Animal Welfare

4 min de lectura

24/08/2026

Joint Health in Dogs and Cats: The Role of Collagen in Osteoarthritis Prevention 

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative, progressive, and irreversible disease of articular cartilage characterized by inflammation, pain, and the gradual loss of joint function. Although it has traditionally been associated with aging, it is now recognized as a multifact...
Animal Welfare 5 Top Supplements for Cognitive Health in Senior Dogs  

2+ MIN

24/06/2026

5 Top Supplements for Cognitive Health in Senior Dogs  

Here are five supplements that veterinary experts suggest may help support cognitive health in senior dogs:
  1. Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil)
Omega-3 fatty acids — specifically EPA and DHA — are among the most well-studied supplements for...
Animal Welfare Transforming Suppliers into Innovation Partners in the Pet Food Industry

5+ MIN

11/02/2026

Transforming Suppliers into Innovation Partners in the Pet Food Industry

By Ludmila Barbi T. Bomcompagni

Animal Welfare The Growing Weight of Love: Why Our Pets Are Facing an Obesity Epidemic

5+ MIN

10/10/2025

The Growing Weight of Love: Why Our Pets Are Facing an Obesity Epidemic
Animal Welfare Does Dog Food Expire? How to Know If Your Pet’s Food Has Gone Bad

4+ MIN

11/08/2025

Does Dog Food Expire? How to Know If Your Pet’s Food Has Gone Bad
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Latest content from Animal Welfare

Think Your Pet Has a Food Allergy? Here's What You Should Know First
Animal Welfare

