new pet diet gets two paws up

It’s widely understood today that what we eat affects our health. So it’s little surprise that the same is true of our pets. Carefully controlled diets have become a key tool in helping dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives.

The research on pets and diet is most conclusive in helping to treat dogs for food allergies, skin conditions, and inflammatory diseases. “Specially formulated diets can sometimes yield dramatic results in a pet’s health,” says Paul Black, DVM, Pittsford Animal Hospital. “Today we have a variety of specific diets to deal with specific health issues.”

For allergies, the trick is to remove the offending ingredients from the pet’s diet. For U.S. dogs, that often means avoiding kibble made from beef, pork, or chicken. Check your grocery or health food store for dog food made of lamb or kangaroo instead.

For other health issues, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and other inflammatory diseases, it may be necessary to switch your dog to a food that includes precisely formulated nutrients plus “nutraceuticals” —supplements known to have specific effects on the immune system and other bodily processes. These diets, Dr. Black says, can help dogs regain their health without relying so heavily on traditional drug therapies. “I’ve seen many dogs improve dramatically just from diet alone. Other times, combining the right diet with drug therapies gives better results than drugs alone.”

If he believes this type of diet is warranted, Dr. Black usually recommends a formula sold through veterinary practices exclusively. The advantage of these products, he explains, is that their ingredients are precisely controlled. Take essential fatty acids (EFAs), for example. In the right proportions, Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fatty acids may help alleviate a dog’s arthritis. In the wrong proportions, however (too little Omega 3s), EFAs could actually make your dog’s condition worse.

These diets also avoid another risk associated with buying over-the-counter supplements. Just as with those made for human consumption, supplements for pets from disreputable manufacturers may not contain the ingredients they claim. “Pet food manufacturers who distribute through veterinarians must be scrupulous, because they know we’re monitoring the results of their diets. If the diets don’t work, we’ll stop prescribing them, and they won’t be able to sell any more.”

So if vets have special, health-promoting foods for pets, why aren’t companies manufacturing prescription diets for people?

A major reason is that unlike the average pet, we humans would get unhappy pretty quickly with eating the same food day after day for every single meal. After all, even when our doctors do recommend we modify our diets, many of us cheat, even if only a little.

We “cheat” with our pets, too, of course—over-feeding an overweight pet, or handing out treats that aren’t on the list of accepted foods—but if we commit to a particular pet food formulation, maintaining consistency is a lot easier. And it’s consistency that brings results. “Succeeding with these diets takes a commitment,” Dr. Black says. “But when done right, the improvement to a pet’s health can be remarkable.”

ROCHESTER RESOURCE Pittsford Animal Hospital (585) 271-7700

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rochester writer Kirsten Mortensen is co-author of Outwitting Dogs, Lyons Press, 2004, and author of the forthcoming 101 Dog Training Tips, Lyons Press, 2006. www.kirstenmortensen.com

But What About Cats?

Research on cat food is not as advanced as it is for dogs. Cats, it would seem, have a much different gastrointestinal system. Here are a few pointers from the National Academy of Sciences:

Cats should consume meals with approximately 20 percent protein, 9 percent fat, and a maximum of 35 percent carbohydrates -- including a maximum 10 percent fiber.

An average adult cat weighing 10 pounds should consume about 275 kilocalories a day.

Age, breed, activity level, and neutering all may affect how many calories a cat needs. In general, studies suggest that young adult males and light-weight cats have relatively higher energy needs.

Exposure to certain flavors and textures of food early in life can shape strong preferences later, as can meal temperature, odor, texture, and taste. It’s important to gradually mix the familiar food with the new food before switching completely.