Contents
PREFACE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
SECTION I Nutrition and Dietary Management
CHAPTER 1 Homemade Diets
Problems Associated with Homemade Diets
Formulating a Homemade Diet
Assessing a Homemade Diet Recipe
Choosing a Homemade Diet
Diet Preparation
Monitoring
Additional Reading
CHAPTER 2 Food Safety
Causes of Foodborne Illness
Prevention of Foodborne Illness
Additional Reading
CHAPTER 3 Nutrients
Expression of Nutrient Content
Ingredient Selection
Review of Nutrients
Additional Reading
CHAPTER 4 Canine and Feline Energy Requirements
Determining Daily Energy Requirements
Daily Energy Requirements for Dogs
Daily Energy Requirements for Cats
Additional Reading
CHAPTER 5 Feeding the Healthy Adult Dog or Cat
Nutrition of the Dog
Nutrition of the Cat
Aberrant Behaviors in the Dog and Cat
Adult Dog Recipes
Adult Cat Recipes
Additional Reading
CHAPTER 6 Feeding the Puppy or Kitten
Nutrition of the Growing Puppy
Postweaning Period
Nutrition of the Growing Kitten
Puppy Recipes
Kitten Recipes
Additional Reading
CHAPTER 7 Feeding the Pregnant or Lactating Dog or Cat
The Impact of Improperly Formulated Diets
Prior to Breeding
Gestation in Dogs
Gestation in Cats
Lactation in the Dog
Lactation in the Cat
Weaning Puppies
Weaning Kittens
Disorders Occurring during Gestation/Lactation
Dog Recipes for Gestation
Dog Recipes for Lactation
Cat Recipes for Gestation
Cat Recipes for Lactation
Additional Reading
CHAPTER 8 Feeding the Senior Pet
The Senior Dog
The Senior Cat
Senior Dog Recipes
Senior Cat Recipes
Additional Reading
CHAPTER 9 Feeding the Performance Dog
Exercise Physiology
Nutrition of the Performance Dog
Feeding Strategies—When to Feed
Recipes for Sprinting Dogs
Recipes for Dogs Doing Moderate Work
Recipes for Dogs Doing Strenuous Work
Recipes for Dogs in Endurance Events
Additional Reading
CHAPTER 10 Food Intolerance and Allergy
Clinical Signs of Food Allergy
Causes of Food Allergy
Food Allergens
Food Intolerance
Dietary Modification in Food Allergy
Fatty Acids and Inflammatory Skin Disease
Dog Recipes for Allergies
Cat Recipes for Allergies
Additional Reading
CHAPTER 11 Obesity
Health Risks of Obesity
Risk Factors
Regulation of Body Weight
Evaluation of Obesity
Weight-Reduction Plan
Diets for Weight Loss
Dog Recipes for Weight Loss
Cat Recipes for Weight Loss
Additional Reading
CHAPTER 12 Skeletal and Joint Diseases
Bone and Cartilage Composition
Impact of Nutrition on Bone and Joints
Disorders Due to Nutritional Excesses
Diseases Due to Decreased Skeletal Remodeling
Diseases Due to Nutritional Deficiencies
Feeding the Growing Puppy
Osteoarthrosis
Recipes for Large Breed Puppies
Additional Reading
CHAPTER 13 Diet and Gastrointestinal Disease
Gastrointestinal Physiology
Oral Disorders
Swallowing Disorders
Stomach Disorders
Diarrhea
Small Intestine Disorders
Large Intestine Disorders
Dog Recipes for Megaesophagus
Dog Recipes for Esophagitis
Dog Recipes for Gastritis
Dog Recipes for Enteritis
Dog Recipes for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Dog Recipes for Lymphangiectasia
Dog Recipes for Obstructive Swallowing Disorders
