Homemade Dog Food with JustFoodForDogs
You are what you eat, doesn’t only apply to humans, but animals too. That being said, it’s truly a no-brainer that if you strive to have a healthy dog, they need to eat healthy and properly sourced foods.
Table of Contents
Homemade Dog Food vs. Commercial Dog Food
When considering which dog food to feed your dog, owners have two general choices: homemade or commercial. Some dog owners contemplate and are persuaded by pricing and convenience of commercial dog foods, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best option. We need to be aware and thoughtful to what we feed our dogs. Here are four scientific reasons why commercial dog food is not the healthy option we consider it to be:
Regulations
Commercial dog food is loosely regulated. The FDA [Food and Drug Administration] doesn’t have oversight on pet food labels to ensure that ingredients are properly identified and declared. Currently, there are no regulations relating to the absorbability, digestibility and overall quality of pet food. According to the FDA, ingredients, such as certain colourings, are permitted as additives to dog food, as long as they are declared on the label. However, the use of artificial colourings has not been studied to rule out potential long-term effects and safety for pets.
Sourcing Protein
Retail pet food typically contains rendered meat, or by-products, which are random pieces or parts of an animal, not necessarily the parts we would typically butcher meat from. In some cases, rendered meat comes from dead, dying, diseased or disabled animals. During the process of rendering, lean meats are separated from the fats. The fats and oils are then heated and purified into lard or tallow, and used in dog food production.
Grains
Many commercial pet foods contain high amounts of additives in the form of grains. These grain-based fillers will typically appear on the ingredients label as: soy, corn, wheat or rice. What is wrong with this? Studies have observed that dogs have issues with digesting grains. Furthermore, glutenous ingredients can be harmful to dogs, and are a common cause of inflammation and allergic reactions.
Additives & Preservatives
Commercial dog foods use other additives and preservatives to prevent it from spoiling, resulting in a longer shelf life. A common preservative used in dog food is a chemical called ethoxyquin, which is a pesticide and may increase the risk of toxicity in dogs.
When considering whether to feed your dog homemade dog food or commercial brands it is important to consider the many layers that make up each.
Benefits of Homemade Dog Food
It would not be fair to simply say that homemade puppy food is the better alternative to commercial foods because of the reasons outlined above. Yes, in comparison to the regulation, sourcing protein, grains and additives mentioned above, homemade dog food seems like the obvious choice, but as mentioned, it is important to consider options from all sides.
Quality: Fresh & Nutritious
Through fresh and nutritious ingredients, you avoid feeding your dog unneeded fillers, additives and preservatives. Cutting out the filler in your dog’s meals helps ensure they are getting more of the vitamins and minerals they need to be healthy, as well as keeps them full longer. Nutritionally complete homemade dog food also allows you peace-of-mind knowing the quality of meat, instead of meat by-products, that are in their food. Choosing to feed healthy homemade dog food allows you to incorporate more whole foods and healthy ingredients into your dog’s diet.
Nutritionally Complete Homemade Dog Food
With the increased nutrition value comes enhanced health. Proper nutrition in dogs leads to:
- Fuel for exercise [healthy weight]
- Shiny coats
- Improved cognitive function
- Higher quality of sleep
- Improved digestive health
- Increased life span
- Prevention of medical conditions [improved immune system health]
Allergens
Allergens can be any ingredient that your dog is sensitive to, causing irritability and digestive issues. If your dog regularly has gastrointestinal problems or an upset stomach, homemade dog food is likely the better option for them. Homemade dog food helps strategically avoid known and unknown allergens. Despite some commercial foods claiming to not have these allergens, cross-contamination on processing machines and in the packaging area does occur.
Vet Approved Home made Dog Food
Once you have decided that home cooked dog food is the route to go for your dog there will still be unanswered questions: How do I begin to make this food? How do I know what to add? How do I process the food? JustFoodFor Dogs takes all the guess work out for you, providing your dog the best homemade dog food!
JustFoodFor Dogs have a team of veterinarians and specialists that guide and develop healthy, nutritionally balanced meals for dogs with the mission of improving the length and quality of life for as our furry friends. This goal is achieved through ongoing evidence-based research and feeding trails to maintain acknowledgement of being a vet approved homemade dog food. This scientific foundation also ensures proper advocacy, transparency, and honoring the evolving life of pets.
Evidence-Based Research
JustFoodForDogs is the most research-and-education-focused fresh pet food company in the industry.(1) Their veterinary team teaches the nutrition rotation for veterinary students at Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine and they have an ambitious goal to remain at the forefront of research as it relates to canine nutrition.
Feeding Trials
JustFoodForDogs is the only fresh food company, and one of just a few pet food companies overall, to conduct systematic feeding trials on all daily canine recipes.
