Natural Dog Food: For a Healthy Hound

Despite the fact that dogs are commonly regarded as man's best friend, those who keep them as pets give nary a second thought to how they are fed. The common practice is to rely solely on mass-produced dry pellets or canned food, yet many brands are made without any consideration for the nutritional well-being of dogs. But if you truly care for your fuzzy companion, then you should take his health seriously and feed 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.

For example, Honest Kitchen is a company that attempts to merge the convenience of dry food with the healthiness of all-natural ingredients. They take fresh ingredients such as real meat, organic grain and vegetables and place them into a dehydrated process that can be rehydrated with warm water later. The result is a wholesome and colourful meal full of nutrition that can be had with convenience.

Merrick Dog Food, on the other hand, specializes in wholesome meals that have all the storage convenience of canned food, but with all the aesthetic qualities of human grade food. Their products are free of preservatives, hormones, animal by-products and chemical additives. Some of their varieties include a multi-grain and meat ensemble called Puppy Plate and a wholesome chicken and turkey combo for older dogs called the Senior Medley.

This article describes how commercial dog food can sometimes be filled with unhealthy components that do not do well for the nutritional well-being of your dog. With that in mind, it recommends purchasing natural dog food made of all-natural human-grade ingredients. Furthermore, it advises readers to look past false advertising and turn to trustworthy brands such as Honest Kitchen and Merrick Dog Food.

- Melinda Smith