Dog Recipes for Protein-Losing Enteropathy
Dog Recipes for Short Bowel Syndrome
Dog Recipes for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
Dog Recipes for Colitis
Dog Recipes for Gastric Motility Disorders
Cat Recipes for Gastritis
Cat Recipes for Gastric Motility Disorders
Cat Recipes for Enteritis
Cat Recipes for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Cat Recipes for Lymphangiectasia
Cat Recipes for Protein-Losing Enteropathy
Cat Recipes for Short Bowel Syndrome
Cat Recipes for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
Cat Recipes for Colitis
Additional Reading
CHAPTER 14 Diet and Chronic Renal Disease
Acute Renal Failure
Causes of Chronic Renal Failure
Breeds at Risk of Chronic Renal Failure
Pathophysiology of Chronic Renal Failure
Clinical Findings in Chronic Renal Failure
Laboratory Findings in Chronic Renal Failure
Systemic Hypertension
Renal Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
Treatment of Chronic Renal Disease
Additional Reading
CHAPTER 15 Diet and Urinary Tract Stones
General Treatment of Urolithiasis
Struvite Urolithiasis in Dogs
Calcium Oxalate Urolithiasis in Dogs
Urate Urolithiasis
Cystine Urolithiasis
Silicate Urolithiasis
Urolithiasis in Cats
Struvite Urolithiasis in Cats
Calcium Oxalate Urolithiasis in Cats
Dog Recipes for Struvite Stone Prevention
Dog Recipes for Oxalate Stone Prevention
Dog Recipes for Cystine/Urate Stone Prevention
Cat Recipes for Struvite Stone Prevention
Cat Recipes for Oxalate Stone Prevention
Additional Reading
CHAPTER 16 Diet and Skin Disease
Protein and Energy Deficiency
Fatty Acid Deficiency
Mineral Deficiencies
Vitamin Deficiencies
Dog Recipes for Skin Conditions
Cat Recipes for Skin Conditions
Additional Reading
CHAPTER 17 Diet and Endocrine Disease
Thyroid Disorders
Adrenal Gland Disorders
Parathyroid Gland Disorders
Pancreatic Disorders
Dietary Management of the Dog with Diabetes Mellitus
Dietary Management of the Cat with Diabetes Mellitus
Lipid Metabolic Disorders
Other Disorders
Dog Recipes for Diabetes Mellitus
Dog Recipes for Insulinoma
Dog Recipes for Lipid Disorders
Cat Recipes for Diabetes Mellitus
Cat Recipes for Idiopathic Hypercalcemia
Cat Recipes for Insulinoma
Cat Recipes for Lipid Disorders
Additional Reading
CHAPTER 18 Diet and Heart Disease
Weight Management
Dietary Sodium
Protein
Taurine
Fat
Potassium
Magnesium
L-Carnitine
Coenzyme Q10
Dog Recipes for Heart Disease
Cat Recipes for Heart Disease
Additional Reading
CHAPTER 19 Diet and Pancreatic Disease
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
Pancreatitis
Dog Recipes for Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
Dog Recipes for Pancreatitis
Cat Recipes for Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
Cat Recipes for Pancreatitis
Additional Reading
CHAPTER 20 Diet and Hepatic Disease
Laboratory Testing
Causes of Liver Disease
Risk Factors
Nutrient Alterations in Liver Disease
Liver Disorders
General Nutritional Considerations
Dog Recipes for Liver Disease
Dog Recipes for Hepatic Encephalopathy
Dog Copper-Restricted Recipes
Cat Recipes for Liver Disease
