How to cook ground turkey for dogs

Ever since we published our first Easy Homemade Dog Food Recipe we have been overwhelmed by the number of people who have told us that they have already made the leap and are preparing fresh meals for their pups at home! Ditching processed kibble once and for all is one of the best things you can do for your dog. We learned this ourselves this last year after our 11-year old dog had an incredibly positive change to his health once we moved to a healthy dog food! Recently, I developed a new 100% human grade homemade dog food recipe that utilizes some of the best fall produce for your dog like sweet potatoes, cranberries, rosemary, and sage! Our dogs love it so much I decided to share it here too so you and your pup can celebrate the best the season has to offer.

***Please note, I am not a veterinarian, just a very passionate dog owner! The information in this blog post documents our own personal experiences, research, and the recipes that we feed our dogs under our veterinarian’s careful supervision. Please, consult with your vet and use your own personal judgment when considering transitioning to a 100% human grade food diet for your pup.*** Updated with video 9/4/2021

Honestly, I was in total shock, how did we miss this?! He is with me all day, every day!! He just seemed like he was dealing with some symptoms of old age – frequent urination, sometimes excessive water drinking, and I would notice occasionally that he would have a mild case of diarrhea. It definitely didn’t feel like life threatening symptoms to us! As much as the diagnosis was a shock, the price tag of the prescription diet that we were told he would need to eat for the remainder of his life was pretty horrifying too! When I asked our vet how long we had left with him the prognosis wasn't good, 3-6 months maybe 9 if we were lucky. We had to wait 6 weeks for a follow up blood panel to really know what kind of timeline we were looking at.

So we went to work & spent the days/weeks that followed researching canine kidney disease like Hooch's life depended on it.

After reading what felt like every article on the internet we were excited to know that there were a few really easy lifestyle changes we could immediately make at home. We hoped some of this would really help Hooch and make things easier on his kidneys. Here are a few of the biggest impact changes we've been able to make:

Filtered or distilled water only

The kidney’s main function is to filter out the toxins in our bodies. Since tap water can be loaded with chemicals and contaminants it is best to only give your dog clean, filtered water to drink. If you have a dog living with kidney disease like we do, you may also want to eventually invest in a slow water feeder. Dogs with kidney disease can get quite thirsty and will actually start drinking water too fast which causes its own unique set of problems.

Feed smaller meals, more often

Dogs with kidney problems often feel better when fed several small meals throughout the day rather than just one or two large meals. You may find that you need to adjust your feeding schedule as time goes on to keep your pup comfy! Hooch has really benefited from smaller meals throughout the day and seems to have much more energy all the way into the evening.

Increase exercise

Luckily for us, right before Hooch’s diagnosis we adopted a puppy, Rebel. She has played a big part in making sure he is more active and on his feet playing for a good portion of the day. We still have had to make a conscious effort to get out and walk with him more than we were before though. Dogs are just like us, the more they move, the better their bodies function and the easier it is for their kidney’s to do their job.

Vitamins and Nutrients for dogs

Humans don’t get all of the vitamins and nutrients they need from a one-stop-shop kind of a diet and neither do our dogs! Whether your dog is eating a diet that consists of kibble or you are dishing up a homemade dog food recipe like this one, your pup needs vitamins and minerals just like you do! We really like and use the brand Dog Greens every single day! It is a plant based vitamin and mineral powder that we sprinkle over the dog’s food with each meal. They love the flavor and we love knowing that all of their nutritional needs have been met each day!

*More info here at AKC.org

Ground White Meat Turkey

You may have noticed that turkey is a common ingredient in dog treats and dog food. Thoroughly cooked and drained ground white meat turkey, as long as it's plain and has no additives or salt, is perfectly healthy for dogs. However, there are some parts of the turkey you should never feed to your pup. Obviously, never feed your dog turkey bones as they can splinter and cause serious problems for them. Also, the fat in turkey skin may cause pancreatitis, a condition in which the pancreas becomes inflamed and swollen, so you do not want to feed them the skin either. The seasoning added to pre-cooked store bought turkey and deli meat usually contains onion and garlic which can irritate your dog's bowels and cause serious digestive issues, such as vomiting and diarrhea.

Brown rice

Brown rice has all of the fiber from the hull of the rice grain still intact and it’s easily digestible. This makes it a great ingredient for homemade dog food! If you are limiting the phosphorus levels in your dog’s food due to kidney disease you can use a cup for cup replacement of white rice in this recipe instead.

