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The Guardian
29-04-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Making a dog's dinner: vets and canine experts on the most eco and affordable ways to feed your pooch
Dog food products labelled 'complete' are legally defined as providing all the nutrients your pets need, in the right proportions. Whereas a product labelled 'complementary' should not be a dog's only source of nutrition, says Lauren Bennett, RSPCA scientific and policy officer, as these 'do not contain all of the required nutrients, may lead to poor nutrition and can cause dietary deficiencies and associated disease, such as metabolic bone disease'. This sounds straightforward – but the price of 'complete' foods varies considerably, and can't be compared simply by cost per kilo, as different brands recommend different portion sizes. Comparing the daily cost of feeding a 5kg adult toy poodle, a clearer picture emerges. Wet dog food is usually the most expensive 'complete' option. Buying six meaty 400g tins of Pedigree Chum worked out at £1.05 a day, while a Butternut Box subscription of 'gently cooked, never ultra-processed' pouches of meaty dog food 'taste-tested by humans' came to a whopping £2.02 a day. Comparing the daily cost of feeding the same poodle from 2kg bags of dry food, we found vegan options were a little cheaper, with Wilsons Vegan Premium Cold Pressed Dog Food at 82p a day, followed by Hownd Plant Powered Superfood at 69p. Wainwright's Insects With Superfoods came in at 67p a day, but the standard non-vegan kibble was the most affordable, with Wagg Meaty Goodness dry food at 21p, and Pets at Home Complete Nutrition dry food with chicken 22p. More expensive dog food may have additional ingredients, such as fatty acids which can help with skin and coat health. However, 'premium' brands may also seek to use less grains and cereals, unsustainably increasing the total meat content – with no evidence, according to the British Veterinary Association (BVA), that this benefits animal health and welfare. Using fresh ingredients in wet food can also increase the carbon footprint, if it needs to be transported and kept frozen. 'There may be very good reasons why you choose a higher-cost food, but that doesn't mean it's necessarily healthier than another dog food,' says BVA senior vice president, Dr Anna Judson, a practising vet. 'Nobody should feel guilty about choosing cheaper 'complete' options. Buy what you can afford.' If you want individual advice for your dog, she recommends speaking to your vet or veterinary nurse. We associate ultra-processed foods with having a lower nutritional value, but this isn't the case for processed dog foods that are labelled 'complete'. Despite this, unprocessed, organic and raw dog foods are becoming increasingly popular. Caroline Griffith, canine nutrition consultant, thinks cooking 'fresh whole foods' in recipes tailored for dogs is the healthiest way to feed them – and, she says, it costs less money and reduces packaging waste compared to buying dog food from retailers. 'If you can be savvy and make homemade, lightly cooked dog food, that's going to be a very economical way to feed your dog.' Dogs have stronger stomach acid than humans, she says, so the meat you cook for dogs needs to be 'just browned off' to the point where it has lost its 'original raw colouring. Think rare or medium rare steak'. She also recommends feeding dogs with raw meaty bones from specialist pet food suppliers, as long as they are 'safely sold' and have been frozen for several weeks to mitigate the bacteria and parasitic risks of these products: 'Then you defrost it in the [dog's] bowl so you don't have to touch it,' she says. Again, these products will need to be transported while frozen, raising their carbon footprint. The BVA also has concerns about the potential disease risks that raw dog food poses to both dogs and humans. 'We would always say: talk to your vet first,' says Judson. Creating a homemade, nutritionally balanced diet for your dog can be 'really tricky' and 'time consuming'. She recommends getting advice from a certified veterinary nutritionist from the European College of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition or the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine before you start. 'It needs to be done with a lot of research and very carefully to get it right – and for many pet owners, that will be more complex than time permits,' says Judson. 'Weighing portions accurately reduces waste,' says Judson. 'This makes any product more sustainable, and it also helps to keep your dog at a healthy weight,' she says. A 2018 study found up to 65% of UK dogs are overweight or obese. It is particularly important to consider your dog's weight if you feed your dog leftovers. Bennett points out that human foods are often high in fat and salt, and so may not be suitable for dogs. 'Additionally, the digestive tract of a dog differs from people, meaning that leftovers can cause digestive problems such as vomiting, diarrhoea, pancreatitis and in some cases, can be highly toxic and fatal,' she says. 'Foods to avoid include anything from the onion family, chocolate, macadamia nuts, avocado, xylitol, grapes and raisins.' Judson advises against giving a dog more than 10% of their overall calorific intake in leftovers and treats. Avoiding meat and dairy products is one of the best ways to reduce your environmental impact, and there is an ever-growing range of vegan dog food options. Dogs do not have to be carnivores and it is possible to feed them an eco-friendly, plant-based diet. But because these products haven't been around long, Judson offers a word of caution: 'The lack of robust long-term data about their safety means owners should definitely monitor their dog's health for long-term impact.' Research also suggests insect production at a large scale for animal feed is more environmentally friendly than conventional livestock production. Dog food made with insects as an alternative protein launched in the UK in 2019. There is promising evidence that dogs fed this diet suffer no adverse short-term health effects, but more long-term studies are needed and, Judson says: 'We've got to think about the welfare of insects that have been farmed.' Meanwhile, last summer, the UK became the first country in Europe to back cultivated meat for use in pet food and in February, a limited release of Chick Bites – a dog treat made from lab-grown meat – went on sale at Pets at Home in Brentford. Among meat-based dog foods, research suggests kibble is more sustainable than wet dog food. In 2022, researchers found wet pet food results in eight times more climate-heating emissions than dry pet food.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
My dog took me to Manchester's newest pet shop and got the worst possible news
