Home Made Pet Food: Safe, Vet-Balanced Guide for Dogs & Cats (2026)
Homemade pet food can be healthy, but only when the recipe is complete and balanced. A UC Davis study found that 95% of 200 homemade dog food recipes lacked at least one essential nutrient. The safest approach is a recipe from a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, followed exactly, with the supplements it calls for.
Home made pet food appeals to many pet parents who want fresh ingredients and more control over what goes in the bowl. This guide explains the real risks, how dog and cat needs differ, how to get a safe recipe, which ingredients to leave out, and how to store and switch over without upsetting your pet's stomach.
Talk to your vet first. If your pet has kidney, liver, heart or skin disease, allergies, diabetes or is still growing, ask your veterinarian before changing the diet. If your pet eats something toxic, call your vet, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (a consultation fee may apply).
Key takeaways
- Most pet food recipes found online or in books are not nutritionally complete.
- Recipes from board-certified veterinary nutritionists met all standards in the UC Davis study.
- Cats need a separate recipe with added taurine; never share one recipe between species.
- Follow the recipe exactly, including supplements, and don't swap ingredients.
- Store it like human food: about three days chilled or one to two months frozen.
In this guide
Homemade Pet Food: The Short Answer
Homemade pet food isn't good or bad on its own. What matters is where the recipe comes from and whether you stick to it. Here is how the main options compare.
| Option | Nutritional balance | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Complete, balanced commercial food | Formulated to meet a pet's needs | Most pets and most households |
| Homemade food from an online or book recipe | Often missing key nutrients | Not recommended |
| Homemade food from a veterinary nutritionist | Balanced for your pet, if followed exactly | Owners with time, budget and commitment |
| Raw homemade food | Bacteria risk; balance depends on the recipe | Not recommended by the CDC |
In short, cooking for your pet can be a good choice, but it takes more planning than most people expect.
Why Most Online Pet Food Recipes Fall Short
The biggest risk with homemade pet food is a recipe that looks healthy but isn't complete. In a 2013 study, UC Davis researchers analyzed 200 dog food recipes from books, websites and veterinary texts and found that 95% were short on at least one essential nutrient. Only 9 met the AAFCO minimums for adult dogs. The four recipes written by board-certified veterinary nutritionists all passed.
Even a good recipe can drift. Tufts researchers reported that only 13% of owners followed their pet's recipe exactly. Swapping ingredients, skipping supplements or eyeballing amounts may seem minor, but small changes can add up over months.
Homemade Dog Food vs. Homemade Cat Food
Dogs and cats need different home-cooked diets, and homemade cat food is harder to get right. According to AAHA, a 2019 study of published cat recipes found that none of the 94 recipes analyzed provided every essential nutrient an adult cat needs, and 78.7% didn't include a taurine supplement. Taurine is an essential nutrient that cats must get from their diet.
| Need | Dogs | Cats |
|---|---|---|
| Nutrients often missing in recipes | Choline, vitamin D, zinc and vitamin E (UC Davis) | Choline, iron, thiamine, zinc, manganese, vitamin E and copper (AAHA) |
| Special requirement | Correct minerals from the supplements the recipe lists | Added taurine in the recipe |
| Risk of too much of a nutrient | Possible with guesswork | 45.7% of cat recipes exceeded safe limits for some nutrients |
| Same recipe for both? | No | No |
Because of these differences, never feed your cat a homemade dog recipe, or the other way around. Each species, and often each individual pet, needs its own formula.
How to Get a Safe Homemade Pet Food Recipe
The safest homemade pet food starts with a professional recipe. AAHA recommends a board-certified veterinary nutritionist as the best option and notes that many offer consults by telemedicine. Follow these steps:
- Start with a vet visit. Your vet can check weight, health issues and any diet-related needs.
- Get a custom recipe. Ask for a referral to a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. If that isn't possible, AAHA lists the free Balance IT tool as a next-best option.
- Buy the exact supplements listed. Many balanced recipes call for added calcium and a vitamin-mineral mix.
- Weigh ingredients on a kitchen scale. Cups and guesswork can lead to drift over time.
- Don't swap ingredients without asking the nutritionist first.
- Recheck regularly. Book weigh-ins and ask whether the recipe needs updating as your pet ages.
A note on "vet approved" recipes online: Many sites label homemade dog food recipes as vet approved, but a veterinarian's name on a blog post doesn't mean the recipe is complete. In the UC Davis study, most recipes written by veterinarians still missed at least one nutrient. A recipe written for your pet by a nutrition specialist is the safer route.
For a dog-specific walkthrough, see our guide on how to prepare healthy dog food at home, and for daily amounts read how much home-cooked food to feed a dog.
Ingredients to Keep Out of Your Pet's Bowl
Some everyday kitchen foods are unsafe in homemade pet food. The ASPCA lists these among the people foods to keep away from pets:
| Ingredient | Why it's a problem |
|---|---|
| Onions, garlic and chives | Can damage red blood cells; cats are more sensitive |
| Grapes and raisins | Can damage a dog's kidneys |
| Xylitol (a sweetener) | Can cause very low blood sugar and liver damage |
| Chocolate and coffee | Contain stimulants that affect the heart and nerves |
| Macadamia and other nuts | Can cause weakness, tremors or stomach upset from fat |
| Raw meat, raw eggs and bones | Bacteria risk; bones can injure or block the gut |
| Excess salt | Can cause thirst and salt toxicity |
| Raw yeast dough | Can expand in the stomach and produce alcohol |
Seasonings are easy to forget. Store-bought broths, gravies and spice blends can contain onion, garlic or salt, so cook your pet's food separately and plainly.
