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Focus on nutrition: Home-prepared diets for dogs and cats
Abstract
Promoting health and wellness in dogs and cats is a common goal for veterinarians and pet owners alike. Over the past decade, a number of highly publicized pet food recalls, as well as a growing awareness of the role of diet in health and disease for people, have changed the way some owners approach mealtime for their pets. Many owners, and some veterinarians, now advocate feeding dogs and cats home-prepared foods (raw, cooked, or both) as the sole source of nutrition for pets and cite either perceived health benefits or a general mistrust of the pet food industry as the reason. It is important for veterinary practitioners to understand the risks and benefits of home-prepared diets, as well as the motivation behind a pet owner's decision to follow this type of feeding regimen, to ensure optimal health for their patients.
... Over the past few decades, there has been a remarkable increase in pet owners' consciousness regarding the health, wellbeing, and nutritional requirements of their animals [1]. This heightened awareness has prompted considerable attention to ensure that pets receive optimal nutrition, as it is pivotal in elevating their overall quality of life [2][3][4]. ...
... Homemade diets can be tailored to meet the specific nutritional needs of individual dogs, potentially leading to improved health outcomes. Additionally, preparing homemade diets fosters a profound emotional bond between pet owners and their animals, even if it requires time, effort, and knowledge of canine nutrition [2][3][4]. ...
... The starting point of this study concerning the rising request for homemade diets aligns with previous research and is consistent with the increasing awareness among pet owners regarding the importance of pet nutrition and wellbeing [2,3,4]. ...
Pet nutrition awareness has risen enormously, with an increasing interest in homemade diets aimed at controlling food composition. The literature in this field is scarce, especially regarding the homemade diet’s long-term effects on pathological conditions. This prospective study encompassed 167 healthy and sick dogs subjected to a customized dietary plan based on homemade food. After an initial visit, dog owners provided questionnaires with follow-up data on their perceptions of physical sign changes or symptom modifications. A total of 104 (62%) subjects maintained the homemade diet, while 63 reverted to their previous diet. The median follow-up was 14 months. Out of 31 healthy dogs that continued the nutritional plan, 70% exhibited improvements in their coat condition and 47% a decrease in evacuation frequency. Regarding weight loss goals, 67% of dogs achieved their target. The 67 pathological dogs that completed the follow-up were primarily affected by gastrointestinal and dermatological disorders. Dogs with chronic enteropathy improved their symptoms in 95% of the cases, subjects with dermatological pathologies in 83%, and patients presenting both disorders in 100%. These clinical results are promising. Personalized and well-balanced homemade diets noticeably enhanced the overall pet’s health, with an almost complete remission of symptoms in pathological dogs.
... Over the past few decades, there has been a remarkable increase in pet ownersʹ consciousness regarding the health, wellbeing, and nutritional requirements of their animals [1]. This heightened awareness has prompted considerable attention to ensure that pets receive optimal nutrition, as it is pivotal in elevating their overall quality of life [2][3][4]. ...
... leading to improved health outcomes. Additionally, preparing homemade diets fosters a profound emotional bond between pet owners and their animals, even if it requires time, effort, and knowledge of canine nutrition [2][3][4]. Moreover, the mounting concerns about the quality and safety of ingredients used in commercial pet foods [3] have been further amplified by non-scientific online sources linking such diets to chronic pet illnesses. ...
... The starting point of this study concerning the rising request for homemade diets aligns with previous research and is consistent with the increasing awareness among pet owners regarding the importance of pet nutrition and wellbeing [2][3][4]. ...
