Community Corner

Is It Safe for Pleasanton Dog Owners to Make Dog Food at Home?

A recent UC Davis study looked at the nutritional value of numerous home-made dog food recipes.

 

The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine looked at 200 recipes for home-made dog food, including ones found in books, websites and veterinary textbooks. The school found only nine recipes met the standards of the Association of American Feed Control Officials, and only five were up to snuff with the National Research Council’s Minimum Requirements, according to a press release.

“Some owners prefer to prepare their dogs’ food at home because they feel they have better control over the animals’ diet, want to provide a more natural food or simply don’t trust pet food companies,” the press release quoted Assistant Professor of Clinical Nutrition Jennifer Larsen as saying. 

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“The results of this study, however, indicate that most available recipes for healthy dogs, even those published in books by veterinarians, do not provide essential nutrients in the quantities required by the dog. It is extremely difficult for the average pet owner — or even veterinarians — to come up with balanced recipes to create appropriate meals that are safe for long-term use."

Larsen recommends consulting a "board-certified veterinary nutritionist" if a dog owner wants to make food at home.

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