6+ MIN

23/04/2025

Think Your Pet Has a Food Allergy? Here's What You Should Know First

There is limited data regarding the true incidence of food allergies and intolerances in dogs and cats. One published meta-analysis based on several other studies indicated that cutaneous adverse food reactions (CAFR) observed in veterinary clinics affected between 1% and 2% of all dogs in the evaluated data. For all cats presented to veterinarians in the studies, that number dropped to less than 0.2%. The authors stated, however, that the limitations of this analysis could include geographic differences as well as the criteria used to diagnose CAFR. CAFR is a medical term that describes the symptoms associated with a food allergy.  
  The key takeaway is that food allergies and intolerances are not very common in our pets, and other causes of itchiness in dogs and cats should always be ruled out first. 
  The most common types of allergies that manifest as skin problems in pets are flea bite allergies. Even though pet parents may not see fleas on their pets, for some highly allergic individuals, even one flea bite can trigger an immune reaction leading to itchy skin. Other types of allergies that we see in our pets include environmental and contact allergies. Environmental allergies can be caused by some of the same triggers that humans are allergic to, such as mold, pollen, and dust mites. One of the biggest differences between flea and environmental allergies in pets is that they can vary throughout the year. Of course, in some areas, fleas can survive year-round, and indoor allergens can be present at all times, making differentiation harder.  
  It's always important to rule out flea allergies first. Skin allergy testing can be performed by veterinarians to effectively diagnose environmental allergies. Allergy testing for environmental allergies that relies on blood samples is also available, but is much less reliable. It is important to always rule out flea and environmental allergies before pursuing a food allergy diagnosis in pets. 
  Once a pet parent and their veterinarian have eliminated flea and environmental allergies, food allergies can then be considered. However, before delving into that topic, it's important to distinguish between food allergies and intolerances.  
  Understanding the Differences: Food Allergies and Intolerances 
Food allergies and intolerances can exhibit similar symptoms in our pets, but the main difference is that a true food allergy involves the pet's immune system, leading to a complex response of inflammatory mediators that can trigger itchy skin or gastrointestinal (GI) problems such as diarrhea, gas, and even vomiting. Food intolerances do not directly involve the pet's immune system; instead, they arise when a pet has difficulty digesting certain foods, leading to similar GI symptoms as true food allergies. True food allergies typically develop from repeated exposure to the offending food or ingredient. Conversely, food intolerance reactions can occur immediately after a pet eats a problematic food. Once the offending food is identified, managing food intolerances may be more straightforward, as it can simply be avoided in the pet's diet. 
  Food allergies are most commonly caused by an immune-mediated hypersensitivity to certain proteins found in a pet's diet. Due to various complex immune system pathways, the pet's body recognizes a protein as an allergen (a substance causing an allergic reaction), triggering the immune system and ultimately leading to symptoms commonly seen with these conditions, such as itchy skin, feet, ears, and GI symptoms. To complicate things, some pets may be allergic to more than one food or protein ingredient. 
  Diagnosing Food Allergies in Pets    The only way to truly diagnose a food allergy is through an elimination diet test aimed at identifying which food(s) may be causing the problem. This is often easier said than done.  Elimination diets require a commitment from the pet parent to thoroughly understand their pet's diet history and communicate it with their veterinarian, in addition to adhering to specific diets (sometimes homemade) for extended periods. The elimination diet process should begin with feeding a single protein source that the pet has not eaten and ideally a single carbohydrate source for a specified period of time. This period can be referred to as the 'wash out' period, where the pet's symptoms hopefully will resolve or lessen enough to observe a symptom flare-up upon introducing a new food.   
  There is no definitive consensus among veterinary experts on how long this period should be. One retrospective study indicated that over 80% of pets experienced remission of their allergy symptoms within five weeks for dogs and six weeks for cats. When this period was extended to eight weeks, more than 90% of pets showed no allergy symptoms. However, a longer 'wash out' period may make it more difficult for a pet parent to feed their pets novel (new) food, especially if it is a home-cooked diet. We recommend working with your veterinarian to determine the duration they recommend for this.   
  Once this period of time is complete, one at a time, common food ingredients (usually proteins) are introduced along with the 'wash out' diet to see if the pet's immune system reacts.  If there is no reaction or previous allergy symptoms noted, it is assumed that the pet is not allergic to that ingredient. Ingredients are systematically introduced to identify what the pet is allergic to. Some of the most common allergens in pets are beef, dairy, chicken, and wheat. 
  Once all offending food ingredients are identified, avoiding them in the pet's diet is critical to prevent allergy symptoms. This can be achieved by feeding novel ingredient diets that do not contain any ingredients identified as causing food allergy reactions. 
  One issue that may arise is cross-contamination at either the ingredient supplier and manufacturer levels. We recommend that pet parents contact companies to learn about the steps they take to mitigate cross-contamination.  
  Another way to manage pets with food allergies is to feed them hydrolyzed protein diets. These pet foods contain proteins that have been broken down into smaller pieces, called peptides. This process works because when the protein is reduced to small enough fragments called peptides the pet's immune system does not recognize it as the protein to which it is allergic. In a way, we are tricking the pet's immune system. Hydrolyzed diets are effective for many pets with food allergies, though some pets may still experience issues. This could be due to cross-contamination, as noted earlier with novel diets, or it could simply be that the hydrolyzed protein was not broken down into a small enough peptide so that the allergic pet's immune system still recognized it. 
  Food for Thought 
All said, food allergies and intolerances are not very common overall. Other causes of the pet's symptoms should always be ruled out first. When they do occur, food allergies can be difficult to diagnose, but with patience, dedication, and good veterinary guidance, they can usually be managed to mitigate the uncomfortable symptoms associated with them in our pets. 
  BSM Partners has experts in product formulation, nutrition, and quality control to assist brands in creating truly novel or hydrolyzed protein diets that help pet parents manage these conditions for their furry friends.  
  About the Author
Dr. Bradley Quest, DVM, is the Principal Veterinarian at BSM Partners. He has practiced clinical veterinary medicine, developed and tested hundreds of pet food and health products, performs extensive animal health research, and helps navigate pet food ingredient approval for clients.