Pet nutrition awareness has risen enormously, with an increasing interest in homemade diets aimed at controlling food composition. Literature in this field is scarce, especially regarding the homemade diet’s long-term effects on pathological conditions. This prospective study encompassed 167 healthy and sick dogs subjected to a customized dietary plan based on homemade food. After an initial visit, dog owners provided questionnaires with follow-up data on their perceptions of physical signs changes or symptom modifications. 104 (62%) subjects maintained the homemade diet, while 63 reverted to their previous diet. The median follow-up was 14 months. Out of 31 healthy dogs that continued the nutritional plan, 70% exhibited improvements in their coat condition and 47% a decrease in evacuation frequency. Regarding weight loss goals, 67% of dogs achieved their target. The 67 pathological dogs that completed the follow-up were primarily affected by gastrointestinal and dermatological disorders. Dogs with chronic enteropathy improved their symptoms in 95% of the cases, subjects with dermatological pathologies in 83%, and patients presenting both disorders in 100%. These clinical results are promising. Personalized and well-balanced homemade diets noticeably enhanced the overall pet’s health, with almost a complete remission of symptoms in pathological dogs.
... 12 Nevertheless, properly prepared homemade diets represent the most tailored approach to the dietary and medical needs of veterinary patients. 13 However, to the authors' knowledge, the effects of such a diet on urinary parameters have not been documented. ...
... It is recommended that home-prepared diets are formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist (dipl ACVN or EBVS-ECVCN), 13,19 as it was in the present study. The general principle is to create the diet with a few standard ingredients that are easy for the pet owner to find. ...
Objectives
From the authors’ experience, the consumption of a balanced prescription home-prepared diet that includes zucchini (courgette) benefits cats with recurrent urolithiasis, but there is no published evidence to support this. The aim was to study the effects on urinary parameters of (1) a balanced prescription home-prepared diet containing zucchini, and (2) the addition of zucchini to a dry food, compared with two commercial therapeutic diets.
Methods
Eight healthy cats were included in a Latin-square designed protocol. Five diets were evaluated: two commercial diets, designed for cats with urinary disorders, one high-moisture (U-WET) and one high-sodium dry (U-DRY); one home-prepared diet (HOME); one commercial dry food for adult maintenance (DRY); and DRY given together with 10 g of zucchini per kg body weight (DRY-Zuc). After a 7-day adaptation period, urine was collected and daily food and water intakes were assessed for 12 days. Urinary parameters, and relative supersaturation (RSS) for calcium oxalate (CaOx) and struvite, were determined. Data underwent repeated measures ANOVA analysis.
Results
The digestibility of energy, dry matter, protein and fat was highest with the HOME diet. CaOx RSS was lowest in cats eating the HOME diet, but not significantly different from the U-WET or U-DRY diets. CaOx RSS was lower in cats eating the DRY-Zuc diet than in cats eating the DRY diet. Struvite RSS did not differ significantly among groups.
Conclusions and relevance
This study shows that a balanced prescription home-prepared diet was safe and allowed a very low urinary CaOx RSS. It also showed that adding zucchini to dry food lowered the urine CaOx RSS.
... Este é um ponto bastante importante de ser considerado na prescrição das dietas, sendo fundamental explicar e conscientizar os tutores sobre o papel dos ingredientes e a problemática da alteração de sua concentração sem prévia avaliação por um profissional da área. O fornecimento de uma lista com alimentos que podem ser substituídos e seus substitutos seria importante para evitar o desbalanceamento das dietas, bem como a avaliação periódica das fórmulas e dos animais (Michel 2006, Remillard 2008, Remillard & Crane 2010, Weeth 2013. ...
... Esse aspecto demonstra a importância de se explicitar de forma clara as porções dos ingredientes a serem utilizadas na dieta, como nas fontes cárneas, por exemplo, que sofrem importante alteração na relação de proteína e gordura de acordo com as espécies e os cortes (Michel 2006). Flutuações nos componentes podem descompensar animais com determinadas afecções clínicas (Weeth 2013). Além disso, é importante ressaltar que pouco menos da metade dos proprietários não controlavam a quantidade de alimento a ser fornecido aos animais, antes de serem orientados pela equipe de nutrologia. ...
