Homemade Food For Poodles

Homemade Food For Poodles

If you are a Poodle parent looking to cook food for your furry friend, this homemade dog food for Poodles guide is all you need.

Homemade dog food can benefit your Poodle in several ways, but only if you provide meals that are nutritionally balanced and tailored to the unique needs of your dog.

• Silver Beige Standard Poodle
• Gray Standard Poodle puppy
• Blue Standard Poodle Puppy
• Brown Sable Poodle Color Change
• Can you be Allergic to a Poodle?
• Are Toy Poodles Hypoallergenic Dogs?
• Are Poodles Hyper?
• Are Poodles Stubborn?

Whether you have a Toy, Miniature, or Standard Poodle, this guide will teach the basics of how to make homemade food for Poodles, including the risks, benefits, breed-specific nutritional advice, and our favorite recipes for Poodles. Let’s dive right in!

Why Feed Homemade Dog Food To Your Poodle?

• Food allergy is one of the most common allergies or hypersensitivities known to affect dogs, and poodles are no exception.
• Common signs of skin allergies in poodles include excessive itching, red sores, chewing and biting of feet, eye and nasal congestion, and a dull coat². Unfortunately, the traditional kibble we feed our poodles often contains food allergens such as proteins, especially those from dairy products, beef, chicken, or gluten (from wheat).
• Additionally, Poodles are more likely to suffer from a rare inflammatory skin disease known as Sebaceous Adenitis which may also result from food allergens. This condition can leave their skin itchy, dry, scaly, and cause hair loss. but may also result from food³.
• While skin allergies can occur anywhere on their body, it is common to see your poodle biting excessively at its paws. If you notice any problems in your Poodle’s legs, paws, or tender underbelly area, food allergies may be the culprit.
• Furthermore, deep-chested breeds like poodles are more susceptible than others to bloat, also known as Gastric Dilation and Volvulus, according to VCA Hospitals. The Animal Medical Center says, “hot food, cold food, big kibble, little kibble [and too many carbohydrates] have all been touted as causes of bloat.” Bloating in Poodles is an emergency condition that can kill your dog.
• Know that white or cream-colored poodles are at higher risk of developing tear stains or cause stains on their fur. Commercial dog food containing artificial colorings or large quantities of grains, chemicals, and/or cereals such as wheat or corn can cause your Poodle to stain.
• If you suspect that your poodle has bloat or allergies, seek the help of a veterinarian without delay.

How Can A Homemade Diet Help Poodles With All of This?

• A fresh and natural homemade diet may benefit your poodle, as food additives, fats, chemicals, preservatives, and colorants can often cause skin reactions in poodles.
• Preparing food at home, we can control the cleanness, healthiness, freshness of the meal. It helps your Poodle avoid all those nasty processed ingredients in kibble that can exacerbate existing health conditions and/or trigger allergies in your pooch.
• You also get to control the ingredients making it simpler to monitor and avoid foods or ingredients that could trigger allergies. To help eliminate food-related allergies, we highly recommend doing an At-Home Dog Food Allergy Test before selecting the ingredients for your Poodle’s next meal. This will minimize exposure to food allergens and will do your poodle wonders.
• Homemade dog diets are much easier to digest than traditional dog food, which can help their stomach relax not put much stress on their digestive system hence reducing the likelihood of bloating. Avoid kibble that contains citric acid as a preservative, food high in fat, and hard to digest grains.
• Easier digestion in dogs also means more efficient nutrient absorption, which can help resolve nutrient imbalances that could damage the Poodle’s long and curly coat. And because nutrient content is more efficiently used when feeding fresh dog food, minerals, vitamins, amino acids act quicker in decreasing inflammatory responses helping prevent or relieve skin allergies.
• Finally, a home-cooked dog food diet has crucial antioxidants and healthy preserved proteins and fats that better support your Poodle’s health, and they won’t stain your poodle’s coat.
• Palatability, bioavailability, and freshness are better in homemade meals than kibble. These three factors contribute to better absorption of nutrients, greater perception of taste, smell, and texture for Poodles.

Poodle Homemade Dog Food Risks

Feeding dogs part of what you eat every day isn’t going to cover their needs. Dogs don’t have the same nutritional requirements as humans.

