Food allergies can cause a myriad of symptoms in dogs including ear infections, itchy skin, scooting and stomach upset. When I suspect food allergies in my patients, I consider the following options to help pet parents identify the offending foods:
- Amino Acid Based Diet. You can read more about this option here. In my experience, this is one of the most effective and efficient ways of identifying food allergens. However, some pet parents would like to try a more natural option first.
- Home Cooked Limited Ingredient Diet. This is a more natural way to help identify food allergens. Preparing the diet in your kitchen helps prevent cross contamination and keeps you in control of the quality of ingredients. Many of my patients love a home cooked diet.
I use a website, balanceit.com, to help formulate these diets. You can formulate your own diet, or use the recipes I created here for ease. I have generated these recipes by weight for your pup.
Portions
This recipe will make 4 days worth of food with 2 meals per day. The fastest and most accurate way to measure the ingredients in the recipe is to use a gram scale. You can purchase one here. If a gram scale is not available, here are some helpful common measurement conversions: 1/16 cup = 1 tbsp, 1 tbsp = 3 tsp, 1 oz = 28.35 grams. Each recipe has measurements in both cups and grams.
Here are my recipes for a home cooked diet based on your dog’s weight:
- Recipe for a 10 Pound Dog
- Recipe for a 20 Pound Dog
- Recipe for a 30 Pound Dog
- Recipe for a 40 Pound Dog
- Recipe for a 50 Pound Dog
- Recipe for a 60 Pound Dog
- Recipe for a 70 Pound Dog
- Recipe for a 80 Pound Dog
- Recipe for a 90 Pound Dog
Homemade Recipe for a 10 Pound Dog
Ingredients:
- 4 c (755 g) Potatoes
- Baked, without salt
- 1.5 c (298 g) Pork
- loin, top loin (chops), boneless, cooked, broiled
- 5 tsp (21 g) Safflower Oil
- 6 ¼ tsp (16 g) of Balance IT Canine (2.5g/tsp); Purchase this here.
- This is an excellent supplement for home cooking. The meal will be unbalanced without this supplement and your pup won’t be getting 16 essential nutrients.
- BalanceIt needs to be added after your recipe has been cooked. This recipe makes 8 servings; please add ¾ tsp or 2 g of Balance IT Canine (2.5g/tsp) to each serving once your pup’s meal has been cooked and/or reheated.
Preparation Instructions:
- Prepare the above ingredients in the amounts indicated and cut into small bite-sized pieces as needed.
- Bake the potatoes in the oven until cooked through.
- Broil the pork until an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit has been reached.
- Mix cooked pork and potatoes with the safflower oil.
- Add in the BalanceIT supplements, as well as any other supplements you are giving your dog, AFTER it has been cooked and mix well.
Transitioning:
A slow transition to the new diet can improve acceptance and tolerance, especially for any added supplements.
Storage:
Prepared food can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 weeks. Add all supplements to food that has already been cooked and/or reheated, do not reheat any food that already contains BalanceIt.
Monitoring:
Please monitor your pup’s weight and make sure she achieves/maintains a healthy weight.
Homemade Recipe for a 20 Pound Dog
Ingredients:
- 5.5 c (1270 g) Potatoes
- baked, without salt
- 2 c (500 g) Pork
- loin, top loin (chops), boneless, cooked, broiled
- 3 tbsp (35 g) Safflower Oil
- 4 tbsp (26 g) of Balance IT Canine (2.5g/tsp); Purchase this here.
- This is an excellent supplement for home cooking. The meal will be unbalanced without this supplement, and your pup won’t be getting 16 essential nutrients.
- BalanceIt needs to be added after your recipe has been cooked. This recipe makes 8 servings; please add ½ tsp or 3.25 g of Balance IT Canine (2.5g/tsp) to each serving once your pup’s meal has been cooked and/or reheated.
Preparation Instructions:
- Prepare the above ingredients in the amounts indicated and cut into small bite-sized pieces as needed.
- Bake the potatoes in the oven until cooked through.
- Broil the pork until an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit has been reached.
- Mix cooked pork and potatoes with the safflower oil.
- Add in the BalanceIT supplements, as well as any other supplements you are giving your dog, AFTER it has been cooked and mix well.
Transitioning:
A slow transition to the new diet can improve acceptance and tolerance especially for any added supplements.
Storage:
Prepared food can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 weeks. Add all supplements to food that has already been cooked and/or reheated, do not reheat any food that already contains BalanceIt.
Monitoring:
Please monitor your pup’s weight and make sure she achieves/maintains a healthy weight.
Homemade Recipe for a 30 Pound Dog
Ingredients:
- 8 c (1719 g) Potatoes
- baked, without salt
- 3 c (677 g) Pork
- loin, top loin (chops), boneless, cooked, broiled
- 4 tbsp (47 g) Safflower Oil
- 5 tbsp (35 g) of Balance IT Canine (2.5g/tsp); Purchase this here.
- This is an excellent supplement for home cooking. The meal will be unbalanced without this supplement and your pup won’t be getting 16 essential nutrients.
