Seriously considering making homemade fresh/frozen dog food

[Bmakj]

currently just doing kibble (blue buffalo), and really want to supplement with "fresh" food.

most of the recipes I see are:
a protein (I was probably going to do 50/50 chicken livers and various ground/cubed meats; beef, chicken, turkey, pork)
sweet potato or brown rice
2-3 veggies (carrots, peas, green beans)
some also have olive oil and or low sodium broths, and some add tumeric and/or ginger (not so much for flavor but as supplement)

she gets a daily supplement now (dasequin joint), is there anything nutritionally she would lack based on the above? should I toss an egg in (or raw one on top of kibble?)? fish oil?

I know to start gradually (like 3:1 ratio current food:new food), and monitor her activity (pretty low now, champion napper), coat condition, and urine/stool (I get to inspect the last up close every day!). I would make approx one week at a time, and freeze half (preportioned), and refrigerate half. would probably only get to 50/50 "mixture" (she gets meals twice a day, so not certain if I would eventually replace entire meal, or do half and half each time, would love to hear thoughts on this too).

I did some cost comparisons, and doing recipes like this at home, cost is only maybe 10-15% more than her current kibble. 30 minutes a week is pretty inconsequential (I work from home, so I can do this while I prepare my lunch one a week).

 

[helsonwheels]

Dogs don’t need sweet potato, brown rice or 2-3 veggies (carrots, peas, green beans)

Here are some ideas that will help you. Never forget, #1 for minerals are the organs, especially liver. Sardines are also #1 for oils.

 

[2BullyMama]

Helene has got you covered!! Fresh /raw is the best way to go if willing

 

[Bmakj]

so made my first batch, boiled chicken liver, boiled veggies (peas, carrots, green beans), some brown rice, all mashed and mixed up. have been substituting at both meals about 2 tbsp for the approximate equivalent of kibble (mixing in to kibble). 3rd day of feeding it.

-she definitely enjoys it much more than straight kibble
-no noticable changes in urination or stool
-could be my imagination, but seems a little more energetic (for a bulldog anyway_)

first batch will last about a week (left about 4 days worth in container in fridge, three ~ one day portions in freezer).

Next batch I will supplement chicken livers with equal amount ground meat (most likely whatever we buy that week, beef or turkey), so as to increase volume a bit to get it to about 50/50 with the kibble.

down the road want to add some ginger (sparingly), maybe some tumeric as well (one at a time). also will try sweet potato in place of brown rice, maybe add some blueberries as well (already know she likes and tolerates these).

road trips are going to be the issue (we take her on several a year, moving our girls into coll4ge dorms, visiting them), on the go meals (ie rest stops, fast food parking lots) will likely be just kibble, but in hotels, etc., will pack some frozen and thaw in room fridge maybe.

 

[brittinfl]

currently just doing kibble (blue buffalo), and really want to supplement with "fresh" food.

most of the recipes I see are:
a protein (I was probably going to do 50/50 chicken livers and various ground/cubed meats; beef, chicken, turkey, pork)
sweet potato or brown rice
2-3 veggies (carrots, peas, green beans)
some also have olive oil and or low sodium broths, and some add tumeric and/or ginger (not so much for flavor but as supplement)

she gets a daily supplement now (dasequin joint), is there anything nutritionally she would lack based on the above? should I toss an egg in (or raw one on top of kibble?)? fish oil?

I know to start gradually (like 3:1 ratio current food:new food), and monitor her activity (pretty low now, champion napper), coat condition, and urine/stool (I get to inspect the last up close every day!). I would make approx one week at a time, and freeze half (preportioned), and refrigerate half. would probably only get to 50/50 "mixture" (she gets meals twice a day, so not certain if I would eventually replace entire meal, or do half and half each time, would love to hear thoughts on this too).

I did some cost comparisons, and doing recipes like this at home, cost is only maybe 10-15% more than her current kibble. 30 minutes a week is pretty inconsequential (I work from home, so I can do this while I prepare my lunch one a week).

