Can I Make my Own Dog Food?: A home Cooking Guide from a Canine Nutritionist

12 Oct

As a pet parent, you may have considered home-cooking your dog's meals to ensure you're giving them the healthiest, freshest ingredients. Whether you're driven by concerns about commercial dog food or you want more control over what goes into your dog's diet, home cooking can be a rewarding experience. However, it's essential to understand how to create a balanced diet that meets your dog’s nutritional needs to avoid deficiencies that can lead to health problems.

This blog will walk you through the basics of home-cooked dog food, the equipment you’ll need, the pros and cons of homemade meals, and common nutrient deficiencies to watch for.

Equipment Needed for Home Cooking Dog Food

Before diving into recipes, it’s important to have the right tools to prepare and store your dog’s food efficiently.

Food Scale: Precision is critical when measuring ingredients to ensure balanced nutrition.
High-Quality Blender or Food Processor: Some ingredients like vegetables, eggshells (for calcium), or supplements may need to be blended or finely chopped.
Large Cooking Pot or Slow Cooker: For cooking larger batches of food, a slow cooker can be a time-saving tool.
Storage Containers: Airtight containers to store pre-cooked meals in the fridge or freezer.
Meat Thermometer: Ensuring meat is cooked to the correct internal temperature to kill harmful bacteria is essential.
Supplements: Multivitamins, calcium, omega-3s, and other nutrients your dog’s food might need based on deficiencies in whole ingredients.

Pros of Home Cooking for Your Dog

1. Control Over Ingredients

One of the most significant benefits is complete control over the quality and type of ingredients in your dog's diet. You can choose organic, human-grade meats and fresh produce, avoiding unwanted fillers, by-products, preservatives, and artificial additives commonly found in some commercial foods.

2. Customisable for Health Needs

Home-cooked diets can be tailored for dogs with specific health needs like allergies, sensitivities, or conditions such as IBS or diabetes. For instance, if your dog has a grain intolerance, you can eliminate grains and use more suitable carbohydrates like sweet potatoes or quinoa.

3. Variety

Unlike most commercial foods, which are often limited to certain flavors, home-cooked meals allow you to rotate proteins and vegetables, adding variety to your dog’s diet.

Cons of Home Cooking for Your Dog

1. Time-Consuming

Home-cooked meals require significant time investment, from researching recipes to sourcing high-quality ingredients, prepping, cooking, and storing food.

2. Risk of Nutrient Deficiencies

One of the biggest challenges with homemade diets is ensuring the meal is nutritionally complete. Dogs have specific dietary needs that differ from humans, and missing key nutrients can lead to serious health issues. Simply feeding meat and vegetables without proper supplementation can cause imbalances in calcium, vitamins, and fatty acids. If we also don’t cook the food properly we can end up with nutrient losses.

3. Higher Cost

Using fresh, high-quality ingredients can be more expensive than commercial dog food, particularly if you’re buying organic or premium cuts of meat. Supplements can also add to the cost.

4. Food Safety

Improperly handling raw meats, cross-contamination, or undercooking certain proteins can pose health risks, both for your dog and your family. Proper hygiene and food safety practices are essential.

Common Nutrient Deficiencies in Homemade Dog Food

While home cooking can provide a wholesome diet, it is surprisingly easy to overlook key nutrients your dog needs to thrive. Many owners assume that if the food looks healthy and varied, it must be balanced, but this isn't always the case. Here are some of the most common nutrient deficiencies that occur in home-cooked diets.

1. Calcium

Dogs need calcium for healthy bones and teeth. A homemade diet rich in meat but lacking in calcium sources (like bone meal or calcium supplements) can cause calcium deficiency, leading to weakened bones, fractures, and dental problems. Simply adding ground eggshells or calcium carbonate supplements can help meet this need.

