For dog lover Allison Lynch, mealtime for her furry best friends used to mean concocting a customized home cooked meal.
"Baking, boiling, broiling, washing, and all of the above," she said.
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But now, a growing number of products available online and on store shelves are designed to let pet owners customize doggie meals without all the preparation, similar to mix-it-up meals you find in your grocery store.
"I was thrilled to find out that what I would make at home for my dogs I could find at the pet store. It can be as intricate as you would like it to be, or as simple as one would like it to be," said Lynch.
It's as simple as adding water to your pooch's favorite meat, or even the vegetables of your choice.
Bob Vetere, President and CEO of the American Pet Products Association, says these products are the result of the popularity of home cooking for dogs in the wake of pet food recalls.
"Dogs have different nutrient requirements than we as people do so just cooking for your dog the same way as you cook for yourself wasn't necessarily the way to do it but they were still looking to mix themselves, so that created a niche for this type of product," he explained.
And, Vetere says the market for food for man's best friend mirrors human food trends, with mix-it-yourself options touting all-natural ingredients, grain-free and even that they're human-grade. He adds owners are paying attention to the labels
"As people have tended to humanize their pets more and more, and as they tend to look at their pets as extended family members, it's what's good for me is going to be good for my pet," Vetere said.
But, is using a mix actually any healthier than more traditional doggy fare? Veterinarian Dr. Steven Whittle says not necessarily, noting mix products can be nutritious, but it's important not to throw your dog's diet out of balance when you add your own ingredients. He cautions against including too much protein in a dogs diet. He also advises owners to pay attention to what's in the mix itself. And, he says watch out for fads.
"If you read the papers and the magazines and the internet everyday there's some new study that says something that we should eat or we shouldn't eat and I think the same thing is happening with our dogs. You need to be very careful about jumping on the latest trend," Whittle said.
Whittle also suggests working with your vet if you plan to change your dog's diet.
As for Lynch, she says the mix products save her time and make her pooches, who gather around her at mixing time, very happy.
"They are much more excited about every meal," she added.
It's important to note, some of the customizable meals do include raw meat. The Food and Drug Administration cautions against raw diets for dogs, since raw meat is more likely to be contaminated with microorganism that can lead to illness.
But, for owners who do choose to provide their pooch raw meals, the agency recommends safe handling tips including: wash your hands well after touching any raw foods, disinfect the preparation area, and immediately refrigerate or throw away foods your pet doesn't eat.
Read more advice and warnings from the FDA:
Examples of companies that make products pet owners can customize:
- http://www.grandmalucys.com (these products are freeze dried so owners add water)