Cat Recipes for Hepatic Encephalopathy
Additional Reading
CHAPTER 21 Diet and Cancer
Cancer Cachexia
Carbohydrate Metabolism
Protein Metabolism
Lipid Metabolism
Vitamins
Minerals
Other Ingredients and Supplements
Energy Requirements in Cancer Patients
Enhancing Intake of Food
Dog Recipes for Cancer
Cat Recipes for Cancer
Additional Reading
SECTION II Home-Prepared Diets
Tools Needed
Choosing a Diet
Preparing Diets
Dog Diet Recipes
Diets for Healthy Dogs
Diets for Dogs with Special Conditions
Dog Diets
Diet: Lamb and Rice
Diet: Chicken and Rice
Diet: Tofu and Pasta
Diet: Pork and Sweet Potato
Diet: Whitefish and Barley
Diet: Lamb and Pasta
Diet: Ground Beef and Potato
Diet: Chicken and Rice
Cat Diet Recipes
Diets for Healthy Cats
Diets for Cats with Special Conditions
Diet: Chicken and Rice
Diet: Turkey and Rice
Diet: Ground Beef and Rice
Diet: Lamb and Rice
Diet: Tuna and Rice
Diet: Whitefish and Rice
Diet: Salmon and Rice
Diet: Tofu and Eggs
Diet: Chicken and Rice
Diet: Turkey and Rice
Cat Diets
Diet: Chicken and Rice
Diet: Turkey and Rice
Diet: Ground Beef and Rice
Diet: Lamb and Rice
Diet: Tuna and Rice
Diet: Whitefish and Rice
Diet: Salmon and Rice
Diet: Tofu and Eggs
Diet: Chicken and Rice
Diet: Turkey and Rice
Diet: Ground Beef and Rice
Diet: Lamb and Rice
Diet: Tuna and Rice
Diet: Whitefish and Rice
Diet: Salmon and Rice
Diet: Mackerel and Rice
Diet: Sardines and Rice
Diet: Chicken and Rice
Diet: Ground Beef and Rice
Diet: Tuna and Rice
Diet: Whitefish and Rice
Diet: Salmon and Rice
Diet: Chicken and Barley
Diet: Ground Beef and Lentils
Diet: Lamb and Lentils
Diet: Whitefish and Lentils
Diet: Tuna and Lentils
Diet: Salmon and Barley
Diet: Rabbit and Rice
Diet: Rabbit and Quinoa
Diet: Venison and Rice
Diet: Venison and Quinoa
Diet: Chicken and Rice
Diet: Ground Beef and Rice
Diet: Tuna and Rice
Diet: Whitefish and Rice
Diet: Chicken and Lentils
Diet: Ground Beef and Lentils
Diet: Tuna and Lentils
Diet: Mackerel and Lentils
Diet: Chicken and Rice
Diet: Chicken and Rice
Diet: Ground Beef and Rice
Diet: Tuna and Rice
Diet: Rabbit and Quinoa
Diet: Venison and Rice
Diet: Cottage Cheese and Rice
Diet: Pork and Barley
Diet: Chicken and Rice
Diet: Ground Beef and Rice
Diet: Whitefish and Rice
Diet: Tofu and Chicken
Diet: Tofu and Ground Beef
Diet: Tofu and Cottage Cheese
Diet: Tofu and Tuna
Diet: Tofu and Lentils
Diet: Chicken and Rice
Diet: Tuna and Rice
Diet: Chicken and Rice
Diet: Chicken and Rice
Diet: Ground Beef and Rice
Diet: Lamb and Rice
Diet: Tuna and Rice
Diet: Salmon and Couscous
Diet: Chicken and Rice
Diet: Ground Beef and Rice
Diet: Salmon and Rice
Diet: Chicken and Rice
APPENDIX 1 Dog Diets by Protein Source
Beef, Ground
Chicken
Cottage Cheese
Eggs
Lamb
Liver, Beef
Pork
Rabbit
Salmon
Tofu
Tuna
Whitefish
APPENDIX 2 Cat Diets by Protein Source
Beef, Ground
Chicken
Cottage Cheese
Lamb
Mackerel
Pork
Rabbit
Salmon
Sardines
Tofu
Tuna
Turkey
Cat Diets by Protein Source
INDEX
Edition first published 2010
© 2010 Patricia A. Schenck
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Schenck, Patricia A.
Home-prepared dog and cat diets/by Patricia A. Schenck. – 2nd ed.
p. cm.
