The Whippet’s daily homemade food

A complete guide to feeding your four-legged friend

Understanding the nutritional needs of the Whippet:

Today, let’s talk about homemade food for your Whippet. Is it a good idea?

The Whippet is a medium-sized breed of dog native to England. It’s also known for its speed and agility. So, to maintain its fitness and optimum health, it’s essential to provide it with a balanced diet tailored to its specific nutritional needs.

Of course, like all dogs, Whippets need a balanced diet that provides essential nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. However, as an active, athletic breed, Whippets may have slightly different nutritional requirements compared to other dog breeds.

It’s also important to note that a Whippet’s nutritional requirements may vary according to age, activity level, weight, and overall health. It is therefore advisable to consult your veterinarian to determine the optimal daily food ration for your Whippet according to its individual needs.

The benefits of a daily home ration for Whippets:

Household rations, also known as homemade diets, are an increasingly popular food option for many dog owners, including those with Whippets. Here are some of the potential benefits of homemade rations for Whippets:

• 1. Total control over ingredients: One of the main advantages of the daily home ration is that you have total control over the ingredients you feed your Whippet. So, you can choose the meats, vegetables, fruits, and grains you want to include in his diet. But you can also adjust the portions to suit his individual needs.
• 2. Quality ingredients: By preparing your Whippet’s food yourself, you can choose high-quality ingredients. These include lean meats, fresh vegetables, and unprocessed grains. This can help provide your dog with a healthy, balanced diet.
• 3. Avoiding potential allergens: Some Whippets may be sensitive to certain food allergens, such as gluten, soy, or corn. So, by preparing your dog’s food yourself, you can avoid these potential allergens. Ultimately, you have greater control over your dog’s diet, based on his specific dietary needs.
• 4. Personalized feeding: The daily food ration allows you to tailor your Whippet’s diet to his individual needs. And of course, this is particularly beneficial if your dog has specific nutritional requirements due to his health or activity level.

The main ingredients to be included in a Whippet’s daily food ration:

When preparing a daily ration for your Whippet, it’s essential to include all the necessary nutrients. In short, they must meet his specific nutritional needs. Here are some of the main ingredients to include in your Whippet’s daily diet:

Lean meats:

Whippets are active dogs. They need high-quality protein to maintain muscle mass and energy. Lean meats such as chicken, turkey, lean beef, lamb, or white fish (cod, hake, sea bass, hake, pollack, etc.) are excellent sources of protein for your Whippet’s household diet.

Vegetables and fresh fruit:

Vegetables are an important source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals for your Whippet. You can include vegetables such as green beans (the most easily digestible), carrots (good for the coat but to be avoided in case of diabetes), zucchini, spinach (except in case of urinary problems), broccoli, pumpkin (very good for the coat), cucumber (raw in summer) or sweet potatoes (antioxidant) in his diet. This will add variety and nutrients to his diet. In season, you can also incorporate apples and pears (seedless!), raspberries, strawberries, watermelons, and melon. Legumes are not easy to digest and can cause digestive problems.

Unprocessed cereals:

Although Whippets are carnivorous dogs, unprocessed cereals can be included in their household ration. They provide carbohydrates and fiber. You can choose cereals such as rice (the most easily digestible), oats (rich in iron and good for transit) or quinoa. This will add energy to your Whippet’s diet. Double the cooking time compared to that indicated for humans.

Healthy fats:

Fats are important for the health of your Whippet’s skin, coat, and joints. You can include healthy fats such as coconut oil (in moderation, as it promotes bad cholesterol and is a source of cardiovascular problems), walnut oil, ISIO 4 or fish oil in his household diet. This provides him with the essential fatty acids he needs. Be careful not to cook them but add them raw.

Vitamin and mineral supplements:

You can include vitamin and mineral supplements in your Whippet’s home ration. This way, you can make sure he gets all the nutrients he needs. Brewer’s yeast has proved its worth. Spirulina in a 3 to 6-month course will always be beneficial. Green barley powder is a nugget. It boosts the immune system. Organic eggshell powder is very rich in calcium. Cider vinegar balances intestinal flora. Pre- and probiotics are good bacteria. They help maintain or restore order to the digestive system. Green and white clay are also excellent. Turmeric combined with ground black pepper is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent. Don’t just mix and match. Consult your vet to determine whether your dog needs specific supplements based on his health and diet.

