C O L D  R I V E R  V E T E R I N A R Y  C E N T E R

Home food for cats and dogs

HOME CARE

• Home food for cats and dogs

• How to apply the TTouch Body Wrap

• How to administer subcutaneous fluids

• How to set up a subcutaneous fluid set

• Intramuscular injections

• Obtain an ear culture

Healthy foods for pets

Protein sources: beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, fish, pork, cottage cheese, yogurt, eggs, beans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, soy foods, liver. Limit tuna and swordfish due to mercury contamination.

Vegetables: celery, broccoli, squash, kale, Brussel sprouts, parsley, okra, cilantro, turnip, asparagus, lettuce, beet greens, peas, green beans, lima beans, garlic, etc. Add fruits, berries, melon in season.

Carbohydrates: sweet potato, pasta, brown rice, millet, buckwheat, quinoa, barley, tapioca, polenta, etc.

Fats: olive oil, sunflower oil, fish oil, butter, cream cheese, chicken skin, etc. Add up to 1 tsp. oil per 20 lbs. bodyweight, daily.

Prepare a stew

1. Prepare a homemade stew of fresh, whole foods. Make enough for a week, freezing the surplus. If  phasing-out commercial pet foods, do so gradually over a 5-day transition to home food.  

2. Feed at least the same volume of home food as you would feed canned pet food:

Approximate intake of commercial cat food =  6 oz. can/day for an 8-10 lb. cat

Approximate intake of commercial dog food = 12-14 oz. can/day for every 10-20 lbs.  

3. Most cats and dogs should eat 2 meals a day. Snacks are fine for active pets. See list below.

4. Add up to 1 teaspoon bone meal for every 2 cups of food to provide extra calcium.

5. Add a multivitamin-mineral appropriate for your pet. Your veterinarian can help select a suitable formula.

Healthy snack ideas

Cats: goat’s milk, cheese, egg, broths, clam juice, sardines, cat grass sprouts, catnip, baby foods, yogurt, etc. Try spaghetti sauce, creamed vegetable soups, chopped liver, etc.

Dogs:  frozen green beans or lima beans, frozen berries, carrots, hard boiled egg, mozzarella cheese sticks, rye crackers with tahini, peanut butter or almond butter, meatballs, natural beef jerky, yogurt, apple wedges, a few purple grapes, baked potato with sour cream, etc.

Cat feeding guidelines (in proportion to the entire menu, fresh weight of foods)

Adults, maintenance:  50% protein foods + 25% vegetables + 10% carbohydrates + 15% fats

Adults, kidney failure:  40% protein foods + 30% vegetables + 15% carbohydrates + 15% fats

Kittens:  50% protein foods + 20% vegetables + 10% carbohydrates + 20% fats   

Dog feeding guidelines

Adults, maintenance:  30% protein foods + 30% vegetables + 20% carbohydrates + 20% fats

Adults, excess body fat: 50% protein foods + 40% vegetables + 10% fats + fiber supplement  

Adults with cancer: 40% protein foods + 30% vegetables + 10% carbohydrates + 20% fats

Adults, kidney failure:  30% protein foods + 35% vegetables + 20% carbohydrates + 15% fats

Puppies:  40% protein foods + 30% vegetables + 15% carbohydrates+ 15% fats

For a nutritional analysis see:  BioMedical Profiles.

   William Konrad Kruesi, D.V.M. / 2002, 2005