Rev. ed. of: Home-prepared dog & cat diets/Donald R. Strombeck. 1st ed. 1999. Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-8138-0119-3 (alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0-8138-0119-2 (alk. paper)
1. Dogs–Food–Recipes. 2. Cats–Food–Recipes. 3. Dogs–Nutrition. 4. Cats–Nutrition. 5. Dogs–Diseases–Diet therapy. 6. Cats-Diseases–Diet therapy. I. Strombeck, Donald R. Home-prepared dog & cat diets. II. Title. SF427.4.S77 2010
636.7’085–dc22
2009051075
Disclaimer
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PREFACE
Diet is an important consideration in the care of a pet and is a major factor in health and life expectancy. Home-Prepared Dog and Cat Diets is a unique handbook in that it provides an introduction to nutrition of the healthy dog and cat as well as an extensive discussion of medical disorders that can be treated in part by dietary management. Recipes are provided for making home-prepared diets for both healthy pets and pets with special conditions. These diets have been formulated with a sophisticated computer program to ensure that they are balanced and complete, according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) guidelines. Many diets have been carefully formulated for specific health problems according to current veterinary recommendations. Diets that have been designed for some special conditions may not be complete and balanced because of necessary diet restrictions. This is noted in the recipe, and these diets should be fed under the direct supervision of your veterinarian.
This edition of Home-Prepared Dog and Cat Diets has been thoroughly updated. Chapters have been expanded and completely rewritten to reflect nutritional recommendations based on current research. New chapters have been added on feeding the puppy and kitten, feeding the pregnant or lactating dog or cat, feeding the senior pet, feeding the performance dog, and the role of diet in pets with cancer. For ease of use, diets have been removed from individual chapters and are now found in Section II of the book. Nutrient content for protein, fat, carbohydrate, and fiber have been provided for every diet, along with the nutrient density. Diets can easily be adjusted for any size dog or cat, and exact ingested nutrient amounts can be calculated. Diets are cross-referenced for special conditions, by chapter, and also by protein source, making it simple to find a diet to suit the needs of most dogs or cats. Detailed directions are given regarding food safety and proper preparation of diets.
With the information presented in this book, pet owners will have an excellent background in nutrition of the dog and cat. If the diet directions are carefully followed, owners can safely prepare balanced diets for their healthy pets. Diets for pets with special conditions should be thoroughly discussed with the pet’s veterinarian to ensure the proper management of the pet with special needs.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book is dedicated to all the four-legged critters in my life that have reminded me why I wanted to be a part of the veterinary profession. Thanks also to all my four-legged taste-testers that willingly evaluated many of the recipes. Special thanks to my friend Christopher Hamilton for his proofreading and typing skills and for helping me maintain my sanity throughout this project. Special thanks also to my mother for proofreading recipes and helping prepare diets. Lastly, I am grateful to my parents for a lifetime of love and support.
SECTION I
Nutrition and Dietary Management
CHAPTER 1
Homemade Diets
In the United States, there are more than 140 million dogs and cats. The vast majority of pets receive more than 90% of their calories from commercially prepared pet food. There is an increasing interest in feeding home-prepared foods to pets for a variety of reasons. In a recent telephone survey, owners of 635 dogs and 469 cats were questioned regarding diets fed to their pets. More dogs received noncommercial foods (table scraps, leftovers, or homemade foods) as compared to cats. Noncommercial foods were a part of the diet in 31% of dogs and 13% of cats and comprised at least one-fourth of the diet for 17% of dogs and 6% of cats. About 3% of pets were exclusively fed homemade diets, and 7% of dogs received homemade food for at least half of their diet. Treats of some kind were given daily to 57% of dogs and 26% of cats. Supplements were given to 13% of dogs and 6% of cats and were reported to include multivitamins, fatty acids, chondroprotective agents, vitamin C, yeast, taurine, zinc, calcium, and antioxidants, among others.
