Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need to fill out the diet history form before my pet’s appointment?

Before your appointment, the Sunstone Nutrition Service team will review both your pet’s medical records and the information you provide on the diet history form. This helps us assess your pet’s overall nutrition, including their body condition, muscle condition, calorie intake, and the amounts of nutrients in their current food. This information helps Dr. Pestalozzi figure out how many calories your pet may need, what nutritional strategies are important for them, and what diet options may work best. The process requires a lot of time and detailed information and often includes additional research. Filling out the diet history form completely and accurately will help Dr. Pestalozzi make personalized recommendations for your pet.

What is an ideal weight for my pet?

We’re less focused on a specific number on the scale and more on the amounts of body fat and muscle your pet has. We use a 9-point scale called the “Body Condition Score” (BCS) to estimate how much body fat a pet has. The scale goes from 1 (very thin) to 9 (very obese). An ideal BCS for dogs is a score of 4 or 5, and for cats it’s a score of 5. Pets with an ideal body condition have ribs that are easy to feel (but are not easily visible), a visible waist when viewed from above, and a belly that tucks up when viewed from the side.

We use a similar system for assessing your pet’s muscle condition, but instead of giving a numerical score we simply say they have normal muscle or mild, moderate, or severe muscle wasting.

How do you decide how many calories my pet should eat?

The best way to figure out how many calories your pet needs is by reviewing their diet history. If that’s not possible, we can use equations based on their body weight, age, and other factors. These equations aren’t perfect though, and we are more likely to over- or underestimate how many calories the pet needs using this method. Regardless, the initial calorie goal we set is just a starting point. We’ll adjust the amount of food depending on how your pet’s body condition changes.

Can I give my pet treats as part of their nutrition plan?

In many cases, you can use some of your pet’s daily calorie allowance to give treats and add variety to their daily meals. However, if your pet has food allergies or we’re closely monitoring their diet, we may suggest avoiding treats, at least temporarily.

Are store-bought (commercial) diets an option for my pet?

There are pros and cons to both store-bought diets and home-prepared diets. If you can’t or don’t want to prepare food at home, Dr. Pestalozzi is happy to discuss the commercial diets that are best for your pet. Well-formulated commercial diets are easier, more consistent, and are often more affordable than home-prepared diets, and have been tested for safety and to ensure they provide the correct amounts and proportions of nutrients.

How quickly can I transition my pet to the diet you recommend?

We recommend transitioning over at least 7 days and sometimes extend this if the pet is particularly sensitive to diet changes.

Who formulates the home-prepared recipes provided by the Sunstone Nutrition Service?

Dr. Pestalozzi creates all the home-prepared recipes. She has completed residency and fellowship training programs in small animal clinical nutrition and is working toward becoming board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in Nutrition. Dr. Pestalozzi has gained extensive experience in the nutritional management of both healthy and sick animals through these training programs, including formulation of home-prepared diet recipes.

Why shouldn’t I use recipes from books or the internet?

Research has shown that many recipes you find online or in books don’t contain all the nutrients pets need in the correct amounts and proportions. These recipes are often too general and can lead to nutritional problems, some of which can be very harmful to pets. They may also be outdated or use ingredients that are later found to be harmful. For your pet’s safety, home-prepared diet recipes should be tailored to their individual needs and preferences and based on up-to-date research.

Where does the nutritional information for your home-prepared diets come from?

Most of the information comes from the USDA National Nutrient Database, along with other trusted resources.

How do you determine how much of each nutrient to include in the home-prepared recipes?

The recipes are compared to the standards created by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and/or the 2006 National Research Council Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats. Approximately 40 essential nutrients are checked for both dogs and cats. Dr. Pestalozzi may adjust the amounts of specific nutrients based on your pet’s needs.

Why do you recommend specific foods for my pet’s home-prepared diet recipe?

Dr. Pestalozzi carefully chooses ingredients based on the nutritional strategies your pet needs, while also considering which foods your pet will hopefully enjoy and tolerate. She also considers how easy it is to buy and prepare the ingredients. It’s very important to follow the recipe exactly, including the cooking methods and type of meat. If you have specific ingredient preferences or restrictions, these should be discussed at the time of your pet’s appointment. Oils and seasonings should only be used if the recipe instructs you to do so.

Can I substitute foods in my pet’s home-prepared diet?

Many people think it is important for their pet to get variety in their diet. However, all the recipes created by Dr. Pestalozzi are complete and balanced, and rotation or variety are not required for your pet to get all the nutrients they need. Even small changes to the ingredients and cooking methods can affect the recipe’s nutritional profile. For example, swapping chicken thighs for chicken breast changes the amounts of calories, protein, and fat in the recipe. If you want to make changes to your pet’s recipe or would like additional recipes that can be rotated, Dr. Pestalozzi can advise you whether this is appropriate for your pet.

