Pandemic-era global supply chain shortages aren't just affecting toilet paper and cleaning supplies anymore — the availability of your pet’s favorite food also may be in jeopardy. Dr. Virginia Sinnott-Stutzman, a senior staff veterinarian at Angell Animal Medical Center, joined Boston Public Radio on Wednesday for the latest edition of “Ask the Vet” to discuss this issue and other pet concerns.
"I think kind of the balm against [the shortage], to some extent, is to try not to feed a boutique, exotic or grain-limited diet," Dr. Sinnott-Stutzman told hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan. "The reason for that is twofold: one, those are made by small companies who rely on very specific ingredients, and two, there is an association with those diets and heart disease in dogs."
Dr. Sinnott-Stutzman recommended that pet owners faced with making a change in food stick to high quality, large national brands of pet food approved by the Association of Animal Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), adding that consumers should stay clear of pet food labeled as "nutrient-matched."
"If you're faced with your favorite food being hard to find, definitely — in this kind of time — be buying dog or cat food well before the bag runs out," she continued. "Because if you do have to switch, you want some of the old food so you can transition slowly."
Interested in home-cooking your pet's meals rather than tracking down food at the store? Dr. Sinnott-Stutzman shared that while home-cooking is "a lot of commitment," resources such as Balance IT offer pet-safe recipes online.
"When we have animals with complex diseases — like allergies and kidney disease, and a sensitive stomach — we often end up having to home cook, and that's usually the way we go," she said.
