Facts About Organic Dog Food

Pet owners want to provide a healthy diet for their pets. Some wonder if their really is a difference and is it really to the dogs advantage to eat organic dog food. What does the term really mean anyway?

Plant products in organic meals must be grown with no chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Animal products must be from animals raised without the use of antibiotics or growth hormones. Natural is not defined by official regulations but generally refers to feed processed without artificial preservatives, flavors, or chemical additives.

Canines are natural carnivores. Meat should be the first ingredient. Meat byproducts and animal protein are not synonyms for meat. Byproducts are made up of any unused part of an animal and can include the head, feet, ligaments, lungs, spleen, and leftover fat, as well as meat from diseased, dead, dying, or disabled animals. There's no way to measure the nutritional value of byproducts and each batch will be different.

Regulations require a label of "meat" to refer to cows, goats, sheep, or pigs, and meat can only be from specified muscles and tissue, not leftover byproducts. A product labeled "chicken dog food" must contain 95% chicken. A label of "chicken dinner" requires 25% chicken, and "dog food with chicken" requires 3% chicken content. The label "chicken flavor" means any trace amount of offal imparting a flavor.

Most dog fare lists grain as a primary ingredient. Grains have to be cooked at a high temperature to render them digestible. Few nutrients remain. They're empty calories leading to weight gain.

Artificial preservatives give a shelf life of 12 months to a bag of food. With natural preservatives, shelf life is a more than adequate 6 months. There have been few studies regarding the long term health effects of artificial preservatives. Propylene glycol was banned in cat cuisine because it causes anemia in cats but it's still allowed in dog products.

Some experts say dry product should not be mixed with water, milk, canned or other liquids. Although high heat kills bacteria, additional bacteria can be picked up during drying and packaging. Liquids allows the bacteria to multiply. Wet fare is a recommended part of a healthy diet, just feed it on a separate plate. Always check the expiration date when purchasing. Don't use any product that has a rancid odor. Dry foodstuff should be stored in a tin or other sealed non-porous container.

Some dog owners are concerned about the cost of an organic diet because they don't realize how much filler is in other food products. Grains and other fillers are mostly empty calories that pass through the intestines without absorption. Nutritious meals will be absorbed. Dogs will eat less, have smaller stools, more energy, healthier bodies and coats.

Review plans to upgrade your dog's diet with a veterinarian, especially if a pet has allergies or is on medication. To prevent digestive upset, introduce the new diet in stages. The first offering should be 1/4 new and 3/4 old diet. Each meal increase the proportion of the new diet. There are many varieties of organic products to choose from. To be healthy, the new diet has to appeal to your dog's taste.

Organic dog food can be purchased in meat based, vegetarian, and raw feed diets. It can be purchased through many veterinarians, and at many pet stores, both retail and online. The benefits are less digestive problems, improved immune system, and natural weight control. Dogs eating an organic diet are much less likely to develop allergies and skin problems.

Jamie is a pet health professional who specializes in raw pet food.