Beef, Sweet Potato & Peas

How to Make Homemade Dog Food

How to Make Homemade Dog Food with Ground Beef, Sweet Potato & Peas

INGREDIENTS

7 ounces Beef, cooked (1 cup)
1 cup Sweet Potatoes, cooked
1 cup Peas, cooked
1 teaspoon Sunflower Oil
5 teaspoons Azestfor Vitamins

Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:30 minutes
Servings:4

YIELD

932 calories enough for a 15 lb dog maintaining weight to have 2 meals/day for 2 days

This homemade dog food with beef will yield approximately 3 cups of food, equating to 932 calories (Kcals), approximately enough servings of food for one day for a 30 lb dog to maintain weight.

This homemade dog food recipe with sweet potatoes and ground beef is easy to make and a fan favorite, calorie dense it is best for active dogs or those looking to gain weight.  

Ground Beef Dog Food Recipe Instructional Steps:

STEP 1

How to Cook Beef for Dogs

In a large skillet place cubed or ground beef. Add just enough water to cover. Bring to a boil. Cover and gently simmer gently for about 15 minutes until beef is cooked. Remove from heat. Drain excess liquid. Fat when cooked becomes grease and when eaten upsets a dogs digestive system.

Add fresh or frozen peas to the cooked meat. The heat will lightly cook the peas

STEP 2

Cooking Sweet Potatoes for Dog Food

Cook the sweet potatoes by boiling them in water. They can be mashed or cubed into bite size - depending on the preference of your dog. Begin checking the sweet potatoes after around 5 minutes of boiling; most sweet potatoes will be done in 10-20 minutes.

Sweet potatoes are done when tender: The sweet potatoes are done when they are tender all the way through. You can test this by poking the sweet potato with a fork, paring knife, or skewer.

STEP 3

Add Sunflower Oil

Sunflower oil is added as a source of linoleic acid. If you would like a substitute oil you can add Wheat germ, Walnut or Corn oil in the amount of 1.2 teaspoons.

Note: If you substitute chicken as the source of protein instead of beef you do not need to add sunflower oil, as linoleic acid is naturally in chicken.

STEP 4

Add Azestfor Vitamins & Minerals

When the meat, sweet potatoes and peas are cool to touch, add your Azestfor canine nutritional supplements.

Homemade Dog Food Vitamin Tips

Heat destroys the potency of vitamins Fully cooked recipe with dog food vitamin mineral powder mixed in, CAN BE FROZEN for up to one year from cook date. This WILL NOT affect supplement potency.

If you prefer to add your vitamin mineral powder just before serving, add 1-1/4 teaspoons of Azestfor Vitamin Mix for Homemade Dog Food per 1 cup of homemade dog food.

Does My Dog Need Vitamins?

Yes. Vitamin supplements are essential for dogs eating homemade dog food. Canine bodies require an exact balance of vitamins and minerals (especially calcium!) to thrive.

Our homemade dog food recipes and supplements were developed by animal scientists.

When the recipes are combined with our vitamin mineral powder, the homemade dog food becomes nutritionally balanced - providing your dog's body with the nourishment s/he craves.

Watch Cooking Video: How To Make Homemade Dog Food

How Can I Make Homemade Dog Food?

All you need is a Protein, Carbohydrate, Fat & Vitamins!

Protein

Protein can come from a variety of sources including animal muscle or organ meat. Chicken and Fish is generally preferred. Cottage Cheese, Eggs and Tofu are also viable sources.

Raw versus cooked protein? It is recommended that meat (especially chicken and all organ meat) is cooked to ensure the potential for E. Coli and salmonella is eliminated.

Carbohydrates

Vegetables, cereals, grains and beans should be cooked to help aid digestibility of the starches. Uncooked starches will ferment in the stomach leading to gas, excess mucus production and an upset stomach ie. diarrhea.

Dogs are omnivores, meaning they derive their nutrients from both plant and animal sources. As dogs self-domesticated themselves from wolves by evolving alongside humans, one of the evolutionary results was code in their DNA for an enzyme that helps them digest starches.

Healthy Fat

Fish, Chicken and Eggs all have a natural source of linoleic acid so you do not need to add oil to those recipes. For the Beef, Bison, Lamb & Venison recipes we recommend sunflower oil as the source of linoleic acid as there is not sufficient in the protein source.

