Ron Hines DVM PhD

Dog and cat owners can never be certain of the quality of the commercial pet food they buy. No mater what brand of pet food you purchase, it is probably being manufactured in one of the few private label plants with production capacity and then given a flashy name, bag or can. Despite USDA, FDA and State regulations, basically, anyone can bag, sell and distribute pet food - regardless of their knowledge of animal nutrition.

The duty of policing the pet food industry falls instead to the Association Of American Feed Control Officials. AAFCO review of a pet food is strictly voluntary. Just because a product says "formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO" does not mean its was approved by the AAFCO or that it underwent feeding trials. The AAFCO represents agricultural interests with products to sell - not the interests of pet owners, veterinarians or pets. It is controlled by the large pet food conglomerates. The source of pet food ingredients constantly change, since they buy their ingredients from the most cost-effective supplier . And cost is inversely related to the quality of the ingredients.

Not every pet owner has the time or inclination to cook for their pet. Doing so is quite time consuming. And preparing a healthy, nutritious diet is considerably more expensive than purchasing pet foods in a bag or can. But there is no reason you can not prepare a diet that is at least as nutritious and certainly more tasty than any that is sold commercially. This includes diets that are sold by prescription for pets with special nutritional needs.

Dogs:

Although your dog can survive on an all-meat diet if certain ingredients are added, dogs have evolved with humans long enough to do better on diets more similar to ours. What they are now designed to eat is what we are designed to eat. During the last 30,000 years that dogs have lived with humans, our diets were only 10-50% meat. The rest of what stone age people ate was grain, mixed with seeds, fruit and vegetables.

The wild dogs in our past, lived and thrived on whatever we threw away. That means they evolved to thrive on a diet that is 20-45% animal protein, not the 70-90% found in an all-meat diet.

Unlike humans, dogs and cats have evolved so as not to suffer from the ill effects of moderate amounts of animal fats (7-15%) - traditionally, 11.7%. Animal fat and cholesterol do not cause clogged heart and brain arteries in dogs and cats the way they do in humans. Even on a very high-fat diet, dogs and cats are very resistant to coronary artery disease. Only pets with unusually high caloric needs and a very energetic lifestyles - such as sled dogs - need 15% fat diets. In most pets, a 15% fat diet is a fast track to an overly plump pet who is at risk for many health problems.

You can make a diet for your pet that furnishes about 20-45% protein, 5-10% fat and 20-35% carbohydrate if the food you serve your pet is made up of about 2-3 parts meat and 2-3 parts plant carbohydrates. To that diet, you need to add all the bone minerals that you pet needs. If you stay with that formula, the individual ingredients you supply in each group are up to you and your pet's taste. Varying the ingredients from day to day lessens boredom and exposes your pet to a healthier range of nutrient sources.

There are a few food ingredients that dogs and cats should not have. They include chocolate, grapes, raisins, garlic, onions, macadamia nuts, tomatoes and avocado. You will find them listed on the ASPCA website. Pets like variety and surprise in ingredients and presentation of their diets just like we do. There are endless combinations you can prepare by varying the meat and carbohydrate ingredient from day to day.

Cats

Cats have been living with people for about 9,500 years - considerably less time than dogs. During the majority of that time, domestic cats lived exclusively on rodents and other small animals they could catch. It was not until the 1,500s that people's fear of black magic and evil powers of cats subsided and allowed them to accept felines as pets, and not until the 1890s that the first commercial cat food was marketed. . So cats have not had the time that dogs have had to evolve in their nutritional needs. Cats still need higher animal protein and fat in their diets than dogs or people do.

They also have special needs for the amino acids, taurine and arginine, the fatty acid, arachidonic acid, and the vitamin, niacin. Cats need pre-formed vitamin A in their diet because they can not convert beta-carotene to active vitamin A like humans can, and they have difficulty digesting starch and other carbohydrates. None of that presented a problem when cats lived on whole wild rodents. You can purchase whole frozen rats. Domestic and wild rodents carry a host of parasites and diseases. It is a very silly idea to intentionally feed them to domestic pets.

In discussing percentages of ingredients such as protein, carbohydrate and fat, some labels give their values as the amount present in a completely dried product, some as amounts in a drier kibble with a 7-12% moisture content, and some as amounts in canned or home cooked recipes that are about 75% water. This can be very confusing. I have tried to give percentages as a moist, home-cooked diet would be fed.

The Protein Ingredients (2-3 parts of your pet's diet).

