From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2007-05-14 08:36:50 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] home made foods
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I apologize for not finding this press release sooner, though people=20
here will recognize the petdiets site from earlier posts. Although=20
this is written with dogs and cats in mind some aspects also=20
generalize to ferrets.
BEGIN QUOTE
PRESS RELEASE
Printer-friendly version
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Tom McPheron
Phone: 847-285-6781
Cell: 773-494-5419
e-mail: tmcpheron@avma.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2007
Tips on Cooking Fluffy and Fido a Home-Cooked Meal
SCHAUMBURG, Ill. =97 In the wake of the recent pet food recalls, (see=20
www.avma.org for more information), the idea of home-cooked pet food=20
has grown in appeal to some pet owners. The American Veterinary=20
Medical Association (AVMA) warns that preparing a meal for a pet at=20
home is no simple task.
While our pets are an important part of American households, they=20
have very unique nutritional needs. Most importantly, the AVMA warns=20
pet owners against feeding pets table scraps or human food in lieu of=20
commercial pet food. Many foods that humans love to eat can be deadly=20
if ingested by pets.
"Table scraps should definitely not be a part of your pet's diet,"=20
said AVMA President Roger Mahr, DVM. "Gravies, meat fats and poultry=20
skin can readily cause stomach and intestinal upsets, and even lead=20
to a life-threatening condition called pancreatitis in dogs. Bones=20
will splinter when chewed and cannot be digested by the animal's=20
system. Chocolate can be poisonous to them, but it tastes good so=20
pets will eat it if they have the opportunity. Dark chocolate used in=20
baking is particularly dangerous to pets, and xylitol=96a common=20
sweetener in baked goods=96has been linked with liver failure and death =
in dogs."
The AVMA does not recommend that people attempt to prepare home-
cooked meals for their pets because pet nutrition is very complicated=20
and unique to species and individual animals. If you are certain you=20
wish to cook for your pet, the AVMA does recommend you first consult=20
with your veterinarian and do some research on appropriate diets for=20
your pet. A pet owner should only consider recipes for pet food that=20
are developed for dogs or cats by veterinarians or trained=20
professionals in animal nutrition.
Dr. Tony Buffington, DVM, Ph.D., an Ohio State University College of=20
Veterinary Medicine professor of clinical sciences and a member of=20
the AVMA, agrees that preparing food for your pet can be tricky. In=20
the event a pet owner is determined to make pet food at home, he=20
recommends Home-Prepared Dog & Cat Diets: the Healthful Alternative=20
by Dr. Donald Strombeck as a good cookbook for pets. Dr. Buffington=20
also recommends http://www.petdiets.com/ as one the best Web sites on=20
home-cooked pet diets.
But Dr. Buffington also cautions that it is hard to match the=20
balanced pet diets provided with commercial pet foods in a home-
cooked meal for pets, because commercial foods are formulated by=20
professionals trained in veterinary nutrition.
"If your pet is healthy and doing well on the pet food it is=20
currently eating, and the food is not on the recalled products list,=20
there is no reason to change their diet," said Dr. Mahr.
###
The AVMA, founded in 1863, is one of the oldest and largest=20
veterinary medical organizations in the world, with more than 75,000=20
member veterinarians engaged in a wide variety of professional=20
activities. AVMA members are dedicated to advancing the science and=20
art of veterinary medicine including its relationship to public=20
health and agriculture. Visit the AVMA Web site at www.avma.org to=20
learn more about veterinary medicine and animal care and to access up-
to-date information on the association's issues, policies and=20
activities.
END QUOTE
Sukie (not a vet)
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
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