By Dr. Bradley Quest
Source: BSM Partners
How To Handle And Store Pet Food
Animal Welfare

2+ MIN

09/12/2024

How To Handle And Store Pet Food

PFI members take many steps to support making products that are safe for both pets and the family members who handle pet food. When preparing pet food and treats at home, pet lovers can continue the culture of safety by following standard kitchen hygiene practices in pet food handling and storage to help keep all members of the household safe. Some steps include:   As with making any meal in the kitchen, clean counter surfaces after preparing a bowl of food. Wash your hands after handling food, treats and toys. Keep food bowls dry and clean and provide fresh water daily.   Where and how pet food is stored can make a big difference in keeping food safe. Here are some tips for proper pet food handling and storage: Check the package: Examine packaging before purchasing to ensure it is clean and hasn't been damaged with a rip or hole. Store securely: Remember, pet food is food. It should be stored in ways that are similar to how human food is stored. Store unopened wet and dry pet food in a cool, dry location. It is not recommended to leave the bag on the floor in the garage or outside. Clean containers: Wash and dry the storage container between each bag of food and check for damage and insect activity. Keep it fresh: When possible, store dry food in the original bag and within a plastic or metal bin with lid. Wet or fresh food can be covered and stored in the refrigerator according to label guidelines. If you have questions about a specific product, please make sure to contact the manufacturer.                  Source: PetFood Institute 
Are Homemade Diets a Viable Alternative to Prepared Pet Food?
Animal Welfare

2+ MIN

15/11/2024

Are Homemade Diets a Viable Alternative to Prepared Pet Food?

FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines for Cats and Dogs detail the nutritional needs of cats and dogs at the varying life-stages from growth to senior and they are peer reviewed by independent veterinary nutrition experts throughout Europe. Providing a pet with a 'complete' pet food is akin to a person having their meals routinely put together by a human nutritionist.   Most recipes for homemade diets are nutritionally deficient   A study at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine1, analysed 200 different recipes for home prepared dog foods. Recipes were selected from websites, veterinary text books, and pet care books. The findings highlighted that 95% of the recipes were deficient in at least one essential nutrient and 84% were lacking in multiple required nutrients. Whilst providing a nutritionally balanced diet from home is not impossible, these results show it is a complicated task with very little margin for error. Calorie control can also be difficult.   Expert formulated diets   Most pet food products on the market are designed to provide total nutrition for pets. These products will have the term 'complete' on the pet food packet. 'Complete' is a legal definition and the product must by law contain all the nutrients a pet needs in the right proportions. Balancing the right quantities of protein, fat, fibre and carbohydrates along with the specific vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and amino acids is complex but that is the day in day out responsibility of pet food manufacturers.   Can I home cook occasionally?   An occasional home prepared meal can be enjoyed by cat or dog and owner alike. If it is 'occasional' it won't interrupt the nutritional balance of the overall feeding regime but please be careful to avoid foods that are toxic to pets.   Human foods to avoid   Certain foods can be toxic for pets including: onions, garlic, raisins, grapes, chocolate, avocados, certain nuts and xylitol-sweetened foods.   1. University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine 'Homemade dog food recipes can be a risky business, study finds' (15 July 2013)


Source: FEDIAF
US: majority of pet owners still underestimate pet obesity
Animal Welfare

2+ MIN

16/10/2024

US: majority of pet owners still underestimate pet obesity

The latest data from market research firm Bloomberg Intelligence's (BI) Global Pet Economy 2024 report shows that dog obesity climbed to 59% in 2022, up from 43% in 2007. Similarly, 61% of cats were classified as obese in 2022.   BI also reports that a pet being overweight contributes to heightened risks of cancer, diabetes and heart disease.   Further supporting this trend, findings from the American Pet Products Association's (APPA) 2024 Cat & Dog Report reveal an increase in vet-diagnosed cat obesity, from 11% in 2018 to 17% in 2024. Weight loss prescription diets increased from 8% to 13% over the same period.   For dogs, obesity diagnoses rose from 8% in 2018 to 12% in 2024, while weight loss prescription diets increased from 8% to 11%.     Pet parents' attitudes   A survey conducted by Ollie, an American dog food firm, found that despite around 60% of dogs in the US being overweight or obese, three-fifths of surveyed pet owners believed their pets were at an ideal weight.   Over half of the respondents (53%) acknowledged that obesity has a 'significant' impact on their pets' health, while 35% believed it had 'some' effect.   The research also revealed a significant knowledge gap, as only a small percentage of pet owners recognized key indicators of a healthy weight in dogs. Just 30% knew that easily feeling their dogs' ribs by touch was a sign, while even fewer were aware that the same applies to the spine (20%) and hip bones (17%).   Among different generations, Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012) and millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) were most concerned about comments about their dogs' weight, with 47% and 46%, respectively, expressing worry.   These findings align with a 2023 study by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), which found that 84% of dog owners and 70% of cat owners assessed their pets' body condition as healthy despite many being classified as overweight by veterinarians.   Older surveys from APOP show that this awareness gap has persisted over time.   Source: GlobalPETS
Home-Cooked food for pets
Animal Welfare

