When it comes to nutrition, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all diet—especially for your dog. Every dog is unique, and their diet should be too. A personalized approach ensures that every aspect of their nutrition, from macronutrients to micronutrients and even texture, is tailored to their specific needs.

While it might not seem like a big deal at first, small adjustments in diet can have a significant impact on your dog’s overall health and well-being. That’s why every formulation I create is designed with the individual dog in mind.

Here are just some of the key factors I consider when crafting a diet perfectly suited to your furry friend.

I often hear from clients that their dogs experience digestive issues when fed commercial raw diets. In many cases, the problem comes down to imbalance—these diets are often too high in fat and too low in fiber. Many dogs require lower fat levels than what is commonly found in commercial raw foods, and a lack of fiber can contribute to digestive upset.

Additionally, while raw feeding advocates often emphasize a zero-carb approach, many dogs actually thrive on diets that include some carbohydrates. You can read more information on the benefits of carbohydrates in a canine diet here. Finding the right balance is key to supporting optimal digestion and overall health.

One of the most intricate parts of formulating a balanced diet is ensuring the right levels of micronutrients. Each micronutrient plays an individual role, but they also work together in complex ways. This is where many people run into issues when attempting to create their dog’s diet on their own—it’s not just about meeting the basic requirements for each nutrient, but about optimizing them for the dog’s specific needs.

Beyond simply achieving balance, I tailor micronutrient levels to support your dog’s unique biology. For example:

• Northern breeds often require higher zinc levels.

• Dogs with allergy symptoms may benefit from increased magnesium, copper, zinc, and retinol.

• Arthritic dogs need boosted omega-3 fatty acids to help with inflammation.

• Senior dogs typically require lower calcium and phosphorus levels than younger dogs.

And the list goes on. This level of detail is what truly personalizes a diet—ensuring your dog doesn’t just meet minimum requirements, but thrives.

Pet obesity is a growing concern, with studies showing that excess weight can shorten a dog’s lifespan by up to three years and increase the risk of numerous health conditions. The common approach to weight loss—simply feeding less—can actually cause more harm than good. Reducing food intake not only lowers calories but also decreases essential nutrients, which can slow down weight loss and create additional health issues due to deficiencies.

Another challenge is satiety. As food portions shrink, dogs often become hungrier, leading to constant begging—a frustrating issue for many pet owners. This problem is especially pronounced with raw diets, which tend to be low in fiber.

A personalized diet solves this by adjusting fiber levels to help your dog feel full while also incorporating low-fat ingredients to lower caloric density. This allows for larger portions, keeping your dog happy while still supporting weight loss. On the flip side, for working dogs or breeds with lower appetites (looking at you, Huskies and Poodles), increasing caloric density helps them get the necessary nutrients without overwhelming them with large portions.

Just like people, dogs have texture preferences when it comes to their food. Some prefer chunky meat to chew on, while others will only eat finely ground meals. Some dogs love raw food, while others refuse to eat unless it’s cooked. Certain picky eaters won’t touch organ meats unless they’re blended into a smooth texture.

A personalized diet allows complete control over texture—whether it’s ground, chunky, a mix of both, or even rotated for variety. This not only caters to your dog’s preferences but also considers your own comfort level with food preparation. Maybe you prefer feeding whole meaty bones for dental health or want a balance between ground and chunked ingredients. With a customized diet, the choice is entirely yours.

Traditional raw feeding models like Prey Model Raw (PMR) and Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF) often dictate rigid ingredient ratios, such as muscle meat, secreting organs, non-secreting organs, and bones. With a personalized approach, these rules don’t apply—you’re free to choose ingredients based on what your dog enjoys, tolerates, and thrives on, without being restricted by predefined formulas.

Some key benefits of a tailored approach include:

• Ingredient availability: You can select foods based on what’s accessible and affordable to you.

• Personal preferences: If your dog loves a particular ingredient, that alone can justify including it.

• Bioavailability considerations: Just because a food is high in nutrients on paper doesn’t mean it’s easily absorbed.

For example, seeds and herbs are becoming popular additions in raw feeding due to their high mineral content. However, their bioavailability (how well the body absorbs their nutrients) is often overlooked. Many of these ingredients also contain anti-nutrients, which can actually block the absorption of other essential minerals. That’s why I rarely include them in formulations unless they serve a specific purpose, such as providing fiber or a minor nutrient boost.

When whole food sources aren’t an option, I prioritize high-quality supplements with proven absorption over questionable plant-based alternatives. A personalized diet puts you in control, allowing you to select only the best ingredients for your dog.

Sourcing

Many pet owners switch to raw feeding due to concerns about the pet food industry’s sourcing practices. Unfortunately, sketchy ingredient sourcing isn’t just a kibble problem—some raw food suppliers have also been flagged by the FDA for unsafe or unsanitary production methods.

By making your dog’s food yourself, you have full control over where ingredients come from, ensuring that your dog’s diet is not only nutritionally sound but also safe and high-quality.

For help with a personalized diet for your dog, you can contact me at hello@tailoredtummyco.com or you can see all of my services here. If you want to learn how to formulate yourself, I highly recommend Raw Fed & Nerdy.