Make a Balanced, Homemade Cooked Meal for Dogs with Sensitive Tummies

Do you have a dog with a sensitive stomach? Here's a complete and balanced homemade cooked dog food recipe, specially designed for dogs with sensitive stomachs. This recipe is straightforward to prepare at home, gentle on digestion, & uses easy to find ingredients. It’s tailored for dogs who struggle with common proteins like beef or chicken, offering a nutritious alternative to support their well-being.

Understanding Sensitive Stomachs in Dogs

Many dogs experience digestive challenges, such as recurring diarrhea, vomiting, or skin flare-ups, particularly when fed certain meats like beef or chicken. As a pet parent, you might recognise the frustration—countless owners have shared with me, “My little Fifi can’t handle beef or chicken; it always leads to upset stomachs & itching!” This is a widespread issue, and it’s the inspiration behind today’s recipe. I'm focusing on a cooling, easily digestible white protein: fish. To keep it budget-friendly, use affordable fish like New Zealand Whiting, not $50-per-kilo gourmet salmon!

The Problem with Many Homemade Recipes

You’ve likely seen YouTube videos showcasing large monthly meal preps of homemade pet food, pulled straight from the freezer. However, many of these recipes fall short. They often rely on ingredients that are nutritionally unbalanced, difficult to digest, or even inflammatory—such as rice, pasta, or potatoes. Dogs do not need carbohydrates, which can exacerbate tummy issues & inflammation, especially in sensitive dogs. This recipe avoids those pitfalls, offering a nutritionist-designed, carb-free meal using novel proteins—foods your dog may not have encountered before, reducing the risk of allergic reactions.

Why This Fish & Vegetable Recipe Benefits Your Dog

This Fish & Vegetable Cooked Dinner is crafted to enhance your dog’s life through improved digestion, reduced inflammation, & tailored nutrition. Inspired by my eight years of pet nutrition research & my journey with Chica, this recipe uses real, bioavailable foods to replace the often inadequate commercial sensitive or low-allergen kibble. Not to mention, it's significantly cheaper than 'prescription' kibble! (skip to the bottom to see the cost comparison- you'll be amazed!)

Recipe Details: Fish & Vegetable Cooked Dinner

This recipe makes approximately 2 kilograms of food, ideal for portioning into single servings and freezing. For a 5-kilogram dog like my Dachshunds, who eat about 150 grams daily, this provides 13 servings. You can adjust quantities for larger dogs by doubling or tripling the recipe. I’ll include a cost breakdown at the end so you can see it's not at all expensive to feed your doggo real, quality foods on a budget!

Ingredients

• 1 Kilogram New Zealand Whiting: Chosen for its affordability ($10.99/kg), with skin on for healthy fish oils. Process in a food blender (so much quicker!) or roughly chop it up.

• Cod Liver Oil Capsules (500 mg): A substitute for hard-to-find cod liver, providing vitamins A, D, and omega-3s (EPA/DHA). Add half a capsule per serving (e.g., 250 mg for dogs under 10 kg) Do not cook this, arther add it into their bowl just before serving to preserve nutrients. Alternatives include fish or krill oil if you can't find Cod Liver Oil.

• 2 Eggs (with Crushed Shells): Omit if allergic to chicken. Shells supply calcium & phosphorus; crush finely & mix in. If omitting, use a calcium supplement like Caltrate, following dosage instructions.

• 4-5 Green Lipped Mussels (Frozen): Rich in omega-3s for inflammation reduction, joint health, & mobility, plus iron, zinc, selenium, &nd vitamin B12 for immune support.

• 100 grams Finely Chopped Mushrooms: A source of B vitamins, folate, and plant-based protein, boosting overall nutrition.

• 100 grams Cooked Pumpkin (with Skin): Provides insoluble fibre for digestion, and most dogs love the taste.

• 1 Zucchini (Finely Chopped or Grated): The green skin offers Quercetin, a natural antihistamine, beneficial for skin sensitivities. Check out this video for more information.

• 1 Teaspoon Pink Himalayan Sea Salt: Supplies sodium and electrolytes, helpful for dehydrated dogs with loose stools. Yes, dogs do need some sodium!

• 2 Crushed Garlic Cloves: A safe antioxidant for dogs, supporting immune health (note: safe in moderation).

• Handful of Baby Spinach: Wilted to retain nutrients, it reduces histamine production, easing allergy symptoms.

• Handful of Blueberries: Packed with antioxidants and vitamin C, added with spinach to preserve potency once the food has cooled.

  
  

Method

1. Combine the pre-cooked pumpkin, chopped whiting, mushrooms, grated zucchini, garlic, pink salt, beaten eggs with crushed shells (if using), and green lipped mussels in a pot.

2. Add a splash of boiling water to speed cooking.

3. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until fish and vegetables are fully cooked (about 15-20 minutes).

4. Remove from heat, cool slightly, then stir in spinach and blueberries to preserve their nutrients.

5. Portion into 2-3 serving sizes (use within 3 days once defrosted), store in reusable freezer containers, and label with meal type and date for rotation.

   
   

Final Touches

• Add half a cod liver oil capsule (or Fish Oil substitute) per serving before feeding.

• If eggs are omitted, mix in crushed calcium supplement as directed.

  
  

Check out the how-to video on YouTube

Nutritional Value and Benefits

This recipe is balanced with novel proteins (fish), organ meat nutrients (via cod liver oil), and vegetables, avoiding carbs to prevent inflammation. It’s lightly cooked to enhance digestibility, making it ideal for sensitive tummies.

Cost Breakdown

This 2-kilogram batch costs $22.22, equating to $1.70 per 150-gram meal for my Dachshunds—13 servings total. Compared to commercial sensitive kibbles, this is a cost-effective, nutrient-rich alternative using real foods!

Compare this to Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Hypoallergenic Adult Dog Dry Food which sells for a whopping $4.35 per 150gm!