![\"Easy](\"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/homemade-dog-food.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nPros & Cons Of Homemade Dog Food<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re still in your research phase about whether or not to make your own dog food, know that the main benefit of homemade dog food is that it gives you full control over its ingredients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s particularly helpful when you have a dog with food sensitivities who can\u2019t eat a lot of the ingredients found in commercial dog food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It can also help your picky eater with flavor fatigue, even if you just top their regular kibble or canned dog food off with some homemade dog food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond that, it\u2019s a great way of supporting a healthy coat and skin as well as strengthening your dog\u2019s immune system in general because it translates into feeding less processed dog food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That means it\u2019s dog food without artificial preservatives, chemical dyes and cheap fillers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was my personal motivation for learning about making homemade dog food back in 2015, shortly after my pup Missy had been treated for cancer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She ended up living 2.5 years longer than predicted by her oncologist, and I fully attribute it to her homemade dog food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These days, I\u2019m also making homemade dog food for my pup Wally\u2019s skin allergies<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That said, making balanced homemade dog food from scratch requires a bit more time than just pouring kibble into your pup\u2019s bowl, so that\u2019s something to be aware of. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll also have to invest some time into learning how to properly formulate homemade dog food recipes so that they don\u2019t have any nutritional holes long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026.that\u2019s UNLESS you use a specific workaround that considerably reduces the time spent on learning how to make homemade dog food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep reading to find out more! <\/p>\n\n\n\n The easiest and quickest way to make homemade dog food that doesn\u2019t have any nutritional holes in it is to mix different protein sources with so-called \u201cbase mixes\u201d or \u201cpre-mixes\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That way, you don\u2019t need to worry about studying dog food formulas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These mixes are a smorgasbord of dehydrated or freeze-dried whole foods, vitamins and (trace) minerals that serve as a foundation for homemade dog food recipes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My favorite ones are the base mixes from Dr. Harvey\u2019s, and particularly the Paradigm<\/a> kind. That one is low-carb and features the following ingredients:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Broccoli, Green Beans, Bone Broth, Red and Green Bell Pepper, Cabbage, Pumpkin, Celery, Kelp, Alfalfa, Turmeric, Ginger, Red Clover, Dandelion, Cinnamon, Crushed Eggshell, Tricalcium Phosphate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Taurine, Selenium Yeast, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Nicotinic Acid, Manganese Proteinate, L-Carnitine, Vitamin A Acetate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Biotin, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll get the best bang for your buck with a 6 lb bag of Dr. Harvey\u2019s Paradigm Base Mix<\/a>. That one makes 56 one pound meals. <\/p>\n\n\n The 3 lb bag<\/a> makes 28 one pound meals. The 5.5 oz trial size<\/a> makes 4 one pound meals and is a great option for testing the concept of base mixes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Harvey\u2019s also has a few other base mixes, and I personally began my journey of making homemade dog food recipes back in 2015 with their grain-free Veg-to-Bowl Premix<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s what\u2019s in it so you can compare it to the Paradigm Base Mix: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Green Beans, Broccoli, Peas, Celery, Beets, Crushed Eggshell, Tricalcium Phosphate, Parsley, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Taurine, Selenium Yeast, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Nicotinic Acid, Manganese Proteinate, L-Carnitine, Vitamin A Acetate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Biotin, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Yeast, Alfalfa, Dried Kelp, Lecithin, Ground Flaxseed, Dried Ground Fenugreek, Dried Ground Fennel, Dried Ground Ginger, Dried Ground Peppermint<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 1 lb bag makes 10 one pound meals, the 3 lb bag makes 28 one pound meals and the 5 lb bag makes 46 one pound meals. This premix also comes in a 6.5 oz trial size that makes 4 one pound meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you can tell, the Veg-to-Bowl ingredient list is slightly longer and has several starchy ingredients such as the (sweet) potatoes and carrots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Diabetic dogs and those on a ketogenic diet are going to be better off with a starch-free dog food such as the Paradigm Base Mix, so that\u2019s just a little heads up if your furry loved one has some health issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Besides Dr. Harvey\u2019s base mixes, there are a few other options you can choose from. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Fruit & Veggie Base Mix<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ingredients:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sweet potatoes, Peas, Cabbage, Organic Coconut, Apples, Spinach, Pumpkin, Bananas, Celery, Organic Kelp, Organic Honey, Tricalcium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Potassium Chloride, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Veggie Nut & Seed Base Mix<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ingredients:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dehydrated Carrots, Flaxseed, Dehydrated Parsnips, Dehydrated Peas, Dried Organic Coconut, Dehydrated Pumpkin, Dehydrated Celery, Dehydrated Kale, Dried Organic Kelp, Dried Garlic, Minerals [Tricalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Potassium Iodide, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite], Taurine, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitamin D3 Supplement].<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Veggie & Fruit Base Mix<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ingredients:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Organic Oats, Flaxseed, Organic Barley, Organic Quinoa, Dehydrated Pumpkin, Dehydrated Carrots, Dehydrated Parsnips, Dried Apples, Dried Cranberries, Dehydrated Green Beans, Dehydrated Broccoli, Dehydrated Kale, Dried Organic Kelp, Turmeric, Minerals [Tricalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Potassium Iodide, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite], Taurine, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Calcium Pantothenate (vVitamin B5), Riboflavin Vitamin B2), Vitamin D3 Supplement].