What are the benefits and drawbacks of making homemade pet food?
The benefits of making fresh homemade food for your pet include: -the ability to use fresh food ingredients, -an increased ability to select specific/desired ingredients, -an increase in palatability, -an increase in the food’s digestibility, and -an increased bonding experience with your pet. The drawbacks include: -the increased time for diet preparation, -a potential increase in cost depending on the ingredients used, and -and the increased risk of your pet developing a deficiency if the recipe is not followed precisely. Some commercial foods have also undergone Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) feeding trials that help to ensure that the nutrients in the food are bioavailable and that the animal remains healthy while fed the food. Because of the nature of homemade pet foods, they cannot undergo these types of feeding trials; therefore, the fact that they have not undergone animal testing is sometimes seen by some as an additional drawback.
