Are you willing to take up the DIY project of making a few homemade, low-sodium dog food recipes for your adorable pet? Well, DogAppy offers you some simple yet good dog food recipes, which have a low sodium content.
A Useful Tip
A low-sodium food recipe should be complemented with dry dog food supplements to make up for other essential nutrients.
Sodium content in food is an important factor for your dog’s well-being. Sodium is found in the blood and fluid that surrounds the cells, where it prevents the cells from dehydration and maintains the cellular environment. It also contributes to the proper functioning of the nerve and muscle cells. Food products, like meat, fish, poultry, eggs, etc., are rich sources of sodium. Dry dog food products contain 0.3% sodium, which is sufficient for the normal growth and development of your pet.
However, for older dogs suffering from kidney, liver, or heart diseases, high sodium content in the food may be harmful. In such a situation, veterinarians recommend a low-sodium diet for your pet. A low-sodium diet will help control high blood pressure and prevent accumulation of excessive fluid in the dog’s body. In combination with dry food items that are rich in other nutrients, you can opt for a few good, homemade low-sodium recipes and let your pup enjoy some tasty and healthy meals.
Homemade Low-sodium Dog Food Recipes
Recipe
Ingredients
- Ground turkey or chicken – 1 pound
- Frozen broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots – ½ package (16 oz.)
- Water – 6 cups
- Brown rice – 2 cups
- Dried rosemary – 1 teaspoon
Preparation
- Heat the pan, add the meat, and fry until the meat turns brown.
- Add the frozen veggies, broken into smaller portions, to the pan. Breaking down vegetables will help your pet to absorb all the nutrients fully.
- Now, add rice, and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Lower the heat, and let the mixture simmer for about 20 to 25 minutes.
- When the excess water evaporates, check if the rice is cooked.
- Let it cool down, and then take out the mixture in a plate.
- Make small ball-shaped servings, and place them on a cookie sheet.
- Keep these cookie balls in the freezer to retain the shape; remove them half an hour before serving your pet.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Whole wheat flour – 2 cups
- Canned pumpkin – ½ cup
- Oatmeal – ½ cup
- Water – ½ cup
- Canola oil – 2 tablespoons
- Ground cinnamon – 1 teaspoon
Preparation
- Take pumpkin, oil, water, and cinnamon in a mixing bowl.
- Add wheat flour to the bowl and mix well.
- Add oatmeal, and mix again to make a dough.
- Roll the dough on a floured surface, keeping it ¼-inch thick.
- Cut the cookies in different shapes, and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake for about 40 minutes. Your dog treats are ready to serve.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Wheat flour – 2 cups
- Low-sodium chicken broth – ½ cup
- Sugar-free strawberry jam – ½ cup
- Peanut butter – ½ cup
- Rolled oats – ½ cup
- Water – ½ cup
- Cinnamon – 2 teaspoons
Preparation
- Take peanut butter, chicken broth, and water in a bowl and microwave for about 15 seconds.
- Stir the mixture until the ingredients mix properly.
- Take flour, oats, and cinnamon in a bowl, and whisk them together.
- Mix both dry and wet mixtures together until it forms a dough.
- Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Using a cookie scooper, scoop some ball-shaped cookies from the dough and place them on the baking sheet.
- Make an indentation in all cookies and flatten them.
- Bake the cookies at 325 °F. Let them cool down completely.
- Take the jam in a microwave safe container and microwave it for 15 seconds, till it has a smooth liquid consistency.
- Pour the jam in the indentation of all cookies, and let it cool down. Your dog treats are ready to serve.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Brown rice flour – 2½ cups
- Cooked veggies – sweet potatoes, zucchini, or winter squash – 1 cup
- Water – ½ cup
- Low-sodium, low-fat vegetable broth – 6 tablespoons
- Dried parsley – 1 teaspoon
Preparation
- Mix all the ingredients together.
- Bake the mixture at 350 °F in a preheated oven for about 20 minutes.
- The veggie treat is ready to serve.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Oyster crackers – 1 packet
- Butter or margarine – ½ stick
- Cheese or liver powder – ¼ cup
Preparation
- Put the crackers in a mixing bowl.
- Sprinkle the liver powder or cheese over the crackers, and mix well.
- Pour melted butter over the crackers, and coat them evenly.
- Place the crackers on cookie sheets, and bake for about 6 minutes at 325 °F. Ensure not to bake for long, as cheese burns faster.
- Serve these dog treats to your pet.
List of Low-sodium Food Items Recommended
- Banana
- Pear
- Barley
- Almonds (unsalted)
- Rice
- Shredded Wheat
- Apple
- Jam
- Unsalted Butter
- Honey
Raw Peanuts (unsalted, with skin)
Peach
Soybeans
Most dogs do not have a problem when shifted to a home-cooked diet. However, if your pet has any digestive problems, make the diet changes gradually. Add one new ingredient at a time, and see if your dog shows any unusual reactions to the food or is able to digest it without any adverse effects.
