10d • Nutrition
Homemade Diets & Doing Them Safely (Let’s Talk About Balance)
A lot of pet parents choose homemade diets because they care deeply about what goes into their pet’s body.
That intention matters.
But when it comes to nutrition, good intentions still need good balance. Let’s talk about homemade diets — and one tool vets often recommend to help do them more safely.
Why Homemade Diets Can Be Tricky
Cooking for your pet feels straightforward — protein, carbs, veggies, done… right?
The hard part is that dogs need:
very specific calcium-to-phosphorus ratios
essential vitamins and trace minerals
nutrients that aren’t obvious or visible
consistency over time
Many nutritional deficiencies don’t show up right away.
They build slowly, which makes them easy to miss.
“But My Pet Looks Great…”
Totally hear this — and it’s common.
Pets can look healthy, have great coats, have normal energy
…while still being nutritionally unbalanced under the surface.
Nutrition issues are often silent until they aren’t.
Where Balance IT Comes In
Balance IT is a website often recommended by veterinarians and veterinary nutritionists for pets eating homemade diets.
What it does:
Helps calculate recipes based on your pet’s needs
accounts for vitamins and minerals most recipes miss
provides supplements to balance home-cooked meals
allows customization for medical conditions (with vet guidance)
It’s not about taking cooking away from you — it’s about making it complete.
Why Supplements Matter in Homemade Diets
Even well-researched recipes often fall short in:
*calcium
*zinc
*iodine
*essential fatty acids
*certain B vitamins
Balance IT helps fill those gaps — because food alone usually can’t.
Important Clarification
Using Balance IT does not replace:
Veterinary guidance
Medical oversight
Nutrition consults for complex conditions
But it does offer a much safer starting point than guessing or internet recipes.
Homemade diets aren’t “bad.” Unbalanced diets are the problem.
If you’re cooking for your pet:
You’re already invested
You already care
This is about refining, not criticizing
Nutrition is medicine — and balance is part of that.
💬 Community Discussion
Are you feeding a homemade or partially homemade diet?
What questions do you have about balance, supplements, or working with your vet on nutrition?
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Homemade Diets & Doing Them Safely (Let’s Talk About Balance)
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