Paw’s Corner: Home-cooked meals create a doggone stink

Q: During the recent pet-food recall, I took my dog “Alfie” completely off of store-bought foods and started cooking his meals. However, he immediately started having the worst gas! I have to put him outside immediately after eating. His stools are also no longer solid. Otherwise, he seems healthy and has plenty of energy. Is there something I can give him to stop the gas? — Gladys P., Boone, N.C.

A: I’m not sure if there’s an anti-gas medicine for dogs, but you should certainly check with Alfie’s veterinarian for a solution to his digestive issues. It’s also worthwhile to have him checked out to make sure he really is as healthy as he looks.

According to Dr. Jane Bicks and Jamie Wolf of HealthyDogsUSA, an abrupt change in diet frequently causes digestive problems for pets. Ideally, a new diet should be gradually introduced over seven to 10 days, replacing the old pet food with the new.

Home-cooked meals should also be made with the dog’s best nutrition in mind. Dogs can eat most grains and vegetables, organ meats and prime cuts. However, there are certain vegetables and fruits that should not be consumed (such as onions, garlic, tomatoes, broccoli, grapes/raisins, citrus and chocolate), and meats should have all bones removed. Go easy on the spices, too — what makes food taste good to us can make our pets quite ill.

Following the March food recall, cooking Web site Bakespace.com added a special section in its Recipes category for homemade pet treats (Wolf & Meow Treats). SimplyPets.com also has a recipes section, many of which can be made in large portions and stored for the entire week, saving time and money.