Can pet food “go green?” Yes, I believe it can, and my friend Lindsay who runs my favorite Dog Blog gives us some insight today…
You’ve probably thought twice about the dog food industry and what really goes into the food our pets eat.
It’s pretty scary when you read some of the ingredients on a bag of, say, Purina One dog food.
I suggest you read the ingredients of your dog’s food and let me know what you find out.
Dogs are primarily meat eaters, so you want to feed your dog food that includes real protein sources as the first three ingredients. You know, like, organic chicken, organic turkey or salmon.
Avoid foods that contain very vague ingredients such as “poultry meal” or “animal by-products.” These could be just about anything. In fact, you should completely avoid pet foods that contain any kind of by-products.
By-products can be just about any random body part from any animal, according to Born Free USA, a national animal advocacy organization. All of the “meat” and other parts that are unfit for human consumption are boiled down into a broth and used in pet foods.
So look for real, specific protein sources in your dog’s food.
Besides real meat, other ingredients that are good for your dog include real fruits and vegetables and a small amount of whole grains.
Avoid pet foods that contain cheap fillers such as corn. Dogs and cats do not need corn in their diets. Pet food companies also use brewer’s rice, which is a cheap rice by-product with no nutritional value, according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Brewer’s rice is often the number one or number two ingredient in dog foods. Poor doggies.
Can your dog “get by” on an average bag of dog food? Probably, just like we can all “get by” on cheap, heavily processed foods.
But if you have the funds to buy natural, organic or raw dog food, it could be worth it if it adds extra years to your dog’s life and saves you some vet bills down the road.
Raw/Organic Dog Food – Simple
What is considered “organic” dog food?
According to the USDA National Organic Program, organic meats used in natural organic dog food must come from animals with access to the outdoors, raised on organic feed and not treated with antibiotics or growth hormones.
Your best bet is to familiarize yourself with healthy dog food ingredients and then read the labels. Shop at natural pet foods stores that specialize in natural pet products rather than picking up a bag of dog chow from Wal-Mart or the supermarket.
Perhaps the best way to guarantee your dog is getting a healthy diet is to feed him organic raw dog food made at home.
There are all kinds of reasons to switch a dog to a natural raw food diet. The main reason to make the switch is because you will know exactly what your dog is eating. You can be sure the food does not contain any chemical additives, GMO ingredients, synthetic pesticides or herbicides that are bad for your pet and the environment.
Another reason to switch your dog to raw food is because eating raw food is natural for dogs. Canines are primarily meat eaters. And in the wild, dogs and wolves are hunters and scavengers eating mostly that. They survived thousands of years without processed, dry dog food. Go figure.
The reason a dog can eat raw meat without getting sick is because a dog’s digestive system is different than ours. Dogs have more acid in their stomachs, designed to kill bacteria before it can colonize, according to Carissa Kuehn of RawFed.com. Dogs also digest their food much faster than us, giving bacteria less time in their systems.
Raw food contains enzymes that are important for optimum digestion and nutrient absorption, according to Kuehn. Dogs get these enzymes when they eat raw meat and raw vegetables. When food is heated, the enzymes are destroyed.
If you’re not sure where to start, I suggest switching your dog to an organic dry dog food. Then down the road you can consider switching him to an organic raw dog food or making your dog’s meals yourself at home.
Dogs and cats will eat whatever we give them. It’s up to us to feed them the best.
Do you feed your dog a natural food?