Eggs

Eggs are one the top 5 allergens for dogs and the yolks are very high in phosphorus -which you want to limit in dog’s with kidney disease. But, eggs are also one of the highest quality forms of protein you can feed your pet! Ultimately, a hard boiled egg is Hooch’s favorite thing on the planet so, with our vets approval we opted to leave them in his food for now.

Cooked sweet potatoes are a great addition to bulk up their meals too, just never feed your dog raw sweet potato as it can cause serious blockages! Cooked sweet potatoes provide an excellent source of dietary fiber, which helps the digestive system function more effectively.  However, it is important to note that the AKC says, 'for dogs that are diabetic, overweight, or less active, owners should proceed carefully and only give their dog a minimal amount of sweet potatoes. “They should be incorporated with caution in the diets of diabetic dogs, due to a high glycemic index,” says Dr. Barrack.'

Fresh Herbs

This fall inspired dog food recipe has a fragrant blend of rosemary, sage, and curly parsley. The curly, not flat-leaf variety of parsley is great for preventative kidney health because it has cleansing properties. Don't have fresh herbs on hand? Take a look at what is in your spice cabinet instead! I recently wrote an entire post about the nutritional benefits of dried herbs for dogs and shared the recipe for my homemade dog food seasoning! 

Omega Rich Oil 

It's important to add an oil that is high in Omega 3’s and 6's into each batch of dog food you make! I usually just stick with olive oil or safflower oil because I typically have them on hand and they are affordable. There are great Omega oil blends available on the market too that contain Omega’s 3,6, & 9 but they tend to be a bit pricier.

Hemp Hearts

Superfoods aren't just for humans - our dog's can benefit from them too!! If you have ever wondered, “Can dogs eat hemp seeds?” the answer is yes! Hemp seeds contain over 30% fat and have the perfect ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids. These super seeds have a ton of benefits for dogs, like cancer prevention and reduced joint pain. Ingesting hemp is shown to strengthen the immune system, support healthy organ function, and have positive effects on brain function and fertility!

This will obviously vary from dog to dog, but a general rule of thumb is for every 10 pounds your dog weighs they should be fed roughly 1 cup of prepared food. If needed you can always call and consult with you vet about transitioning your dog's diet and the amount of food your dog should eat each day. Just remember, if your pup is living with kidney disease like ours you will want to break up the amount of food they receive into smaller meals throughout the day. Instead of one big meal each day you will need to divide meals up into 2-3 smaller feedings. This will make it much easier for your dogs' kidneys to do their job.

Our dogs seriously LOVE snack time, but snack time has had to seriously change! Dog’s with kidney disease should avoid meat based chews/treats that are high in phosphorus, so you may find that you need to explore new types of treats for your dog instead. My probiotic rich Pumpkin & Yogurt Bowls are our dog's favorite treat these days! They also really enjoy thin apple slices, blueberries, and fresh banana chunks. When it comes to crunchy chews they both are SUPER into dehydrated banana chips,  pumpkin,  and sweet potato. I swear, our dog's drool for them like they are the jerky chews we used to treat them with!

Hooch’s numbers shifted drastically when the vet drew labs only 6 weeks after we made these diet and lifestyle changes! Those stage 4 kidney disease blood levels he had at his yearly checkup had climbed back up to to midrange stage 1 kidney disease blood levels in the first 6 weeks! He was happy, had more mobility thanks to less inflammation, was having more regular poops, and for the first time in his entire life Hooch had ZERO gas and no bloat in his belly!

The extra time and energy invested in researching and making his food coupled with the other small changes we made to his lifestyle have given us more quality time with our beloved Hooch! 9 months ago when we received his diagnosis we thought he might not be here with us this fall - it was an awful, gut wrenching reality that we were trying to wrap our heads around at the time. But, here we are - 3 months shy of the 1 year anniversary of his diagnosis and instead of his health deteriorating we are watching him thrive! Just yesterday, I watched him run at top speed in circles around our property with his tail tucked for wind resistance! He was literally zooming like a puppy with his big floppy tongue hanging out of his mouth and it literally brought tears to my eyes watching him have such a good time.

If you’ve made our Home Made Dog Food recipe for your pup I would be so grateful if you would rate the recipe and let me know what you think in the comments below! I just love hearing from you and your reviews and comments really help others that visit This Mess is Ours.

Don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know what you and your pup think about this Home Made Dog Food recipe in the comments below, I just love hearing from you and your reviews/comments really help other people that visit This Mess is Ours! 

