It’s becoming increasingly clear that a diet of 100% human-grade ingredients can be a simple, affordable, and significantly healthier choice for your furry friend compared to traditional processed kibble. This easy how to make homemade dog food recipe features lean ground sirloin, nutritious brown rice, fresh vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, and flavorful herbs. This vibrant alternative to commercial dog food has given our 11-year-old dog a new lease on life!
Disclaimer: I am not a veterinarian, but a passionate dog owner sharing personal experiences, research, and recipes used under veterinary supervision. Always consult your vet before transitioning your dog to a 100% human-grade diet.
Our Experience with Homemade Dog Food for Kidney Disease
When our beloved Hooch was diagnosed with kidney disease, we immediately immersed ourselves in researching how to best support him. We learned many surprising things along the way and creating the best food became imperative.
Read more about our journey with Hooch and kidney disease.
Addressing the Raw Diet Question
One of the first questions we get when people learn we make homemade dog food is, “What about a raw diet?”.
There are varying perspectives on feeding dogs a raw diet, especially those with kidney disease. Our veterinarian advised against it due to the risk of food poisoning, as dogs are susceptible, just like humans. Furthermore, achieving the correct balance in a raw diet can be challenging. Mixing raw food with cooked treats can cause digestive upset. If you opt for a raw diet, ensure all meals and treats are raw to avoid digestive issues.
Breaking Down This Easy Homemade Dog Food Recipe
The printable recipe below details my preferred how to make homemade dog food recipe, consisting of lean ground sirloin, brown rice, carrots, hard-boiled eggs, parsley, and Omega-rich oils. However, ingredient shortages happen! Here’s a list of easy substitutes to adapt the recipe based on your dog’s preferences and what you have available.
Important Note: Dogs can have food allergies! The top 5 allergens for dogs are beef, dairy, wheat, chicken, and eggs. Contact your veterinarian if you notice any adverse reactions after your dog eats these ingredients.
Here are easy ingredient alternatives when thinking about how to make homemade dog food:
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Meat: Lean ground beef, ground chicken, ground turkey (white or dark meat), and ground pork are all suitable options. Ensure the meat is unseasoned. Dogs with kidney disease need low-phosphorus meals, making lean ground sirloin an excellent choice.
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Grains: Brown rice, with its intact hull, is rich in fiber and easily digestible, making it a great option for homemade dog food. White rice can be used to limit phosphorus for dogs with kidney disease. Other digestible grains include oats, quinoa, and even whole-grain pasta. Gluten grains can be included, but gluten is a common allergen for dogs. Hooch experiences gastrointestinal discomfort from gluten, so we avoid it.
- Eggs: Eggs are a top allergen and egg yolks are high in phosphorus, which should be limited for dogs with kidney disease. However, eggs are a high-quality protein source. With veterinary approval, we include hard-boiled eggs in Hooch’s diet due to his love for them.
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Vegetables: Our dogs enjoy shredded carrots and fennel, but many dog-friendly vegetables are great options. Frozen veggie mixes containing peas, corn, carrots, and green beans are a convenient choice. Cooked sweet potatoes add bulk to their meals, but avoid raw sweet potatoes due to the risk of blockages. Canned 100% pumpkin (not pie filling) is a great addition for increased fiber intake.
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Herbs: Many fresh and dried herbs benefit dogs. Curly parsley (not flat-leaf) is good for kidney health, cleansing the organs to help prevent disease. However, limit parsley for dogs diagnosed with kidney disease. Cilantro, thyme, and basil are flavorful and offer health benefits.
- Oil: Drizzle a few tablespoons of Omega-3-rich oil into each batch. Olive oil or safflower oil are affordable and readily available options. Omega oil blends (3, 6, & 9) are available but can be pricier.
The Importance of Hydration
Hydration is essential for dogs with kidney disease. Feeding moisture-rich food reduces the kidney’s workload. Adding liquid to your pup’s meals can easily improve hydration. While water is an option, nutritious liquids are preferred.
Adding homemade bone broth to your dog’s meals can boost their immune system, improve liver health, support digestion, and ease joint pain. Be sure to use a recipe specifically for dogs.
Feeding Guidelines
A general rule of thumb is to feed your dog roughly 1 cup of prepared food for every 10 lbs of body weight.
Hooch, who weighs 80 lbs, gets 4 cups of food twice daily. Dogs with kidney problems often benefit from several small meals throughout the day rather than one or two large meals. Adjust the feeding schedule as needed to keep your dog comfortable.
Kidney-Friendly Snacks
Our dogs enjoy apple slices, banana chunks, carrots, whole unsalted peanuts in the husks, and dehydrated sweet potatoes. Dogs with kidney disease should avoid meat-based chews/treats that are high in phosphorus. Occasionally, we still offer Hooch bully sticks or jerky treats, but we limit them due to their phosphorus content.
If you make this Easy Homemade Dog Food, please rate the recipe and share your thoughts in the comments below! Your reviews and comments help others who visit This Mess is Ours.
Easy Homemade Dog Food Recipe
To streamline the prepping, I like to cook the hard-boiled eggs and the rice in my Instant Pot.
I start with cooking the eggs, then while the rice is cooking I brown the sirloin and get all of the fresh ingredients together.
Ingredients
- 6 cups cooked organic brown rice (3 cups uncooked rice)
- 2 pounds ground lean beef, cooked through, fat drained
- 4 hard boiled eggs, peeled and diced small
- 3 medium sized carrots, shredded or thinly sliced
- ¼ cup minced curly parsley
- 3 tablespoons of olive or safflower oil
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a large container and stir thoroughly.
Store tightly sealed in the refrigerator between feedings.
Notes
The amount of food to feed your dog varies by weight. Our 80+ pound senior dog Hooch eats 4 cups of this food twice per day and our 40 pound Rebel eats 2 cups of food twice per day.
This food can be individually portioned out for smaller dogs and frozen to store for longer periods of time than a week. Just thaw the amount you need when you need it.
Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs: Place the metal trivet into the Instant Pot and add 1 cup of water. Add uncooked eggs on top of the trivet. Place the lid on top, lock to sealing, and cook high pressure for 5 minutes. Release pressure valve manually at the end of the cooking time and carefully remove the hard boiled eggs to a water bath to cool.
Instant Pot Rice: Combine the desired amount of rice and water in an Instant Pot. Place the lid on and set the pressure to sealing. Select the rice function, allow the pressure to release naturally when the cook time is complete.
No fresh parsley? You can substitute it in this recipe with ¼ cup of our Homemade Dog Food Seasoning Blend.
More Delicious Homemade Dog Food Recipes
- Home Made Dog Food recipe for the Holidays
- Pumpkin and Yogurt Bowl for Dogs Recipe
- Homemade Dog Food Seasoning Blend recipe
