Should You Make Your Own Dog Food?

Are you thinking that you should make your own dog food? Understanding the nutritional requirements of a Maltese dog is the key to making the perfect and nutritiously healthy dog food at home. Food that you prepare for your Maltese pup should be both tasty and healthy.

Another important point is to remember all the ingredients that should NOT be added to your dog's food. A few ingredients that are unhealthy and can be fatal to your Maltese include citrus oil, mushrooms, and avocados. A complete list (over 60!) of these dangerous foods can be found in this home cooked dog food guide.

Do not feed your dog what you are eating, as most human food includes some of these ingredients. Ideally, a dog's diet should be composed of 30% starch (some people argue that this can be left out entirely though), 30% vegetables and 40% protein. These are the major food groups that you should choose from when making your own dog food. 

There are specific nutritional needs for all dogs to stay healthy. If they fail to receive all the nutrition they require, they will end up developing a variety of diseases and problems. Therefore, if you are making dog food for your Maltese, you must ensure that it is a balanced diet. 

• All living things (including dogs) require minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, fat, protein and water to be healthy.
   
• The key to prepare a healthy diet is to balance these essential elements. 
  
  
• All Maltese dogs are different and have their own specific nutritional requirements depending on their chemistry structure, activity level, and metabolism. This is why it is greatly recommended that you consult with your vet before you try any homemade dog food recipe. 

• If you are cooking lean beef or turkey in a skillet, make sure you cook it till it's completely brown and no red meat is visible.
  
  
• It is always wise to get your dog checked by a vet before you switch to homemade food for your dog. You may even consider some tests that show any deficiency your Maltese is facing, so that you prepare food accordingly. Once you know what is needed, there are a variety of supplements available that you can easily add to your dog's homemade food.
  
  
• Always buy good quality meat for your dog if you really want to prepare a healthy and balanced diet. Most of the commercial dog food uses meat that is unfit for humans, which makes them dangerous for the health of your dog as well.
  

• A mixture of carrot, rice and ground turkey is well liked by most Maltese dogs. Meals made of carrots, brewer's yeast, brown rice and ground beef are also great for picky eaters.
  
  
• Do not forget to provide your dog with a variety of foods and nutrients by rotating the food regularly.
  
  
• It is not required, but you can also add potatoes, rice, pasta, and oatmeal.
  
  
• Do not refrigerate homemade dog food for more than 3 days. You can freeze meal-sized portions for up to 6 months in an airtight container.

Fry ground meat until it is completely browned. Add rice and stir to mix well.

Add the 3 cups of the broth and bring to a boil. Simmer for five minutes.

Add all veggies and remaining broth. Simmer for another 20 minutes, or until broth is completely absorbed. 

Stir in any dog vitamins (if desired) and let cool. 

Immediately serve, or freeze this dish in individual portion sizes for up to 3 months for later use.