Homemade Diet as a Paramount for Dogs’ Health: A Descriptive Analysis

• Published in: Veterinary sciences Vol. 11; no. 9; p. 438
• Main Authors: Pignataro, Giulia, Crisi, Paolo Emidio, Landolfi, Elena, Belà, Benedetta, Fusaro, Isa, Clerico, Luana, Gramenzi, Alessandro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 17.09.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Animals; Appetite; Body weight loss; dermopathy; Diet; Dietary supplements; digestive system diseases; dog nutrition; Dogs; follow-up study; Food allergies; Food composition; Food quality; gastroenteropathy; gastrointestinal system; homemade diet; Long-term effects; Medical treatment; Nutrition research; Nutrition therapy; Pet food; Pets; prospective studies; Quality of life; Questionnaires; Remission; Variables; Veterinarians; Weight control; weight loss; gastroenteropathy; homemade diet; dog nutrition; follow-up study; dermopathy
• ISSN: 2306-7381; 2306-7381
• DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11090438

Pet nutrition awareness has risen enormously, with an increasing interest in homemade diets aimed at controlling food composition. The literature in this field is scarce, especially regarding the homemade diet’s long-term effects on pathological conditions. This prospective study encompassed 167 healthy and sick dogs subjected to a customized dietary plan based on homemade food. After an initial visit, dog owners provided questionnaires with follow-up data on their perceptions of physical sign changes or symptom modifications. A total of 104 (62%) subjects maintained the homemade diet, while 63 reverted to their previous diet. The median follow-up was 14 months. Out of 31 healthy dogs that continued the nutritional plan, 70% exhibited improvements in their coat condition and 47% a decrease in evacuation frequency. Regarding weight loss goals, 67% of dogs achieved their target. The 67 pathological dogs that completed the follow-up were primarily affected by gastrointestinal and dermatological disorders. Dogs with chronic enteropathy improved their symptoms in 95% of the cases, subjects with dermatological pathologies in 83%, and patients presenting both disorders in 100%. These clinical results are promising. Personalized and well-balanced homemade diets noticeably enhanced the overall pet’s health, with an almost complete remission of symptoms in pathological dogs.