Feeding and Nutrition, Nutrient Requirements of Dogs, Homemade diets, Home-prepared meals.

Homemade Diets

Over the past decade, many people have begun to prepare their dogs' food themselves rather than rely on commercial products. They may do this because the dog has a health problem that requires a special diet or because they believe that home-prepared meals contain higher-quality ingredients. Homemade food can be raw or cooked. Raw diets are popular because they're thought to be more natural, thus better at meeting a dog's nutritional needs. It’s also important to handle raw meat carefully to prevent bacterial contamination. Wash your hands and mixing bowls and utensils thoroughly after handling raw meat.

The downside to a homemade diet is that you need to be very careful to ensure that you are providing your puppy with all the required nutrients. It also takes a lot of time, effort, and energy to cook a proper diet for your dog on a daily basis.

Those that are in favor of a homemade diet believe that commercial dog foods contain contaminated and unhealthy ingredients and feel that it is worth the effort to give their puppy a home-cooked meal. If you have the time and the money and believe that it is important to feed your dog a homemade diet, consult your veterinarian, who can give you nutritionally balanced recipe. Although millions of dogs exist and stay healthy on commercially prepared dog food, the choice is yours.