Good choices include oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, barley, and pasta. White rice can be used to settle an upset stomach, particularly if overcooked with extra water, but it's low in nutrition and should not make up a large part of the diet. All grains must be well cooked.
Plain rice is the way to go—your dog will still find it delicious. Use whole grain oatmeal and steer away from quick oatmeal. In particular, do not give your dog flavored instant oats that may have a lot of added sugar, or even sweeteners, like xylitol, that are toxic to dogs.
Grains in Homemade Dog Food
Grains and beans aren't bad for dogs, they just aren't an essential part of the canine diet. As a filling source of protein, these starchy ingredients can be included in your dog's meals from time to time, but they should not be main ingredients in the homemade diet you design.
Your pet needs protein (animal meat, seafood, dairy, or eggs), fat (from meat or oil) and carbohydrates (grains or vegetables). They also need calcium (from dairy or an ingredient such as egg shells), and essential fatty acids (from certain plant oils, egg yolks, oatmeal, and other foods).
The top five ingredients in dog food should consist of a balance of protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats and fatty acids, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals.
There is a wide variety of unhealthy and unsafe foods to avoid when preparing meals for your dog. Potentially toxic ingredients are of special concern, including chocolate, xylitol, avocado, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, and macadamia nuts.
Iodine (dairy, kelp, seafood) for a healthy thyroid. Zinc (eggs, lamb, liver, brewer's yeast) for the immune system, healthy skin, and coat. Selenium (meat, vegetables, seafood, brown rice) to boost the immune system. Copper (whole grains, seeds, and seafood) for healthy bone growth.
While popular, vets generally don't recommend making your own raw dog food because of the risk of bacterial contamination or possible public health risks. If your dog has any medical issues, consult with a vet or veterinary nutritionist to make sure the homemade diet works for your pet.
Brown rice also contains vitamin E, magnesium, selenium, and phosphorus (a mineral found in bones). This grain is also easily digestible and can be suitable for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Rice is also naturally gluten-free, so is suitable for a dog with a gluten intolerance.
Sweet potato is a safe, healthy, and natural treat for dogs, offering a range of health benefits (and a sweet flavor they'll likely love). For example, sweet potatoes support a healthy digestive system thanks to their high dietary fiber content. They're also low in fat and contain essential vitamins like B6, C, and A.
Foods that are classified as grains are; corn, wheat, soy, rice, oatmeal, barley, oats, sorghum, etc. All of these ingredients should be avoided when choosing a kibble. The three top allergens for dogs are corn, wheat, and soy - all of which are in most dog food brands.
There are a lot of dog and cat foods sold as grain-free with marketing suggesting that feeding no grains is healthier. This is not true and can, in fact, cause illness for some dogs and cats. There is no medical or physiologic basis to feed dogs or cats a grain-free diet.
Veterinarians sometimes recommend grain-free diets for animals who have grain sensitivities because removing grains from their diet often improves skin problems, allergies, digestive problems, and frequently impacted anal glands.
Switching from a commercial diet to a homemade diet, or even varying the ingredients in a homemade diet, can cause some dogs gastrointestinal upset. Make changes to your dog's diet slowly, over at least a couple of days, to allow your dog's stomach time to adjust to the new food.
Carrots, peas, green beans, sweet potatoes, and bananas are packed with important vitamins, along with potassium, which is good for a dog's muscles, nerves, and kidneys. Their fiber can also help dogs stay regular.
Grains are an essential source of carbohydrates for dogs. Try cooked whole grains like wheat berries or barley. If your dog requires a gluten-free diet, they may tolerate brown rice, oatmeal, or grain-free quinoa.
Focus on the first ingredients.
The main protein should be first and an actual meat source like chicken, duck or lamb. The second ingredient should be another meat source, generally a clearly labeled meal such as lamb meal or duck meal.
Quick Tip: Look at the basic four: protein, fat, fiber, and water. Many states have regulations requiring the minimum amount of nutrients a pet food must contain, as well as the maximum amount of moisture and crude fiber. Dog food labels must display the percentage of crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, and water.