All growing puppies require a well-rounded diet. However, picking the right food for your puppy can be a tricky job. It is clear that if you simply buy pre-made food, things are a lot easier. It is very handy to take a scoop of it and put it in the puppy’s dish, or toss it aside.
Yet, many who have a puppy opt to make their own pet food recipe. Cooking meals at home can also save a lot of money from your expenses, and it allows you to create a food mix that meets your puppy’s needs.
Deciding to cook special food for puppies also takes a lot of commitment. Make sure you have plenty of time to prepare food properly and at a steady pace. There are several things you need to understand before you begin making a cooked food recipe for your puppy.
Is cooked food healthy for puppies?
Like humans, dogs have specific calorie needs and need a good supply of vitamins and minerals to stay healthy. Puppies are an even more special case, because they must grow at a normal rate and develop into adults without health problems.
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Therefore, the nutrition to be provided to puppies must be complete and well balanced, designed in such a way as to promote their growth.
One of the biggest mistakes dog owners make is deciding to cook for their puppy without following the right recipe (or without following any recipe at all). Preparing a suitable food for your puppy is not just a question of calories.
It must also contain the right amount of protein, fat and calories for a growing puppy. And, of course, food must contain the necessary vitamins and minerals.
When you start preparing a cooked puppy food, make sure you provide everything he needs to keep him healthy and help him grow. The best way to decide on the right recipe is to talk to a veterinarian who specializes in canine nutrition.
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Working with your vet will help you design a recipe that meets all of your pup’s needs. Your veterinarian may be able to provide you with proven recipes or direct you to websites for inspiration (such as BalanceIT.com or PetDiets.com).
On these sites you can find recipes created by veterinary nutritionists. This way you can decide which recipe is complete and suitable for your puppy. In many cases you will be able to choose the ingredients you prefer, or find special formulas for dogs with specific needs (such as large dogs) or health problems (e.g. allergies).
How to prepare puppy food at home
In general, puppies need double the calories per day than adult dogs. According to specialist studies, a 4.5 kg puppy, which will weigh around 15 kg when mature, must consume 990 calories per day.
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Puppies need more proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals than adult dogs. There are specialized guides for dog owners that specify the exact dietary needs of dogs and puppies.
A food specially prepared for puppies should contain a balanced amount of:
- Protein: chicken, turkey, fish, beef
- Carbohydrates – rice, pasta, potatoes
- Vegetables – green beans, carrots
- Fats – mainly in the form of vegetable oil
- Supplemental vitamins/minerals (purchased from a reputable pharmaceutical company).
Once you’ve chosen a recipe, it’s time to cook for your pup. Many people who decide to cook for their dog follow a regular schedule, planning cooking sessions once a week or even once a month and portioning out the amount cooked.
Food can be prepared in large quantities and stored in casseroles (one casserole portion is best). You can store the food prepared in this way in the freezer for several months, or in the refrigerator for 5 days.
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When the prepared portions start to run out, it’s time to cook again. If you prefer to prepare different recipes, you can put labels on the prepared portions and rotate the dishes to give to your puppy.
Remember to adapt the recipes based on the growth of the puppy. It’s best to weigh your chicken weekly (or every two weeks) to ensure you’re getting the right calories.
Cooked and raw food diets (or BARF).
A raw diet is a raw food diet for dogs. If you research this topic, you will also come across the term “BARF” which stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.
There’s no doubt that home-cooked puppy food, when done right, is very healthy, but what do we know about a raw diet? It’s a rather controversial issue. Many specialists warn about the risks and dangers of pathogens present in raw foods.
Other experts point to the potential benefits of raw feeding for healthy adult dogs. However, puppies are a different story. Raw food can contain pathogens that can cause serious illness in both humans and dogs.
Like children, young animals have immune systems less capable of fighting pathogens that may be present in raw foods.
If you feel you can handle it and are willing to take some risks, talk to your vet about switching to a raw diet when your puppy is a little older. To begin with, you might choose to give him a combination of cooked food and raw food, and see if things go well and the puppy tolerates it.
Raw diets should not be fed to dogs with immune system problems. Additionally, such diets are not recommended for dogs that come into contact with people who have compromised immune systems.
Read the following article: Human food: allowed or prohibited for puppies?
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