Homemade diets are prepared from scratch by owners using whole food ingredients. While they offer full control over ingredients, they require careful formulation to ensure nutritional completeness and balance.
✓
Benefits
Full control over ingredient quality and sourcing
Avoids artificial additives and preservatives
Can be tailored exactly to a dog's health needs
Fresh, minimally processed ingredients
⚠
Risks & Considerations
Nutritional imbalance is common without expert guidance
Time-consuming to prepare properly
Risk of bacterial contamination if handling is poor
Requires consultation with a veterinary nutritionist
Who Is This Diet Suitable For?
dogs with multiple food allergies owners with time and nutritional knowledge dogs whose conditions require highly customised nutrition dogs with poor response to commercial foods
Feeding Guidelines by Dog Size
These are general guidelines for the Homemade diet. Always adjust portions based on your dog's individual weight, activity level, and life stage. Consult your vet before making significant changes to your dog's diet.
Size
Weight Range
Cups Per Day
Feeding Frequency
Small
up to 10 kg
Calculated by vet nutritionist based on recipe cups
2 meals
Medium
10–25 kg
Calculated by vet nutritionist based on recipe cups
2 meals
Large
25–45 kg
Calculated by vet nutritionist based on recipe cups
2 meals
Giant
45 kg+
Calculated by vet nutritionist based on recipe cups
2-3 meals
Cups are a rough guide based on standard 8 fl oz measuring cups. Always follow the manufacturer's label for calorie-dense or prescription formulas.
Recommended Brands
The following brands are well-regarded within the homemade category. Look for products where a named protein source appears as the first ingredient.
N/A — consult a board-certified veterinary nutritionist
Use BalanceIT or PetDiets.com for recipe formulation
Top Picks: Homemade Dog Food
Dog Food
Homemade Dog Food — Top Pick
A leading homemade formula with high-quality protein as the first ingredient. Suitable for adult dogs across all sizes. Full control over ingredient quality and sourcing.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Supplement
Digestive Support Supplement
Probiotics and digestive enzymes to complement a homemade diet. Helps maintain gut balance, especially during dietary transitions. Helps offset: nutritional imbalance is common without expert guidance.