I've been making my own wet food for about a year. I do 6 pounds of ground turkey, tub of chicken livers, 1 large sweet potato, 3 cups brown rice & 2 containers of chicken stock. I cook the turkey off in a wok and then put in a slow cooker with everything thing else cover and cook it on high for an hour and then turn it down to simmer. takes a few hours and then I put in serving size plastic containers from Amazon and pop them in the freezer.

 

[BforLola]

currently just doing kibble (blue buffalo), and really want to supplement with "fresh" food.

most of the recipes I see are:
a protein (I was probably going to do 50/50 chicken livers and various ground/cubed meats; beef, chicken, turkey, pork)
sweet potato or brown rice
2-3 veggies (carrots, peas, green beans)
some also have olive oil and or low sodium broths, and some add tumeric and/or ginger (not so much for flavor but as supplement)

she gets a daily supplement now (dasequin joint), is there anything nutritionally she would lack based on the above? should I toss an egg in (or raw one on top of kibble?)? fish oil?

I know to start gradually (like 3:1 ratio current food:new food), and monitor her activity (pretty low now, champion napper), coat condition, and urine/stool (I get to inspect the last up close every day!). I would make approx one week at a time, and freeze half (preportioned), and refrigerate half. would probably only get to 50/50 "mixture" (she gets meals twice a day, so not certain if I would eventually replace entire meal, or do half and half each time, would love to hear thoughts on this too).

I did some cost comparisons, and doing recipes like this at home, cost is only maybe 10-15% more than her current kibble. 30 minutes a week is pretty inconsequential (I work from home, so I can do this while I prepare my lunch one a week).

How do you give her dasequin? My bully will not eat it.

 

[Bmakj]

How do you give her dasequin? My bully will not eat it.

she takes it very well, but she is not real picky (as a puppy she would try to eat rocks). honestly have not met many foods she will not eat (pickles is all that comes to mind). I give it first thing in the morning when I get out of bed (she gets up later, but she is awake, princess that she is)

 

[2BullyMama]

How do you give her dasequin? My bully will not eat it.

Liverwurst is my go to, never fail, pill hider

 

[BforLola]

Liverwurst is my go to, never fail, pill hider

Thanks! I'll try!

 

[Bmakj]

update, third week in. last week was beef liver and ground beef and sw pot and veggies, and have been sprinkling powdered ginger as well on top. poops are good, she has loved all the fresh foods we have given her (still mixing with kibble 50/50).

gonna keep on like this, seems to work well

 

[Max]

update, third week in. last week was beef liver and ground beef and sw pot and veggies, and have been sprinkling powdered ginger as well on top. poops are good, she has loved all the fresh foods we have given her (still mixing with kibble 50/50).

gonna keep on like this, seems to work well

 

[Max]

Hi I make max chicken or beef in the instant pot Then for his meals twice daily He gets 2 .5 of protein string beans and one cup blue buffalo weight management and salmon oil We travel with him and taking his meals and making them in the RV is easy

 

[Bmakj]

OK, had to put brakes on several months ago, something upset her skin. so gonna have a second go at this, and move slower. done more research (sometimes just making me more confused), but got some new questions

what are opinions on how to cook proteins, some recipes just say cook the protein with some water, but I think my princess would probably prefer the taste of the protein grilled or roasted? Was thinking to use instapot to make it nice and juicy and tender to make getting it bite size easier, but want to make it taste good too.

do you need to cook canned sardines? gonna add some of these (ie a can to a batch for the week), but uncertain if they have to be cooked.

recipe I intend to work up to is:
2 lbs chicken (skin on, either half of a whole bird or thighs), bones removed after cooking
one can sardines in water
2-3 chicken livers
couple of cups of chopped spinach
couple of cups of chopped broccoli, peas or green beans
1/2 cup sunflower seeds (hulled, but otherwise raw, no salt, roasting, etc.)
pinch of yeast
couple teaspoons crushed eggshells
pinch of kelp powder

eventually I might also add to the mix the green-lipped oyster powder I currently sprinkle over kibble (for joints), and possibly tumeric.

