If you’ve ever looked at your dog’s kibble and thought, “There’s no way that dry food tastes good every single day, multiple times a day,” you’re not alone. Have you scrolled through TikTok and come across a video of someone whipping up gourmet meals for their dog and thought, “Should I be doing that too?” Or, has your dog experienced upset stomach issues frequently, so you’re considering making the switch? These concerns and questions are all valid.
The truth is, switching to homemade dog food will not guarantee a “better” outcome for your dog’s health. It all depends on your individual pet, your lifestyle, and your commitment to the task at hand.
So, is homemade dog food right for your dog? Let’s understand the pros and cons, then look into a few recipes that may help you decide what’s best for your furry friend.
What Sparked Your Consideration to Change?
Feeding your dog the best food probably crosses your mind every so often, but what prompted the sudden need to look into homemade food?
You might be exploring homemade food because:
- Your dog experiences food allergies or sensitivities
- You notice digestive issues, like gas or loose stools
- Your dog is a picky eater who turns their nose up at mealtime
- You’re frustrated by the additives in your dog’s current food
- You want to give your dog a longer, healthier life
- You want to share the joys of a new meal with your pup
Knowing why you’re considering the change can tell you a lot about what you’re hoping to improve in your dog’s life, and whether homemade food is truly the solution. Now, we can explore what homemade dog food can offer so you can make the most informed decision for your best friend.
The Pros of Homemade Dog Food
You Control Every Ingredient
With homemade food, you’re the chef and the quality control person. No more meat mystery byproducts or unpronounceable preservatives. You choose fresh, high-quality ingredients and avoid fillers, artificial dyes, or additives that don’t serve your dog’s health. If your dog has allergies or sensitivities, making their food homemade can eliminate the ingredients causing the issue, which is harder to avoid in many commercial brands.
Easier on Digestion
Fresh, minimally processed food can be much gentler on your dog’s digestive health. Many owners who switch to homemade notice fewer tummy troubles, better bathroom habits, and less gas.
Source: The Science Behind Fresh Dog Food by Feed Real Institute
Tailored Nutrition
Every dog is different. Some are super active, larger dogs, or smaller seniors with arthritis. Homemade food lets you customize their meals for their specific age, activity level, body weight, and health needs. You can include omega-3-rich ingredients for joint health, antioxidant-packed vegetables for immune support, or high-protein meals for energy.
Cost-effective
Making your dog’s food can save you money in some instances. If you have a larger breed or multiple pets, a 40 lb. bag of dry food can cost up to $90. That said, preparing meals at home can be more economical. Although some ingredients and supplements can pack quite a price point in your homemade recipes. It’s important to budget carefully if cost is your main motivator for making the switch to fresh ingredients.
Addresses Food Sensitivities, Allergies, and Diet
Proper nutrition does wonders for your furry friend’s health. If they’re allergic or sensitive to certain foods, this can easily eliminate those ingredients that are hard to get around with commercial dog food. You can also actively work alongside your veterinarian to put them on a proper diet that helps them maintain the weight required of their breed.
Can Improve Coat, Skin, and Dental Health
A balanced homemade diet can give your dog the fatty acids they need to promote healthy skin and a shiny coat. Including crunchy mixed vegetables or raw bones in your dog’s diet can keep their teeth clean and reduce the risk of dental issues.
Source: Best Bones for Dogs: Complete Vet-Approved Guide for Pet Parents by Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM
The Cons of Homemade Dog Food
It’s Difficult to Achieve the Right Balance
Dogs need a balanced diet—one with nutritional value of protein, fat, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Without proper guidance, you might unintentionally cause nutritional deficiencies for their weight range. Calcium and phosphorus ratios, for example, are essential minerals for strong bone health. A meal that looks healthy to you might actually be lacking critical nutrients or enough calories to support your dog’s internal health.
Supplements are Typically a Must
Even with the freshest meats and veggies, most dogs will still need a multivitamin or individual mineral supplements to meet their full nutritional needs. That might mean:
- Calcium (unless you’re including bone meal)
- Fish oil for omega-3s
- Zinc and Vitamin E for skin health
- Taurine, especially in home-cooked meals for larger breeds
You’ll need to consult with your vet or a veterinary nutritionist to figure out exactly what’s required.