6+ MIN

23/09/2024

Home-Cooked food for pets

This trend, like many others, is making its way into the pet food industry and driving consumers to adopt more process controlled feeding regimens for their pets such as home-cooked meals.2 
Home-cooked foods may serve many benefits for the pet but also require careful planning and consideration to ensure meals are nutritionally balanced and safe.   What constitutes a balanced diet?   Many home-cooked pet food recipes available online are unbalanced and do not provide adequate nutrition for the pet.3 A balanced diet must include the appropriate proportions of all nutrients: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and vitamins and minerals, for a specific life stage and species. Similar to humans, the nutritional requirements for dogs and cats are quite specific and vary based on factors such as age, weight, spayed/neutered, and current health conditions. It is essential to seek advice from well-educated, credentialed individuals (such as a veterinary nutritionists or veterinary technician nutritionist) on these requirements to ensure adequate nutrition when preparing home-cooked pet diets.     Protein – Protein provides amino acids that dogs and cats need to maintain muscle mass and essential body functions. An essential amino acid cannot be synthesized and therefore are required in the diet and are required for maintenance, growth, gestation, and lactation. 4 Non-essential amino acids can be synthesized in the body from other amino acids and co-factors and may not necessarily be needed to be supplied through diet alone. According to AAFCO, the minimum protein requirement for dogs is 18.00% on a 100% dry matter basis (DMB) for adult dogs and 22.50% to support growth and reproduction. The minimum protein requirement for cats is 26.00% on a 100% DMB for adult cats and 30.00% to support growth and reproduction.5   Fat – Dietary fats are a source of concentrated energy for storage and utilization in the body and supply fatty acids that dogs and cats cannot synthesize (essential fatty acids).4 While some fat sources have been labeled as 'good' or 'unhealthy' it is important to select fats in a homemade diet that bring in an appropriate amount of fatty acids. Therefore, while some dietary fat sources sound better, they may not be the most ideal for the pet's requirements. According to AAFCO, the minimum fat requirement for dogs is 5.50% on a 100% DMB for adult dogs and 8.50% to support growth and reproduction. The minimum protein requirement for cats is 9.00% on a 100% DMB for adult cats and 9.00% to support growth and reproduction.5   Carbohydrates – Carbohydrates provide a good source of energy and dietary fiber for animals and are the primary energy source for omnivorous animals.4 Even though there is not a carbohydrate minimum requirement for cats and dogs according to AAFCO, it is important to note that glucose is the brain's preferred source of energy, which comes from the breakdown of carbohydrates. Additionally, carbohydrates, like fruits and vegetables, may also add notable amounts of vitamins and minerals to the diet.   Vitamins and Minerals – Adequate and balanced amounts of vitamins and minerals are essential to support normal physiological and metabolic functioning in animals.4 Vitamins and minerals are often supplemented in pet diets to ensure nutritional adequacy.   Advantages of home cooked meals   Customization – Home-cooking meals for a pet allows for customization specifically for a pet who has specific dietary needs or has food intolerances.   Control – Home-cooking meals for a pet allows the owner a greater control over what ingredients go into the meal, as well as what ingredients are not included. However, 'diet drift' can be just as dangerous as the benefits of knowing what all is in a pet's diet. Diet drift is a term used to describe the shifts over time to a pet's homemade diet that can lead to nutrient imbalances.   Bonding – Preparing a pet's meal can provide a sense of bonding between the pet and their owner.   