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. 2024 Sep 17;11(9):438.
doi: 10.3390/vetsci11090438.

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

Giulia Pignataro  1 , Paolo Emidio Crisi  1 , Elena Landolfi  1 , Benedetta Belà  1 , Isa Fusaro  1 , Luana Clerico  2 , Alessandro Gramenzi  1
Affiliations

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

Giulia Pignataro et al. Vet Sci. .

Abstract

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.

Keywords: dermopathy; dog nutrition; follow-up study; gastroenteropathy; homemade diet.

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Conflict of interest statement

G.P. and A.G. are business consultants for NBF Lanes, Milan, of which the vitamin–mineral supplements Carevit UltraTM were prescribed.

Figures

Scheme 1
Scheme 1
Copy of the record filled during the veterinary and nutritional visit.
Scheme 1
Scheme 1
Copy of the record filled during the veterinary and nutritional visit.
Scheme 1
Scheme 1
Copy of the record filled during the veterinary and nutritional visit.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Case stories of referrals for nutritional consultation and formulation of homemade diet.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Results of the 31 subjects who used a homemade diet for maintenance purposes.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Graphic of the odds ratios of significant variables in terms of energy (logs 1.244), coat (logs 2.291), and appetite (logs 1.404).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Homemade diet results obtained from 43 subjects with gastrointestinal conditions, 12 with dermatological conditions, and 12 with a combination of both conditions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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This research did not receive any funding.

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