Dog owners have different opinions when it comes to homemade dog diets. Whether a dog owner chooses to feed the dog a raw food diet or make cooked food, there are certain essential ingredients that should be included in homemade dog diets.

The contents of commercial dog food are vastly different than natural dog diet. Commercial dog food contains thirty to seventy percent carbohydrates even though a dog naturally eats less than thirty percent.

A dog owner can make a homemade dog diet to match a dog’s natural diet. One way that they can do this is to feed the dog a diet that contains thirty percent or less of carbohydrates.

Rice, grains, and starchy vegetables are examples of carbohydrates that can be included in a dog’s diet. Carbohydrates should be cooked since dogs have difficulty digesting many of them.

Protein and fat are very important components of a dog’s diet. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, a dog’s diet should be up to fifteen percent fat for adult dogs and twenty percent fat for puppies.

Protein is so important for a dog’s diet that if a dog does not get enough protein it can die. The protein content of a dog’s diet should be approximately twenty-five percent.

Some examples of protein for a homemade dog diet are chicken, turkey, lamb, and beef. Liver may be used, but a dog should not eat too much liver.

Many homemade dog diets contain some fresh, chopped vegetables. Many dog owners believe that their dogs need a significant amount of fiber. Dogs do not necessarily need fiber, but some fiber can be beneficial for digestion and maintaining proper body weight.

Grapes, chocolate, mushrooms, raw eggs, raisins, and raw fish are examples of foods that a dog should not eat. A veterinarian can answer questions about the nutritional needs for a specific dog. Some homemade dog diets are made especially for dogs that are pregnant or have health concerns.