Homemade Pet Diets
“The ASPCA still generally recommends high-quality commercial diets for pets,” said Dr. Steven Hansen, a board-certified veterinary toxicologist and senior vice president with the ASPCA, who manages the ASPCA’s Midwest Office, including its Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) and Pet Nutrition and Science Advisory Service. Such foods are highly research-based, and are formulated with nutrients specific to your pet’s wellbeing.
Homemade diets can certainly provide pets with an adequate diet, but they do require a substantial amount of work. They would be fine to use as a temporary diet until the recall issues have been resolved.
If a homemade pet food recipe is used, it is very important to
remember the following:
- Follow recipe directions exactly, without any substitutions or omitting of
ingredients. This includes processing and cooking instructions since some processing
steps can destroy or damage the nutrients in the ingredients.
- It is also important to have your pet examined by a veterinarian a few times
per year, so her health can be evaluated.
- Supplementing your pet’s diet with healthy treats is fine, but treats,
even healthy ones, should not make up more than five to 10 percent of your pet’s
daily caloric intake. Too many treats will throw off the balance of nutrients
your pet is receiving from her standard diet.
Some appropriate healthy snacks for dogs include: carrot sticks, apple slices (without seeds), green beans, and cantaloupe. Pets that do not tolerate dietary changes well or have specific health conditions should not be given these types of extras unless approved by your veterinarian.
A list of commercial pet food companies who have made statements that their food is not affected by the Menu Foods recall can be found at www.petsitusa.com. This is not a recommendation of any specific food, just a list of foods that are reported safe by the manufacturers.
DIET FOR ADULT DOGS
Amounts given are adequate for one day’s feeding of a 20-35 pound dog (depending on age & activity level). Adjust amounts proportionally for your dog’s weight. Starches may be decreased or omitted in case of digestive problems or for weight loss.
CHOOSE ONE PROTEIN SOURCE:
Animal Proteins:
(meat amounts given in raw weight)
* 1/3 pound boneless chicken breast or thigh, chopped, ground, or minced
* 3 large hard-boiled eggs
* 1/3 pound lean beef
* Optional: once a week, substitute 4 oz organic liver for 1/2 of any meat source
Vegetarian Proteins:
* 1 cup cottage cheese
* 1/2 cup tofu, firm
* 1 cup soybeans, cooked
* 1 cup lentils, cooked
CHOOSE ONE STARCH SOURCE:
With Animal Proteins:
* 2 cups cooked macaroni
* 3 cups cooked potato, with skin, chopped or mashed
* 2 cups cooked rice
* 2 cups rolled oats, quick, cooked
With Vegetarian Proteins:
* 2 cups cooked brown rice
* 2 cups cooked potato, with skin, chopped or mashed
* 2 cups cooked macaroni
* 1 cup cooked rice
* 1 cup plus cooked black-eyed peas
* 2-1/2 cups rolled oats, quick, cooked (1-1/4 cup raw)
* 1-1/2 cups cooked brown rice plus 1 cup cooked kidney beans
SUPPLEMENTS:
* puréed veggie mix (up to 1 cup)
* 1 Tbsp olive oil, or 1/2 Tbsp olive and 1/2 Tbsp flaxseed oil
* 400 mg calcium (elemental, as calcium citrate or carbonate)
* or 1200 mg (approximately 1-1/2 tsp) bone meal powder (human grade)
* 1/4 tsp salt substitute (potassium chloride) — give 3 or 4 times a week
* 1 multiple vitamin-mineral supplement (human quality)
* 1 probiotic/digestive enzyme supplement (optional)
Vegetarian dogs should get Vitamin B12, carnitine (250 mg) and taurine (250 mg) once a week. Vegetarian dogs of breeds prone to developing dilated cardiomyopathy should get supplemental Carnitine (50-100 mg) daily.
DIET FOR ADULT CATS
Feed an adult cat as much as she will eat in 20-30 minutes. Refrigerate leftovers promptly. Feed adult cats twice a day. Recipe provides approximately 3 servings.
CHOOSE ONE PROTEIN SOURCE:
(meat amounts given in raw weight)
* 1/2 lb boneless chicken breast or thigh, minced
* 6 oz ground turkey, or minced turkey (dark meat)
* 1/2 lb lean beef, minced
* 1/2 lb beef, chicken or turkey heart, ground or minced
* About 3 times a week, include 1 chopped hard-boiled or scrambled egg
* Optional: once a week, substitute 4 oz organic liver for 1/2 of any meat source
* Optional: once every 2 weeks, substitute 4 oz tuna (packed in water, no salt),
6 oz sardines (canned) or 5 oz salmon (canned, with bones) for any meat source.
Do not use canned fish as a protein source for cats who are prone to urinary
tract problems.
* Optional: for cats needing a lower protein diet, add 1 cup cooked white rice.
SUPPLEMENTS:
* 2 tsp olive oil, or 1 tsp olive and 1 tsp flaxseed oil
* 300 mg calcium (as carbonate or citrate), or about 1 slightly rounded tsp
bone meal (human grade) (if using canned fish with bones, decrease calcium to
1/4 regular amount)
* 1-2 Tbsp puréed vegetables — many cats prefer their veggies lightly
steamed — or vegetable baby food (without onion powder)
* 1/4 tsp salt substitute (potassium chloride) — give 3 or 4 times a week
* 1 cat-size dose of multiple vitamin-mineral supplement (human quality) or
cat vitamin
* 1 probiotic/digestive enzyme supplement (optional)
80 mg taurine (about of one 250 mg taurine capsule or tablet, powdered) (omit if using cat vitamin)