Ground Beef

Most supermarkets sell three grades of ground beef: ground extra-lean (96/4) , which is 7% fat; ground chuck which is 34% fat, and regular cheap ground beef which is 46% fat. If you use two-thirds to three quarters of the extra-lean product and the rest the ground chuck, you will supply your dog with a diet that contains meat with adequate fat and no added fat will be needed. If you are preparing an extra-low fat diet, use only the 96/4 product or leaner.

Cats require more fat in their diets (10-35%) than dogs - so when cooking for cats, use the less-lean products or add refrigerated chicken fat, beef tallow or suet. Do not use products that have had chemicals added to allow unrefrigerated storage.

Ground Turkey

Ground turkey is sold in three grades: 1, 7 and 15% fat. If you are not adding additional fat, use the 93/7 or 85/15 product for dogs and the 85/15 product for cats. If you are preparing an extra low fat diet for your dog, use the 99/1. If you are preparing meals for a cat, add some diced dark leg meat for added taurine.

Ground Chicken

Ground chicken breast, or skinless chicken breast is about 99% muscle meat and 1% fat. Ground chicken is about 15% fat. Use it the same as you would turkey. If you are cooking for your cat, add some diced dark leg meat, hearts and gizzard for added taurine.

Fish

Wild fish, caught in colder waters, are an excellent source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Halibut, salmon and orange roughy are good choices. Of the three, salmon usually has the highest omega-3 fatty acid level and the lowest mercury level. US produced, pond-raised catfish are also a fine and reasonably priced fish. Because toxic chemicals and heavy metal concentrations in fish are unpredictable, limit fish-containing meals to two days per week. I avoid feeding canned tuna. I have found that cats that eat a lot of it, soon will eat nothing else and do not seem to thrive.

Recently, a connection has been made between the PBDE polutant level in wild-caught fish and hyperthyroidism in cats. It has gotten to the point where the level of poison polutants in wild fish perhaps outweigh the benifits of the high omeg-3 fatty acid levels they contain. Whether high omega-3 fatty acids will benefit your pet is open to question. Whether high PBDE intake will hurt your pet is a given fact.

Eggs

Whole cooked egg is an excellent source of complete protein and fat for your pet. The biological value of protein in egg is the international standard (94-100% BV) to which all other protein sources are measured. The protein in eggs is very high in quality - higher than that of meat, poultry or fish. It is also the most easily digested protein source. The protein in eggs is more available to your pet when the eggs are cooked rather than fed raw.

Dairy

Dairy products are an excellent source of balanced proteins and calcium. The primary protein in dairy products is casine. But most cow's milk products also contain lactose sugar which many adult pets can not digest. When pets can not digest lactose, it ferments in their intestines causing flatulence and diarrhea - but no damage.

However, dry cottage cheese, used for baking and farmer's cheese are very low in lactose. Freezing ordinary low-fat or no-fat cottage cheese and then pouring or squeezing off the separated liquid also eliminates most of the lactose. In this form, its protein content is quite similar to meats. Some pets that can not tolerate dairy lactose will handle live-culture unpasteurized yogurt as well.

It is fine to feed dairy products to your cat if it does not cause diarrhea. However, it must not be the primary protein ingredient over time. This is because cats fed casine exclusively developed blindness and heart problems. It was found that this was related to a deficiency in the amino-sulfonic acid, taurine. Turkey legs, hearts and gizzards are an excellent supplemental sources of taurine.

The Carbohydrate Portion (2 parts of your pet's diet).

Measured after adding water and cooking.

Rice

Rice is an excellent carbohydrate source for your pet. Fewer animals are intolerant of rice than they are of wheat, corn or soy. Rice also contains protein, phosphorus, iron and some calcium. Using brown, unpolished rice preserves more of these important nutrients than highly processed white rice grain.

Wheat Products

Most dogs and cats have no problems eating wheat-based products such as pasta and bread. The easiest forms of wheat to deal with are macaroni shells or twists. Pick a size of pasta your pet likes best.

Potato

Well-cooked boiled or mashed potatoes are fine ingredients for dogs and cats. They are a good source of vitamin B-6, copper, potassium, manganese and dietary fiber.

But remember that cats need a diet that is higher in meat ingredients than dogs do. Felines absorb the carbohydrates in grains and potato poorly and can neither tolerate nor thrive on a high-carbohydrate diet. Instead, they need to get most of their energy from metabolizing the fats and protein in meats.

Peel the potatoes leaving a thick skin rind, throw that away and avoid any potatoes that are greenish or sprouted.

