Introduction
Supplementing commercial dog kibble with homemade food has become an increasingly popular practice among dog owners. The goal is to provide dogs with the benefits of a commercially balanced kibble along with the advantages of homemade food like palatability, variety, and control over ingredients. Adding homemade food to kibble allows owners to customize their dog’s diet, appeal to picky eaters, or address specific health issues. However, it’s important to do it correctly by following recipes formulated by veterinary nutritionists and consulting with your vet. Balancing key nutrients like protein, fat, carbs, vitamins and minerals takes expertise. This article provides an overview of supplementing kibble along with guidance on recipes, nutrition, safety and proper portioning.
Pros of Supplementing Kibble
One of the main benefits of supplementing kibble with homemade food is that it provides dogs with more variety and flavors in their diet. Kibble on its own can get boring and repetitive for dogs after eating the same food day after day. By adding in homemade food like cooked meat, vegetables, rice etc., you can give your dog’s meals more diversity
According to the AKC, adding homemade food provides mental stimulation and enrichment for dogs, keeping them engaged at mealtimes. The variety of tastes, textures, and smells is more exciting for a dog than just eating dry kibble alone (1). It also allows you to customize your dog’s food based on their preferences and needs. Some dogs may not like certain ingredients, so mixing in homemade food gives you control to avoid ingredients they don’t like.
Overall, supplementing commercial kibble with homemade food makes mealtimes more interesting and tailored to your individual dog. It brings them joy through food, keeping their taste buds excited and engaged with their diet.
(1) https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/cooking-for-your-dog-dos-and-donts/
Cons of Supplementing Kibble
While supplementing kibble with homemade food can have benefits, there are also some downsides to consider:
It can be very time consuming to prepare homemade meals for your dog. Following recipes, shopping for ingredients, prepping, cooking, and storing the food takes a significant time commitment compared to simply scooping kibble into a bowl (AKC).
Ensuring the nutritional balance of homemade meals can also be challenging. Dogs have specific nutritional needs, so it’s important to consult your vet and use supplements to make sure homemade food provides complete and balanced nutrition (PetMD).
Homemade Recipes
When supplementing your dog’s kibble with homemade food, it’s important to provide balanced, nutritious recipes. Here are some sample recipes to get you started:
Chicken and Rice
This basic recipe features lean protein and digestible carbs:
- 1 pound ground chicken (chicken breast or thigh)
- 1 cup cooked white rice
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Cook the chicken thoroughly, then mix with the rice, carrots and oil. Refrigerate leftovers.
Beef and Sweet Potato
Try this dog-approved combo of protein and vitamin-rich veggies:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 peeled, cooked sweet potato, mashed
- 1 cup green beans, chopped small
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
Brown the beef, drain fat, and mix with sweet potato, green beans and oil.
Tips
When preparing homemade dog food recipes:
- Use lean meats and remove skin/fat.
- Cook vegetables well to aid digestion.
- Limit added oils/fats to 1-2 tablespoons per recipe.
- Stick to dog-safe seasonings like parsley, turmeric, paprika.
- Refrigerate or freeze in portioned containers.
Nutritional Considerations
When supplementing kibble with homemade food, it’s crucial to ensure your dog is getting complete and balanced nutrition. Homemade dog food recipes can be nutritionally incomplete without proper supplementation. Some of the most important nutrients to focus on include:
Protein – Dogs require ample high-quality protein from animal sources like chicken, beef, fish or eggs. Protein should make up at least 18-25% of a dog’s diet. Look for recipes with meat, poultry or fish as the first ingredient.
Fats – Fats provide energy and support skin/coat health. Look for omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids from fish, flaxseed or canola oil. Fats should comprise at least 5-15% of the diet.
Vitamins & Minerals – Especially vitamins A, B complex, C, D and E. Minerals like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc. Without proper amounts, dogs can develop deficiencies leading to health issues. Using a supplement formulated for homemade dog food helps provide complete nutrition.
Some high quality vitamin/mineral supplements made specifically for homemade recipes include:
Wholistic Pet Organics Canine Complete and JustFoodForDogs Do-It-Yourself Nutrient Blend.
Food Safety
Proper food handling and storage is critical when making homemade dog food to prevent contamination and spoilage. Here are some tips for keeping homemade dog food safe:
Store raw meats on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator to prevent juices from dripping and contaminating other foods. Freeze raw meats if storing longer than 2-3 days.
Wash hands, countertops, utensils and dishes thoroughly before and after prep. Use separate cutting boards and knives for raw meats.