Here are some of the risks you need to keep in mind:

• Using unsafe or harmful ingredients
• Using inadequate or dangerous recipes
• Not understanding the nutritional needs of your Poodle
• Not understanding the impact of food and dietary changes
• Neglecting your dog’s health conditions
• Not preparing a balanced meal
• Not understanding your dog’s life stages (puppies, adults & senior) nutritional needs

A study by the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary found that most homemade dog food recipes are lacking key essential nutrients. Other recipes used dangerously high levels of some nutrients. Further research published in The Journal of Nutritional Science concluded 48% of dog homemade diets had an imprecise determination of ingredients and quantities and that 71.3 % of dog owners did know how much food to serve per meal.

To avoid these issues, we highly recommend speaking with a veterinary nutritionist. He or she should also be able to provide you with trusted recipes, guide you on your Poodle’s nutritional needs, and/or recommend a homemade dog food delivery service.

Benefits of Poodle Homemade Dog Food

There are many benefits of cooking homemade meals for you poodle including:

• Portion size control
• More affordable
• Quality control
• Dietary requirements can be met
• Healthier
• Fresh ingredients

Board-certified veterinary nutritionists and diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition, Jennifer A. Larsen, DVM, MS, Ph.D., and Joe Bartges, DVM, Ph.D., also agree that switching to homemade dog food comes with great advantages such as diet management, appeasing picky eaters, bond-building, combatting food intolerance and allergies issues, and avoid concern over food recalls¹.

Preparing food at home for your pup is generally the healthiest food alternative for poodles. Unlike regular kibble, it’s free of additives or preservatives. And because of its unprocessed nature, home-cooked meals promote healthier digestion. They can prevent many conditions associated with a poor diet, such as obesity, poor skin, coat condition, pancreatitis, diabetes, and reduced immunity.

Health Dietary Changes In Poodles

Here are some dietary changes to help you to manage some health conditions in Poodles through diet.

Feeding your pup a food homemade diet and implementing this dietary changes may help control these conditions.

Condition	Dietary Needs & Adjustments
Coat Color Changes	Increase amino acids which can be found in protein (>75 grams per 1000 calories)
Concurrent GI Signs	Avoid foods with tryptamine and histamine such as dairy or fermented vegetables and meats (yes, this includes bacon); try a simple ingredient food trial
Chronic Itching and Dermatitis	Fortify the diet with Vitamin E, B Vitamins, Zinc, omega-6 and the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil; add a dog probiotic; try a simple ingredient food trial
Dull Coat and Scaling	Adjust EPA and DHA levels in the diet (added fish oil being the most common way); try a food that has added zinc
Dandruff and Crustiness	Add Zinc and Vitamin A levels

 

The coat of a poodle is probably their most notable feature, and you want to keep it as healthy as possible. A diet lacking key nutrients could be behind your poodle’s skin allergies and coat problems, but you can minimize and prevent such skin problems in Poodles by adding a couple of squirts of dog-specific fish oil to provide relief and nourishment to affected areas. The rich fatty acids (omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA) are known to benefit skin and coat health in dogs.

Poodle Nutritional Guidelines to Follow

Make sure that your Poodle’s meals meet the AAFCO standards.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AFFCO) is the entity regulating dog food nutritional value in commercial dog food and recommends that all dog meals need to include these six essential nutrients.

Keep in mind your dog’s health status, activity level, size, and weight; as these are factors you’ll need to consider when building his diet plan.

Nutrient	Food	Description
Protein	Chicken, lamb, turkey, beef, fish, yogurt and cooked eggs	Builds and repairs muscles and other body tissues. Needed to make new skin cells, grow hair, hormones, enzymes and more.
Carbohydrates	Oats, brown rice, potatoes, and whole wheat	Source of energy for dogs and supplies glucose needed by the brain, nervous system and other critical organs for normal function.
Fat	From meats and oils such as olive or sunflower oil, fish oil, canola oils among others	Responsible for providing quality energy. Necessary for the normal development and function of body cells, nerves, muscles, and body tissues
Minerals	Calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, etc.	Common functions include the formation of bone and cartilage, nerve and muscle function, fluid balance regulation, the transportation of oxygen in the bloodstream and hormone production.
Water	Water	Hydration is critical in dogs. A dog that loses too much water (10% to 15% of the water in his body) can get very sick and even die. Ensure they have water available throughout the day.
Vitamins	A, B, C, D, E, and K	Keeps skin and coat healthy, strengthens bones and teeth, and gives them the overall energy that they need to function.

