Homemade dog food recipes are useful for pet owners who wish to make their own food. With recalls of commercial pet food being more common in the 2000s, many animal lovers have begun making their own dog food. Making dog food at home allows a pet to consume more nutrients and food more specific to particular health conditions.Mighty Foods: Natural Dog Food Recipes (June 7, 2007)Pet Care IQ: Preparing Home Made Dog Food

Homemade dog food prevents dogs from intaking preservatives.Pet Care IQ: Preparing Home Made Dog Food Because there are not preservatives, the food does not keep fresh as long as store boughtPet Care IQ: Preparing Home Made Dog Food

It is advisable to talk to a veterinarian before changing a pet's dietMighty Foods: Natural Dog Food Recipes (June 7, 2007) Homemade foods can add ground egg shell for calciumPet Care IQ: Preparing Home Made Dog Food Do not use onions, cabbage or similar vegetables as they may cause gas.Pet Care IQ: Preparing Home Made Dog Food

To make homemade dog food recipes it is advisable to learn information relating to preparation, cooking and storage of the food.

It wasn't until the early 1900s when commercially sold dog food became available. Before that time, pet owners either made food specifically for the animal or few them table scraps. The invention of the prepackaged food was believed to provide the animals more nutrients. The first dog foods were made after World War II and were made from horse meat to dispose of deceased animals. Although the pet food industry has grown to $15 billion a year in sales, more people are turning to making their own for natural ingredients and holistic and health reason for the pets.http://www.sojos.com/historyofpetfood.html

Pet food recipes may include treats or the main meal items. When making dog food, avoid including chocolate, anything containing Xylitol, grapes and raisins, nuts, foods with molds, mushrooms, mustard seeds, onions, garlic, and yeast doughs.http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Homemade-Pet-Food/Detail.aspx

Variations and recipes which may be made for dogs include:

1. Casseroles may include rice and meats.
2. Dog biscuits can be made to help with breath issues.http://www.i-love-dogs.com/dog-food-recipes.html
3. Chicken and vegetables can be cook with rice in a broth to make a wet food meal.http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Lucky-and-Rippys-Favorite-Dog-Food/Detail.aspx
4. Meat cakes can be baked in muffin tins similar to mini meatloaves and may include vegetables also.http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Poochie-Meat-Cakes/Detail.aspx