THE COMPLETE
Traditional Chinese Medicine Nutrition for Your Dog
50+ Recipes • Seasonal Feeding Guide • Herb Safety • Constitution Quiz
Breed-to-Bowl
breedtobowl.com
First Edition, 2025
DISCLAIMER
This book is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional veterinary advice. Always consult with a qualified veterinarian before making significant changes to your dog's diet.
© 2025 Breed-to-Bowl. All rights reserved.
CHAPTER 1
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is one of the oldest healing systems in the world, with over 3,000 years of history. Unlike Western medicine which often focuses on treating symptoms, TCM seeks to understand and correct the root imbalances that cause disease.
At its core, TCM views the body as an interconnected whole—where every organ, emotion, and function relates to everything else. Health exists when these systems are in harmony. Disease occurs when balance is disrupted.
In TCM, food is considered the first line of medicine. The ancient texts state: "He who takes medicine and neglects diet wastes the skill of the physician."
Every food has specific properties that affect the body:
1. Balance is Health — When internal systems are balanced, the body resists disease naturally.
2. Every Dog is Unique — What heals one dog may harm another. TCM personalizes nutrition.
3. Treat the Root — Itchy skin might indicate internal heat. Treating the heat resolves the itch.
4. Prevention Over Cure — The best medicine prevents disease before it starts.
CHAPTER 2
In TCM, everything in nature corresponds to five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Each governs specific organs, emotions, seasons, and body functions.
Season: Spring | Emotion: Anger | Body: Eyes, Tendons
Imbalance: Eye problems, stiff joints, irritability | Foods: Leafy greens, sprouts, liver
Season: Summer | Emotion: Joy/Anxiety | Body: Tongue, Blood vessels
Imbalance: Restlessness, anxiety, panting | Foods: Bitter greens, watermelon, celery
Season: Late Summer | Emotion: Worry | Body: Muscles, Mouth
Imbalance: Digestive issues, loose stools, weight gain | Foods: Sweet potato, pumpkin, rice, beef
Season: Autumn | Emotion: Grief | Body: Skin, Nose, Coat
Imbalance: Skin issues, respiratory problems, dull coat | Foods: White rice, pears, white fish
Season: Winter | Emotion: Fear | Body: Bones, Ears, Teeth
Imbalance: Weak back legs, urinary issues, fearfulness | Foods: Black beans, kidney, bone broth
CHAPTER 3
Every food has a thermal nature—cooling, warming, or neutral. This refers to its effect on your dog's body after digestion, not the physical temperature.
| Category | ❄️ Cooling | ⚖️ Neutral | 🔥 Warming |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proteins | Duck, Rabbit, Turkey, Cod, Tilapia, Clams, Whitefish | Beef, Pork, Salmon, Sardines, Eggs, Liver | Chicken, Lamb, Venison, Shrimp, Trout, Goat |
| Vegetables | Cucumber, Celery, Spinach, Lettuce, Zucchini, Broccoli | Carrots, Green beans, Peas, Cabbage, Beets, Potato | Pumpkin, Squash, Kale, Parsley, Mustard greens |
| Grains | Barley, Millet, Wheat, Buckwheat | White rice, Quinoa, Corn | Oats, Brown rice, Sweet rice |
| Fruits | Watermelon, Pear, Banana, Apple, Mango | Papaya, Figs, Grapes | Coconut, Cherry, Peach, Raspberry |
| Additions | Mint, Cilantro, Yogurt, Kelp | Honey, Flaxseed, Most oils | Ginger, Turmeric, Cinnamon, Basil |
Grilling, roasting, and frying add heat energy. Steaming and boiling are neutral. Raw foods are more cooling. For a hot dog, steam or boil. For a cold dog, lightly roast or bake.
CHAPTER 4
Answer these questions about your dog. Count A's and B's to determine constitution.
1. Where does your dog prefer to rest?
A) Cool tile floors, shade, near AC B) Sunny spots, near heaters, under blankets
2. How is your dog's energy level?
A) Restless, easily agitated, hyperactive B) Sluggish, low energy, prefers to rest
3. How are your dog's ears?
A) Often warm or hot to touch B) Often cool to touch
4. Describe your dog's thirst:
A) Drinks a lot, always seeking water B) Drinks little, needs encouragement
5. How is your dog's skin/coat?
A) Red, itchy, hot spots, strong odor B) Dull, dry, flaky, cold to touch
6. Describe your dog's stools:
A) Smelly, sometimes soft, yellow-ish B) Loose, undigested food, pale
Mostly A's: HOT constitution → Focus on COOLING recipes
Mostly B's: COLD constitution → Focus on WARMING recipes
Mixed: BALANCED → Use NEUTRAL recipes as base
CHAPTER 5
→ Feed COOLING foods
→ Feed WARMING foods
Even balanced dogs benefit from seasonal adjustments: more cooling foods in summer, more warming foods in winter. Help your dog adapt to their environment naturally.
