Homemade Dog Food Additives for Your Pet’s Health & Vitality

Posted by Dr Sam, On 7 Oct, 2023 | Updated On 7 Oct, 2023 No Comments »

Cooking for your dog is the greatest love you can give to her. Nutritional needs vary from dog to dog. And homemade food can help you to give your dog customized meals as her health status, life stage and life style required. But the biggest risk in preparing your dog food in your kitchen is nutrition deficiency. However, homemade dog food additives are available to help you ensure that your home-prepared dog meal is nutritionally complete.

In this post you will get natural additives and supplements for your dog meals. Natural additives are best for your dog because they are rich both in nutrients and phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are naturally occurring plant substances that have the ability to protect against diseases.

How Do You Know That Your Homemade Dog Food Needs Additives?

Your nutrition requirement as a human is different from that of your dog. Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is a body of animal nutrition experts that drew a standard for dog nutrition. According to AAFCO for every 1000 Kcal need of an adult dog, there must be 45.00 grams of Protein, 13.80 grams of Fat, 1.25 grams of Calcium, 1.00 grams of Phosphorus, 1.50 grams of Potassium, 0.20 grams of Sodium, 0.30 grams of Chloride, 0.15 grams of Magnesium among other minerals and vitamins.

So, to know the nutrition needs of your dog, you must know her calories need first. Calories need of dogs depends on various factors like life style, life stage, body weight, climate/weather temperature, and physiological state. Here is a dog Daily Energy Requirement (DER) calculator. It takes in all the factors to give you the calories requirement of your dog. Check it out.

Natural Homemade Dog Food Additives and Supplements

The list of additives and supplements you are going to get here are natural ones. Natural, organic food additives are more effective, safer and cheaper than artificial supplements. They contain a variety of natural micronutrients. As dogs’ ancestors were scavengers and foragers, their food additives should be like those on the forest floor, such as seeds and herbs. Here are great natural sources of micronutrient supplements for your dog.

The additives are put into two categories – supplements to boost immunity and keep your dog healthy and those to manage many common health issues.

Immunity Boosting Additives for Homemade Dog Food

1. Eggshell Powder – Great Calcium Additive

Eggshells are made up of 95% calcium carbonate – an essential mineral for your dog bone, enzyme and muscle health. Research shows that eggshell calcium helps in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis (low density, porous bone disease). Besides calcium, eggshells have traces of magnesium, sodium, potassium and phosphorus. Eggshell powder is cheaper and better than calcium tab.

See how you can make eggshell powder yourself.

Eggshell Powder Calcium Supplement Dosage

According to Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), a growing (puppy) dog needs 3 grams of calcium per every 1000 kilocalories per day. An adult dog needs 1.25 grams of calcium per 1000 kilocalories daily. This is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in their study – Factorial calculation of calcium and phosphorus requirements of growing dogs. Sprinkle and mix it with your dog meal.

1 tablespoon of eggshell powder contains 1.8 grams of calcium.

2. Kelp – Supplement for Iodine and Good Substitute for Salt, Enhances Dog’s Skin and Fur

Iodine is a non-metallic mineral essential for correct functioning of the thyroid gland of your dog. And kelp (a sea plant), among others, is a great source of iodine. Kelp is also rich in calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, zinc and other powerful micronutrients. It has high traces of essential vitamins, protein and fiber. Generally, food stuff for making homemade foods is quite low in iodine. So, using kelp as an iodine supplement is a great idea. Kelp is also a great substitute for salt. A journal report by Innovative Veterinary Care says that kelp is proving to be a powerful homemade dog food additive for skin, coat, digestive improvements, and more.

Get quality and safe kelp on Amazon

Don’t use salt in cooking your dog’s food as it is one of the causes of homemade dog food poison. Use kelp instead.

Kelp Iodine Additive Dosage

Give about 200 mg per 25 pounds of body weight per day.

3. Spirulina – Immune Boosting Additive

Spirulina is a bacterium. It is a nutritional stronghold with high protein and health-boosting chlorophyll. It is a very rich source of minerals, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, enzymes, amino and trace minerals. It is effective for prevention of nutritional deficiencies, inflammation, bacterial and yeast overgrowth. Spirulina is a very potent natural food supplement that will benefit your dog’s health. Spirulina strengthens a doggie’s immune system and helps with allergies by acting as a natural antihistamine. Study by the National Institutes of Health say spirulina enhances gut health.