- BalanceIt needs to be added after your recipe has been cooked. This recipe makes 8 servings; please add ¾ tbsp or 4.25 g of Balance IT Canine (2.5g/tsp) to each serving once your pup’s meal has been cooked and/or reheated.
Preparation Instructions:
- Prepare the above ingredients in the amounts indicated and cut into small bite-sized pieces as needed.
- Bake the potatoes in the oven until cooked through.
- Broil the pork until an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit has been reached.
- Mix cooked pork and potatoes with the safflower oil.
- Add in the BalanceIT supplements, as well as any other supplements you are giving your dog, AFTER it has been cooked and mix well.
Transitioning:
A slow transition to the new diet can improve acceptance and tolerance especially for any added supplements.
Storage:
Prepared food can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 weeks. Add all supplements to food that has already been cooked and/or reheated, do not reheat any food that already contains BalanceIt.
Monitoring:
Please monitor your pup’s weight and make sure she achieves/maintains a healthy weight.
Homemade Recipe for a 40 Pound Dog
Ingredients:
- 9.5 c (2133 g) Potatoes
- baked, without salt
- 4 c (840 g) Pork
- loin, top loin (chops), boneless, cooked, broiled
- 4.5 tbsp (58 g) Safflower Oil
- 6 tbsp (17.5 g) of Balance IT Canine (2.5g/tsp); Purchase this here.
- This is an excellent supplement for home cooking. The meal will be unbalanced without this supplement and your pup won’t be getting 16 essential nutrients.
- BalanceIt needs to be added after your recipe has been cooked. This recipe makes 8 servings; please add ¾ tbsp or 2.25 g of Balance IT Canine (2.5g/tsp) to each serving once your pup’s meal has been cooked and/or reheated.
Preparation Instructions:
- Prepare the above ingredients in the amounts indicated and cut into small bite-sized pieces as needed.
- Bake the potatoes in the oven until cooked through.
- Broil the pork until an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit has been reached.
- Mix cooked pork and potatoes with the safflower oil.
- Add in the BalanceIT supplements, as well as any other supplements you are giving your dog, AFTER it has been cooked and mix well.
Transitioning:
A slow transition to the new diet can improve acceptance and tolerance especially for any added supplements.
Storage:
Prepared food can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 weeks. Add all supplements to food that has already been cooked and/or reheated, do not reheat any food that already contains BalanceIt.
Monitoring:
Please monitor your pup’s weight and make sure she achieves/maintains a healthy weight.
Homemade Recipe for a 50 Pound Dog
Ingredients:
- 11 c (2532 g) Potatoes
- baked, without salt
- 4.5 c (992 g) Pork
- loin, top loin (chops), boneless, cooked, broiled
- 5 tbsp (68 g) Safflower Oil
- 1/2 c (52 g) of Balance IT Canine (2.5g/tsp); Purchase this here.
- This is an excellent supplement for home cooking. The meal will be unbalanced without this supplement and your pup won’t be getting 16 essential nutrients.
- BalanceIt needs to be added after your recipe has been cooked. This recipe makes 8 servings; please add 1 tbsp or 6.5 g of Balance IT Canine (2.5g/tsp) to each serving once your pup’s meal has been cooked and/or reheated.
Preparation Instructions:
- Prepare the above ingredients in the amounts indicated and cut into small bite-sized pieces as needed.
- Bake the potatoes in the oven until cooked through.
- Broil the pork until an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit has been reached.
- Mix cooked pork and potatoes with the safflower oil.
- Add in the BalanceIT supplements, as well as any other supplements you are giving your dog, AFTER it has been cooked and mix well.
Transitioning:
A slow transition to the new diet can improve acceptance and tolerance especially for any added supplements.
Storage:
Prepared food can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 weeks. Add all supplements to food that has already been cooked and/or reheated, do not reheat any food that already contains BalanceIt.
Monitoring:
Please monitor your pup’s weight and make sure she achieves/maintains a healthy weight.
Homemade Recipe for a 60 Pound Dog
Ingredients:
- 13 c (2892) g Potatoes
- baked, without salt
- 5 c (1138 g) Pork
- loin, top loin (chops), boneless, cooked, broiled
- 6 tbsp (78 g) Safflower Oil
- 1/2 c (59 g) of Balance IT Canine (2.5g/tsp); Purchase this here.
- This is an excellent supplement for home cooking. The meal will be unbalanced without this supplement and your pup won’t be getting 16 essential nutrients.
- BalanceIt needs to be added after your recipe has been cooked. This recipe makes 8 servings; please add 1 tbsp or 7.25 g of Balance IT Canine (2.5g/tsp) to each serving once your pup’s meal has been cooked and/or reheated.
Preparation Instructions:
- Prepare the above ingredients in the amounts indicated and cut into small bite-sized pieces as needed.
- Bake the potatoes in the oven until cooked through.
- Broil the pork until an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit has been reached.
- Mix cooked pork and potatoes with the safflower oil.
