Why Homemade?
Creating your dog or cats’ raw diet yourself offers you control and assurance. You can choose organic or free-range meats. You can choose your source and support local butchers or farms. It is far less expensive than the commercially-prepared raw diets. In general, they contain raw meat, bone, vegetables and possibly supplements. But, do you know how much? What proportions? Is there a proper amount of muscle meat versus bone? It is also essential to include a portion of organ meat in a raw diet.
According to Pat McKay, one of the pioneers of raw feeding, a dogs and cats require 75% meat, 25% vegetable in their daily meal. The breakdown of the 75% meat is 40% muscle meat, 20% organ meat and 15% fat. Pat McKay is an acknowledged leader in the development of the raw and fresh food diet, animal nutritionist, counsellor and author. Pat McKay is nationally recognized by animal health care professionals for her contribution to the raw food revolution for cats and dogs. She is the author of Reigning Cats and Dogs 4th revised edition.
If your dog or cat suffers from allergies and you are trying to eliminate certain proteins or other ingredients a homemade diet allows you the most amount of control.