5 changes I noticed in my dogs after feeding them fresh homemade dog food

By Nandini Misra

In 2020, when I adopted June, the vets told me she had Chronic Renal Failure and would be with us for a month or two max. The prescription diet they put her on didn't do much for her, and I started looking at other options. That's when I connected with nutritionists, entrepreneurs and other dog parents regarding fresh feeding. I received a lot of guidance and started her on a species-appropriate, fresh, home-cooked diet and over a few months, her renal values and overall health showed significant improvement.

June had been abandoned by her previous family and had spent a lot of time on the streets before being rescued, so she had a host of health issues, all of which became easier to manage with a home-cooked diet. Inspired by her progress, I moved my other dog Bailey to a species-appropriate home-cooked diet and she thrived as well. After June passed away, I fostered many dogs and eventually, adopted Imli in 2023. All these dogs have been eating species-appropriate, home-cooked food.

Over the many years of feeding fresh, here are the 5 noticeable changes that I have observed:

1. Fewer vet visits

Don't get me wrong - your dog may still need to visit the vet for unforeseen/ genetic issues or regular checkups and vaccinations, but the smaller, pestering issues decreased when I moved my dogs to fresh diets

2. Better skin and coat

Probably the biggest change I have noticed is their skin and coat health. The skin is more supple and less prone to yeast and dryness and their coat is lustrous and soft. Because this is the default for my dogs on a species-appropriate, fresh diet, if anything feels slightly off, I know there's an underlying health issue and can take proactive measures to tackle it

3. Better digestion

My dogs poop more regularly on fresh diets and the stool volume has gone down. They still get indigestion from time to time but the severity and frequency have lessened significantly, and we have rarely had to visit the vet for this since we started eating fresh dog food

4. Better appetite

This is likely a result of better digestion and overall health, but the number of times my dogs have refused to eat their meal has drastically reduced. In contrast, when they were on kibble, this would happen often. Now, they are more excited about their meals, eager to eat and have started eating a variety of ingredients. Furthermore, if they skip a meal, I know that either the ingredients are not of good quality or there is a health issue and can take steps accordingly

5. Better weight management

I have always had lean dogs, so my challenge has been increasing my dogs' weight to a healthy range. Imli was a year old when we started fostering her and even with her small frame, she was quite underweight for a golden retriever at 12.5kg. Feeding her a fresh, species-appropriate diet ensured that she gained weight slowly while gaining muscle mass and being healthy. Even Bailey's weight stabilised within a healthy range with good muscle mass and a healthy level of activity after we moved her to a fresh diet. While this has not been my experience, I know people who have had great success with managing their dog's weight, reducing it to a healthy range thanks to feeding a fresh diet

Here are a few things to keep in mind regarding fresh feeding for dogs:

• Not all dogs are the same and not all fresh diets are equal - your dog's diet should be balanced and cater to their health needs. Curd rice and a meat-based, species-appropriate diet are both fresh diets, but only one will bring about the benefits I've shared above. Even two dogs in the same household may need different proportions or ingredients. When in doubt, consult a nutritionist for your dog.

• Your dog is, after all, a dog - they may fall sick periodically due to infections and diseases and will still need veterinary care. They will also go through the very natural processes of ageing and may also experience genetic issues to which their breed is predisposed. Feeding fresh creates a solid foundation on which you can continue their treatment.

• Your dog will still need to be vaccinated and dewormed, and go through regular medical checkups, even on a fresh diet. Fresh diets keep dogs healthy but cannot provide the same benefits of immunisation, which also helps protect other dogs and people.

• Slow and steady is the best way to go, when introducing fresh diets. Please do not overhaul your dog's diet overnight. Gradually introduce fresh food while phasing out dry/heavily processed food over a couple of weeks.

About the author:

A freelance designer by profession, Nandini Misra founded Pawthecary in 2023. She is a dog parent, has briefly worked in animal welfare, and has fostered multiple dogs over the past few years. In 2020, she adopted a senior dog - June, who led her down the path of species-appropriate nutrition and fresh feeding, eventually prompting her to adopt fresh, species-appropriate diets for all her dogs, including her fosters. Frustrated with the lack of quality species-appropriate dog food toppers in the Indian market, she started working on Pawthecary around the end of 2022, founded the brand in 2023 and finally launched the store in 2024.

Nandini lives in Pune with her spouse and their dogs Imli and Bailey.

All opinions and information mentioned in the article are based on her own experience and research.