- Add in the BalanceIT supplements, as well as any other supplements you are giving your dog, AFTER it has been cooked and mix well.
Transitioning:
A slow transition to the new diet can improve acceptance and tolerance especially for any added supplements.
Storage:
Prepared food can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 weeks. Add all supplements to food that has already been cooked and/or reheated, do not reheat any food that already contains BalanceIt.
Monitoring:
Please monitor your pup’s weight and make sure she achieves/maintains a healthy weight.
Homemade Recipe for a 70 Pound Dog
Ingredients:
- 14 1/3 c (3246 g) Potatoes
- baked, without salt
- 5 2/3 c (1276 g) Pork
- loin, top loin (chops), boneless, cooked, broiled
- 1/2 c (88 g) Safflower Oil
- 1/2 c (66.5 g) of Balance IT Canine (2.5g/tsp); Purchase this here.
- This is an excellent supplement for home cooking. The meal will be unbalanced without this supplement and your pup won’t be getting 16 essential nutrients.
- BalanceIt needs to be added after your recipe has been cooked. This recipe makes 8 servings; please add 1 tbsp or 8.3 g of Balance IT Canine (2.5g/tsp) to each serving once your pup’s meal has been cooked and/or reheated.
Preparation Instructions:
- Prepare the above ingredients in the amounts indicated and cut into small bite-sized pieces as needed.
- Bake the potatoes in the oven until cooked through.
- Broil the pork until an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit has been reached.
- Mix cooked pork and potatoes with the safflower oil.
- Add in the BalanceIT supplements, as well as any other supplements you are giving your dog, AFTER it has been cooked and mix well.
Transitioning:
A slow transition to the new diet can improve acceptance and tolerance especially for any added supplements.
Storage:
Prepared food can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 weeks. Add all supplements to food that has already been cooked and/or reheated, do not reheat any food that already contains BalanceIt.
Monitoring:
Please monitor your pup’s weight and make sure she achieves/maintains a healthy weight.
Homemade Recipe for a 80 Pound Dog
Ingredients:
- 16 c (3586 g) Potatoes
- baked, without salt
- 6 ¼ c (1410 g) Pork
- loin, top loin (chops), boneless, cooked, broiled
- 1/2 c (97 g) Safflower Oil
- 10 tbsp (73 g) of Balance IT Canine (2.5g/tsp); Purchase this here.
- This is an excellent supplement for home cooking. The meal will be unbalanced without this supplement and your pup won’t be getting 16 essential nutrients.
- BalanceIt needs to be added after your recipe has been cooked. This recipe makes 8 servings; please add 1.25 tbsp or 9 g of Balance IT Canine (2.5g/tsp) to each serving once your pup’s meal has been cooked and/or reheated.
Preparation Instructions:
- Prepare the above ingredients in the amounts indicated and cut into small bite-sized pieces as needed.
- Bake the potatoes in the oven until cooked through.
- Broil the pork until an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit has been reached.
- Mix cooked pork and potatoes with the safflower oil.
- Add in the BalanceIT supplements as well as any other supplements you are giving your dog AFTER it has been cooked and mix well.
Transitioning:
A slow transition to the new diet can improve acceptance and tolerance especially for any added supplements.
Storage:
Prepared food can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 weeks. Add all supplements to food that has already been cooked and/or reheated, do not reheat any food that already contains BalanceIt.
Monitoring:
Please monitor your pup’s weight and make sure she achieves/maintains a healthy weight.
Homemade Recipe for a 90 Pound Dog
Ingredients:
- 17 ¼ c (3916 g) Potatoes
- baked, without salt
- 7 c (1542 g) Pork
- loin, top loin (chops), boneless, cooked, broiled
- 1/2 c (106 g) Safflower Oil
- 11 tbsp c (80 g) of Balance IT Canine (2.5g/tsp); Purchase this here.
- This is an excellent supplement for home cooking. The meal will be unbalanced without this supplement and your pup won’t be getting 16 essential nutrients.
- BalanceIt needs to be added after your recipe has been cooked. This recipe makes 8 servings; please add 1.25 tbsp or 10 g of Balance IT Canine (2.5g/tsp) to each serving once your pup’s meal has been cooked and/or reheated.
Preparation Instructions:
- Prepare the above ingredients in the amounts indicated and cut into small bite-sized pieces as needed.
- Bake the potatoes in the oven until cooked through.
- Broil the pork until an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit has been reached.
- Mix cooked pork and potatoes with the safflower oil.
- Add in the BalanceIT supplements as well as any other supplements you are giving your dog AFTER it has been cooked and mix well.
Transitioning:
A slow transition to the new diet can improve acceptance and tolerance especially for any added supplement.
Storage:
Prepared food can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 weeks. Add all supplements to food that has already been cooked and/or reheated, do not reheat any food that already contains BalanceIt.
Monitoring:
Please monitor your pup’s weight and make sure she achieves/maintains a healthy weight.
I hope you’ve enjoyed these recipes.
With love,