It’s a good idea to use a multivitamin supplement like Zesty Paws Multivitamin Chews as it is common for homemade dog food to lack one or more of these nutrients.

According to the AKC, some poodles are prone to getting overweight, so watch your pet’s calorie consumption and weight level. If you choose to give your dog treats, do so in moderation. Never feed cooked bones or fatty table scraps to this breed (or any other dog).

To help prevent bloating in Poodles, divide the daily ration into 2 or 3 meals, rather than giving one large meal. Smaller meals spaced throughout the day also help to maintain an even blood-sugar level in your poodle. Do not feed your poodle immediately before or after strenuous exercise, and don’t feed on an elevated dish. It’s a good idea to wipe a light-colored poodle’s face following a meal to deal with possible tear stains.

Creating a well-balanced diet can be hard for some dog parents. Always speak with your veterinarian; he or she can help you create an individualized diet for your Poodle. For further help in cooking for your Poodle, check out Home Prepared Dog & Cat Diets: the Healthful Alternative by Donald R. Strombeck, DVM, Ph.D. He’s an expert in veterinary medicine, and pet nutritionists consider his book the bible for dog nutrition.

Homemade Dog Food For Poodle Puppies

• Poodle puppies have different nutritional needs than adult Poodles, so you need to adjust your feeding plan accordingly.
• Typically, Poodle puppies should eat three times a day compared to two times a day for adults. Or if you are trying to avoid bloating, spreading out their meals to 3 times during the day is a good option. Feed at scheduled intervals until he is six months old.
• Let’s say your Poodle weighs 15 pounds, then he/she will require roughly 472 calories per day. You would need to do 3 homemade meals of 157 calories each.
• During puppy development, it’s not advised to skip a meal to encourage proper growth and development. A puppy’s diet needs to be comprised of a proper balance of proteins, carbohydrates, fat, minerals, water, and vitamins, as outlined in our nutritional guidelines earlier.

Poodle Calorie Requirements

• Dog’s calorie requirements are based on their weight. An adult standard poodle usually weighs between 45 and 70 pounds, so most Poodles would need to eat between 1075 and 1500 calories per day.
• If you are feeding treats, make sure you follow the 10% rule. So, food would equal 90% of the total calories and treats 10%.
• For instance, if a Poodle weighs 45 lbs. Then, he would need 1075 calories per day. If you feed him treats, then that’s 968 calories in food (90%) and 108 in treats (10%). Usually, full-grown dogs eat 2 meals per day, so split 968 calories into two meals of 484 calories each.
• For Miniature poodles, toy Poodles or larger Poodles, you can use this calculator to find the exact caloric needs for your pet.
• Active poodles, including active in sports or shown professionally, usually require more calories daily. Older, less-active poodles will require fewer calories, especially if they are affected by conditions that can impair their mobility, such as hip dysplasia. Pregnant Poodles can need up to 2 to 4 times the amount of food they would normally have as the mother’s energy requirements increase after delivery and during lactation. Be sure to speak with your vet about proper calorie requirements for these special situations.

Poodle Homemade Food Tips

Before sharing our favorite Poodle homemade food recipes, keep these recommendations in mind when preparing your dog’s next meal.

• Set a consistent feeding schedule.
• Keep meals frozen for 2 to 3 months or refrigerated for about 5 days.
• Meal prep weekly or monthly.
• Feed your Poodle two times a day (puppies under 5 months, 3 times a day. Check with your veterinarian).
• If you want to feed different recipes, you can make multiple batches and color code by ingredients, rotating out the different meals.
• Measure and control portion sizes depending on your dog’s calorie needs.
• Monitor weight to make sure you are feeding the proper amount of calories.
• Make a new batch when the food supply is getting low.
• Increase portions appropriately as your puppy grows.
• Prepare the food in bulk and portion it into containers (one container per meal makes it extra-easy).

