Question
I am interested in getting my dog on a more natural diet.
I've been wondering whether homemade dog food is safe and healthy for my dog.
Which specific vitamins & minerals should I ensure are included to be as healthy and well-balanced as possible?
Answer
Dogs are not pure carnivores and so do need a certain percentage of vegetable matter in their diet, but the majority of the diet should still be meat and with a little variation in the type of meat. About 20% of the remainder of the diet should have some vegetables in it.
From the meat perspective, you want to have a decent mix of organs, muscle, skin and fat roughly in proportion to what they'd get from prey or scavenging. The meat that you use, though, should be meat that is fit for human consumption (even if we don't want to eat it). The vegetable mix can include things like squash, lettuce, carrots, cabbage, and similar, don't use carbs.
A good source for more detail, along with some recipes to help you get started at Dog Training Central or at Know Better Pet Foods.
As with any diet, you should very carefully monitor the health of your friend as you transition his diet, pay particular attention for any signs of gas, vomiting, or other unusual behaviour such as lethargy.
Answered By - Joanne C