Home-Cooked Meals for Dogs

In March of 2007 several brands of pet food were recalled after dogs and cats began getting sick and dying. Authorities eventually discovered that the vegetable proteins in the food were being imported from China and that they were contaminated. As of May 2011, 998 pet foods and veterinary products were on the Food and Drug Administration's recall list. These pet food recalls are one reason that some dog owners choose to use homemade dog food.

  1. Packaged Dog Food

    • If you want to feed your dog the very best, commercial dog food may not be the best choice. The first ingredient often is corn, wheat or soybeans. Other ingredients include bone meal, refined fats and meat byproducts. Some organic high-quality dog foods are made with real ingredients available at specialty pet stores but these can be pricey. As a result, some dog owners prefer to feed their pets a homemade dog food. If that sounds like too much effort, you also can buy natural and holistic dog foods, available frozen or canned and made from natural ingredients and real foods. This choice combines the benefits of homemade dog food with the convenience of a pre-made product.

    Homemade Vegetarian Dog Food

    • Some dog owners choose to feed their dogs a vegetarian or combo homemade dog food. Vegetarian dog food includes foods like bread, brown rice, carrots, apples, eggs, cottage cheese and lentils mixed in varying degrees and proportions. Contrary to popular belief, a dog can live well on a vegetarian diet provided that a vitamin supplement is included. A mixture of about 40% protein and 60% grains, fruits and vegetables is about right. If you do not want to feed your dog a strictly vegetarian diet, a combo diet is another option. A combo diet includes the healthy ingredients from a vegetarian diet with some meat added, and also is likely to include ingredients like brown pasta, potatoes and cooked oatmeal.

    Meats for Dog Food

    • Some dog owners prefer to feed their dogs a meat-based diet, sometimes called a BARF diet, which stands for Bones and Raw Foods. People who use this diet for their dogs include many different varieties of meat. Their dogs' diets include bones with meat attached, organs, muscle tissue and eggs. Owners supplement this diet with fruits, vegetables, grains and a quality vitamin supplement. Many people choose to vary their dog's diet by purchasing meat from the bargain bin and building their dog's meal around whatever is on sale during a particular week.

    Cautions

    • If you choose to use a homemade diet for your dog be sure to consult with your veterinarian regularly. She will be able to tell if your dog is healthy or if it is missing any essential nutrients. Switch to a homemade diet slowly by mixing a bit of homemade food in with your dog's everyday food. Each day or week mix in a bit more homemade food, as you reduce the commercial food, to help your dog's stomach to adjust to the new diet. Try one new food at a time and watch your dog's reaction carefully. Foods that you should avoid include chocolate, mushrooms, onions, garlic, milk, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts and alcohol. You should also avoid any foods that seem to upset your dog's stomach.