naturalpet Diets for Pets Raw Food
Weighing the Pros and Cons by Sandra Murphy
A
s with their own food, dog and cat owners are reading pet food labels more closely these days
to evaluate ingredients and their sourc- es. American pet food companies may outsource to foreign manufacturers, some- times with disastrous results. Various brands of dry dog food (kibble) and treats have been recalled for melamine contamination or other problems—even brands manufactured here have been recalled for salmonella contamination. To ensure that what we’re serving our dogs contains a proper balance of protein, vitamins and minerals for over- all health, the Dog Food Advisor rates dog foods and treats by brand name, ex- plains the ingredients, including byprod- ucts not fit for human consumption, and recommends the best options. Owners can sign up for emails about recalls and other alerts at
DogFoodAdvisor.com. Other reasons to
read labels include potential allergic reactions to foods, espe- cially chicken and corn, common ingredients in kibble. The educational website notes, “Corn is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain of only modest nutri- tional value to a dog.”
Homemade Meals To have more control over what the family dog or cat eats, many owners turn to home-cooked
22 NA Twin Cities Edition
natwincities.com “You can spend
money on vet visits or on better food.”
~ Veterinarian Laurie Coger
meals, but know-how is key. “A big risk with home-prepared diets is that they are almost always nutritionally inadequate for long-term feeding, even when using published recipes,” advises Dr. Brennen McKenzie, president of the Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine Association. “Consult a board-certified nutrition- ist for the unique nutri- tional needs of the pet, based on age, breed,
health condition and other factors. Don’t substitute ingredients.”
Cooking for pets can be time- consuming. Some owners have found dehydrated foods like those from The Honest Kitchen, made in the United States using human food-grade ingre- dients, both cost-effective and easy to prepare. While the purchase price can be higher than other options, the food rapidly rehydrates to four times its
original weight by adding warm water. A meatless variety allows owners to add their choice of raw meat, meaty bones or cooked meat and can be suitable for sensitive dogs, raw feeders and dogs that need a unique protein source. “Dehydrated foods are also a
good way for a squeamish owner to start a raw diet for their dog,” remarks Dr. Laurie Coger, an associate veteri- narian at the Bloomingrove Veterinary Hospital, in Rensselaer, New York, who also offers consultations through
TheHonestKitchen.com. Coger sug- gests, “First, determine what a dog or cat needs in his diet, then transition gradually from kibble to a cooked or raw diet. Cats may resist change, while dogs can be more flexible.” Pet food maker Steve’s Real Food is another option as it does not use lamb, pork or venison. Each poses a greater risk of carrying toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease that can be passed on to pets, especially cats. “If you decide to incorporate raw
foods, find a wholesale meat supplier so you can buy in bulk. You’ll need a freezer to take full advantage,” suggests Coger. “Feeding raw is not an all-or- nothing proposition, so mix and match. Cook when you have time, feed raw several days a week and use high-quality dehydrated or dry food when traveling.” Dr. Cathy Alinovi, owner of Hoof
Stock Veterinary Service, in Pine Vil- lage, Indiana, found that switching to a raw diet solved an itching problem with her mixed-breed dog. She reports that, “Eighty percent of the reasons my clients bring their pets to me are cured by changing to better food.” Alinovi points out two drawbacks of serving raw food: “You can’t leave it out all day and
it can be a challenge to transport home on a hot day.” But she’s found that the benefits are many, “Dog and cat furs shine and shed
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32