Is it healthier to make your own dog food?

Many dog owners worry that commercial dog foods are insufficient for giving their dogs a well-balanced, wholesome diet. While it is true that many commercial pet foods are made with subpar ingredients and only provide dogs with the bare minimum of nutrition, this is not always the case. However, many dog owners ponder whether making their own dog food at home would be better for their canines. Making a well-balanced homemade dog food diet can be very difficult, and homemade dog food has advantages and disadvantages just like any other kind of dog food. Before deciding whether it is actually a good idea to make the switch to a homemade dog food diet, take the time to learn the benefits and drawbacks of this choice. You should also learn how to do it properly.

In conclusion, feeding our pets home-cooked meals can be a healthy, if time-consuming, option, but it’s important to take caution when doing so. They shouldn’t be given to growing kittens, puppies, pregnant animals, or animals that are nursing. Getting a recipe from a veterinary nutritionist and strictly adhering to it is the best way to make sure that your pet’s home-cooked diet is healthy.

Once you find a good recipe, it’s your responsibility to stick to it precisely because seemingly harmless changes, like switching one meat for another, can significantly change the nutrients and calories provided by the diet. We recently surveyed our clients who had purchased our home-cooked diet recipes over the previous few years, and we found that sticking to a recipe may be more difficult than it appears. More than 80% of pet owners had altered their recipes—small or significant—without consulting us, and many of these alterations had the potential to result in an imbalance of nutrients in the diet.

For those of us who have the time, cooking for our pets can be very appealing, but there is no proof to back up claims that home-prepared diets are healthier than commercial diets. Contrary to what you may have read, only a small percentage of pets actually require a home-cooked diet for health reasons, and an improperly prepared home-cooked diet can seriously harm your pet’s health, particularly for a growing kitten or puppy.

There are literally hundreds of sources for homemade pet food recipes, some of which are much more reliable than others. These sources include websites, magazines, and books. The best recipes for pet food will call for very specific amounts of particular ingredients (e g. Compared to “1 cup of chicken or fish or pork and 1 cup of cooked vegetables,” 100 grams of boneless, skinless, baked chicken breast and 45 grams of baked, mashed sweet potato will provide additional sources of vitamins and minerals like calcium, B vitamins, iron, zinc, and essential fatty acids. Although a “whole foods” approach is appealing, it is nearly impossible to meet all of a pet’s nutritional needs without adding concentrated supplements. But adding to a pet’s diet requires more than just a trip to the neighborhood pet store.

Many pet owners are shocked to learn that preparing food for their animal companions isn’t always as straightforward as doing so for their human family. Studies have shown that the vast majority of recipes that pet owners create for their pets or obtain from magazines, books, or the internet are deficient in one or more essential nutrients, despite the fact that all commercial pet foods are required by law to meet or exceed certain amounts of nutrients to be marketed as “complete and balanced foods.” One major issue is that these insufficient nutrient levels may not be noticeable in adult animals for weeks or even years, until the pet develops a serious health issue that may not be easily treated.

What You Need to Know Before You Switch to Homemade Dog Food

Be sure to carefully consider the following factors to make the best decision for you and your pet:

Pros and Cons of Homemade Dog Food

There are advantages and disadvantages to switching to a homemade dog food diet, as was already mentioned. Keeping your dog healthy and happy requires feeding him a high-quality, nourishing diet, so changing his diet is not a choice that should be made hastily. The following is a list of advantages and disadvantages of homemade dog food:

Homemade dog food can be made fresh so that the ingredients retain their maximum nutritional value.

If your dog suffers from food allergies, a homemade dog food diet may enable you to control his exposure to the offending ingredient.

With homemade dog food you can control the ingredients, limiting your dog’s exposure to artificial preservatives, flavors, dyes, and hormones.

A homemade dog food diet may be more cost-effective than certain specialty diets like raw food diets for dogs.

Making your own dog food enables you to cater directly to your dog’s taste – this is especially beneficial if your dog is a picky eater.

You can make homemade dog food using many of the ingredients you purchase for yourself and your family (ex: fresh meat, vegetables, eggs, etc.).

Homemade dog food will always be fresh – this may make it more appealing and palatable for your dog.

It can be difficult to strike the right balance of nutrients with a homemade dog food – you need to use a recipe approved by an animal nutritionist.

Homemade dog food is typically made fresh so it has a shorter shelf-life than commercially prepared dog food.

Making your own dog food might be more expensive than commercial dry dog food.

There is a greater risk for your dog developing nutritional deficiencies on a homemade dog food diet if you don’t provide the right balance of nutrients.

Homemade dog foods are often made raw which increases the risk for food-borne illness.

Creating a nutritionally balanced homemade dog food requires a lot of research to make sure that your dog’s nutritional needs are met.

Consider some prevalent myths and misconceptions before determining whether or not a homemade dog food diet is suitable for your pet. Many dog owners think that switching to a homemade dog food diet will improve their dog’s nutrition, but they are unaware of how challenging it is to make a homemade dog food that is well-balanced. The following is a list of several myths about homemade dog foods:

FAQ

Is homemade dog food healthier than store-bought?

It doesn’t really matter whether your pet eats store-bought or homemade food as long as their nutritional needs are met. Unfortunately, too often, homemade food lacks key nutrients.

Do vets recommend making your own dog food?

Despite being common, veterinarians typically advise against making your own raw dog food due to the possibility of bacterial contamination or potential public health risks. Consult a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist if your dog has any medical conditions to ensure the homemade diet is suitable for them.

Is it healthier to give your dog homemade food?

For those of us who have the time, cooking for our pets can be very appealing, but there is no proof to back up claims that home-prepared diets are healthier than commercial diets.

Is it cheaper and healthier to make your own dog food?

For a 30-pound dog, a balanced, home-cooked diet would cost $3. 52 per day; $5. 58 if you go organic. According to him, that is up to half the cost of commercial wet foods but two to four times the price of similar commercial dry dog foods.