What Does Natural Dog Food Actually Mean?

Here are a few wise words about natural dog food and dog food ingredients by Dr. Lisa Freeman, Professor of Nutrition at Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.

" There is so much information ( and misinformation ) about pet foods. It's understandable that people are confused about what to feed their dogs and cats. To counteract these myths, people are accustomed to turning to the labels on food but, packaging might not always be a reliable source of information."

This quote was taken from an article published (Jan.2010 ) in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

The topic of natural dog food is worthy of discussion. Food is the basis of health. It is the most important factor in achieving and maintaining good health.

So how do we decide what is the best dog diet? How can we answer these common questions about feeding dogs?

How can we make sure our dogs are getting all the nutrients they need, thereby preventing nutrient deficiencies?

How can we provide the best nutrition possible for our dogs the most cost efficient way?

How can we provide good natural dog food that will conveniently fit it into our busy lifestyles.

Will my dog like this new better quality food?

Heaven forbid he won't like it. Some dogs are addicted to their junk dog food.

There are as many different opinions on natural dog food and the best dog diet, as there are dogs on the face of the earth.

The dog food recall scandals of the last decade or so, have brought this to the forefront of the news media but, I'm not going to go into all of that. It's been done already. But be aware, pet food recalls are still happening.

It seems to me that as with all things in life, a reasonable approach toward feeding dogs and some education, can go a long way towards making a good informed decision about natural dog food and the best dog diet.

We all want our dogs to live a good, long, healthy life.

I will offer you my experience and my expertise, blended with some good common sense. I hope you will learn something and then, put to use what you learn.

Here is the bottom line. The thing I want you to understand. Even if you are still confused and cannot make a major shift in thinking, just do this one small thing.

One Step At a Time

For example, if you're feeding dogfood from the grocery store, take a step forward by going to an independent pet store and buying a better quality premium brand dogfood.

You owe it to yourself because you're the one paying the bills, and your dog is the one at risk, so make sure you are getting:

• the best dogfood for your dollars
• the best dogfood to sustain and maintain the health of your dog

It will cost a little more, yes. But the benefit will be a healthier dog and less vet bills. It is important to know, a good dog food brand from a poor one. Learn more about dog food comparisons.

Over my life time of living with dogs, I have fed my dogs many different ways:

• Kibble and canned dogfood
• Homemade dog food
• Raw Species Appropriate

Always with the hope and intention that I was doing the best for them. I have learned so much and hope that I can help you with these hard decisions.

Natural Dog Food . Mother Nature Knows Best

I'd like to remind you that dogs are carnivores. That means that they are by nature, meat eaters, like this wild coyote in the picture. The closer the food is to it's natural state, the better it will be for your dog.

Mother Nature has provided your dog with his own innate wisdom. Mother Nature has provided everything that your dog requires to keep healthy. He would instinctively know what is the best natural dog food to maintain his optimal health.

However, our dogs live with us, and so they are not free to roam and provide for themselves. They must eat what we give them.

I believe there is no perfect, commercially prepared dog food. How can food that has been put through an extractor, and heated at high temperatures, have any nutrient value at all?

It's like buying white bread that has been bleached, and stripped of all it's good ingredients. The good nutrients are taken out, and then put back in. Hello!!!

How crazy is that?

Dogfood Brands

Next time you go to the store to buy dog food, look carefully at the bags. Almost always, they will advertise Holistic Ingredients or, All Natural Dog Food or, Premium Choice Ingredients.

This is simply not true. You are being lied to, and it's legal! Did you know that?

This is called ' marketing '.

In the wild, dogs would not be checking the pros and cons of dog food brands. The most important thing is to be able to identify good natural dog food ingredients. You must learn to read food labels. This is critical.

This guide will help you learn how to compare dog food brands so that you don't have to run to this store and that store looking at different bag labels.

Identify Dog Food Ingredients

• fresh whole meat as the first ingredient.

• Wheat, corn, and soy are not good for dogs. It is commonly known and accepted that, these refined foods are allergens and are not good for either people or animals. Do you see these things in the first four ingredients? Run, drop that bag like a hot potato !
• Colors, dyes, and preservatives are not food. They are chemicals that are known to have links to cancer and other serious dog illnesses. They have the potential to kill your dog, or at the very least put him at higher risk.

  You are certainly not buying an all natural dog food, if it contains these things. These types of dog food ingredients are very toxic to your dog. Learn how to recognize them, and get all the information you can about comparing dog food ingredients.

So that's it!

Just think about how you can improve your dog's diet to start with.

Make that one small change. Then as you become more comfortable with it, upgrade again.

Perhaps you can start thinking about making your own dog food. It's not hard to do. Homemade dog food is wonderful when prepared from a good dog food recipe. Real food!

Then after a while, when you are confidant and are feeling really brave, consider a more species appropriate raw dog food.

You see what I mean...

One step at a time!

...or...

Jump straight off the deep end!

Start feeding a raw food diet!

Go ahead...JUMP!

Go from Natural Dog Food Back Home