VeterinaryNutritionists
Home Cooking For Dogs

Homemade Dog Food: How Veterinary Nutritionists Make It Safe

Cooking for your dog can be a great option, but only if the recipe is complete and balanced. Most recipes online are not. Here is what the research shows and how to do it right.

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What The Research Found

A UC Davis study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association in 2013 analyzed 200 homemade dog food recipes from 34 sources, including veterinary textbooks, pet care books and websites. Its findings (UC Davis):

  • 95% of recipes were deficient in at least one essential nutrient
  • More than 83% had multiple deficiencies
  • Only 9 met AAFCO minimums for adult dogs, and only 5 met National Research Council minimums

The lead author's advice: avoid general recipes from books and the internet, and work with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.

Three Safe Ways To Cook For Your Dog

1. A Custom Recipe From A Veterinary Nutritionist

The best option for dogs with medical conditions, puppies, or pregnant and nursing dogs. See our consultation guide.

2. A Recipe Tool Built By A Board-Certified Nutritionist

Balance IT, founded by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, offers a free recipe generator for healthy dogs and cats, paired with supplements made to balance its recipes.

3. Half Commercial, Half Home-Cooked

Some owners top a complete and balanced commercial food with small amounts of fresh food. Keep toppers small so they do not unbalance the base diet; the common rule of thumb for treats and extras is no more than about 10% of daily calories.

Balancing

Recipe Supplements

Vitamin and mineral supplements formulated to complete home-cooked recipes. Use the one your recipe calls for.

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Accuracy

Digital Kitchen Scale

Balanced recipes are written in grams. Weighing every ingredient is what keeps the recipe balanced.

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Batch Cooking

Portion Containers

Cook a week or more at once and freeze single-day portions to save time.

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What A Balanced Recipe Includes

  • A protein source, such as lean meat, fish or eggs
  • A fat source for calories and essential fatty acids
  • Carbohydrates and fiber, such as rice, potato or vegetables
  • A calcium source, which plain meat-and-rice diets badly lack
  • A vitamin and mineral supplement matched to the recipe

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out calcium and the supplement
  • Measuring by cups or eyeballing instead of weighing
  • Swapping ingredients without re-balancing the recipe
  • Assuming variety alone will cover nutrient gaps
  • Using a recipe for adult dogs to feed a puppy

Never include: grapes or raisins, onions, garlic or chives, chocolate, xylitol, macadamia nuts or alcohol. Check with your veterinarian before adding anything new, especially for dogs with health conditions.

Common Questions

Homemade Dog Food FAQs

Is homemade dog food healthy?

It can be, when the recipe is formulated to be complete and balanced, usually with a vitamin and mineral supplement. Most unbalanced recipes fall short on several essential nutrients.

Can I use a homemade dog food recipe from the internet?

Researchers at UC Davis recommend avoiding general recipes from books and the internet. In their study of 200 recipes, 95% were deficient in at least one essential nutrient.

Do homemade dog food diets need supplements?

Almost always. Meat, grains and vegetables alone rarely supply enough calcium, certain vitamins, trace minerals and essential fatty acids. A supplement designed for the recipe fills those gaps.

What foods are toxic to dogs?

Never include grapes or raisins, onions, garlic or chives, chocolate, xylitol (a sweetener), macadamia nuts or alcohol. Ask your vet before adding anything you are unsure about.

Who can create a balanced homemade diet for my dog?

A board-certified veterinary nutritionist can formulate one for your dog's specific needs. For healthy adult dogs, tools built by board-certified nutritionists, such as Balance IT's recipe generator, are another option.