Recommended Equipment and Supplements
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we’ve used ourselves or truly believe in for feeding and caring for dogs with real food.
Here is the list of equipment that I use for making my fresh dog food.
Stainless Steel Steaming Pot
Why I recommend it:
Cooking your dog’s food (or your own) doesn’t have to mean boiling away all the nutrients. A steaming pot allows you to gently cook ingredients like broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes, and even meats — while retaining more vitamins and minerals.
We personally use a 2-tier stainless steel steamer that lets us cook multiple ingredients at once with minimal cleanup.
Benefits:
-
Preserves Nutrients: Unlike boiling, steaming keeps more of the good stuff in.
-
Multi-Level Cooking: Prepare meat on one level, veggies on another.
-
Durable & Easy to Clean: Stainless steel design, dishwasher safe.
Pro Tip:
If you decide to cook meat and vegetable at the same time, always remember that the meat will go on the bottom tier.
Electronic Food Chopper
Why I Recommend It:
When you’re making fresh food for your dog, chopping ingredients by hand every day can get tiring — fast. That’s where an electric food chopper becomes a game-changer. It'll make the fresh dog food making process so much quicker.
We use this small but powerful tool to quickly chop up carrots, tomatoes, broccoli stems, chicken, and more — ensuring each bite is uniform and safe for dogs of all sizes.
Benefits:
-
Saves Time: Chop ingredients in seconds, not minutes.
-
Consistent Size: Helps prevent choking by creating evenly-sized pieces.
-
Compact & Easy to Clean: Perfect for small kitchens and quick rinses.
Pro Tip:
Always make sure fresh food is chopped into very small pieces — especially for smaller dogs. A chopper like this ensures every meal is both nutritious and safe to eat.
Large Stainless Mixing Bowl
Why I Recommend It:
When you’re making fresh dog food in batches, the last thing you want is ingredients spilling out of a too-small bowl. A large stainless steel mixing bowl gives you the space to stir, fold, and portion everything easily — without the mess.
We use this exact type of bowl when prepping bulk batches of our recipes. It’s lightweight, easy to clean, and can handle everything from proteins and grains to veggies and supplements.
Benefits:
-
Plenty of Room: Great for mixing full-batch meals without overflow.
-
Durable & Rust-Resistant: Built to last and safe for long-term use.
-
Lightweight & Stackable: Easy to carry, store, and clean.
Pro Tip:
When you are putting the finished fresh dog food from the large mixing bowl to a vacuum sealer bag, use a large funnel for a jar with large mouth and a small ice scooper. If you are making the fresh dog food on your own, these two tools will make moving the fresh dog food from the mixing bowl to a vacuum sealer bag or a container very easy.
Egg Slicer
Why I Recommend It:
Eggs are a great protein booster for fresh dog food, and slicing them up by hand can be time-consuming — or messy. A simple egg slicer makes it quick, clean, and honestly a little fun.
We use this tool all the time to slice boiled eggs before mixing them into large batches. It creates even cuts that blend easily into the mix — and cleanup takes just a few seconds. You can even use it for avocados, strawberries, or mushrooms when cooking for yourself.
Benefits:
-
Fast & Even Slicing: Get perfect cuts every time, no knife needed.
-
Super Easy to Use: Just place, press, and done.
-
Easy to Clean & Store: Rinse in seconds, fits easily in any drawer.
-
Budget-Friendly: One of the most affordable tools I use yet so useful.
Pro Tip:
When you have the sliced eggs in the mixing bowl, it helps if you break them down using your hands a little bit because even after slicing them, they like to stick together. Breaking the eggs down with something like a spatula after all the ingredients are already in the mixing bowl will be more difficult.
Vegetable & Fruit Slicer
Why I Recommend It:
If you’ve ever tried to cube tomatoes or soft veggies with a knife, you know how messy and time-consuming it can be. This push-down food chopper makes quick work of it — slicing essential ingredient such as tomatoes, and other ingredients into neat, even cubes with just one motion.
