Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Home-prepared diets for dogs often lack full nutrition and vary widely
By Janice S O'Brien et al.·Published in American Journal of Veterinary Research·2025·View original on Semantic Scholar →
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Original publication title: Findings from the Dog Aging Project: home-prepared diets for companion dogs feature diverse ingredients, and few are nutritionally complete.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Many dog owners are preparing homemade meals for their pets, but a recent study found that only a small percentage of these diets are nutritionally complete. Out of 1,726 home-prepared diets analyzed, most included ingredients like meat and vegetables, but only 6% met the nutritional standards set for adult dogs. This means many dogs might not be getting all the nutrients they need from their homemade meals. If you're considering a home-cooked diet for your dog, it's a good idea to consult with your veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist to ensure your pet's diet is balanced and healthy.
People also search for: homemade dog food nutrition · is my dog's diet complete · best ingredients for dog meals
Abstract
Objective To qualitatively describe the home-prepared diets of dogs enrolled within the Dog Aging Project cohort and to evaluate the overall potential for the diet to be complete when possible. Methods Free-text responses provided from January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023, by dog owners were evaluated by 2 independent coders to describe dietary ingredients in this observational study. Five independent coders input ingredients into a website for pet owners that was designed by veterinary nutritionists to determine the overall completeness of diets. Results Overall, 1,726 home-prepared diets were composed of a range of ingredients, which may include meat and organs, vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts and seeds, and added oils. The most common dietary ingredients were meat (90%) and vegetables (65%). Nearly half (45%) of owners added some form of commercially prepared diet or base/topper to supplement the home-prepared ingredients. Only 6% of these diets were potentially nutritionally complete according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials adult dog maintenance standards. Conclusions The composition of home-prepared diets varied substantially in terms of ingredients, and few are likely to be nutritionally complete. Clinical Relevance Veterinarians collecting diet history information should take care to fully examine the home-prepared diets reported by owners and use a variety of tools, including consultation with board-certified veterinary nutritionists (diplomate of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine-Nutrition), to assist owners in the selection of a maintenance diet.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Semantic Scholar: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/40865554