RESUMO: O estudo objetivou avaliar a adesão e a percepção dos proprietários de cães, residentes na cidade de São Paulo/SP, quanto ao emprego de dieta caseira no manejo nutricional de seu animal de estimação. Foram entrevistados por contato telefônico 55 proprietários que forneciam dieta caseira no manejo nutricional do seu cão. O questionário contemplou perguntas relacionadas ao preparo e eficiência das dietas, bem como o manejo dos animais. Verificou-se que considerável número (parcela) de prescrições (45,9%) esteve associado a pacientes com hiporexia. Dentre os proprietários que relataram dificuldade no preparo (10,9%), o tempo dispendido (33,3%) foi a maior problemática. Quando questionados em relação às modificações nas fórmulas prescritas, 60% admitiram que a realizaram sem prévia recomendação. Na opinião dos entrevistados, a dieta caseira não causou alterações nas fezes (50%) e na pelagem (62,7%) dos animais em comparação ao emprego de um alimento comercial e foi considerada adequada pela maioria (79,0%). As dietas caseiras podem ser amplamente utilizadas, mostrando-se especialmente importantes em cães doentes e/ou hiporéticos por apresentarem maior aceite em relação à dieta comercial, no entanto, nem todos os tutores estão aptos a utilizá-la.
... Home-prepared diets are known to be extremely difficult to balance in terms of micronutrients, vitamins and minerals for safe long-term consumption 32 ; for example, taurine deficiency-related dilated cardiomyopathy, severe neurological signs due to thiamin (vitamin B1) deficiency, and musculoskeletal deformities in young cats and kittens as a result of secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism due to inappropriate homeprepared diets comprising only muscle meat, which has also been supported by recent studies where recipes for home-cooked diets have been analysed and found to be exposing animals to nutritional deficiencies. [33][34][35][36] A variety of sources were used by respondents to find out information about feline nutrition. Importantly, twothirds (65.6%) went to clinical staff (veterinary surgeon, veterinary nurse or veterinary technician) for advice. ...
Objectives
This study used an owner-directed online questionnaire to collect data regarding their food and water provision for their pet cats. The survey was conducted in 2019.
Methods
The anonymous online 30-question survey was available via vetprofessionals.com .
Results
A total of 1172 cat owners fully completed the questionnaire. The respondents each owned a median of two cats (range 1–6). They reported being most strongly motivated to feed a particular ration because of palatability, observed and/or expected health benefits, or that the diet was/is perceived as ‘natural’. The majority of owners (n = 946, 80.7%) fed their cats exclusively a commercially purchased complete wet food, dry kibble diet or mixture of both. Compared with a previous (unpublished) survey conducted by the same authors in 2013,1 there were substantial increases in the number of owners feeding therapeutic diets (26.6% vs 0.7%) and the inclusion of raw meat in cats’ rations (15.6% vs 3.7%). The proportion of respondents providing at least one feeding station per cat was 83.1%, with significant use of enrichment feeding methods (29.1%).
Conclusions and relevance
Veterinarians need to be aware of changing trends in cat feeding to provide owners with appropriate support. Veterinary advice was frequently sought by owners and can be used as an opportunity to improve cat health and welfare, particularly in multi-cat households, but was not often influential to client decision making.
... Bir hayvan sahibi köpeği için yemek yapmaya kesin karar verdiyse, kendine göre veya başka hayvan sahiplerinden, sohbet odalarından edindikleri reçeteler yerine, iyi dengelenmiş formüller sunmak uzmanların görevidir [10]. ...
Son yıllarda, dünyada olduğu gibi ülkemizde de, köpek sahipleri köpeklerini ev yemekleri ile beslemek
istemektedir. İnternetten veya kulaktan dolma bilgilerle edinile yemek tariflerinin çoğu yeterli ve dengeli
değildir. Bunun sonucunda beslenme bozuklukları ve sağlık sorunları ortaya çıkmaktadır.
Bu çalışmada altı farklı et, beş farklı tahıl, değişik sebzeler ve doğal katkılar kullanılarak sağlıklı yetişkin
köpekler için besin maddeleri bakımından dengeli 52 adet yemek tarifi hazırlanmıştır. Hazırlanan tarifler uygun
şekilde pişirilerek köpeklere yedirilmiş, köpeklerin beğenisi ve dışkı kalitesi değerlendirilmiştir.
