Most Homemade Dog Diets Lack Nutrients

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Courtney Price, Texas A&M University

edited by Lisa Lock, reviewed by Alexander Pol

Nov. 22, 2025

Over the last two decades, homemade diets have seen a rise in popularity among dog owners.

However, new research from the Dog Aging Project (DAP) reveals that most homemade diets are missing important nutrients that dogs need to lead healthy lives.

In the study, published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research, the team assessed the nutritional completeness of 1,726 homemade diets based on ingredients and preparation methods provided by dog owners.

"We found that only 6 percent of homemade diets had the potential to be nutritionally complete," said Dr. Janice O'Brien, a doctoral researcher at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech. "Since our study didn't include exact ingredient amounts, it's possible that a smaller percentage than 6 percent were nutritionally complete."

Diet information was gathered from open-ended survey responses from owners participating in the DAP, a collaborative initiative led by the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) and other institutions that studies the effects of aging and what makes a healthy canine life.

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READ MORE: Phys.org