When it comes to feeding your dog, you have two options: 1. Buy processed dog food at the pet store, or 2. Make homemade dog food. You’re probably thinking: isn’t it cheaper to make my own dog food? The fact is that it depends on what you’re making and where you buy ingredients. The price of the ingredients used in homemade dog food can vary wildly – and so will the cost of cooking them up.
No, commercial pet food is generally cheaper than home-prepared dog food.
Is homemade dog food healthier than store-bought? There is scant evidence that a home-prepared diet is better for dogs than commercial pet food. A few recent studies have found that some pet foods contain much higher levels of toxic heavy metals and other contaminants than home-prepared diets, but this has not been confirmed by others.
There are lots of high-quality pet foods that are nutritionally balanced, so there’s no reason to think your dog will benefit from a home-cooked diet. On the other hand, if you cook it yourself, you have more control over the ingredients and can be sure they are organic and free of artificial ingredients or flavorings.
Do I need a recipe for homemade dog food? Yes. If you feed your dog a home-prepared diet, you should follow a vet-approved recipe. Even if you’re using fresh meat and vegetables, there’s more to making a nutritionally balanced meal than just throwing beef and broccoli in a pan with some olive oil; dogs need additional nutrients in their diets, like vitamin B12 and zinc.
How much does it cost to make homemade dog food?
A balanced, home-cooked diet for a 30lb dog typically costs $3.5 per day; $6 if you go organic. That’s 2 to 4 times the price of commercial dry dog foods of similar qualities.
Home cooking for your dog isn’t a new idea. Many people have been making meals for their dogs for years. But the increasing popularity of homemade dog food has caught the attention of pet food manufacturers and veterinarians alike.
A cost-benefit analysis
There are many benefits to home cooking, including knowing exactly what your dog is eating and avoiding ingredients such as preservatives and artificial colors that can be harmful to dogs’ health.
Homemade diets are also very useful in helping pets with certain medical conditions, especially diseases involving kidneys and the gastrointestinal tract, such as inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
When it comes to the most common killer of dogs — cancer — Dr. Becker points to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition that found “home-prepared diets may provide greater protection against cancer than do commercially processed diets.”
Can I mix homemade dog food with kibble?
Yes. Feeding commercial dog food is convenient, but it isn’t always the best choice for your dogs. However, if you want to mix homemade dog food with kibble, you will need to make sure that you are providing all of the nutrients that your dog needs.
You can create your own nutritious and tasty recipes to give them a more balanced diet and ensure they’re getting everything they need. And best of all – you’ll be able to include any supplements and ingredients you feel will benefit your dog’s health and well-being.
There are a number of recipes for cooking for dogs available on the internet and in books. Follow one of these recipes carefully to assure that the meals you are feeding are nutritionally complete.
Do dogs live longer on homemade food?
On average, dogs that eat a homemade diet live longer than dogs fed a commercial diet. Their owners spend less money on health care than other dog owners. Most of them like what they feed their dogs so much that they call it a “hobby” and recommend the homemade diet to their friends.
The lean dogs lived on average 18-24 months longer than the overweight dogs, according to one study.
There are many factors that contribute to longevity. We did not look at these factors in this study, but it is entirely possible that there are other aspects of a dog’s life that influence longevity besides body weight and food choice.
Essential Ingredients for Homemade Dog Food
Can I feed my dog raw meat from the grocery store?
Yes, dogs can eat raw meat. You just need to be careful about which meat you pick and how you handle it.
Not all types of meat are OK for dogs to eat raw. Meat with bones, like chicken wings or necks, is a bad idea because dogs can easily choke on them. And they can cause harm if they’re swallowed whole by puncturing internal organs. If you’re going to feed your dog raw chicken, choose boneless cuts like thighs or breasts instead of wings or necks.
Dogs are naturally carnivorous and need meat to survive. Not only is raw meat rich in protein, but it also contains vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that our dogs need. The fat content of raw meat can also be beneficial for their skin and coat health.
It’s important to only feed them certain kinds of raw meat from trusted sources.
Conclusion of “Is making your own dog food worth it?”
Making homemade dog food is not only a lot of fun, but it also gives you an opportunity to bond with your pet while learning how to make healthy and nutritious meals for them.
There are many different recipes available online for homemade dog food. You should try a few recipes before deciding which one works best for your dog’s needs. If you have any questions as to whether or not a certain ingredient is safe for your dog, talk to your vet.
If you’re going to use scraps and leftovers, then there are literally hundreds of recipes available online. These include everything from chicken and brown rice, to tuna and potato, to sweet potato and turkey. The only limit is your imagination!
Homemade dog food has several advantages over store-bought varieties:
No preservatives or other additives.
You can use human-grade ingredients, which are more expensive but healthier than those found in pet foods.
Better nutrient balance — you know exactly what goes into the mix, so you can adjust it as necessary for your dog’s age and health status.
If you want to make your own dog food, here are some tips:
Make sure your dog has a balanced diet. This can be done by using commercial dog food and supplementing with fresh foods or natural supplements.
Don’t feed your dog any table scraps or spoiled foods. This is unsafe for your pet and could lead to health problems down the road.
Never feed your dog homemade raw meat diets unless you have been trained on how to do so properly.
Always consult with your veterinarian before making any changes to your dog’s diet.
If you want to make a more traditional type of homemade dog food such as kibble or canned food then it is important that you follow the guidelines set out by AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials). These guidelines ensure that all manufactured foods meet certain minimum nutritional requirements which allow them to be marketed as complete diets for dogs.
Hannah Elizabeth is an English animal behavior author, having written for several online publications. With a degree in Animal Behaviour and over a decade of practical animal husbandry experience, Hannah's articles cover everything from pet care to wildlife conservation. When she isn't creating content for blog posts, Hannah enjoys long walks with her Rottweiler cross Senna, reading fantasy novels and breeding aquarium shrimp.