• Author: This Mess is Ours
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 13 cups 1x
• Category: Dog Food
• Method: Stove top/Instant Pot
• Cuisine: Dog Food
• Diet: Gluten Free

2 pounds ground white meat turkey, cooked thoroughly and drained

6 cups cooked brown rice, white rice if your dog has had a kidney disease diagnosis

6 hard boiled eggs

2 large sweet potatoes, scrubbed clean, peeled, cubed, and steamed

1 (15-ounce) bag frozen peas

½ cup fresh cranberries, sliced thin

¼ cup hemp hearts

¼ cup parsley

6 sage leaves, minced

3 tablespoons minced rosemary

3 tablespoons olive oil, Udo's omega-3 and omega-6 oil blend, or safflower oil

Combine all of the ingredients together in a large container and stir to combine completely. Store in the refrigerator in-between feedings.

How much 100% human grade food to feed your dog:

This will obviously vary from dog to dog, but a general rule of thumb is for every 10 pounds your dog weighs they should be fed roughly 1 cup of prepared food. If needed you can always call and consult with you vet about transitioning your dog's diet and the amount of food your dog should eat each day. 

To make prepping this homemade dog food a cinch and to save LOTS of time and dishes in the process I like to cook the hard boiled eggs and the rice in my Instant Pot!

I start with cooking the eggs first, then while the rice is cooking in the Instant Pot I brown the meat and get all of the fresh ingredients together. It really does help make the process of meal prepping homemade dog food so much easier!

Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs: Place the metal trivet into the Instant Pot and add 1 cup of water. Add uncooked eggs on top of the trivet. Place the lid on top, lock to sealing, and cook high pressure for 5 minutes. Release pressure valve manually at the end of the cooking time and carefully remove the hard boiled eggs to a water bath to cool

Instant Pot Brown Rice: Combine the desired amount of rice and water in an Instant Pot. Place the lid on and set the pressure to sealing. Pressure cook on high with the venting knob in the sealed position for 15 minutes, then allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes. Then carefully quick release (turn Venting Knob to Venting position) and remove the lid. Fluff the brown rice with a rice paddle or fork. If the rice still seems a bit wet, let it rest a bit for the moisture to escape before mixing with other ingredients.

Keywords: homemade dog food recipe, home made dog food, dog food recipe, how to make dog food, dog food recipe for canine kidney disease

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Want to see more of the delicious homemade dog food recipes we make for our dogs?

How to make our original Homemade Dog Food recipe 

It’s a fact, feeding your pup a diet of 100%  human grade dog food is easy, cost effective, and WAY better for them than a traditional doggie diet of processed kibble! My easy homemade dog food recipe combines lean ground beef, wholesome brown rice, fresh vegetables, hard boiled eggs, and tender herbs for a healthy, vibrant alternative to traditional dog food that has given our 11 year old dog a new lease on life!

Pumpkin and Yogurt Bowl for Dogs recipe

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for all of us, even our dogs! Get your dog’s day off to a great start with a healthy dose of protein, vitamins, and minerals by feeding him/her a delicious Pumpkin and Yogurt Bowl for Dogs. These yogurt bowls are filled with good for your dog ingredients like fat free Greek yogurt, 100% pure pumpkin puree, plant based vitamin and mineral powder, and my Homemade Dog Food Seasoning which is a blend of 5 herbs that have extraordinary health benefits for your dog!

Homemade Dog Food Seasoning Blend recipe

It’s no secret that fresh herbs and spices are beneficial to a person’s health and diet, but did you know that your dog’s diet could benefit from the addition of them also!? In the summer months, it’s easy to include green leafy herbs like parsley and basil in our dog’s fresh homemade food because I have lots growing in the garden. But, when fresh herbs are sparse I turn to my spice cabinet where I keep a little jar of spices labeled ‘Homemade Dog Food Seasoning Blend’. This easy to make custom spice blend combines dried parsley, basil, dill, rosemary, and oregano for a seasoning blend your dog is sure to love!

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We aren't the only people that have converted to making homemade dog food and are LOVING the results! Check out the links below for more homemade dog food recipes your pup will LOVE!

Homemade Dog Food Recipe from College Housewife || Elizabeth's sweet dog Rascal suffered from all sorts of health issues which led them to having him allergy tested. Turns out Rascal was allergic to all sorts of things - even beef! So, Elizabeth developed a homemade dog food recipe that is just perfect for Rascal's sensitive belly that is filled with ground turkey, sweet potatoes, carrots, and zucchini squash and macaroni noodles!

DIY Homemade Dog Food from Damn Delicious ||Chungah's dog Butter's battle with stomach issues led her to start making dog food at home. This recipe is easy to make and super good for your pups too! It combines a delicious blend of 50% protein, 25% veggies and 25% grains and is made of ingredients like ground chicken, brown rice, shredded zucchini, spinach, carrots, and peas.