Feeding guide for dogs needing a low-fat diet
With CompleteMe® Hypo Canine Plus
Make balanced and nutritious low-fat dog food at home quickly and easily.
Choose the meat, vegetables and other ingredients you would like to use with our simple, flexible guide.
Makes 1 kilogram of food, which can be portioned and frozen.
Ingredients
400 grams of very lean meat (1-3% fat)
(see FAQs below for recommended meat types and cuts)
300 grams of cooked fibre-rich whole grains or starchy vegetables
(choose from: sweet potato, potato, quinoa, oats, barley, rice, or wholewheat pasta. For any included whole grains, please use the cooked weight)
200 grams of colourful vegetables and fruit
2 mL omega-3 rich oil (2 x 1000 mg capsules)
(choose from: fish oil, salmon oil, krill oil, or marine algae oil)
1 teaspoon of omega-6-rich oil
(choose from: hempseed oil, walnut oil, rice bran oil, pumpkin seed oil, canola oil or sesame oil)
15 grams of CompleteMe® Hypo Canine Plus
We recommend using grams for maximum accuracy, however if you would like to use teaspoons, 15 grams = 4 ¼ level teaspoons
Optional:
1-2 tablespoons of any of the following:
Fresh herbs, bone broth, fermented vegetables, goats milk, chia seeds or ground flaxseeds (maximum 1 teaspoon), ginger or turmeric (maximum ¼ teaspoon recommended), organic soy sauce or miso paste (maximum ½ teaspoon recommended), sardine or mackerel fillets (canned in spring water).
Directions
- Gently pan-fry the diced meat with 50 mL water until cooked.
Omit this step if you would prefer to use raw meat. - Steam or microwave the chopped vegetables until very soft.
- If using grains, cook as per the manufacturer's instructions until soft.
- Combine the meat (including liquid from pan), cooked vegetables and grains, diced fruit, and oils, and mix well.
- Allow to cool then add 15 grams (4 ¼ level teaspoons) of CompleteMe® Hypo Canine Plus and mix again.
- Portion and refrigerate, or freeze as desired.
Storage and safety
For homemade diets only
Do not add to any commercial dog food, or use with any other nutritional supplements (containing vitamins and/or minerals).
However, it is fine to feed a balanced homemade diet along with a balanced commercial diet. For example, 50% Hill's Prescription Diet i/d Low Fat kibble, and 50% homemade low fat diet.
Raw feeding safety
For raw meat, freeze for 10 days before use to destroy parasites like Toxoplasma. In areas with Trichinella, please freeze pork for 3 weeks before use.
For dogs with gastrointestinal signs, we routinely recommend a gently cooked diet - please be advised by your veterinarian.
Storage and safety
Larger batches can be made and frozen for convenience. Keep refrigerated food for 3 days, and frozen food for 3-4 months. Please discard any uneaten food after 30 minutes.
Some of our favourite low fat combos ...
