Pet Food Recall
The recent pet food recall has raised the question of how to provide the best diet for our dogs and cats. Is home cooking a good option? Dr. Kathryn Michel, clinical nutritionist at the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital, offers advice on this timely topic. Here you will also find links to the Food and Drug Administration's site about the current recalls as well as other links that may be of interest.
"Our pets have very specific nutritional needs that differ from human nutritional requirements," says Dr. Michel. "You would need to formulate a diet that has all the necessary nutrients, all in the correct proportions if you decided to make your own pet food. Expert advice is necessary to ensure that your pet's health would not be jeopardized by any improperly prepared home-made diet. Keep in mind that there are still plenty of commercial pet foods available that are believed to be safe; just check the FDA recall list to make sure you're not feeding one of the affected brands."
Remember that most spices are upsetting to pets' systems and will cause gastric irritation and diarrhea, so they should never be used. Plus, there are known toxic foods for dogs and cats, including onions, garlic, raisins, grapes, chocolate and macadamia nuts.
If your pet is showing any signs of distress, please visit your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Updates
What Can You Do?
Cooking For Pets: Good Idea? (CBSNews.com, April 3, 2007)