Feeding Fido scraps from plates to save cash could backfire

MAKING your own dog food may seem like an excellent way to save money during a cost of living crisis.

However, canine charities have warned owners can easily end up poisoning their pets and, racking up thousands of pounds in vet’s bills, so turning any potential savings into a massive loss.

Root vegetables, such as onion, garlic and leeks are toxic for dogs and cause diarrhoea and vomiting. Cooked bones from a Sunday roast may splinter and pierce internal organs and trimmings from rich and fatty foods cause stomach upsets.

Even so, data from the market research company Mintel suggests owners are feeding pets more homemade food.

The company’s annual survey of more than 1,000 pet owners found the proportion of those making their own pet food, either from scratch or from left-overs, rose 6 per cent – from 18 per cent in 2020 to 24 per cent last year, while those buying pet food fell from 94 per cent to 89 per cent.

Emma Clifford, the report’s author, said recent high-profile cases of pet food firms withdrawing contaminated products had “eroded” consumers’ confidence.

She said: “We found pet owners associate homemade pet food with naturalness more than any other type of food. That’s driving it (the rise).”

Mintel also attributed the rise to owners wanting to feed pets the same food as the family as they “humanise” them. The trend has

Many foodstuffs are toxic for dogs and could result in costly vet visits

prompted Dogs Trust, the UK’S largest canine welfare charity, to issue a warning. Paula Boyden, its veterinary director, said: “You could end up losing money by giving [pets] food which could make them ill.

“Many shop-bought dog foods are ‘complete’ [and] contain all the nutrients a dog needs.

“It is unlikely a dog fed on a home-prepared diet would receive all the nutrients it needs. Also, puppies require different nutrients to adult dogs and senior dogs have different needs.”