2. Vitamin D

Vitamin D is crucial for calcium absorption and bone health. Unlike humans, dogs cannot produce enough vitamin D from sunlight and must get it from their diet. Fish (like sardines or salmon) is a natural source, but if fish isn’t included regularly, a supplement may be necessary but never supplement Vitamin D without veterinary supervision.

3. Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects cells from oxidative damage and supports immune function. This fat-soluble vitamin is often overlooked in homemade diets. Supplementing with oils like wheat germ oil or commercial vitamin E supplements can help. We need to add Vitamin E in especially if we are including fish of Omega-3 fatty acids.

4. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

These essential fatty acids, found in fish oil, krill oil and Algae oil, support your dog's skin, coat, heart health, and cognitive function. Most home-cooked diets are rich in omega-6 fatty acids (from poultry and grains) but deficient in omega-3s, leading to inflammatory conditions and poor coat health. Seed oils are rich in ALAs and omega 6s but not high in EPAs and DHAs which are the omega 3s typically missing from a dog’s homemade diet

5. B Vitamins (B12, B1, B6)

B vitamins support metabolism, energy production, and nervous system health. Deficiencies, particularly in B12, are common in meat-only diets that lack organ meats or supplements. B vitamins can be supplemented with specific B-complex tablets or added through liver, spleen, kidneys or nutritional yeast which are all rich sources

6. Zinc

Zinc is critical for immune function, skin health, and wound healing. Zinc deficiency is common in home cooked diets that are not rich in beef or venison. Zinc supplements or zinc-rich foods include oysters, beef and venison. Supplementation can also be a great option.

7. Copper

Copper is essential for red blood cell production and nervous system function. Liver is one of the richest sources of copper, but since it’s often fed in small amounts, deficiency can occur. If copper deficiency is a concern, supplements can be added under veterinary guidance. Lamb’s liver is particularly high in copper so stick with 3-4% in a home cooked diet.

8. Iodine

Iodine is necessary for thyroid function. If you're feeding a diet without commercial dog food your dog may not get enough iodine, leading to thyroid imbalances. Adding a small amount of kelp or an iodine supplement can help meet this need. I would recommend 1g per 1kg of food.

9. Manganese

Manganese is important for bone formation and the metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins. Deficiency can result in joint issues and poor growth. Whole grains, seeds, and green leafy vegetables are good sources, but supplements may be required if your dog isn’t eating enough plant-based ingredients.

10. Choline

Choline is crucial for brain function, liver health, and fat metabolism. It’s typically found in egg yolks, organ meats, and legumes. Without sufficient choline, dogs can develop liver disease and cognitive issues. Adding eggs or pork to the diet or using a choline supplement can prevent this.

How to Prevent Nutrient Deficiencies

To avoid these deficiencies, it's critical to:

Work with a nutritionist who formulated to AAFCO or FEDIAF standards: Have a vet or certified canine nutritionist formulate balanced meals tailored to your dog’s specific needs, age, and activity level.
Use Supplements: Multivitamins and balancing supplements can be a good way to start butdo this supported by your vet or nutritionist.
Follow Trusted Recipes: Not all online recipes are nutritionally complete. Opt for balanced recipes created or approved by experts in canine nutrition.
Routine Health Monitoring: Regular vet check-ups with blood tests can help catch early signs of nutritional deficiencies and allow you to make necessary dietary adjustments.

Final Thoughts

Home cooking for your dog can be a rewarding way to ensure your pet is getting wholesome, fresh ingredients. However, to ensure your dog’s health, it's important to understand the complexities of canine nutrition and the need for balanced meals. Consult with a vet or nutritionist, use the right supplements, and monitor your dog’s health regularly to ensure they’re thriving on their new diet.

With the right approach, you can provide a fresh, tailored, and nutritionally complete diet that supports your dog’s long-term health and happiness.

By considering both the benefits and potential challenges, you can make an informed decision on whether home-cooking is the best option for your furry friend. Want to take the guess work out of cooking? Sign up to The Canine Code for loads of balanced recipes

Sally Barker