Many pet owners want their furry friends to be as healthy and happy as they can be, and diet plays a major role in that. To improve a pet’s well-being, some owners may resort to trying the latest diet trends. However, it's not wise to make dramatic changes to a dog or cat's diet without consulting a veterinarian. The list below discusses why these popular trends are not suitable for furry family members.

A Guide to Unhealthy Pet Diet Trends

1. Homemade Pet Food

If you want to feed your pet healthy food without fillers, cooking it yourself might seem like the best option at first. However, your furry friend’s nutritional needs are very different from humans. Most pet food that is cooked at home isn't correctly balanced, which can lead to nutrient deficiencies. However, if your pet has very restrictive dietary needs identified by your veterinarian, cooking for them at home may be the best way to meet those needs. If you want to try this diet, work closely with your pet’s doctor.

2. Vegetarian & Vegan Diets

It's very difficult—or even impossible—to meet a pet’s nutritional needs without including animal products in their diet. This is because specific nutrients and proteins that dogs and cats need are found mainly in animal products, including vitamin D3, taurine, L-carnitine, and a range of other vitamins and minerals. Even though there is commercially available vegetarian dog food, there are currently no studies showing this is a healthy, nutritionally complete diet for dogs. For cats, a vegetarian diet is an even worse idea. While dogs are omnivores, cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they aren't evolved to get the nutrients they need from plants. There is no proven safe way to put your pet on a vegetarian or vegan diet.

3. Raw Foods

Humans avoid raw meat because of the risk of disease, and you shouldn't feed it to your pets for the same reason. Raw meat and eggs contain bacteria such as salmonella that can make dogs and cats extremely sick and can even be life-threatening. Fish can contain parasites, which can upset your furry friend’s stomach and compromise their digestive system. Some pets do enjoy raw fruits and vegetables on occasion; however, never feed them onions, garlic, avocado, grapes, or raisins.

To discuss your dog or cat's diet with a veterinarian, make an appointment at West Pine Animal Hospital and Pet Resort. Based in West End, NC, and serving Moore County, they offer luxury pet boarding in addition to medical and nutritional care. If you want to discuss your furry friend’s dietary needs, call (910) 673-3103 or visit them online to browse their services.