Golden Retriever dog food can be easily prepared as a home-made treat.
Golden Retrievers are playful, energetic, and friendly dogs. They require good food for their muscles and energy, healthy skin and a shiny coat. A well-balanced commercial dog food will satisfy their nutritional requirements, but some dog owners prefer to make their own dog food.
Self-prepared meals may be useful as occasional meals or within a diet designed by a vets. But, just adding meat, rice and vegetables isn’t always a balanced diet for a Golden Retriever.
In this tutorial, you will learn how to prepare a fast and easy home-made dog food with the basic ingredients. It also covers what dogs can eat and which foods to steer clear of, as well as how to prepare homemade food properly and safely.
Quick Homemade Dog Food Recipe
This is easy chicken, rice, veggies and egg recipe. Easy to make and can be prepared in one cooking time.
Ingredients
1 cup cooked chicken breast and 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon of the oil
- 1 cup dog-safe vegetables
- 1 cooked egg
1 teaspoon fish oil (optional)
Carrots, green beans and plain pumpkin are good vegetables to choose.
Don’t add salt, spicy flavourings, onion, garlic, butter or sauces.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Cook the chicken.
Properly cook the chicken in plain water or any safe method. There should be no bones, skin or seasoning.
Cool and chop.
Step 2: Cook the rice
Cook rice till it is soft. No salt, spices, butter or oil should be added.
Step 3: Wash and cook Vegetables
Wash and cook until vegetables are soft. If you have large pieces, break them up into smaller ones for your dog to eat.
A little of plain pumpkin can be used as well.
Step 4: Cook the egg
Cook eggs until the yolk and white are set. If you’re looking for a simple and less risky recipe, do not use a raw egg.
Step 5: Mix everything
Combine the chicken, rice, vegetables and egg in a large bowl. Mix everything well.
Wait until food is cool before giving it to your Golden Retriever.
Why These Ingredients Are Used
All ingredients are beneficial in their own right, but this recipe may not be a full and balanced long-term diet.
Chicken
Chicken is a source of protein that is essential for the functioning of the body and building muscles. Use cooked, boneless chicken.
Rice
Rice is a source of carbohydrates and energy. Many dogs can also easily digest it when it is cooked correctly.
Vegetables
Carrots and green beans are a source of fibre and other nutrients. The mixes should be simple, not with a sauce, or seasoning added.
Egg
Completely cooked egg contains protein and other nutrients. Give it in moderation as all dogs are different.
A Golden Retriever’s Diet
A golden retriever’s diet is determined by the amount of homemade meals it consumes.
No one-size-fits all portion size for Golden Retrievers.
The nutritional requirements of a dog vary with his age, size, activity, health, and whether or not he is neutered or spayed.
The young Golden can require more calories than the older dog that lies on his couch most of the day.
If your dog is eating something new that you have prepared, give it to him first in a small amount. Monitor your dog’s body condition and weight over time.
When considering a change in your dog’s standard diet to a home-prepared diet, consult with your veterinarian or a veterinary nutrition professional. A homemade diet may require certain levels of vitamins, minerals, calcium and other nutrients to be complete and balanced.
Are Golden Retrievers able to eat homemade food daily?
They can eat homemade food, but a homemade recipe should not be a substitute for a complete and balanced dog food.
It sounds like a healthy diet, but a chicken and rice diet can be nutrient deficient. Nutritional inadequacy can lead to health issues in the long term.
If you are planning to prepare it daily, consult a vet to help you develop the right recipe for your Golden Retriever.
This is particularly important for puppies. Puppies are developing rapidly and require the correct balance of nutrients in order to develop properly.
Golden Retrievers should steer clear of these foods.
These are foods that Golden Retrievers should avoid.
There are some foods that are harmful to dogs. Avoid feeding your Golden Retriever the following:
- Chocolate
- Grapes and raisins
- Onions and garlic
- Xylitol
- Alcohol
- Eating and drinking.* Exposure to other stimulants such as coffee.
- Macadamia nuts
- Raw yeast dough
- Cooked bones
- Very salty foods
Sparingly use spices such as curry leaves on food items.
Contact your vet or animal poison service immediately if your dog is accidentally fed a food that could be hazardous.
To help you prepare homemade food, here are some tips.
Here are some tips for preparing homemade food.
When feeding your dog, it is important to do so in a safe way.
To wash hands before and after handling raw meat. Keep cutting boards, cooking utensils, and bowls clean.
Thoroughly cook meat; remove all bones before serving. Bone may become a danger of choking, dentures or damage to the digestive system.
Never add seasonings to food for the purpose of flavouring it for the benefit of other people. Pets don’t require the same tastes that human beings do.
Keep any leftover food in a covered container in the refrigerator. Not to keep cooked food at room temperature for extended periods.
If you aren’t certain how fast your dog will finish eating the food, make smaller portions.
How to Introduce a New Homemade Food
Never switch your dog’s food all at once.
Introduce the new food gradually, mixing it with the current food. Gradually add if your dog is able to manage it.
Look for symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, itching, gas, or loss of appetite.
If your dog reacts poorly to the new food, discontinue and consult your veterinarian.
Some dogs may have allergies, kidney, diabetes, digestive issues or other sicknesses that require a special kind of diet.
Yes, you can freeze homemade dog food.
Yes, homemade dog food can be frozen.
Yes, you can cook up a batch of dog food and freeze it for later.
Portion the food into meal sizes prior to freezing. This allows only the part that your Golden Retriever wants to eat to be thawed.
Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator and warm them slightly, if necessary. Please check food before use.
Never put hot food in your dog’s bowl. Allow to cool down to a safe temperature first.
Final Thoughts
When you use the simple ingredients that are safe for dogs, it’s easy to create a quick homemade dog food recipe for a Golden Retriever. A simple meal of cooked chicken, rice, vegetables and egg will make a quick and easy home cooked meal or occasional topper.
But home-prepared food is no guaranteed complete and balanced food. Golden Retrievers require various nutrients and their requirements vary depending on their age, size, level of activity and health status.
If you’re providing meals at home on an occasional basis, make it simple and skip any ingredients that are potentially hazardous. If you are going to feed homemade food to your dog as his sole food, consult your veterinarian or other veterinary nutrition expert to ensure that your Golden Retriever receives all the nutrients he or she requires for a healthy life.
