Senior dog food recipe with lamb, zucchini and rice
Very tender lamb with zucchini, carrot and creamy rice for senior dogs: soft texture, plenty of moisture and omega-3. Amounts and step-by-step method.
- Time
- 1 h 20 min + 10 min resting
- Makes
- About 1.4 kg / 3 lb (almost 3 days for a 10 kg / 22 lb senior dog)
- Type
- Main meal
- Difficulty
- Easy
- 43 % lean lamb
- 30 % white rice
- 18 % zucchini
- 9 % carrot
Follows THE RULE. All 7 ingredients are on our safe list: nothing that could harm your dog.
This senior dog food recipe with lamb is a slow stew of leg of lamb, zucchini, carrot and creamy rice, designed for dogs with few teeth, sensitive gums or who tire when chewing. The meat simmers until it falls apart into strands and the rice stays soupy, with plenty of liquid in every spoonful.
It is a Sunday-pot kind of dish: an hour over low heat while you do other things, or 25 minutes in a pressure cooker. The zucchini almost melts into the broth and the rice turns creamy, so you can serve it as it is or mash it completely with a fork if your dog only accepts a pâté texture.
Why it works
Lamb provides quality protein to maintain muscle mass, which is the first thing lost with age, as well as iron and zinc. Long cooking softens the fibers without any need to blend. Creamy white rice gives easily digested energy, and zucchini and carrot add water, gentle fiber and beta-carotene with few calories. The broth means every portion hydrates, which is valuable in dogs that drink little. Eggshell balances the phosphorus and salmon oil provides EPA and DHA.
Step by step
Simmer the lamb slowly
Put the lamb in a pot with 1.5 liters (about 6 cups) of cold, unsalted water. When it boils, skim off the foam, turn the heat to the lowest setting and cook covered until the meat falls apart when you press it with a fork (25 minutes in a pressure cooker).
Skim the broth
Take out the meat and let the broth stand for a few minutes: the fat rises to the surface. Remove it with a ladle or a wide spoon.
Make the creamy rice
In about 600 ml (2½ cups) of the skimmed broth, cook the rice with the carrot and zucchini over medium heat, stirring now and then, until the rice is very soft and creamy. If it dries out, add more broth.
Shred the meat
Meanwhile, pull the lamb into fine strands with two forks. If your dog has hardly any teeth, chop it with a knife as well.
Combine, moisten and add the calcium
Mix the meat with the rice, add another 200 ml of broth until it is juicy and sprinkle in the eggshell, stirring well.
Serve warm
Let it cool to lukewarm and serve with the salmon oil on top.
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 | 205 | 300 | 505 | 690 | 855 | 1,155 | 1,435 |
Puppy, senior, very active or on a diet? Calculate the exact portion.
- Energy
- 109 kcal/100 g
- Protein
- 40 % dry matter
- Fat
- 13 % 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 (the rice absorbs broth and thickens: add a splash of water when warming). Freezer: up to 2 months, in one-day portions. Thaw in the fridge and warm while stirring.
If you don't have…
- Your dog does not tolerate lamb
- Diced turkey (breast), in the same amount; simmer it for only 20 minutes
- Your dog tends to gain weight
- Reduce the rice to 100 g and increase the zucchini to 300 g
- You do not have carrot
- Diced pumpkin, in the same amount
Cooking tips
- A pressure cooker is your friend: the lamb comes out just as tender in half the time.
- If your dog drinks little, add one or two extra tablespoons of skimmed broth when serving: it is the easiest way to get water into him without him noticing.
- Check his weight every month. With age, activity drops and a portion that used to be just right can start to be too much; the portion calculator helps you adjust it.
- As his regular food, complete it with a vitamin and mineral supplement made for homemade diets.
Safety
- Skim the broth well: lamb is a fatty meat and excess fat does not agree with many older dogs.
- If your dog has kidney disease or any other diagnosed condition, go over the recipe with your vet before feeding it daily.
- No bone splinters at all: check the meat before cooking it and again when shredding it.
Frequently asked questions
What can I feed an old dog with few teeth?
An older dog with few teeth can eat soft homemade food: meat cooked until it falls apart, creamy rice, well-cooked mashed vegetables, or the same dish blended into a pâté. What matters is that he still gets enough protein and that the food is not dry. It is also worth having his mouth checked by the vet.
Is lamb good for senior dogs?
Yes, lean lamb is a good protein for senior dogs: it is tasty, which helps those who eat little, and it provides iron and zinc. Use leg with no visible fat and skim the broth, because other cuts are very fatty. Well cooked, it falls apart into strands that are easy to eat.
How can I get my senior dog to drink more water?
The simplest way to get a senior dog to drink more is to feed moist food: stews with broth like this one provide a lot of water in every portion. Also, place several bowls of fresh water around the house, change it often and try a fountain-style water bowl. If he suddenly drinks a great deal, see your vet.
How much should a senior dog eat?
A senior dog usually needs 10 to 20 % fewer calories than as an adult, because he moves less, although every dog is different. Work out the portion using his current weight in the calculator on the site and adjust it to his body shape: you should be able to feel his ribs without seeing them.
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.