What about raw diets? The CDC advises against feeding raw pet food to dogs and cats because it can carry germs like Salmonella and Listeria that can spread to people. Our guide to the pros and cons of raw dog food covers the debate in more detail.
Kitchen Safety and Storage Tips
Homemade pet food is perishable, so handle it like your own meals. The FDA advises washing your hands for 20 seconds or more with soap and hot water before and after handling pet food, and washing bowls and utensils after each use.
Kitchen safety checklist
- Cook meat and eggs fully and let food cool before serving.
- Keep your fridge at 40°F or below, as the FDA advises.
- Store cooked batches about three days in the fridge or one to two months in the freezer, per AAHA.
- Portion and label each container with the date.
- Throw out food left in the bowl at room temperature, as the CDC advises.
- Don't use your pet's bowl as a scoop.
How to Switch Your Pet to Homemade Food
A sudden change in diet can upset your pet's stomach, so move to the new diet gradually, over several days or as your vet advises. Mix a little of the new food into the old, then increase it step by step while watching appetite, stool and energy. Our guide to switching your dog's diet safely explains the signs to watch for.
- Weigh your pet before you start and every couple of weeks after.
- Keep a simple log of meals, weight and any vomiting or diarrhea.
- Call your vet if your pet refuses food, loses weight, or has ongoing stomach upset.
Short on time? Our guide to fresh, human-grade dog food explains a middle-ground option between kibble and full homemade cooking.
Example scenario (illustrative)
Hailey in Portland wants to cook for her 50-lb Labrador mix, Juniper, and her senior cat, Miso. She first tries a chicken-and-rice recipe from a blog, then learns it lacks key nutrients. Her vet refers her to a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, who writes two separate recipes, one for each pet, with specific supplements. Hailey cooks weekly batches, weighs every ingredient and freezes labeled portions.
Questions to ask your vet or nutritionist
- Is a home-cooked diet a good fit for my pet's age and health?
- Which supplements does the recipe need, and which brands do you trust?
- Which ingredients can I safely swap if something is out of stock?
- How often should we recheck weight and bloodwork?
- What signs mean the recipe isn't working?
Homemade Pet Food: FAQs
Is homemade pet food better than store-bought?
Not automatically. A complete, balanced commercial food is designed to meet a pet's needs, while most homemade recipes found online fall short. Homemade pet food can work well when the recipe comes from a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and you follow it exactly.
Can I make one recipe for both my dog and my cat?
No. Cats have different needs from dogs, including taurine, and a 2019 study cited by AAHA found that none of 94 published cat recipes met all of an adult cat's nutrient needs. Each pet needs its own balanced recipe.
What supplements does a homemade diet need?
Many balanced recipes need added vitamins and minerals, such as calcium and a vitamin-mineral mix, because meat, grains and vegetables alone often fall short. The exact products and amounts should come from your pet's recipe, not guesswork.
How long does home-cooked pet food last?
AAHA advises treating it like food for people: about three days in the refrigerator or one to two months in the freezer, depending on how well it is sealed. Throw out anything left in the bowl at room temperature.
Where can I get a vet-approved homemade recipe?
Ask your veterinarian to refer you to a board-certified veterinary nutritionist; AAHA notes many offer telemedicine consults. If that isn't possible, AAHA lists the free Balance IT tool as a next-best option.
Is it safe to make raw food at home?
The CDC advises against feeding raw pet food to dogs and cats because it can carry germs such as Salmonella and Listeria, which can also make people sick. Cooked recipes from a nutritionist are a safer choice.
Is homemade pet food cheaper?
It depends on the recipe, your pet's size and local food prices. Fresh meat, supplements and a nutritionist consult add up, so cooking at home may not be cheaper than a quality commercial diet.
Final Verdict: Is Homemade Pet Food Worth It?
Homemade pet food can be a healthy choice, but only when the recipe comes from a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and you follow it exactly. Most online recipes fall short, cats need their own taurine-supplemented formula, and raw food carries extra risks. Cook safely, store batches properly, switch gradually, and keep regular vet checkups.
Your next steps
- Ask your vet for a referral to a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.
- Explore more nutrition guides in our pet food center.
- Buy a kitchen scale and freezer containers before your first batch.
Share your pet's mealtime photos with our Facebook community.
About the author — Written and reviewed by the Pets Store Home Editorial Team: pet owners and animal lovers who check every guide against trusted US veterinary and animal-welfare sources. This article is general information, not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Always talk to your veterinarian about your own pet's health.
How we checked this guide: Recipe adequacy comes from the UC Davis study published in JAVMA (2013) and AAHA's summary of research on dog and cat recipes; recipe adherence from Tufts researchers; unsafe foods from the ASPCA; and food handling and storage from the CDC, FDA and AAHA. We review this article every 12 months, or sooner if guidance changes.
Last reviewed: October 2026.
Sources
- UC Davis, Homemade Dog Food Recipes Can Be Risky Business, Study Finds (2013) (accessed October 2026)
- AAHA, Homemade Pet Food Guidance (accessed October 2026)
- Tufts Your Dog, Yes, But Are You Following the Recipe? (accessed October 2026)
- ASPCA, People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets (accessed October 2026)
- CDC, About Pet Food Safety (accessed October 2026)
- FDA, Tips for Safe Handling of Pet Food and Treats (accessed October 2026)
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