13 Homemade Dog Food Recipes for Small Dogs (2024)

Table of Contents

  • Homemade Dog Food Recipes for Small Dogs
    • 1. Meat Loaf Masterpiece
    • 2. Homemade Dog Food Baby Food Balls
    • 3. Homemade Dog Food for Small Dogs Turkey Dinner
    • 4. Cold Weather Chili
    • 5. Easy Homemade Doggy Omelet
    • 6. Casserole Cut-up
    • 7. Small Dog Turkey Omelet Homemade
    • 8. Dirty Rice
    • 9. Homemade Dog Fruit Parfait for Small Dogs
    • 10. Dog-Healthy Homemade Strips
    • 11. Fish and Peanut Cookies for Small Dogs
    • 12. Homemade Blackberry Biscuits for Small Dogs
    • 13. Homemade Pupsicles
  • Homemade Dog Food Recipes for Small Dogs: Key Takeaways
    • READ NEXT:

When searching for homemade dog food recipes online, you will often come across large meal ideas that have to be cooked in a gumbo pot.

That's fine for owners of two big dogs, and that gumbo pot of food would last you a week, but that isn’t practical for someone with a single lap dog.

Homemade dog food recipes for small dogs are often hard to come by.

Because small dog owners are often ignored, I've collected a list of 13 homemade dog food recipes for small dogs that you can keep on hand, with some dog treats thrown in here for good measure.

These recipes are easy to modify, too. Remember to include some homemade dog food supplements to make these meals well-balanced.

Leftovers can be refrigerated for 5 days and frozen for up to 3 months.

ALSO READ:50 Best Homemade Dog Food Recipes

Homemade Dog Food Recipes for Small Dogs

1. Meat Loaf Masterpiece

Ingredients:

  • 3-quarter cups of shredded vegetables (your choice, but variety is better)
  • 2lbs of ground beef
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup of cottage cheese
  • 1 ½ cups of old-fashioned oatmeal
  • 1 tbsp. ground-up flax seeds

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Mix all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.
  • Lightly coat two meatloaf pans with olive oil.
  • Place ingredients in pans.
  • Bake in the oven for 40 to 45 minutes.
  • Cool and serve.

2. Homemade Dog Food Baby Food Balls

Ingredients:

  • 2 6-oz. jars of organic beef and vegetable baby food
  • 1 cup of whole-wheat flour
  • 2 cups of powdered milk
  • 1 cup of water

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
  • Drop mixture onto baking sheet in large spoonfuls.
  • Bake for 12 to 15 minutes.
  • Cool and serve.

SIMILAR:Homemade Dog Treats with Baby Food

3. Homemade Dog Food for Small Dogs Turkey Dinner

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound of ground turkey
  • 2 cups of brown rice
  • 1 cup of carrots, chopped
  • 1 cup of green beans, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon of fish oil
  • 4 cups of water

Directions:

  • Cook ground turkey over medium heat until browned.
  • Add brown rice, turkey, and water to a large pot and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 15 minutes.
  • Add carrots and green beans and cook for 5 to 10 minutes more.
  • Cool and serve.

4. Cold Weather Chili

Ingredients:

  • 4 sliced chicken breasts
  • 4 cups of chicken broth
  • 1 cup of drained black beans
  • 1 cup of drained kidney beans
  • 1 cup of diced carrots
  • 1/2 cup of tomato paste

Directions:

  • Cook chicken in a skillet over medium-high heat until done.
  • Add cooked chicken, beans, carrots, tomato paste, and chicken broth into pot
  • Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.
  • Cool and serve.

5. Easy Homemade Doggy Omelet

Ingredients:

  • 2 eggs
  • green pepper, diced
  • smoked salmon, thinly sliced
  • olive oil

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 350°
  • Lightly grease a small oven-safe bowl with olive oil.
  • Add ingredients to the bowl and stir.
  • Bake for 10 minutes.
  • Cool and serve.

6. Casserole Cut-up

Ingredients:

  • 2 chicken breasts (chopped)
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup chopped vegetables (variety mix – your choice)
  • ¼ cup rolled oats
  • vegetable oil

Directions:

  • Sauté chicken with oil in frying pan.
  • Add chicken broth, rolled oats, and chopped vegetables to pan.
  • Simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Cool and serve.

7. Small Dog Turkey Omelet Homemade

Ingredients:

  • 2 slices of turkey bacon
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup alfalfa sprouts

Directions:

  • Cook turkey bacon according to package directions. Dry any excess grease.
  • Beat egg and fry over medium heat.
  • Add alfalfa sprouts to the top of the egg and fold over to make an omelet.
  • Cool, cut into small bites, and serve.