For humans, food consumption has social and cultural connotations. With the humanization of pets, owners may associate social and cultural behaviors with their pets. In the telephone survey, owners said that cuddling or petting their animals and talking to the pets were the most common activities shared with their dogs or cats. Dog owners were more likely to walk or run with their pets, play with toys together, play fetch, ride in the car together, participate in obedience or agility training, and go to work together as compared to cat owners. Other activities that both dog and cat owners shared with their pets included watching their pets play, grooming their pets, watching television with their pets, and eating with their pets. As pets are treated more as “humans,” many owners may feel that their pets should share the food customs of humans.
There are many reasons suggested as to why a homemade pet diet is desired. Some owners wish to feed natural or organic foods or vegan or vegetarian foods. Many wish to cook for their pets and provide a varied diet. Others may find commercial pet food labels and ingredients confusing and want to avoid additives, preservatives, chemicals, or certain ingredients found in pet foods. In the previously mentioned telephone survey, owners feeding noncommercial pet foods had less trust in their veterinarian to provide sound nutritional advice and felt that dogs and cats needed a variety of different foods in their diet. Owners feeding noncommercial pet foods were more likely to feel that processed foods for pets were unhealthy, that cooking destroys nutrients in pet foods, and that organic foods were safer and healthier than other foods. Owners that fed noncommercial food were more likely to feel that dogs and cats need more meat than is provided in commercial products, that information on pet food labels is misleading, and that additives in pet foods have unhealthy side effects. They were less likely to trust pet food manufacturers to provide nutritionally sound products and less likely to feel that ingredients in commercial pet foods were wholesome and nutritious. They are less likely to believe that pets live longer today because of good nutrition from commercial products, that commercial products contain necessary nutrition, and that pet food companies place a high priority on pet health and wellbeing. Owners feeding noncommercial foods were more likely to believe that raw bones could be safely fed to pets, that raw meat provides better nutrition than cooked foods, and that foods sold for human consumption provide better nutrition than do commercial pet foods. Owners feeding noncommercial foods also enjoyed preparing foods for their pets more than did owners feeding commercial pet foods.
Problems Associated with Homemade Diets
Veterinarians are the most commonly cited source for pet nutritional information; however, about 17% of pet owners cite the Internet as their primary source for pet nutritional information. Unfortunately, there is a considerable amount of misinformation present on the Internet, and it can be difficult to determine which information is trustworthy. In the telephone survey discussed previously, less than one-third of owners used a homemade diet recipe specifically designed for pets. In another survey, 90% of the homemade elimination diets used by veterinarians were not balanced and were not nutritionally adequate to support adult maintenance. In another study comparing the nutritional adequacy of commercial diets to homemade diets, calcium, the calcium/phosphorus ratio, and vitamins A and E were below current recommendations for nutritional adequacy in homemade diets. Potassium, copper, and zinc concentrations were also inadequate in homemade diets.
Feeding unbalanced homemade diets can lead to complications, including osteodystrophy, osteopenia, nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism, and pansteatitis. Meat sources are typically high in phosphorus and low in calcium; if no calcium source is added to the diet, the calcium concentration is typically inadequate and the calcium/ phosphorus ratio is too low. Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism occurs when the parathyroid hormone concentration elevates in an attempt to raise the serum calcium concentration, and loss of bone density results. For further discussion of nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism see Chapter 17, Diet and Endocrine Disease. Deficiency of dietary vitamin D can lead to type I rickets, characterized by osteodystrophy. Deficiencies in calcium and vitamin D are especially problematic in young, growing dogs, requiring a proper balance of calcium and phosphorus for bone growth. Certain ingredients can be very high in a particular vitamin and cause problems if not a part of a balanced diet. Liver is very high in vitamin A, and vitamin A toxicity can result in pets fed unbalanced diets based on liver. Pansteatitis (yellow fat disease) has been documented in cats fed diets with a high oily fish content and inadequate in vitamin E.
Some recipes call for the use of raw ingredients. Raw ingredients often contain bacteria that would normally be destroyed by cooking (see Chapter 2, Food Safety). The practice of feeding uncooked diets should be discouraged.