Source: Dog Nutrition: Guide to Dog Food Nutrients by PetMD; Taurine for Dogs: Do Dogs Need Taurine Supplements? by PetMD
It’s a Big Time Commitment
Preparing your own dog food takes time. You’ll need to plan recipes, shop for fresh ingredients, cook (or safely handle raw food), portion meals, and store them properly.
You’ll also need freezer or fridge space and a system for reheating (or thawing) meals safely. And of course, portion control matters: too many calories = weight gain, too few = nutritional deficiencies.
Food Safety & Contamination are Critical
You have to be extra cautious of handling, preparing, and storing raw ingredients because you could accidentally contaminate ingredients and transfer foodborne illnesses. Raw or undercooked food can carry bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli. And since dogs lick everything (including your face), poor hygiene practices can affect you, too. Cross-contamination, improper storage, and inconsistent temperatures can all create problems in your dog’s health.
Introducing new food can cause problems in your dog’s digestive system, too. Take note of how they react to this new food when you introduce it to them. If they show signs of sickness, you will have to adjust and stay in communication with your vet.
Source: Can Dogs Get Food Poisoning? by American Kennel Club
No Industry Standards
Store-bought dog foods must meet strict AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards. Homemade diets are not subject to the same quality control standards.
You’re responsible for researching, planning, and adjusting as your dog’s needs change, which is why working with a vet or board-certified nutritionist is highly recommended.
How to Make Homemade Dog Food the Right Way
If you’re on board with making homemade dog food after weighing the pros and cons, here’s how to get started the smart way.
- Talk to Your Veterinarian or Canine Nutritionist: We consider this step non-negotiable. Every dog has different needs. You can’t completely cut out commercial dog food and go straight to homemade without taking the steps to understand what your pup needs. Ask your vet for blood work or allergy tests if your dog has sensitivities. A veterinary nutritionist can help you calculate exact calorie needs based on age, weight, breed, and lifestyle, as well as offer up recipe recommendations that you need to follow to the T.
- Know What NOT to Feed: Some human foods are toxic to dogs. Here are a few to avoid completely:
- Alcohol
- Avocado
- Cherries
- Chives
- Chocolate and caffeine
- Cooked bones (they can splinter and cause injuries)
- Fatty foods
- Grapes and raisins
- Leeks
- Macadamia nuts
- Onions and Garlic (even in powder form)
- Raw yeast dough
- Xylitol (found in sugar-free products)
When in doubt, double-check all ingredients against a reputable source before adding anything new to your dog’s bowl.
Source: Human Foods Dogs Can Eat: Complete List by The Vets (formerly BetterVet)
- Use High-quality Ingredients: Think lean meats, whole grains, healthy oils, and a variety of dog-safe fruits and vegetables. Organic isn’t necessary, but fresh and unprocessed is best. Here are a few go-to ingredients in some dog food recipes:
- Proteins: ground turkey, chicken breast, beef liver, salmon, eggs
- Carbs: brown rice, quinoa, oats, sweet potatoes
- Veggies: green beans, carrots, spinach, zucchini
- Fats: coconut oil, canola oil, olive oil, flaxseed
For a sweet dessert, what do dogs love best? Peanuts and peanut butter! You can find out the safe and unsafe types of peanuts for your dog here in one of our previous blogs.
Source: Human Foods Dogs Can Eat: Complete List by The Vets (formerly BetterVet)
Easy Homemade Dog Food Recipes
Important Note: These sample dog food recipes are general ideas based on the veterinarian-approved online platform Balance.it, designed to help pet owners and veterinarians create nutritionally complete, homemade meals for cats and dogs. Use these recipes as inspiration, then consult your veterinarian to adjust them based on your dog’s size and nutritional needs.
Are you going to take the next step and create your own dog food at home? Our number one advice is to contact a veterinary nutritionist. They can tell you more about your dog’s diet and what’s good for them based on the weight-to-portion ratio. They can also give more insight into the types of ingredients to use, to stay away from, and supplements to include.
With that being said, take a look at a few of these recipes and treat your dog to some delicious food!
