Homemade Diets Research Articles

Homemade Diets: Attributes, Pitfalls, and a Call for Action

At one time, it was estimated that the majority of dogs and cats in the United States received 90% or more of their nutrition from complete and balanced commercially prepared foods, and this estimate was reaffirmed in a 2004 survey. However, 4 years and several pet food and treat recalls later, fewer pet owners are feeding commercial pet food products exclusively and more are asking questions and looking for alternatives. As in any market-driven economy, there are many more alternative diets and food products available today from which pet owners may select. A difficult to measure but growing number of clients are feeding homemade diets that provide 100% of their pet's nutrition, while a larger number are feeding a combination of products, treats, and home prepared meals. Most practitioners can attest to this increase in their client's interest in homemade meals and to having insufficient knowledge to assist them. At a time when motivated clients are considering homemade for their pets as an alternative, veterinarians are less than adequately versed in canine and feline nutrition and dietary options. The article addresses the two most important health issues concerning pet owners and veterinarians about homemade diets: nutritional integrity and food safety.

Pet feeding practices of dog and cat owners in the United States and Australia

Most pet dogs and cats in developed countries are fed commercial foods, but there is growing interest in the use of noncommercial foods for pets, including homemade and raw food diets. A survey of dog and cat owners in the United States and Australia revealed that > 90% of pets were fed commercial foods, but that noncommercial foods comprised at east 25% of the diet for 17.3% of dogs and 6.3% of cats.

A case–control study of risk factors for canine atopic dermatitis among boxer, bullterrier and West Highland white terrier dogs in Sweden

Environmental and dietary risk factors for the development of canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) in the high-risk breeds of boxer, bullterrier and West Highland white terrier were assessed in a case-control study. A logistic regression model was developed to evaluate their relative importance in 58 cases from 12 practices in Sweden and 61 unaffected controls, matched to cases by breed and year of birth. The final model included a random error term for 'examining veterinarian', as dogs from the same practice were not considered independent. No effect of gender, season of birth, environment, vaccination or de-worming practices on the odds of developing CAD was detected. The main finding was that feeding a diet including noncommercial products to the bitch during lactation had a protective effect on the development of CAD in her offspring; the odds of developing CAD were twice as high among offspring from bitches that were not exposed to home-made/noncommercial diets [95% confidence interval (CI) of the odds ratio: 1.2-3.8]. The population attributable fraction for not feeding home-made diets to the lactating bitch was estimated as 0.4 (95% CI: 0.04-0.63). Randomized controlled clinical trials are needed to further support the finding of a potential protective role of diet in CAD development.

Post Treatment Skeletal Mineral Accretion in Malnourished, Growing Animals

Cases of rickets and other conditions of malnutrition in growing animals have been uncommon in recent years, but the popularity of raw and homemade diets in companion and exotic animals have resulted in an increased number of cases presented to veterinary clinics and teaching hospitals.Growing animals, including four puppies, two cougars, two jaguars and one serval, fed non‐commercial diets were diagnosed radiographically with multiple fractures and/or folding fractures. All animals were undersized, exhibited lameness of varying degrees, or were beginning to exhibit neurological signs. A review of diets indicated that they were either imbalanced in calcium:phosphorus or were deficient in calcium. Dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans were performed prior to correction of nutrition imbalances and were followed up with scans at intervals of 30 days and/or 60 and 90 days. Upon discharge, animals were fed commercial growth diets appropriate for their species and were administered calcium carbonate (250 mg PO q 24 h). DEXA scans performed at 30 days showed a significant accretion of bone mineral at fracture sites, with insignificant increase in bone mineral density of long bones. Subsequent radiographs and DEXA scans showed increased cortical bone density, bone healing, and remodelling of fracture sites. It appears that the initial period following correction of mineral malnutrition may involve preferential directing of dietary calcium towards sites of bone injury, without significant improvement in overall bone mineral deficits. The appropriateness of calcium supplementation during correction of calcium malnutrition and normalization of calcium ‘set point’ is not well documented. Additionally, an optimal dose of calcium supplementation that will maximize calcium accretion without a negative feedback response is desired. When treating cases of malnutrition, it is prudent to limit activity during the first 4–6 weeks of treatment to protect the animal from further injury until general increases in bone mineral density occur.