Homemade Dog Food Delivery Service

• Do you have a busy lifestyle and can’t seem to find time to cook for your Poodle but wish your pup could eat whole, fresh homemade foods more often? Are you lost when it comes to cooking balanced, nutritionally-appropriate dog meals?
• Enters homemade dog food delivery services!
• Nom Nom is our personal favorite dog food delivery service. Their diets are formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist according to nutritional guidelines established by the AAFCO, so you can feel good feeding this food to your pet.
• We love the most about this Nom Nom because they deliver fresh, prepared homemade dog food personalized to your pup’s dietary needs such as allergies and nutritional goals straight to your door. Everything is made from real, human-grade ingredients (meats, veggies, grains, etc.).
• It’s super convenient, and they do all the cooking for you, so you never have to worry about using the wrong ingredients, proper nutrition guidelines and portion sizes, and more. They easily peel open and have minimal plastic waste.
• In our experience, it’s a huge time-saver, and you can spend time on more important things like walking or training. You also avoid the hassle of planning, shopping, and cooking. We think it’s worth the cost after adding up the prices of all the ingredients you’ll need to cook a recipe.
• Our readers have access to save 50% off their first Nom Nom order. Just use this link to get started with your Poodle’s first homemade meal delivered.
• Check out Canine Bible’s Maltipoo try out Nom Nom homemade dog food. She loves it and definitely recommends it!

Cooking Homemade Dog Food For Poodle

Never made food for your Poodle companion before? This video will get you started.

Best Poodle Homemade Dog Food Recipes

Here is a list of our favorite, best homemade dog food recipes for Poodles so you can skip all the junk in traditional store-bought pet food, your dog is going to lick the bowl clean!

We’ve also added a special treat recipe for Poodles that is not only sweet but it’s packed with amazing health benefits. You will be amazed at what this recipe can do for your pup’s health and wellness. No, we are not bluffing! It has our favorite secret ingredient, CBD.

Note: Please consult with your pet’s veterinarian and use personal judgment when applying this information to your dog’s diet. The recipes below do not include serving size because portion sizes will vary depending on breed, weight, activity level, age, and the health of your dog. A common recommendation is to feed your dog a comparable amount of ounces/cups to what you would usually feed in kibble BUT check with your vet to be certain.

Pork & Beef, Sweet Potatoe & Rice

• 1 large apple, cored
• 2-2.5lbs ground beef
• 2 lbs ground pork
• 1 cup of kale
• 1 large sweet potato
• 2 carrots (or 8 baby carrots)
• 1 cup rice
• 1/2 cup of blueberries (fresh or frozen)
• 1 1/2 cup water

Directions

1. Put the ground meats in a 4-6 quart crockpot.  You can really use any ground meat that you would like.
2. Peel and chop the potato, apple, and carrots into 1″ pieces.  Chop the kale.
3. Add all of the fruits and veggies to the crockpot and mix with the meat.
4. Cook on HIGH for 3-5 hours or on LOW for 5-7 hours until the meat is browned.
5. When the meat mixture is close to being done, cook up the rice with the water on the stovetop. We use long-cooking rice (bring the rice and water to a boil, then turn heat to LOW, cover, and cook for 15-20 minutes).  When the rice is done, mix it into the meat mixture.

Note: Separate the food into 1/2c. -1c. portions in small baggies or Tupperware. Keep most of them in the freezer and pull them out about 4-5 at a time and keep them in the fridge.  When mealtime comes, we squeeze a bag down the middle to split the serving in half, microwave the meal serving for about 30-40 seconds and then mix it into her regular dog food.

Wholesome Ground Sirloin Veggie

Ingredients

• 3 carrots, shredded or thinly sliced
• 2 pounds ground lean beef, cooked through, fat drained
• 6 cups cooked organic brown rice
• 4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and diced small
• 3 tablespoons of olive or safflower oil
• 1/4–1/2 cup minced fresh parsley or 1/4 cup dried herbs

Directions

1. Start with cooking the eggs
2. While the rice is cooking, you can brown the sirloin and get all of the fresh ingredients together.
3. Combine all of the ingredients in a large container and stir to combine thoroughly.
4. Store in the refrigerator in-between feedings.

