Show 1EETS1 Forget those filets and frills for Fido By Dr Laris Berman Dieting has become a USA obsession We eat to slim down firm up or fill out One week we’re eating steak and grapefruit the next pasta and pimientos the next we’re fasting And because it’s more fun to diet with a friend some of us have drafted our pets into our regimen While some diets can be beneficial to humans many can be disastrous to the health of your dog or cat the Among are pet foods available vegetarian high progourmet tein “all natural” and l brands Gourmet: Gourmet foods for pets are a frivolous unnecessary expense that actually can harm your pet if you use them Made with choice exclusively cuts of meat and rich sauces and gravies gourmet foods can upset a pet’s stomach and can spoil your pet so it refuses to eat anything less than filet mignon Use gourmet food as a treat or for picky eaters but talk to your vet about balancing the diet Vegetarian: While pets need vegetables a strictly vegetarian diet is not a good idea Dogs and cats are natural carnivores they are best able to digest meats or a mixture of meat and Choose from lamb vegetables veal beef poultry and fish (pork is too fatty) and cereals or vege tables such as carrots potatoes green beans rice and pasta High protein: High protein diets are suggested for puppies and kittens to help them grow but not for adult animals because the extra protein is harder for an older dog or cat to digest Animals have an essential need for fats — a source of vitamins A and E selenium and zinc Some fat is essential for the pet to maintain its energy All natural: Some are but beware of those favoring ingredients of little nutritional value such as parsley celery and bee pollen Private label: Some pet stores vets and grocers concoct their own formulas and market sM with a basic diet them Unlike brands these the major national formulas have not been tested on a large number of pets over time and may result in a nutritional imbalance Most stores offer wet dry and moist pet foods The best diet for both dogs and cats combines wet and dry foods For smooth digestion pets need both the roughage of dry foods and the liquid in wet canned foods A mixture is good Moist foods the kind that come in foil or plastic packets are fine for healthy pets but often are high in sugar and preservatives That’s not an ideal formula for any animal particularly an ailing pet Foods catering to different age SURGEON GENERAL'S Pregnant Women Injury Premature Birth By groups can be beneficial because young and old pets have differnutritional needs But pets with health problems may have dietary needs that even these specialized foods won’t meet ent The bottom line: A balanced diet for a generally healthy pet includes meat cereal and vegetables Owners can broil or boil the meals themselves leaving out herbs and spices because they can upset a pet’s stomach Or the food be can pet’s bought at the store In any case a vet can help sort out nutritional questions Dr Lewis Berman is a veterinarian whose practice is based in New York City WARNING: May Result And Low Birth Smoking in Fetal Weight |