This recipe was so much fun to create – so thank you to everyone who voted on Instagram for the ingredients in this recipe! Overall this recipe is very high in protein and fat and low in carbohydrates. The overall distribution of calories in this diet is very similar to the typical raw diet – with over 45% protein, 40% fat, and less than 15% of the calories coming from carbohydrates. This diet is probably best for a highly active dog like a herding dog, or sled dog that would utilize the higher fat/protein in order to fuel their need for muscle repair and energy.
I created this recipe using BalanceIT – this software was created by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist to allow pet owners, and veterinary professionals to create complete and balanced recipes for their dogs. Using BalanceIT gives me confidence knowing these recipes are “vet-approved” and complete and balanced for adult dogs as long as all ingredients are prepared as listed and all supplements are included. If any changes are made to the recipe it will no longer be considered balanced and should be considered a “treat” or “addition” and be kept to 10% of your dog’s overall daily caloric needs.
INGREDIENTS
95% Lean Ground Beef: Lean ground beef is an excellent source of essential amino acids along with many different vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B12, zinc, selenium, iron, vitamin B6, niacin, and phosphorus.
Salmon: A great source of omega 3 fatty acids, and a good source of protein – however fat content tends to be higher limiting the amount that can be added into the diet. Also a good source of B-vitamins and Vitamin D.
Pumpkin Puree: A good source of fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium and works as an excellent prebiotic – to help feed your healthy gut bacteria – which supports the immune system.
Carrots: An excellent source of beta carotene, fiber, vitamin K1, potassium, vitamin A and antioxidants.
Broccoli: The great multi-tasker, broccoli is high in vitamins A, C, E, K and B vitamins. It is also high in several minerals such as iron, potassium, calcium, selenium and magnesium.
Walnut Oil: An excellent source of linoleic acid and alpha-Linolenic acid – which are essential fatty acids that dogs need in their diet.
Nordic Naturals Omega 3 Pet: A wonderful source of EPA and DHA, along with vitamin E. Nordic naturals fish oil is a purified, third party tested oil that has an excellent EPA to DHA ratio perfect for balancing out the higher omega 6 essential fatty acids found in the chicken and walnut oil.
Supplement (BalanceIT Canine): Without using the supplement this recipe will be deficient in riboflavin, calcium, copper, iodine, and manganese.
DIET COMPOSITION
PERCENT CALORIE BASIS:
- Protein: 47%
- Fat: 41%
- Carbohydrate: 12%
- Moisture: 74%
- Calories: 994
HOMEMADE DOG FOOD RECIPE
- 340g (12oz) 95/5 lean ground beef, pan-broiled
- 85g (3oz) salmon, cooked, dry heat
- 78g (1/2c) Broccoli, cooked, boiled
- 55g (1/2c) Carrots, raw
- 82g (1/2c) Mango, raw
- 122g (1/2c) Pumpkin, canned
- 2 tsp Nordic Naturals Omega 3 Pet
- 1 tsp Walnut Oil
- 3 ⅛ tsp BalanceIT Canine / Human Supplements
Full BalanceIT Canine Recipe | Recipe with Human Supplements
This recipe is formulated to AAFCO standards and is complete and balanced for adult dogs if all ingredients are prepared as listed and all supplements are included. If any changes are made to the recipe it will no longer be considered balanced and should be considered a “treat” or “addition” and be kept to 10% of your dog’s overall daily caloric needs. Without supplementation, this recipe is deficient in calcium, riboflavin, copper, iodine, and manganese.
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and start by baking your salmon in the oven until no longer raw. For this recipe you will need to start with about 4 ½ oz of salmon in order to end up with the 3oz you will need for the final recipe.
While the salmon is baking, pan-broil the lean ground beef in a non-stick pan (cast-iron) until no longer pink and raw. You will need to start with about 16 oz or 1 lb of extra lean ground beef in order to end up with the 12 oz for this recipe.
While the meats are cooking start to boil about 1 cup of water in a saucepan. Once at a boil, add in your broccoli and boil for about 5-7 minutes, then drain from the water.
Once all items these items are cooked, allow to cool completely. When I make these recipes I usually take one day to cook all the ingredients, then allow them to cool overnight in the fridge prior to portioning the next day.
After all items are cooled, cut all ingredients into bite-size pieces, weigh, and portion for the meal. If you have a smaller breed dog OR if your dog is likely to “pick” around ingredients – I highly recommend using a food processor to puree all the ingredients together.
When I food prep for my dogs I usually make large batches for a week at a time – this makes things easier for me, so I don’t have to cook every day for my dogs.
HOW MUCH TO FEED
The amount that you feed your dog will be based on their individual metabolism and lifestyle needs. Calories needed can range up to 50% high or lower than the “average” amount and still be considered normal.