| Heat Conditions | Cold Conditions |
|---|---|
| Allergies, Hot spots, Ear infections, Skin rashes, Anxiety, Inflammatory bowel disease | Arthritis (worse in cold), Weak digestion, Hypothyroidism, Kidney weakness, Incontinence |
For dogs showing heat signs: itchy skin, excessive panting, seeking cool surfaces
A deeply cooling meal that clears internal heat and soothes inflamed skin.
Ingredients: 400g duck breast (skin removed), 1 cup cucumber diced, 1 cup celery chopped, ½ cup spinach, 1 cup cooked barley, 1 tbsp coconut oil
Instructions: Cook barley (30-40 min). Poach duck in water 15-20 min (don't fry). Steam celery 3-4 min, add spinach until wilted. Mix all ingredients, keep cucumber raw. Cool to room temp before serving.
Benefits: Duck clears heat, cucumber hydrates, barley drains dampness
Novel protein that's deeply cooling—perfect for allergic dogs.
Ingredients: 500g rabbit meat diced, 1 cup millet, 1 cup zucchini diced, ½ cup lettuce shredded, 1 tbsp flaxseed oil, 2 cups water
Instructions: Cook millet with water 20-25 min. Poach rabbit until cooked (15-20 min). Steam zucchini 5 min. Combine all, add raw lettuce, drizzle with flaxseed oil.
Benefits: Rabbit is deeply cooling novel protein, millet clears heat
Perfect for hot summer days. Watermelon is extremely hydrating.
Ingredients: 400g ground turkey, ½ cup watermelon cubed (no seeds), 1 cup cooked barley, ½ cup cucumber, ¼ cup mint leaves, 1 tbsp coconut oil
Instructions: Cook turkey in water until done. Let cool completely. Add raw watermelon, cucumber, and mint just before serving.
Ingredients: 400g cod or tilapia, 1 cup spinach, ½ cup broccoli, 1 cup cooked millet, 1 tbsp fish oil
Instructions: Steam fish 10-12 min until flaky. Steam broccoli 5 min. Wilt spinach. Mix with millet and fish oil.
Ingredients: 400g duck, 1.5 cups celery, ½ cup asparagus, 1 cup barley, 1 tbsp coconut oil
Instructions: Cook barley. Poach duck 15-20 min. Steam celery and asparagus 5 min. Combine all ingredients.
Ingredients: 300g canned clams (drained), 1 cup zucchini, ½ cup cucumber, 1 cup cooked barley, kelp powder
Instructions: Warm clams gently. Steam zucchini. Mix with barley, raw cucumber, and a pinch of kelp.
Ingredients: 400g ground turkey, ½ ripe pear diced, 1 cup lettuce, 1 cup millet, ½ cup green beans
Instructions: Cook turkey and millet. Steam green beans. Mix all, add raw pear and lettuce before serving.
Ingredients: 400g rabbit, ½ apple diced (no seeds), 1 cup buckwheat, ½ cup celery, mint
Instructions: Cook buckwheat. Poach rabbit. Steam celery. Combine, add raw apple and fresh mint.
Ingredients: 400g cod, 1 cup broccoli, ½ cup spinach, 1 cup white rice, 1 tbsp coconut oil
Instructions: Steam cod 10 min. Steam broccoli 5 min. Wilt spinach. Mix with rice and oil.
Ingredients: 400g duck, ¼ cup ripe mango, 1 cup barley, ½ cup cucumber, cilantro
Instructions: Cook barley. Poach duck. Mix, add raw mango, cucumber and cilantro before serving.
Ingredients: 400g turkey, ½ ripe banana, 1 cup millet, ½ cup spinach, yogurt (1 tbsp)
Instructions: Cook turkey and millet. Wilt spinach. Mix, add mashed banana and yogurt.
Ingredients: 400g tilapia, 1 cup lettuce shredded, ½ cup cucumber, 1 cup white rice, fish oil
Instructions: Steam tilapia. Cook rice. Mix fish with rice, top with raw lettuce and cucumber.
Ingredients: 400g rabbit, ½ cup watercress, 1 cup celery, 1 cup barley, 1 tbsp flaxseed oil
Instructions: Cook barley. Poach rabbit. Steam celery. Mix, add raw watercress and oil.