Can I use any cooking oil in my pet’s home-prepared diet recipe?

Dr. Pestalozzi formulates all recipes to make sure they contain the right kinds and amounts of fats. It’s important to follow the recipe exactly and use the specified oils or fats. Different fat sources may be used based on your pet’s needs.

Why have specific supplements been used in my pet’s home-prepared diet recipe?

The supplements in your pet’s recipe have been chosen to make sure they get all the nutrients they need. Substituting supplements can cause your pet to get too much or too little of various nutrients and this can be harmful, so please don’t make any changes without talking to Dr. Pestalozzi first. We typically give one supplement option with each recipe. This can be a pet-specific product made specifically for balancing home-prepared diets (sometimes combined with one or more human supplements), or a combination of specific human vitamin and mineral supplements.

How do I make a batch of the home-prepared diet?

The recipes are written to make one day’s worth of food. If you want to make a larger batch, just multiply the amount of each ingredient by the number of days you want the food to last. For example, if your pet’s recipe calls for 200 grams of pan-browned ground beef and you would like to make a batch that will last one week (7 days), multiply 200 by 7 to get the new amount of 1400 grams of pan-browned ground beef. The calculations for the protein and carbohydrate sources in the recipe should be made using the gram amounts.

What is the best way for me to measure the ingredients in my pet’s home-prepared diet recipe?

The best way to measure ingredients is to weigh them. You’ll need a kitchen scale that can measure in grams. These are inexpensive and easy to find online or in stores. Your recipe may also provide measurements for some ingredients in common measurements such as teaspoons or tablespoons, but for other ingredients like meat only weight measurements are possible.

If you choose to use volume measurements (when possible), it is important to know some common unit conversions. It’s also important to know that a “fluid ounce” measures volume but an “ounce” measures weight; these are not interchangeable.

For your reference:

· 1 cup = 8 fluid ounces

· 1 tablespoon = 1/16^th of a cup

· 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons

· 1 pound = 16 weight ounces

· 1 weight ounce = 28.35 grams

Can my pet’s home-prepared recipe be fed to other pets?

No, each recipe is specially designed for your pet’s needs. Feeding it to another pet could be harmful.

How long can I store my pet’s home-prepared diet after I make it?

You can store the prepared food in an airtight container in the refrigerator (32-40°F) for 2-3 days or freeze it (<0°F) for up to 3 weeks. Diets that have a lot of omega-3 fatty acids cannot be frozen for more than two weeks – if this applies to your pet’s recipe it will be stated in the recipe letter. When you’re ready to feed your pet, the amount of food for a single meal should be gently warmed before serving, as this can make it more appetizing. Since our recipes are formulated without preservatives always check for spoilage, such as changes in color and odor, before serving to your pet. If your pet doesn’t finish a meal within 30 minutes, any uneaten food should either be thrown away or stored in the refrigerator and used later the same day.

When should I add the supplements to my pet’s home-prepared food?

Unless the recipe says otherwise, add the supplements right before serving the meal. If you make larger batches to use later, don’t add the supplements to the whole batch. Instead, add them to each meal after warming, but before serving. Heating the supplements can damage important nutrients.

How often should my pet visit the vet if they eat a home-prepared diet?

Pets on a home-prepared diet should visit their veterinarians(s) at least every six months for check-ups. If your pet has any health issues they may need check-ups more often, as directed by Dr. Pestalozzi or their other veterinarians. Your pet’s veterinarian should perform a physical exam and assess your pet’s body condition score and body weight. Tests such as blood work and urine testing are often recommended to determine how your pet is responding to the diet and/or the medical management of their health conditions.

Why don’t you recommend or formulate raw diets?

Dr. Pestalozzi does not recommend feeding raw diets to dogs or cats because she wants to ensure your pet’s health and safety. Although advocates of raw diets think feeding raw food provides benefits such as smaller stools and control over ingredients, raw diets have been shown to have many risks and there are no proven benefits compared to cooked diets. Amongst other risks, raw animal-based foods, including meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products, are common sources of bacteria and viruses that cause disease in pets and people. The benefits that have been associated with raw diets can instead be safely accomplished by using complete, balanced, home-cooked diets. For families not interested in feeding traditional canned or kibble diets, ensuring the diet has been fully cooked and that it contains the appropriate amounts of all necessary nutrients helps to reduce the risks, yet allows these families to meet their other goals. This policy is in line with the recommendations of many veterinary organizations, including the American Veterinary Medical Association, World Small Animal Veterinary Association, and the American Animal Hospital Association.