Dr Scott Miller explains the dangers of DIY pet food
A survey of 3,100 pet owners revealed one in five dogs and one in 20 cats are fed a solely vegan or vegetarian diet by their owners. However this could be extremely dangerous for our furry friends, and can lead to serious health problems.
Dr Scott joins us today to discuss the dangers of a DIY diet, and what you can do to make sure your pet is having a balanced diet, including whether it’s ok to feed your dog ice cream, crisps or bread.
What are these 'dangerous DIY diets?
The study’s author Dr Sarah Dodd, from the University of Guelph Ontario Veterinary College in Canada, said: "These 'unconventional' diets may help nurture the bond between pets and their owners, but they may also be storing up health problems for these animals. Avoidance of conventional pet foods in favour of home-made and raw food products may put the health of dogs and cats at risk."
Is it okay to feed cats and dogs a DIY diet?
Dr Scott says that people should exercise caution when adopting a DIY diet (feeding them regular food rather than specialised pet food). “It can be absolutely fine, but only if you know exactly what your pet needs, and that takes special expertise and would require a lot of knowledge about nutrition" he says. "If you’re not 100% sure about exactly what they need, then there are pitfalls that can have serious consequences. It’s better to trust companies who employ experts who know how to safely manufacture and transport healthy and pet-friendly safe foods- especially if you’re a cat owner, because cats need to eat meat to survive.”
Dr. Scott says that whilst vegetarianism/veganism are noble causes - it is unfair to force your ethics on to your pet. “I think it’s great that more people are not eating meat, but you have to remember that your pet’s health comes ahead of your own personal ethics. So if you are vegetarian/vegan and you don’t handle meat - maybe it’s best not to get a cat. And if you're a dog owner - you need to make sure you’re giving your dog the best nutrition possible, so consult your vet and see if a vegetarian/vegan diet is appropriate.”
Do you know what your dog can and can't eat?
ICE CREAM: Not going to kill them. But you need to be aware that most dogs are lactose intolerant so this will result in them having diarrhea. You also must avoid chocolate as it's very toxic for dogs - dark chocolate is the worst.
CRISPS: Crisps are very salty, but it's not the end of the world if they eat them. But again, you need to ask yourself. What is the nutrional value?
BREAD: Bread is not going to be problem. But it doesn't have that much nutritional value, so there's not that much point.
LEFTOVER ROAST DINNER: Better to be careful as roast dinners are quite fatty. With fatty foods the dog's pancreas can become inflamed which can be quite serious. Also, a lot of the leftovers from a roast dinner will be the fatty stuff that nobody wants. Bones can become brittle when dogs try to chew them, and then it becomes problematic when they try to digest it - so avoid giving your dog a bone.
Which fruit and vegetables to avoid
AVOCADO: Dogs should not eat avocado. While they may be a healthy snack for dog owners, it should not be given to dogs at all. The pit, skin, and leaves of avocados contain persin, a toxin that often causes vomiting and diarrhea in dogs.
CHERRIES: No, dogs should not eat cherries. With the exception of the fleshy part around the seed, cherry plants contain cyanide and are toxic to dogs. Cyanide disrupts cellular oxygen transport, which means that your dog’s blood cells can’t get enough oxygen. If your dog eats cherries, be on the lookout for dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, and red gums, as these may be signs of cyanide poisoning.
GRAPES: No, dogs should never eat grapes. Grapes and raisins (dried grapes) have proved to be very toxic for dogs no matter the dog’s breed, sex, or age. In fact, grapes are so toxic that they can lead to acute sudden kidney failure.
TOMATOES: While the ripened fruit of the tomato plant is generally considered safe for dogs, the green parts of the plant contain a toxic substance called solanine. While a dog would need to eat a large amount of the tomato plant to make him or her sick, it’s better to skip tomatoes all together just to be safe.
MUSHROOMS: Wild mushrooms can be toxic for dogs. While only 50-100 of the 50,000 mushroom species worldwide are known to be toxic, the ones that are poisonous can really hurt your dog or even lead to death. Washed white mushrooms from the supermarket could be OK, but it’s better to be safe than sorry and skip the fungi for Fido all together.
ONIONS: Onions, leeks, and chives are part of a family of plants called Allium that is poisonous to most pets, especially cats. Eating onions can cause your dog’s red blood cells to rupture, and can also cause vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and nausea. Poisoning from onions is more serious in Japanese breeds of dogs like Akitas and Shiba Inus, but all dogs are very susceptible to it.