Feline pansteatitis revisited: hazards of unbalanced home-made diets

Pansteatitis is caused by the consumption of high levels of unsaturated fatty acids and/or the insufficient intake of vitamin E, leading to inflammation of adipose tissue. This disease has been related to fish-based diets. However, non-conventional diets must also be considered. The authors present case records of two cats with pansteatitis, for which diet consisted mostly of pig's brain, comparing them with eight cases of disease in cats eating mainly oily fish. Cats fed pig's brain did not show clinical signs, while cats eating oily fish presented inappetence, depression, reluctance to move and subcutaneous nodules painful on palpation. Cats eating pig's brain did not show any change in blood parameters, while cats fed oily fish presented leukocytosis and anaemia. Histological examination confirmed pansteatitis in all cats, independently of the diet. All animals except one of the cats eating oily fish recovered after medical treatment and change of the feeding regime.

Ferret Nutrition

The unusually short intestinal tract of ferrets and closely related mustelids lacks a cecum and ileocolic valve. As a result, the transit time of ingesta in these carnivores is very rapid compared with other animals, and their food is inefficiently digested. Although the precise nutritional requirements of ferrets have not been determined by feeding defined diets, information has been compiled from experience feeding commercial and analyzed homemade diets to breeding ferrets, fitch, and mink at all stages of their lives. The requirements of spayed or neutered pet ferrets are met by allowing them constant access to drinking water and a palatable, pelleted, or extruded, 90% dry matter, premium cat or ferret food that, as fed, contains at least 15% fat and 30% high quality, meat source protein, less than 30% carbohydrates, and approximately 4 Kcal of metabolizable energy per gram. Lower density diets with more carbohydrate and less protein are associated with poor reproductive performance and growth and greater susceptibility to infectious and metabolic diseases.

Protein-Deficient Diet Alters Serum Alkaline Phosphatase, Bile Acids, Proteins and Urea Nitrogen in Dogs

Inadequate dietary protein intake in dogs can occur in a number of clinical situations, including prolonged voluntary anorexia, feeding of improperly formulated homemade diets (i.e., vegetarian) and overzealous protein restriction for the management of hepatic dis ease, renal insufficiency or struvite urolithiasis. Pre liminary data in our laboratory and others (Osborne et al. 1985) suggested that restricted protein diets (8% dry matter basis (DMB) ) can result in mild abnormal ities in a number of common serum biochemical assays including serum albumin, urea nitrogen and alkaline phosphatase. For that reason, a study was undertaken to assess the effect of an overtly protein-deficient diet on serum biochemical assays and hepatic function tests. Materials and methods. A prospective random ized study was designed to evaluate the effects of a protein-deficient diet on serum proteins, urea nitro gen, hepatic enzymes and bile acids. This experiment was one component of a larger study evaluating the effects of protein deficiency on bone healing in dogs. The experimental protocol was reviewed and approved by the institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the Akron City Hospital. Sixteen healthy adult female beagles were utilized in the study. Dogs were determined to be healthy be fore the study on the basis of a physical examination, complete blood count, serum biochemistry panel and urinalysis. Eight of the dogs consumed a control diet for the entire 6-mo course of the study. The remaining eight dogs were fed a protein-deficient diet. Dogs were randomly assigned to each feeding group. Dogs were housed individually and were meal fed an amount cal culated to maintain their body weight. To detect ex ternal evidence of protein malnutrition, physical ex ams were performed on each dog weekly. Body weights were also recorded weekly. Table 1 outlines the nutrient profile and metabolizable energy content of the two experimental diets used in the study. Table 2 provides the ingredient composition of the two diets. Both diets were for mulated and manufactured by the Experimental Food Laboratory at Mark Morris Associates (Topeka, KS) using a twin screw extruder (APV Baker, Grand Rap ids, MI) for the cooking and forming process. The amino acid sources in both the control and pro tein-deficient diets were egg and food grade cornstarch. Egg was an important source of protein in both the protein-deficient (80%) and control (95%) diets. Amino acids contained in the cornstarch supplied ~20% and 5% of the protein in the protein-deficient and control diets, respectively. The amino acid profile of the control diet exceeded the canine amino acid re quirements established by Association of American Feed Control Officials (1994) and the National Re search Council (1985). Jugular venipuncture was performed after witholding food for 12 h at 0 (baseline), 4, 8, 12, 16 and 24 wk of the study. Venous blood was also sampled preand postprandially (2 h) during weeks 12 and 24 for serum bile acid analysis. Serum was harvested im mediately and frozen at -70°C pending analysis.