About Homemade Dog Food

The Facts

• Before starting any new diet for a dog, a veterinarian should be consulted. Discuss the proposed diet change to homemade dog food with the vet. They can give ideas about complete nutrition, and any special dietary needs your pet may have. Aging, pregnant, lactating and very young pets have specific nutritional requirements.

  Ask the vet if your pet should take vitamin and nutritional supplements when being fed homemade dog food. They can recommend age- and condition-appropriate vitamins, minerals and other dietary supplements that will complement your dog's specific needs.

  Once a new diet of homemade dog food has been decided upon, plan how much time it will take to prepare the foods. Scheduling time to prepare two or three home-cooked meals per day can be time consuming. Make sure you can continually commit to making homemade dog food. Plan to cook in large batches and freeze future meals.

Type

• From hard food to soft foods, homemade dog food comes in a variety of options. When dogs are transitioning to a homemade diet, the first item that many cooks will make is kibble. Replicating the type of prepackaged foods the pet has been used to will make the transition easier.

  Stews and loafs of meats, vegetables and grains are another homemade dog food staple. By varying the ingredients, dogs will get a balance of vitamins and minerals.

  Homemade dog biscuits and treats are the most popular form of homemade dog food. From peanut butter biscuits to frozen ice cream-like creations, pet owners have been spoiling their dogs with homemade treats for generations.

Misconceptions

• Pet owners may feel that a homemade dog food diet is the best option for their pet. This may not be true. When making homemade dog food, it is easy to miss key vitamins, nutrients and additives that your dog needs.

  Making homemade dog food can be costly. Purchasing fresh meats, vegetables and vitamin supplements can quickly rival a human grocery bill. Before starting a homemade dog food program, price how much it will cost to purchase all the ingredients needed for one week's supply of dog food. Compare the cost to the current cost of traditional dog food, and make sure the transition is economically viable for your situation.

Benefits

• Making homemade dog food can give pet owners peace of mind. Knowing exactly what your pet is eating makes pet owners feel secure. Choosing human grade quality meats and vegetables for your pet's diet is reassuring for any pet owner.

  Homemade dog foods can also be made with your dog's needs in mind. If it is an older dog, with very few teeth, you can make a pureed meal that is simpler to eat than a chunky soft food that has been commercially prepared.

Risk Factors

• The contents of homemade dog food can be completely controlled by the pet owner. But the pet owner has no control over recalls in human foods, such as E.Coli in ground beef or salmonella in spinach. Pet owners will still need to be aware of any food recalls affecting foods they use to prepare the homemade dog food.