Chicken breast and sweet potato with cauliflower, kale and apple
400 g skinless chicken breast
300 g sweet potato (including peel)
100 g cauliflower (fresh or frozen)
50 g kale (fresh or frozen)
50 g apple (including peel)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)
2 mL fish oil (2 x 1000 mg capsules)
1 teaspoon of hemp seed oil
15 g CompleteMe® Hypo Canine Plus
Turkey breast and rice with pumpkin, zucchini and green beans
400 g turkey breast mince (1-2% fat)
300 g cooked brown rice (weigh after cooking)
120 g pumpkin (fresh or frozen)
40 g green beans (fresh or frozen)
40 g zucchini (including peel)
2 mL fish oil (2 x 1000 mg capsules)
1 teaspoon of hemp seed oil
15 g CompleteMe® Hypo Canine Plus
Kangaroo and potato with carrot, broccoli and blueberries
400 g kangaroo mince (2-3% fat)
300 g potato (including peel)
100 g carrot (fresh or frozen)
50 g broccoli (fresh or frozen)
50 g blueberries (fresh or frozen)
¼ teaspoon of dried turmeric (optional)
2 mL krill oil (2 x 1000 mg capsules)
1 teaspoon of hemp seed oil
15 g CompleteMe® Hypo Canine Plus
White fish and rice with sweet potato, zucchini and spinach
400 g skinless and boneless Hoki fillets
300 g cooked white rice (weigh after cooking)
100 g sweet potato (including peel)
50 g zucchini (including peel)
50 g spinach (fresh or frozen)
1 teaspoon chia seeds
2 mL fish oil (2 x 1000 mg capsules)
1 teaspoon of hemp seed oil
15 g CompleteMe® Hypo Canine Plus
Feeding guidelines
Toy/mini breeds (<5 kg): 160-420 g/day
Small breeds (5-10 kg): 300-750 g/day
Medium breeds (10-25 kg): 600-1250 g/day
Large breeds (25-45 kg): 1100-2100 g/day
Giant breeds (45-80 kg): 1600-3500 g/day
Feeding quantities are estimates, and are based on fresh food which contains significantly higher moisture than dry food. The energy density of the diet will also change depending on the ingredients you select (lower fat = less energy dense = more food is needed). Adjust up or down the amount of food based on your dog's size, body condition, age, activity level and medical condition.
If your dog gains unwanted weight, reduce the amount you are feeding by 10-15% and reweigh after a week. If they have unwanted weight loss, increase the amount you are feeding by 10-15% and reweigh after a week. Continue to adjust until the right amount of food is determined. Please consult with your dog's veterinarian as needed.
Learn how to quickly body condition score your dog here.
Nutritional information
Food made as per the instructions above is complete and balanced, and meets the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile for maintenance in adult dogs.
It is not suitable for growth and should not be fed to puppies or reproducing females, or dogs with medical conditions.
The average kcal/gram for the diet is: 1 kcal/gram
The average protein for the diet is:
61% on a dry matter basis
45% on a caloric basis
The average fat for the diet is:
9% on a dry matter basis
18% on a caloric basis
All possible combinations are high in protein, low to very low in fat, high in moisture, and high in fibre, antioxidants and omega-3.
Why does my dog need a low fat diet?
Pancreatitis
Painful inflammation of the pancreas that can be acute or chronic.
A low fat diet is often recommended to reduce pancreatic stimulation. Omega-3 supplementation can also reduce pancreatic inflammation.
Hyperlipidaemia
Refers to an increased concentration of lipids (triglycerides and/or cholesterol) in the blood. Can be primary or secondary to other diseases. Hyperlipidaemia can increase the risk of pancreatitis, and other complications. A low fat, omega-3-rich diet may improve hyperlipidaemia.
Lymphangiectasia
A type of protein-losing enteropathy where leakage of protein-rich, fat-rich and lymphocyte-rich lymph into intestine causes weight loss and chronic diarrhoea. Low fat or ultra low fat diets may help to reduce protein loss. Novel proteins may help to reduce inflammation.
Feeding guide FAQs
What meats can I use?
A large number of lean meats and cuts can be used with CompleteMe Hypo Canine. Variety is important; we strongly recommend feeding a range of different low-fat meat types and cuts. Try to include different textures as well, for example, chunks, small strips, mince, etc.
- Poultry:
Skinless and boneless chicken thigh or breast, chicken mince (2-3% fat)
Skinless and boneless turkey or duck breast
Turkey breast mince with 1-2% fat - Pork:
Pork tenderloin/fillet or loin medallions (any visible fat trimmed off) - Beef or venison:
Lean venison fillet or steak (e.g. shoulder, backstrap, rump eye, leg steak)
Beef top round (all visible fat trimmed off) - Game meat:
Lean kangaroo mince or steak with 2-3% fat
Wild or farmed boneless rabbit or hare meat
Emu fan fillet or flat fillet (1-3% fat)
Wild boar backstrap, boneless leg, or loin chops
Crocodile, tail or leg (1-3% fat) - Fish:
Skinless and boneless white fish fillets, like whiting, hoki, ling, or barramundi
Tuna, canned in springwater
(please don't feed fish exclusively)
Which vegetables and fruits are safe for dogs?