If you would like a substitute oil you can add Wheat germ, Walnut or Corn oil in the amount of 1.2 teaspoons per 1 teaspoon called for in the recipe.

Coconut oil is not recommended as it doesn't contain higher enough levels of linoleic acid the amount that would need to be added would significantly change the fat content of the recipe.

Vitamins & Minerals 

To ensure that there are no gaps in your dog’s nutrition add the Azestfor Homemade Dog Food Vitamins.

Feeding Guidelines

We suggest dividing the daily amount for this homemade dog food recipe into two servings: one in the morning and one in the evening. Every dog’s nutritional requirements are a little bit different due to age & amount of exercise. If your dog is losing weight, increase food by 1/4 cup a day, if they are gaining weight reduce accordingly

Weight of Dog


5 lbs to maintain weight = 2/3 cup per day
10 lbs to maintain weight = 1 cup per day
15 lbs to maintain weight = 1 1/2 cups per day
20 lbs to maintain weight = 1 3/4 cups per day
30 lbs to maintain weight = 2 1/2 cups per day
40 lbs to maintain weight = 3 cups per day
50 lbs to maintain weight = 3 2/3 cups per day
60 lbs to maintain weight = 4 1/8 cups per day
70 lbs to maintain weight = 4 3/4 cups per day
80 lbs to maintain weight = 5 1/4 cups per day
90 lbs to maintain weight = 5 3/4 cups per day

FAQs

Fresh whole foods lightly prepared provide the best nutrition for both humans and dogs alike. Whole food ingredients are more readily bioavailable, and more flavorful. When you eat better you feel better the same is true for our dogs.

Homemade dog food is free of preservatives and harsh chemical treatments. You can have confidence knowing exactly what is in your dog’s bowl. Homemade dog food provides unsurpassed nutrition.

A higher quality food is the easiest way to improve their health. We can’t make our dogs live forever but we can ensure that the care we provide gives them the ability to enjoy each day to the fullest.

Nutrition is critical in keeping them slim and free of diet related conditions like obesity and heart disease. Nutrition can directly affect their level of activity, mobility and conditions like arthritis.

It's normal for a dog to self regulate and even skip a meal here or there. However, if this pattern continues for more than a meal or two, (or if you suspect something needs medical attention), contact your vet. In the meantime, try stimulating your dog’s appetite with the following tips.

  • Feed with other dogs: Studies have shown dogs will eat up to 85% more if another dog is around.
  • Timed Meal: Offer the food at normal feeding time for 15 minutes. Then remove the food bowl and store in the fridge. Do not present the food bowl again until the next scheduled meal time.
  • Warm Food: Serve the food at room temperature. Having the food slightly warm (but not hot) will release aroma. Dogs smell their food more than taste it.
  • Pretend to eat the food yourself. Dogs are very curious about what their humans are eating and may become interested again.
  • Exercise: Ensure your dog has had stimulating exercise before the meal, like a long hike, or a game of fetch for about twenty minutes.
  • Hand Feed: Put a small amount of food in your hand and allow the dog to eat out of your hand.
  • No Treats: Do not offer a higher quality food as an alternative. If your dog does not eat during regular meal times, do not give it snacks, treats or chews throughout the day.

As dogs get older, they tend to become less active, and therefore should have their calories reduced.

Studies have shown that slimmer dog will live approximately one year longer than its overweight counterpart. In addition, slimmer dogs enjoy a higher quality of life.

Overweight dogs are at risk of developing weight related issues including obesity, diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease.

These health conditions will actually cost you more in medical expenses over time, than if you choose to make dietary changes as soon as you see your dog's weight beginning to increase.

This is especially true for large dog breeds like labradors, golden retrievers, german shepherds, huskies and pitbulls. Small dog breeds like shih tzus, chihuahuas, yorkies, dachshunds, maltese, and pugs can also become overweight from overfeeding treats or meal portion sizes.

If your senior dog needs to slim down, choose a low calorie dog food recipe like Chicken and Rice with Carrots.

This beef, sweet potatoes and peas recipe can be prepared in large batches and frozen. It will keep for up to a year in the freezer, or one week in the fridge.

Freezing vitamins preserves their potency. We recommend portioning the food into meal sized servings before freezing it.

To defrost a frozen meal – put it in the fridge overnight. To serve - set the cold food out until it becomes room temperature (~15 minutes).