balanceit.com
What BalanceIt.com Is and What It Does
BalanceIt.com (often referred to simply as Balance It®) is a web platform designed to help pet owners create nutritionally complete homemade food for dogs and cats. It combines online tools with supplemental products so that people can formulate balanced meals for their pets using everyday ingredients. The company and its tools are built around expert veterinary nutrition principles—so the aim isn’t just making meals, it’s making balanced meals that meet the detailed nutrient needs of companion animals.
At its core, BalanceIt.com offers:
- Free online tools that help you generate customized recipes based on your pet’s weight, age, activity level, and any health conditions (via the Recipe Builder).
- Patented supplements and fortification products that add nutrients missing from homemade diets.
- Educational support aimed both at general pet owners and at veterinarians who want to help clients feed fresh food safely.
The company behind the site emphasizes that homemade meals (even with good intentions) often lack full nutritional balance unless formulated carefully. BalanceIt.com’s tools are meant to make that formulation reliable and accessible.
Why It Matters for Pet Nutrition
Commercial pet foods are subject to specific nutritional standards (such as AAFCO guidelines in the U.S.) that ensure they meet minimum essential nutrient levels. When owners cook for their pets at home without professional guidance, the resulting food can easily be deficient in vitamins, minerals, or essential fatty acids. Research has shown that many homemade pet diets fall short of key nutrient requirements. Professionals often warn about this because serious health problems can arise over the long term from imbalanced feeding.
BalanceIt.com attempts to close that gap by providing a software-driven formulation process that takes nutrient profiles, recipes, and recommended supplements into account. Instead of guessing what to feed, pet owners use an algorithm (called the Autobalancer®) to generate a recipe tailored to their individual animal.
The result isn’t just a list of ingredients—it's a list that includes complementary supplements to fill nutrient gaps so that the final recipe is complete. This can include micronutrients that are hard to get from everyday human foods alone.
How BalanceIt.com Works
1. Recipe Builder — Your Starting Point
The main interactive feature on BalanceIt.com is the Recipe Builder. It’s a free, self-service online tool. You enter details about your pet (species, age, weight, activity level, spay/neuter status, and any medical conditions). Then you choose base ingredients—meats, vegetables, carbohydrate sources, fats—that you want in the diet. The tool runs a nutrient analysis and identifies what your selection is missing or what is in excess.
This process is automated and designed for non-experts, but it leans heavily on scientific data about nutrient requirements and ingredient nutrient composition. Once complete, the tool suggests recommended supplements and quantities to make the diet complete according to established nutritional standards.
2. Veterinary approval where needed
If a pet has a medical condition that may affect dietary needs (like kidney disease or other therapeutic requirements), BalanceIt.com requires veterinary approval before it will generate a complete recipe. This is in line with food and drug guidelines where specialized dietary advice for a sick animal should involve a veterinarian.
3. Supplements for Balance
BalanceIt.com doesn’t just stop at suggesting ingredients. It sells its own line of supplements tailored for dogs and cats. These supplements are made in a certified facility and each batch is tested so that every nutrient listed is accurate and reliable. The supplements are designed specifically to be added to homemade recipes to fill in nutritional gaps.
There are different products depending on your pet’s needs. Some are general multinutrient blends; others are formulated for specific conditions like lower phosphorus needs. The exact blend and amount you use are tied directly to the recipe the tool generates.
4. Support and Resources
BalanceIt.com also offers support via FAQs and online help features. Although it doesn’t replace a veterinarian’s medical or nutritional advice, the company provides in-depth guidance to help users understand how recipes are formulated and why certain supplements are recommended.
Who Created It and Its Credentials
BalanceIt.com was founded in 2003 by Dr. Sean Delaney, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. Dr. Delaney has significant academic and professional experience in veterinary nutrition and has taught at institutions like UC Davis. His background gives the formulation tools a foundation rooted in professional veterinary science rather than guesswork.
The company highlights ongoing relationships with veterinary professionals and institutions, and many veterinarians use or recommend the BalanceIt tools to their clients who prefer preparing homemade diets.
Practical Use Cases
Everyday Pet Owners
For a healthy adult dog or cat whose owner wants to cook at home rather than feed commercial food, BalanceIt.com can generate recipes that meet nutrient requirements. Owners can experiment with foods their pets like while still ensuring nutritional completeness.
Pets with Specific Conditions
If a pet has a diagnosed medical condition that affects dietary needs, like kidney issues or digestive sensitivities, BalanceIt.com’s tools can still be used, but a veterinarian must approve the recipe before it will be finalized. That means the nutrition is tailored more precisely and safely.
Veterinarians and Professionals
Veterinarians can use the platform to assist clients with homemade diets that are safe and balanced. Because the software calculates nutrient needs based on established standards, it can help clinicians support pet owners without having to formulate recipes manually.
Limitations and Considerations
BalanceIt.com is a powerful tool, but it isn’t a complete substitute for professional veterinary care. The company makes clear that it doesn’t offer personalized medical or nutrition consultations itself. For pets with significant health issues, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist or the pet’s regular veterinarian should guide the recipe and feeding plan.
Also, while the Recipe Builder is free and self-service, using it effectively requires care and attention to detail. Not all foods are included in their database, and knowing which ingredients are safe and appropriate still relies on user understanding and judgment, or the guidance of a professional.
Key Takeaways
- BalanceIt.com is an online tool that lets users formulate complete and balanced homemade diets for dogs and cats.
- It combines recipe generation with supplement recommendations to ensure nutrient needs are met.
- The platform is grounded in veterinary nutrition science and was created by a board-certified expert.
- Users can get tailored dog and cat food plans that account for life stage and health conditions, with vet approval when necessary.
- Supplements are tested and human-grade, designed to fill gaps in homemade diets.
FAQ
Is BalanceIt.com free to use?
Yes. The online Recipe Builder and many of the formulation tools are free to use. You only pay if you choose to buy supplements or products.
Can it create balanced diets for pets with health issues?
Yes, but if your pet has a condition that affects diet, veterinary approval is required before the full recipe is generated.
Do I need to be a veterinarian to use it?
No. It’s designed for pet owners, but some advanced features and therapeutic diet recipes require veterinary oversight.
Are the supplement products safe?
BalanceIt.com’s supplements are manufactured in a certified facility and tested against federal standards to ensure accuracy and safety.
Can I feed these recipes long-term?
Yes, when formulated properly with complete balance and vet guidance, these meals are intended for regular use rather than one-off treats.
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