For vegetables, try pumpkin, sweet potato, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, green peas, carrot, zucchini, squash, spinach, kale, turnips, parsnips, watercress, Asian greens, mushrooms, tomato, capsicum or cabbage.
Both fresh and frozen vegetables are fine. We recommend steaming or microwaving for most vegetables, however baking can also work well sometimes.
For fruit, try blueberries, strawberries, apple, pear, blackberries, mango, peach, plum, pineapple, kiwifruit, or papaya. Remember to remove any seeds, stones or pits, and to avoid toxic fruit like grapes/raisins.
Where can I buy hemp seed oil or walnut oil?
Hemp seed oil is available from most large supermarkets (Organic Hemp Gold seed oil), or it can be ordered online from Hemp Foods Australia, or other online vendors.
Walnut oil can be ordered online from Pepo Farms, Plenty Foods, and other stores.
For clients in Asia, walnut oil can be ordered from iHerb. Please note that hemp seed oil is banned in Singapore.
We recommend Australian or New Zealand oils, and cold-pressed oils if possible.
Please do not substitute the recommended oils for any other oil, like olive oil or coconut oil. These oils are too low in the essential omega-6 fatty acid, linoleic acid. Without adequate linoleic acid, your dog will develop signs of skin disease like a greasy dull coat and dry flaky skin.
Where can I buy omega-3 oils from?
You can buy fish oil, krill oil and marine algae oil locally, from Chemist Warehouse, in Australia and NZ.
- Swisse Ultiboost wild fish oil 1000 mg capsules
- Microgenics krill oil 1000 mg capsules
- Wanderlust plant omega-3 1000 mg capsules
Other brands can be purchased via iHerb - for example, Sports Research, Now Foods, Solgar, Nordic Naturals, Carlson, or California Gold Nutrition. It is fine to use human products, so long as there are no added artificial sweeteners.
For help with using fish oil capsules and some tips and tricks, please see this blog post.
How can I store the food?
This makes just over 1 kilogram of food, which can be portioned and fed immediately, or stored in the fridge (max 3 days) or freezer (max 3 months) until needed.
Can I use raw meat?
You can include the meat raw or cooked, depending on preference. For raw human-grade meat, be sure to freeze the meat for 10 days prior to use. For pork (in areas with Trichinella), freezing for 3 weeks prior to use is sensible. Please discuss raw-feeding with your dog's veterinarian; raw feeding is not suitable for all dogs or households.
My dog needs an ultra-low fat diet, what are the lowest fat combinations?
For an ultra-low fat diet, select leanest meats. The following are the lowest fat combinations:
- Tuna + any carbohydrate choice (10.1-14.0% fat on a caloric basis)
- Emu + any carbohydrate choice (10.9-15.6% fat on a caloric basis)
- Turkey breast + sweet potato, potato or barley (13.3% fat on a caloric basis)
- White fish + sweet potato, potato or barley (14.3% fat on a caloric basis)
- Kangaroo + barley (14.9% fat on a caloric basis)
- Pork tenderloin + barley (15.1% fat on a caloric basis)
- Chicken breast + barley (16.1% fat on a caloric basis)
- Venison + potato, sweet potato or barley (16.2% fat on a caloric basis)
My dog has allergies, can I use novel proteins like emu or crocodile?
Yes, using novel proteins is fine. Please select proteins with 1-3% fat only. Some options could include:
Emu fan or flat fillet, or full rump
Crocodile tail or leg meat
Venison fillet or steak
Wild boar shoulder (deboned) or loin
Lean diced boneless goat (visible fat trimmed off)
We recommend using wild venison, goat, rabbit, and wild boar occasionally due to the risk of lead contamination from lead ammunition. Emu and crocodile are farmed and not wild-caught, and kangaroo represents a lower risk of contamination.
