What Are Some Healthy Homecooked Meal Ideas for a Saint Bernard Puppy? (Vet Answered)

Hi Veronica,

That's a great question. Firstly, congratulations on the new addition to the family! Saint Bernards are so lovely. I used to see two of the sweetest in my old practice, and they were so gentle and affectionate...unless you wanted to trim their nails! I had to give them a mild sedative; not because they were aggressive, but because they were just so big and powerful and it was impossible to get them to sit still! So my first advice to you is to get Athena used to having her toes and claws played with from a young age. And while you're at it, get her accustomed to having her ears looked at too - it makes veterinary examinations much easier!

But getting back to your question.

There are quite a few different home-cooked meal options for dogs out there, and I will send you some links to some of the better ones, but I would also like to offer some advice on this subject. Although I do like the idea of home-prepared food for dogs - knowing exactly what is going into it (and what isn't!) is a huge advantage - it's not as easy as you might think to get the nutritional balance just right, particularly for a growing giant breed. They need high enough levels of fats, protein, and calcium to support rapid growth, but too much or the wrong proportions can lead to some serious issues with their bones and joints.

Personally, I would recommend using a combined approach, giving a commercial dog food specifically formulated for giant breed puppies for 2 meals per day, then look at giving a home-cooked meal once per day. That way, you're more likely to meet their needs. Alternatively, you could just focus on home-cooked treats.

I also really like some of the freshly prepared commercial diets available these days, like The Farmer's Dog, but I am also very aware that they can become pretty expensive for large and giant breed dogs. I believe they also make a nutrient mix to add to home-cooked foods to ensure they contain the right balance of nutrients, which is worth considering.

These 5 home-made recipes offer some good variety and may be useful as treats or in addition to a balanced diet, but for a growing pup, especially one with as much growing to do over the next couple of years as a St Bernard, I would recommend sticking to formulas that have been designed and tested to give her everything she needs. That doesn't mean you're stuck feeding dry kibble, and there are lots of smaller companies that are using human-grade, fresh ingredients, and you can always look at using multiple formulations (eg. kibble + fresh) to keep everything balanced and affordable.

I hope this helps!

Dr Karyn