In my 16 years of motherhood I've spent more time in pet shops than I ever envisioned. With a young son who was animal mad, we started out with fish and eventually ended up with two guinea pigs, two lizards, a tortoise, a dog and what we thought was a giant African land snail - that sadly turned out to be your average garden snail. Obviously pets don't last forever, but thankfully we're still left with gecko Joel, our big bouncy Labrador Milo and our hermann's tortoise Sheldon, who will probably outlive us all. READ MORE: 'I was stunned by the prices at the little known food store cheaper than B&M, Tesco, Asda and more' READ MORE: 'I created a smart kitchen on a budget with 14 Amazon gadgets' It's Milo who demands most of the attention - he's hard to miss - and it was him who was invited for a VIP first look around the new Pets at Home at Manchester Fort. He seemed excited at the prospect, pounding through the doors of the swish new Pet Care Centre, homed in the former Sports Direct which has undergone a £982k transformation. Our first stop was the weighing scales, where the worst possible news was confirmed - the boy needs to diet. The staff didn't say as much - they're here to advise not preach - but at 40kg and a belly that suggests his penchant for pig's ears and cheese is not boding well, I didn't need telling that we should perhaps make our way to some of the healthier treats. Don't get me wrong, he has a good diet and is raw fed, but he never stops wanting food and as a result of almost scratching a hole in the fridge door - his relentless signal for 'I want more food' - he definitely has too much. Thankfully this place has loads of healthy food and with a dedicated Nutrition Hub, there's an increased range of fresh and frozen food including Butternut Box, which you can get a subscription for, and raw food options to reflect the diverse feeding choices pet owners are adopting. The pick-and-mix treat bar is stocked with natural products and I picked up a few things for Milo, like a long-lasting yak chew, some veggie pigs ears and some freeze dried raw treats to try to curb his appetite. Even as a frequent visitor to Pets at Home - regularly picking up live grasshoppers for our lizard - I was still a bit oblivious as to many of the services they offer in the newly-branded Pet Care Centres. As well as the free weighing scales, there's a team of highly trained pet care advisors on hand every day to support with free advice, including flea and worm subscriptions, pet food consultations and fitting services for dog coats and harnesses. Store manager Stacey Revilles, who was showing us around the new store, made sure Milo's harness fitted perfectly - discreetly and seamlessly swapping him to a bigger size to save his blushes. He was more than a little taken with the toy aisle, where there is a four for three offer on toys and treats, and we discussed the various calming products for the times he gets overanxious, mainly with loud noises and other dogs, eventually deciding on some Lily's Kitchen Bedtime Biscuits and Pooch & Mutt turkey and hemp treats, both of which came highly recommended. A small animal pet village sits near the back of the 10,500 sq ft superstore, currently home to guinea pigs and eventually housing rabbits too once the purpose-built in-store Vets for Pets veterinary practice opens on the mezzanine floor this summer, above the aquatics area. It's this pet village area that will host the popular free My Pet Pals workshops that Pets at Home hosts in the school holidays, giving youngsters the chance to learn how to care for a range of animals. There'll be sessions taking place this weekend - March 8 and 9 - to celebrate the launch of the new store, as well as a face painter, performances from local favourite 'The fingerless magician', and delicious 'pup'cakes. Store manager Stacey, who recruited locally for positions in the new store, said: 'We're incredibly excited to open the Pet Care Centre right here at Manchester Fort Shopping Park. This isn't just a store - it's a haven for pet lovers and their furry friends. "With a range of top-tier services, and a shopping experience like no other, we've created a space that truly celebrates the joy of pet ownership. We can't wait to welcome customers to explore, connect, and see how we're raising the bar for pet care. "Whether you're here for your dog's next adventure, your cat's favourite treat, or expert advice for your small animals, we've got everything you need to keep tails wagging, whiskers twitching and hearts full." The new Pets at Home Pet Care Centre is open seven days a week, 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm on Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sunday.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Yahoo
Popular market closes due to rise in crime
A popular weekly market in Littlehampton is set to close due to concerns over an increase in anti-social behaviour. Littlehampton Market, which is in the High Street and opens every Fridays, will close on 28 March. The owner wrote on Facebook there had been a theft and assault on a trader on 21 February adding: "I am saddened to announce we have lost another long-term market trader. "Unfortunately the High Street is becoming a haven for drug and alcohol abuse, constant thefts and violence towards our traders and customers." They continued: "I am not sure we can, for much longer, give a safe environment for our market traders to trade." The owner added they are looking for another site and hope the market will re-open soon. Resident Michael McNamara said the closure was "another nail in the coffin for the town". Margaret McNamara added: "I think it's a real shame because it brings people into the town but unfortunately there's a lot of undesirables." Richard from the Butternut Box stall in the town centre said he was "surprised" to learn Littlehampton Market is closing and added he noticed an increase in anti-social behaviour. "There's a lot of that going on, particularly drink and drug use. There's a lot of gatherings on the benches, there's quite a lot of domestic situations happening, you hear people arguing in public," he said. Littlehampton Town Council said the decision is "disappointing". "Like many towns, anti-social behaviour and crime incidents occur in Littlehampton, and these are being addressed by the Local Neighbourhood Policing Team and the district council's Community Safety Team with a robust approach to street drinking, anti-social behaviour and crime," a spokesperson said. District Commander Ch Insp William Keating-Jones said: "We understand the impact anti-social behaviour has in our communities, including in Littlehampton town centre. "Our officers are working hard with partner agencies to address the causes and tackle problems caused by anti-social behaviour and crime. "Our Neighbourhood Policing Team will liaise with market traders to understand and address the concerns they have raised." Insp Keating-Jones added authorities will continue to patrol the town. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Police crackdown on anti-social behaviour on trains Littlehampton Town Council
