As a mobile vet, I meet many owners who are passionate about what goes into their pet’s bowl. In fact, many of my clients are already preparing home-cooked meals to give their companions the very best fresh nutrition and enjoy home cooking for their pet.
I understand this drive personally; I prepare about 50% of my own cat Lebowski’s meals at home, balancing the rest with a high-quality commercial diet. It’s a rewarding way to bond and provide variety, but it does come with a significant medical responsibility: Nutritional Balance.
The Challenge of the “Home-Cooked” Diet
The biggest challenge isn’t the love or effort put into the cooking—it’s the nutritional complexity. A simple mix of meat, grains, and vegetables, while fresh, often lacks the precise minerals, vitamins, and vital amino acids like Taurine. While important for both, Taurine is essential for heart health in cats especially, where a deficiency can lead to serious illness or even death.
For both dogs and cats, getting the calcium and phosphorus ratio right is also vital. This balance is often incorrect for home-cooked meals made for pets or where owners add just meat to the diet. In particular, getting this ratio incorrect can be seriously detrimental for growing pets and large breed dogs. It can lead to severe skeletal issues, bone demineralisation, and weakened joints.
In the past, I recommended an American-made supplement formulated by specialists. While the science was excellent, the recipes were incredibly difficult for my clients to follow—requiring them to measure out exactly “2.3g of this” or “6g of that”. This “measuring fatigue” often meant that despite an owner’s best intentions, the accuracy of the recipes would slip over time.
Why I Trust VNG (Veterinary Nutrition Group)
To make balanced home cooking sustainable for my clients, I’ve started recommending the Australian-made meal completers from VNG.
In the pet world, anyone can call themselves a “Nutritionist” after a short course. However, a Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist® is a specialist veterinarian who has undergone years of intensive residency training and passed rigorous exams. They are the only nutritionists I trust to do the “math” for Lebowski’s meals.
Why VNG fits the My Companion Mobile Vet philosophy:
- Specialist Formulated: You get the peace of mind that a Board-Certified Veterinary Specialist has handled the complex chemistry of the bowl for you.
- Simplicity over Stress: Their CompleteMe® range is designed to be added to simple, fresh ingredients, removing the need for tedious measurements.
- A Complete Foundation: It ensures your pet gets critical nutrients like Zinc, Choline, and Calcium needed to thrive.
- Australian Made: We love supporting local specialists who maintain high standards of care.
Dr. Abbott’s Fresh Food “Pro-Tips”
- Cooking for Safety: I prefer cooking meals to destroy harmful bacteria. While freezing reduces risk, cooking is the superior choice for safety.
- The “Goldilocks” Temperature: Serve food warm to release aromas. Add CompleteMe® after food has cooled so heat doesn’t degrade vitamins.
- Hygiene: Wash bowls after every meal to prevent bacterial buildup—this goes for kibble bowls too!
- Ditch the Bowl: Use lick mats or food puzzles for mental stimulation and sensory enrichment.
- Functional Boosters: Home-cooking makes it easy to add therapeutic extras like Psyllium Husk.
The Key Point When Home Cooking for your Pet
Whether you’re cooking 100% of your pet’s meals or doing a 50/50 split, the most important thing is that the diet is “complete and balanced.”
I know how rewarding it is to prepare a fresh meal for your companion. If you’re considering home cooking for your pet but want to discuss your pet’s specific needs, I am more than happy to help. We can discuss sensitivities, conditions and consider your pet’s life stage to help create a safe, science-backed bowl together during a consultation or discuss making meals for your pet as part of our wider mobile veterinary services. We offer in-home veterinary visits in Brisbane & Moreton Bay Region QLD.
You can explore the full VNG range and find the right fit for your pet at vngpets.com.
About the Author: Dr. Sharmila Abbott is the lead veterinarian & co-founder behind My Companion Mobile Vet. As a Fear Free® certified professional, she is passionate about making pet healthcare as simple and stress-free as possible.
