3 Reasons to Cook Your Own Dog Food

Like most people who have eyed the price tag of a new bag of dog food, you may have considered making your own. You may also be familiar with the idea that doing so can be much healthier for your dog and not as difficult as many think.

From your dog’s perspective, there are three major benefits to fresh food. For starters, it can be more palatable – even the fussiest of eaters will appreciate your efforts. You also have control over what goes into each meal so you can include higher-quality ingredients, like more protein or a greater variety of dog-safe fruits and vegetables. Beyond that, no stabilisers are needed, so your dog won’t be consuming synthetic preservatives.

3 reasons to make DIY dog food

1. With the right tools, it’s easier than you think

The variety of readily available kitchen tools, tech-driven devices and affordable chef-grade supplies makes canine meal prep easy. Electric pressure cookers, air fryers and food processors all make the job of food preparation easier, more precise, and more efficient.

2. It can save you money

If you’re feeding your dog generic pet food, it may be hard to beat what you spend on dog food. But if you’ve committed to premium food or one of the newer freshly made, home-delivered meal solutions, there’s a good chance that you’ll be able to lower spending on your dog’s food bill. And if you like to hunt for supermarket bargains and/or have a vegetable garden, you’ll be surprised at just how much money you’ll be able to save.

3. It’s better for your dog’s health and wellness

Is fresh homemade food better for dogs? Well, it’s no secret that most processed pet food suffers from a variety of quality issues. In order to mass-produce it and meet legal safety requirements, ingredients are cooked at very high temperatures to kill bacteria and pathogens. But because this process neutralises the ingredients’ natural goodness, including the vitamins and minerals that benefit your dog, manufacturers have to add in supplements to replace what has been lost. Balanced homemade dog food can be much better for your dog.

Good news (and a few minor caveats)

So, is fresh homemade dog food worth it? First, let’s disprove some major misconceptions. Home-cooked meals can absolutely be nutritionally balanced and complete. While it’s true that dogs require a balance of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals, this can all easily be included at home. And despite the common belief, changing a dog’s diet does not have to be hazardous. Most dogs can tolerate some variety or at least subtle variations of food. Introducing home-cooked components to your dog’s diet as toppers, a small secondary meal, or a combination of fresh food and dry food will give you a way to ease into a home-cooked regime.

However, there are a couple of caveats. Like people, some dogs are sensitive to specific ingredients, most often protein sources, which is why it’s a good idea to start with a simple ingredient list. If your dog develops itchy ears, excessive scratching or diarrhoea (or other signs of stomach upset), it will be easier to identify the culprit. Additionally, if your dog is a senior, a puppy, or has a medical condition that requires a particular food regime – for example, pancreas or kidney issues – it’s best to consult with a nutritionist to devise a recipe plan.

Outside of these scenarios, cooking our dogs’ meals can be one of the most meaningful actions we can take to benefit their health and well-being. Plus, it’s very satisfying. Unlike human family members, our dogs never complain that their food isn’t picture-perfect or that it’s overcooked or too bland. Rather, they appreciate the extra-fresh ingredients, care and love put into each bite.

Disclaimer alert: this article is here to share information and should not be taken as fact or medical advice. Always talk things over with your vet when making decisions, and use your best judgement.