A lot of dogs like homemade dog foods, however basing an entirely balanced diet around these will be quite challenging. More often than not, homemade dog foods require vitamin and mineral supplements to make the dog’s meal complete.
Recent study shows that homemade dog foods can be risky for the dog’s health. This study was made at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. Researchers found out that:
“[...] most available recipes for healthy dogs, even those published in books by veterinarians, do not provide essential nutrients in the quantities required by the dog,” [...] “It is extremely difficult for the average pet owner — or even veterinarians — to come up with balanced recipes to create appropriate meals that are safe for long-term use.” [source]
Jennifer Larsen, an assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at UC Davis and lead author on the study, together with Jonathan Stockman, a veterinarian and second-year resident in clinical nutrition at UC Davis, used 34 various sources and picked 200 homemade dog recipes to test and evaluate using computer-based program. Out of the 200, only nine has the nutrients dogs need to stay healthy and strong.
“Homemade food is a great option for many pets, but we recommend that owners avoid general recipes from books and the Internet and instead consult with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist,” Larsen said. “These specialists have advanced training in nutrition to help formulate customized and nutritionally appropriate recipes.” [source]
For ease of feeding and to avoid triggering possible diseases caused by homemade dog foods, it’s wiser to stick to manufactured dog foods.
