Feeding your puppies the correct level of nutrition is a difficult thing to do. Worries about commercial dog foods have made today’s best fresh dog food brands as well as raw foods more desirable for pet parents. Things get more complicated when your dog has puppies and you want to keep an eye on their diet. This is because puppies pose a unique challenge for pet parents because of their age and immune systems.
Article Summary
Can You Feed Puppies Homemade Recipes?
The short answer is yes. A puppy can enjoy either cooked or raw foods. As a pet parent, your responsibility is to keep their calorie intake high. A puppy requires ten times the number of calories as its parents to develop. A puppy requires the milk of its mother to survive and prosper. After birth, your puppies will need mother’s milk for vitamins and minerals. A lactating mother eating fresh and raw food needs three to five meals per day to feed her puppies. If the correct level of nutrients is not available, bottle-feeding puppies is your next option. If you don’t have time but want to ensure nutritious meals for your puppies, subscribing to the best dog food delivery service companies is the answer.
Commercial Puppy Food Concerns
One of the main concerns about puppy food for pet parents is a lack of regulation. Traditional dog food from commercial pet food manufacturers are self-regulated, meaning they have few rules to follow. Dog food manufacturers use fillers and by-products to produce puppy food. Unless it’s the best puppy food, the use of commercial puppy food has resulted in some pet parents worrying about food allergies and medical conditions. Skin problems have resulted in pet parents’ quest for a healthy diet being sought from homemade recipes. Dog owners taking the time to follow deworming schedules for puppies are looking to take control of the food their puppies eat.
Make Foods in Advance
One of the benefits of trying a homemade dog food recipe is the ability to make plenty of food in advance. Raw foods are an option, with most pet parents choosing to try cooked fresh foods for their pups. Refrigerated fresh foods are stored for up to five days. Another option is to freeze your dog food recipe for several months. When you have hungry puppies to feed, it is a good idea to create portions and store them for easy use. Keeping track of the food your dogs and puppies are eating will allow you to ensure a healthy diet for your pups. The number of puppies your dog can have varies so it is best to think about a homemade diet after they are born. As your puppy grows, you can weigh her every week to make sure her food is reaching the targets she needs for development.
Dog Food Recipe Ratios
If you have been feeding homemade dog food for a long time, you will need to rethink your ideas about puppy food. Homemade dog meals do not need the same amount of ingredients as meals made for puppies. The ratio of ingredients in puppy food includes:
- Protein 40-80%
- Vegetables 5-10%
- Fiber and Carbohydrates 2-%
- Fats 5-15%
Your litter of puppies will need the best dog vitamins and minerals. The level of these varies by the age of your puppy. Your vet is a good source of information about the best supplements for your pup. Calcium is important after birth to ensure your puppies have strong bones and teeth [1].
Cooked or Raw Homemade Dog Food for Puppies
There are few subjects as controversial in the dog food industry as raw foods for puppies. Vets have warned about the dangers of raw foods for adult dogs. Young dogs are like human children and have a developing immune system. Feeding raw foods can include dangerous pathogens for your dog. If your puppy’s immune system is not strong enough to fight these pathogens you risk sickness. A good option is to start with cooked fresh home-prepared food and transition to raw foods later. Another option is to get the best fresh dog food made with human-grade ingredients and has the same or probably even more superior nutritional value for dogs of all life-stages.
Ground Turkey Homemade Dog Food Recipes
Ground turkey and sweet potatoes are among the healthiest ingredients for homemade food. A good recipe for puppies includes three pounds of ground turkey and a whole grain millet. Using quinoa, rice, or pasta helps to add texture and a fiber-rich carbohydrate to your dog’s food. The carbohydrate and protein are cooked and combined with raw vegetables. Combining the vegetables with the cooked ingredients will warm carrots, apples, and zucchini. Dividing the dog food into portions will help your puppies develop at the right speed.
Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe
An impressive homemade dog food recipe is made using your slow cooker. This brown rice and chicken recipe provides all the vitamins and nutrients needed for puppies’ development. Combine one pound of chicken breast with uncooked brown rice and diced sweet potatoes. Frozen peas, diced tomatoes, and parsley are added to increase the flavors and nutrients in your dog’s homemade food. Add 1.5 cups of water to keep the recipe moist. The recipe cooks for between five and six hours to make sure all the ingredients are safe for your puppies to eat.
Banana Oat Cake
Everybody enjoys a treat, including your pets. The long and difficult process of whelping and nursing her puppies can be tough on the body of your dog. You will want to give your puppies a treat to welcome them into the world. Combine two ripe bananas with four tablespoons of honey, one egg, and two cups of water. Stir in three cups of whole wheat flour, one-half tablespoon of baking powder, and one cup of rolled oats. You may opt to use food processor. After combining the mixture place in a greased baking dish and bake at 350F. Bake for 30 minutes and allow to cool before serving with peanut butter.
FAQs
1. What is the best homemade food for puppies?
Freshly cooked foods are best for your puppies. Raw foods can be dangerous to small puppies. A transition to raw foods can take place when your puppies are older and under the supervision of a veterinarian.
2. Is homemade dog food okay for puppies?
Homemade dog food is a good choice for puppies.
3. Is homemade puppy food better?
Homemade puppy food does not contain fillers or animal byproducts associated with skin allergies so it is better if done properly.
4. How much homemade dog food should I feed my puppy?
You should monitor the calories in your puppy’s food to make sure it is high in nutrients and calorie intake. Although it depends on many factors, the general feeding ratio is 1 cup per 10 lbs of body weight.
