By Theresa Gibilisco, owner, The Hungry Puppy
If your dog can't have chicken, cooking at home can feel like the safest way to control every ingredient. It can work. But before you get to the recipes below, there's one thing I want every reader to know, because it matters more than any ingredient list.
Read this first: homemade food has to be balanced
Meat, a starch and some vegetables is a nice meal, but it isn't a complete diet for a dog. In a 2013 UC Davis study, researchers looked at 200 home-prepared dog food recipes from books, websites and even veterinary textbooks. Only 9 met the AAFCO minimums for adult dogs, and about 95 percent were short on at least one essential nutrient. Common gaps included choline, vitamin D, zinc and vitamin E. The four recipes written by board-certified veterinary nutritionists all met acceptable nutrient levels.
So please treat the recipes below as base recipes, not complete diets. If you plan to feed homemade food for more than a few days, have it balanced by your vet or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. They'll tell you how much to feed and exactly which vitamin and mineral supplement to add.
One tool many vets use is Balance IT (balanceit.com), founded in 2003 by Dr. Sean Delaney, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and former clinical nutrition faculty member at UC Davis. It offers a free recipe tool and supplements made to complete homemade diets. Ask your vet whether it's a good fit for your dog.
Watch for hidden chicken
If your dog has a true chicken allergy, small amounts count. Check for:
- Chicken broth or stock in cooking liquids
- Chicken fat in oils, supplements and treats
- "Natural flavor" in commercial foods and treats, which can come from chicken
- Eggs, if your vet has told you to avoid them too
Turkey and duck are different birds, but they're still poultry. Ask your vet whether they're okay for your dog before you use the turkey recipe below.
Foods to keep out of the pot
Never add onions, garlic, chives, grapes, raisins, chocolate, macadamia nuts or anything sweetened with xylitol. Skip salt, spice blends and heavy fats, and always remove cooked bones.
Base recipe 1: Lamb and quinoa
- 2 lbs ground lamb
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- 1 cup chopped spinach
- 1/2 cup green beans
Cook the quinoa according to the package. Brown the lamb in a large pot until fully cooked and drain extra fat. Add the carrots, spinach and green beans and cook until soft. Stir in the quinoa and let it cool before serving.
Base recipe 2: Beef and sweet potato stew
- 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
- 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1 cup chopped kale
- 1/2 cup peas
Brown the beef in a large pot and drain. Add the sweet potatoes, cover with water, bring to a boil, then simmer until soft. Stir in the kale and peas and cook until tender. Cool before serving.
Base recipe 3: Turkey and pumpkin
- 2 lbs ground turkey (plain, not seasoned)
- 1 cup brown rice
- 1 cup canned pure pumpkin (not pie filling)
- 1/2 cup blueberries
Cook the rice according to the package. Brown the turkey until fully cooked. Stir in the pumpkin, blueberries and rice, then cool.
Base recipe 4: Whitefish and vegetables
- 2 lbs white fish such as cod, deboned
- 1 cup cooked, mashed sweet potato
- 1 cup chopped broccoli
- 1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
Bake the fish at 350Β°F for 20 to 25 minutes, until it flakes and is cooked through. Steam the broccoli and pepper until soft. Flake the fish, check again for bones, and mix everything with the sweet potato. Cool before serving.
Base recipe 5: Salmon and sweet potato
- 2 lbs salmon, skin and bones removed
- 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1 cup chopped spinach
Bake the salmon at 350Β°F until cooked through. Boil the sweet potatoes until soft and mash them. Steam the spinach until wilted. Flake the salmon, check for bones, and mix it all together. Cool before serving.
What your vet or nutritionist will usually add
- A calcium source. Boneless meat is low in calcium, so most homemade diets need one added.
- A vitamin and mineral mix made for dogs and matched to your recipe. Human multivitamins aren't a substitute.
- The right oil. Fish oil or another fat may be added, in an amount set for your dog.
- Portions. How much to feed depends on your dog's weight, age and activity. Your vet can work out the daily amount.
Don't swap ingredients around once a recipe has been balanced. Changing the meat or starch changes the nutrients.
Storing homemade dog food
Cool food quickly, refrigerate it in sealed containers and use it within 3 to 4 days. Freeze single portions for longer storage and thaw them in the refrigerator. Wash bowls after each meal.
A middle ground: chicken-free commercial food
If balancing a homemade diet feels like a lot, a complete and balanced commercial food made without chicken is the simpler route, and many people add a spoonful of homemade food as a topper. Read our list of chicken-free dog foods and browse our limited ingredient foods. Read every label, since many "beef" or "fish" foods still contain chicken fat or chicken meal.
How to get it from us
We'll gladly read labels with you to find foods and treats without chicken. Stop in Tuesday through Friday 9 to 7, Saturday 9 to 5 or Sunday 10 to 4, or call 732-938-4470. We deliver free on your town's route day, Tuesday through Friday, with a $20 minimum across Monmouth County and parts of Ocean, Middlesex and Mercer. Check your day on our local delivery page.
Homemade chicken-free dog food FAQ
Can I feed my dog homemade chicken-free food every day?
Only if the recipe has been balanced by your vet or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. Unbalanced homemade diets can cause deficiencies over time.
Is turkey okay for a dog that's allergic to chicken?
Sometimes, but not always. Turkey is also poultry, so ask your vet before using it.
What supplements does homemade dog food need?
Most homemade diets need at least a calcium source and a vitamin and mineral mix made for dogs. Your vet or a veterinary nutritionist will tell you which ones and how much.
How long does homemade dog food last?
About 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. Freeze portions for longer storage.
Is Balance IT legit?
Balance IT was founded by Dr. Sean Delaney, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, and is used by many vets. Talk with your vet about using it for your dog.