Natural Dog Food as a Healthy Alternative

Although widely regarded to be man’s best friend and a pet that makes the most loyal companion, dog owners give little thought to how they are fed. Many simply keep a stock of dry pellets or food tins, and in most cases such foods are mass-produced without any consideration for the nutritional well-being of the dog. If you truly value your faithful hound, then it is important for you to take his health seriously by feeding him natural dog food.

To be fair, the reason why dry pellets and tins continue to sell is because of the convenience they give dog owners. Food tins are moist and tasty, and when unopened, keep very well in the pantry. Dry pellets on the other hand, can be left out for days in the dog’s feeding dish, which means that there is no need to sit and watch the dog finish his food. He or she can merely eat and leave at whim.

That said there are some who would contend that natural dog food is merely a trendy fad spawned from the same hippie urges that have made organic produce and fair trade so fashionable. The reality of the matter is that the convenience of commercial dog food comes at a price. Most brands are filled with disgusting animal by-products, unhealthy gluten and other components not suitable for consumption by dogs.

Worsening matters is the fact that many companies conceal this fact through false advertising and roundabout labelling techniques. Because the term “natural” is interpreted very liberally by food labelling regulations, it is actually possible to sell cow brains and processed intestines and still proclaim it as “natural dog food.” As such, you should pay attention to which companies actually deal in authentic natural products.

Honest Kitchen is one company that attempts to find a reasonable place between commercial convenience and healthy, natural food. They specialize in taking fresh natural ingredients such as real meat and organic grain and putting them in a dehydration process. You only need to rehydrate their products with warm water in order to get a wholesome, colorful meal packed with nutrition.

Another company that specializes in natural dog food, albeit of another variety, is Merrick Dog Food. They deal in canned meals made of human-grade food free of antibiotics, animal by-products, hormones and preservatives. Some of their varieties include a juicy mixed meat combination of turkey, duck and chicken called Turducken and a high fiber chicken, potato and apple combo called Grammy’s Pot Pie.

This article introduces readers to the benefits of natural dog food as a nutritional alternative to the staple forms of commercial dog food which are filled with unhealthy components. While commercial dog food can be very convenient, they do little for a dog’s nutritional well-being. However, do not be fooled by false advertising notions of “natural” and turn only to trustworthy brands such as Merrick Dog Food and Honest Kitchen.

- Melinda Smith

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