Higher Fiber Carbohydrate Sources

Pets that receive the following higher fiber carbohydrate ingredients may develop diarrhea. Usually, the only thing necessary, is to make the addition of these products gradual or add them in reduced quantity. They will also cause the pet to produce more bulky stools. This can be very helpful in pets with anal sac or constipation problems or for those that are obese or in kidney failure.

Oatmeal

A little cooked oatmeal is fine for pets. However, the high fiber content of oats tends to give pets loose stools when too much is added. It is a fine minor ingredient for diets prepared to help with chronic pet constipation (as is canned pumpkin and canned or cooked carrots) as long as cow's milk, onion or garlic are not in the product.

Sweet Peas

Most dogs and cats have no problem digesting canned or cooked , unseasoned, peas. They are an excellent source of dietary carbohydrate and fiber.

Carrots

Cooked carrots are fine ingredients for dogs that accept them. When they remain moderately firm, they help clean the pet's teeth and keep its breath fresh. Cooked diced or shredded carrots can be fed in moderation to cats.

Pumpkin

Canned pumpkin when added to your pet's diet, is a great source of fiber and carbohydrate. Many cats, as well as dogs, love it. Added pumpkin sometimes helps prevent loose stool as well as constipation. Use cooked fresh or pure canned pumpkin - not pie filling.

The Fat Ingredient (1 parts of your pet's diet).

If you serve your dog a home- cooked diet that is 50-60% meat or poultry with a 10-15% meat fat content, your dog is getting adequate fat in its diet. However, if you are feeding a cat or you are feeding your dog a dry (non-oily) fish, you may need to add more. When I increase the fat content, I prefer adding one part fresh chicken fat or beef suet and a small amount of flax seed oil for its omega-6 content. Lard and processed fats that keep at room temperature are preserved with BHA and Propyl gallate which I try to avoid. Too much fat in your pet's diet will become evident as a greasy stool. It is also thought to be a predisposing cause of pancreatitis.

Cats seem to prefer a diet that is about 25% fat. Chicken fat is more nutritious to cats than beef fat.

Supplemental Minerals

If you just fed the meat, carbohydrate and fat ingredients, your pet would not thrive. This is because red meat and fish are too low in calcium. Animals on their own got around this by consuming the bones. Meat and fish are also quite high in phosphorus, which inhibits the absorption of the calcium that is present in the total diet when the ratio of calcium to phosphorus is not the ideal ( 1.2:1)

Pet food manufacturers solve this problem by adding powdered bone meal or calcium carbonate to their pet diets until they contain 1 to 1.2% calcium on a dry-matter basis. You can do something similar. The most readily available calcium supplement are 500 mg calcium carbonate antacid tablets (Tums, etc). I add 1.5 tablets per 10-15 pounds body weight per day - but no one really knows the daily calcium needs of individual pets. Do not use calcium supplements that are fortified with vitamin D because we will add D elsewhere. Alternatively, you may feel more secure just adding Balance IT supplements.

Vitamins

There is no need to add synthetic vitamin mixes to a well-balanced diet for healthy pets. You are always safer supplying your pets nutrient needs from wholesome, natural foods rather than cooked up in some chemistry laboratory. The best way to insure that your pet gets all the vitamins it needs is to serve your pet a wide variety of wholesome foods.

However, fortifying your pet's diet with a small amount of vitamins is good insurance that it will receive all the vitamins and micronutrients that it needs when it isn't eating a balanced diet or it is ill. Or if your pet is a very picky eater. In those situations, the safest way is by using Pet Tabs or the Balance IT services.

This is because too much vitamin A or D can be toxic to your pet. In fact, dogs probably do not need vitamin D added to their diets. Your pet will receive adequate vitamin A if you include chicken and beef liver, giblets, whole eggs and oily fish in its diet. We are still not certain if cats and dogs need pre-formed vitamin D or if they actually make it themselves. Good natural sources of D-3 are salmon, mackerel, and tuna. Eggs are also a good source. Vitamin D and vitamin A are stored in your pet's body so it does not have to be present in every meal.

If you decided a vitamin supplement is necessary, another option is to use a human product similar to Centrum - there are many generic equivalents. Pets and humans require vitamin D. However, humans can convert ergocalciferol (D-2) into active vitamin D-3, while pets can not. So be sure the vitamin tablet or liquid that you purchase contains cholecalciferol (D-3) and not ergocalciferol (D-2). Also, cats in particular can not convert beta-carotine (ß-Carotene) into vitamin A. So be sure the human vitamin is not supplying most of the vitamin A content as beta-carotine. In deciding how much of a vitamin tablet to add, remember that the dose recommended on the bottle is for an average, 150 pound person. Zoos have relied for years on Centrum-fortified diets.