Gonna build slowly / test ingredients (ie this weekend will see how she does just with sardines separate), but really she has had almost all of this before (maybe not the spinach or sunflower seeds, but she likes peanuts).

eventually, I would like to just for variety and to prevent the development of food allergies to mix things up a bit (substitute beef/turkey/pork for chicken, salmon for sardines, different veggies, etc.). but I am not going not use ground meat anymore except maybe beef, little more work to get it bite sized or smaller, but healthier it seems.

Goal is to make one batch a week to last that week (want to substitute for 1/2 her kibble currently). Freeze 3 days worth, thawing it out middle of the week.

any thoughts welcome

 

[Dmrock]

OK, had to put brakes on several months ago, something upset her skin. so gonna have a second go at this, and move slower. done more research (sometimes just making me more confused), but got some new questions

what are opinions on how to cook proteins, some recipes just say cook the protein with some water, but I think my princess would probably prefer the taste of the protein grilled or roasted? Was thinking to use instapot to make it nice and juicy and tender to make getting it bite size easier, but want to make it taste good too.

do you need to cook canned sardines? gonna add some of these (ie a can to a batch for the week), but uncertain if they have to be cooked.

recipe I intend to work up to is:
2 lbs chicken (skin on, either half of a whole bird or thighs), bones removed after cooking
one can sardines in water
2-3 chicken livers
couple of cups of chopped spinach
couple of cups of chopped broccoli, peas or green beans
1/2 cup sunflower seeds (hulled, but otherwise raw, no salt, roasting, etc.)
pinch of yeast
couple teaspoons crushed eggshells
pinch of kelp powder

eventually I might also add to the mix the green-lipped oyster powder I currently sprinkle over kibble (for joints), and possibly tumeric.

Gonna build slowly / test ingredients (ie this weekend will see how she does just with sardines separate), but really she has had almost all of this before (maybe not the spinach or sunflower seeds, but she likes peanuts).

eventually, I would like to just for variety and to prevent the development of food allergies to mix things up a bit (substitute beef/turkey/pork for chicken, salmon for sardines, different veggies, etc.). but I am not going not use ground meat anymore except maybe beef, little more work to get it bite sized or smaller, but healthier it seems.

Goal is to make one batch a week to last that week (want to substitute for 1/2 her kibble currently). Freeze 3 days worth, thawing it out middle of the week.

any thoughts welcome

Are you sure your dog isn't allergic to chicken? That could have been the problem the first time around. Maybe try a small turkey, and no about cooking the sardines, I buy the ones with no salt in spring water .

 

[2BullyMama]

OK, had to put brakes on several months ago, something upset her skin. so gonna have a second go at this, and move slower. done more research (sometimes just making me more confused), but got some new questions

what are opinions on how to cook proteins, some recipes just say cook the protein with some water, but I think my princess would probably prefer the taste of the protein grilled or roasted? Was thinking to use instapot to make it nice and juicy and tender to make getting it bite size easier, but want to make it taste good too.

do you need to cook canned sardines? gonna add some of these (ie a can to a batch for the week), but uncertain if they have to be cooked.

recipe I intend to work up to is:
2 lbs chicken (skin on, either half of a whole bird or thighs), bones removed after cooking
one can sardines in water
2-3 chicken livers
couple of cups of chopped spinach
couple of cups of chopped broccoli, peas or green beans
1/2 cup sunflower seeds (hulled, but otherwise raw, no salt, roasting, etc.)
pinch of yeast
couple teaspoons crushed eggshells
pinch of kelp powder

eventually I might also add to the mix the green-lipped oyster powder I currently sprinkle over kibble (for joints), and possibly tumeric.

Gonna build slowly / test ingredients (ie this weekend will see how she does just with sardines separate), but really she has had almost all of this before (maybe not the spinach or sunflower seeds, but she likes peanuts).

eventually, I would like to just for variety and to prevent the development of food allergies to mix things up a bit (substitute beef/turkey/pork for chicken, salmon for sardines, different veggies, etc.). but I am not going not use ground meat anymore except maybe beef, little more work to get it bite sized or smaller, but healthier it seems.

Goal is to make one batch a week to last that week (want to substitute for 1/2 her kibble currently). Freeze 3 days worth, thawing it out middle of the week.

any thoughts welcome

I would try to swap chicken for turkey