A study conducted by researchers with the Dog Aging Project assessed 1,726 homemade feeding plans prepared by dog owners and found that most of these diets lack essential nutrients. The research, which aimed to evaluate the nutritional completeness of these homemade diets, was led by the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, with contributions from several other institutions.
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According to Janice O’Brien, DVM, a PhD student at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and a co-author of the study, only 6% of the homemade diets were determined to be nutritionally complete. She noted that the percentage could be even lower, as the study did not include specific ingredient quantities.
The dietary information was collected through an open-ended survey of dog owners participating in the Dog Aging Project. This data was input into a tool called Balance It, which helps pet owners formulate nutritionally complete diets compliant with FDA and Association of American Feed Control Officials recommendations. The study found that the most common ingredients in these diets included meat (90%) and vegetables (65%), with nearly half of the respondents supplementing their homemade diets with commercial food products.
Previous research by O’Brien indicated that a significant portion of home-prepared diets are not balanced, with around 25% classified as partially balanced and 52% as unbalanced. The popularity of homemade dog diets has increased in the last 20 years, prompting warnings from experts about the responsibility that comes with preparing pet meals at home.
Katie Tolbert, DVM, PhD, an associate professor at Texas A&M, emphasized the importance of consulting a board-certified veterinary nutritionist when formulating homemade diets. She cautioned that deviations from prescribed recipes can lead to nutrient imbalances. Adding necessary vitamins and minerals is crucial, with particular emphasis on calcium to avoid serious health issues such as weakened bones.
Tolbert also highlighted the risks of certain ingredients, including toxic foods like grapes and potential hazards from feeding dogs whole bones. She recommended that dog owners follow recipes strictly and consider laboratory testing of homemade diets to ensure they meet nutritional standards.
The researchers concluded that veterinarians should carefully assess the home-prepared foods reported by pet owners and utilize various resources to help owners choose appropriate maintenance diets.