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 Pet Central
Q&A
Q: This past Christmas,
I purchased a puppy for my parents. Although they adore the dog, they
insist on feeding him pasta with tomato sauce instead of regular dog food.
I don't think this is healthy but they won't take my word for it. What
do you think? — T.I., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
A: Don't take my
word for it, either. Dr. Daniel Carey is secretary/treasurer of the American
Academy of Veterinary Nutrition, and director of technical communications
at pet food manufacturer IAMS in Dayton, Ohio. "You're trying to
build a house with sticks; it won't hold up when the wind comes,"
he notes. "Even if the dog is an Italian greyhound, this diet isn't
appropriate."
While the pup is
doing OK at the moment, Carey is concerned because the dog is missing
out on several essential amino acids (building blocks of protein), essential
fatty acids and vitamins. What's more, the percentage of carbohydrates
to protein in the dog’s pasta diet is out of whack. There are too many
carbs and not enough protein, even if the sauce contains meat.
Responsible pet food
companies provide a totally well balanced diet. The problem with home
cooking for pets is that most people don't understand what that balance
is.
This isn't to say
your parents can't supplement a commercial pet food diet with pasta. Actually,
as long as the sauce isn't too acidy, it could be a healthy adjunct to
a diet, more healthy than lots of junk food dog biscuits. Just as garlic
is tasty and healthy for people, in moderation, it's good for dogs too.
The key word is moderation. Carey says to keep the pasta and other handouts
to under 10 percent of any dog's diet. For a little pooch, this might
be a few fork twirls of spaghetti per day.
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