Formulating a Homemade Diet
Formulating a diet is a difficult task. The first step in doing so is to determine the nutritional requirements of the animal, and these requirements are based on species, life-stage, and the animal’s special needs. The Nutrient Research Council (NRC) publishes a book about the nutritional requirements for various species, and these requirements serve as guidelines. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) provides suggested nutrient profiles for dog and cat foods (see Chapter 3, Nutrients). Once the desired levels of nutrients are decided, then ingredients must be chosen that, in combination, will provide proper amounts of protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Nutrient databases must be maintained to provide the accurate nutritional analysis of each ingredient. Sophisticated computer programs containing human food ingredients are available (The Food Processor SQL, ESHA Research, Salem, Oregon), but these programs provide only a nutritional analysis of the combination of ingredients;they do not formulate a diet. The analysis of the combined ingredients must be compared to the suggested nutrient profile. If there are deficiencies or excesses, alterations to ingredients must be made and nutritional adequacy reevaluated. This can be a long and tedious process.
Some veterinary nutritionists offer a food formulation service or are available on the telephone for dietary consultations. Some of the veterinary nutritionists providing this service are listed in Table 1.1.
Assessing a Homemade Diet Recipe
When assessing a homemade diet recipe, there are some guidelines that can be quickly assessed. First, the five food groups (protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, minerals) should appear in the recipe. Second, the carbohydrate source should be present in a higher or equal quantity to that of the protein source. Carbohydrate sources include rice, barley, lentils, potato, pasta, couscous, or quinoa. In cat foods, the carbohydrate-to-protein ratio should be 1:1 or 2:1, and in dog foods the ratio should be 2:1 to 3:1. Third, the protein source should be identified. Fourth, a fat source should be identified. Fat could take the form of an added vegetable oil or could be included in the meat source (chicken skin, fat in undrained ground beef, etc.). Fifth, a calcium or calcium/phosphorus supplement should be present. Calcium carbonate (baking soda) or bone meal (source of calcium and phosphorus) should also be present. Lastly, a source of vitamins and minerals should be present, typically in the form of a multivitamin tablet. For cat diets, a source of taurine should be present.
Choosing a Homemade Diet
There are many homemade recipe diets presented in the second section of this book. The first step in choosing a diet is to pick a species-appropriate diet for the life stage of the dog or cat (adult, growth, senior, reproduction, performance). Dog diets should not be fed to cats, as these diets will not contain the specific and unique nutrients that cats need. Cat diets should not be fed to dogs because these diets will usually provide some nutrients in excess for dogs. The second step is to determine if there are any special needs of the pet (weight loss, allergy, renal disease, heart disease, etc.). If special needs are present, then a diet specific for that condition should be chosen. A variety of diets using different combinations of ingredients are presented for each life stage and special condition so that substitutions are not necessary. It is best to provide the pet with a variety of dietary ingredients over time to ensure a proper mix of nutrients. The majority of diets in this book have been formulated to be balanced and nutritionally complete. However, some diets, such as those formulated for renal disease and other conditions are not nutritionally complete because of the severe dietary restrictions needed in some conditions.If a diet is not nutritionally complete, this is stated in the diet recipe. These diets should only be fed to dogs or cats with that specific special condition and should not be fed to healthy pets.
Table 1.1. Veterinary nutritionists offering nutritional consultation and/or homemade diet formulation.
