Homemade Pet Food Requires Study of Nutrition, AVMA Warns SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — With a wide variety of pet food brands being recalled leaving many pet food aisles vacant, pet owners may choose to try making dinner for Fluffy themselves. But how easy is it to cook a nutritious menu for your pet at home?
In fact, there are a number of people who do cook food for their pets at home on a regular basis, but the American Veterinary Medical Association warns that it is not always easy to make a healthy meal for your dog or cat. Pets have complex nutritional needs that are unique to their species, age and other factors, and any changes to a pet's diet could cause intestinal upset, particularly a change as significant as switching from commercial to home-cooked food.
Dr. Tony Buffington, DVM, Ph.D., an Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine professor of clinical sciences, said that for pet owners who are having trouble finding acceptable pet food during a recall, recipes are available for home-cooked food for dogs and cats online and in many books. "These recipes are all generally fine, but certainly home-cooked diets are not created with the care that these commercial pet foods are," Dr. Buffington explained. "Commercial pet foods for dogs and cats are designed by Ph.D. nutritionists. There are very few humans that have diets that are designed by Ph.D. nutritionists."
Before making any changes to a pet's diet consult with your veterinarian. For more information about pet food recalls, visit the American Veterinary Medical Association Web site at www.avma.org.
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The AVMA, founded in 1863, is one of the oldest and largest veterinary medical organizations in the world. More than 75,000 member veterinarians are engaged in a wide variety of professional activities. AVMA members are dedicated to advancing the science and art of veterinary medicine including its relationship to public health and agriculture. Visit the AVMA Web site at www.avma.org to learn more about veterinary medicine and animal care and to access up-to-date information on the association's issues, policies and activities.
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