If you’re on the lookout for ways to improve your pet’s nutrition or in pursuit of a healthier choice for your cherished furry friend, the market offers a wide array of dog food options. This piece aims to guide you in choosing the ideal dog food that aligns with your dog’s nutritional requirements.
Organic vs Natural vs Low-Quality vs Holistic Food: Definition Guide
When it comes to pet food, these labels are used interchangeably as there are no regulations for the use of these terms. Hence, it would be better if you know how to distinguish the difference between one term to another.
Organic
To qualify as organic dog food and get the USDA organic seal, it should contain 95% organic ingredients by weight. If the dog food label claims that it is “natural” but does not have the organic seal, then it is only comprised of approximately 70% organically manufactures ingredients. In some cases in the pet food industry, different brands of pet food claim that their product is made out of “organic ingredients”. This implies that some ingredients are organic but not all ingredients should be necessarily compliant.
Natural
The Food and Drug https://petsanalysis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Featured-Image-Kyoto-Subways.jpgistration has no objection against dog foods labeled “natural dog food” as long as it is not misleading for the consumers and should use natural ingredients. It should not use synthetic substances that undergo a chemically synthetic process like food coloring, artificial flavors, and the like. [1]
The AAFCO defines the word “natural” as an animal feed or an ingredient derived solely from animal, plant, or mined sources. It could either be in its unprocessed state or subjected to physical processing, heat processing, rendering, fermentation, hydrolysis, and the like, as long as it did not undergo a chemically synthetic process, and does not contain additive and processing aids.
Low-quality
Low-quality dog foods frequently use low production costs and low quality and non-human-grade ingredients that are not safe for human consumption. This type of dog food may have also used ingredients that have undergone a chemically synthetic process and unlike natural dog food, some of its ingredients contain processing aids and additives that may affect your dog’s health and manifest in its physical appearance–unshiny coat, dull eyes, lethargy, diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, and other digestive issues.
Holistic
The term “holistic” in dog foods does not have any legal definition as nutritional quality. “Holistic” is a marketing term that implies whole-body health. Since there is no legal definition for the term holistic, it is often used freely without any regulations. So, whenever the food label claims to be natural and holistic, only the word “natural” has the only real meaning. Holistic dog foods may be made of human-grade quality and natural ingredients, and underwent good manufacturing practices, without by-product, filler, or waste material.
Holistic Dog Food Ingredients List
Although different holistic pet food brands differ in nutrient sources, all components are expected to contribute to providing the following essential nutrients for your pup:
- Digestive enzymes
- Natural fiber
- Herbs
- Essential fatty acids vitamin and minerals
- Prebiotics and probiotics
- Wholesome grains
- Protein
- Antioxidants
Benefits Of Holistic Dog Food
Holistic dog food can be quite expensive but the benefits that come along with providing your dog a holistic diet are limitless. Some of its benefits include and are not limited to the following:
Improved Skin Health
Holistic foods contain vitamin E and fish oil that maintain the good overall skin health of your dogs. Hence, if your dog suffers from flaking and dry skin that can be sometimes very itchy, consider feeding raw food or a holistic diet that contains a significant amount of oil to help the skin stay hydrated.
Better Coat Health
Unless your pet’s breed has a naturally dull coat, the dog will have significantly better coat health, having a shinier coat if fed with holistic nourishment. Your dog will also significantly shed lesser than before. The benefit of feeding holistic dog food to your pup lies in its key ingredient- fish oil.
Greater Heart Health
Holistic dog food contains quality protein that will improve your dog’s overall heart health. Holistic dog food blends are manufactured using leaner meat proteins to lessen the likelihood of your dog experiencing weight-related issues. Additionally, consuming leaner protein instead of fatty meat will promote a stronger and healthy heart condition.
Sharpened Eye Health
Holistic dog food labels include antioxidant-rich ingredients that can positively impact your dog’s overall eye health. Feeding your dog with holistic foods that have high-quality ingredients will help minimize the risk of older dogs acquiring an optic health problem.
Fewer Bowel Movements
Unlike a dog that consumes lower quality food, a holistic food diet does not trigger more frequent bowel movements since as many holistic foods are grain-free.
