How to Create a Balanced Diet for Your Dog at Home

In the modern day and age, where time is the biggest luxury, most pet owners go with dried or freeze-dried food for quick and effortless preparation. Of course, you can also opt for healthy fresh food subscriptions like Pawy and have our expert veterinarians and nutritionists come up with a customised plan for your dog. But is it possible to achieve a balanced homemade dog diet on your own? The answer is yes. If you’re looking to cut costs and do some meal prepping in advance, you can prepare balanced meals for your dog at home. You just need to be aware of the risk of contamination, as well as the nutritional value required for a balanced meal for your dog. It can be a bit tricky at the beginning, which is why our experts will explain how you can get it done.

What Does a Balanced Dog Diet Mean?

The term “balanced nutrition for dogs” has long been the subject of debate among pet owners. It’s especially important if you’re going to be preparing homemade food for your furry friend. Every dog needs a balanced mix of these essential nutrients:

• Proteins

• Carbs

• Fats

• Vitamins 

• Minerals

As you probably already know, most of these are found in foods you come in contact with every day. However, that doesn’t mean you can simply modify your own meals to make them appropriate for your pet. It’s essential to consider variety and portioning to ensure that your dog gets a suitable amount of nutrients at the right time. 

Therefore, if you plan to prepare pet food by yourself, it’s advisable to consult a veterinarian or pet nutritionist first. Additionally, you should also consider European balanced nutrition standards (FEDIAF) and/or the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), depending on your location. 

It’s the safest way to learn about essential nutrients, ingredients, and their nutritional value, all of which are necessary for balanced and healthy fresh meals. Major pet food brands like Pawy adhere to these standards. 

Safe Ingredients to Use and Which to Avoid

If you’re going to be making your pet’s meals from here on out, make sure to use fresh ingredients for dogs. Focus on sourcing quality meats, grains, and vegetables, and base your search around those ingredients. 

At Pawy, we’re dedicated to providing the best quality of food for your furry friend, whether we’re the ones making the meals or not. 

Here’s our recommendation for the safest fresh ingredients to use:

• Proteins – Slow-cooked lean meats such as beef, chicken, and turkey. You can also add thoroughly cooked and deboned fish. 

• Vegetables – Leafy greens like spinach or kale, root veggies like carrots and sweet potatoes, and a wide range of other veggies such as beans, peas, and broccoli. 

• Grains – Rice, oats, and foods like quinoa are all healthy for balanced, fresh food meals.

• Fats – Fish or coconut oil can be added for essential fatty acids and healthy fats.

• Supplements – You can add supplements such as calcium, vitamins, and probiotics for balance and improved digestion.

Bear in mind that there are some ingredients you should avoid when it comes to home-cooked dog food. Below is a list of foods that are either unhealthy or potentially dangerous for your pet:

• Sweets – Items like chocolate and other sugar-infused foods can be unsafe for dogs. Even fruits such as grapes and raisins can be fatal, as they can cause kidney failure in dogs.

• Avocado – Avocado can be harmful for dogs, as it can trigger conditions such as chronic diarrhea.

• Alcohol – You should avoid alcohol even in trace amounts, as it can be fatal for dogs and cause blindness.  

• Onions and garlic – These veggies are not safe for pet dogs because they cause gastrointestinal problems.

• Some tree nuts – Macadamia nuts and other tree nuts can negatively impact your pet’s nervous system.

Sample Meal Ideas and Planning Tips

The key to providing your beloved pet with healthy and balanced meals lies in weekly rotation. Our tip is to always switch between different options, as it leads to a higher nutritional variety and reduces the risk of your dog developing food sensitivity.

It’s best to provide your pet with just the right mix of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Switching between different food types also helps reduce digestive problems. If your dog has already been on a regular meal prep schedule, you can break that monotony by introducing new foods in small portions every couple of days.

On top of that, think about how you store fresh and homemade dog food, as this can be crucial. Fresh ingredients need to be refrigerated at a temperature below 40°F. It’s best if you use sealed food containers to prevent the food from going bad prematurely. Plus, it’s extremely important to properly clean those containers afterwards to prevent mold and bacteria from developing.

Additionally, make sure you regularly check your dog’s weight and overall body condition, as well as general health, while on a meal prep schedule. If you notice any skin irritation, itching, or weight-related issues, you should refer to a veterinarian for meal customisation. 

Conclusion

Preparing your dog’s food can be a challenge, but it’s definitely one of the best decisions you can make to support your pet’s health. Of course, you first need to learn about the key aspects, such as the risk of contamination and other health-related risks. Those risks become even bigger when you’re using raw dog food, so make sure you’ve done your homework before giving it a go. 

Another thing to keep in mind is the rather high cost of maintaining a healthy and homemade dog food schedule. At Pawy, we use the same high-quality ingredients that you would use yourself when making homemade meals. If you’re on a tight schedule or if you’d simply like more free time to play with your furry friend, you can entrust our expert veterinarians and nutritionists with this task. We deliver fresh, high-quality food to your doorstep at the best possible price.