Make your own low fat treats too ...
This quick and easy recipe is suitable for dogs needing a low-fat diet.
Spinach and tomato are rich in antioxidants like lutein and lycopene, which can reduce inflammation in the gut. Sweet potato is rich in different types of fibre, promoting a diverse and healthy gut microbiome.
And, every dog loves pizzas - cheese on anything makes it delicious!
Mushroom, spinach and sweet potato pizza bites
Ingredients
- 200 g sweet potato - steamed
- 150 g self-raising flour
- 50 g mozzarella cheese (approximately 24.5% fat) - grated
- 30 g tomato paste (no additives)
- 20 g mushroom - steamed
- 10 g spinach - steamed
You can use orange, red, or purple sweet potatoes – whatever you prefer.
These treats are:
- Ultra-low in fat (12% calories from fat); may be suitable for dogs with lymphangiectasia, hyperlipidaemia, and/or a history of pancreatitis (please consult with your family veterinarian first)
- High in carbohydrate, so not suitable for dogs with diabetes mellitus
- Low in protein and phosphorus, so suitable for dogs with early CKD (IRIS stage 1-2)
Please note:
- These recipes are for treats, so they aren't a complete and balanced diet.
- We recommend that a maximum of 10% kcal per day from treats, so be careful not to feed too many.
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 180°C.
- Steam or microwave the finely chopped mushrooms and spinach until soft, then set aside and allow to cool.
- Steam or microwave the chopped and peeled sweet potatoes until soft, then mash them together in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the self-raising flour to the mashed sweet potato, then mix the sweet potato and self-raising flour together to make a dough - get your hands in there; they do the job best ;)
- Sprinkle some flour on a benchtop surface, then roll out the dough until it's about 1 centimetre thick.
- Grab your favourite cookie cutter - we recommend using a round shape, given the aim is to make it pizza-like, but you're welcome to be more creative here. Cut the dough into the desired shapes.
- Spread a thin layer of tomato paste on top of each cut-out bit of dough, then sprinkle on the cheese (grated), mushrooms (finely chopped), and spinach (finely chopped) evenly across the pieces of dough/mini pizzas.
- Transfer the mini pizzas onto baking paper on a baking tray and pop them into the oven.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until the base starts to turn golden, and the toppings are melted and deliciously combined.
- Remove from the oven and allow the mini pizzas to cool completely before serving them up.
The mini pizzas can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
What commercial low fat treats can I buy?
Some options to consider are dehydrated jerky treats made from 100% lean meat or boneless white fish. For example, treats made from skinless chicken breast, kangaroo steak/fillet, venison steak/fillet, or skinless turkey breast. Avoid treats made from minced/ground meat, as they are likely to be too high in fat.
Whimzees plant-based treats are also very low in fat (~6% calories from fat for the Veggie Ears), and can be given occasionally for chewing.
Freeze-dried single ingredient treats can also make great low fat training treats - for example, freeze-dried chicken breast, emu, boneless white fish, kangaroo fillet and crocodile.
Need to restock?
CompleteMe® Hypo Canine Plus
CompleteMe® Hypo Canine Plus is a multi-purpose meal completer supplement that contains essential nutrients, omega-3, and fibre to create a balanced therapeutic diet at home.
Hypoallergenic formula with no added animal proteins. Added shiitake mushrooms for anti-inflammatory beta-glucans, marine algae for omega-3, and pre- and probiotics.
It can be added to a range of ingredients to produce meals suitable for different medical conditions, including food allergies or sensitivities, pancreatitis, diabetes, and urinary tract disease.
Please see our new flexible feeding guides below for how-to-use instructions.
Both the product and feeding guides were developed by VNG's two Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists®, Dr Becca Leung and Dr Meredith Wall.