10 Wholesome Homemade Senior Dog Food

Significant changes occur in dogs’ metabolism as they age. This means their bodies process food and utilize nutrients differently.

Responsible pet parents are always eager to explore various feeding options to ensure the well-being of their aging canine companions.

If you have been feeding your dog kibble for most of their adult life, it’s now time to consider transitioning them to a home-prepared diet for optimal health.

Continue reading this article to discover 10 nutritious homemade senior dog food recipes to learn how you can make your dog happy in their golden years.

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10 Nutritious & Easy Homemade Senior Dog Food

1. Steamed Chicken Senior Dog Food Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2-3 lbs. of chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on preferred)
• 1 lb. of baby carrots
• 3 large sweet potatoes, roughly chopped
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• A pinch of sea salt
• A handful of fresh parsley (optional)

Instructions:

1. Rinse the chicken and pat dry. Heat olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat, ensuring it coats the bottom of the pot.
2. Add the carrots in a flat layer, followed by the chicken thighs (skin side down if using bone-in).
3. Sprinkle the chicken with a pinch of sea salt, then add the chopped sweet potatoes. If using, sprinkle parsley over the vegetables.
4. Reduce the heat to medium, cover the pot, and cook for 1 hour.
5. Let the dish rest for 15 minutes after cooking. Remove one chicken thigh, 1 cup of sweet potatoes, ½ cup of carrots, and some broth for your dog’s bowl.
6. Debone the chicken carefully to avoid any splinters, shred it into bite-sized pieces, and mix with the vegetables and broth.
7. Allow the meal to cool to room temperature before serving.

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2. Dog Food Recipe for Senior Dogs

Image Credit: naturalpetshq

Ingredients:

• 3 lb. 8 oz. roasted chicken breast (boneless, skinless, cooked weight)
• 14 cups cooked long-grain white rice
• 1 1/3 cup corn oil
• 8 cups canned green beans (drained)
• 38 tsp. Balance IT® Canine powder (or 27 tsp. Balance IT® Canine Plus powder).

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F. Slice raw chicken breasts into 1-inch strips for faster cooking. Arrange on a foil-lined baking sheet without adding oil or salt.
2. Roast the chicken for 20 – 30 minutes until fully cooked (internal temperature of at least 165°F). Let cool, then chop into bite-sized pieces.
3. While the chicken is cooking, prepare rice according to package instructions. For the required amount, cook approximately 7 cups of dry rice with 14 cups of water. Let the rice cool after cooking.
4. Open and drain the canned green beans.
5. Once the chicken, rice, and green beans are cool, measure all ingredients accurately using a kitchen scale or measuring cups.
6. Place the chicken, rice, green beans, corn oil, and Balance IT® powder into a large mixing bowl. Stir thoroughly until evenly combined.
7. Divide the mixture evenly into 7 airtight containers. Refrigerate 3 containers for up to 3 days and freeze the remaining 4 for later use.

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3. Beef & Vegetable Recipe for Senior Dogs

Ingredients:

• 100 grams of lean beef (boneless, lightly cooked)
• 150 grams of broccoli (steamed or boiled, finely chopped)
• 30 grams of white rice (dry weight, cooked until very soft)
• 7.5 ml of canola or soybean oil
• 4 ml of Vit’i5 Blue supplement

Instructions:

1. Cook beef lightly in a pan without added fat. Steam or boil the broccoli until soft and chop into small pieces.
2. Cook the white rice for twice the recommended time for humans to ensure easy digestion.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked beef, broccoli, rice, oil, and Vit’i5 Blue supplement. Mix thoroughly until evenly well mixed.
4. Serve fresh or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 24 hours. For longer storage, freeze the mixture in single portions and add freshly cooked rice on the day of serving.

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4. Healthy Dog Food Recipe for Senior Dogs

Image Credit: Rocky Kanaka

Ingredients:

• 2½ pounds raw boneless meat (chicken, turkey, or beef)
• 1-pound raw vegetables (carrots, spinach, broccoli, etc.)
• 1-pound cooked complex carbohydrates (brown rice, legumes, or sweet potatoes)
• 4 crushed eggshells or equivalent eggshell powder
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• A dash of ground turmeric

Instructions:

1. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, melt the coconut oil, and coat the surface.
2. Season the meat with ground turmeric and cook until done. Let it cool before chopping into small chunks.
3. Coarsely chop the vegetables and cook lightly if necessary.
4. Prepare the complex carbohydrates (cook until soft), and mix them with the meat and vegetables.
5. Add the crushed eggshells and stir until all ingredients are evenly combined.
6. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze in portions for later use.

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5. Beef & Sweet Potato Grain-Free Recipe

Ingredients:

• 4.3 lbs. lean ground beef, cooked
• 16 cups sweet potato, baked and mashed
• 6¼ teaspoons corn oil
• 8 cups canned green beans, drained
• 27 teaspoons canine powder supplement

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Rinse the sweet potatoes, pierce the skins, and bake on a foil-lined tray for 40-50 minutes until soft. Let cool and scoop out the flesh.
2. Cook the ground beef in a large pot over medium heat until no pink color remains on the meat. Drain and allow it to cool.
3. Drain the canned green beans as the beef and sweet potatoes cool
4. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly. Portion and serve immediately, or refrigerate/freeze for future use.

