Homemade food is always healthier for us, but what about our puppies? Can the same be said for them? With pet food, you never know the exact contents being added.
Some pet food brands are even flagged as being unsafe for pets. At the same time, others may contain triggering allergens that are simply too risky for your pup.
One undeniable benefit of making your dog food is knowing exactly what your dog is eating and being able to add or remove ingredients based on your pet's unique needs.
Making homemade food for your puppy is more than acceptable if you find the right balance of meat, vegetables, and fat.
If you are following any recipe online, check the ingredients included to see if they are puppy safe and inspect the quantities to make sure they will meet your dog's nutritional needs.
To assist you in your search for the perfect homemade dog food recipe, particularly using chicken, look at some of the dog food recipes with chicken we have discussed below.
What Are The Essential Ingredients For Homemade Dog Food?
Before we dive into some recipes, let us discuss some essentials you should include in your dog’s homemade meals. Dogs, like humans, need a variety of foods to maintain their health.
Their diet should include:
- protein
- carbohydrates
- healthy fats
- vitamins
- minerals
- fiber
For protein, there are plenty of sources you can use:
- beef
- turkey
- chicken
- mutton
- duck
- rabbit
- Muscle meat (chicken, turkey)
- a small addition of organ meat (kidneys, liver, heart),
- RMBs (raw meaty bones) should form well over 50% of your dog's diet.
They will help fulfill the necessary amino acids needed for optimal health. They will further provide essential nutrients such as water-soluble vitamins, minerals, and fats.
You should also add a well-sized portion of vegetables and grains to your dog's diet. They serve as a much-needed source of carbohydrates and fiber.
How Often Should I Feed My Dog Chicken And Rice?
You can feed your dog chicken and rice at nearly every meal if you like, but only if kept in moderation.
As a general rule of thumb, chicken and rice should form no more than 50% of their daily calorie intake. They need other foods to fulfill the remainder of their nutritional needs.
Can I Feed My Dog Chicken Every Day?
You can feed your dog chicken every day, but it should not form the entirety of your dog's diet.
Such a diet is nutritionally inadequate. Dogs need much more than just protein and amino acids to survive. They also need vitamins and minerals.
For this, their diet must also include some of the essentials we discussed earlier, organ meat, RMBs, and vegetables.
Can I Feed My Dog Chicken And Vegetables Every Day?
Chicken and vegetables are among the leading ingredients in homemade dog foods.
Ideally, feeding your dog chicken and vegetables daily may be okay, but only if you add additional items to their dietary intake.
Remember, your puppy needs additional fiber, carbs, calcium, minerals, and vitamins.
What you can do is mix in more puppy-safe vegetables or other products to create a more balanced diet.
Now, how to cook chicken for dogs?
Easy Homemade Dog Food Chicken and Rice Recipe
Chicken and rice provide a wonderful mix of protein, fat, and carbohydrates needed for a balanced diet.
This chicken and rice recipe we will be sharing is excellent as a remedy for aching tummies but is also perfect for any meal plan!
How To Make Dog Food With Chicken Breast?
First, start with the ingredients.
For this recipe, we will use chicken breast as our primary source of protein. White meat will be easier for your dog to digest.
Other ingredients include:
- white rice
- carrots
- zucchini
- coconut oil
You can also add the vegetables of your choosing (as long as they are puppy-safe.)
How To Make Chicken And Rice For A Dog?
1. Start by adding the chicken and white rice to a pot. Make sure the chicken you use is skinned and boneless.
Remember to never let your puppy have chicken skin. Chicken skin has a very high-fat content which is unsafe for puppies, sometimes even leading to pancreatitis.
2.Once your meat and rice are cooked, add some slightly cooked, blanched, or steamed vegetables listed above to the mix. That is all!
The vegetables are added to make the meal more nutritious but can also be removed if you like.
However, when making the dog food, just be wary that you don't add any extra spices, seasoning, or flavoring. These are never healthy for a canine and can sometimes prove to be toxic.
Simple Chicken And Rice Recipe Video
How To Make Dog Food With Chicken And Vegetables?