Overweight or obese dogs trying to lose weight should be fed to their “ideal weight” – if your dog needs to lose weight please discuss your dog’s individual caloric needs with your veterinarian
The below chart is the average calories needed for a dog of a particular weight. If you are using this recipe as a treat – the portion should be kept in the “treat” category. If feeding as a complete and balanced meal, you can either re-calculate the recipe using BalanceIT or feed according to your dog’s caloric needs (average suggested amounts within the “food” category).
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
You can find more homemade dog food recipes that are FREE on my website, I have recipes using a variety of different proteins, from fish to chicken to pork, and I also have both grain-free and grain-inclusive options. If you don’t see something particularly suited for your dog, or if you would like more support with the do-it-yourself process, feel free to reach out! I do offer Dog Food Consultations using BalanceIT, where I can create a recipe for your dog’s unique nutritional needs.
I hope you all had fun checking out this recipe – make sure to let me know if you try it out for your pups! You can absolutely use this recipe as a ‘topper’ for your dog’s regular food is you do not want to use the BalanceIT supplement, just make sure you keep it to 10% of your pup’s overall calories for the day (including other treats and additions). I hope you all have a wonderful day and a fun rest of the week!
Til next time my canine health nuts!
About the Author: Nikki is a Registered Veterinary Technician (Veterinary Nurse) and Dog Mom with over a decade of experience with dogs and cats. Since graduation from college (BS Biology, Dip. Animal Nutrition, AS Animal Science) she has adopted two mixed breed dogs – Ranger and Ash, and has focused her time learning about pet food and nutrition.
Nikki shares information on a range of pet nutrition topics: from how to create a homemade complete and balanced dog and cat food recipes, to how to choose a pet food. Nikki strives to give dog and cat parents the information they need in order to make the best nutrition decisions for their pet!
You should receive your Free Dog Food Recipe Ebook within 24 hours of subscribing! Make sure to check your spam folder. The recipe ebook is over 90 pages long so make sure you have a good internet connection when you go to download it. Afterwards you will receive weekly Canine Nutrition Updates every Tuesday on different topics related to canine nutrition & homemade dog food!
CONTACT ME:
thecaninehealthnut@gmail.com
How do you know how much of this food to give daily. I see the kcal needed by weight, but how many kcal are in say a cup of food?
Thanks so much.
I don’t recommend measuring fresh food by cups as I find it highly variable by how much people “pack” the recipe.
But this recipe is 994 calories per batch, or about 1000 calories. If you take the amount of calories your dog needs per day and divide by 994 it will give you how many days the recipe will last.
Or if easier the recipe is 19.5 calories per 25 grams of food.
If you give me your dog’s weight I can give you the grams of food to feed per day – or at least a starting point. Every dog is a bit different so some dogs need more/less.
I have a 90-92lb lab. Can you tell me how much I need to feed my dog?
Sure! So this recipe is 994 calories, your pup at 90 lbs needs about 1,424 calories per day. This means your pup would eat about 1 4/10 of this recipe per day. If I were to meal prep this recipe for your pup I would take this recipe and multiply it by 10 for a weekly batch, then divide it into 7 containers for the week. I hope that helps!
I’m sorry I’m still confused. Would I then take half a container for each meal in the day? I’m just trying to make sure I don’t overfeed him. I’m sorry I’m new to the homemade food making.
Exactly- the container would be divided into meals based on your dog’s schedule. So if you feed twice daily – half in the morning and half at night.
If sign up for my newsletter you can receive a free E-Book with 15 recipes (including this one) with expanded feeding charts listed in grams to feed per day if that’s easier. 😊
Thank you so much for all your work! Can you tell me how much food a day for a 65 pound Goldendoodle? Also Mango is hard to come by is there a substitute you can recommend? Thank you again!!!
You could also use pineapple, or even blueberries. Mango is primarily included in this recipe as a source of antioxidants and fiber. As far as how much to feed – depending on your dog’s activity level – your pup may eat this entire recipe each day, or slightly more than that.
How much does the beef and salmon dog food make?
It makes 784.5 grams of food total, and is 995 calories. If you need detailed feeding information by weight you can check out my free Ebook. 🙂
Hello, my girl weighs 38 lbs , how much would feed her at each meal? She eats twice a day. Thank you
Hi Sherry!
Individual metabolism varies a bit here based on the dog and their activity level. So a 38 lb dog may eat from 600 to 830 calories per day. Assuming you are giving about 10% of their calories in treats, this means your dog may consume 540 to 750 calories per day, or from balanced foods.
This recipe is about 1000 calories. If your dog eats around 540 kcals per day – you’d cook 3.75 x this batch and divide that over 7 days. At 750 kcals per day, you’d cook 5.8 x this batch and divide that over 7 days.
CALCULATION: Calories per day x 7 / 1000 kcal = # to multiple batch by for the week
Calculating how many calories your dog is currently eating will be the best estimate of how much to feed of fresh food though.