidney disease, liver problems or simply dogs that need a low calorie option. Choose from green beans, diced carrots, apple slices or blueberries all sourced from Canadian and American farms.

If your senior dog has mobility issues, check out ourDogger dog stroller,Grippers traction socksand our Gentle Rise Pet Steps & Ramps. The assistance products are designed to help keep dogs moving, so they can safely get the exercise and stimulation they need.