In today’s social media, in the absolute frenzy of aspiring Influencers seeking celebrity status in the dog food world, this simple fact is not only overlooked, but also vilified, dismissed as micromanaging, unnecessary and “fearmongering”. None of the above is true, and as a canine nutrition professional, I bear witness to the fallout from it every day. This article will take a brief look at some of the essentials I find low, high, or even deficient in homemade diets, and how that can affect the health of the dog, despite the owner’s use of very fresh, varied, and healthy ingredients.