FAMILY
We love our pets and consider them valued members of our family. We want them to live long, and happy lives. Canadians spent $2.8 billion in 2021 on pet food. Informed pet owners read labels, do research and talk to their veterinaries before deciding on a diet and many are choosing a raw food diet. There is a debate about the best diet for our canine family members, and some veterinarians believe that though the raw food diet may have some advantages, the risks far outweigh the benefits. Dr. Karen Becker (DVM) is a wellness veterinarian, author and pet industry influencer. We asked Dr. Becker why vets discourage pet owners from implementing a raw food diet? According to Dr. Becker, “Veterinary students are taught that homemade diets are risky for a variety of reasons, the most notable being that most pet parents do not follow a recipe that has demonstrated to meet minimum nutritional requirements for pets.”She explains, “Guessing at a balanced diet can cause significant long-term consequences, and studies show the vast majority of pet food recipes online, and even in pet cookbooks, are deficient in many critical vitamins and minerals. The reality is homemade pet food can be the best or worst thing you feed your pets, depending on how well you are (hopefully) not just meeting, but exceeding, basic nutritional needs.”
The Raw Debate By Alana Lauren
The pet food market in Canada
is a booming industry, with
hundreds of pet stores across the country serving almost 16 million pet cats and dogs living in Canadian households. How do we decide what to put in our pet’s bowl?
There are steps you can take to address these concerns.
“You can remedy your vet’s concerns by demonstrating you’re following
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www.pei-living.ca FALL 2022/WINTER 2023
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