You want to feed your dog better quality food with fewer chemicals, but this opens up a whole new world of confusing terms with mixed definitions. How do you know what you are feeding your dog truly fits with your newfound desire to provide a healthier diet?
Natural versus Organic
Most of us use the terms ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ interchangeably, but there is actually a significant difference.
‘Natural’ means that the ingredients in the food are produced or existing in nature; not artificial (Webster’s New World Dictionary). This means anything made from plants, animals, or even elements found in nature is considered ‘natural’.
The FDA defines a natural product as foods that are processed without preservatives or additives. However, these natural ingredients may have been grown using pesticides or other conventional methods.
Without any laws or regulatory bodies overseeing the term “natural,” the word is essentially meaningless when shopping for high-quality dog food.
On the other hand, ‘organic’ has stricter standards. Monitored by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), organic foods must be grown according to strict standards, with no conventional pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, antibiotics, or growth hormones. Most organic farms focus on using renewable resources with an emphasis on soil and water conservation.
What is All Natural Dog Food?
All-natural dog food, in theory, is made with minimal processing—free from artificial chemicals, sweeteners, colors, and general ‘over-processing’ techniques commonly used in commercial pet food production.
However, all natural dog food does not mean it’s free of pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, other drugs, or genetically modified feed crops. Nor does it guarantee that animals were allowed to graze or free-range. Only organic food can make those claims.
Is it worth the extra money to buy dog food labeled natural? Read the ingredients and decide for yourself. If there are a lot of ingredients you can’t pronounce, there’s a good chance the company is using the word natural in their marketing to attract customers who are confused by the differences between natural and organic.
How Does All Natural Dog Food Compare with Most Commercial Dog Foods?
Comparing dog foods can be a difficult and time-consuming task. Just consider the number of manufacturers and then multiply that by the number of varieties produced by each one. You’ll quickly realize how overwhelming the process can be!
In general, high-quality all-natural diets offer your pet a better product with fewer chemicals and less processing. Are they 100% healthy and chemical-free? No, that would require the organic label. Are they better than the average, heavily processed pet food? Yes.
Rule of Thumb for Buying All Natural Dog Food
A basic rule of thumb when buying any dog food is to first do your research and know your manufacturers. Then, buy the best-quality food you can afford, as it will contain higher-quality ingredients with fewer fillers and additives.
Choosing the best food for your pet can be challenging, but help is available. Ask your veterinarian for their recommendations, or visit a small, owner-operated pet store to discuss your concerns with them.