Yedirme denemesinde toplam 16 adet 2-6 yaşlı Golden retriever köpek kullanılmış ve bireysel olarak
günde bir öğün beslenmiştir. Her bir yemek 4 köpeğe 4 gün süreyle yedirilmiş, 4-5. günlerde dışkı kıvamı
skorlanmış ve dışkı örnekleri alınarak kuru madde içerikleri belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca yemeklerin köpekler tarafından
tüketim süreleri kaydedilmiştir. Köpeklerin tahıllı yemekleri tahıl içermeyen yemeklerden daha hızlı tükettiği
tespit edilmiştir. En iyi dışkı skorları dana eti içeren yemeklerde bulunmuştur. En yüksek kuru madde kuzu etli,
en düşük kuru madde ise tavuk etli yemek tüketen köpeklerin dışkılarında belirlenmiştir.
... Reports indicate that fewer than half of these diets include sufficient amounts of nutrients. The main deficiencies are certain vitamins (E, D, B12), essential fatty acids, and macronutrients (calcium, iodine, selenium, copper, zinc) [69]. An imbalance of macronutrients in poorly formulated dietsas when humans share food with pets, or relative proportions vary-can affect their digestive function. ...
Anthropomorphic practices are increasing worldwide. Anthropomorphism is defined as the tendency to attribute human forms, behaviors, and emotions to non-human animals or objects. Anthropomorphism is particularly relevant for companion animals. Some anthropomorphic practices can be beneficial to them, whilst others can be very detrimental. Some anthropomorphic behaviors compromise the welfare and physiology of animals by interfering with thermoregulation, while others can produce dehydration due to the loss of body water, a condition that brings undesirable consequences such as high compensatory blood pressure and heat shock, even death, depending on the intensity and frequency of an animal’s exposure to these stressors. Malnutrition is a factor observed due to consumption of junk food or an imbalance in caloric proportions. This can cause obesity in pets that may have repercussions on their locomotor apparatus. Intense human–animal interaction can also lead to the establishment of attachment that impacts the mental state and behavior of animals, making them prone to develop aggression, fear, or anxiety separation syndrome. Another aspect is applying cosmetics to pets, though scientific studies have not yet determined whether cosmetic products such as coat dyes, nail polish, and lotions are beneficial or harmful for the animals, or to what extent. The cohabitation of animals in people’s homes can also constitute a public health risk due to infectious and zoonotic diseases. In this context, this paper aims to analyze the adverse effects of anthropomorphism on the welfare of companion animals from several angles—physiological, sanitary, and behavioral—based on a discussion of current scientific findings.
... Il primo vantaggio della dieta casalinga riguarda la sfera emotiva del proprietario, il quale intensifica il legame con il proprio animale sentendosi maggiormente coinvolto nella sua cura 1,9,10 . Egli trova inoltre rasserenante avere il totale controllo sugli ingredienti impiegati: procurarsi gli ingredienti, conoscerne la qualità e la provenienza, così come provvedere alla loro preparazione, lo responsabilizza e infonde sicurezza; ciò e vero specialmente per coloro che provano sfiducia nei confronti dei mangimi industriali o che devono gestire eventuali allergie e intolleranze alimentari. ...
La popolarità delle diete casalinghe, cotte e crude, per cani e gatti è aumentata notevolmente negli ultimi anni. La dieta casalinga rappresenta una valida alternativa ai mangimi commerciali poiché, nonostante il maggiore impegno richiesto nella sua preparazione, possiede numerosi vantaggi (fra cui l'impiego di cibi freschi e altamente digeribili, l'assenza di conservanti, una spiccata appetibilità) e può rientrare nel piano diagnostico e terapeutico di un paziente affetto da uno o più disturbi. Tuttavia, per essere completa e bilanciata, deve essere formulata da un Medico Veterinario con competenze specifiche che sappia combinare gli ingredienti più idonei e dosarli in modo da soddisfare i fabbisogni energetici e nutrizionali dell'animale. Oltre al rischio di squilibri nutrizionali, chi segue una filosofia crudista dovrebbe considerare anche quello microbiologico, dato che cani e gatti possono diventare carrier ed eliminare tramite le feci i batteri patogeni assunti con carne cruda contaminata.