Purchase a pill cutter to break the tablet into appropriate sized portions for your pet. I give smaller adult cats approximately one eight of a Centrum- like tablet per day. Larger cats get approximately one sixth of a tablet. I give dogs about one quarter of a human centrum-type tablet for every 30 pounds body weight. I am not a veterinary nutritionist. If you want a veterinary nutritionist's opinion on how much to give, contact Davis Veterinary Medical Consulting .

Be sure the supplement you use contains no xylitol artificial sweetener. Sorbitol has not caused problems.

Add any vitamins you do provide after the pet's food has cooled. Crush or disolve the tablets.

Fiber

Fiber comes in two forms, insoluble fiber and soluble fiber (fermentable fiber) . Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water. It is the substance that gives structure to all plants. When we or our pets ingest it, it expends with water and helps move and lubricate food down the intestine. Soluble fiber is high in oats, beans, peas, barley, fruits and vegetables. Insoluble fiber is high in wheat bran and carrots, but all fiber sources contain a mixture of the two.

We do not know how much fiber dogs and cats need. Intuitively, we think they need less fiber than humans because their natural carnivorous diets contained less and their relatively short digestive tracts have less time to metabolize it. This is especially true for cats. Commercial dry pet foods typically contain 2.5 - 4.5 percent crude total fiber. This is a combination of soluble and insoluble fiber.

Excellent sources of additional fiber for your pet include rice bran, whole oats, canned pumpkin, beets, millers bran, and carrots. Rice bran is especially tasty.

If you increase the fiber content of your pet's food to over 10% a number of bad things might occur that include digestive upsets and blockage of nutrient absorption. Always increase fiber levels slowly, while monitoring your pet because some pets handle high fiber levels better than others.

The first of the conditions in which additional fiber seems beneficial is diabetes. Diets high in fiber appear to lower blood glucose levels (10%) in humans. In pets, we know that additional fiber seems to lessen blood glucose spikes that occur after your pet eats.

Many diabetic pets are also overweight. An added benefit of high bulk-high fiber diets allow these pets to feel full after consuming less calories. If you can not bear to just feed your pet less, try bulking its diet with high-fiber, low caloric ingredients and lowering the fat content of it's diet so that it feels pleasantly full without eating a lot of calories. The best fiber for this purpose is insoluble or non-fermentable fiber. This is because fermentable fiber is more likely to cause loose stools and gas. Commercially prepared low-cal diets usually have (sugar) beet pulp or lignocellulose (powdered wood ) added to supply fiber. Wheat and oat bran and root vegetables are probably your best source.

Another common pet problem that benefits from a diet high in fiber is anal sac disease. These glands are normally emptied by the pressure of feces passing out the pet's anus. When the volume of stool is to small, or too firm or too loose, these two glands do not empty well and often become enlarged, inflamed and painful. Adding fiber to your pet's diet is one of the best ways to cure this problem. After repeated attacks, the exit tubes from these glands become scared and narrow and the gland may permanently loose its ability to contract. Once these changes have occurred, fiber will not solve the problem.

Some pets suffer from an over-active large intestine and chronic diarrhea called irritable bowel syndrome , colitis, or inflammatory bowel disease. Some of these pets do better when certain food ingredients are eliminated, some do better when the amount of fiber in their diet is lowered and some do better when the amount of fiber in their diet is increased. Megacolon, a disease we see primarily in cats, also improves on a high fiber diet.

It also seems that a diet high in fermentable fiber is beneficial in chronic kidney disease. In kidney failure, nitrogen-containing waste (BUN) builds up in the pet's blood stream. Diets high in fermentable fiber seem to allow some of this waste to leave the body through the large intestine rather than the failing kidneys.

The best way to prevent hairballs is to groom your cat regularly. However, when they occur, more than once every week or two, additional fiber in the cat's diet can help. That is the thought behind commercial high-fiber cat foods that advertise as preventing hairballs. Because the added fiber provides no calories, the manufacturers can also call them lo-cal, lite or indoor formulas. My favorite way to give this fiber is as two tablespoons full of canned pumpkin per day. If your cat does not like pumpkin taste, use rice bran. If you give too much, the cat will have diarrhea. So keep the cat confined to a confined, easily-cleaned area while you are experimenting. If fiber does not cure your cat's hair ball problem, you will need a furball remedy that contains petrolatum.

Fermentable fiber, is utilized by intestinal bacteria to produce short chain fatty acids (SCFA). These compounds seem to have a positive effect on general health, intestinal function and colon cancer in humans. We do not know if this is the case in pets as well.

