Homemade puppy food: chicken and rice with a touch of liver
Chicken and rice with a touch of liver (under 10 %) for puppies, plus zucchini, carrot, calcium and omega-3. Meals by age and how to switch over.
- Time
- 40 min + 10 min resting
- Makes
- About 1.2 kg / 2.6 lb (roughly 2 days for a 10 kg / 22 lb puppy)
- Type
- Main meal
- Difficulty
- Easy
- 45 % boneless, skinless chicken thigh
- 34 % white rice
- 11 % zucchini
- 7 % carrot
Follows THE RULE. All 7 ingredients are on our safe list: nothing that could harm your dog.
This homemade puppy food with chicken and rice is built on chicken thigh with just a touch of liver: 30 g in the whole batch, less than 5 % of the animal portion, which is the general rule (10 % as an absolute maximum). Even so, on the days he eats it, skip liver treats. It is enough to make it smell wonderful and to provide vitamin A, iron and B vitamins, without overdoing an organ meat that is harmful in excess.
The liver goes in at the end, chopped very fine, and cooks for 4 or 5 minutes until there is no pink left: that way it stays tender and melts into the rice instead of turning into gritty lumps. It is a good recipe for puppies who are poor eaters, because that liver aroma wakes up the appetite of even the fussiest.
Why it works
Chicken thigh provides the protein and fat a growing body needs, and it is juicier and tastier than breast. Liver, in a small amount, is concentrated vitamin A, iron, copper and vitamin B12. White rice is the easily digested energy, and zucchini and carrot add water, gentle fiber and beta-carotene. Eggshell keeps the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio balanced (the total calcium and phosphorus needed for growth is completed by the supplement) and salmon oil adds DHA for brain and eye development.
Talk to your vet first. This recipe does not, on its own, cover the calcium and phosphorus a growing puppy needs. As his only diet it needs the growth supplement your vet prescribes (do not add more eggshell by eye: more shell throws the phosphorus off balance, and excess calcium is harmful too, especially in large breeds). Without the supplement, use it as part of his daily food, not all of it.
Step by step
Cook the rice and carrot
Put the rice and carrot in a pot with 550 ml (2⅓ cups) of unsalted water. When it boils, lower the heat and simmer until the grain is very tender.
Cook the chicken
In another pot, cover the thigh cubes with water, bring to a boil and simmer gently until cooked through. Skim off the foam.
Add the zucchini and liver
Add the zucchini to the chicken pot and, 5 minutes before turning off the heat, the chopped liver. It should be fully cooked, with nothing pink, but not toughened.
Drain and mix
Drain the chicken, zucchini and liver (keep a little of the cooking liquid in case you want to moisten the mix) and combine them with the rice. Sprinkle in the eggshell and stir well.
Cool and divide
Let it cool to lukewarm, divide it among the day's meals and add the salmon oil to each one when serving.
How much should I feed?
Approximate daily portion for a "puppy (4-12 months)" profile. Split it into two meals (three or four for puppies).
— g a day
| Weight | 3 kg | 5 kg | 10 kg | 15 kg | 20 kg | 30 kg | 40 kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grams/day | 255 | 375 | 630 | 855 | 1,060 | 1,435 | 1,780 |
Puppy, senior, very active or on a diet? Calculate the exact portion.
- Energy
- 125 kcal/100 g
- Protein
- 39 % dry matter
- Fat
- 10 % dry matter
- Calcium:phosphorus
- 1.4 : 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 an airtight container. Freezer: up to 2 months, in single-meal portions. Thaw in the fridge and warm while stirring; if it seems dry, add a tablespoon of the cooking liquid you set aside.
If you don't have…
- You do not have chicken thighs
- Skinless chicken breast, in the same amount (it is drier: moisten it with cooking liquid)
- Your puppy does not tolerate rice
- Rolled oats in the same amount, cooked for 10 minutes
- You want to change the vegetable
- Diced pumpkin, in the same amount as the zucchini
Cooking tips
- Liver is the seasoning, not the base: 30 g per batch is all you need. If you have some left over, freeze it for the next batch.
- If your puppy pushes the liver aside, boil it separately for at least 4-5 minutes, until no pink remains, and blend it with a little of the cooking liquid to add to the chicken like a sauce. Never give it raw.
- For this to be his only diet, he needs the growth supplement your vet prescribes, not an adult one. Without it, use this as part of his daily food, not all of it.
- Cut the thigh meat to fit his mouth: for small breeds, shred it with two forks after cooking.
Safety
- Liver should not exceed 5 % of the animal portion of the diet (10 % as an absolute maximum). This recipe is already close to that maximum, so do not add more liver or liver treats: a sustained excess of vitamin A damages bones and joints, which is especially delicate in a puppy.
- Chicken and liver are cooked through, with no pink areas.
- Eggshell balances the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, but it does not cover the total calcium and phosphorus that growth demands: do not add more by eye; let the supplement your vet prescribes complete it.
Frequently asked questions
Can puppies eat chicken liver?
Yes, puppies can eat cooked chicken liver in small amounts, as a rule no more than 5 % of the animal portion of their diet (10 % as an absolute maximum). It provides iron, vitamin A and B vitamins. The problem is excess: too much liver over time builds up vitamin A and can affect bone development.
How many times a day does a puppy need to eat?
A puppy eats 4 times a day until 4 months old, 3 times from 4 months to one year (or to 15-18 months in large breeds) and then twice a day. Small, frequent meals suit his stomach better and avoid energy dips.
How do I switch a puppy from kibble to homemade food?
Do it over 7 to 10 days, replacing a quarter of his previous food with the new food every two or three days. Keep the same times and number of meals. Slightly softer stools at first are normal; if there is diarrhea, vomiting or lethargy, stop and check with your vet. If it will be his only diet, also start the growth supplement your vet prescribes.
Is rice good for puppies?
Yes, well-cooked white rice is a good source of energy for puppies because it is easy to digest. It should not be the base of the meal: in a puppy recipe, meat and egg have to provide most of it, and rice rounds out the energy.
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.