quinoa homemade dog food

Quinoa Dog Food Recipe

In the introduction of my recipes, I usually write about what I like best about the dish I just made or about an ingredient that stands out. But this time, I think Ill let the picture above do the taking. This is the first time that Oscar ran away with the photoshoot. The little bugger snuck up while I was taking pictures and ran off with one of my Beef Pupcakes! Its like I dont feed him or something. He jumped up on the chair, snatched the closest one to the edge, and took off like a bat out of hell to the safety of his bed to partake in his ill-gotten booty. I was laughing so hard, that I couldnt stop him from finishing it. He earned that pupcake. And really, the highest form of praise for any chef is an entre worth stealing for, isnt it?Beef Pupcake Dog Food RecipeMakes 24 servingsIngredients:1/2 cup brown rice1 large potato, grated1 tsp sage1 tsp parsley cup cauliflower, finely chopped2 large carrots, grated1 large celery stalks, chopped2 pounds ground beef3 eggs1 tablespoon olive oil1/2 cup regular rolled oats regular rolled oatsDirections:Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray muffin tins.Steam rice or cook in small saucepan on stove. Once cooked, remove from heat and let cool.In a large bowl, combine potato, carrots, celery, cauliflower, ground beef, celery, parsley, sage, and eggs. Mix ingredients together using your hands.Add olive oil, rolled oats, and rice, and mix well.Fill each muffin cup and pat down firm. Bake 45 minutes.Cool on a rack. Remove the meat pupcakes by turning the muffin tin upside down over or scooping out with spoon or fork. Refrigerate or freeze in sealed plastic bags.Benefits of Cauliflower for DogsWhile the pupcakes are certainly a treat that will make your dog drool and wag his tail, it includes some healthy ingredients that can improve your dogs health. Cauliflower is a perfect example of this. The vegetable is packed with valuable nutrients. Its a source of vitamins A, C, and K, calcium, choline, potassium, folate, and dietary fiber. This combination of vitamins and minerals works to improve many different areas of your dogs body including improving your dogs digestive health, reducing the risk of heart disease, boosting the immune system, strengthening muscles, and supporting the nervous system. It also contains antioxidants which can help to slow the effects of aging and slow the cognitive decline that often comes as dogs enter their golden years. Can My Dog Eat Eggs? Are you concerned about the addition of eggs in the recipe? Dogs can benefit from eating this protein-rich snack in moderation. The general rule of thumb is that your dog should have no more than one egg per day. With only 3 eggs total in the whole recipe, this isnt going to be a concern when treating your dog with a pupcake! In addition to being a great source of protein, eggs also provide vitamins A and B12, folate, iron, riboflavin, and selenium. They help to build stronger teeth and bones, support skin and coat health, boost the immune system and maintains healthy muscles. Dog owners that are also interested in the minerals found in eggshells may also wish to grind the shells and include them in the recipe. I hope your dog enjoys this Beef Pupcake Dog Food Recipe as much as Oscar did. Sneaky little dog!

Recipe: Simple Quinoa Dog Food

Quinoa is well known as one of the best superfoods for humans. These powerful little seeds are grain-free and high in protein. Quinoa was also one of the very few plant foods that provides sufficient amounts of all 9 essential amino acids. This simple quinoa dog food recipe is as healthy for your pup as it is you!

Because of its high nutritional contents, quinoa is a common ingredient in vegetarian and vegan diets. This superfood is also low in calories, low in fat and cholesterol-free. It's rich in fiber, magnesium, iron and vitamin B12.

Making homemade dog food allows you to cater recipes to your dog's needs. Homemade recipes don't include fillers. Every ingredient has a purpose. This simple quinoa dog food only contains 4 ingredients, and it's an ideal choice for dogs with a sensitive stomach.

Simple Quinoa Dog Food Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp. coconut oil
• 2 lbs. ground turkey
• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• 1/4 cup carrots (chopped)

Directions

Along with being a limited ingredient recipe, this simple quinoa dog food is also very easy to make. This recipe only makes 4-5 cups of dog food, but you can make it in larger quantities and freeze for use at a later time.

First, heat the coconut oil in a large frying pan until fully melted. Add the turkey and cook until browned. Drain all the excess fat.

While the turkey is cooking, you can cook the quinoa in a saucepan. Prepare the quinoa according to the instructions on the package. Drain any excess water after the quinoa is finished cooking.

Once the turkey and quinoa are finished, mix all of the ingredients together. My dogs enjoy the added crunch of raw carrots. If your dog doesn't enjoy raw vegetables or has dental issues that make it difficult to chew, you can steam or boil the carrots to soften them.

I recommend feeding about 1/2 cup of this simple quinoa dog food for every 20 pounds of body weight per serving. This recommendation is for 2 servings per day. So, if your dog weighs 20 pounds, he would eat 1/2 cup in the morning and 1/2 cup in the evening.

You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. As I mentioned, you can also make this recipe in bulk and freeze leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

READ NEXT: 9 Superfoods for Dogs That Improve Their Health (According to Science)

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Homemade Dog Food Recipes: Choosing Balanced Ingredients

Are you considering switching your dog to a homemade diet? A good place to begin is by discussing it with your veterinarian and/or a veterinary nutritionist. You may think that sounds unnecessary when there are so many recipes for homecooked dog meals available on the internet. However, the experts say that many of those recipes were not reviewed by veterinary nutritionists to make sure they provide a nutritional, well-balanced diet for your dog. This is why some owners prefer to feed pre-made fresh food.

