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I primarily feed my dogs a raw food diet. However, when Rodrigo was about 12 years old, he occasionally preferred cooked food. I fed him more cooked food than raw during his last year with me. The following is an easy DIY cooked recipe for dogs. I do not advocate only feeding a single recipe to dogs. It's important to alternate ingredients to ensure that your dog is consuming a nutrient-rich diet; therefore, this is a recipe to add to your feeding rotation.
Benefits of Feeding Cooked Food to Dogs
Feeding dogs fresh food offers several benefits, and feeding a cooked diet may be preferable for some dogs and their humans.
DIGESTIBILITY: Cooking ingredients for your dog's diet can enhance digestibility and improve nutrient absorption. The cooking process helps break down proteins, making them easier to absorb and utilize by your dog's digestive system.
INGREDIENT CONTROL: Cooking gives you better control over the nutritional content of your dog's diet. By carefully selecting and combining ingredients, you can ensure that you're meeting your dog's nutritional needs, avoiding foods that trigger a sensitivity, and selecting foods that support (or don't aggravate) a health condition.
FOOD SAFETY: There are several other reasons why a dog owner may want to avoid handling and feeding raw meat regularly. If you're concerned about the bacteria in raw meat, gently cooking kills bacteria while allowing you to control your dog's diet while feeding fresh food. Dogs have properties in their saliva and gut that allow them to handle bacteria better; however, health conditions may preclude a raw diet.
PALATABILITY: Some dogs may find cooked meals more appealing; my geriatric dog preferred the taste, texture, and smell of his cooked meals. This can be especially beneficial if you have a picky eater or a dog with a reduced appetite. The preferred aroma and texture encourage picky and senior dogs to eat, helping them maintain a healthy weight.
DENTAL HEALTH: Sometimes, a cooked diet may benefit dogs with dental issues or missing teeth. Cooked food is softer and easier to chew and digest, reducing discomfort while providing essential nutrients. Homemade diets can be formulated to be lower in carbs than kibble. While teeth cleaning is still important, a cooked diet promotes better oral hygiene than a kibble diet.
Easy Homemade Cooked Recipe
This was one of Rodrigo's favorite recipes. Most ingredients can be picked up at grocery stores, meat markets, and ethnic markets. It's not a balanced recipe; however, it's a great start as you navigate the journey of feeding our dogs a fresh food diet.
Ingredients
- 3 lb ground turkey
- 1 lb package of boneless chicken (thighs or breast)
- 1 package beef tongue
- 1 package beef heart
- 1 package beef liver
- 1 can boiled oysters (not smoked)
- 1/3 cup of Dr. Harvey's Paradigm or Raw Vibrance (a base mix)
Directions
- lightly cook the ground turkey; no need to cook it all the way because it'll be cooked thoroughly by the time you're finished.
- slice the other ingredients (or cut into chunks) and saute in olive oil; then mix into the ground turkey with the canned oysters
- hydrate the base mix, following the instructions on the package, and mix in with the meat
Once cool, I store it in the fridge and feed it based on my dog's activity level and weight. With adult dogs, I start with 3% of their body weight and adjust based on how they respond. I would not feed the above recipe to a puppy.
What About Rice?
I prefer not to give rice to my dogs because it's a grain, an unnecessary carbohydrate, and it can be inflammatory. Rice is also difficult for dogs to break down and digest. White rice has a high glycemic index, which can lead to a sudden increase in blood glucose levels.
Including white rice in a dog's daily diet is not recommended, especially if they're experiencing inflammation in their GI tract. If you're looking for an ingredient to soothe stomach upset or to add starch to the diet, I recommend sweet potatoes or pumpkin.
Does Cooking Kill the Nutrients?
Cooking doesn't kill the nutrients in food, but it does decrease the levels. This is why I lightly cook everything for my dogs, alternate ingredients, and use a base mix. If you're still concerned about your ability to feed a cooked diet that's nutritionally complete, consider premade cooked food.
My Favorite Premade Cooked Brands
There is a growing number of commercial cooked brands on the market. I currently only like two brands and fed them regularly to my geriatric dog:
Premade cooked diets are convenient, nutritionally complete, and my dog enjoyed the food. They're also expensive, and some recipes include rice, which I prefer to avoid. Both of the above brands ship directly to your home; A Pup Above is also available in some local, independent pet stores.
Working with a Nutritionist
If you're struggling with learning how to feed your dog, you have a few options:
- take a dog food nutrition course through the Feed Real Institute
- work with a meal formulator who is familiar with cooked diets for dogs
- work with a certified canine nutritionist
Cookbooks for Dogs
A few of my favorite recipe books for dog food include:
- Feed Your Best Friend Better, Revised Edition: Easy, Nutritious Meals and Treats for Dogs
- Yin & Yang Nutrition for Dogs: Maximizing Health with Whole Foods, Not Drugs
- Homemade Meals for Cats and Dogs: 75 Grain-Free Nutritious Recipes
