To ensure that your dog stays in optimum health, it's crucial to include the correct amounts of the right ingredients your pooch needs for a nutritionally balanced diet that is suitable for dogs.

That's why using any old recipe you stumble across on the Internet to prepare your best friend's homemade dog food can be problematic.

It is vital to closely analyze any homemade dog food recipe you are considering using for the right amount of the right ingredients to ensure that you are providing your dog with a healthy well-balanced, nutritious homemade diet.

What are the key ingredients should be included in your homemade dinners for your dog?

The formula for well-balanced nutritious homemade dog food is about 50% protein, 25% vegetables (finely chopped up or pureed for easy digestion), and 25% grain (oatmeal or brown rice are great options). Add in some supplements of vitamins, minerals, and oils rich in omega-3 for healthy skin and coat as well.

Exactly what types of ingredients should be included in the homemade dog food recipes you use?

Great ingredient choices to include in your homemade dog food recipes include raw and cooked meats (mix it up a little!), cooked grains, cooked eggs, as well as veggies and fruit - not grapes though. Here are some more specific suggestions.

1. Dogs need a lot of protein, and meat is the best way for them to get it, so dish your pooch up some generous helpings of chicken, turkey, fish, lamb and beef. In fact, meats should make up most of your pet's diet. Ground beef and turkey are particularly simple to use because they're already chopped up for you. Be sure to cook all ground meats to kill any unhealthy bacteria.

2. Eggs - Eggs are an awesome protein source and they are as good for your dog as they are for you. Raw eggs are renowned for haboring bacterial growth, so it's best to scramble or hard-boil them first to avoid contaminating your homemade dog food recipe with a potentially unsafe ingredient.

3. Chopped Veggies - We all know how packed with essential vitamins and minerals vegetables are, so be sure to deliver your dog a wide variety of them to keep him or her in great health. As mentioned earlier, finely chop or puree them to enable easy digestion. Go with dog favorites like celery, kale, zucchini and cucumbers. You can also add in some spinach and/or peas.

4. Starches - Homemade dog food recipes should always include some starch, but many people fail to include it. So be sure to pop in some energy-producing boiled or baked potatoes (or sweet potatoes), or some ultra nutritious boiled or steamed brown rice. Carbohydrates like these provide sustained energy that will help ensure your dog has plenty of energy between meals.

Are there ingredients to avoid when you make your own dog food?

Absolutely. You shouldn't ever include things like onions, chocolate, avocados, or nuts in your dog's food. Never include grapes or raisins either. Garlic can be used, but in moderation. All of these foods can potentially make your dog ill in various ways and to various degrees. There's lots more to know about what ingredients to avoid in order to keep your dog safe and healthy. Visit the more information link at the bottom of this article to read a comprehensive list of 33 human foods that are toxic to dogs.

If you want to skip the learning curve, or you simply don't want to take any chances with your dog's health, get these expertly-developed homemade dog food recipes now.

Will your pooch be glad to make the switch over to homemade food?

Sure, but you'll need to do it gradually. No doubt your dog will soon be extremely grateful for the delicous, better quality food you are dishing up, made from fresh natural ingredients, prepared using carefully selected healthy homemade dog food recipes.

Please note though, it's quite common for dogs to encounter a temporary stomach upset during a diet change. If so, it's likely that you're attempting to make the diet change too fast. In most cases, you will be able to make the switch in 3 or 4 days, but if you dog has any issues, it's best to play it safe and take a little longer. Slowly increase the quantity of homemade dog food you mix into his or her old food each day.

Select the best ingredients you can find, avoid things that are harmful and make the change over go as smoothly as possible. Once you start using healthy homemade dog food recipes to make your pet's meals, your dog will be healthier and happier, and he or she will live years longer than dogs who are fed commercial dog food full of harmful preservatives and chemicals.

If you haven't done so already, make the change to healthy homemade dog food today and relish the additional years you'll have with your precious pooch.