Many pet owners are thinking about feeding their dog or cat a homemade diet. This can be for numerous reasons, whether they are concerned about the safety of commercial pet food or they simply want to offer their pet a variety at mealtime.

Feeding a homemade diet is only for the most dedicated of pet owners. Some people say that cooking for your pet is a “no-brainer”. Other people say that cooking for your pet is a very complicated and labor-intensive process.

No matter who you listen to, there's some important factors to take into consideration before embarking on this path. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before getting started.

Am I willing to invest the time and money necessary to prepare my pet’s meals?

The bottom line is: cooking for your pet requires more time and money on your part. Think about how much time and money you spend preparing meals for yourself and your human family. Are you willing to do this for your pet too?

Careful consideration must be made when selecting recipes, shopping for ingredients, and choosing supplements. It’s not as easy as searching online for a recipe. The majority of recipes you find for free on the Internet are inadequate when fed for long periods of time and are not formulated by someone trained in veterinary nutrition.

A pet owner should only consider recipes that have been formulated and balanced by veterinarians trained specifically in the field of animal nutrition. Spending a little extra money to have recipes formulated for your pet’s unique nutritional requirements is beneficial and provides peace of mind.

A group of veterinarians at http://www.petdiets.com offer such a service.

Do I understand that if for some reason I’m no longer able to prepare my pet’s meals that he will have a difficult time switching back to commercial pet food?

Donald Strombeck, DVM, PhD, author of Home-Prepared Dog and Cat Diets—The Healthful Alternative, states that many pets develop an intolerance for commercial pet food after being fed a home-prepared diet.

Am I willing to make additional visits to the veterinarian to ensure that my pet remains in good health?

Pets that eat a homemade diet should be brought in for regular veterinary exams at least two to three times per year to ensure they are not experiencing any nutrient deficiencies or excesses. These visits may involve the cost of routine blood and urine tests or x-rays.

Am I willing to accept the risks involved in feeding my pet a homemade diet?

There are potential short-term and long-term risks involved with feeding pets a homemade diet, especially if the owner decides to omit ingredients that supply the pet with essential levels of vitamins and minerals. Clinical signs may not occur until the pet has been fed the inadequate diet for an extended period of time—several months or in some cases several years later.

Remember that certain table scraps should never be feed to pets. Gravy, meat fats, and poultry skin can cause serious digestive upset. There is also the potential for pancreatitis, a life-threatening disease, to occur. Bones can also splinter when chewed and have the potential to cause intestinal blockages and perforations.

Other ingredients that should not be fed to pets include chocolate, raisins, grapes, onions, garlic, avocados, coffee, macadamia nuts, salt, tea leaves, raw yeast dough, and xylitol, a common sweetener found in baked goods, gum and candy.

Who will prepare meals for my pet should I become ill or go on vacation?

Pet owners should instruct a friend or family member on how to properly prepare the pet’s diets.

Many pets do very well eating homemade pet food, and some do not. But then again, the same can be said for commercial pet food. Owners who are considering feeding their pet a homemade diet should always consider the validity and nutritional training of those recommending a particular diet or recipe.

If you’re certain you want to cook for your pet, consult first with your veterinarian and do plenty of research on the topic, both online and offline.

Amanda K. Jones is a licensed veterinary technician and e-book author. She has had several articles published in professional veterinary journals and is a Tails, Inc. Magazine Furry Forum Expert.

If you're a pet owner interested in feeding your pet a homemade diet or are looking for more information on basic pet food nutrition, you may be interested in Amanda's FREE 8-Week Course on Dog and Cat Nutrition.