Is Homemade Pet Food Safer Than Commercial Pet Food?
By Amanda K. Jones
Many pet owners are considering the option of feeding their pet a homemade diet. This can be for many reasons, whether they feel guilty about feeding their pet out of a bag or are concerned about the quality or safety of commercial pet food.
Domesticated pets can become ill from ingesting contaminated food. The source of the food can be from either commercial or home prepared diets. Foodborne illnesses in dogs and cats can be caused by bacterial infection, bacterial toxins, mycotoxins, chemicals, metals and other contaminants.
A mycotoxin is a toxin produced by a fungus and estimates suggest that one-quarter of the world’s annual food crop is affected by these tiny molds. In fact, mycotoxin litigation alone has cost the pet food industry an estimated $7 million since 1990.
It is important to distinguish the difference between food infections and food poisonings. They are not the same thing despite the fact that some people use the two terms interchangeably.
Food infections result from the ingestion of infectious microbial cells (like salmonellae) that invade the pet’s tissues and after a period of time reproduce to pathogenic levels. Often clinical disease does not become evident until at least 12 to 24 hours after ingestion.
Food poisonings result from the ingestion of food that already contains a microbial toxin (like aflatoxin). The signs of food poisonings usually appear rapidly, sometimes less than one hour after ingestion. In a recent study done by the American Association of Poison Control Centers, food poisonings accounted for only 1.7% of reported causes of poisonings in dogs and cats. The most common causes of poisonings according to the study are (in descending order), drugs, insecticides, and plants.
While the risk of litigation and bad press encourages pet food manufacturers to be diligent in maintaining high product quality standards, there is always the chance for miscalculations and errors. However, the same can also be said for manufacturers of human food products.
The USDA keeps a running tally of recalled human food products on its Food Safety and Inspection Service website. The latest recalls involve 16,743 pounds of ground beef and 2.8 million pounds of chicken breast cuts and strips.
Many health-conscious pet owners abandon commercial pet food products and prepare homemade diets for their pets. While I applaud their efforts wholeheartedly it must be understood that this has not eliminated the risk of their pet acquiring a foodborne illness. In some cases, it may even increase the chances if the owner is not careful about food preparation, storage, and supplementation.
Nevertheless, it does put the owner more in control of the pet’s diet (for better or worse) which does seem to offer some level of emotional comfort and bonding.
About the Author:
Amanda K. Jones is a licensed veterinary technician and e-book author. She has had several articles published in professional veterinary journals and is a Tails, Inc. Magazine Furry Forum Expert.
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