With the recall of a number of brands of pet food, many people have begun making their own dog and cat food. If you have considered it, but felt it was too hard or too scary, let me put your mind at ease. Anyone can make their own pet food if they have the time and the willingness.
Nutrients in Homemade Pet Foods
It is not difficult to create your own pet foods, but it does take a bit of time and know-how. There are a couple of nutrients that need careful attention. The first is calcium. It is not enough to simply add a given amount of a calcium supplement to the food - you need to have the correct phosphorus to calcium balance.
Meat is high in phosphorus. Unless you are feeding meaty bones, or meat with ground bones, you will need to add calcium to bring the ratio of calcium to phosphorus up to 1.3 to 1. The amount needed varies with the protein source, but a rule of thumb is 1000 mg calcium per pound of food.
Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they should have a diet consisting of mostly, if not exclusively, meats. They have a high requirement for taurine, found primarily in meats (especially heart) and fish, and to a lesser extent eggs and dairy products.
Much of the taurine in meat is lost if the meat is cooked, so if you are feeding a cooked product you may wish to supplement.
Choices to Consider in Making Dog or Cat Food
There are some decisions to be made before beginning to make your own pet food.
Will you make it raw or cooked? There are advocates of both. Will you include whole, fresh bones, ground bone or powdered calcium?
Will you include grains in the diet? Grains are often the source of problems in food-related problems. But they also help keep the cost of the food down, so you have to weigh both sides.
Raw food does pose a potential bacteria problem, both for you and the animal. Raw meats for pet food should be handled as carefully as you would for the rest of your family.
Dog's digestive tracts are much shorter than ours, and they have evolved to have the ability to eat less-than-fresh meats. For these reasons, a small amount of bacteria is not usually a problem for them.
On the other hand, some animals do better on cooked foods. Older animals may do better if the food is cooked. Also, animals that are ill or have compromised immune systems would probably be better off eating a cooked product.
Grains, if used should always be cooked, as dogs and cats do not digest carbohydrates well. Oats, barley or rice are usually good choices.
Additions to Dog and Cat Food
Neither dogs nor cats require vegetables in their diet, but they do provide added vitamins and minerals. They also add taste and extend the meat content, possibly lowering the cost.
Vegetables should be lightly cooked or well ground, also to aid in their digestibility. Cooking destroys most of the enzymes in the vegetables; these enzymes help the animal to digest the food. Ground vegetables quickly lose enzymes as well, so these should be fed immediately or frozen.
Garlic can be added to pet foods for flavor and antioxidant protection. Other herbs can be added if it helps you pet to enjoy it more, but certainly are not necessary. Water or broth can be used as needed to obtain the best consistency for your dog or cat.
Foods Dogs or Cats Should Not Have
There are some foods to avoid when preparing pet food. These include chocolate, onions, grapes and raw salmon. Also avoid sugar and salt. Some animals may not digest dairy products well, and some are sensitive to yeast.
A diet heavy in raw egg whites can deplete biotin in the animal. There is enough biotin in the yolk so that it is not a problem if whole eggs are fed, but you may want to cook just the whites.
Bones, if fed, should be raw. Avoid soft bones that splinter easily, such as pork bones. Chicken wings and necks are good, as are beef knuckle bones. Consider the risks in feeding bones as well, especially if your dog tends to break off large pieces.
Bits of bone can get lodged anywhere along the digestive tract, causing bleeding and other potential problems. Bones can also break teeth. Talk to your vet if you are uncertain about whether or not to offer bones to your pet.
Books on Pet Food
The bookstores and online booksellers offer a wide variety of books with recipes or helpful information for formulating your own dog and cat foods.
I would recommend paying attention to who the author of the book is and what his or her credentials are before choosing a particular book.
Two of the books that I trust are Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, and The New Natural Cat by Anitra Frazier.