| Veterinary Nutritional Consultations, Inc. |
| http://www.petdiets.com Diet formulation and nutrition consultation |
| DVM Consulting |
|
1-888-3Homemade http://balanceit.com Diet formulation |
| Nutrition Support Service |
|
Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, East Lansing, MI http://cvm.msu.edu/hospital/services/nutrition-support-service-1 Patients must be seen by the nutrition service at MSU |
| Nutrition Support Service |
|
The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbus, OH http://www.vet.ohio-state.edu/2727.htm Nutrition consultation and healthy weight clinic |
| Clinical Nutrition Service |
|
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC (919)531-6871 Korinn_saker@ncsu.edu |
| MJ Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania |
|
On-Line Nutrition Consultation Service for Veterinarians http://www.vet.upenn.edu/RyanHospital/SpecialtyCareServices/Nutrition/NutritionConsults/tabid/1380/Default.aspx This service is for veterinarians only. |
| Georgia Veterinary Specialists |
|
Susan G. Wynn, DVM (404)-459-0903 http://www.susanwynn.com Diet formulation for healthy pets; diet formulation for special health issues requires a veterinarian referral. |
| University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine |
|
Richard Hill, MA, VetMB, PhD, DACVIM, DACVN, MRCVS (352)392-2226 Homemade diet formulation for Florida veterinarians. Pet must visit the University of Florida if there are special health issues. |
| Veterinary Nutrition Center |
|
The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (865)974-8387 http://www.vet.utk.edu/clinical/sacs/index.php |
| Nutrition Support Service |
|
William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital University of California, Davis (530)752-7892 http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/vmth/small_animal/nutrition/default.cfm |
| Clinical Nutrition Specialty Service |
|
University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital http://www.vmth.missouri.edu/clin_nu.htm |
| University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine |
| St. Paul, MN http://www.cvm.umn.edu/VMC/ Nutritional consultations. Pet must visit the Clinic or be referred by a veterinarian if there are special health issues. |
Diet Preparation
Diets should be prepared according to the recipe given, with no substitutions, additions, or omissions. Each ingredient in the diet is important and provides specific necessary nutrients. Proper preparation of homemade diets requires time and effort. An accurate kitchen scale that measures in grams and ounces is required for diet preparation. Ingredients should be carefully measured to provide the proper combination of nutrients.
Individual ingredients in the diet (such as meat and the carbohydrate source) should be cooked separately. Meat should be cooked for a minimum of 10 minutes at 180°F. Chicken and ground beef, in particular, should be well cooked to prevent bacterial contamination. The use of raw ingredients is not recommended due to the increased risk for foodborne illness (see Chapter 2, Food Safety). Carbohydrate sources such as potatoes should be cooked to improve their digestibility. Vegetables should be washed and then cooked prior to use.
Once the food ingredients have been cooked, they should be measured and combined. Any salt in the recipe can be added at this time, but other vitamins and mineral supplements should not be added yet. Once the food ingredients are combined, the ingredients should be mixed in a blender to ensure their even distribution. This will prevent the pet from picking out certain dietary ingredients and not consuming others. An unbalanced diet will be consumed if ingredients are separate and the pet does not eat the entire mixture. Vitamin and mineral supplements should be crushed to a powder form and added after the food sources have been cooked and combined.
Homemade diets do not contain preservatives and are high in moisture, thus they are highly susceptible to bacterial and fungal contamination if left at room temperature for more than a few hours. The recipes in this book have been designed to be prepared in small batches to minimize the amount of food prepared but not required for feeding. Any prepared diet that is not being consumed immediately should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for no more than a few days. If preparation of a larger batch of food is desired, then the recipe should be prepared up to the point of vitamin and mineral supplement addition and stored frozen. When ready to feed, the portion of diet can be thawed, weighed, and the appropriate amount of vitamins and minerals can be added prior to feeding. Before feeding any food that has been stored in the refrigerator or freezer, the color, odor, and consistency should be checked. If there are changes, or there is visible mold growth, the food should be discarded.
Vitamin and mineral supplements are present in small quantities, but they are a very important part of the diet. Supplements should be included as stated in each recipe and not substituted or omitted. For example, many diets include both iodized salt and a salt substitute (potassium chloride). Iodized salt is important as a source of iodine and sodium, and salt substitute is included as a source of potassium. Both are equally important for inclusion in the diet. Bone meal is included in diets because it is an excellent source of calcium and phosphorus, and calcium carbonate (baking soda) is included as a calcium source. Some recipes call for one-half of a vitamin or mineral tablet. In general, these are human products that are not meant to be cut in half, so each half may not be exactly half of the vitamins called for in the recipe. However, over the course of several days, the proper amounts of vitamins and minerals will be fed overall.
