The growing trend of pet humanization has fueled demand for alternative diets such as raw and cooked homemade-style dog foods. To assess their suitability, Choi and colleagues (2023) analyzed 11 such diets available in Korea, evaluating their compliance with the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutritional standards.
While all diets met crude protein and amino acid requirements, significant shortcomings emerged. One product failed to meet crude fat standards, and deficiencies were widespread in key minerals: selenium (90.9%), copper (45.5%), zinc (45.5%), potassium (27.3%), calcium (27.3%), iron (18.2%), and magnesium (9.1%). Additionally, six diets displayed imbalanced calcium-to-phosphorus (Ca:P) ratios, which are critical for skeletal health. Omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratios were also outside recommended ranges in several cases, raising concerns about long-term metabolic and inflammatory balance.
Although three products (26.2%) satisfied nearly all AAFCO requirements apart from selenium, the majority fell short. These findings highlight the need for accurate nutritional adequacy labeling and validation of alternative dog foods before being marketed to consumers. Without proper regulation and oversight, dogs fed exclusively on such diets may be at risk of mineral deficiencies, skeletal issues, and imbalanced metabolism.
The study underscores that while homemade-style diets appeal to owners seeking “natural” feeding, ensuring scientifically validated formulations is essential for canine health and well-being.
Source: Choi, B., Kim, S., & Jang, G. (2023). Nutritional evaluation of new alternative types of dog foods including raw and cooked homemade-style diets. Journal of Veterinary Science, 24. Published August 7, 2023.
