Can I Do it Myself?

Yes! - though...

The thought of going shopping for ingredients and then carefully preparing a meal using whole foods for your dog may seem like the ultimate expression of devotion to your canine companion, but whipping up a meal that fully meets your dog’s nutritional needs is not quite as simple as it seems.

Dogs are Not People

Dogs and people have fundamentally different nutritional needs, so feeding your dog with homemade food is not as simple as sharing what you put on your own plate. To consistently create a fully-balanced and complete diet means understanding your dog’s breed, life stage and activity level as well as any health concerns. That can be complicated.

Home Recipes Inconsistent

According to a study conducted by the Davis School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, 95% of the dog food recipes they studied that were intended for home preparation were deficient in at least one essential nutrient. Getting the balance wrong can be dangerous. Poor nutrition in dogs can lead to anemia, itchy skin, weakened immune systems, bloody diarrhoea, poor growth, low energy levels, seizures, or compromised organ function.

It’s Complicated

There’s no magic bullet you can toss in the pot to ensure your dog is getting all the vitamins, minerals, fibre and macronutrients he needs to thrive. Yes, you can do some research and learn about the 37 or so nutrients your dog needs daily for optimum health. It’s possible to track down the amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and appropriate types of fibre, protein, fat, and carbohydrates he needs and prepare them appropriately. But how much time do you have? And are you willing to deal with the consequences if you get it wrong?

Watch Out for Toxins

While an occasional home-cooked meal likely won’t do your dog any harm (as long as you stay away from foods toxic to pets like avocados, some nuts, grapes, and garlic), prepared pet foods labelled as ‘complete’ are formulated by nutritional experts who ensure that your dog gets enough of the essential nutritional ingredients correctly balanced for optimal growth and vitality.

Check out our article on:

Common Human Foods are Toxic for Your Dogs

At Rawmate, we take pet nutrition seriously and work hard to provide top quality, delicious meals that are individually tailored and completely customised to your pet’s needs and which meet or exceed all nutritional requirements. For more information about optimising your dog’s diet, come visit our website, linked above!