... Gelişmiş ülkelerde ev yapımı diyetlere karşı evcil hayvan sahiplerinin ilgisi artarak devam etmektedir (Remillard 2008, Weeth 2013. İnsan-hayvan ilişkilerinin gelişmesi ile birlikte ev yapımı diyetlere ve doğal beslemeye karşı artan bu ilgi, ticari mamaların çeşitli kimsayal katkılarla birlikte kötü kaliteli ham maddelerle hazırlanmasından kaynaklanmaktadır. ...
Objective:This study was aimed to investigate the effects of balanced powdered food prepared at different cooking times on preference rate, digestibility and stool quality in dogs.
Methods:Sixteen adult Golden Retriever dogs (3-4 years old) were used. Food mixed with water and cooked daily. The first group (n=5) was given food cooked for 15min, the other (n=5) for 30min. Determination of digestibility by acid insoluble ash method was carried out for 9 days (5d acclimatization, 4d stool collection). Stool scoring was performed by 4 different researchers before collection. Dry matter contents were determined by taking samples from the feces of dogs. Two-pan preference test was also performed. This test was carried out for 12 days and 16 dogs were used. Preference rates were determined by giving the foods at the same time.
Results:Dry matter digestibility of the groups consuming powdered foods cooked for 15min and 30min were 74.12% and 77.96% respectively; organic matter digestibilities were 79.23% and 83.49% respectively (p> 0.05). Food cooked for 15min was preferred 51%, and other one was preferred as 49% (p> 0.05). The stool consistency score and stool dry matter of the dog group that consumed the food cooked for 15min were 3.97 and 36.52% respectively; In the group that consumed the food cooked for 30min were 4.07 and 38.84% respectively (p> 0.05).
Conclusion:Cooking time of 15 minutes, which has a significant effect on digestibility parameters in dogs, is sufficient for the food used in this study.
... However, there seems to be an increasing interest among pet owners in the developed world regarding the feeding of homemade diets or raw diets for their pets. Motivations for this increasing interest in alternative diets include increased control over their pets' diet, distrust in pet food companies, the desire to feed a more variable diet and the desire to feed a more natural diet (Remillard 2008; Weeth 2013). Advocates of homemade diets cite various benefits such as increased control over ingredients used and their quality, avoidance of artificial preservatives, preservation of natural enzymes and phytonutrients, the ability to tailor the diet to meet specific needs of an individual pet and increased variation in diet (Berschneider 2002; Michel 2006). ...
In Sri Lanka, home-cooked diets are often fed due to the cost and poor availability of commercial diets. Milk has traditionally been a popular food to give to dogs in this country. There is a recent perceived increase in the number of owners choosing commercial diets for their pets. This study aimed to determine how dog owners visiting a single veterinary practice in Colombo fed their pets. We hoped that this would help achieve a general understanding of pet feeding practices in Sri Lanka and gain some basic demographic information on the owned dog population. The study was conducted via questionnaires distributed to pet owners visiting a first opinion and referral practice in Colombo. Hundred questionnaires were collected and analysed, 69% of study dogs were neutered, 42% of dogs were fed only home-cooked food, while 18% were fed only commercial food. About 40% of dogs were fed a mixture of commercial and home-cooked food, 49% of dogs were fed milk as a separate meal in addition to their normal diet and 57% of dogs received dietary supplements. Dogs consuming commercial food for more than half their intake were no less likely (P = 0.75) to receive dietary supplements than dogs fed homemade food for more than half their diet. This study provides some basic information regarding the feeding practices and demographics of the owned dog population in one Sri Lankan city, Colombo, highlighting some areas of concern.
