Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

Can my dog get all the nutrition she needs from homemade food?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Will my dog get enough nutrition if I cook for her instead of buy comercial good?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Bette Isacoff

Dog Trainer

Published on February 4th, 2017

Probably not. It is very difficult to calculate the proper amounts of essential nutrients, which a good quality commercial dog food will have. There is really no reason to cook food for your dog, but if you are determined, there are nutritionists who can help you to formulate a healthful diet--they should be PhD level practitioners, however.

Vote icon

4Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Image profile

    Answered By Catherine Stecyk

    Veterinarian

    Published on July 8th, 2018

    Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Homemade diets are very difficult to make properly and ensure your pet is getting the correct nutrients and vitamins. If you insist on cooking homemade food for Bode, I recommend consulting with a Veterinary Nutritionist to determine a recipe for home cooked food. They will be able to determine exactly what nutrients and vitamins Bode needs based on his age, breed and lifestyle. Dogs do not have the same nutritional needs as humans, so his diet should be created by a veterinary nutritionist. Lastly, there is nothing wrong with feeding commercial dog food diets. In fact, the large brand names (Hills, Purina, Pedigree, Beneful, Blue Buffalo) do a significant amount of research to ensure their diets are complete and balanced. This makes it less time consuming, safer (and cheaper) for pet owners to feed their pets. I hope this is helpful!

    Vote icon

    2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Image profile

    Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 22nd, 2017

    Hi Gwennie! Great question! Yes, homemade diets can be fed, provided that they are properly balanced. Balancing diets can be a very tricky balance of obtaining the correct amounts of vitamins and minerals. If you choose to cook for your new dog, be sure to use a recipe and supplements from a reputable source, such as www.balanceit.com, which was developed by the veterinary nutritionists at the UC-Davis vet school. If you will be adopting a puppy, I would consider feeding a commercially available puppy food for the first year of life because it is nearly impossible to properly formulate a home-cooked diet for growth. I hope this helps and good luck with your new dog! :-)

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

See More Answers
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Sponsored