Kibble alternatives. Tip: Make sure it is cooked and that the recipe is nutritionally balanced!
A high quality pet food requires a precise blend of ingredients to meet a specific nutrient profile based on a pet's life stage, lifestyle of disease condition. This is the advantage to choosing a diet or recipe that has been formulated by a licensed veterinary nutritionist. A qualified veterinary nutritionist or PHD or Masters in animal nutrition will ensure that these nutrients are delivered to your pet in the right ratios for their stage of life.
Home cooking is a great alternative to kibble. However, there are two key factors in feeding a home cooked diet safely.
- Ensure the food is cooked! Feeding raw food does not have any additional benefits but many additional zoonotic risks.
- Ensure that the diet is formulated by a veterinary nutritionist or PHD Animal Nutritionist.
Looking for some kibble alternatives? There are some great resources for that!
- Hilary’s Blend “Complete and Balanced” Cook book – to be used with Hilary’s Blend supplement
- Balanceit.com – software allows you to create a diet for pet’s specific life stage, dietary sensitivities, and nutrient requirements. To be used with the Balanceit supplement. Designed by board certified veterinary nutritionists.
- PetDiets – www.petdiets.com run by five board certified veterinary nutritionists with a library of hundreds of recipes
- Just Food For Dogs DIY kits – five balanced recipes that have been proven through digestibility and AAFCO feeding trials.
- Home Prepared Dog and Cat Diets: by Patricia Schneck PHD Animal Nutritionist and Veterinarian.
Note: not all recipes are created equal!! A recipe which does not provide exact measurements and exact supplement recommendations is unlikely to be a balanced recipe!
- Do not feed a recipe without specific instructions on supplementation. They should also specify how much supplementation your pet needs and provide brand recommendations.
- Each recipe should provide an AAFCO nutritional breakdown, macros and caloric information
If you are unsure about your pet’s nutritional needs, speak to your veterinarian for guidance.
References:
www.thecaninehealthnut.com