So without further ado, with Justfoodfordogs, we present nutritionally complete dog food from the No 1 Vet recommended fresh food company!
Healthy Homemade Dog Food
Just Food for Dogs - Fresh Frozen - Just Thaw & Serve!
The JFFD’s Nutrient Blend is formulated specifically for each recipe to meet AAFCO recommendations. The blend is compounded from 100% human-grade nutraceuticals sourced from a facility regulated by the FDA.
All healthy meals for dogs and puppies use ONLY fresh whole-food ingredients, such as wild-caught cod, restaurant-quality meats, and locally sourced produce.
Just Food for Dogs - Fresh Frozen - Just Thaw & Serve!
Chicken & White Rice Recipe
The Chicken & White Rice meal is the most popular diet and is beloved by dogs. This recipe is the perfect combination of fresh chicken, long-grain white rice, spinach, carrots and apples. It’s high in calcium and phosphorus, making it perfect for growing puppies, and is nutritionally balanced for the long-term feeding of both puppies and adult dogs.
Chicken thighs
Chicken thigh meat is an excellent source of protein, vitamins B5 and B6, iron, phosphorus, zinc, selenium and niacin. It is often overlooked that chicken thigh meat delivers more vitamins and minerals than its white meat counterparts.
Chicken Gizzards
Chicken gizzard is low in saturated fat and sodium. It’s a very good source of protein, vitamin B12, iron, phosphorus, zinc and selenium.
Chicken Liver
Chicken liver is a nutrient-dense food that is high in iron, vitamin A, copper, folate, riboflavin and niacin.
Icelandic Premium Fish Oil
Icelandic Premium Fish Oil provides omega-3 fatty acids in highly biologically available forms of EPA and DHA
- Chicken Thighs, Liver, and Gizzard
- Chicken and Rice for Dogs and Puppies
- USA-Harvested Whole Rice
- Gluten-Free
- No Preservatives
- 43 Calories per Ounce
$62.65
Small Box (7.8 lbs)
Beef & Russet Potato
Real Ingredients
This high-calorie diet incorporates human-edible ground beef, russet and sweet potatoes, as well as an assortment of fruits and vegetables. The result is a wholesome, fully balanced ground beef recipe for dogs that’s perfect for active adult dogs and/or underweight dogs.
Beef Liver
Beef liver is a nutrient-dense food that contains a concentrated volume of protein and vitamin A. It’s a rich source of heme iron, the most absorbable form of iron, and is high in bioavailable copper, folate, riboflavin, niacin, phosphorus and zinc.
Ground Beef
only use the finest human-edible ground beef in this healthy dog recipe. Beef is considered a high-quality source of protein and is also rich in iron and zinc, as well as vitamins B12 and B6.
Russet Potatoes
Russet potatoes are high in potassium and contain substantial amounts of vitamins C and B6. They are also a good source of niacin, dietary fiber, magnesium and thiamine.
Icelandic Premium Fish OIl
Icelandic Premium Fish Oil provides omega-3 fatty acids in highly biologically available forms of EPA and DHA.
KEY POINTS:
- Gluten-Free
- Grain-Free
- No Preservatives
- No Growth Hormones
- 44 Calories per Ounce
$69.65
Other real food meals include: Turkey & Whole Wheat Macaroni: Fish & Sweet Potato: Lamb & Brown Rice and Venison & Squash,.
Pantry Fresh - Stored in Your Pantry!
The JFFD Nutrient Blend is formulated specifically for each recipe to meet AAFCO recommendations. The blend is compounded from 100% human-grade nutraceuticals sourced from a facility regulated by the FDA. All healthy meals for dogs and puppies use ONLY fresh whole-food ingredients, such as wild-caught cod, restaurant-quality meats, and locally sourced produce.
PantryFresh Chicken & White Rice
This chicken and rice for puppies and dogs recipe is the most popular diet and is beloved by dogs. It’s high in calcium and phosphorus, making it perfect for growing puppies, and is nutritionally balanced for the long-term feeding of both puppies and adult dogs.
And thanks to its innovative “Tetra Pak” packaging, every PantryFresh meal can be stored unopened on the shelf for up to two years, making it the perfect option for traveling or when boarding your dog.
Chicken Breast & Thighs
Chicken breast and thighs are an excellent source of protein, vitamin B-6, iron, magnesium, pantothenic acid, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, selenium, and niacin.
Long-Grain White Rice, Enriched
Long-grain enriched white rice is an easily digestible grain. It is fortified with B complex to help break down food into energy and support red blood health. It’s also loaded with iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper and selenium.
