There is an old adage in zoo and wildlife medicine that if you feed and house your animals appropriately, they will not get sick. While that is not absolutely true, proper housing and husbandry along with an appropriate diet does really limit many diseases because of avoidance of environmental stressors and a properly functioning body, including the immune system.
This article will focus on food, which is often talked about. Unfortunately, most of the talk is about marketing campaigns and obscure distinctions. There are a few types of pet food preparations that we need to start with; raw, fresh cooked, canned, semi-moist and dry. Food palatability is driven in all mammals by a combination of water, fat, protein, salt and sugar. More than any ingredient, these five characteristics drive our pet’s taste buds. It is also important to recognize diet of the wild animal relatives of our domestic pets. That is what they are meant to eat! In other words, cats are obligate carnivores and do not eat plant materials if given a choice. Dogs by comparison, are more prone to eating pre-digested plant material from their prey and more readily consume plant products.
For owner convenience in the 21st century, we like to blend everything into a consistent diet so we only vary the quantity of the food. Historically, humans have fed our pets left over’s from the table, but rarely anymore. This drive for convenience has led us to canned food, and then dry and semi-moist foods. Now we are seeing people want to cook for their animals.
There is no perfect food or formulation. Most animals will do reasonably well on any formulation, but some have special needs for a variety of reasons. All foods have trade-offs, whether it is lack of water in dry food, or salmonella in raw diets. I will describe the pros and cons of each formulation as I have experienced them over the last 30 years.
Dry food is easy, and convenient for owners. Dishes do not get very dirty, are easily refilled, and can be stocked up to adjust to schedules being erratic. The food has the longest shelf life of any, so restocking can be done more infrequently. The lack of water in the food can lead to low total water consumption, promoting urinary stones in susceptible animals. This is an especially big problem in cats.
Semi-moist is sold in sealed packages, and with the increased water content, more palatable. It is relatively uncommon due to the price compared to other formulations. It is good for certain fussy eaters.
Canned is a cooked mixture of food that can include meat, starches, vegetables, and a variety of food processing components like whey and egg whites. It is generally a complete diet with high water content. Most animals prefer this to dry food, but not all. It is easy to supplement with vegetables or other home cooked additions that benefit certain conditions. It can also be good to hide powdered medicines in. The bowls do leave residue and require cleaning, or food spoilage will occur, leading to food poisoning. Some people will also find ants or flies attracted to these bowls that are not washed regularly.
Fresh cooked is an increasingly common way to feed pets, if you have the time. Basically, someone cooks up a stew that is then parceled out during the week. Often people will cook things twice weekly, but you can use any schedule that you would like. You must make sure the stored meal does not sit too long and go bad. It can be hard to balance for vitamins and minerals if you are not careful. Commercially prepared foods make sure the formulas include all essential nutrients. Chicken and rice exclusively does not. Especially older and frail animals will like a warm, cooked food while some really boisterous youngsters will slow down a bit with cold food.
Raw diet is the most “natural”, but probably the most controversial. The food is not cooked, so it is in a state like the wild cousins would eat. Cooking can affect the molecular structure of food, and some animals seem to do better in the natural state. I can not prove that scientifically, but see that often in clinical practice. The big argument is that you can get food poisoning, like Salmonella. It is a real risk, but it is food quality that determines the risk. If you eat sushi and steak tartar, you might consider it. If you only will eat food cooked to 200 degree internal temperature, you should not. If you are going to feed a raw diet, dishes must be cleaned carefully after each meal. Food storage is essential, and only in the fresh state for 24-36 hours before consumption. Freezing allows storage, but do not thaw out much in advance. Raw foods have the most water, but can make old, feeble animals slow and lethargic.
Good nutrition is a complicated science, but it can be distilled to a formula for any individual. The big question is what the right choice is for you and your pet based on your individual lifestyle and needs. Ask your veterinarian if you have questions about what should be in the bowl for your pet!
Submitted by Dr. Chip Beckett, DVM of Glastonbury. For more information, contact 860-659-0848 or visit www.beckettvet.net.