The ingredients in commercial pet foods that are referred to as "fillers" by their competitors are often the same ingredients that add fiber. So they are not, necessarily bad. Actually, even the no-filler pet foods have fillers. They just call them something else - usually bran.

Recipes

How about a vegetarian diet?

Dogs and cats were created as carnivores. They were designed to eat meat. One can argue if they are strict carnivores or just partially carnivores. But one peek at their teeth should remove any of your doubts as to what the Creator designed them to do. That is why I do not recommend un-natural vegetarian (vegan) diets for dogs or cats - although I, myself, am a vegetarian. You can, however, substitute egg and cheese products for meat or fish if you wish to and if your pet handle these products well.

How about a raw diet?

Cooking unlocks many nutrients in foods. But it also destroys some. My personal feeling is that there are more risks of bacterial and viral contamination in feeding a raw diet than there are health benefits. There is no reputable scientific evidence that one or the other is better for your pet.

Do Growing Pets Have Special Needs?

Yes, growing dogs and cats need more calcium and protein than mature pets. They are also more susceptible to problems arising from poor nutrition. Most commercial puppy and kitten formulations have 20- 50% more protein and 1.5 - 2 times as much calcium than do adult formulas. There is really no precise information on this subject. However, giving too much of anything is also be bad. We suspect that pups that grow too fast are more susceptible to hip dysplasia and animals that consume less protein and carbohydrate calories live longer. Problems associated with protein and calcium levels are most often a problem in giant breeds of dogs which lay down bone abnormally. If you prepare a balanced diet for your mature pet, you will do quite well, feeding the same diet to puppies and kittens - if you supply them with all they wish to eat. Do not feed growing animals special diets that are high in fiber or restricted in protein, nutrients or minerals without specific advice from a veterinary nutritionist.

Recipes For Healthy Dogs And Cats:

The most accurate and though information you will find regarding recipes for home made dog and cat diets are provided by Balance IT . This is an organization of veterinary nutritionists with the credentials to suggest nutritionally balanced, good tasting recipes. You will find many recipes on the internet, they are all probably fine if they follow my general guidelines regarding ingredient balance.

Do not use them if they are designed around "magic" or wonder ingredients, product sales, or stray too far from accepted dog and cat nutritional standards.

Pick several that your pet likes that contain entirely different protein and carbohydrate ingredients and rotate them. In that way, your pet's body will have access to a wide variety of nutrients.

Diets For Special Needs Pets

Should I Purchase Or Make Special Needs Diets?

You can purchase diets commercially that are designed to help pets with certain illnesses. To guard profits, manufacturers sell them only through veterinarians or with a prescription from a veterinarian. These diets are expensive, but the ones your vet sells are well thought out. None of these diets cure the diseases for which they are intended, but we hope they slow the speed at which these problems progress.

I suggest that most pet owners buy prescription diets that their veterinarians sell if they can afford to. This is because you may feel guilty when your pet eventually does deteriorate as you wonder if your pet would have lived longer if you had bought the diet your vet recommended. It probably would not have - but it is a question that can not be answered and it is just human nature to ask that question. Also, when you purchase these diets, in addition to the food, you are getting the expertise of a large production staff with degreed nutritionists and quality control procedures that you just can't duplicate alone in your kitchen. If you do decide to prepare these foods at home, here are some recipes you can use:

Diets For Pets With Urinary Tract Disease (FUS And Struvite Stones)

The majority of kidney and bladder stones and sand in pets are one of two kinds. One forms when the urine is acidic and the other when it is basic (alkaline). A diet made for cats and dogs with certain lower urinary tract problems that produce bladder stones or crystals in an acid urine (struvite) consists of: 1.5 lb of cooked ground chuck beef, with the fat retained, 1/4 lb of cooked calf’s liver, one cup cooked brown rice or mashed potatoes , 1 teaspoon canola oil, 1 teaspoon of phosphorus-free calcium carbonate (crushed calcium lactate or calcium gluconate) or 8 "regular Tums" tablets, and one quarter Centrum-type tablet or Pet Tabs given as directed on the bottle. The two most important factor in dissolving struvite stones are feeding a diet that maintains an acid pH urine and adding as much water as possible to your pet's diet to dilute its urine. Adding a moderate amount of salt and potassium chloride salt substitute will help encourge drinking. Taste the food. If it tastes too salty for you - it is too salty for your pet. To know if your home made diet is working, you will need to monitor your pet's urine pH and specific gravity.

