Veterinarian Warning About Homemade Dog Food: Risks, Deficiencies, and Safer Choices

What the 2025 study actually measured

The Dog Aging Project study, published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research, reviewed 1,726 home-prepared diets that owners described in free text. Meat (90%) and vegetables (65%) were the most common ingredients, and 45% of owners mixed in some commercial food or topper. Researchers entered each ingredient list into a formulation tool designed by veterinary nutritionists; only 6% of diets had the potential to be complete under AAFCO adult maintenance standards.

The study did not laboratory-test the finished meals, and owners did not report exact amounts. As one of the researchers told Texas A&M, that means the true share of complete diets could be even lower than 6%.

Are veterinarians against homemade dog food?

No. University nutrition services — including Cornell’s — formulate home-prepared diets for dogs every day, especially for dogs with medical conditions or food intolerances. The concern is feeding an unbalanced recipe long-term, not cooking at home itself.

Why fresh ingredients do not guarantee complete nutrition

Ingredient quality and nutritional adequacy are different things. Fresh chicken, rice and carrots are wholesome foods, but together they still lack meaningful amounts of several nutrients dogs need daily. Tufts University’s nutritionists note that it is “nearly impossible” to meet every requirement from whole foods alone, without concentrated vitamin and mineral supplements matched to the recipe.

When homemade dog food may be appropriate

A home-prepared diet can be a reasonable choice when it is formulated for that specific dog — for example when no commercial diet suits a medical condition, when a dog refuses commercial foods, or when an owner strongly prefers fresh food and is willing to follow a recipe exactly. In each case, the recipe should come from a board-certified veterinary nutritionist or a tool they have built, and your regular veterinarian should know what your dog eats.

Calcium deficiency and the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio

Meat is rich in phosphorus but very low in calcium. Without a measured calcium source, a meat-heavy diet tips the ratio the wrong way. Cornell nutritionist Dr. Joseph Wakshlag describes calcium as “the most egregious deficiency” in home-prepared diets, one that can lead to pathologic fractures in puppies and weakened bones in adults (Cornell).

Growing puppies are the most vulnerable because their skeletons are developing quickly — and too much calcium can be harmful to them as well, particularly in large-breed puppies. That is why calcium has to be measured for the recipe, not guessed.

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies

Depending on the recipe, home-cooked diets can fall short in zinc, copper, iodine, selenium, magnesium, vitamin B12, vitamin D, vitamin E and choline. The UC Davis team warned that shortfalls in choline, vitamin D, zinc and vitamin E in particular “could result in significant health problems such as immune dysfunction, accumulation of fat in the liver and musculoskeletal abnormalities.”

Essential fatty acids and amino acids

Plenty of protein does not guarantee the right balance of essential amino acids, and a diet can contain fat yet lack essential fatty acids such as linoleic acid and the omega-3s EPA and DHA. The type of oil matters: Texas A&M’s nutritionists point out that simply switching oils can change whether a recipe is complete.

Why dogs can develop problems even when they appear healthy

Many deficiencies develop slowly. A dog can eat eagerly, keep a glossy coat and seem energetic for months while body stores are being used up. By the time signs appear — poor growth, skin problems, weakness or bone changes — the deficiency may have been present for a long time. A good appetite is not proof of a complete diet.

What can happen if deficiencies continue?

Effects depend on which nutrients are missing, by how much, and the dog’s age. Possible consequences include weak or fracture-prone bones, poor growth in puppies, skin and coat problems, reduced immune function, muscle weakness and fatty liver changes. Not every deficient diet causes every problem — but the risk rises the longer an unbalanced diet is fed.

Why veterinarians sometimes recommend chicken and rice temporarily

For mild diarrhoea or stomach upset, a veterinarian may suggest a short bland diet of boiled, skinless chicken or lean meat with white rice. These foods are easy to digest and give the gut a rest (Cornell). Tufts gives a common short-term example of about two parts cooked white rice to one part cooked chicken breast — but only when your veterinarian agrees it suits your dog (Tufts).

Why chicken and rice is not a complete long-term diet

Plain chicken and rice is low in calcium and lacks adequate amounts of several vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. Cornell states that bland diets like this “are not safe to feed long-term because they have an incomplete nutritional profile.” Tufts adds that a day or two will not cause deficiencies, but feeding it for weeks to months “can cause serious harm.”

Can dogs eat cooked chicken every day?

Plain, boneless, thoroughly cooked chicken can be part of many dogs’ daily food — for example as a small topper on a complete commercial diet, or as one ingredient in a properly formulated recipe. Chicken alone is not a complete diet. If chicken becomes a large share of daily calories, the rest of the diet has to make up what it lacks.

