If you want a change you can actually photograph, feed fish. The omega-3 in salmon goes to work on the skin barrier and the coat, and a month or two in, people start asking what you have been doing differently. This salmon potato dog food recipe is rich enough that it needs no added oil at all. The fish brings its own.
Salmon is rich in EPA and DHA, the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids with documented benefits for the skin barrier, coat and joints; fat is about 39 g per 1000 kcal, all from the fish itself with no added plant oil. One or two fish meals per week in rotation is enough for an omega-3 effect.
Ingredients (standard batch)
| Ingredient | Amount | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Salmon fillet | 1.6 kg | skin and bones removed |
| Potato | 1 kg | peeled and diced |
| Broccoli | 350 g | small florets |
| Rolled oats | 200 g |
This batch yields about 3.0 kg of food (about 4,173 kcal), roughly 7 days for a 10 kg adult dog.
Method
- Put the potato in a pot, cover with water and boil 12 minutes until soft.
- Steam the salmon 8 to 10 minutes until cooked through.
- Add the broccoli to the potato pot for 5 minutes, then stir in the oats for 2 minutes.
- Flake the salmon, checking every piece for bones, and mix everything together.
- Cool and portion per the dosing table.
Estimated nutrient analysis (base recipe, before supplements)
| Item | Per 100 g | Per 1000 kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Metabolisable energy | 140 kcal | – |
| Crude protein | 10.6 g | 76 g |
| Fat | 5.5 g | 39 g |
| Carbohydrate | 11.7 g | 84 g |
| Dietary fibre | 1.6 g | 11.6 g |
| Calcium | 16 mg | 0.11 g |
| Phosphorus | 150 mg | 1.07 g |
The base recipe supplies only 0.11 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 3.1 g per 1000 kcal) brings calcium to 1.28 g/1000 kcal (the AAFCO adult maintenance level), with a calcium to phosphorus ratio of about 1.2:1 (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 180 g | about 17 days＊ | 0.5 g | 0.4 g (about 1/8 tsp) |
| 5 kg | 368 kcal | about 260 g | about 11 days | 1 g | 0.6 g (about 1/4 tsp) |
| 10 kg | 619 kcal | about 440 g | about 7 days | 1.5 g | 1.0 g (about 3/8 tsp) |
| 20 kg | 1,040 kcal | about 740 g | about 4 days | 2 g | 1.6 g (about 5/8 tsp) |
| 30 kg | 1,410 kcal | about 1,010 g | about 3 days | 2 g | 2.2 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
- Even deboned fillets need a second bone check as you flake the fish.
- 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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