<\/p>\n\n\n\n Grandma Lucy\u2019s Macana Pre-Mix<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ingredients:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pinto Beans, Hemp Hearts, Carrots, Coconut, Pumpkin, Kale, Blueberries, Turmeric, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Calcium Carbonate, Phosphorous, Zinc Proteinate, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Potassium Chloride, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Magnesium Chloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement<\/p>\n\n\n\n Grandma Lucy\u2019s Artisan Pre-Mix<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ingredients:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potatoes, Flax, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Celery, Apples, Bananas, Blueberries, Cranberries, Pumpkin, Garlic, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Calcium Carbonate, Phosphorous, Zinc Proteinate, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Potassium Chloride, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Magnesium Chloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement<\/p>\n\n\n\n Grandma Lucy\u2019s Pureformance Pre-Mix<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ingredients:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chickpeas, Flax, Carrots, Celery, Apples, Bananas, Blueberries, Cranberries, Pumpkin, Papaya, Spinach, Garlic, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Calcium Carbonate, Phosphorous, Zinc Proteinate, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Potassium Chloride, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Magnesium Chloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sojos Mix-a-Meal Fruit & Veggie Pre-Mix<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ingredients:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Apples, Whole Egg, Cranberries, Flaxseed, Tricalcium Phosphate, Dried Kelp, Carob Powder, Dried Basil, Parsley Leaf, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Acetate, Ferrous Fumarate, Copper Sulfate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since base mixes require liquids to rehydrate, you\u2019ll be adding water or bone broth<\/a> to the mix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let it sit for 5-10 minutes so it can rehydrate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, add your pick of cooked or raw protein as well as some healthy fats like oily fish, bottled oils or pastured butter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The fats provide your pup with anti-inflammatory Omega-3 fatty acids, so don\u2019t skimp on those, especially if your dog eats a lot of chicken which is naturally rich in inflammatory Omega-6 fatty acids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s all it takes to make balanced dog food at home! <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can either make individual portions right before your pup\u2019s mealtime, or you can premake a batch of base mix that lasts for 3-4 days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you go that route, you can store the premade base mix in the fridge and add fresh meat and oils at feeding time. That\u2019s to prevent the oils from going rancid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As far as how much to feed your pup, just follow the feeding instructions that come with the respective bags of base mixes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They tell you exactly how much to scoop out for your dog\u2019s individual weight as well as how much protein and oil to add. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The foundation for these homemade dog food recipes is always going to be your choice of base mix or pre-mix. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I personally love Dr. Harvey\u2019s Paradigm Base Mix<\/a>, but remember that there\u2019s a variety of options from other brands as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s what you can feed a 40 lb adult dog per day:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Go ahead and alternate the ground or chunked meat sources on a weekly basis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, you can rotate between:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also feed duck meat and rabbit meat if your grocery store carries these protein sources or if you have a farm nearby that raises these animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why rotate?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because meats from different animals have varying nutrients, so rotating between them ensures that your dog eats a balanced diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can keep adding the chicken hearts and gizzards on a weekly basis unless your dog has a chicken allergy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As far as oils, you can rotate between olive oil, flaxseed oil or fish oil. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also add healthy fats in the form of pastured butter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An alternative to bottled oil is oily fish from the grocery store, such as: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Note: Tuna doesn\u2019t count as oily fish and due to its size, it\u2019s also richer in heavy metals, so I don\u2019t recommend feeding canned tuna. At least not on a regular basis!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another option is to add fish oils. Dr. Harvey\u2019s carries two that are super convenient to add to your homemade dog food:<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you could see, our homemade dog food recipes are not very hard to make and don\u2019t require taking courses in dog nutrition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, they provide peace of mind as far as knowing what makes it into your dog\u2019s body, especially when they\u2019re intolerant of specific foods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember to rotate your protein sources when you\u2019re making homemade dog food and to add a source of healthy fats for those Omega-3s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Combined, they promote a healthy coat and boost your dog\u2019s immune system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now have fun making your pup\u2019s very own dog food in the comfort of your own kitchen!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re looking for homemade dog food recipes that are easy AND balanced, this blog entry is for you! You\u2019ll love the hack we share…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":35531,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1702],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35396","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"yoast_head":"\nHow To Quickly Make Homemade Dog Food That\u2019s Balanced<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Base Mixes from Dr. Harvey\u2019s<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Paradigm](\"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/image-45.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nBase Mixes from The Honest Kitchen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Base Mixes From Grandma Lucy\u2019s <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Base Mix From Sojos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Do Base Mixes Work For Making Homemade Dog Food?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Easy Homemade Dog Food Recipes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Paradigm](\"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/image-44.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nMeat Sources For Homemade Dog Food Recipes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Oil Sources For Homemade Dog Food Recipes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Bottom Line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Save To Pinterest<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"Easy](\"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/easy-homemade-dog-food-recipes-700x1050.jpg\")
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