8. Dirty Rice

Ingredients:

  • ½ pound ground beef
  • 1 small potato (sliced small)
  • 6 green beans (chopped)
  • ¼ cup instant rice
  • 3¼ cup water

Directions:

  • Brown ground beef in a pan.
  • Add rice and water to a microwave-safe bowl and cook for 4 minutes.
  • Pour 3 cups of water into the pot. Add potatoes and beans. Simmer until tender.
  • Drain vegetables.
  • Add vegetables and rice to meat and stir.
  • Cool and serve.

9. Homemade Dog Fruit Parfait for Small Dogs

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup plain yogurt
  • ½ cup strawberries (diced)
  • ½ cup blueberries (chopped)
  • ½ cup applesauce

Directions:

  • Put ingredients in a bowl.
  • Blend and serve.

SIMILAR:Doggy Fruit and Vegetable Smoothie

10. Dog-Healthy Homemade Strips

Ingredients:

  • 1 small sweet potato
  • 1 medium banana
  • 1 cup carrots, minced
  • ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 cup wheat flour
  • 1 cup of rolled oats
  • ¼ cup of water

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 350°
  • Cook sweet potato in the microwave for 9 minutes.
  • Mash banana and sweet potato in a large bowl.
  • Add carrots, flour, oats. Mix well.
  • Add water and applesauce slowly while mixing.
  • Roll out dough and cut into strips.
  • Bake for 25 minutes.

11. Fish and Peanut Cookies for Small Dogs

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups of flour
  • 1 cup of rolled oats
  • ½ cup of smooth peanut butter
  • 1 tablespoon of honey
  • ½ tablespoon of fish oil
  • 1 ¾ cups of water

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 350°
  • Mix flour and oats together in a large bowl.
  • Pour in one cup water and blend until smooth.
  • Add peanut butter, honey, fish oil. Mix again.
  • Add ¾ cup of water slowly while still mixing.
  • Cut into shape. Bake for 40 minutes.
  • Cool and serve.

12. Homemade Blackberry Biscuits for Small Dogs

Ingredients:

  • 1 egg
  • 4 cups almond flour
  • ¾ cup flax meal
  • ½ cup blackberries
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 cup water

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Mix all ingredients together to form a dough.
  • Roll dough out and cut out biscuits.
  • Bake for 30 minutes.
  • Cool and serve.

13. Homemade Pupsicles

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup whole blueberries
  • ½ cup chopped strawberries
  • 1 cup plain yogurt

Directions:

  • Mix ingredients together in a bowl.
  • Pour mixture into pre-selected molds.
  • Freeze for 4-5 hours.
  • Remove and serve.

As with people, dogs do better with various meats, fruits, and veggies.

Instead of wasting food with recipes for big dogs, use these homemade dog food recipes for small dogs to make a balanced diet of snacks and meals for your pooch and save some cash.

Homemade Dog Food Recipes for Small Dogs: Key Takeaways

  • One-third to one-half cups of dog food per day is the recommended amount for toy-breed dogs with a body weight of six pounds or less.
  • Chicken is the leanest meat since it has a lot of protein and little fat. Cook it without salt or other seasonings to give your dog a healthy meal.
  • Small breed dogs burn energy more quickly than larger dogs due to their quick metabolisms. Giving them three meals a day would be ideal.

READ NEXT:

  • How Much Homemade Dog Food to Feed Your Dog
  • Recipe: Homemade Turkey Meatballs for Dogs
  • Recipe: High Fiber Homemade Dog Food
13 Homemade Dog Food Recipes for Small Dogs (2024)

FAQs

What should be the main ingredient in homemade dog food? ›

WHAT IS THE RATIO FOR HOMEMADE DOG FOOD? Dogs are obligate carnivores, so their diet should mainly consist of meats and protein. A good recommendation is 80% meat, 10% vegetable, and 10% Know Better Pet Food Premix.

What is the ratio of meat to rice in homemade dog food? ›

For a 15-pound dog: 3 ounces of chicken, dark meat, cooked. 1 1/3 cups of white rice, cooked.

How do you cook for a small dog? ›

7 Foods to Cook For Your Dog
  1. Chicken. Cooked chicken is a good source of protein for dogs. ...
  2. Lean Ground Turkey. Lean ground turkey is a safe food to cook for your dog. ...
  3. Eggs. Cooked eggs are a safe, healthy food with lots of minerals and vitamins. ...
  4. Raw or Steamed Vegetables. ...
  5. Fresh Fruits. ...
  6. Boiled Potatoes. ...
  7. Peanut Butter. ...
  8. Yogurt.
Sep 12, 2023

What should top 3 ingredients be dog food? ›

What are the top 3 ingredients to look for in dog food? The top ingredients to look for in dog food are high-quality proteins (named meat sources - chicken, beef, fish, and lamb), natural carbohydrates (whole fruits and vegetables), and healthy fats (animal fats or plant-based oils).

