This recipe was created as an alternative novel protein recipe for those dogs that have rotated through several of the more “common” proteins and grains on the dog food market today – making it a good alternative choice for dogs with certain food allergies or that are undergoing a food elimination trial. I also added in the additional factor that I wanted this recipe to be low in fat, but still high in protein, making this a good option for dogs with fat sensitivities that are active. Always speak to your veterinarian prior to making major changes to your pup’s diet – as some dogs with certain medical conditions would not do well with this diet composition (namely the high protein content).
As always since I am not a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, and merely a veterinary professional – and as such, I have used BalanceIT in order to create this dog food recipe. BalanceIT is a computer software created by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine to allow pet owners and veterinary professionals to easily create balanced recipes for dogs (and cats!).
The recipe today 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.
INGREDIENTS
Pork Loin: A great source of lean protein, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, and phosphorus. It is also a good source of vitamins and minerals such as zinc and potassium.
Oats: A great source of healthy fiber, and one of the few foods high in manganese, which is vital for joint health. Oats are also high in phosphorus, selenium, magnesium, zinc, vitamin B1, iron, and copper.
Blueberries: A great source of vitamin C, and a powerhouse for antioxidants – flavonoids, quercetin and anthocyanidin.
Bell Pepper: A great source of vitamin C, along with other vitamins and minerals such as vitamin K1, potassium, folate, and vtamin B6. Bell Pepper as also an excellent source of antioxidants such as lutein, quercetin, and luteolin.
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.
Supplement (BalanceIT Canine): WITHOUT THE SUPPLEMENT: this diet will be deficient in…Riboflavin, Vitamin A, Vitamin B-12, Vitamin E, Calcium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Zinc, and Vitamin D
DIET COMPOSITION
PERCENT CALORIE BASIS:
- Protein: 47%
- Fat: 19%
- Carbohydrate: 34%
HOMEMADE DOG FOOD RECIPE
- 344g Pork Loin, broiled, lean meat only
- 409g Oats Rolled, cooked in water without salt
- ¼ tsp Walnut Oil
- 92g Bell Peppers, raw, green
- 59g Broccoli, boiled without salt
- 74g Blueberries, raw
- 4 ⅛ tsp BalanceIT Canine
INSTRUCTIONS
Start by trimming the fat off the pork loin, then prepare in a cooking sheet or cast iron pan with the loin cut into 1” strips. Broil in the oven for 5-6 minutes, then flip to the other side to continue to broil for another 5-6 minutes. After cooking allow to cool to room temperature prior to cutting or pureeing into bite-sized pieces.
While the meat is cooking, prepare your water to boil the broccoli. Heat the water until boiling, then add broccoli for 2-3 minutes until just tender, then remove from the water and allow to cool.
In a separate small pot start by boiling 1 cup of water, then add ½ cup of oats and stir on a low boil for about 5 minutes until the oats are cooked through.
Measure out your remaining raw ingredients and either chop them all into bite-sized pieces OR add all the ingredients (cold) into a large food processor and chop until well mixed and supplements and oils are well combined.
LOOKING TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP:
I feel like BalanceIT is a great place to start if you want to jump into the home-cooking realm (which is what I used to formulate this recipe), however, it does have some limitations/negatives in my point of view. Mainly the fact that recipes on BalanceIT do not contain organ meats.
Organ meats often provide many different vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that cannot be found in other food items. Thus, after you have gotten the hang of cooking for your pup, if you’d like to take the next step to add in organ meats I’d highly recommend working with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist to formulate a fully custom recipe for your pup! You can find more information about finding an ACVN diplomat along with the other options for home-cooking for your dog in my blog post on DIY Dog Food.
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS FOR COOKING FOR DOGS:
As someone who has homecooked for several years for their pups – cooking over 50 lbs of food every two weeks for my two 50 lbs dogs – I’ve used several products over the years that I LOVE. Below are some of those products.
The following links are amazon affiliate links, if used I will receive a commission on the purchase of the item at no additional cost to you.
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 days (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 dog nutrition topics: from how to create a homemade complete and balanced dog food recipes, to how to choose a dog food. Nikki strives to give dog parents the information they need in order to make the best nutrition decisions for their pup!
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CONTACT ME:
thecaninehealthnut@gmail.com