You can add 56 - 84 ml (2-3 ounces) of water during cooking if the cat or dog will accept it. The more water your pet consumes, the more dilute it's urine will be and the more likely it will remain free of stones. The addition of a taurine tablet is advisable in cats of all kinds. Taurine deficiencies in cats can lead to heart and eye problems.

Feed approximately 1/4-1/2 lb per ten pounds body weight each day or the amount that maintains your pet's optimal body weight. This formula is designed to keep magnesium and phosphorus levels in the food to a minimum. In dogs, bladder stones can sometimes be dissolved using a diet low in protein (not under 15%) which has added salt or potassium chloride to increase water consumption (most of these dogs will need antibiotics as well).

In cats and dogs with oxalate bladder crystals, the addition of potassium citrate (300-500mg/day) will sometimes prevent relapse - but it will not dissolve oxalate stones that are already present. If you use it, your pet needs it divided during the day. The most important characteristic of a diet to prevent oxalate stones is it's ability to produce a near-alkaline (pH over 6.9) and dilute (specific gravity under 1.020) urine. There is no reason you can not monitor your pet's urine characteristics at home using a refractometer and pH strips. Lower protein, higher fiber diets are also though to be helpful. As much water needs to be added to the food as the pet will accept in order to keep its urine as dilute as possible.

There are now commercial diets sold by veterinarians that are formulated to attempt to prevent both struvite and oxalate bladder and kidney stones at the same time. These diets work by increasing thirst with added salt-substitute (KCl) and table salt - so your pet drinks more and, hopefully, keeps its urine too dilute for stones to form. Some also restrict protein, and keeping urine pH close to neutral. Royal Canin has made much of this data available. As I have already said, taste the food you make for your pet. If it tastes too salty, it is too salty.

Diets For Pets With Failing Kidneys (High BUN & Creatinine)

You can make a diet suitable for dogs and cats with failing kidneys at home when your pet's kidneys can no longer cleanse it's body of waste and fluids.

The results of failing kidneys is a condition called uremia. Pets with uremia loose their appetite and waste away. So the most important thing you can do for your pet in these situations is to prepare the most tasty diet you can and encourage your pet to eat enough of it. If diet alone is not enough to improve your pet's blood values, your veterinarian has medications that may help.

The toxic wastes that build up in your pet's blood are primarily the biproducts of protein digestion and muscle metabolism. These include urea- BUN, creatinine and phosphorus. As your pet's blood phosphorus level increases, it's bones loose calcium and weaken. Pets with kidney disease often loose appetite and weight and might benefit from additional B vitamins also. Sometimes, their blood pressure rises, in which case, a low sodium diet might be beneficial.

Older veterinarians were taught in schools that protein levels should be restricted (low) when feeding pets with damaged kidneys. This seemed to make sense because less meat protein should produce less urea and creatinine for the kidneys to have to remove. the National Kidney Foundation still recommends that people restrict their intake of protein when they have kidney disease.

However, studies done at Iams foods suggest that low protein diets may do more harm than good. Prior studies suggested lower protein diets might help dogs and cats. But these prior studies were very poorly designed. The way Iams designed their studies caused them a lot of grief. But the science was good and it was the only way veterinarians could have found out that we were harming, rather than helping pets when we put them on low protein diets. All commercially available kidney diets have had their protein content adjusted upward based on these results. Some brands of kidney diet still keep their protein level at 13-14% (k/d, NF,). But Eukanuba Prescription Kidney diet and Iams supply over 18%.

We still want to limit your pet's consumption of phosphorus. The foods naturally highest in phosphorus are the common high-protein foods, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, peas and beans. Beef and chicken contain about 8 mg phosphorus per gram of protein, whereas low-fat milk has 28 mg phosphorus per gram of protein. However, cooked egg white have the least phosphorus per gram of protein and the most complete protein and may be the best protein source for your pet. There is no need to separate out the yolks unless your pet gains too much weight.

Iams also found that fermentable fiber seemed to help the pet eliminate urea through its intestine when its kidneys could no longer do so adequately. So all common commercial kidney diets now have higher soluble fiber levels. Iams has patented their particular soluble fiber mixture which consists of fructooligosaccharides, sugar beet pulp, and vegetable gum . Do not exceed the amount of fiber that maintains your pet at it's optimal body weight with an acceptably firm stool.

Limiting the amount of sodium these ill pets ingests is also wise - so commercial diets limit the amount of sodium-rich ingredients in their foods and you should too. They also add omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that are found in cold-water fish and fish oils combined with flax seed to obtain a ratio of about 1:5.

