How Homemade Dog Food Changed My Lab’s Life

As the founder of a clean beauty brand, I’ve always been mindful of what goes on and into our bodies. So when our Labrador Retriever was diagnosed with a mast cell tumor, I started thinking more critically about what was in her food too. That one diagnosis sent me down a path I never expected—making homemade dog food from scratch. And the results? Nothing short of amazing.

The Wake-Up Call

We had just come back from the lake. Normally, our Lab would hop right out of the car—but this time, she just stood there, frozen. I saw it in her eyes: she was in pain. Her legs looked stiff and I knew she was struggling.

The vet mentioned joint injections, but I wanted to try something else first—just to see if changing her diet could help. And wow… it did.

What I Use

Here are the ingredients I use in each batch:

• 2 lbs brown rice
• 2 cups quinoa
• 12 lbs ground turkey
• 5 lbs sweet potatoes
• 4 lbs carrots
• 6 large cans black beans (drained)
• 6 cans (8.5 oz each) pumpkin purée
• Optional: broccoli (steamed or finely chopped)
• How I Make It

1. Cook the Brown Rice and Quinoa
   I start by cooking the rice and quinoa together in a large pot. Once done, I divide it between two 5-gallon metal mixing bowls.
2. Cook the Ground Turkey
   Next, I brown the ground turkey in a large skillet, then drain the fat and add the meat into the bowls with the rice.
3. Bake and Prepare the Sweet Potatoes
   I either cube and bake them, or I’ll bake them whole, then blend them (skins and all) with a little water to help them mix in more smoothly.

• Blend the Carrots
  I blend all the carrots until smooth. This helps the mixture combine evenly and prevents large clumps.

1. Add the Pumpkin and Black Beans
   I drain the beans and stir them in, along with the pumpkin purée. Occasionally, I’ll add some chopped steamed broccoli for extra nutrients.
2. Mix Everything Together
   Once it’s cooled enough to touch, I use large kitchen gloves (the carrots stain!) to hand-mix everything thoroughly in the bowls.
3. Portion and Freeze
   I portion the food into containers and freeze it for easy feeding throughout the week

How Much I Feed + Supplements

1. Labrador Retriever (55 lbs): 400g, twice a day
2. Brittany Spaniel: 300g, twice a day
   I also give both dogs a daily multivitamin to help cover any nutritional gaps.

The Results? Unreal.

I kid you not—our Lab is like a puppy again. Her energy is back, her stiffness is gone, and she’s the first to sprint to the door when it’s walk time. The vet was honestly shocked. No injections. Just real, whole food.

And on a slightly gross but very real note: her toots and mystery leaks? Gone. Completely cured.