What not to put in homemade dog food? ›

What ingredients should you avoid in homemade dog food? There's a vast number of human foods which should never be fed to dogs. Here's a list of ingredients you should avoid in your homemade dog food recipe: Onions, garlics and chives: these can cause gastrointestinal problems and damage to red blood cells.

What should be the number 1 ingredient in dog food? ›

The best dog foods will always have meat as the top ingredient, and you should look for recipes that emphasize real animal proteins, rather than just meat meals. Because your dog's food should have more meat than any other ingredient, it's vital to choose a meat source that will benefit your dog's health.

What is the best meat to put in homemade dog food? ›

Ingredients: Very lean ground beef or poultry- This is the main source of protein and has to be lean since dogs have a high amino acid requirement. Compared to ground beef, ground chicken and turkey are lower in protein, iron, and zinc, so you'll need to make up for it with extra beef liver.

Can I feed my dog meat and rice everyday? ›

Rice and chicken are a great combination for dogs, and they can be a part of a healthy diet if you feed them in moderation. If your dog is overweight, you should try to limit her carb intake, but if she's healthy she can eat a moderate amount of carbs and still be healthy.

Why put rice in homemade dog food? ›

Rice is easy for dogs to digest, and it does contain some nutrients. It's cheap and generally well tolerated by dogs, so it's often used in dog foods basically as a filler.

What is the best diet for small dog? ›

A higher protein diet will usually contain lower carbohydrates and calories that can lead to weight gain. Fat: Small dogs also need good quality fat in their diet to support their energy needs. Look for dog foods that contain healthy sources of fat, such as omega-3 fatty acids. Avoid foods with seed oils.

How much homemade food should I feed my small dog? ›

The amount of food your dog needs depends on their size, lifestyle, age, and other factors. Consult your veterinarian or pet nutritionist if you're unsure how much to feed your dog. As a general rule, the serving size for a portion of homemade dog food should equal two to three percent of an adult dog's body weight.

What supplements should I add to homemade dog food? ›

The best vitamin supplements for homemade dog food
  1. Multivitamin supplements.
  2. Hip and joint supplements.
  3. Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil)
  4. Vitamins A & E.
  5. Calcium.
  6. Protein supplements.
Sep 1, 2020

What are the 3 super foods for dogs? ›

Dog experts reveal dog superfoods
  • Sweet Potato. Sweet potato is a natural source of fiber and packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. ...
  • Watermelon. Watermelon is a nutritious superfood, with antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins A, B and C, potassium and magnesium. ...
  • Carrots. ...
  • Kale. ...
  • Turmeric. ...
  • Quinoa. ...
  • Pumpkin. ...
  • Chia Seeds.
Jun 29, 2023

What are the 3 D's of dog food? ›

3D and 4D Defined

The term comes from the first letter of the description of meat from animals which are dead, diseased, dying (or downed)—that's 3D—but the animals are still alive. The 4th “D” is destroyed (all 4 or 4D), which means that the animal is dead.

What is the best base for homemade dog food? ›

Homemade Dog Food Recipes
  • At least 10% protein, such as ground meat like ground chicken, ground turkey, fish, lean beef.
  • Up to 50% carbohydrates, such as pasta, brown rice, and sweet potatoes.
  • About 2.5-4.5% fiber can come from mixed vegetables like peas, green beans, and carrots (frozen vegetables work too!)
May 17, 2023

What are the ingredient ratios for homemade dog food? ›

Home Made Dog Food
  • Protein – 75% Beef, chicken, turkey gizzards, livers (beef/chicken/turkey), hearts (beef/chicken/turkey), white fish (flounder, grouper, cod (no bones), rabbit, oily fish (sardines in olive oil), salmon, eggs, lamb, veal. ...
  • Complex Carbohydrate – 10% ...
  • Vegetables – 15% ...
  • Snacks. ...
  • Supplements.
Mar 1, 2021

What should the first four ingredients be in dog food? ›

A good dog food will contain meat, vegetables, grains, and fruits. The best dog foods contain high-quality versions of these ingredients that are appropriate for your dog's digestive system.

What supplements should be added to homemade dog food? ›

What to add to homeade dog food?
Vitamin or Mineral NameFunction
PhosphorusWorks with calcium to support bone health
PotassiumEssential for maintaining electrolyte balance, supports nerve function
SodiumSupports proper fluid balance and nerve function
ChlorideSupports proper fluid balance and nerve function
13 more rows

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