Do Home Cooked Dog Meals Need Supplements? 2025 Vet Guide 🐶✨

By Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc

Cooking your dog’s meals at home is a beautiful way to show love—but even the most wholesome ingredients often fall short on key nutrients. Without proper supplements, your dog may develop silent deficiencies over time.

I’m Dr. Duncan Houston, veterinarian and founder of Ask A Vet. Here’s what every home-feeding pet parent needs to know about supplements, balance, and keeping your dog’s diet complete and safe.

❓ Why Aren’t Real Foods Enough?

• Even healthy ingredients like chicken, rice, and veggies lack essential micronutrients
• Home-cooked diets often miss calcium, zinc, vitamin D, vitamin E, iodine, and copper
• Over time, these deficiencies can lead to anemia, weak bones, poor immunity, or organ dysfunction

📊 Most Common Deficiencies in DIY Dog Diets

• Calcium (especially if no raw bones or eggshell powder added)
• Omega-3 fatty acids (unless fish or oils included)
• Vitamin D (only found in animal fat and some oils)
• Trace minerals like iodine, zinc, and copper

✅ Supplements I Recommend for Home-Cooked Diets

1. Complete Vitamin-Mineral Mix

• Balance IT® Canine – Designed by veterinary nutritionists
• Rx Essentials® for Dogs – Powder added to homemade meals
• JustFoodForDogs® DIY Nutrient Blend – Used with their recipes

2. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

• Fish oil (salmon or sardine oil), rich in EPA and DHA
• Supports joints, skin, heart, and brain function

3. Calcium Source (if no bones used)

• Eggshell powder (homemade or commercial)
• Calcium carbonate or citrate supplements

4. Probiotics & Digestive Enzymes

• Support gut health and nutrient absorption
• Especially helpful when transitioning diets

👶 Do Puppies or Seniors Need Different Supplements?

• Puppies: Should not be on a home-cooked diet unless formulated by a veterinary nutritionist
• Seniors: May need added joint support, fiber, and easier-to-digest meals

🚫 Supplement Mistakes to Avoid

• “Guessing” what to add based on blogs or influencer posts
• Over-supplementing with human vitamins (can be toxic)
• Assuming calcium is optional (it’s not)

🔬 What I Recommend as a Vet

• If you’re home-cooking long-term, use a professionally balanced recipe + supplement pack
• If you’re co-feeding with a balanced base (like quality kibble or raw), you may not need daily supplements—ask a vet to review your exact meals

🛠️ How to Know Your Dog’s Diet is Balanced

• Firm, regular stools
• Stable energy and weight
• Glossy coat, healthy skin, clear eyes
• Good blood test results and vitality over time

🔗 Tools from Ask A Vet

• Ask A Vet – Upload your dog’s home diet and get supplement recommendations based on breed, age, and weight

📋 Summary Excerpt

Home-cooked dog food needs the right supplements to stay complete and healthy. A vet explains what to add, how much, and what mistakes to avoid in natural feeding.

❓ FAQs

• Q: Do I need to add supplements if I cook for my dog?
  A: Yes. Most homemade meals lack calcium, omega-3s, and critical vitamins unless supplemented.
• Q: Can I use human vitamins?
  A: No. Human doses and formulas aren’t safe for dogs. Use pet-specific, vet-approved products.
• Q: What if I only cook a few times per week?
  A: That’s fine if the rest of the diet is balanced. But check with a vet to make sure the total weekly intake covers all bases.