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6. Brown Rice Homemade Senior Dog Food

Ingredients:

• ¼ pound lean ground beef, cooked
• 2 cups cooked brown rice
• 1 hard-boiled egg (with shell), mashed
• ½ cup pureed pumpkin
• ½ cup blueberries

Instructions:

1. Brown the ground beef until fully cooked. Prepare the brown rice according to the package instructions.
2. Mash the hard-boiled egg.
3. Combine the cooked beef, rice, mashed egg, pureed pumpkin, and blueberries in a mixing bowl. Stir well until evenly mixed.
4. Serve once cooled to room temperature. Portion about ½ cup per 25-30 lbs. of dog weight, twice daily.

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7. Dog Food Recipe for Senior Dogs

Image Credit: topdogtips

Ingredients:

• 1 cup boiled chicken (chopped)
• 1 hard-boiled egg (mashed)
• 2 tbsp. plain yogurt
• 1/4 cup cooked brown rice
• 1/4 cup steamed carrots
• 1/4 cup steamed peas.

Instructions:

1. Start by boiling the chicken and egg. Prepare the brown rice according to the packaging instructions, using about 1/8 cup of dry rice to yield 1/4 cup cooked.
2. Steam the carrots and peas until tender.
3. Once all ingredients are cooked, chop the chicken and mash the egg. Combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
4. Stir everything together until well combined. Let the mixture cool completely before serving it to your senior dog.

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8. Dog Food Recipe for Senior Dogs

Image Credit: topdogtips

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked brown rice
• ¼ pound lean ground beef (75-80%)
• ½ cup fresh blueberries
• ½ cup pureed pumpkin
• 1 hard-boiled egg (mashed, with shell removed)

Instructions:

1. Cook the brown rice according to the package instructions, starting with about ¾ – 1 cup of dry rice to yield 2 cups of cooked rice. Let it cool.
2. In a skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat until thoroughly cooked. Drain any excess fat and set it aside to cool.
3. Mash the hard-boiled egg into small pieces in a bowl.
4. Combine the cooked rice, browned beef, pureed pumpkin, fresh blueberries, and mashed egg in a large mixing bowl.
5. Mix well until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Let the food cool completely before serving it to your senior dog.

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9. DIY Food for Your Senior Pup

Ingredients:

• 1 cup boiled chicken, chopped
• 1 hard-boiled egg, mashed
• 2 tbsp. plain yogurt
• 1/4 cup cooked brown rice
• 1/4 cup steamed carrots, chopped
• 1/4 cup steamed green beans, chopped

Instructions:

1. Prepare all the ingredients by boiling the chicken and egg, cooking the rice, and steaming the vegetables. Let cool completely before starting.
2. Chop the boiled chicken into bite-sized pieces.
3. Mash the hard-boiled egg thoroughly using a fork.
4. Finely chop the steamed carrots and green beans into small, manageable pieces for your dog.
5. In a large bowl, combine the chicken, mashed egg, yogurt, cooked brown rice, steamed carrots, and green beans.
6. Portion the food according to your dog’s weight. A general guideline is about 1/2 cup of food for every 20-25 pounds of body weight.

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10. Sardine & Pork for Senior Dogs

Ingredients

• 150g ground pork
• 1 free-range egg
• 2 slices of sardines
• 1 tsp turmeric paste
• 85g mixed vegetables (carrots, bell peppers, zucchini, and 2 basil leaves)
• 100 ml bone broth with a pinch of sea salt
• 1 tbsp chia seeds (soaked overnight)
• 50 ml homemade kefir
• Multivitamin/electrolyte powder (optional)

Instructions:

1. Chop the carrots, bell peppers, zucchini, and basil leaves into small pieces. Place the vegetable mix in an Instant Pot on the vegetable setting and cook until tender. Set aside to cool.
2. Cook the ground pork until fully browned in a skillet over medium heat. Drain excess fat and let it cool.
3. Heat the bone broth with a pinch of sea salt until warm, but do not boil. This enhances flavor without losing nutrients.
4. In a mixing bowl, mash the sardine slices and mix with the turmeric paste.
5. Combine the cooked vegetables, ground pork, sardine-turmeric mix, soaked chia seeds, and kefir. Stir thoroughly until evenly blended.
6. Crack the egg into the mixture and stir to combine. If using a multivitamin or electrolyte powder, add it at this stage and mix well.
7. Allow the food to cool completely before serving. Divide into portions based on your dog’s size and refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days.

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Conclusion

Senior dogs can be challenging to feed, especially with a homemade diet. Because they’re not as active, they often need lower protein and fewer calories.

They may have health issues, such as joint problems and heart conditions, that need to be addressed with their diet.

We recommend that you discuss this with your vet before feeding these 10 homemade senior dog foods, especially if you’re introducing new ingredients.

They can provide personalized guidance on your dog’s unique requirements and help you make dog food choices that nourish your furry friend in their golden years.

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