Is homemade dog food safe? — Prohibited ingredients to remove and how to balance nutrition

DigestiveQ&AMeongsiljang Veterinary Advisory Board

Homemade pet food can be made with fresh ingredients, but it carries a high risk of nutritional imbalance and exposure to prohibited ingredients. Here are the key principles for feeding it safely.

What is homemade pet food, and why should you be cautious?

Homemade pet food ingredients are laid out on a wooden cutting board.

Homemade pet food is a home-cooked meal where you personally select, prepare, and cook the ingredients for your pet. The most critical aspect is nutritional balance. According to veterinary nutrition textbooks, pets need a consistent intake of not only protein, fat, and carbohydrates but also various essential nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, taurine, and essential fatty acids. A diet consisting primarily of meat can lead to calcium deficiency, while one focused mainly on carbohydrates may lack sufficient protein, potentially causing long-term health issues.

Is homemade pet food always better than commercial pet food?

Homemade pet food certainly has the advantage of being fresher and free from additives. However, veterinary nutrition textbooks point out that it is difficult to meet the "complete and balanced" standard. Commercial pet foods are formulated with nutrients calculated according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) or European standards, whereas with homemade diets, the caregiver must perform these calculations themselves. While feeding a homemade diet for a short period may be acceptable, providing a single recipe for several months or longer can lead to an accumulation of nutrient deficiencies or excesses.

Homemade pet food vs. commercial pet food at a glance

Item	Homemade Food	Commercial Dry Food	Commercial Wet Food
Freshness	Very high	Moderate	High
Nutritional Balance	Requires owner's calculation	Complete and balanced	Complete and balanced
Storage Convenience	Refrigeration · freezing required	Room-temperature storage OK	Refrigerate after opening
Palatability	Very high	Moderate	High
Cost	Ingredient cost + time	Moderate	High
Water Intake	Sufficient	Insufficient	Sufficient

Homemade food is safer as 'mixed feeding' alongside commercial food rather than fed alone

Prohibited ingredients you must never include

When making homemade pet food, the first thing you should memorize is the list of prohibited ingredients. Many of these can cause poisoning even in small amounts. - Onions, garlic, green onions, chives: Red blood cell destruction, hemolytic anemia - Grapes, raisins: Acute kidney failure - Chocolate, cocoa: Theobromine poisoning, heart abnormalities - Xylitol: Sudden drop in blood sugar, liver damage (be cautious with human food additives) - Macadamia nuts, walnuts: Neurological symptoms, vomiting - Avocado: Persin toxicity - Uncooked dough, alcohol: Gastric distension, poisoning

Warning image of foods that are forbidden for dogs and cats

Emergency situations — When your pet ingests prohibited ingredients

If you confirm your pet has ingested onions, chocolate, grapes, or xylitol, immediate action is required. Do not attempt to induce vomiting at home; instead, note the amount consumed, the time of ingestion, and your pet’s weight, then go to a 24-hour animal hospital right away. Even if no symptoms are present, organ damage can develop two to three days later, so a veterinarian’s assessment is essential. Do not delay visiting the hospital, even if some time has passed since ingestion.

Basic ratios for balancing nutrition

Based on standard adult dogs and cats, veterinary nutrition textbooks emphasize that a balanced homemade diet should include the following nutrient groups in appropriate proportions: - Protein (meat, fish, eggs): Both adult dogs and cats require adequate supplies of high-quality protein and essential amino acids. - Carbohydrates (brown rice, sweet potatoes, pumpkin): These should be included as an energy source, but excessive amounts can dilute the protein ratio. - Fats (including omega fatty acids such as fish oil): It is essential to provide necessary fatty acids like linoleic acid. - Vegetables (broccoli, carrots, zucchini): These supplement trace minerals and dietary fiber. - Calcium supplements (eggshell powder, commercial calcium supplements): Essential, as meat alone does not provide the correct calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. Cats have significantly higher requirements for protein and taurine than dogs, and they also require arachidonic acid to be supplied separately, making it particularly challenging to achieve nutritional balance with a single recipe.

Infographic on the Nutritional Balance Ratios for Homemade Pet Food

Cooking methods — Basic principles to aid digestion

When preparing meals, simplicity and gentleness are key. - Prioritize boiling and steaming: High-heat direct cooking methods like grilling or frying can degrade fats and lead to nutrient loss. - No seasoning: Salt, sugar, soy sauce, and gochujang (Korean chili paste) are strictly prohibited. - Remove all bones: Poultry bones, in particular, can splinter into sharp fragments that may damage the digestive tract. - Raw diets require professional guidance: Due to the risk of pathogenic bacterial infection, raw feeding should only be attempted under the supervision of a veterinary nutritionist. - Chop finely: For pets with sensitive stomachs, cutting food into small pieces reduces digestive strain. Use human-grade ingredients, but keep seasoning at zero.

