As we see great debates about chemicals in the food we eat, you may also be asking Is Homemade Dog Food Healthier For Your Dog? The answer is pretty simple. Yes. When using quality organic ingredients you will usually find a fresh diet made by yourself for your pet is healthier for your dog.
Is Homemade Dog Food Healthier For Your Dog?
Lack of preservatives and chemicals. Mass producing dog food requires a lot of unhealthy preservatives to be included so the food does not spoil. Homemade food will not last as long, but when made in small batches, or even large batches and portioned for the freezer it is much safer and has far fewer non food elements. Organic produce, whole grain rice and grass fed or antibiotic free meats can be cooked and frozen into portion sized to pull out each day and feed your dog. Treats can be made in bulk batches an frozen as well to pull out and use as needed for rewarding your dog for good behavior.
Easier to eliminate allergy causing foods. Many dogs are found to have food allergies that make feeding traditional pet foods to them much more difficult. From gluten intolerance to peanut, dairy or corn allergies dogs can have reactions just like their owners could. By homemade food healthier for your dog you are able to control exactly what they are eating and will know if allergens are present. It is much easier to create an elimination diet for your dog when you make your own food for them.
Much more cost effective. If your pet needs a special diet high in vitamins or simple to avoid allergies, making your own food can be much more cost effective. Buying ground turkey, chicken, rice, peas, carrots and eggs to create your own simple dog food is much less expensive than the pricey brands found in pet stores. Homemade pet treats using things like almond flour, sweet potato and oats are inexpensive and cost effective homemade dog foods they will love.
Yes, homemade dog food is healthier for your dog on many levels. If you are able to take the time to prep food each week, or make in large batches you can freeze and pull out to use as needed this is a great way to give your dogs a healthier stomach, coat and skin. Check with your veterinarian prior to switching to a homemade dog food diet to make sure you are avoiding any allergies that could cause issues later on. Also, make sure to be careful about ingredients that are known to be problems for dogs in general.
i think homemade anything is better because you control the ingredients and know your individual situation. dogs should eat REAL food, like us.
I want to try and make my own homemade dog food soon.
Even with the high cost of premium dog foods I’m surprised it’s more cost effective to make your own. Preservation is the biggest issue for me – I could only find the time to make it once every few weeks – I’d worry about spoilage.
I have enough dogs, there is never enough to worry about. But, you can freeze it. Once made, just freeze in whatever quantities you need 🙂 As far as cost, I would suppose it depends on what you feed. I tend to avoid the low cost dog foods because of all the fillers.
I don’t know, I would worry more about bacteria, etc. I really don’t know.
Yes, I have always considered homemade dog food healthier than processed food. Thank you for sharing this post.
I dont have any pets but if i did these tips would be very useful
I would think so, it would be healthier than store bought dog food.
I’ve heard a lot about this – but I haven’t jumped on that bandwagon yet – we do our best to do lots of research and get the best our there for our pups.
Thank you for the post. I agree that homemade dog food is healthier. Even expensive high quality kibble and canned food is still highly processed. I’d rather know what cuts and kind of meat my dog is eating….not by-products that could be anything.
Very interesting article. Sometimes I think homemade is better for them
I believe that homemade is so much better than bought dog food. There are so many artificial ingredients in bought food but when you make your own you know exactly what they are going to be getting.
I have always wanted to make my dog his own food and now that I’m a stay at home mom I have a little more time to! Since we are trying to limit our artificial preservatives in the food we eat, it’s only fair that we do so for our dog, too.
I do think it is a lot healthier but since working as a vet tech, I see people make the mistake of not putting the correct nutrients in eat. Most of the people just did Chicken or chicken and rice and that is not a proper diet. So as long as it is done correctly, it is healthier.
That is great thanks for the good tips on making your own dog food
It’s not that hard to cook either. It sounds daunting but it’s not.
No it is not better
For me Yes, We have dogs here and I prefer that our dogs will eat homemade dog foods! It is more healthier and definitely safe!
I have made homemade dog food before. It’s better for the dog and saves on spending money on dog food you buy.
I am surprised that making Homemade dog food can be less expensive. What I like about the premium dry dog food we use now is that there is no worries.
Thanks for the article! I need to look into this!
Oh absolutely!! And sometimes better for your piece of mind too!! Not so many recalls and additives to worry about!
I would love to have homemade dog food, but it is expensive to make for me and I am not a good cook. I think the benefits are so good to have a homemade dog food for my dog.
Working in the vet field, I have seen too many times when people feed their dogs home-made food that does NOT contain the right nutrients. It can cause MAJOR health problems long-term. If one is going to go this route, they need to talk to a veterinarian who specializes in nutrition to get a homemade recipe tailored to their pet. For the average person, who is not going to take time to find and pay a vet nutritionist, packaged food is a much better option for their dogs. The companies have made sure that the correct amount of nutrients are in it.
Our pup is on a special diet for Urinary issues, wish I could make my own food.