Homemade Dog Food Red Flags: How to Spot Unsafe or Unbalanced Recipes

With more free dog food recipes appearing in books, blogs, and on social media, it can be tough for dog parents to know which ones are trustworthy.

Some creators sound confident and credible, making it even harder to spot mistakes that could lead to nutrient deficiencies or long-term health problems.

This guide will help you navigate those recipes with confidence by explaining the biggest red flags to watch for — and why they matter.

1. “Feed Raw or Cooked” With No Adjusted Measurements

Raw and cooked ingredients do not weigh the same.

If the recipe uses identical weights for both raw and cooked versions, it cannot be accurate.

For example, cooked meats lose water and shrink, so the recipe becomes much more nutrient-dense. This can throw off calories, protein, fat, and minerals.

2. No Statement on Whether Ingredients Are Raw or Cooked

A recipe should always specify:

• Raw weight

• Cooked weight

• Percent fat for meats

• Type of cut used

If this clarity is missing, you cannot reliably follow the recipe.

3. Volume Measurements Instead of Weights

“1 cup of chicken” or “1 scoop of rice” is not precise.

Volume changes dramatically based on how finely the food is chopped, how tightly it’s packed, or how much moisture is present.

Safe recipes use grams or ounces, not cups.

4. No Fat Percentage or Meat Cut Listed

There is a huge nutritional difference between:

• Ground beef (unknown fat%)

• Ground beef, 10% fat

• Ground beef, 20% fat

Recipes must specify the fat content because fat affects calories, energy density, and how the dog tolerates the meal.

5. Grains Not Identified Clearly

A proper recipe must tell you:

• Raw or cooked weight

• Brown or white rice

• Type of grain (oats, barley, millet, etc.)

• Preparation (soaked, rinsed, cooked)

Different grains cook differently and absorb different amounts of water, and they all have varying calories and micronutrients.

6. Swapping Main Ingredients Without Guidance

“Use beef instead of turkey” or “swap lamb for chicken” is a major red flag.

These proteins differ widely in:

• Fat content

• Amino acid balance

• Minerals (like zinc, copper, selenium)

• Calories

You can’t rotate or substitute main ingredients without recalculating the recipe.

7. Supplement Instructions Missing Key Details

This is one of the biggest problems in DIY recipes.

Examples of risky supplement instructions:

• “1 tsp kelp” — iodine content can vary widely between brands

• “Add fish oil” — no EPA/DHA amounts listed

• “Add magnesium” — no form or mg amount stated

• “Add cod liver oil” — vitamin A & D levels vary drastically

Safe recipes always list:

• Exact form of each supplement

• Exact mg, IU, or mcg

• Specific brand or linked example

8. No Calorie Information or Feeding Guidelines

A recipe with no calorie count leaves dog parents guessing — which can lead to:

• Unintended weight gain

• Weight loss

• Nutrient intake that’s too low or too high

All recipes should include:

• Calories per batch

• Bonus for feeding guidelines for different dog weights

9. No Statement of Life Stage (Puppy vs Adult)

Puppies have dramatically different nutrient requirements than adults.

A recipe must clearly state if it is intended for:

• Adult dogs

• Puppies

• Growth for large-breed puppies (special requirements)

If it doesn’t say, avoid it.

10. No Statement on Whether the Recipe Is Balanced

This is the most critical red flag.

A safe recipe must state whether it meets:

• NRC nutrient guidelines (gold standard)

• Or AAFCO requirements

Many Instagram, other Social Media groups / Pinterest recipes are based only on “percentages,” which is not the same as nutrient requirements.

A recipe can be 50% meat, 25% veggies, and 25% carbs — and still be deeply deficient in calcium, copper, zinc, iodine, manganese, choline, and more.

Final Thoughts

Homemade food can be healthy — and wonderful — when formulated correctly.

But many free recipes circulating online are missing critical details, which can lead to nutrient deficiencies over time.

If you’re unsure whether a recipe meets your dog’s needs, I’m always happy to help you review it or create a balanced, personalized plan.