Potential risks and how to mitigate them   Nutritional Imbalances – One of the most significant risks associated with homemade pet foods is having a diet that is not complete and balanced. As stated above, a balanced, home-cooked diet includes adequate levels of protein, fat, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals according to AAFCO for the animal, which is vital to follow to ensure proper nutrition for the animal's optimal health. Providing an appropriate balance of these requirements may be difficult to navigate for the average consumer, so one may consider consulting with a veterinary nutritionist or a veterinary technician who specializes in nutrition to help design a diet that meets all the necessary nutritional requirements for a pet. Unless the diet is sent off to a third-party laboratory for testing, it is truly unknown if the diet meets all nutrient requirements.   Food Safety – When cooking at home for a pet, safe food handling and proper cooking techniques are critical to prevent the potential for foodborne illness. Not only are foodborne pathogens dangerous for the animal, but they will cause serious illness in the owner as well. Like checking nutrients, diets can be sent to third-party laboratories to test for microbes that may be present in the food. Similar to human food, the FDA has established a zero-tolerance policy on levels of Salmonella bacteria in pet food.6   Time and Cost – While the potential for bonding is present, home-cooking meals for a pet can be time-consuming and often more expensive than purchasing a commercial pet diet. One should consider the time, cost, and storage required before beginning to cook for their pet.   Practical tips for starting   Consult Your Veterinarian – Always consult with a Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist or a veterinary technician who is specialized in nutrition before changing a pet's diet. These individuals can be located online or through a local veterinarian but will require a consult and review of medical records before any diets are formulated.   Start Slowly – When transitioning a pet to a new diet, start slowly. Gradually introduce new foods into the pet's diet to avoid gastrointestinal upset. This is true for all diet transitions whether commercial or homemade.   Keep Records – When introducing a pet to a new food or diet, it may be helpful to document recipes, ingredients, and the pet's reaction to the new diet. This can be useful for monitoring health over time and can help inform whether changes to a diet would benefit the pet. It is also important to document the recipe in grams to keep log of any variations to minimize diet drift.   Consider Pre-Made Fresh Foods – Preparing home-cooked meals can be a daunting task for any pet owner and is a huge task to take on. Therefore, if pet owners still would like to have a gently cooked option they can consider pre-made fresh, gently cooked meals instead. Many options available on the market also offer customization if the pet has specific dietary needs or preferences.   Conclusion   Home-cooking meals for a pet can be a rewarding way to cater to their dietary needs; however, it requires a significant commitment to ensure nutritional balance and safety. By educating oneself and seeking professional advice, pet owners can provide meals that not only satisfy but also contribute to the health and well-being of their pet. Whether planning to supplement with home-cooked meals or fully committing to them, it is important to remember that these efforts have a direct impact on a pet's health.   Source: BSM Partners   References International Food Information Council. 2024 Food & Health Survey. June 20, 2024. https://foodinsight.org/2024-foodhealth-survey/ Phillips-Donaldson, D. (2024, January 4). 5 more human food trends for pet food to keep top of mind. Pet Food Industry. Fell, A. (2013, July 15). Homemade dog food recipes can be risky business, study finds. UC Davis. https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/homemade-dog-food-recipes-can-be-risky-business-study-finds National Research Council, Division on Earth, Life Studies, Committee on Animal Nutrition, Subcommittee on Dog, & Cat Nutrition. (2006). Nutrient requirements of dogs and cats. National Academies Press. Official Publication; Association of American Feed Control Officials: Champaign, IL, USA, 2024. Phillips-Donaldson, D. (2021, May 3). Will zero tolerance for salmonella in pet food ever change?. Pet Food Industry. https://www.petfoodindustry.com/pet-food-market/blog/15467710/will-zero-tolerance-for-salmonella-in-pet-food-ever-change
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