Homemade High Protein Dog Food

by Helena Baker

Overview

Commercial dog food is sometimes not the best choice for your dog. It is often very high in fat as well as protein, and for some dogs that can create serious health problems. Fortunately, it is fairly easy to cook up homemade high protein dog food that is not only low in fat, but tastes great. This chicken and rice mixture is a terrific formula that will work for most dogs and is even good to give to sick dogs or those with appetite problems.
Choosing

The foundation of high-protein dog food is lean meat. Although you don't need to be as picky as you would be if you were choosing meat for your kids, it's still important to pick a meat that is a good quality. Although you can use beef or pork, the most popular choice is chicken. Breast cuts are usually the easiest to work with, but you can use any part as long as it is lean, or you can remove the fat yourself before cooking.

Cooking

Carefully remove all the bones from the chicken. Even if it is packaged as boneless, still double-check because sometimes the manufacturing process doesn't get all the bones. They can splinter when your dog eats them, causing a serious medical emergency. Boil the chicken until it is well cooked. There should be no pink inside when you cut it open. When it is finished cooking, remove it from the heat and allow to cool. Next, shred the chicken or cut it into small chunks, and place it in a bowl in the refrigerator. Now cook several cups of white or brown rice. Once it is thoroughly cooked, remove it from the heat and allow to cool.
Preparing

The ratio of meat to rice will vary depending on your dog. In the beginning, it is better to give more rice and combine the mixture with his regular food. Wean him off of his commercial food over the course of a few days. Dogs with sensitive stomachs should get more rice, while other dogs can tolerate more meat. Speak to your vet if you need help deciding what the best ratio is for your dog. Once you have decided, mix the chicken with the rice and feed it to your dog. Most dogs love this food, so she will probably scarf it down. Save the remaining mixture for her next meal, but never keep the cooked chicken more than a few days.

References & Resources