I use it especially for prepping ingredients before putting them into the electric food chopper. It makes the second step faster, smoother, and much easier on the blades — and saves you from doing the knife work by hand.
Benefits:
-
Cubes in Seconds: Push-down action dices tomatoes, and soft veggies fast.
-
Prep-Friendly: Makes electric chopper blending more efficient and less strain on the motor.
-
Multi-Purpose: Works great on potatoes, zucchini, sweet potatoes and more.
-
Less Mess, More Speed: Perfect for bulk cooking days.
Pro Tip:
When cleaning these push down style food chopper, it is so much easier to use a brush style cleaner instead of a sponge. Also, remember that these blades within the different style frames are quite sharp so be careful when touching them.
Vacuum Sealer
Why I Recommend It:
When you’re making fresh dog food in bulk, preserving freshness is just as important as preparing it right. A vacuum sealer makes it easy to portion, pack, and freeze meals — dramatically extending their shelf life while locking in nutrients and flavor.
I use the vacuum sealer after every big prep session. It keeps portions clean, stackable, and freezer-burn free. It’s not only great for dog food — it’s also perfect for storing meat, fish, and leftovers for your own meals.
Benefits:
-
Preserves Freshness Longer: Prevents freezer burn and oxidation.
-
Perfect for Batch Cooking: Portion meals and seal for weeks or months.
-
Versatile Use: Works for dog food, meats, seafood, or vegetables.
-
Compact & Efficient: Easy to store and quick to use after each prep session.
Pro Tip:
Because fresh dog food has a bit of liquid content, it may be tricky vacuum sealing them without sucking up the liquid up to the sealing area. However, if you use the manual vacuum button just to the point where all the air has been sucked out and a very small amount of liquid has been sucked up, that is the perfect time to push the seal button to seal up the bag.
Vacuum Sealer Bag
Why I Recommend It:
Having a vacuum sealer is great — but it’s only as useful as the bags you use with it. These gallon-sized vacuum sealer bags are perfect for storing bulk batches of fresh dog food. They're thick, durable, and seal tightly without tearing — exactly what you need for freezing healthy meals long-term.
At just $0.19 per bag, they’re an incredibly affordable way to portion out and preserve food without waste.
Benefits:
-
Perfect Size for 9lbs bulk food: Only 2 of gallon bags needed for 9lbs bulk.
-
Freezer-Safe & Durable: Prevents leaks and freezer burn.
-
Universal Fit: Works with most standard vacuum sealers.
-
Other Uses: Can be used for sealing other food ingredients such as a steak.
Pro Tip:
When the fresh dog food is put inside the vacuum sealer bag, flatten the fresh dog food before vacuum sealing them. Remember to give it some room so the liquid within the bag does not get sucked up too much to prevent from the bag getting sealed. But if the fresh dog food gets frozen while they're flat, it'll take so much less time when thawing them.
This is the list of supplements that I add to the fresh dog food.
Turmeric Powder
Why I Recommend It:
Turmeric is one of the most well-known natural anti-inflammatory ingredients — and a small amount added to your dog’s food can make a big difference. Chronic inflammation is often at the root of many long-term health problems in dogs, including joint pain, digestive issues, and even cancer.
We like to sprinkle just a bit of high-quality turmeric powder into meals as a preventive step toward better health and longevity — and it’s an incredibly affordable way to support your dog’s wellness naturally.
Benefits:
-
Natural Anti-Inflammatory: Helps reduce chronic inflammation.
-
Supports Joint Health: Great for older dogs or breeds prone to arthritis.
-
Cancer-Fighting Properties: Turmeric contains curcumin, known for anti-cancer effects.
-
Budget-Friendly: Just a tiny scoop goes a long way.
