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How to Make & Balance Homemade Dog Food

Making homemade dog food can be a rewarding way to provide your pet with fresh, high-quality nutrition. This guide will walk you through creating balanced meals that meet AAFCO guidelines.

Why Make Homemade Dog Food?

Many pet owners choose homemade diets for their dogs because they want to:

  • Control the quality and source of ingredients
  • Accommodate food allergies or sensitivities
  • Provide variety and fresh food
  • Avoid preservatives and additives found in some commercial foods
  • Have more control over their pet's nutrition

Important Note

Homemade diets require careful formulation to ensure they're complete and balanced. Simply feeding your dog "human food" or random combinations of ingredients can lead to nutritional deficiencies or excesses that can cause serious health problems.

Essential Components of Balanced Dog Food

Protein (40-60%)

Chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, fish, eggs, organ meats

Fat (10-20%)

Meat fat, fish oil, flaxseed oil

Carbs (20-40%)

Brown rice, sweet potatoes, oats, quinoa

Vegetables (10-15%)

Carrots, green beans, peas, broccoli

Vitamins & Minerals

Often requires supplementation

1. Protein (40-60% of calories)

Protein is essential for muscle maintenance, growth, and overall health. Good protein sources include:

  • Animal proteins: Chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, fish, eggs
  • Organ meats: Liver, kidney, heart (in moderation - organ meats are nutrient-dense)
  • Dairy: Plain yogurt, cottage cheese (if your dog tolerates dairy)

AAFCO Requirement: Adult dogs need at least 45g of protein per 1000 calories. Puppies need at least 56.3g per 1000 calories.

2. Fat (10-20% of calories)

Fat provides energy and essential fatty acids. Sources include:

  • Fat from meat (chicken fat, beef fat)
  • Fish oil (rich in omega-3 fatty acids)
  • Flaxseed oil
  • Coconut oil (in moderation)

AAFCO Requirement: Adult dogs need at least 13.9g of fat per 1000 calories. Puppies need at least 22.2g per 1000 calories.

3. Carbohydrates (20-40% of calories)

While dogs don't strictly require carbohydrates, they can be a good source of energy and fiber. Good sources include:

  • Brown rice, white rice
  • Sweet potatoes, regular potatoes
  • Oats, quinoa
  • Pumpkin (also great for fiber)

Note: Carbohydrates should be cooked to improve digestibility.

4. Vegetables (10-15% of recipe)

Vegetables provide vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Good options include:

  • Carrots, green beans, peas
  • Broccoli, spinach, kale (in moderation)
  • Zucchini, squash
  • Bell peppers

⚠️ Toxic Foods

Never feed onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, or avocados to your dog. These are toxic and can cause serious health problems.

5. Vitamins & Minerals

This is where homemade diets often fall short. Essential vitamins and minerals include:

  • Calcium & Phosphorus: Critical for bone health. The ratio should be between 1:1 and 2:1
  • Vitamins A, D, E: Fat-soluble vitamins essential for various bodily functions
  • B-complex vitamins: Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, and others
  • Minerals: Zinc, iron, copper, manganese, selenium, iodine

Many homemade diets require supplementation to meet all vitamin and mineral requirements. This is why working with a veterinary nutritionist is so important.

Step-by-Step Guide

1

Calculate Your Dog's Caloric Needs

Before creating recipes, know how many calories your dog needs per day based on weight, age, activity level, spay/neuter status, and health conditions. Pawprint Kitchen automatically calculates this when you create a pet profile.

2

Plan Your Recipe Structure

A balanced recipe typically follows: 40-50% Protein, 10-15% Fat, 25-35% Carbohydrates, 10-15% Vegetables, plus supplements as needed. These percentages are by weight, not calories.

3

Select High-Quality Ingredients

Choose human-grade meat (not pet-grade), fresh vegetables (avoid canned with added salt), whole grains, and organic options when affordable.

4

Prepare Ingredients Safely

  • Cook all meat thoroughly to kill bacteria
  • Cook carbohydrates to improve digestibility
  • Chop or puree vegetables for better absorption
  • Store properly - refrigerate 3-5 days or freeze
5

Analyze Nutritional Content

Use Pawprint Kitchen's nutrition analysis to check if your recipe meets AAFCO guidelines. Enter all ingredients, select your dog's life stage, and review the analysis to see which nutrients need adjustment.

6

Address Nutritional Gaps

Most homemade diets need supplementation. Common supplements include calcium, multivitamin/mineral, omega-3 fatty acids, and probiotics. Never guess at supplementation - work with a veterinary nutritionist.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Insufficient calcium: One of the most common issues. Meat is high in phosphorus but low in calcium
  • Too much organ meat: While nutritious, limit to 5-10% of the diet
  • Feeding raw meat without proper handling: Raw diets require extra care to prevent contamination
  • Not accounting for cooking losses: Some nutrients are lost during cooking
  • Using human vitamin supplements: Human supplements may contain ingredients toxic to dogs
  • Assuming "natural" means balanced: Natural ingredients don't automatically create a balanced diet

Sample Recipe Structure

For a 30-pound adult dog (approximately 800 calories/day):

  • 300g cooked chicken (protein source)
  • 100g cooked brown rice (carbohydrate)
  • 50g cooked sweet potato (carbohydrate + fiber)
  • 75g mixed vegetables (carrots, green beans, peas)
  • 15g chicken fat or fish oil (fat source)
  • Calcium supplement (as recommended by vet/nutritionist)
  • Multivitamin/mineral supplement (as recommended)

Note: This is just an example structure. Actual recipes must be analyzed and adjusted based on your dog's specific needs and AAFCO requirements.

When to Consult a Professional

You should always work with a veterinary professional when creating homemade diets, but it's especially important if:

  • Your dog is a puppy (growth requires precise nutrition)
  • Your dog is pregnant or nursing
  • Your dog has health conditions (kidney disease, diabetes, allergies, etc.)
  • Your dog is a large or giant breed (specific nutritional needs)
  • You're new to homemade diets
  • Your dog shows signs of nutritional deficiencies

Consider working with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist who can create a custom recipe tailored to your dog's specific needs.

How Pawprint Kitchen Can Help

Calculate caloric needs

Based on your pet's profile

Track ingredient nutrition

Using our comprehensive database

Analyze recipes

Against AAFCO guidelines

Plan meals

And generate shopping lists

Learn more about how we calculate nutrition.

Important Disclaimer

Veterinary Consultation Required

This guide provides general information about creating homemade dog food, but it is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Homemade diets can be nutritionally incomplete or imbalanced if not properly formulated, which can lead to serious health problems.

Always consult with your veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist before starting a homemade diet, making significant changes to your dog's diet, determining supplement dosages, or addressing nutritional concerns.

Get Started

Ready to start creating balanced homemade meals for your dog? Create a free Pawprint Kitchen account and use our tools to analyze and balance your recipes.

Have questions? Check out our FAQ or contact us.