If your dog has been scratching and chicken is the prime suspect, turkey is the sensible next move: handled the same way, cooked the same way, but a protein most local dogs have simply never eaten. This turkey pumpkin rice dog food recipe is deliberately plain, so you can see clearly whether the itching settles.
Turkey is a lower-allergenicity protein with low prior exposure among local dogs, making it a sound alternative for dogs showing adverse food reactions to chicken such as itchy skin; fat is about 33 g per 1000 kcal, a moderately lean design.
Ingredients (standard batch)
| Ingredient | Amount | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Minced turkey | 1.8 kg | |
| Pumpkin | 600 g | peeled, deseeded, diced |
| White rice | 400 g | rinsed (about 2 rice-cooker cups) |
| Frozen green peas | 150 g | added late |
| Olive oil | 15 g (about 1 tbsp) | stirred in after cooking |
This batch yields about 3.1 kg of food (about 4,349 kcal), roughly 7 days for a 10 kg adult dog. Use a rice cooker of 8 cups or larger; if yours is smaller, cook in two rounds or halve the batch.
Method
- Rinse the rice and add to the rice cooker with about 550 ml of water.
- Layer the turkey and pumpkin on top and run a normal cycle.
- Add the peas in the last 10 minutes (or during the rest).
- Stir in the olive oil, fluff, confirm the turkey is fully cooked, and cool.
- 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 | 12.3 g | 88 g |
| Fat | 4.7 g | 33 g |
| Carbohydrate | 11.8 g | 84 g |
| Dietary fibre | 0.6 g | 4.4 g |
| Calcium | 18 mg | 0.13 g |
| Phosphorus | 118 mg | 0.85 g |
The base recipe supplies only 0.13 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 2.9 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 1.5:1 (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 12 days | 1 g | 0.5 g (about 1/4 tsp) |
| 10 kg | 619 kcal | about 440 g | about 7 days | 1.5 g | 0.9 g (about 3/8 tsp) |
| 20 kg | 1,040 kcal | about 740 g | about 4 days | 2 g | 1.5 g (about 5/8 tsp) |
| 30 kg | 1,410 kcal | about 1,010 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
- During an elimination trial, feed no other protein sources or treats for at least 8 weeks.
- 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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