Although it has been around for years, processed dog food is relatively new when you consider how long humans and dogs have shared a relationship. Prior to the industrial revolution and processed food, we fed our pets homemade dog food consisting of meat, vegetables, fruit and whole grains. It wasn’t a miracle that kept these dogs alive – it was good wholesome nutritious home-made dog food. Here’s how you can feed your dog the same.

1. Strive to feed your dog a well balanced home-made dog food diet. A well balanced homemade dog food diet consists of 50% protein, 25% grain, and 25% vegetable. All components should be natural and ground up so they can be easily digested. If you want to supplement your homemade dog food, consult your vet for recommendations. She may suggest that you add vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 oils to promote a healthy coat and skin condition.

Appropriate Foods:
- beef, boneless poultry, cod, herring, lamb, and salmon
- broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, mustard greens, potatoes, romaine lettuce, and yams
- barley, bulgur, cooked rice, oatmeal, pasta, polenta
- fried, hardboiled, poached, raw, or scrambled eggs
- grated hard cheese and plain yogurt
- apples, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, melons, pears, raspberries, strawberries
- egg salad, meatloaf, stew, tuna salad

2. Avoid the following foods:
- bacon, cured meat, fatty meats, fried chicken, hot dogs, and raw pork
- onions and fried vegetables
- cakes, cookies, pastries, sugary baked goods, and white bread
- pancakes, processed food, waffles
-cream, ice cream, milk
- grapes and raisins
- candy, chocolate, fast food, frozen dinners, junk food, and sweets

3. Build your homemade dog food recipes based on the sample below, with the appropriate vet-suggested supplements:

Breakfast:

1 hardboiled egg
1 cup cooked oatmeal

Dinner:

1 cup shredded or cubed chicken
½ cup cooked rice
½ finely chopped vegetable or vegetable mix

4. Watch your dog for reactions. It’s highly unlikely that a dog will adversely react to the homemade dog food recipe described above. But you must still keep an eye out for such just in case. Watch for things like excessive weight gain or allergies. If you’re switching your dog from a processed food diet to a homemade diet, you’ll want to watch for upset digestion or outright refusal to eat. Consult your vet if these problems occur.