Organic Dog Food Buyer's Guide
Every brand of dog food has its own focus, and even within brands, there are many options. Dog lovers can get confused with all of the different labels surrounding organic dog foods, but simplifying the buying process is as simple as learning more about the ingredients list.
Learn About The Different Labels
In order to supply your dog with the food they need, you need to learn how to read the labels on their food correctly. Let's start by understanding what the difference is between products labeled "organic" and "natural."
"Natural" Labelling
Starting with natural products, these are defined as those dog foods that don't contain any synthetically made ingredients. Basically, anything that's not made in a lab.
Even though this sounds like a good thing, it leaves a lot of empty room for things your dog doesn't need. Your dog wouldn't eat soy in the wild, but this is a common filler found in many dog foods because it's "natural". Natural dog foods are only a tad bit better than junk food kibble types.
"Organic" Labelling
On the other hand, "organic" foods are a totally different matter. The ingredients, processing, and handling of the foods are subject to strict regulation and inspection along the way.
Dog food labeled as "organic" means that the plant ingredients must be raised without any pesticides, genetic modification, or artificial fertilizers, while the meat portions were allowed to roam freely, ate organic feed, and were not treated with growth hormones. It's easy to see why organic foods are so much better for your dog off the bat.
Without the added fillers, your dog truly gets natural foods as they would in the wild, all of which helps them grow stronger and live longer.
On top of that, organic meats are free of antibiotics used to treat animals. Oftentimes, these can remain in the animal long after their death and get transferred into the consumer.
Similarly, GMOs and pesticides used to keep grains overly-abundant are also harmful to dog health. These aren't problems your dog has to face with organic food, however, as antibiotics, pesticides, and GMOs are all strictly banned and monitored as a result.
So, while "natural" and "organic" food sounds similar, there's a big difference between them that makes a huge impact on your dog's health.
Ingredients Are Important
We all know that dogs need certain vitamins and minerals to help their digestive tract, as well as their outward appearance. The ingredients you have in your dog food directly affects their ability to live and thrive.
Better ingredients mean a better lived, sickness-free, and longer-lasting life for your furry friend. It's tempting to think that just because you buy organic food for your dog, that your dog's food is 100% perfect. That's not the case at all.
Read The Ingredients On The Label
The actual ingredients in your dog's food, regardless of "natural" or "organic" labels, are what make up a good diet.
Think of it like this.
If you were to eat a whole tray of lasagna on your own, but it was organic, would it matter after you downed the whole tray?
Not really.
That's the same thing with dogs. Though the ingredients, like corn and wheat, may be free of pesticides and harmful runoff from sludge, they still have little to no nutritional value for your dog. Taking a look at the ingredients lists and avoiding things like corn, soy, and wheat fillers is the first step in getting a more fulfilling diet for your dog.
Be As Specific As Possible
When looking for organic food, skip the fancy packaging and go straight for the ingredient's list. Though the packaging should be labeled with "organic" or "natural" clearly, you can still double check by looking at the ingredients. As a general rule, the more specific and readable the ingredients are, the more organic and better the product is for your dog.
Instead of just an ambiguous "meat" by-products ingredient, chicken or beef is a much better alternative. Paying attention to the labels, and giving the ingredients a thorough comb-through are both important to finding the best organic dog food.
Understand Different Types of Organic Dog Food
Even among organically labeled dog foods, there's a huge range of quality that you can find. Some foods are better suited for your dogs than others because of the level of organic material they contain. Generally speaking, there are four main types of organic labels you can find on a dog food pack according to the USDA.
100% Organic Label
Firstly, you have a 100% organic label. This is basically the best of the best, as every ingredient in that can or bag has to be produced organically, except for water and salt. You should be able to pronounce every ingredient and the list itself should be small and minimalistic.
There shouldn't really be too many fancy ingredients if it's truly 100% organic.
Standard Organic Label
Next, you have the standard ‘organic' label. This is what you usually find when you start looking for organic dog foods. These foods are made with about 90% organic ingredients. Usually, these labels include an asterisk or some kind of small print that states the non-organic ingredients or methods used. This is where it's extra important to read the fine print because it may contain important information for your dog's organic diet.
Made With Organic Ingredients Label
After that, you have the ‘made with organic ingredients' label. This is when the manufacturers use around 70% of organic materials to make the dog food. They still use a good amount of organic stuff, but some of it still can't be labeled as organic.
Last but not least, you have the random organic ingredient in the list. You might see one or two organic components, like chicken or wheat, added into your dog food. Although this really isn't organic food per se, it does have some benefit.
These types of dog foods are just a little bit healthier than your average kibble mix. Carefully inspecting dog food labels is important, as there are certain levels of organic ingredients.
Getting The Right Type Of Organic Food
Just like any diet plan, there are many reasons people choose to switch their dogs over to an organic diet. Depending on your reason, you're going to look for different types of organic dog food.
One of the reasons people switch their dog's diet to a more organic one is for health benefits.
Oftentimes, dogs are sensitive to the fillers or artificial ingredients found in most dog foods. This can lead to an upset stomach or poor coat and nail health. Removing these types of artificial ingredients from their diet can positively affect their overall health.
In this case, you would need to focus more on the ingredients than the actual process of getting the dog food.
If you're moving to an organic diet, look for minimal preservatives and colors, along with high-quality, single-source proteins. These are usually what help your dog's health along.
On the other hand, if you're looking for organic foods because you want to make a better impact on the planet, you would need to find a different type of organic food.
Organic farming is generally healthier for the earth because there are no harmful pesticides or fertilizers used during the growing process. This helps the earth, while also fueling your dog in a healthier way.
In this case, you need to look for brands that focus more on the preparation and upkeep of the earth during the dog food making process. A brand that has this as their focus usually makes it very clear on the packaging.
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