Homemade dog food for spayed dogs: chicken, zucchini and brown rice

Homemade dog food for spayed and neutered dogs: chicken, zucchini and brown rice: fewer calories, more fullness. How to adjust portions and watch weight.

Time
50 min + 10 min resting
Makes
About 1.4 kg / 3 lb (almost 2 days for a 15 kg / 33 lb spayed or neutered dog; 3-4 days for a 6 kg / 13 lb dog)
Type
Main meal
Difficulty
Easy
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Homemade dog food for spayed dogs: chicken, zucchini and brown rice
The recipe at a glance
  • 40 % skinless chicken breast
  • 22 % zucchini
  • 19 % brown rice
  • 12 % green beans

Follows THE RULE. All 7 ingredients are on our safe list: nothing that could harm your dog.

This homemade dog food for spayed dogs, and for neutered ones too, is designed for the most common problem after surgery: your dog burns less energy and, at the same time, is hungrier. It uses chicken breast, a small amount of brown rice and plenty of zucchini and green beans, so the dish comes out at about 100 kcal per 100 g, a little less than most homemade recipes (110-130 kcal), without falling short on protein.

It isn't a weight-loss diet. It's meant to keep a dog at a healthy weight from starting to put on pounds in the months after being spayed or neutered. The bowl looks full: the zucchini is cut into large cubes and the green beans into two-finger lengths, and the brown rice, which takes longer to cook, stays separate with a bit of bite. Many dogs eat more slowly with this texture than with a finely blended meal.

Why it works

Chicken breast provides plenty of protein and very little fat, which is what helps preserve muscle when you cut calories. Brown rice gives slow-release energy and some fiber, but it goes in a small amount so the calories don't climb. Zucchini and green beans make up almost half the dish with very few calories: they add bulk, water and fiber, which means a dog that feels fuller on the same energy. Carrot adds beta-carotene, the eggshell balances calcium against the phosphorus in the meat, and the salmon oil provides omega-3s in a very small amount.

Talk to your vet first. If your dog is already overweight, has a diagnosed health condition or has just had surgery, ask your vet to set their daily calories before using this recipe as their main food.

Step by step

  1. Start the brown rice

    Rinse the rice and put it in a pot with 450 ml (a scant 2 cups) of unsalted water. When it boils, lower the heat, cover and cook for about 35 minutes, until the grains are tender and have absorbed the water. If it dries out sooner, add a splash of hot water.

  2. Cook the chicken

    Meanwhile, cover the whole breasts with cold water, bring to a boil and simmer gently until there's no pink left when you cut into the thickest part. Drain them and let them cool slightly.

  3. Cook the vegetables in large pieces

    Slice the carrot thinly, cut the zucchini into 2 cm (¾ inch) cubes and the green beans into pieces about 3 cm (1¼ inches) long. Cook the carrot and green beans for 8 minutes, add the zucchini and cook for 4 minutes more: it should be tender but whole, not falling apart.

  4. Cut the chicken

    Cut the chicken into 1.5-2 cm (½-¾ inch) cubes (smaller for a toy-size dog). Large pieces make your dog eat more slowly, so it takes longer before they consider the bowl finished.

  5. Mix in the calcium

    Combine the rice, chicken and drained vegetables in a large bowl, sprinkle the eggshell over the top and stir until there are no white clumps left.

  6. Weigh and portion

    Let it cool for 10 minutes and divide the batch into containers already weighed out to their daily portion. Weighing is what makes the difference for a spayed or neutered dog. Add the salmon oil to the bowl just before serving.

How much should I feed?

Approximate daily portion for a "spayed or neutered adult" profile. Split it into two meals (three or four for puppies).

— g a day

Weight3 kg5 kg10 kg15 kg20 kg30 kg40 kg
Grams/day2503656158351,0351,4001,740

Puppy, senior, very active or on a diet? Calculate the exact portion.

Energy
102 kcal/100 g
Protein
45 % dry matter
Fat
8 % dry matter
Calcium:phosphorus
1.3 : 1

Values estimated from the ingredients (BEDCA/USDA data). An everyday meal. To feed it daily as the only food, add a vitamin and mineral supplement for homemade diets.

Storage

Fridge: up to 3 days in a sealed container. Freezer: up to 2 months, in pre-weighed portions for one day or one meal, so you don't have to estimate every time. Thaw in the fridge overnight and serve lukewarm; the zucchini releases some water as it thaws, so mix it in without draining, because that liquid also helps fill your dog up.

If you don't have…

You don't have brown rice
White rice in the same amount (it cooks in 18-20 minutes) or 110 g (1¼ cups) of cooked rolled oats
Your dog doesn't tolerate chicken
Turkey breast in the same amount, cooked the same way
You can't find green beans
Diced pumpkin in the same amount
Your spayed or neutered dog is already overweight
This recipe isn't enough: use the turkey and sweet potato weight-loss recipe with the weight-loss portion your vet sets

Cooking tips

  • Weigh your dog every 2 weeks for the 3-4 months after spaying or neutering. If they gain more than 5% of their body weight, cut the portion by 10% and weigh them again in 15 days.
  • Look at their shape as well as the scale: you should feel the ribs when you run your hand over them without pressing, and see a waist from above.
  • Treats count: subtract everything you give between meals from their daily portion. A few cubes of raw zucchini or carrot make a treat with almost no calories.
  • To feed it as the only daily meal, it needs a vitamin and mineral supplement made for homemade diets: the recipe provides protein, energy, calcium and omega-3, but not every vitamin and trace mineral.

Safety

  • Chicken always thoroughly cooked and boneless: cooked bones splinter.
  • If your dog had surgery less than 10-15 days ago, follow the post-op feeding instructions your vet gave you before making any changes to the diet.
  • Switch over from their previous food gradually, over about 7 days, to avoid diarrhea.
  • Low-fat
  • Single protein
  • Freezer-friendly

Frequently asked questions

What should I feed my dog after being spayed or neutered?

A spayed or neutered dog should eat a diet with somewhat fewer calories and the same or more protein than before, because they burn less energy and usually have a bigger appetite. A meal with lean meat, little grain and plenty of cooked vegetables for bulk works well. What matters most isn't the type of food, but adjusting the amount and weighing your dog regularly.

Do dogs gain weight after being spayed or neutered?

They don't have to, as long as you adjust their food. After spaying or neutering, energy needs drop by around 30% according to veterinary nutrition guidelines, and appetite usually goes up. If your dog keeps eating the same amount as before, they will most likely gain weight gradually over the following months. That's why it pays to trim the portion from the start.

When should I change my dog's food after spaying?

Ideally, start adjusting the portion as soon as the recovery period ends, at around 2 weeks, because energy needs drop almost right away. During recovery, follow your vet's instructions. After that, transition to the new food over a week and weigh your dog every 15 days for the first few months.

Is brown rice good for dogs?

Yes, brown rice is safe for dogs as long as it's thoroughly cooked. It has more fiber than white rice, which helps with fullness and regularity, although it's slightly less digestible. That makes it a good fit for healthy adult dogs, such as spayed or neutered dogs that tend to put on weight, and less so for dogs with a sensitive stomach or on a bland diet.

What's in it, in detail

If they liked it, try

The fridge list

The foods your dog can eat, can have in moderation and must never eat, on a single printable page.

Download the list (PDF)