The recipe we have shared above is a fantastic example of homemade dog food using a mix of chicken and rice.
If you want to try something more interesting, try making some chicken and vegetable rice balls!
You will need:
- brown rice
- frozen peas
- whole chickens
- fresh parsley
- sweet potatoes
- kale
- carrots
- eggs
1. Start by roasting the chicken in your oven until the juices run clear.
2.Next, cook your rice, drain, and set aside.
3.For your vegetables, add them to a stock pot for boiling. Once boiled, let them simmer for another 30 minutes or so before you drain the water.
4. Add some fresh parsley and puree your vegetables using a food processor.
5.For the final ingredient, the eggs, have them scrambled and set aside. Be sure to add no seasoning of any kind.
6.Now shred your roasted chicken, and add in the eggs, vegetable puree, and rice.
7.Finally, use an ice cream scooper to portion out small chicken veggie balls!
The best part about these recipes is you can choose the vegetables you wish to add.
Some vegetables you can substitute include:
- spinach
- broccoli
- green beans
Remember, not all vegetables are healthy for your puppy. Steer clear of grapes, raisins, currants, onions, and garlic, as they can be toxic for your puppy.
See printable chart of safe foods for your dog or foods to stay away.
How to Make Chicken Tasty For Dogs?
Unlike us humans who may not like plain boiled chicken, canines prefer the natural flavors of the chicken.
Boiled chicken for dogs is super healthy. Moreover, their tummies won't do well with added seasonings or flavors. The best way to cook chicken for your pup is to have it boiled plain or cooked in an oven.
However there are some selective ingredients you can add to chicken that won’t do your puppy any harm, as long as you give them in moderation. These include Rosemary, cinnamon, parsley, coriander, and turmeric.
Never serve them fried chicken or chicken with large amount of oil. Such foods can be overly fatty and toxic for your pup, often leading to pancreatitis (the inflammation of the pancreas).
Can You Season Chicken For Dogs?
Never add any herbs or spices to your puppy's diet without consulting a veterinarian beforehand, especially if you are using manufactured supplements instead of natural ones.
Manufactured supplements are more worrisome since they carry hidden ingredients that may harm your pet.
Not Safe For Dogs:
- Allspice
- bay leaves
- cayenne
- cocoa powder
- chives
- cloves
- garlic
- mustard seeds
- nutmeg
- onion
- salt
- and paprika should all be avoided.
Simple Homemade Dog Food with Chicken Recipe
Now let's try another simple homemade dog food recipe using chicken as our protein, a chicken casserole!
Chicken And Rice Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 chicken breasts
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup chopped vegetables of your choosing
- ¼ cup rolled oats, and oil for frying
- Start by cutting your chicken breast into bite-size pieces.
- Sauté them in oil until they are cooked through.,
- Next, add in the chicken broth, rolled oats, and veggies.
- Let them simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- Cool down and serve!
Do Chicken And Rice Help A Dog's Upset Stomach?
Chicken and rice are not only easy to prepare but also great for when your puppy has an upset stomach. These mild foods contain no spices or additional seasonings and are easily digestible.
Rice is filled with vitamin D, fiber, and iron and is also naturally gluten-free, meaning it will meet plenty of your dog's nutritional needs.
However, it should be fed in small amounts and should not form the majority of your dog's daily intake.
Similarly, chicken is filled with protein and is low in fat but still packed with essential nutrients making it a healthy staple in your dog's diet.
Baked Chicken Dog Treats
You can also use chicken to make some tasty treats for your pups.
These shouldn’t substitute your dog's daily meals but rather be used to reward your dog from time to time. Some basic dog biscuits should be easy and fun to make.
For this recipe, you will need:
- 2 and ½ cup wheat/oat flour
- ½ cup chicken stock,
- 1 egg
- ½ cup bacon bits
- cheese
- dehydrated chicken bits
How to Make Chicken Dog Treats at Home?
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Combine all your elements together to form the dough.
- Roll out the dough to a half-inch thickness and cut out biscuits of your desired shape.
- Next, grease a cookie sheet and place the biscuits on top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 mins.
- Cool down and serve!
How to Make Chicken Chips for Dogs?
