Homemade Dog Food: Benefits, Risks & Vet-Approved Guidelines

The idea of cooking for your dog is appealing—you know exactly what's in their food, can source quality ingredients, and show love through home-cooked meals. But a 2025 study from Texas A&M University reveals a sobering reality: 94% of homemade dog food recipes are nutritionally incomplete. Here's what you need to know before ditching the kibble.

The Appeal of Homemade Dog Food

Pet owners turn to homemade diets for various reasons:

• Control over ingredients: You choose exactly what goes in
• Managing food allergies: Easy to avoid specific allergens
• Pet food recalls: Concerns about commercial food safety
• Special health needs: Customized nutrition for sick pets
• Picky eaters: Some dogs refuse commercial food
• The bond: Showing love through cooking

These are valid motivations. But good intentions don't automatically translate to good nutrition.

The Problem: Most Recipes Are Incomplete

Research consistently shows that homemade pet food recipes—whether from books, websites, or even some veterinarians—frequently lack essential nutrients:

• The 2025 Dog Aging Project study found only 6% of homemade recipes met essential nutritional requirements
• Common deficiencies include calcium, zinc, vitamin D, vitamin E, and essential fatty acids
• Calcium and phosphorus imbalances can cause serious bone problems
• Some recipes contained dangerous excess amounts of certain vitamins

What Dogs Need: Essential Nutrients

A complete canine diet must provide over 40 essential nutrients in proper proportions:

Protein and Amino Acids

Dogs need 10 essential amino acids they can't produce themselves. Animal proteins (meat, eggs, fish) provide these in the right proportions. Plant proteins alone are insufficient.

Fats and Fatty Acids

Essential fatty acids like linoleic acid and omega-3s support skin, coat, brain function, and immune health. These don't occur naturally in most meat cuts and must be supplemented.

Minerals

Calcium and phosphorus are particularly tricky—they must be in the right ratio (approximately 1.2:1) and the right amount. Meat is high in phosphorus but low in calcium, so homemade diets without supplementation almost always have dangerous imbalances.

Vitamins

Dogs need vitamins A, D, E, K, and several B vitamins. Some are found in meat, but others (like vitamin E) require specific supplementation.

The Right Way to Feed Homemade

If you're committed to homemade feeding, here's how to do it safely:

1. Consult a Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist

This is non-negotiable. A veterinary nutritionist (look for the DACVIM-Nutrition credential) can formulate a recipe specifically for your dog's needs, age, size, and health status. General practice veterinarians, while knowledgeable, typically don't have specialized nutrition training.

You can find nutritionists through:

• The American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN) directory
• Veterinary schools with nutrition departments
• Online consultation services like BalanceIT or PetDiets

2. Use a Properly Formulated Recipe

Don't trust random internet recipes. Even recipes in published books often have problems. Use only:

• Recipes from a board-certified veterinary nutritionist
• Recipes from veterinary nutrition services that analyze formulations
• Academic sources that have been peer-reviewed

3. Use a Complete Vitamin-Mineral Supplement

Whole foods alone cannot provide complete nutrition. You'll need a supplement specifically designed for homemade diets. Options include:

• BalanceIT supplements (formulated with their recipe service)
• JustFoodForDogs DIY Nutrient Blend
• Prescription supplements from your veterinary nutritionist

4. Follow Recipes Exactly

Don't substitute ingredients, skip supplements, or eyeball amounts. Nutritional formulations are precise—changing a single ingredient can throw off the entire balance.

5. Get Regular Veterinary Check-ups

Dogs on homemade diets should have regular blood work to monitor for nutritional deficiencies. Catch problems before they cause damage.

A Word on Raw Diets

Raw diets (sometimes called BARF—Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) carry all the nutritional concerns of cooked homemade diets, plus additional risks:

• Bacterial contamination: Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria are common in raw meat
• Human health risk: Pets shed bacteria in their stool and saliva
• Bone hazards: Raw bones can cause broken teeth, intestinal blockages, or perforations
• No proven benefits: Claims about raw feeding aren't supported by scientific evidence

The AVMA, FDA, and most veterinary organizations advise against raw feeding due to these risks.

Alternatives to Fully Homemade

If you want more control over your dog's diet without the complexity of full homemade feeding:

• Fresh commercial foods: Services like JustFoodForDogs, The Farmer's Dog, and Ollie provide balanced, minimally processed meals
• High-quality kibble with toppers: Add small amounts of cooked meat, vegetables, or eggs to quality commercial food
• Partially homemade: Work with a nutritionist to create a recipe that uses commercial food as a base

The Bottom Line

Homemade dog food can be done safely—but it requires professional guidance, proper supplementation, and ongoing monitoring. The stakes are high: nutritional deficiencies can cause serious, sometimes irreversible health problems.

If you're considering homemade feeding, invest in a consultation with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. It's a small price to pay for the peace of mind that your dog is getting everything they need.