As more and more people understand the benefit of eating organic foods, many pet owners are starting to wonder if their dogs should be on the same diet. But how do you go about choosing the proper organic dog food for your furry friend? How do you know if a “super-premium” food is better than “natural?” Just because a dog food says that it’s “organic” doesn’t mean its the best choice for your dog. Become an informed consumer by following these tips to pick out a good organic dog food.
Complete and Balanced Nutrition
Pet food is regulated by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Every dog food label should have a statement of nutritional adequacy which indicates the food has complete and balanced nutrition. It should also indicate which life stage the food is meant for, such as growth for puppies or senior for older dogs. This is currently the only true regulation on dog food labels.
What’s in a name?
There is currently very little regulation on the descriptive terms used on dog foods. A company can slap a super-premium label on their food with no parameters as to what the food has to contain to make that claim. Natural dog foods are those that contain no synthetic ingredients. This generally effects preservatives and vitamins and minerals. But a natural dog food isn’t necessarily a high quality dog food. If the ingredients are substandard (using meals instead of actual meat), it still is not the best choice for your dog. The only way to make an informed decision is to read the ingredient list on the back of the food.
Organic Dog Food
Organic in this context means plant matter grown without pesticides and meat raised with no antibiotics. It does not guarantee free-range or grass-feed unless specifically mentioned. While there is regulation for organic human food, these standards have not yet reached dog foods. This does not mean that the food is not, in fact, organic, but just that there is currently no regulation on those claims. Rather than go off the front label of the dog food, check the ingredient list on the back. Any protein, carbohydrate, and vegetable matter should specifically mention their organic sources. If a food is made with lamb and rice, both of those ingredients should be listed as “organic lamb” and “organic rice.”
What should I look for on the ingredient list?
Ingredient lists for pet foods are the same as for human food; the ingredients that make up the highest percentage of the diet need to be listed first. Avoid any food that lists corn or corn products as the first ingredients. A quality organic dog food should always start with a specific protein source. Not just “meat” but “lamb.” And make sure it is specified as organic lamb.
But the first few ingredients alone won’t tell you everything. To dig deeper, find the first source of fat or oil that appears on the ingredient list. This can be plant or animal based. Any foods listed before this ingredient are the main ingredients. Any items listed after that are present in smaller amounts to add flavor, preserve food or provide other dietary benefits. Why does this matter? Some dog food companies will break down unfavorable ingredients into parts so as to trick the consumer into thinking they are a smaller percentage of the diet. An example would be to list corn, corn gluten, and high fructose corn syrup as separate ingredients to push them farther down on the list.
Evaluate Ingredient Sources
Once you’ve determined your main ingredients, you need to evaluate them more closely.
Meat should be listed as organic, and should be specific. Meals and byproducts are OK as long as they are also specific; “chicken byproducts” instead of “poultry byproducts.” Carbohydrate sources should be whole ground grains such as rice, oats, or barley. Avoid corn and soy, as some dogs are allergic to gluten and soy products. Carbohydrates should also be listed as “organic oats.” Organic veggies and fruits such as peas, carrots, sweet potato or cranberries are fine, but should not be a large part of the diet. Fat sources should include Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids, with a higher ratio of Omega-6’s. Some good fat sources include chicken fat or herring oil, or plant oils such as canola, sunflower, or flax. Again, all should be listed specifically as organic.
Other components of the food might include vitamins and minerals and fiber sources. Read this article for a deeper explanation of some of these accessory ingredients.
Organic dog food might be the best bet for your pet. Organic foods carry the same benefits for dogs that they do for people. But because regulation of organic food has not yet carried over to pet foods, consumers will have to do a little more work to pick the best organic food for their dog.
Sources:
http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/diet-nutrition
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=betterproducts
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