Cod Liver Oil
cod liver oil provides omega-3 fatty acids in highly biologically available forms of EPA and DHA. It is also a rich source of vitamins A and D.
Plus, Spinach, Carrots, Apples & Saflower Oil!
- Chicken Thighs, Liver, and Gizzard
- Perfect for Puppies and Adult Dogs
- USA-Harvested Whole Rice
- Gluten-Free
- No Preservatives
- No Growth Hormones
- 31 Calories Per Ounce
- Stored in Your Pantry – Refrigerate After Opening
$77.40
12.5-oz pouch, case of 12
PantryFresh Lamb & Brown Rice
Best High Calorie Homemade Dog Food
- Crafted with fresh, human-grade ingredients, including ground lamb, long-grained brown rice, spinach, cauliflower, carrots and blueberries.
- Great for older dogs and small appetites, this recipe is formulated with a high calorie count and is controlled in protein.
- Nothing artificial, nothing but goodness, this supplement is made without fillers, preservatives, growth hormones, BHA, BHT or artificial coloring.
- Ready-to-serve nutrition formulated by vets, this full-meal recipe is supported by science and independent research conducted at leading universities, and all within AAFCO protocols. You can feel confident knowing that this supplement was formulated by a diverse team of veterinarians, including a board-certified nutritionist, toxicologist and dermatologist.
- Shipped in innovative Tetra Pak packaging—these meals can be stored unopened for up to 2 years!
Just Food for Dogs - A Full Line of Prescription Dog Food
Healthy homemade dog food
Formulated to support your dog’s kidney health, this pet food is crafted with carefully controlled levels of protein, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, omega-3 fatty acids, and an increased amount of B vitamins. But the goodness doesn’t stop there, because it’s also made with real, human-grade ingredients that you can see! With ground lamb, sushi rice, long-grain brown rice, cauliflower, carrots, spinach, and blueberries, your dog will get to experience the benefits of a whole food diet.
Best Renal Support Dog Food
- Crafted with fresh, human-grade ingredients, including ground lamb, sushi rice, long-grain brown rice, cauliflower, carrots, spinach and blueberries.
- Great for kidney health—the controlled levels of protein, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, omega-3 fatty acids, and the increased amount of B vitamins support your dog’s kidney health!
- Nothing artificial, nothing but goodness, this supplement is made without fillers, preservatives, growth hormones, BHA, BHT or artificial coloring.
- Ready-to-serve nutrition formulated by vets, this full-meal recipe is supported by science and independent research conducted at leading universities, and all within AAFCO protocols. You can feel confident knowing that this supplement was formulated by a diverse team of veterinarians, including a board-certified nutritionist, toxicologist and dermatologist.
Other Veterinary prescribed foods for dogs include: Hepatic Support Low Fat, Metabolic Support Low Fat & Critical Care Support.
Best Homemade Dog Food for Joints & Skin
- Crafted with fresh, human-grade ingredients, including pork, quinoa, kale, carrots and Fuji apples.
- Joint & Skin Support is formulated to enhance healthy skin and coat and it also contains JustFoodForDogs’ Joint Care Plus supplement to support healthy joints.
- Nothing artificial, nothing but goodness, this supplement is made without fillers, preservatives, growth hormones, BHA, BHT or artificial coloring.
- Ready-to-serve nutrition formulated by vets, this full-meal recipe is supported by science and independent research conducted at leading universities, and all within AAFCO protocols.
- You can feel confident knowing that this supplement was formulated by a diverse team of veterinarians, including a board-certified nutritionist, toxicologist and dermatologist.
Transitioning Your Dog to Homemade
If your dog or puppy’s diet has not been that of homemade, it is critical to gradually transition them to their new diet. Without a progressive shift your dog may experience gastrointestinal upset, which leads to decreased appetite and food avoidance. JustFoodFor Dogs suggests the following timeline when transitioning your dog:
Day 1-3
25% JustFoodForDogs
75% current food
Day 4-7
50% JustFoodForDogs
50% current food
Day 8-10
75% JustFoodForDogs
25% current food
Day 11
100% JustFoodForDogs
The time required to fully transition may vary depending on the dogs age and sensitivity. Rule of thumb is do not increase the portion if your dog is showing any sensitivity. You can also do the transition in even smaller steps if your dog is showing any discomfort in the change..
To sum up
Your dog means the world to you. That’s why it’s important to make the most informed and quality choices you can when it comes to their diet and health.
Did you know that a dog’s gut health has a significant influence on its overall health?
A recent scientific study reports that 70% to 80% of all illness begins in the gastrointestinal tract! discover why this supplement is essential for your dog’s immune system and overall health. Read our article on :The Best Probiotic for Dogs.
