Should I feed homemade food to my puppy?

Some people believe that making homemade dog food is better than feeding your dog commercial dog food. You may have even seen some recipes online that teach you how to make dog food. However, is it really the best option for your dog? Here are two of the biggest problems with homemade dog food.

Most homemade dog food recipes do not provide your dog with all the nutrients he needs.

Number of researchers such as (Pattanaik and Sharma 2006) and Shakhar (2005) showed that majority of homemade diets suffer from nutritional inadequacies in terms of energy, protein and minerals. That is why it’s important to make sure that no matter what you decide to feed your dog, it’s formulated by a veterinary nutritionist. Otherwise, your dog may not be getting all of the essential nutrients he needs to thrive, and deficiencies could lead to serious health problems.

Unlike homemade dog food, commercial dog food follows strict standards and safety guidelines.

Commercially sold dog foods who label to be complete and balanced have to follow guidelines and standards such as those established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. That way you know that what you’re feeding your dog is safe. When it comes to homemade dog food, there is no regulation, and homemade dog food recipes made with raw meat can expose you and your dog to dangerous bacteria like salmonella or listeria.

Home foods that are dangerous for your dog*:

• Alcohol
• Chocolate, Coffee and Caffeine
• Citrus fruits & peels
• Coconut and Coconut Oil
• Cinnamon
• Grapes and Raisins
• Ice-creams
• Macadamia nuts
• Nuts – Almonds, Pecans, and Walnuts
• Onions, Garlic, Chives
• Salt and Salty Snack Foods