A 13-year-old male neutered Miniature Poodle was presented for evaluation of a two-month history of polyuria and muscle fasciculation. A traditional Chinese veterinary medicine (TCVM) practitioner had recommended TCVM Food Therapy 2 years earlier for suspected osteoarthritis associated with Kidney Qi and Yang Deficiencies. No specific dietary directions had been given, only a list of desired ingredients. Consequently, the caretaker prepared a diet at home consisting of lamb, carrots, butternut squash, spinach and barley. The diet was low in vitamin D, calcium, and sulfur-containing amino acids. Taurine deficiency and nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism were subsequently documented with low whole blood taurine and serum ionized calcium levels, no detectable serum 25 OH vitamin D and elevated serum parathyroid hormone levels. The diet was reformulated using National Research Council canine recommended allowances to correct the observed nutritional deficiencies by changing the proportions of ingredients and adding sources of essential fatty acids (safflower and fish oils), calcium (dicalcium phosphate), salt and a supplemental multivitamin. The clinical signs resolved and the clinicopathological tests had returned to normal reference ranges after 16 weeks on the reformulated diet. TCVM practitioners prescribe home-prepared diets based on TCVM Food energetics, but failure to provide specific ingredient amounts or to assess the nutrient composition of a provided recipe may cause clinically relevant dietary deficiencies. To ensure optimum patient health, TCVM practitioners must provide specific dietary instructions to all caretakers, and nutritional interventions should be based on sound nutritional principles in addition to reported TCVM Food Therapy energetics.