Macaroni, Quinoa Turkey Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 lbs ground turkey (or any protein)
• 1 zucchini, shredded
• 1 tbs olive oil
• 1 cup uncooked millet (or any other whole grain: quinoa, rice, pasta)
• 1 apple, chopped
• 1 carrot, shredded
• 1 squash, shredded
• 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes or coconut oil
• 1 tbsp calcium powder
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree (canned or homemade)

Directions

1. Bring 1 cup of whole-grain to boil in a pot of water. I overcook it so that it’s soft and easily digestible. Drain.
2. While that’s boiling, shred/chop the veggies.
3. Cook ground turkey with olive oil and drain excess juices.
4. Mix everything together—no need to cook the veggies. The cooked turkey and whole grain will warm them up a bit.
5. Store in Tupperware or ziplock bags and freeze! It makes enough for around 2 weeks of meals (Fira weighs 14 lbs).

CBD-Infused Dog Treats

You can also purchase already made CBD dog treats so you pup can experience better thanks to the benefits of CBD.

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp coconut sugar
• 1/2 cup oats
• 2 1/2 cups gluten-free flour
• 1/2 cup carrots, peeled and grated
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 apple, cored and grated
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• dash of sea salt
• 1/3 cup olive or coconut oil
• 1/2 cup water
• 120 mg CBD oil

Total: Makes 24 treats

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease a dog cookie baking tray with coconut oil.
2. Core and grate the apples, then peel and grate the carrots.
3. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the gluten-free flour, oats, and coconut sugar together. In another medium-sized bowl, beat the egg. Then, add coconut oil, water, and grated apples and carrots.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients bowl; mix completely. Finally, add CBD oil and mix once more.
5. Using a Tbsp measuring spoon, portion out the dog biscuits and press into the dog treat baking pan. Bake 32-37 minutes or until the biscuits are firm and golden-brown on the outside.
6. Store in an air-tight container.

Notes

The number of dog treats will vary depending on the size of the mold you use. Try to make each dog treat have 2-5 mg of CBD.

What Foods Should Your Poodle Never Eat?

Here is a list of foods that can be poisonous to any dogs, and it’s always good to have it on hand as a reminder, especially if you’re cooking dog food from scratch. The principal toxic foods include:

• Avocados
• Xylitol
• Chocolate
• Onions and garlic
• Grapes and raisins
• Coffee, tea, and other caffeine
• Raw bread dough
• Macadamia nuts
• Alcohol

For a more extensive list, check out this handy list you should have on your refrigerator.

Best Homemade Dog Food Cooking Practices

Here is how to make dog food at home that is complete safe that your Poodle will love!

• Cook all grains, beans, and starchy vegetables to make them easier to digest
• Use only boneless meats (no cooked bones)
• Never use unsafe or toxic ingredients for dogs
• Cook all animal products thoroughly to kill harmful bacteria
• Follow recipes as instructed
• Research every ingredient before using it for safety
• Run any questions by a vet nutritionist
• Add supplements to their diet if needed

Monitor Weight And Health

• If your poodle’s diet is not complete, malnutrition could also be the source of skin irritation and hair loss.
• We recommend monitoring your dog’s weight and health closely at least for a couple of weeks after starting your pup off on a homemade diet.
• Cooking for dogs has a higher margin for error, nutritionally speaking, so it’s important to work alongside your vet to ensure the diet maintains nutritional adequacy.
• Symptoms of a poor diet may include excessive weight gain or loss, lack of energy, skin or coat disorders, allergies, malnutrition, or obesity. If you notice these problems, you need to stop feeding your Poodle this food, revise your dog’s diet and consult with a vet.

What About Poodle Raw Diet (BARF)?

• Raw dog feeding, also known as “BARF” (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food), includes feeding your dog raw meats, grains, dog-safe fresh fruits, and vegetables just as his canine ancestors ate millions of years ago. It has gained a lot of popularity among dog owners, including poodle owners, over the last few years.
• Homemade raw diets for Poodles can be beneficial. However, a raw diet needs to be approached carefully and under expert guidance as there is more risk of contamination and nutritional imbalance.
• If you want to learn more about the benefits and risks, get the best commercial raw food diet for your Poodles, read our raw dog food diets article.

Other Food Alternatives

Make your dog a really nice balanced meal requires a lot of planning, and you should be concerned with the nutrition specifics of your dog’s diet as this is key in meeting your dog’s nutritional needs.

We’ve cooked for our dogs ourselves, and it’s an enjoyable experience. It feels great knowing we are making a difference in our dog’s health through homemade food.

For Poodle prone to food allergies, GI problems, or any food-related health issues, consider vegan dog food. Vegan dog food is becoming one of the most popular diets for dogs with food sensitivities and other health issues.