Pro Tip:
If you are confused on how much supplements to give to your dogs, always think about the amount of supplements us humans eat relative to our body size and weight. And also remember that too much of a good thing can turn into a bad thing so always have the thought of moderation in mind.
Calcium Powder
Why I Recommend It:
When it comes to calcium, it's not just about how much you give — it’s about how well your dog’s body can absorb and use it. That’s why we prefer a powdered calcium phosphate supplement, which is known for its high bioavailability and gentle digestion.
Calcium plays a key role in bone development, muscle function, and disease prevention. Adding just a a small amount of this powder to your dog's fresh food can go a long way in supporting your dog’s long-term skeletal health.
Benefits:
-
Highly Absorbable Form: Supports optimal calcium uptake.
-
Bone & Joint Support: Promotes strong bones and mobility.
-
Helps Prevent Deficiencies: Especially helpful in home-cooked diets.
-
Easy to Mix: Powder form blends right into meals.
Pro Tip:
Calcium should be balanced with phosphorus in your dog’s overall diet. Use this supplement in small, consistent amounts — especially when feeding home-cooked meals that don’t include raw bones or organ meats.
Chia Seeds
Why I Recommend It:
We originally added chia seeds to our dog’s food to help with digestive regularity — and the results were noticeable. One of our dogs had trouble passing stool, and after introducing chia seeds into the recipe, we saw smoother digestion within days.
Chia seeds are a powerhouse of fiber, omega-3s, and essential minerals. They're easy to mix into fresh meals, and a little bit goes a long way — making them one of the most affordable and effective natural supplements out there.
Benefits:
-
High in Fiber: Helps support healthy digestion and regular bowel movements.
-
Rich in Omega-3s: Supports skin, coat, and heart health.
-
Nutrient Dense: Contains calcium, magnesium, and protein.
-
Budget Friendly: A small tub lasts a long time.
Pro Tip:
Soak the chia seeds in water before mixing them into your dog’s food. This makes them easier to digest and reduces the chance of any digestive discomfort. Start with just 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon for small dogs and build from there.
Gelatin Powder
Why I Recommend It:
As dogs age, mobility becomes everything. I started adding gelatin powder to our fresh food recipes to support joint health and flexibility, especially as a preventative measure against arthritis — something so many dogs face later in life.
Gelatin is rich in collagen and amino acids that help maintain healthy cartilage and connective tissue. Just a small amount added to meals can support long-term mobility — and help aging dogs stay active and happy for as long as possible.
Benefits:
-
Supports Joint Health: Great for preventing arthritis and stiffness.
-
Rich in Collagen: Promotes cartilage repair and flexibility.
-
Easy to Mix: Dissolves into warm food or broth easily.
-
Natural & Affordable: A clean supplement with big benefits.
Pro Tip:
Add a small scoop of gelatin to your dog’s meal after cooking, especially if you're serving warm or brothy food. It mixes in easily and provides gentle daily support for joints, especially helpful in medium to large breeds as they age.
Omega 3 Fish Oil
Why I Recommend It:
You’ve probably heard about the benefits of omega-3 fish oil for humans — and the same holds true for dogs. It supports skin and coat health, heart function, brain development, and even helps reduce inflammation.
We use a high-quality, human-grade fish oil that comes in a bottle (not capsules), so it’s easy to just pour a bit on a tablespoon and mix it directly into fresh dog food. It blends right in and delivers daily health support in just a few drops.
Benefits:
-
Supports Skin & Coat: Helps reduce shedding and dry skin.
-
Anti-Inflammatory: Supports joints, heart, and brain health.
-
Easily Digestible: Liquid form is simple to mix into any meal.
-
Human-Grade Quality: Safe, clean, and effective for long-term use.
Pro Tip:
Keep the bottle refrigerated after opening and pour just a small amount — around 1/2 to 1 teaspoon for small to medium dogs, or more for larger breeds. Be sure to choose a product with low heavy metal content and clear sourcing for peace of mind.