A survey was designed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of feeding, dietary supplement use, and rehabilitative management use in flyball dogs. The survey was completed by 394 respondents. There were 12.5% (n = 49/392) and 33.4% (n = 131/392) of owners who fed home-cooked and raw diets, respectively, to their dogs. About 77.7% (n = 306/394) and 56.6% (n = 223/394) of owners used dietary supplement and rehabilitative management, respectively, primarily joint supplements (89.8%, n = 275/306) and chiropractic (73.1%, n = 163/223). Owners were more likely to use supplements (P = 0.0002) and rehabilitative management (P = 0.0001) when their dogs were injured. Dogs with more than one reported injury received rehabilitative management (P < 0.0001) and used supplement (P = 0.0006) more often. Key clinical message: There is considerable demand for non-commercial food, supplements, and rehabilitative management among flyball dog owners, underscoring the importance for veterinarians to understand the motivation of dog owners' decisions as well as the risks and benefits of these practices to ensure optimal outcomes for their patients.
Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.
Food consumption has considerable impacts on the environment. Recently, increasing numbers of companion animal owners feed their animals with high nutritional food, which requires much land space and has great impacts on carbon emissions. Therefore, the environmental impacts of food consumption by companion animals can be significant, especially in a country with a large companion animal population, like China. In the present study, the ecological indicators of the ecological paw print (EPP), carbon emission and energy consumption have been introduced for the first time to quantify the environmental impacts of food consumption by companion dogs and cats in China. Our results showed that the dietary EPP and carbon emissions of an average-sized dog relying on commercial dry food (0.82–4.20 ha year⁻¹ and 0.037–0.190 ton. year⁻¹) were ca. eight and three times higher than those of the dog relying on human leftover food (0.11–0.53 ha year⁻¹ and 0.014–0.064 ton. year⁻¹). There were more than 27.4 million companion dogs and 58.1 million companion cats in China in 2015. Assuming all these dogs and cats eat commercial dry food, the dietary EPP of the total dogs and cats was 43.6–151.9 million ha. year⁻¹, which was equivalent to the dietary ecological footprint (EF) of 5.1%–17.8% (70.3–245.0 million) of Chinese people in 2015. The annual food consumption of all these dogs and cats was responsible for up to 2.4–7.5 million tons carbon emissions, which was equivalent to the entire carbon emissions of 2.5%–7.8% (34.3–107.1 million) of Chinese people in terms of food consumption in 2015. Our results also demonstrated that some companion animals (especially large dogs) consumed more food energy than their actual needs to keep normal activity, which resulted in food waste and exacerbated the environmental burden. This research develops an accurate method for companion animals’ dietary EPP calculation and quantifies the significant environmental impacts by investigating their dietary carbon emissions and energy consumptions. Findings from this study will motivate companion animal owners to reconsider the feeding regimens and husbandry activities, improve owners and even the whole Chinese people's awareness of sustainability, and ultimately promote the whole country's sustainable development.
Feeding raw meat-based diets (RMBDs) to companion animals has become increasingly popular. Since these diets may be contaminated with bacteria and parasites, they may pose a risk to both animal and human health. The purpose of this study was to test for the presence of zoonotic bacterial and parasitic pathogens in Dutch commercial RMBDs. We analysed 35 commercial frozen RMBDs from eight different brands.Escherichia coliserotype O157:H7 was isolated from eight products (23 per cent) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamases-producingE coliwas found in 28 products (80 per cent).Listeria monocytogeneswas present in 19 products (54 per cent), otherListeriaspecies in 15 products (43 per cent) andSalmonellaspecies in seven products (20 per cent). Concerning parasites, four products (11 per cent) contained Sarcocystis
cruziand another four (11 per cent)S tenellaIn two products (6 per cent)Toxoplasma gondiiwas found. The results of this study demonstrate the presence of potential zoonotic pathogens in frozen RMBDs that may be a possible source of bacterial infections in pet animals and if transmitted pose a risk for human beings. If non-frozen meat is fed, parasitic infections are also possible. Pet owners should therefore be informed about the risks associated with feeding their animals RMBDs.
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