Superior Intestinal Health
Pups that are fed holistic food will have much better intestinal health. This is for the reason that higher quality dog food like holistic foods contains probiotics that are formulated to aid the healthy bacteria flourish in your dog’s intestines that help promote healthy digestion. Dogs that experience upset stomachs and poor nutrition from eating commercial dog food need to transition to probiotic-rich natural food to improve their digestive health.
More Energy
Healthier foods are not only associated with reduced risk of health conditions, but they can also imply whole-body health and increased energy levels. When your dog eats poor quality food, its body needs to exert additional energy to break it down to take the needed essential nutrients. Higher quality food, on the other hand, requires lesser energy needed for the breakdown process, allowing your dog to spend the energy surplus on their day-to-day activities.
Healthier Feces
While low-quality dog foods may lead to constipation, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal problems, high-quality dog food contains organic ingredients that would not disrupt your dog’s digestive process.
Fewer Allergies
Some dogs that usually have food allergies thrive more on holistic or natural dog food. Most holistic practitioners note that allergic reactions are typically the result of some kind of system imbalance, underlying health problem, or weakened immune system. Some dogs are allergic to wheat, gluten, and grains so, they resort to giving their pups holistic, grain-free pet food. This may lessen the appearance of hotspots, itchy skin, hair loss, excessive licking, as well as flay skin.
How To Choose The Best Holistic Dog Food?
Dog owners can choose from different choices of holistic dog foods. For your information, holistic foods come in different variations- standard kibble or dry food, canned as well as in raw preparations, and under the raw preparations, holistic food is categorized into chub formulations, raw patty, or freeze-dried foods.
Talk to a veterinarian
Many pet owners need to know that talking to a veterinarian prior to making changes in their dog’s food will help them choose the best dog food for their dog that fits perfectly for their dog’s needs. It will also ensure that your dog will receive the nutrition it needs based on age, breed, and lifestyle.
Take note that your dog may not go well with natural food or limited-ingredient foods. Similarly, choosing home-cooked diets can be a lot of work, considering that you have other tasks to do. You may do your own diligence to ask other pet owners and research about the best pet nutrition on the internet but to cut all the legwork, you may directly set an appointment with your dog’s vet.
Research about the holistic dog food brands
You may want to look into the canine foods’ ingredients whenever you are looking for the best holistic dog food for your dog through the internet. You should research the name of the company, as well as the manufacturer for yourself. This is to make sure that you give the best holistic pet foods for your pet.
In researching about the dog food brand, you should also research the dog food brands’ recall history, formulation, and quality control. The recall history of the pet food company can be a major red flag to avoid. You might want to choose brands that have no frequent and recent recalls. Similarly, if the company brand has established quality control, it will ensure that the canine foods are accurately labeled and are free of contaminants. Finally, you need to ensure that the formulation of the dog food best suits your dog’s nutritional needs.
Look for the AAFCO in pet food labels
Having the label from the Association of the American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) ensures that your dog is eating complete and balanced nutrition. The AAFCO is responsible for setting the standard for optimal nutrition for dogs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is holistic the same as grain-free?
No, not all holistic food is grain-free. The same applies to the fact that not all grain-free diets are holistic food. In defiance of the popular belief that grains are bad for dogs as they may trigger specific health issues, some holistic labeled foods contain small amounts of grain that may provide benefits to help improve the overall well-being of your pup.
How much does holistic dog food cost?
Holistic pet food costs a lot more expensive than other generic, or low-quality pet foods available in the market. At first glance, you may think that you can save money if you remove holistic pet foods from your list, think again! Holistic food is relatively more expensive than any other food label for a reason. It uses top-quality ingredients paired with good manufacturing practices and does not include ingredients that are not safe as human food.
Which holistic dog food do you recommend?
The holistic dog food that is recommended for you and for your dog is anything from the highly trusted brands available in the market such as Solid Gold Holistic Dry Dog Food and Earthborn Holistic Ocean Whitefish. If it is your first time buying holistic dog food for your own pup, bear in mind that you do not want to take risks in trying new pet foods without the approval of your veterinarian or anyone that is knowledgeable regarding dogs’ health.
Conclusion
Choosing what is best for your dog isn’t always that easy. You must take into account your dogs’ age, size, breed, medical problem, including your own budget. The best way to deal with your dilemma besides doing diligent research is to consult a veterinary nutritionist that may guide you on the food that is best for you and your dog.
