Letter to Daily Mail 20.1.10

Re your article 20 January, ‘Is the pet food you are serving up killing your four-legged friend? (and making your vet rich?)

Dear Editor,

Every responsible pet owner wants to give their pet the best possible care for its health and well-being, starting with a nutritious diet.

Most of us pet owners can’t create a properly balanced diet, because we are not nutritionists and don’t have the time or skills to research and develop suitable recipes.

Luckily, we don’t need to because society is organised to do it for us.

We have science graduates working as vets, as nutritionists, in universities and commercial R&D departments, in government offices at UK and EU level, where nutrition issues are debated and thrashed out, right down to the last micro-nutrient and its declaration on a label.

Healthy competition between commercial pet food companies means there is a fight for the best talented nutritionists whose careers include time spent in academic, commercial and public sector spheres.

Let’s get real. As with humans, cats and dogs are enjoying longer lives than ever. This gives rise to different diseases manifesting themselves, which need new and different treatments. These can sometimes be helped by new and different diets, thanks to nutrition expertise.

Do it yourself pet diets? Is it worth the risk? Don’t let your pet be your nutrition guinea pig.

Janet Nunn

Chief Executive

Pet Care Trust