Can I feed my dog chicken, rice and vegetables every day?

Adding vegetables makes the bowl look more balanced, but it does not correct the main gaps. Vegetables supply some vitamins and fibre, yet not enough calcium, zinc, vitamin D, choline or omega-3s to fix a chicken-and-rice base. For daily, long-term feeding, use a recipe formulated with the specific supplements your dog needs.

Cooked vs. raw chicken for dogs

The AVMA discourages feeding raw or undercooked animal-source protein to dogs because it can carry Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria, E. coli and other pathogens. Dogs that look healthy can still shed these bacteria and infect people — especially young children, older adults, pregnant people and anyone with a weakened immune system. Cooking chicken thoroughly reduces that risk, but it does not make the recipe nutritionally complete.

What if my dog has been eating chicken and rice for weeks or months?

Do not panic, and do not switch foods overnight. Book a veterinary appointment, bring a written description of exactly what your dog has been eating, and ask about a gradual transition to a complete diet. If your dog needed a bland diet because of repeated digestive upsets, Cornell notes that parasites, food intolerance, pancreatitis and other conditions may be involved — so the cause is worth investigating.

Foods that can be toxic

Grapes and raisins, xylitol, chocolate and caffeine, onions and garlic, macadamia nuts and alcohol can poison dogs. Watch for hidden sources: xylitol in sugar-free products and some peanut butters, onion or garlic powder in broths, gravies and seasoned leftovers, and raisins in baked goods.

Foods that can cause illness or physical injury

Raw yeast dough can expand in the stomach. Very fatty or salty foods can cause digestive upset and, with fat, may contribute to pancreatitis. Cooked bones can splinter, and corn cobs and fruit pits can lodge in the throat or intestines.

Safe foods still need preparation and portion control

Many plain foods — cooked lean meat, plain rice, carrots, green beans, apple slices without seeds — are fine in small amounts. Serve them unseasoned, remove seeds, cores and pits, and keep treats and toppers to a small share of daily calories so they do not unbalance the main diet.

What makes a homemade recipe complete and balanced?

Formulation starts from the dog’s energy needs (based on weight, age, activity and body condition), then balances protein and essential amino acids, fat and essential fatty acids, and roughly 40 vitamins and minerals against standards such as the AAFCO nutrient profiles. Puppies, pregnant and nursing dogs, seniors and dogs with disease all have different targets.

Why generic internet recipes can be misleading

Tufts nutritionists list common red flags: recipes that let you swap meats freely (“2 cups of chicken or beef or lamb”), recipes with no vitamin and mineral supplement, and vague instructions such as “add a human multivitamin” (Tufts). The UC Davis study found that even most recipes written by veterinarians had at least one deficiency; the four written by board-certified veterinary nutritionists were all adequate.

What a professionally formulated recipe should include

A trustworthy recipe gives you:

• Exact ingredients and weights in grams (not cups or “handfuls”), including the specific cut of meat.
• How each ingredient is prepared and cooked — boiled, baked, with or without skin.
• The dog it was designed for: life stage, target weight, and any health considerations.
• The specific vitamin, mineral and fatty-acid supplements, by product and amount.
• Daily feeding amount and calories, plus storage instructions.
• Clear guidance to follow the recipe exactly and when to have it reviewed.

Why you should not substitute ingredients casually

Swapping chicken thigh for breast, sweet potato for white potato, or one oil for another changes calories and nutrients — sometimes dramatically. Leaving out the supplement because the dog “seems fine” removes the very nutrients the recipe was built around. Texas A&M’s Dr. Katie Tolbert puts it simply: “Nothing is considered a ‘filler’ that you can leave out.”

Why this guide does not include a recipe

A single published recipe cannot be complete and balanced for every dog — calorie needs, life stage and health differ too much. Rather than offer a recipe that might be fed long-term without the right supplements, we point you to sources that formulate recipes for your individual dog (see the next two sections).

What is Balance It?

Balance It is a US company founded by Dr. Sean Delaney, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist (DACVIM, Nutrition) and former clinical nutrition faculty member at UC Davis (Balance It). It offers a free online recipe builder for healthy adult dogs and puppies, and sells vitamin-mineral supplements designed to complete home-cooked recipes. For pets with medical conditions, the company requires veterinary approval before showing a complete recipe.

In the 2025 Dog Aging Project study, researchers used Balance It to check whether owners’ diets could be complete. Tufts’ nutrition team also lists it as “one good resource” for owners of healthy dogs who want to home-cook.