Low quality, fake spirulina brands are here and there and may be dangerous to your dog. To be sure that the spirulina brand you’re buying is real and safe:
(a) Confirm that it’s tested and certified (with seals) by at least one of the following bodies: California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) , United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) and United State Pharmacopeia (USP).
(d) Check the label and ensure it reads that the spirulina is free of fillers, preservatives, additives and added colors.
(e) The spirulina must be solid, dark green in color, smell like fresh seaweed and matte.

I recommend KOS Organic Spirulina. It is certified by USDA and CCOF and meets up with other conditions mentioned above. Get it on Amazon

Dosage for Spirulina – an Immune Boosting Additive for Your Dog

Spirulina comes popularly as a powdered supplement. Add and mix it with your canine home-cooked food. Use 1/8 teaspoon per 10kg of dog’s bodyweight.

For what I called therapeutic break, alternate the use of spirulina for your dog: 1-week on, 1-week off.

4. Vinegar – Food Additive that Keeps Obesity Away from Your Dog

It contains the following minerals and vitamins that are great for supplementing your dog food: minerals – sodium, calcium, pantothenic acid, magnesium, potassium, silicon, biotin, copper, iron, folic acid, niacin, pectin, phosphorus, sulfur, and vitamins – B1, B2, B6 and C. It helps maintain dog’s ideal body weight and keeps obesity away from your dog. It also enhances digestion.

Get good quality and safe vinegar from Amazon.

Amount of Vinegar to Add to Your Dog Food as an Additive

Give one teaspoon per 50 pounds of dog’s bodyweight. Limit it to twice a week. Vinegar is a strong-flavored supplement and your dog may not like it. So, add it to her food while you are cooking it.

5. Pumpkin Seed Powder – Food Additive that Kills Worms, Enhances Eyes’ Health

It is not surprising that seeds are complete foods because they house the next generation of plants. Pumpkin seeds are rich in essential amino acids like alanin, glycene and glutamin acids. The seeds are a very good source of omega-3 fatty acid, zinc, iron, phosphorus, calcium, selenium and good traces of other important minerals and vitamins. Pumpkin seed powder is another health-boosting food supplement for your dog! It helps dogs infested with worms to eject them. Geriatric dogs will benefit from eye health enhancement of pumpkin seed powder.

Be sure of pure pumpkin seed powder, get Terrasoul Superfoods Organic Pumpkin Seeds and grind it yourself with an effective coffee grinder.

Pumpkin Seed Powder Dosage

Give half of teaspoon per 20 pounds of dog’s weight per day. Add the supplement powder to your pet’s food and mix thoroughly.

Disease Management Additives for Homemade Dog Food

Here are extra natural additives for your dog homemade food for specific health conditions your dog has come up with. You’ll find a handful of different herbs to not only keep your dog healthy but to help when she isn’t feeling her best.

1. Turmeric – Joint Support Supplement, Good for Geriatric Dogs, Large and Giant Breeds Dogs

Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and helps with pain and inflammation. It is safe for dogs in small quantities and is used in dog food as a color and flavor enhancer.

Get pure, quality and safe turmeric on Amazon.

Dosage of Turmeric for Your pooch

Give 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon per day for every 10lbs of dog weight. Sprinkle and cook it with your dog’s food. 

2. Yucca – Dog’s Arthritis Management Additive

Yucca is an anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, helps with arthritis and pain.

Get Yucca from trusted brand on Amazon

Usage of Yucca

Add 1/2 teaspoon of powdered root per lb of food daily.

3. Cat’s Claw – Homemade Dog Food Additive for Pain Relief

Cat’s Claw helps with pain from arthritis, hip dysplasia and disc disease. A study has shown that Cat’s Claw supports various metabolic processes of your pet. By increasing the number of white blood cells, dilating the blood vessels and relaxing the intestines, it can have a positive effect on the immune system in a natural way.

Get pure cat’s claw on Amazon

Dosage of Cat’s claw for your Dog

5 ml of tincture once daily. For dogs with a compromised immune system, give the above dose two to three times daily

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Best Healthy Homemade Dog Food is coming up with healthy recipes for your dog. Our first post is chicken-barley recipe for diabetic dogs.

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