Check to ensure your pet’s diet is safe

Q: Last month’s recall of some pet foods really had me worried. I feed my 2-year-old cat, “Scrappy,” wet food about twice a week, but since the recall I have stopped doing so. I really don’t want to feed him just dry food, but I don’t know if it’s safe to buy wet food yet. And making fresh food takes time and costs more money. Can you guide me on keeping Scrappy healthy? — Dolores L., White Plains, N.Y.

A: As of this writing, more than 60 million cans and pouches of dog food sold under various name brands have been pulled from supermarket shelves, and the investigation by the Food and Drug Administration is still ongoing. For now, owners can check the list of brand names of cat and dog food to see which ones are affected by the recall. The list can be found at www.menufoods.com/recall; additional information can be found at many pet sites, including http://petstyle.com.

Wet foods currently on the shelf should be safe for pets to eat, but if you are still leery of them, consider giving Scrappy a fresh meal once or twice a week. Many veterinarians and pet owners are enthusiastic fresh-diet advocates. The benefits include having control over all the ingredients in your pet’s food — not just the protein content, but sodium and other ingredients — and providing many more nutrients than processed food can offer.

Fresh pet food can be prepared inexpensively — the biggest investment is time. According to PetStyle.com, a healthy meal should comprise one-third meat, one-third grains (such as cooked rice) and one-third vegetables. Avoid spices, which can upset a pet’s stomach.

Cookbooks for pet diets are also available at your local bookstore or online. They contain a wealth of information and ideas on feeding pets a healthy diet.