Ingredients: 400g duck, 1 cup asparagus, ½ cup zucchini, 1 cup millet, 1 tbsp coconut oil
Instructions: Cook millet. Poach duck. Steam asparagus and zucchini. Combine all with oil.
Ingredients: 250g crab meat, 1 cup cucumber, ½ cup celery, 1 cup white rice, kelp
Instructions: Cook rice. Gently warm crab. Mix with rice, raw cucumber, celery and kelp.
Ingredients: 400g turkey, ½ cup cantaloupe, 1 cup barley, ½ cup lettuce, mint
Instructions: Cook turkey and barley. Cool completely. Add raw melon, lettuce and mint.
Ingredients: 400g whitefish, 1 tsp seaweed flakes, 1 cup spinach, 1 cup millet, fish oil
Instructions: Steam fish. Cook millet. Wilt spinach. Mix all with seaweed and fish oil.
• Serve at room temperature or slightly cool, never hot
• Keep some ingredients raw for maximum cooling effect
• Avoid frying—steam, poach, or boil instead
• Remove duck skin (it's warming)
For dogs showing cold signs: seeking warmth, low energy, cold ears, weak digestion
Lamb is one of the most warming proteins—perfect for cold, sluggish dogs.
Ingredients: 500g lamb diced, 1 cup pumpkin cubed, ½ cup sweet potato, ½ cup kale, 1 cup oats, ½ tsp ginger minced
Instructions: Cook oats. Brown lamb with ginger. Add pumpkin, sweet potato and water. Simmer 20-25 min. Add kale last 2 min. Serve warm.
Benefits: Lamb tonifies Kidney Yang, pumpkin strengthens Spleen, ginger disperses cold
Ingredients: 400g chicken thigh, 1 cup sweet potato, ½ cup squash, 1 cup brown rice, parsley
Instructions: Cook brown rice. Bake or roast chicken 20 min. Roast sweet potato and squash. Mix all, add parsley.
Ingredients: 400g venison, 1 cup oats, ½ cup pumpkin, ½ cup kale, ¼ tsp turmeric, coconut oil
Instructions: Cook oats. Brown venison with turmeric. Steam pumpkin and kale. Combine with coconut oil. Serve warm.
Ingredients: 300g shrimp, 1 cup brown rice, ½ cup squash, ¼ cup parsley, 1 tbsp coconut oil
Instructions: Cook brown rice. Sauté shrimp 3-4 min. Steam squash. Mix all with parsley and oil.
Ingredients: 500g lamb, 1 tsp ginger, 1 cup pumpkin, ½ cup carrots, 1 cup oats
Instructions: Cook oats. Braise lamb with ginger 20 min. Add pumpkin and carrots, cook 10 min more.
Ingredients: 400g chicken, 1 cup butternut squash, ½ cup sweet potato, 1 cup white rice, basil
Instructions: Cook rice. Roast chicken, squash and sweet potato. Combine with fresh basil.
Ingredients: 400g trout, 1 cup oats, ½ cup kale, ½ cup peas, fish oil
Instructions: Cook oats. Bake trout 15 min. Steam kale and peas. Mix all with fish oil.
Ingredients: 400g goat meat, 1 cup pumpkin, ½ cup sweet potato, 1 cup brown rice, parsley
Instructions: Cook brown rice. Braise goat 25 min. Add pumpkin and sweet potato, cook 15 min more. Add parsley.
Ingredients: 400g venison, 1 cup sweet potato, ½ cup pumpkin, 1 cup oats, rosemary
Instructions: Cook oats. Brown venison. Roast sweet potato and pumpkin. Combine with rosemary.
Ingredients: 500g lamb, ½ tsp turmeric, pinch black pepper, 1 cup squash, 1 cup brown rice
Instructions: Cook rice. Brown lamb with turmeric and pepper. Add squash and braise 20 min.
Ingredients: 400g chicken, 1 cup kale, ½ cup pumpkin, 1 cup oats, coconut oil
Instructions: Cook oats. Roast chicken. Steam kale and pumpkin. Mix with coconut oil.
Ingredients: 200g anchovies (canned, drained), 1 cup brown rice, ½ cup squash, parsley
Instructions: Cook rice. Steam squash. Mix with anchovies and parsley. Serve warm.
Ingredients: 500g lamb, 2 tbsp coconut oil, ½ cup coconut flakes, 1 cup pumpkin, 1 cup oats
Instructions: Cook oats. Brown lamb in coconut oil. Add pumpkin, cook 15 min. Top with coconut flakes.
