There is a reason congee is what Hong Kong families cook when someone is unwell: warm, soft, easy to swallow, easy to digest. Dogs feel much the same way about it. This chicken liver carrot congee dog food recipe is the one to make for an older dog, a dog recovering from an upset stomach, or a fussy eater who needs coaxing. The small amount of liver is there for the iron, and for the smell that gets noses out of beds.
The congee base lowers energy density to about 1.0 kcal/g with high moisture, making this ideal for dogs with dental issues, sensitive digestion or poor water intake. A small amount of chicken liver supplies iron, copper and vitamin A; liver is capped at about 4% of the formula to avoid vitamin A excess. Protein is about 87 g and fat about 35 g per 1000 kcal – a moderate-fat, highly digestible design.
Ingredients (standard batch)
| Ingredient | Amount | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Skinless chicken thigh | 1.5 kg | diced about 1 cm, skinless |
| Chicken liver | 150 g | finely chopped |
| Carrot | 400 g | finely diced |
| White rice | 350 g | rinsed |
| Eggs | 3 eggs | beaten in at the end |
| Water | about 1.2 L | added to keep a porridge consistency |
This batch yields about 3.9 kg of food (about 4,009 kcal), roughly 6 days for a 10 kg adult dog.
Method
- Rinse the rice, add about 2.5 L of water in total, boil then simmer for 25 minutes until the grains break down.
- Add the carrot and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add the chicken and liver and simmer 12 to 15 minutes until fully cooked.
- Beat in the eggs, cook 2 minutes until set, and cool.
- Portion and serve the liquid together with the solids, per the dosing table.
Estimated nutrient analysis (base recipe, before supplements)
| Item | Per 100 g | Per 1000 kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Metabolisable energy | 104 kcal | – |
| Crude protein | 9 g | 87 g |
| Fat | 3.6 g | 35 g |
| Carbohydrate | 8 g | 77 g |
| Dietary fibre | 0.4 g | 3.8 g |
| Calcium | 11 mg | 0.10 g |
| Phosphorus | 94 mg | 0.91 g |
The base recipe supplies only 0.10 g of calcium per 1000 kcal, far below an adult dog’s requirement, so supplementation is essential. Adding Eggshell Calcium Powder as per the table below (this recipe needs about 3.0 g per 1000 kcal) brings calcium to 1.25 g/1000 kcal (the AAFCO adult maintenance level), with a calcium to phosphorus ratio of about 1.4:1 (ideal range 1.2 to 2:1). Daily Multi for Dogs, dosed by body weight, supplies 20 essential vitamins and minerals. Together they make the meal complete and balanced.
Feeding and supplement dosing (two meals per day)
| Dog weight | Daily energy need | Daily food | Batch lasts | Daily Multi (per meal) | Eggshell Calcium (per meal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 kg | 251 kcal | about 240 g | about 16 days＊ | 0.5 g | 0.4 g (about 1/8 tsp) |
| 5 kg | 368 kcal | about 350 g | about 11 days | 1 g | 0.6 g (about 1/4 tsp) |
| 10 kg | 619 kcal | about 600 g | about 6 days | 1.5 g | 0.9 g (about 3/8 tsp) |
| 20 kg | 1,040 kcal | about 1,000 g | about 4 days | 2 g | 1.6 g (about 5/8 tsp) |
| 30 kg | 1,410 kcal | about 1,360 g | about 3 days | 2 g | 2.1 g (about 7/8 tsp) |
*For small dogs one batch lasts beyond the 2-week freezer guideline – scale the batch down proportionally. If you feed once daily, combine both meal portions of the supplements. Stir supplements in only after the food has cooled to just warm. Energy needs follow NRC (2006) MER = 110 kcal x BW(kg)^0.75 and vary about plus or minus 15% with neuter status and activity; weigh your dog every 2 weeks and adjust to body condition score.
Storage
Let it cool, then divide it into daily portions. Three days worth goes in the fridge (4°C) and the rest straight into the freezer, where it keeps for two weeks. Move tomorrow’s portion down to the fridge the night before, and warm it in a bowl of hot water before serving. Skip the microwave: it heats unevenly and leaves scalding pockets next to frozen ones.
Clinical notes
- Do not increase the liver amount; consult your vet first if your dog has liver disease or takes a vitamin A supplement.
- Cook all meat and fish right through (core temperature above 75°C), and add no salt, sugar or seasoning at all. It will taste bland to you, which is exactly right for your dog.
- Onion, garlic, chives, grapes and chocolate are toxic to dogs. No amount is safe, and there is no exception to this one.
- Give your dog a week to change over, adding a little more of the new food each day, and keep an eye on stools, skin and appetite as you go. There is no prize for rushing it.
- These recipes are formulated for healthy adult dogs. For puppies, pregnant or nursing mothers, seniors, or any dog with a medical condition, talk to your vet before you start.
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