Cook foods thoroughly to kill any potentially harmful bacteria. Ground meats should reach 160°F and poultry 165°F. Let cool before mixing into full recipes.
Refrigerate cooked homemade meals in airtight containers, labeled with the date. Use within 3-5 days. Foods can also be frozen in daily portions for 1-2 months.
When reheating homemade food, heat thoroughly to 165°F. Do not re-freeze thawed homemade meals.
Sanitize food bowls after each use with hot soapy water. Don’t allow wet food to sit out more than 30 minutes.
Always follow recipes from trusted sources and consult your veterinarian about proper nutrition, especially for puppies or dogs with health conditions.
Being careful about storage, ingredients, prep and handling will help minimize risks with homemade dog food. Monitor dogs after introducing any new food and discontinue use if any gastrointestinal or other issues arise.
Transitioning Your Dog
When switching your dog’s diet, it’s important to make the transition gradually over the course of 5-7 days. This gives your dog’s digestive system time to adapt to the new food. According to PetMD, “Whenever possible, take at least a week to switch your dog to a new diet. Mix the new and old foods in these ratios:”1
On days 1-2, do a 75/25 mix of old to new food. On days 3-4, do a 50/50 mix. On days 5-6, do a 25/75 mix. By day 7, you should be feeding 100% new food. Go slowly and monitor your dog closely during this transition period. Look for signs of digestive upset like vomiting, diarrhea, or excess gas.
If your dog seems uncomfortable at any point, you can slow down the transition by keeping the ratio of old to new food the same for an extra day or two. The key is gradually acclimating their digestive system to the new ingredients and nutrients. With patience and monitoring, you can smoothly transition to a new dog food or homemade diet.
Portion Guidance
When supplementing kibble with homemade food, it’s important to get the ratios right to ensure your dog is getting proper nutrition. According to Healthy Paws, veterinarians generally recommend sticking to a ratio of 75% kibble to 25% homemade food. However, this can vary based on your dog’s age, breed, activity level and specific nutritional needs.
Puppies and high-energy dogs may need a little more protein from the homemade recipes, in which case the ratio could be adjusted to 50% kibble, 50% homemade. Smaller or less active dogs may do fine with a ratio of 80% kibble to 20% homemade food.
It’s best to consult with your veterinarian to determine the ideal ratio for your dog. Start conservatively with 25% homemade and monitor your dog’s body condition, energy, and stool consistency. Adjust the ratios gradually as needed to dial in the optimal balance. The goal is to adequately supplement the kibble without overwhelming your dog with excess calories or nutrients.
Lifestyle Factors
When deciding whether to supplement your dog’s kibble with homemade food, it’s important to consider your dog’s age, health issues, and activity level.
Puppies and senior dogs may benefit more from supplementing with homemade food. Puppies need the extra nutrition to support growth and development, while senior dogs need easily digestible food to compensate for issues like dental disease 1. Homemade food can provide a natural source of glucosamine for aging joints.
Dogs with certain health conditions like allergies, obesity, or gastrointestinal issues may do better with a homemade food supplement to address their needs. You can tailor ingredients and textures to help manage these conditions.
Highly active dogs like working or sporting breeds have higher calorie needs that homemade food can help meet. The extra protein and fat from real meats provides energy for an active lifestyle. Consider adding homemade food if your dog competes in activities or has a job requiring lots of exercise.
Conclusion
In summary, supplementing your dog’s kibble with homemade food can provide health benefits but also requires some extra planning and care on your part. The key advantages are improving digestion, hydration, dental health, and providing natural sources of key nutrients. However, it’s important to confirm any diet changes with your vet, introduce homemade food slowly, follow recipes carefully, and store and handle fresh ingredients properly. Portion control is also essential to prevent overfeeding and weight gain when adding tasty homemade toppers and mix-ins. As long as you do your homework and transition gradually, combining commercial kibble with fresh whole foods can be a nutritious way to enhance your dog’s diet.
Here are some final tips when supplementing kibble with homemade food:
- Consult your vet, especially for dogs with allergies or health conditions
- Start with small portions of homemade food and slowly increase
- Stick to dog-safe fruits, vegetables, proteins, oils, etc.
- Use recipes from reputable sources
- Avoid overfeeding by reducing kibble when adding homemade
- Store fresh foods properly and watch for spoilage
- Make sure homemade meals are nutritionally balanced over time
- Monitor your dog for any digestive issues when transitioning