Ingredients: 400g chicken, pinch cinnamon, 1 cup sweet potato, ½ cup apple, 1 cup oats
Instructions: Cook oats with cinnamon. Roast chicken and sweet potato. Mix, add diced apple.
Ingredients: 400g venison, ¼ cup raspberries, 1 cup brown rice, ½ cup kale, coconut oil
Instructions: Cook rice. Brown venison. Steam kale. Mix all, top with fresh raspberries.
Ingredients: 400g lamb, 1 cup bone broth, 1 cup pumpkin, ½ cup sweet potato, 1 cup oats
Instructions: Cook oats in bone broth. Braise lamb with pumpkin and sweet potato 25 min. Combine.
Ingredients: 400g chicken, 1 tsp fresh ginger, 1 cup white rice, ½ cup carrots, ½ cup peas
Instructions: Cook rice. Simmer chicken with ginger 20 min. Steam carrots and peas. Mix all.
• Serve warm (not hot) for maximum benefit
• Light browning/roasting adds warming energy
• Add ginger for dogs with weak digestion
• Reduce portions in hot weather
For healthy dogs, maintenance feeding, or dogs with mixed constitution
Your everyday go-to recipe. All neutral ingredients make this safe for any dog, any season.
Ingredients: 500g beef mince, 1 cup white rice, ½ cup carrots, ½ cup green beans, ¼ cup peas, 1 tbsp fish oil
Instructions: Cook rice. Brown beef, breaking up as it cooks. Steam carrots and green beans 5-7 min. Add peas last 2 min. Combine with rice, add fish oil before serving.
Benefits: Beef strengthens Qi, rice is easy to digest, carrots benefit eyes
Ingredients: 400g salmon, 1 cup quinoa, ½ cup green beans, ½ cup peas, 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions: Cook quinoa. Bake salmon 15 min. Steam vegetables. Combine all with olive oil.
Ingredients: 400g pork loin, 1 cup potato cubed, ½ cup carrots, ½ cup cabbage, parsley
Instructions: Roast pork 20 min. Boil potato and carrots. Steam cabbage. Mix with parsley.
Ingredients: 4 eggs, 1 cup white rice, ½ cup carrots, ½ cup green beans, fish oil
Instructions: Cook rice. Scramble eggs. Steam vegetables. Mix all with fish oil.
Ingredients: 2 cans sardines in water, 1 cup white rice, ½ cup peas, ½ cup carrots
Instructions: Cook rice. Steam peas and carrots. Mix with drained sardines.
Ingredients: 350g beef, 100g beef liver, 1 cup rice, ½ cup green beans, ½ cup beets
Instructions: Cook rice. Brown beef and liver separately. Steam vegetables. Combine all.
Ingredients: 400g pork, 1 cup cabbage, ½ cup carrots, 1 cup quinoa, olive oil
Instructions: Cook quinoa. Roast pork 20 min. Steam cabbage and carrots. Mix with olive oil.
Ingredients: 300g salmon, 2 eggs, 1 cup white rice, ½ cup peas, fish oil
Instructions: Cook rice. Bake salmon. Scramble eggs. Steam peas. Combine with fish oil.
Ingredients: 500g beef, 1 cup beets, ½ cup carrots, 1 cup rice, parsley
Instructions: Cook rice. Brown beef. Steam beets and carrots. Mix all with parsley.
Ingredients: 400g mackerel, 1 cup potato, ½ cup green beans, ½ cup peas, fish oil
Instructions: Boil potato. Bake mackerel 15 min. Steam green beans and peas. Combine.
Ingredients: 400g pork, 2 fresh figs diced, 1 cup rice, ½ cup cabbage, honey (1 tsp)
Instructions: Cook rice. Roast pork. Steam cabbage. Mix, add figs and honey.
Ingredients: 500g beef, 1 cup carrots, ½ cup green beans, 1 cup quinoa, olive oil
Instructions: Cook quinoa. Brown beef. Steam carrots and green beans. Combine with oil.
Ingredients: 3 eggs, 1 can sardines, 1 cup rice, ½ cup peas, ½ cup carrots
Instructions: Cook rice. Scramble eggs. Steam vegetables. Mix with sardines.
Ingredients: 400g salmon, 1 cup cabbage, ½ cup carrots, 1 cup rice, fish oil
Instructions: Cook rice. Bake salmon. Steam cabbage and carrots. Mix with fish oil.
