Limited Ingredient Duck
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground duck (85% lean, including finely ground raw bone-in portions or deboned with added calcium as noted)
- 1 lb duck hearts
- 1 lb duck liver
- 1.5 cups butternut squash, peeled and diced
- 1 cup green beans, chopped
- 1 cup spinach, chopped
- 3 tbsp coconut oil
- 2 large eggs (whole, with shell crushed finely for calcium if using deboned duck)
- 1.5 cups cooked white rice
- 1 cup water or low-sodium bone broth (no onion/garlic)
- 1 tbsp ground eggshell powder (omit if using bone-in ground duck)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- If using deboned duck meat, grind eggshells to a fine powder in a clean coffee grinder and set aside. If using bone-in ground duck, skip this step as the bone provides natural calcium.
- In a large pot, bring water or broth to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
- Add ground duck and duck hearts to the pot, breaking apart into small crumbles. Cook for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Add duck liver and cook for an additional 5 minutes until fully cooked through.
- Add butternut squash and green beans. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes until vegetables are very soft and easily mashed.
- Remove from heat and stir in spinach, allowing residual heat to wilt it.
- Let mixture cool to approximately 100°F (38°C) — warm but comfortable to touch.
- Fold in cooked white rice, coconut oil, and whole eggs (including crushed shells if using deboned duck). Mix thoroughly until uniform.
- If using deboned duck, stir in 1 tablespoon of ground eggshell powder evenly throughout the mixture.
- Divide into daily portions based on your dog's caloric needs. Refrigerate portions you will use within 3 days; freeze the remainder in airtight containers.
- Thaw frozen portions in the refrigerator overnight before serving. Serve at room temperature or slightly warmed. Always provide fresh water alongside meals.
💊 Required Supplements
Add the following per batch of the complete recipe (approximately 6.5 lbs total yield): (1) Vitamin E — 400 IU mixed tocopherols, (2) Zinc methionine — 120 mg, (3) Vitamin B-complex — 1 human adult dose (typically 50 mg thiamine, 2 mg B6, 100 mcg B12), (4) Fish oil (EPA/DHA) — 3,000 mg combined EPA and DHA, (5) Iodine — 500 mcg (as potassium iodide), (6) Vitamin D3 — 2,000 IU. Mix supplements into the cooled food immediately before portioning. Do not heat supplements. Alternatively, use a pre-mixed canine vitamin-mineral powder such as Balance IT Canine (1.5 tsp per batch) or Alnutrin Canine (follow package directions for batch size) to simplify supplementation.
Nutritional Analysis
Approximately 1.25 cups per meal (for a 25 lb dog, fed twice daily)| Calories | 485 kcal |
| Protein | 34g (38% DM) |
| Fat | 22g (25% DM) |
| Carbohydrates | 28g (32% DM) |
| Fiber | 3.5g (4% DM) |
| Moisture | 70% |
| Calcium | 1.1% DM |
| Phosphorus | 0.85% DM |
| Ca:P Ratio | 1.3:1 |
🧊 Safety & Storage
Store prepared food in BPA-free airtight glass or stainless steel containers. Refrigerate portions for up to 3 days at 38°F (3°C) or below. Freeze remaining portions for up to 3 months at 0°F (-18°C). Always thaw in the refrigerator, never at room temperature for extended periods. Wash hands, utensils, and all surfaces with hot soapy water after handling raw poultry. Discard any food left uneaten after 2 hours at room temperature. This recipe contains raw egg; if your dog is immunocompromised, lightly cook the eggs before adding. Consult your veterinarian before introducing any homemade diet, especially for dogs with existing health conditions. Perform a gradual transition over 7-10 days, starting with 25% new food mixed with 75% current food.
⚠️ Recipe Drift Warning
Ingredient substitutions in homemade complete diets can create dangerous nutritional imbalances. Do NOT substitute chicken, beef, or other common proteins without recalculating amino acid profiles and fatty acid ratios — duck was selected as a novel protein for allergy management. Do not replace butternut squash with sweet potato without adjusting carbohydrate and fiber calculations. Do not omit or reduce supplements — this recipe relies on precise supplementation to meet minimum requirements for zinc, vitamin E, B-vitamins, iodine, and vitamin D. Adding vegetables like onions, garlic, grapes, or macadamia nuts can be toxic. If you cannot source duck organs, do not simply increase muscle meat — the organ-to-muscle ratio is critical for vitamin and mineral balance. Any modification requires recalculation by a veterinary nutritionist.
⚕️ Always consult your veterinarian before changing your pet's diet.
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