Pets with kidney problems often suffer from poor appetite, weight loss, anemia and debility. B vitamins are often given as appetite stimulants. Also, the diets you make, without dairy or plant sources of calcium will be deficient in calcium So add crushed Pet Tab multi-vitamin and Pet Tab calcium to your recipe once it cools in the amount suggested on the bottles or purchase a supplement suggested by Balance IT.

In advanced kidney disease, when your pet's BUN is over 60 mg/dl, most vets believe that moderately restricting protein in your pet's diet becomes more important. In advanced kidney failure, blood tests need to be run periodically to be sure that blood calcium and phosphorus levels remain within limits and that the pet does not become overly anemic or develop high blood pressure.

Over-Weight Pets And Pets With Constipation or Anal Gland Problems

Other things being equal, we think that pets that live their lives at optimal weight live about two years longer, have less arthritis, lower blood pressure, and maintain a more healthy immune system.

Once your veterinarian has eliminated the possibility that your pet has a thyroid or adrenal gland problem or a physical abnormality in its digestive tract, you can treat all these conditions using diets which are high in fiber and contain reduced levels of fat. If you have a tough enough disposition, your pet will also loose weight gradually if you feed it only two-thirds of what is currently eating. Safe weight loss should be very gradual (1% or so a week) - never rapid.

To help your pet loose weight, food should be fed two or three times a day and any remaining after one hour should be removed. In between, rawhide chews will keep your dog occupied. Cats snooze away their unoccupied time but you can bake them lo- cal cat treats as well. Pets that are given their food all at once often consume more than nibblers. You may find that an automatic feeder actually allows your pet to eat less.

Some cats loose weight when they are switched from dry to canned cat food. It is also quite simple to add additional fiber to canned food.

Weight Loss Recipe:

One quarter pound of ground 99/1 beef, chicken or turkey
One cup of uncreamed cottage cheese or farmer’s cheese
(Freeze/thaw the cottage cheese and pour off the liquid to remove the lactose)
Three cups of canned puréed pumpkin, drained cooked carrots or cooked cabbage
One cup drained canned peas or Rosarita fat-free pinto beans
One half cup of rice bran

Cook the beef, turkey or chicken in a skillet, stirring until lightly browned
Add the remaining ingredients or serve them separately.

Add or give Pet Tab vitamins according to directions on the label or the Balance IT suggested products. Keep the container covered on an upper shelf in your refrigerator for no more than a few day. If you are feeding a cat, add 500 mg of taurine.

Introduce your pet to the vegetable items in this diet gradually. If the vegetable items cause diarrhea , gas or bloating, reduce the amount you add or substitute other high-bulk items such as more finely, ground bran, or psyllium seed husk.

Low Sodium Diets For Pets With Heart Problems Or High Blood Pressure

Diets with reduced salt are often recommended for pets with heart failure because these pets tend to retain excess salt and water in their bodies. This is true in humans and appears to be the case in pets as well.

Dogs and cats with kidney problems or hyperthyroidism are also prone to develop high blood pressure. Low sodium diets seem to help these pets as well. However, significantly elevated blood pressure in pets will need medications as well as dietary changes.

Many supermarket and premium dog foods have relatively high salt levels. Excellent , commercially prepared low-salt diets are sold by your veterinarian or online with a prescription from your veterinarian. But sometimes, a finicky pet or just an old one, will refuse new commercially made diets.

No sodium restriction is necessary in pets with heart disease unless the condition has progressed to retention of fluid in the lungs (night cough) or in the abdomen (tummy). In this case, a diet prepared similarly to that for kidney disease is a good idea. When preparing this diet, the object is to keep salt (Sodium Chloride) to a minimum. No added salt should be used and ingredients high in salt must be avoided. Potassium chloride, rather than sodium chloride is the ingredient of choice if the diet is too bland.

Beef round steak, whole egg, chicken or turkey white meat and leg of lamb all have only a moderate amount of sodium. Certain fish, shrimp and shellfish are quite high in sodium and so should be avoided. Milk products, salted snack foods, mixed seasonings and canned vegetables are also high in salt – unless the package states that they are salt-free.

Over the years I have modified a low salt diet recipe , published in a 1995 issue of Veterinary Forum. The diet is composed of ¼ pound ground beef, or white chicken or turkey meat , 2 cups of cooked white rice, one teaspoon of flax seed oil, two teaspoons of canola oil, 1000mg of Calcium carbonate (Tums) and Pet Tab vitamins given according to the bottle recommendations. For cats, the addition of taurine, an essential amino acid that is necessary for feline heart function, is highly advisable.

