The Pros and Cons of Homemade Pet Food
Our furry friends deserve the absolute best. In recent years, many pet owners have sought out homemade or freshly made dog food for man’s best friends. However, homemade pet food still comes with some limitations like any other pet food. Before you pamper your pooch with anything that is homemade, check out our list of the pros and cons to make sure it’s a good fit for your four-footer.
What Is A Homemade Diet For Dogs?
When pet owners refer to a homemade diet for dogs, they usually mean freshly prepared meals made from scratch with “human-grade” ingredients. This includes items such as fruit, vegetables, fresh meat, eggs, and fish.
There are several variations within the homemade pet food diet space, including diets consisting of only meat or more versatile dieting options.
While homemade diets can be amazing for dogs, they also need to be executed in a balanced and informed way to be beneficial. Here are a couple of pros and cons that come with opting for homemade pet food.
Pros:
You Know Exactly What Your Dog Is Getting
Homemade dog food is great because you know exactly what your dog is eating. Your pooch is likely to enjoy their mealtime even more than they already do with the addition of fresh, home cooked meals.
Can Be Helpful With Allergies or Weight Loss
If your dog struggles from allergies or needs to lose weight, you might be expending a lot of effort already to find a food that works for his needs. By making homemade pet food, you can control the recipe so that it’s safe, delicious, and nutritious for your furry best friend.
Fewer Preservatives and More Variation
Nothing is more tasty and beneficial health-wise than getting nutrients straight from the source! Homemade pet foods ensure that your dog is getting fresh, filler-free food and also helps build a varied diet in most cases. However, note that a homemade diet doesn’t always equate to a healthy one.
Not Always More Expensive
Depending on your dog’s needs, homemade pet food can be cheaper than a store bought alternative. If you love to cook, creating homemade pet food can be another way to express your love and appreciation for your dog.
Cons:
You’ll Need To Engage In A lot of Research
In order to keep your dog healthy, you’ll need to cater to their individual diet needs which requires a lot of detailed research on your end. You’ll want to work closely with your veterinarian to make sure your dog is staying healthy when experimenting with a homemade diet.
Can Get Expensive
Homemade dog food isn’t always more expensive than kibble or pre-made dog food, but it can be, especially if you have a larger pooch. You can always do a trial week of homemade food and track your budget before committing to a homemade plan wholeheartedly.
Inconvenient
In order to make homemade dog food, you’ll have to set aside a good chunk of time, at least every week, to prepare your pup’s meals. On top of that, it can be difficult to travel with homemade dog food. Even if you don’t take your dog with you on vacation, you’ll need to pre-make meals for your pooch ahead of time or show your dog sitter how to prepare your dog’s meals.
As you can see, homemade pet food can work for some four-footers and not for others. If you do choose to make pet food at home, make sure you’re keeping your veterinarian in the loop just to make sure that Fido is getting all the nutrients he needs to keep his tail wagging! Bone-appetit!