The American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN) warns that your dogs unique nutritional requirements will depend on the age, size, health, and breed. Also, there are dogs for whom a homemade diet may not be appropriate or might even be damaging. We generally dont recommend homemade diets for a dog less than one-year-old. If young dogs dont receive the appropriate amount of calcium and phosphorus, significant bone abnormalities may result, says Dr. Jerry Klein, AKC chief veterinarian. Pregnant and lactating dogs also have unique dietary requirements that may not be addressed by a recipe found on the internet.

The ABCs of a Balanced Dog Food Diet

Understanding the basics of what makes a homecooked diet balanced for your dog will help when you discuss the options with an expert. Here are important ingredients for the canine diet.

Protein: According to the ACVN, dogs must have protein in their diets that contain 10 specific essential amino acids their bodies cant produce. This is necessary for the creation of glucose, which transforms into energy. Sources of protein include chicken and turkey, after removing bones, fat, and skin; beef and lamb; pork in limited amounts; salmon and some other fish such as whitefish, herring, walleye, flounder, and Arctic char.

Fats and fatty acids: The most concentrated sources of fats in a dogs diet come from animal fats and plant seed oils. A healthy diet supplies the fatty acids the dogs body doesnt manufacture. Fatty acids support the function and structure of cells, keep skin and coat healthy, and enhance the taste of the food. Sources of fatty acids include plant-based oils, including corn, soybean, canola, and flaxseed oil, as well as fish oil.

Carbohydrates: Dogs get some of their energy from carbohydrates, which include sugars, starches, and dietary fibers. Sources includerice, pasta, oatmeal, and quinoa.

Fiber: Dogs need fiber in their diet to keep their gastrointestinal (GI) system functioning and to help them from becoming overweight. Good sources of fiber for dogs include carrots, pumpkin, apples, dark leafy greens, brown rice, and flaxseed.

Vitamins: Vitamins are required for growth and maintenance. Vitamin deficiencies can cause a variety of health problems; however, they can also be dangerous in large quantities.

Vitamins dogs require include A (carrots, pumpkin), B vitamins (liver, green vegetables, whole grains), C (fruits and vegetables, organ meat), D (liver, fish, beef), E (leafy green vegetables, liver, bran, plant oils), K (fish, leafy green vegetables, fish), and choline (liver, fish, meats, egg yolks).

Minerals: There are 12 essential minerals for dogs:

• Calcium (tofu, green beans, broccoli, and cauliflower) and phosphorus (meat, eggs) for strong bones and teeth.
• Magnesium, potassium, sodium, and chloride (fruits, vegetables, whole grains) for nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, and cell signaling.
• Sulfur (meat, fish, molasses) for healthy skin, coat, and nails.
• Iron (red meats, poultry) for supporting red blood cells and the immune system.
• Iodine (dairy, kelp, seafood) for a healthy thyroid.
• Zinc (eggs, lamb, liver, brewers yeast) for the immune system, healthy skin, and coat.
• Selenium (meat, vegetables, seafood, brown rice) to boost the immune system.
• Copper (whole grains, seeds, and seafood) for healthy bone growth.

Water: We sometimes overlook this important ingredient of a healthy dogs diet, but there really is no dog food that contains enough water for your dog. Keep clean, fresh water out always.

Making the Transition

Consult a veterinarian: If youve decided to transition your dog to a homemade diet, your first step should be to consult a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist. Those experts will consider your dogs age, size, and health history and help you identify a high-quality recipe that is tailored to meet your dogs specific nutritional needs.

Buying ingredients: When you buy ingredients for your dogs homemade meals, you need to pay as much attention to the source, expiration dates, and labels as you do when you buy food for yourself.

Making the switch gradually: Whenever you change your dogs food, whether to a homemade diet or a new commercial food, a gradual switch is best to avoid upsetting your dogs GI system. For at least five-to-seven days, gradually mix in more and more of the new food with the old food, as you allow your dog to adjust to the change.

Follow the recipe: Be sure to follow the recipe. Tufts Cummings Veterinary Medical Center Clinical Nutrition Service published a study to determine how well owners adhered to homecooked diet recipes a median of one year later. Only 13 percent were still feeding the original nutritionally balanced diet recipe.

Clear instructions: Instructions about preparation and quantities are important. The way you cook the ingredients for example, steam, roast, or boil can impact the nutrition of the diet. Substituting or adding ingredients can also cause nutritional deficiencies. A study reported in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association reported that a lack of clear instructions in many recipes forces pet owners to make assumptions that can result in food that is nutritionally inadequate and can even be harmful if fed to your dog on a long-term basis.

Follow-up:Once youve made the transition, pay attention to any digestive changes your dog may have. If his stool softens, he vomits, or has diarrhea, check in with the veterinarian. Whenever you change your dogs diet, you also need to monitor his weight. It may take a while to determine the correct portions for his size, age, and energy level.

Resources for the Chef

• Your best resource and first stop is your dogs veterinarian, who knows your dog and has a thorough understanding of his health history and current condition.
• A good resource to help find a veterinary nutritionist for a homemade diet consultation is the Diplomate directory at www.acvn.org. If there isnt a nutritionist in your area, you can consult with one remotely.
• An alternative option is to use the online consulting service called BalanceIT, a site operated by a veterinary nutritionist to formulate a basic, nutritionally balanced recipe.

• Another site that provides answers to your questions is: Ask the Nutritionist
• ChefPaw is the latest way to provide your pup with nutritious and delicious meals, giving you a more efficient way to prepare homemade dog food. VisitChefPaw.comto learn more

ChefPaw by Innovet Pet Products is helping you take full control of your dogs diet with the first countertop Dog Food Maker of its kind. Striving to save you time and money while maximizing your dogs nutrition, ChefPaw can make fresh, homemade food for your dog in 40 minutes. At ChefPaw, your pets happiness and well-being take center stage.