How to calculate the daily food ration for your Whippet:

Calculating the daily food ration for your Whippet can seem complex. In fact, you need to consider various factors such as his weight, activity level, age, and overall health. Here are some general steps to help you determine how much food to feed your Whippet:

1. Consult your veterinarian: Before you start preparing a food ration for your Whippet, it’s important to consult your veterinarian. He or she will help you determine your dog’s specific nutritional needs, based on his or her health and diet.
2. Calculate caloric requirements: In general, an adult Whippet needs around 30 to 40 calories per kilogram of body weight per day. You can multiply your dog’s weight by this figure. This will give you an estimate of your Whippet’s total calorie requirements. For example, if your Whippet weighs 15 kg, he will need around 450 to 600 calories a day.
3. Determine the distribution of nutrients: Around 40% to 50% of total calories should come from protein, 30% to 40% from fat and 20% to 30% from carbohydrates in your Whippet’s household ration. You can use these percentages as a basis for determining the amount of each ingredient to include in his ration.
4. Weigh and measure ingredients: Once you’ve determined the nutrient distribution, you can weigh and measure the ingredients according to the quantities needed to meet your Whippet’s caloric requirements. Be sure to cook meats and vegetables thoroughly. This will facilitate their digestion and increase their nutritional availability.
5. Keep track of your dog’s needs: It’s important to monitor your Whippet’s weight, health, and stools. This way, you can be sure he’s getting the nutrients he needs from his food. If necessary, adjust the quantities of ingredients to meet your dog’s specific requirements.

Precautions to be taken with Whippet rations:

Whippet rations offer many advantages. However, there are also precautions to take. Make sure it’s balanced and adapted to your Whippet’s needs:

• Risk of nutritional imbalance: Balance is essential in terms of essential nutrients such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Nutritional imbalance can lead to long-term health problems.
• Need for supplements: It may be necessary to include vitamin and mineral supplements in your Whippet’s household ration. This is to make sure he gets all the nutrients he needs. It’s important to consult your veterinarian. He will determine your dog’s specific needs and the appropriate supplements to include in his ration.
• Time and effort: Preparing a home ration for your Whippet can take time and effort. You’ll need to buy, weigh, measure and cook the necessary ingredients. The ration must be prepared hygienically. This will avoid any risk of food contamination.

Sample recipe for Whippet food ration:

Here’s a sample recipe for a Whippet diet. It can be used as a guide to help you prepare a balanced diet for your dog:

Ingredients:

• 300 g lean meat (e.g.: chicken, turkey, veal)
• 200 g vegetables (e.g.: carrots, zucchinis, broccoli)
• 100 g cooked rice or quinoa
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (e.g.: coconut oil, olive oil)
• 1 tablespoon vitamin and mineral supplement for dogs (check with your vet for choice of supplement)

Directions:

1. Cook lean meat thoroughly. Lean meat must be cooked perfectly and thoroughly. You can pan-fry or steam it, avoiding the use of added oils or seasonings.
2. Cook vegetables until tender. You can steam, blanch, or pan-fry them with a small amount of vegetable oil.
3. Cook rice or quinoa according to package instructions.
4. Combine cooked meat, cooked vegetables, cooked brown rice or quinoa, vegetable oil and vitamin/mineral supplement in a large bowl. Mix well.
5. Allow the mixture to cool before serving to your Whippet.
6. Serve your Whippet the household ration in portions appropriate to its weight, activity level and nutritional requirements.

Conclusion

The daily home ration can be a nutritional option for feeding your Whippet in a personalized and healthy way. However, it’s important to understand your dog’s specific nutritional needs, consult your veterinarian and consider practical aspects such as the time, effort and cost required to prepare a balanced home ration.

In short, the daily home ration for Whippets can be an alternative to commercial food. It does, however, require careful planning. Your dog must receive all the essential nutrients he needs. It’s important to consult your veterinarian to determine your Whippet’s specific nutritional needs. Choose high-quality ingredients and respect the appropriate portion sizes. Preparing a home ration can take time, effort, and an appropriate budget. But it can also offer the benefits of a personalized, healthy diet for your four-legged friend.

By taking care of your Whippet’s nutrition, you can contribute to its overall health and longevity.

If you liked this article, don’t hesitate to share it. Someone you may or may not know may need to read it. You can also subscribe by leaving me a comment at the bottom of the page ⏬(Go to “Laisser un commentaire”).

And if you haven’t already, sign up on my Facebook page by clicking here or on my Instagram account by clicking here.

Some additional information:

• “Cooking For Your Dog: Do’s & Don’ts of Homemade Dog Food” – American Kennel Club: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/cooking-for-your-dog-dos-and-donts/
• “Feeding a Whippet with Homemade Food” – The Whippet.net: https://www.thewhippet.net/feeding_a_whippet.html
• “Vet-Approved Homemade Dog Food Recipes” – The Spruce Pets: https://www.thesprucepets.com/homemade-dog-food-recipes-5200240