Ingredients: 500g beef, ¼ cup papaya diced, 1 cup rice, ½ cup green beans, parsley
Instructions: Cook rice. Brown beef. Steam green beans. Mix, add raw papaya and parsley.
Ingredients: 400g pork, 1 cup potato, ½ cup peas, ½ cup carrots, olive oil
Instructions: Roast pork. Boil potato. Steam peas and carrots. Mix with olive oil.
CHAPTER 6
In TCM, we eat according to the seasons to help the body adapt and stay balanced.
Focus: Support Liver, gentle cleansing
Add: Leafy greens, sprouts, chicken liver
Reduce: Heavy, greasy foods
Cooking: Light steaming, some raw
Focus: Clear heat, stay hydrated
Add: Duck, cucumber, watermelon, barley
Reduce: Warming foods, portion sizes
Cooking: Raw, lightly cooked, room temp
Focus: Support Lungs, moisturize
Add: Pears, white fish, rice, honey
Reduce: Spicy, drying foods
Cooking: Soups, stews, steamed
Focus: Nourish Kidneys, conserve energy
Add: Lamb, chicken, bone broth, black beans
Reduce: Raw, cold foods
Cooking: Slow-cooked, serve warm
CHAPTER 7
These herbs can supplement your dog's TCM diet. Always start with small amounts.
| Herb | Nature | Benefits | Dose (per 10kg) | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astragalus | Warming | Boosts Qi, immune support | ¼ tsp daily | Safe |
| Reishi Mushroom | Neutral | Immune modulation, calming | ¼ tsp daily | Safe |
| Ginger | Warming | Aids digestion, disperses cold | ⅛ tsp fresh | Caution if hot |
| Turmeric | Warming | Anti-inflammatory | ⅛ tsp + pepper | Caution if hot |
| Goji Berries | Neutral | Nourishes blood, eyes, liver | 5-10 berries | Safe |
| Chrysanthemum | Cooling | Clears heat, benefits eyes | 1 tsp tea | Safe |
| Hawthorn Berry | Warming | Heart health, digestion | ¼ tsp | Safe |
Ma Huang (Ephedra), Pennyroyal, Comfrey, Kava, Wormwood, Tea Tree (internal), Garlic (large amounts), Onion (all amounts)
CHAPTER 8
Switching to a TCM diet should be gradual to avoid digestive upset.
| Days | Old Food | New TCM Food |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | 75% | 25% |
| 4-6 | 50% | 50% |
| 7-10 | 25% | 75% |
| 11-14 | 0% | 100% |
Loose stools persisting? Add more rice, reduce fat, add pumpkin (neutral dogs) or ginger (cold dogs)
Not eating? Warm food slightly, add bone broth, try different protein
Itching increased? May be detox reaction. Ensure using cooling foods. Add fish oil.
Low energy? May need more warming foods. Add chicken or lamb.
General guideline: 2-3% of body weight daily for adults, split into 2 meals.
| Dog Weight | Daily Amount |
|---|---|
| 5kg | 100-150g |
| 10kg | 200-300g |
| 20kg | 400-600g |
| 30kg | 600-900g |
| 1. Lamb | 2. Venison | 3. Chicken | 4. Goat | 5. Shrimp |
| 6. Ginger | 7. Pumpkin | 8. Oats | 9. Turmeric | 10. Trout |
| 1. Duck | 2. Rabbit | 3. Turkey | 4. Whitefish | 5. Clams |
| 6. Cucumber | 7. Watermelon | 8. Barley | 9. Celery | 10. Spinach |
| 1. Beef | 2. Pork | 3. Salmon | 4. Eggs | 5. Sardines |
| 6. White rice | 7. Carrots | 8. Green beans | 9. Peas | 10. Potato |
| Sign | 🔥 Hot Dog | ❄️ Cold Dog |
|---|---|---|
| Resting spot | Cool floors, shade | Sunny spots, blankets |
| Ears | Hot to touch | Cold to touch |
| Thirst | Excessive | Low |
| Energy | Restless, agitated | Sluggish, tired |
| Skin | Red, itchy, hot spots | Dry, flaky, dull |
| Tongue | Red | Pale |
| Stools | Smelly, yellow | Loose, pale |
Most dogs benefit from neutral foods as a base, with cooling or warming additions based on their constitution and the season. When in doubt, feed neutral!
We hope this guide helps you create healthier, more balanced meals for your beloved companion. Remember: food is medicine, and every meal is an opportunity to support your dog's wellbeing.
For more recipes and resources:
breedtobowl.com/tcm
Questions? hello@breedtobowl.com
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