Homemade senior dog food: chicken with sweet potato and blueberries
Shredded chicken with sweet potato, green beans, blueberries and salmon oil for senior dogs: easy to chew, extra moisture and quality protein.
- Time
- 40 min + 10 min resting
- Makes
- About 1.3 kg / 2.9 lb (2½ days for a 10 kg / 22 lb senior dog)
- Type
- Main meal
- Difficulty
- Easy
- 50 % boneless, skinless chicken thigh
- 27 % sweet potato
- 9 % green beans
- 8 % egg
Follows THE RULE. All 8 ingredients are on our safe list: nothing that could harm your dog.
This homemade senior dog food is a soft dish of shredded chicken, mashed sweet potato, well-cooked green beans, egg, blueberries and salmon oil, moistened with the cooking broth. It is designed for dogs over 8-10 years old (earlier in large breeds) who eat with less enthusiasm, struggle to chew or do not drink much.
Everything is mashed with a fork: you do not need a blender, but there is not a single piece that requires hard chewing. The broth gives it a juicy quality you can smell, and warmed to body temperature it smells even stronger, which helps a lot with older dogs, who gradually lose their sense of smell and their appetite.
Why it works
A healthy senior dog does not need less protein, but quality protein to hold on to muscle: chicken thigh and egg provide it with moderate fat. Sweet potato gives slow-release energy and fiber; green beans add bulk and fullness with few calories, and blueberries add natural antioxidants. The broth adds water to every portion. Eggshell balances the phosphorus and salmon oil provides EPA and DHA, omega-3s that may help maintain mobility.
Step by step
Cook the chicken
Cover the thighs with unsalted water in a pot. When it boils, lower the heat and simmer until the meat pulls apart easily with a fork. Save the broth.
Cook the sweet potato and green beans
In another pot, boil the sweet potato and green beans in unsalted water until the sweet potato falls apart and the beans are completely soft.
Boil the eggs
Boil the eggs for 10 minutes, cool and peel them.
Shred and mash
Shred the chicken into fine strands with two forks. Mash the sweet potato, chop the green beans and eggs very small and mix everything with the blueberries.
Moisten and add the calcium
Add 200 ml of the cooking broth and the eggshell and stir until you have a juicy mixture, like a thick stew.
Warm and serve
Serve warm, at about 35-38 °C / 95-100 °F (lukewarm to the touch), with the salmon oil on top. If he eats less one day, try warming it a little more: the smell encourages him.
How much should I feed?
Approximate daily portion for a "senior dog" 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 | 210 | 310 | 520 | 705 | 875 | 1,185 | 1,475 |
Puppy, senior, very active or on a diet? Calculate the exact portion.
- Energy
- 106 kcal/100 g
- Protein
- 53 % dry matter
- Fat
- 16 % 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 an airtight container. Freezer: up to 2 months, in one-day portions. Thaw in the fridge and warm in a water bath or in the microwave on low power, stirring; if it has thickened, add a splash of water or broth.
If you don't have…
- You do not have blueberries
- Grated apple, cored and seeded, in the same amount
- Your dog does not tolerate chicken
- Turkey breast, in the same amount
- You do not have sweet potato
- Cooked, mashed pumpkin, in the same amount
- Your dog is overweight
- Swap 150 g of sweet potato for the same amount of zucchini
Cooking tips
- Weigh him once a month: older dogs lose muscle without the scale changing much. If you notice his spine or hips becoming more prominent, mention it to your vet.
- If he has lost teeth, instead of shredding you can blend the mixture with the broth until it is like a pâté.
- Raise the bowl to a comfortable height if he has arthritis in the neck or front legs.
- As his only daily food, it needs a vitamin and mineral supplement made for homemade diets.
Safety
- If your senior dog has diagnosed kidney, liver or heart disease, protein, phosphorus and fat need to be adjusted with his vet before using this recipe.
- Loss of appetite lasting more than two days, or unexplained weight loss, in a senior dog is a reason to see the vet, not to change recipes.
- Serve lukewarm, never hot: check the temperature with the back of your hand.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best food for senior dogs?
The best food for a healthy senior dog has quality protein, moderate fat, good hydration and a texture that is easy to chew. He does not need less protein; he needs to keep his muscle. Portions should match his activity level, which is usually lower, so he does not gain weight.
How many times a day should a senior dog eat?
A senior dog can keep eating twice a day, but many do better with the same amount split into 3 smaller meals, especially if they eat little or digest slowly. Keep regular times and do not leave food in the bowl all day.
Why is my senior dog eating less?
An older dog may eat less because he is losing his sense of smell, has dental pain, moves less or has a health problem. Warming the food and softening the texture usually helps. If the lack of appetite lasts more than two days or he is losing weight, take him to the vet: it is the first sign of many illnesses.
Can senior dogs eat blueberries?
Yes, senior dogs can eat fresh or frozen blueberries, unsweetened, as part of their food or as a treat. They provide antioxidants and fiber with few calories. A small handful a day is enough; for dogs that swallow without chewing, crush them first.
What's in it, in detail
- Chicken Yes
- Eggs Yes
- Sweet potatoes Yes
- Green beans Yes
- Blueberries Yes
- Salmon Yes
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.