Before pet owners place their dog on a home-prepared diet, there several points they need to be aware of.

With the dog food recalls in recent years and the development of dog allergies and sensitivities, an increasing number of pet owners are considering the home-prepared or “homemade” diet for their dog. However, pet owners should obtain a good understanding of what is involved with making food for their dog before they begin.

What is a Home-Prepared Diet?

Home-prepared or “homemade” pet diets are not to be confused with “table scraps”. The latter is a mix of leftovers from a human’s meal. A home-prepared diet for a dog is based specifically on meeting a dog’s nutritional needs.

In “Pet Nutrition: Guidelines for feeding your pets”, Dr. Ihor Basko, DVM, recommends “you cook and feed your pet based upon: breed and body type, personality, age, sex, current problems, inherent genetic weaknesses, climate of the season, and the level of exercise and activity and stress.”

There are four things dog owners should know before making food for their dog:

Determine Your Dog’s Nutritional Requirements read more