How do dogs’ nutritional needs differ from ours?

In a study of homemade foods, over 90% of them were found to be unbalanced and incomplete.*

• Animals of different species have very different nutrient requirements, and they are especially different from those of humans. Making food for your dog is not the same as making food for yourself or your kids.
• Our food does not meet the needs of the dog, because it has a different balance of nutrients, which can cause health problems as a result. For example, for proper metabolism, it is necessary to maintain a balance of calcium and phosphorus with a predominance of the former.**
• Never give your dog raw meat. Cooking raw meat in one way or another is an important part of cooking in humans. Equally important is the preparation of meat in the production process and animal feed. Raw meat often contains bacteria such as salmonella, listeria, and even E. coli, which can be very dangerous to animals and their caregivers. At the same time, small children, the elderly and people with a reduced immune status can become seriously ill.††

*Small Animal Clinical Nutrition IV Edition, page 169. *Small Animal Clinical Nutrition IV Edition, page 310. †Small Animal Clinical Nutrition IV Edition, page 30. ††FDA Notice, December 18, 2002.