Many pets with heart disease loose weight. In those animals high caloric a product like Nutrical or Energel and high-protein-low salt treats can help them maintain their weight. Pets and people in decline often die of malnutrition before dying of a specific disease. In those situations , feed your pet whatever it will accept. Any form of nutrients is better than none.

Diets For Diabetic Pets

These diets rely on higher protein and lower carbohydrate to help stabilize blood glucose since the protein in food is converted to glucose slower than the starch. The results of increasing or decreasing fiber content in the diet of diabetic cats are not consistent. What is probably more important is that your cat stay at a normal body weight and consume its diet slowly throughout the day. Dogs seem to do better when their fiber intake is increased.

A well-established routine that combines regularly scheduled meal times, treats, and exercise is very important in maintaining your diabetic pet's good health. Reducing your pet's weight to an optimal level is also very important. You do not want your diabetic pet to be too fat or too thin.

You will need to experiment with various recipes and feeding times and see what works best to control your pet's blood sugar level. The best way to monitor your pet's blood sugar is using a glucometer at home to monitor its blood sugar level. In cats, you may get by using Glucotests.

In people, dietary changes alone often make insulin therapy unnecessary. This can occur in pets as well.

Commercially formulated diets for diabetic pets have increased omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid levels supplied by fish oils and flax seed and increased levels of vitamin E . Sunflower and canola oils are good sources of natural vitamin E.

Hypoallergenic Diets (For Allergic Pets)

Signs of pets with food allergies include chewing at the webs of their paws, generalized itchiness of the skin which results in rash, redness and hair loss, chronic ear disease (otitis) and chronic diarrhea. However, like humans, many more pets develop allergies to things in the air they breath rather than to things they eat.

If your pet is allergic or sensitive to a food ingredient, the problem should lessen or go away within a week or two of eliminating the ingredient. Commercial pet food companies produce hypoallergenic diets in two ways. They either supply a protein and a carbohydrate source that the pet has not eaten before or they break the animal and plant protein molecules to a small size that does not provoke (cause) allergy.

Providing novel (new) protein and carbohydrate sources is an option for you when you prepare your pet food yourself. Pets that have a tendency to food allergies often become allergic to the new foods over time. When that occurs, it is time to change ingredients. Remember, pet treats and table scraps can be enough to cause food allergy problems. Hypoallergenic treats can be made at home. All family members have to cooperate and not sneak the pet their favorite snacks.

Senior Diets

Many diets are marketed for senior pets. But there is absolutely no science to back them up. What is important is that you keep your senior pet at an optimal weight, provide a diet that contains all the nutrients all dogs and cats need and encourage as much exercise as you can for your pet. If they have developed a specific health problem, feed them a diet to address that problem.

Old pets often develop a number of health issues and it is important that you have your vet tend to them when they occur. Preventing gum disease in older pets is also very important.

Diets for otherwise healthy ,older cats and dogs are best when their fat content is reduced - if the pet is less active and needs less calories. If you feed dry chows, they may do better on a smaller kibble size if their teeth are not what they used to be.

Many veterinarians and owners intuitively think that increased antioxidants including alpha-tocopherol, omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, and increased in fiber can also be helpful for their old pets. This is based on studies from Harvard Medical School that showed that diets rich in these ingredients- slowed the incidence of cancer in humans.

Points To Remember

With all home cooked diets, you need to remember that cats need more quality, absorbable, protein in their diet than dogs do (about 30% of their dry diets). Cats also need considerably more fat in their diet than dogs.

Many commercial adult feline diets have higher protein levels. There are two reasons for this. The first is that they are not using human-grade meat protein sources. Things labled as "by-product ","meal" or "digest" are poorly absorbed. The second reason is that consumers who buy the products often think that more means better.

Temporary diarrhea often accompanies any diet change just as it does in people. A way to avoid this is to make changes gradually.

No one diet will suit all individuals. Experts do not know your pet as well as you do. You are in the best posistion to decide if your pet is doing well on any given diet. It is a tribute to the design of the special animals that live with us that they are so adaptable in their food sources. If they were not, they would still be roaming around in the wild.

Young puppies, kittens and growing animals have less body reserves of specific nutrients and greater needs than mature pets. They are also at a point in life when deficiencies are more likely to cause lasting effects. Be particularly cautious when preparing home made diets for these animals, stay with the tried and true.

In general, disregard the claims of individuals or companies with products to sell. The more amazing the claim, the less likely it is to be true.