Natural Dog Food
Natural dog food and natural food produced for consumption by humans, uses the word natural to imply that the food produced does not contain preservatives or anything else that can be considered unnatural. Since it is not regulated, many are wary of the label ‘natural’.
The organic labels come directly from the USDA and those labels are only used by farmer’s who are certified and inspected on a regular basis. Several years ago an inspection and study was performed by the government and the results of that showed that only 30% of the food tested contained no pesticides and a little more than 40% contained more than one pesticide. The question then becomes, how much do you trust the government agencies running the studies and the inspections?
The USDA may develop some standards for natural foods as they do currently with organic food, but it has not been done as of this date. Maybe for natural dog food you should make your own so you’ll have a better idea of what goes in to the food. Select foods that you feel are the best and use them to feed your family and your pets. There is a wealth of dog food recipes online and in many books that can be purchased. Some have natural claims and some have organic claims but in the end it’s all up to you and what you feel is best.
Foods that have not been treated with antibiotics, hormones and pesticides are certainly better for us and for our dogs. Food dyes and chemicals are known to be unhealthy. The healthier our foods are the healthier we are. Fewer chemicals make food easier to digest.
The rest of the fillers are simply junk and they are found in almost every bag of dog food sold. These fillers in dog food create digestions issues such as gas and intestinal upset. These fillers also add unnecessary weight to your dog. Fats create overweight dogs; overweight dogs equal extensive health problems. It is much easier to keep your dog from getting too heavy than it is to get it off the dog later. It also creates more fecal matter for you to clean up after your dog. When on a regular feeding schedule your dog will defecate on a regular schedule, making housebreaking a breeze.
The final decision of organic or natural dog food is all up to you and what you feel is best for your dog. Your veterinarian should always be consulted before you change your dog’s diet.
The organic labels come directly from the USDA and those labels are only used by farmer’s who are certified and inspected on a regular basis. Several years ago an inspection and study was performed by the government and the results of that showed that only 30% of the food tested contained no pesticides and a little more than 40% contained more than one pesticide. The question then becomes, how much do you trust the government agencies running the studies and the inspections?
The USDA may develop some standards for natural foods as they do currently with organic food, but it has not been done as of this date. Maybe for natural dog food you should make your own so you’ll have a better idea of what goes in to the food. Select foods that you feel are the best and use them to feed your family and your pets. There is a wealth of dog food recipes online and in many books that can be purchased. Some have natural claims and some have organic claims but in the end it’s all up to you and what you feel is best.
Foods that have not been treated with antibiotics, hormones and pesticides are certainly better for us and for our dogs. Food dyes and chemicals are known to be unhealthy. The healthier our foods are the healthier we are. Fewer chemicals make food easier to digest.
The rest of the fillers are simply junk and they are found in almost every bag of dog food sold. These fillers in dog food create digestions issues such as gas and intestinal upset. These fillers also add unnecessary weight to your dog. Fats create overweight dogs; overweight dogs equal extensive health problems. It is much easier to keep your dog from getting too heavy than it is to get it off the dog later. It also creates more fecal matter for you to clean up after your dog. When on a regular feeding schedule your dog will defecate on a regular schedule, making housebreaking a breeze.
The final decision of organic or natural dog food is all up to you and what you feel is best for your dog. Your veterinarian should always be consulted before you change your dog’s diet.