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Feeding a pet puppy is merely feeding a child. Most pet owners are now feeding their pets with home-made puppy food, however, it is good to consider if the food is well balanced to ensure the pet's health and to avoid certain conditions like obesity in the long run.

A puppy should have a diet that is well balanced that is composed of protein, fats, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. While fat, protein and carbohydrates are easy to put together, food supplements should be added to home-made puppy food to make sure that its diet is balance, PetCareRX shared.

Protein should be the 40 to80 percent of the home-made puppy food. Meats such as boneless chicken, pork, beef, duck, lamb and turkey are good source of protein. Fish, especially salmon is a good source as well. Organ meats are healthy; however, it should not exceed the 15 percent of the home-made puppy food.

A well-balanced diet should have five to 10 percent fruits and vegetables but be sure avoid beets, garlic, onion, raisins, grapes and apricot as these types of produce are poisonous to dogs. Some of the good choices are carrots, peas and blueberries.

Fiber-rich carbohydrates like sweet and regular potatoes; white, brown or jasmine rice; lentils; peas and oatmeal should take up 20 to 60 percent of the home-made puppy food. Fats should only take up not less than five percent and not more than 15 percent of a well-balanced diet. For vitamins and minerals, it is good to consult a veterinarian for recommended brands and dosage. A growing dog needs plenty of calcium.

Meanwhile, here is a good recipe for a well-balanced homemade puppy food shared by Top Dog Food:

In a slow cooker, put together half cup of chopped carrots, half cup of hopped zucchini, half cup of diced apple (no seeds and core), two pounds boneless, skinless chicken meat, cut into tiny cubes, a small can of sardines, two and a half cups of uncooked brown rice, one fourth cup of olive oil and seven cups of clean filtered water.

Cook all the ingredients on high for six to seven hours. Once the rice thoroughly cooked, the puppy food is ready for cooling. Vegetables can be substituted by chopped peas, green beans, plums and sweet or regular potatoes. Chicken meat can be switched out by beef or lamb of good quality. Choose organic foods as much as possible.

This recipe can make around 10 cups of well-balanced home-made puppy food.