Does adding a vitamin and mineral supplement make any recipe complete?

No. A supplement has to match the specific recipe and the specific dog. Sprinkling a generic pet multivitamin or calcium powder onto an unbalanced meal can leave some nutrients short and push others too high. Tufts notes that a home-cooked diet may need a dedicated veterinary supplement — or several human supplements — chosen for that recipe.

How to use a formulation tool responsibly

Enter your dog’s details accurately, use the exact ingredients the tool lists, weigh portions, include the supplement in the specified amount, and do not change the recipe without re-running it. Tell your veterinarian what you are feeding, and bring the recipe to check-ups.

When to consult a board-certified veterinary nutritionist

Seek an individual consultation for puppies, pregnant or nursing dogs, and any dog with a medical condition such as kidney, liver, gut or skin disease, diabetes or food allergies. The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) certifies veterinary nutrition specialists in North America, and many offer remote consultations through your veterinarian. If your dog is pregnant, see also our guide to how long dogs are pregnant.

American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)

The AVMA’s guidance focuses on food safety. Its policy on raw diets discourages feeding raw or undercooked meat, poultry, fish, eggs and unpasteurised milk to dogs, and its safe-handling advice covers handwashing, cleaning bowls, and refrigerating leftovers promptly.

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

Cornell’s “Re-evaluating your dog’s diet” lists over-reliance on chicken and rice among the most common feeding mistakes, and recommends either a commercial diet certified as complete and balanced for the dog’s life stage, or working with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist on a home-prepared plan.

American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)

The 2021 AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines state that most recipes in books and on websites — “even those written by veterinarians” — do not provide complete and balanced nutrition. AAHA recommends a consultation with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, following the recipe exactly as written, and updating it annually because supplements change.

Where to find Cornell University dog food recipes

Cornell does not publish one-size-fits-all recipes. Its Clinical Nutrition Service formulates complete home-prepared diets for individual dogs, usually through a referral from your veterinarian with medical records. A recipe designed for one dog’s kidney disease or allergy may be wrong for a healthy dog — or a dog with a different diagnosis.

How to judge a dog nutrition source

Prioritise university veterinary hospitals, board-certified veterinary nutritionists, peer-reviewed studies and recognised veterinary organisations. Be cautious with anonymous social-media recipes, sites selling a single product as a cure-all, and any recipe that does not say who formulated it or for which dog.

Signs that deserve a veterinary visit

Book an appointment if you notice ongoing vomiting or diarrhoea, unexplained weight loss or gain, poor growth in a puppy, a dull or flaky coat, hair loss, reduced energy, reluctance to walk, limping, or changes in appetite. These signs have many possible causes, so they cannot confirm a nutritional problem on their own — but they should be checked.

When to seek urgent care

Go to a veterinarian or emergency hospital immediately for collapse, seizures, breathing difficulty, severe weakness, repeated vomiting with a very unwell dog, a swollen hard abdomen, or any suspected poisoning.

How veterinarians assess a dog’s diet

Expect questions about exactly what, how much and how often your dog eats, plus a physical exam with body and muscle condition scoring. Blood or urine tests and imaging may be used when signs point to a specific problem. No single blood test can rule out every possible deficiency, which is why a detailed diet history is so important.

Choose a complete and balanced diet for your dog’s life stage

For commercial food, look for a nutritional adequacy statement that says the food is “complete and balanced” for your dog’s life stage, based on AAFCO nutrient profiles or AAFCO feeding trials (FDA). Foods labelled for “intermittent or supplemental feeding” are not meant to be the whole diet (WSAVA). For home cooking, get a recipe formulated for your dog.

Weigh ingredients and add supplements exactly

Use a kitchen scale in grams, cook ingredients the way the recipe says, and add the specified supplements every time. Write down the recipe and keep it with you — Tufts found that most owners drift from their recipe within a year, often without realising it.

Store and handle food safely

Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds after handling pet food, clean bowls and utensils with hot soapy water, and refrigerate leftovers promptly at 40°F (4°C) or below (AVMA). Freeze batch-cooked portions you will not use within a few days, and thaw them in the fridge.

Monitor weight and body condition

Weigh your dog regularly and ask your veterinarian to score body and muscle condition at check-ups. Adjust portions — not the recipe’s balance — if your dog gains or loses weight, and tell your vet about the change.

Review the recipe periodically

Have the recipe reviewed when your dog changes life stage, develops a health condition, or when a supplement product changes — AAHA suggests at least once a year.

The takeaway: homemade food can be a good option, but a nutritionally complete recipe matched to your individual dog matters far more than how fresh or how many ingredients go into the bowl.