Turkey & Sweet Potato Meal for a 35-lb Dog
Ingredients:
- 329 g or 11 ⅝ oz. of turkey breast from the whole bird, non-enhanced, meat only, cooked/roasted
- 20 g or 4 ½ tsp of canola oil
- 1.2 g or 1 3/10 mL of Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet Liquid
- 250 g or 1 ¼ cup of cooked sweet potatoes, baked in skin without salt
- 3.38 g or 9/16 tsp of Morton Iodized Salt
Directions:
- All ingredients should be purchased and prepared according to food safety guidelines. Raw meat, poultry, fish, and other animal-derived ingredients like eggs and egg whites should always be cooked to a food-safe temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit or 74 degrees Celsius (any drippings from cooking should not be fed).
- Measure or weigh your ingredients according to the recommended amounts for your dog’s weight using a kitchen scale.
- Combine all ingredients and mix well, then serve!
Ground Chicken & Rice Meal for a 10-lb Dog
Ingredients:
- ⅓ lb ground chicken (about 5.3 oz, cooked thoroughly)
- ⅓ cup cooked rice (preferably brown rice as it’s higher in fiber and nutrient content)
- 2 tbsp chopped carrots (steamed or boiled)
- 2 tbsp chopped green beans (steamed)
- ½ tsp olive oil
- 1 pinch (about 1/16 tsp) calcium carbonate or finely ground eggshell powder
Directions:
- Cook the ground chicken in a skillet over medium heat until fully done.
- Cook the rice in a pot or rice cooker without any salt or seasoning.
- Steam the carrots and green beans until soft but not mushy.
- In a bowl, combine the chicken, rice, and mixed vegetables.
- Let cool, then stir in olive oil and calcium carbonate or finely ground eggshell powder.
- Store leftovers (if any) in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze in small portions.
You’ll notice in these two recipes that canola oil and olive oil are used interchangeably. Olive oil is a good source of healthy fats and antioxidants, which support heart health, skin health, and coat shine; canola oil is a good source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which also support healthy skin and coat.
Different types of dietary supplements are included, calcium carbonate and Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet Liquid, for when the recipe doesn’t include enough calcium or omega-3s. Before adding any supplements that the recipe calls for, double-check that this is recommended for your dog by your veterinarian.
Balance.it provides a recipe generator for those interested in building the ideal proportion of meat, fresh vegetables, and essential nutrients according to your dog’s weight, age, and whether they already have special needs or allergies. They were founded by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, are supported by thousands of veterinarians, and are FDA and AAFCO compliant.
What to Watch for After Switching
If you start feeding your dog homemade food, be sure to monitor for any of the following:
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Vomiting
- Decreased appetite
- Changes in energy levels
- Excessive itching or negative coat changes
Any of these can be signs that something isn’t quite right nutritionally, or that your dog isn’t adjusting well. Always introduce new foods gradually over a week or two to avoid gastrointestinal upset.
Source: Home Cooking for Dogs: A Beginner’s Guide by Coastal Creek Animal Hospital
Is Homemade Food the Right Choice?
Now that you’ve fully dived into the benefits and downsides of cooking for your dog instead of buying from the store, the answer to “Is homemade food the right choice?” might just depend. Homemade dog food can be a fantastic way to improve your pet’s nutrition, especially if they have dietary needs or sensitivities. But it’s not for every dog.
If you’re not able to consistently prepare balanced meals, maintain food safety precautions, and consult a vet regularly, then a high-quality commercial brand dedicated to fresh ingredients might be a better option. There’s zero shame in that. Your love for your dog isn’t measured in how many hours you spend cooking for them, it’s in how committed you are to giving them the healthiest life possible.
When it comes to feeding your dog, whether you choose homemade meals, kibble, or something in between, the most important thing is that your dog gets the nutrition they need to live their best life. You’re making the right step just by researching it first—your dog is lucky to have you!
If you need more tips on keeping your pet healthy and happy, visit our blog resource to explore more topics on pet ownership. You can also purchase a specialty license plate in support of Florida Animal Friend, or gift one to a friend who loves showing their support for animals! All funds from these $25 purchases and tag renewals go toward funding necessary and accessible spay and neuter programs across the state of Florida.