Guide to commonly used safe ingredients

Safe

닭가슴살

고단백 저지방, 소화 쉬움

Dosage: 체중 5kg당 50~80g/일

수의 영양학 교과서 권장

Safe

연어

오메가-3, 피부·관절 건강

Dosage: 주 2~3회, 완전히 익혀서

Safe

단호박

식이섬유, 장 운동 개선

Dosage: 전체 식사의 10% 이내

Safe

달걀

완전단백질, 비오틴

Dosage: 소형견 주 2~3개

Caution

우유·유제품

칼슘 (단, 유당불내증 주의)

Dosage: 소량 테스트 후

Caution

간(liver)

비타민 A·철분

Dosage: 전체의 5% 이내

Storage and hygiene — Just follow these rules

Homemade pet food lacks preservatives, so it should be consumed within a short period. Store it in single-serving portions in the freezer, and always thaw it slowly in the refrigerator—thawing at room temperature can lead to a rapid increase in foodborne pathogens. When serving, warm the food only to a lukewarm temperature, and promptly remove any leftovers after feeding. For safety, keep cooking utensils separate from those used for human food.

Avoid homemade pet food in these cases

Homemade diets aren’t suitable for every pet. In the following cases, commercially available prescription diets are safer: - Chronic kidney disease or liver disease: Precise control of protein, phosphorus, and sodium is essential. - History of pancreatitis: Strict limitation of fat content is required. - Food allergies: Prescription diets with a single protein source are recommended. - Large-breed puppies during growth: The calcium-to-phosphorus ratio directly affects bone development. - Cats in general: Risk of taurine and arachidonic acid deficiency. In these situations, avoid using homemade food as the main diet. Instead, use it only as a topper mixed with prescription food.

Reviewed by a veterinarian

Dr. Tony — Punnawat Phongkittirak

Veterinarian

A veterinarian who majored in veterinary medicine at Khon Kaen University, Thailand, and completed the IVSA program at North Carolina State University in the United States. Drawing on clinical experience at animal hospitals, he works in the pet healthcare field and is dedicated to building a digital care environment that connects pet parents with veterinarians.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to feed only homemade food?

We don’t recommend feeding homemade diets exclusively over the long term. Veterinary nutrition textbooks point out that it’s difficult to meet complete and balanced nutritional standards with home-prepared meals. Commercial pet foods are formulated to meet the minimum and maximum nutrient levels set by AAFCO or undergo feeding trials, whereas homemade diets are prone to nutrient deficiencies or excesses. For this reason, a mixed-feeding approach that combines commercial pet food with homemade meals is safer from a nutritional balance perspective. The specific ratio should be determined in consultation with your veterinarian, taking into account your pet’s health status and the composition of the diet.

Can cats also be fed homemade food?

It’s possible, but much more complicated. Cats require taurine, arachidonic acid, and vitamin A—essential nutrients they can only obtain from meat—since, unlike dogs, they cannot synthesize these adequately on their own. Deficiencies can lead to serious heart and vision problems, so please consult your veterinarian before formulating any homemade diet.

How should I supplement calcium?

The easiest method is to use eggshell powder. Simply boil the shells, dry them, grind them into a fine powder, and mix it into your pet's meat. However, since the precise dosage depends on your pet's weight and overall diet composition, it is most accurate to follow the instructions on commercially available pet calcium supplements or consult with a veterinary nutritionist.

Is it okay to only give homemade food as treats?

Yes, that’s the least burdensome way to start. Treats that make up only a small portion of your pet’s overall diet won’t significantly affect nutritional balance. Simple treats made with ingredients like chicken breast, sweet potato, or pumpkin can be safely given as long as you avoid prohibited items. If you’re unsure about the appropriate proportion, consult your veterinarian.

Is a raw diet safe?

Because of the risk of pathogenic bacterial infections, it’s best to avoid this for pets with weakened immune systems or in households with young children. If you do decide to try it, be sure to follow a recipe formulated by a veterinary nutritionist and maintain strict hygiene practices.

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References

[1] Fascetti AJ, Delaney SJ. Applied Veterinary Clinical Nutrition, 2nd Ed - Chapter 8: Commercial and Home-Prepared Diets

[2] Ettinger SJ, Feldman EC. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Nutritional Management

[3] Little S. The Dog Care Handbook - Diet and Nutrition Chapter

Is homemade dog food safe? — Prohibited ingredients to remove and how to balance nutrition

What is homemade pet food, and why should you be cautious?

Is homemade pet food always better than commercial pet food?

Homemade pet food vs. commercial pet food at a glance

Prohibited ingredients you must never include

Basic ratios for balancing nutrition

Cooking methods — Basic principles to aid digestion

Guide to commonly used safe ingredients

닭가슴살

연어

단호박

달걀

우유·유제품

간(liver)

Avoid homemade pet food in these cases

Reviewed by a veterinarian

Dr. Tony — Punnawat Phongkittirak

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Guides

References