How to Create a Healthy Homemade Diet for Your Dog

More and more tutors are looking for alternatives to feed their dogs in a more natural, healthy and personalized way and the idea of setting up a healthy homemade diet for your dog It's an excellent idea.

But creating a balanced diet at home for your pet isn't as simple as cooking rice and chicken every day. Dogs have specific nutritional needs, different from ours, and any imbalance can cause serious health problems.

Therefore, before filling the bowl with “real food,” it is essential to understand how to do it correctly, respecting the individual needs of your best friend.

Are you prepared to offer more health on his plate?

Why consider a homemade diet for dogs?

Nutrition is one of the factors that most impacts a dog's health and quality of life. When well-prepared, a homemade diet offers benefits such as:

• Total control over ingredients
• Personalized adjustments for allergies, intolerances or illnesses
• Improves your pet's digestion, coat and energy
• Reduced risk of obesity and chronic diseases

A study published in the Journal of Animal Science showed that dogs fed balanced diets made with fresh ingredients had better intestinal function and a lower incidence of dermatological problems.

In other words, a good homemade diet not only pleases the palate but also transforms your companion's health. But to reap these benefits, planning and professional guidance are essential.

Read also: How to Teach Your Dog Not to Take Food from the Table

Main precautions when preparing a homemade diet

Offering only rice, chicken, and carrots, no matter how loving it may be, does not guarantee the nutrients a dog needs to grow, maintain strong muscles, protect organs, and age well.

Just like us, dogs need the right combination of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. A small imbalance can, over the course of months, lead to serious deficiencies.

Therefore, before starting a homemade diet, it's essential to consult a veterinary nutritionist. This professional will calculate your dog's energy needs and create a specific menu for your dog, considering factors such as:

• Weight
• Age
• Physical activity level
• Health conditions (allergies, illnesses, neutering)

Doing everything “by eye” is one of the biggest mistakes a tutor can make.

How to create a healthy homemade diet for your dog

Now that you understand the importance of balance, let's explore the pillars of a safe and nutritious home-cooked diet.

1. High-quality proteins

Proteins are the foundation of canine nutrition. They help build and repair tissues, produce enzymes and hormones, and are essential for overall health.

Examples of safe proteins for dogs include skinless chicken, turkey breast, lean beef, cooked fish, and eggs. Always cook them, never raw, to avoid contamination.

Quantities and types vary depending on the dog's size and metabolism, and should be defined by the veterinarian.

2. Complex carbohydrates

Carbohydrates provide energy, but should be chosen carefully. Choose options like brown rice, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, or arracacha.

Avoid foods like excessive corn, pasta, bread, or processed foods. And remember that carbohydrates must be balanced with protein to avoid gaining excess weight.

3. Vegetables and legumes

Important sources of fiber, vitamins and antioxidants, vegetables are a welcome addition to your diet.

Carrots, zucchini, chayote, kale, and spinach (always thoroughly cooked) are great options. Avoid onions, garlic, leeks, and raw potatoes, which are toxic to dogs.

Just like in our diet, variety is important to ensure different nutrients.

4. Healthy fats

Good fats are essential for healthy skin, hair, and the immune system.

Fish oil (rich in omega-3), extra virgin olive oil or fat naturally present in meat can be used, always in the quantity recommended by a professional.

Excesses here also cause problems such as obesity and liver disease.

5. Vitamin and mineral supplementation

Even with all the care, a homemade diet is unlikely to cover 100% of nutritional needs without supplementation.

It is common for the veterinarian to recommend specific vitamin or mineral complexes, such as calcium, zinc and B vitamins.

Never use human supplements on animals without a prescription. The wrong dose can be as dangerous as a deficiency.

Two examples that show the difference of home-cooked food

Bruno, a 6-year-old French bulldog, suffered from recurring dermatitis and gastrointestinal issues. After months of trying different foods, his owner decided to invest in a supervised homemade diet.

In three months, Bruno's coat was shiny again, his seizures had drastically reduced, and he was once again an active, happy dog.

Luna, an elderly golden retriever, began to lose her appetite. With the introduction of a balanced homemade diet made with fresh meats and vegetables, she began eating enthusiastically again, gained a healthy amount of weight, and showed more willingness to go for walks.

These examples show that changing your diet, done responsibly, can transform the quality of life of our companions.

A simple analogy: food as an orchestra

Think of your dog's diet like an orchestra. Each instrument—protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamin—needs to be in perfect harmony. If one plays out of rhythm, the result is disharmonious and disordered.

When everyone is in balance, the music flows and enchants. This is also true for your pet's body: nutritional harmony generates health, vitality, and happiness.

A statistic that warns

According to the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), approximately 401% of dogs fed homemade diets without guidance have some type of nutritional deficiency detectable in clinical examinations.

In other words, good intentions without planning can compromise the animal's health, instead of improving it.

What foods should be avoided in homemade diets?

Some common ingredients in human food are toxic or unsuitable for dogs:

• Chocolate
• Grapes and raisins
• Onion and garlic
• Avocado
• Caffeine
• Cooked bones (may cause punctures)
• Alcohol

It's essential to know this list and avoid any mistakes that could compromise your pet's health.

How to start the transition to a homemade diet?

The change should be made gradually, mixing the new food with the previous one for a few days, progressively increasing the amount of new food.

This process prevents gastrointestinal discomfort, such as diarrhea or vomiting, and allows the dog's body to adapt calmly.

Always observe how the animal reacts and stay in contact with your veterinarian throughout the process.

Conclusion

Set up a healthy homemade diet for your dog It's a beautiful way to demonstrate love, care, and responsibility. But it's also a serious commitment that requires study, planning, and professional supervision.

The reward is seeing your best friend live with more health, energy, and a sparkle in their eyes. Real food transforms. But real food cooked right transforms for the better.

And now tell me: doesn't your dog deserve all this care too?

Common Questions About Homemade Dog Diets

1. Does every homemade diet need supplements?
Yes. Even with varied ingredients, most homemade diets require supplementation to ensure complete balance.

2. Can I vary the ingredients in the diet?
Yes, as long as you respect the food groups and quantities recommended by your veterinarian.

3. Is a homemade diet better than pet food?
It depends. When well-formulated and supervised, it can be as good or better. But a poorly prepared homemade diet is much more harmful than a good diet.

4. How much does it cost to maintain a homemade diet?
The cost can vary greatly depending on the ingredients used. In many cases, it's comparable to the price of premium pet foods.

5. Can I make a homemade diet for puppies?
Yes, but it's even more delicate. Puppies have very specific nutritional needs, and any mistake can compromise their development.