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Tom McPheron
Phone: 847-285-6781
Cell: 773-494-5419
e-mail: tmcpheron@avma.org

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July 17, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C.

— There are a number of reasons why a dog or cat owner may decided to stop using commercial pet food and begin a home-cooked or raw diet for their pets. Some may be concerned about food recalls, others may have a pet with allergies or other special medical needs, some may be pursuing nutritional goals or theories, and many also do it in an effort to deepen the human-animal bond. But top veterinary nutritionists warn that preparing alternative diets for a dog or cat isn't a simple task; it's a serious undertaking, and for many pet owners it could be a mistake.

Dr. Korinn E. Saker, Ph.D., DVM, MS, DACVN will be speaking on home-cooked diets for pets at the 144th annual convention of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in Washington, DC, on July 17, 2007. She said that as a clinical animal nutritionist for 15 years she has seen the public interest in home-cooked diets for pets increase rapidly over the past three years and then spike in the past six months due to the pet food recall.

"I've seen a great increase in requests and interest," she said. "Some people just like to cook for their pets; it's a very bonding experience. Certainly, since the food recall I've seen increased interest, but I suspect that is more of a transient interest."

There are a number of perceived advantages to home-cooked diets, ranging from the ability to take control of nutrition for an animal with health problems to enticing an animal that won't otherwise eat.

"We can formulate a balanced diet around an animal's medical condition," Dr. Saker explained. "If you have an animal that won't eat a commercially formulated diet, homemade diets are a good option."

There are also clear problems with home-cooked pet foods.

"One of the biggest disadvantages is that homemade diets are often not balanced nutritionally," she explained. "Commercial pet foods are thoroughly tested. I don't know of any homemade recipes for pets that are put through tests before they are marketed."

Dr. Saker explains that people who want to prepare food for their pets at home often don't understand the nutritional implications of the decisions they make.

"Often times, the owner will make substitutions in recipes, and in doing so will create an imbalance in the pet's diet," she explained.

Dr. Saker's AVMA convention presentation will also include some case studies. Animals on home-cooked diets have been diagnosed with rickets and other problems.

Another trend in pet food is raw food. As the name implies, raw pet food is uncooked, and often comprises a mix of ground meat, organs, fruit and vegetables. Pet owners can buy raw food diets fresh or frozen, or prepare a raw diet at home.

Dr. Richard C. Hill MA VetMB, Ph.D., DACVIM, DACVN, MRCVS, Waltham associate professor of small animal clinical nutrition and internal medicine at the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine, will examine this nontraditional pet food trend during his July 17 presentation at the AVMA convention. Dr. Hill said he has noticed the increased popularity of raw food diets for pets.

"Many dogs and cats are fed raw food because their owners believe that raw food more closely approximates what the animal will consume in the wild. Greyhound dogs are also fed raw meat because trainers believe this practice improves performance," Dr. Hill said. "Unfortunately, discussion of these issues is primarily based on anecdotal reports that do not compare raw with cooked food. Many raw food recipes are not balanced and most owners do not allow for the risks from zoonotic enteric bacteria and parasites."

Dr. Hill will be speaking on the benefits and risks for owners who elect to use a raw food diet for their pets. Of particular interest and emphasis will be the potential health risks associated with raw food diets for both animals and their owners, particularly the very young, very old, immunosuppressed or pregnant.