Homemade Chicken Dinners for a Dog

Making your dog a homemade chicken dinner in lieu of his usual doggie kibble is a great way to not only make him thankful for a tasty meal, but to nourish him as well. Chicken is high in protein, which helps to build and maintain your dog's muscles. Make him a balanced homemade chicken dinner that he'll really lick his chops over.

To make your dog a homemade chicken dinner, start off with your choice of lean chicken meat. This can be ground lean chicken or cubed, shredded or chopped skinless chicken meat. You will need 4 oz. of meat, or one-quarter pound, per 20 pounds of your dog's weight. Cook the chicken thoroughly either by boiling it or sauteeing it with a bit of non-stick cooking spray. You do not need to season the chicken before giving it to your dog. Place the cooked chicken into a large bowl and set it aside.

Your dog needs carbohydrates for energy. The carbohydrate source in your dog's chicken dinner should contain fiber, which is beneficial to your dog's digestive tract. Good choices include whole grain pasta, brown rice, potatoes or sweet potatoes. White rice and pasta will also suffice in a pinch but do not have as much beneficial fiber as their whole-grain counterparts. You will need one cup of your cooked carbohydrate of choice per 20 pounds of your dog's weight. If you are using potatoes or sweet potatoes, chop them or mash them lightly, then mix the carbohydrate in with the cooked chicken.

Cooked vegetables add extra fiber, vitamins and minerals into your dog's homemade chicken dinner. The vegetables you add should be thoroughly cooked and soft to reduce digestive upset or gas in your dog. Good vegetable choices include cooked green beans, broccoli, squash, cauliflower and carrots. Your pet's dinner should include one-half cup of cooked vegetables per 20 pounds of his body weight. Mix the vegetables in with the chicken and rice, pasta or potatoes.

Your dog does require some dietary fat to keep his coat shiny and his body healthy. To the chicken mixture, add one tablespoon of olive oil or vegetable oil per 20 pounds of your dog's body weight and mix it in thoroughly.

Feed the homemade chicken dinner to your dog on his usual feeding schedule. Make sure the food isn't too hot or he will be likely to burn his mouth as he will be quite excited to eat it and will have a hard time waiting for it to cool down on his own accord. If you have leftover food, store it in the refrigerator or freezer in individually portioned storage bags and feed it as necessary. In the refrigerator, the chicken dinner will keep for three to five days. In the freezer, it can last for about three months.