Prior to feeding, the diet should be warmed to just below body temperature (about 100°F). Especially if food is being warmed in the microwave, the food should be checked for hot spots, as the food may heat unevenly. A small amount of water can be added at this time, if necessary. When feeding, the food should not sit out at room temperature for more than a few hours. Any food not consumed should be removed and discarded. Bowls used for serving should be washed thoroughly after each use.
Monitoring
When feeding a homemade diet, monitoring is important, and the pet should be examined by a veterinarian at least twice yearly. Body weight, body condition score, and activity level should routinely be monitored so that adjustments to the amount of diet fed can be made. Hair and skin should be monitored, as these are good indicators of nutritional status. In addition, stool quality should be assessed. The prepared diets can also be evaluated by a laboratory for nutritional adequacy. Some laboratories providing this service are listed in Table 1.2.
Table 1.2. Selected commercial feed testing laboratories for pet food analysis.
| Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health |
| Michigan State University, Lansing MI |
| Thomas H. Herdt, DVM, MS |
| herdt@cvm.msu.edu |
| http://www.animalhealth.msu.edu |
| Barrow-Agee Laboratories |
| Memphis, TN |
| (901)332-1590 |
| http://www.balabs.com |
| Eurofins Scientific, Inc. |
| Des Moines, IA |
| (515)265-1461 |
| http://eurofinsUS.com |
| Holmes Laboratory, Inc. |
| Millersburg, OH |
| (800)344-1101 |
| http://www.holmeslab.com |
| Midwest Laboratories, Inc. |
| Omaha, NE |
| (402)334-7770 |
| http://www.midwestlabs.com |
Additional Reading
Diquelou A, Chaput C, Benoit E, and Priymenko N. 2005. Hypocalcaemia due to nutritional calcium deficiency and hypoparathyroidism in an adult dog. Vet Rec 156:45–48.
Freeman LM, Abood SK, Fascetti AJ, Fleeman LM, Michel KE, Laflamme DP, et al. 2006. Disease prevalence among dogs and cats in the United States and Australia and proportions of dogs and cats that receive therapeutic diets or dietary supplements. J Amer Vet Med Assoc 229:531–534.
Laflamme DP, Abood SK, Fascetti AJ, Fleeman LM, Freeman LM, Michel KE, et al. 2008. Pet feeding practices of dog and cat owners in the United States and Australia. Amer Vet Med Assoc 232:687–694.
Leon A, Bain SA, and Levick WR. 1992. Hypokalaemic episodic polymyopathy in cats fed a vegetarian diet. Aust Vet J 69(10):249–254.
Michel KE. 2006. Unconventional diets for dogs and cats. Vet Clin Small Anim 36:1269–1281.
Michel KE, Willoughby KN, Abood SK, Fascetti AJ, Fleeman LM, Freeman LM, et al. 2008. J Amer Vet Med Assoc 233:1699–1703.
Niza MMRE, Vilela CL, and Ferreira LMA. 2003. Feline pansteatitis revisited: hazards of unbalanced home-made diets. J Fel Med Surg 5:271–277.
Polizopoulou ZS, Kazakos G, Patsikas MN, and Roubies N. 2005. Hypervitaminosis A in the cat: a case report and review of the literature. J Fel Med Surg 7:363–368.
Streiff EL, Zwischenberger B, Butterwick RF, Wagner E, Iben C, and Bauer JE. 2002. A comparison of the nutritional adequacy of home-prepared and commercial diets for dogs. J Nutr 132:1698S-1700S.
Taylor MB, Geiger DA, Saker KE, and Larson MM. 2009. Diffuse osteopenia and myelopathy in a puppy fed a diet composed of an organic premix and raw ground beef. J Amer Vet Med Assoc 234:1041–1048.