Articles

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.

Yet with all due fairness, canned food and dry pellets are very convenient. Dry dog food can be left out for days in the feeding dish, which means there is no need to watch over the dog to ensure he finishes his meal. He or she can merely come and go at his stomach's urging. Canned food on the other hand, keeps fresh unopened and ensures a moist and tasty meal no matter how long they're been in the pantry.

Still, some would argue that the endorsement of natural dog food is merely born from a marketing trend that exploits the hippie feel-good urges of consumers, a fad that has made "organic" and "fair trade" a means to add value to commodities. The reality though is that commercial dog food is also unhealthy and in some cases unfit for consumption. They can be made from disgusting animal by-products, coated in chemical additives and preservatives or filled with unhealthy corn gluten.

Furthering the confusion is the extent to which many companies falsely advertise their products as "natural dog food." Because food labelling regulations have a very liberal interpretation of "natural," it is actually possible to sell dog food filled with processed intestines and cow brains and still get away with calling it "natural." Therefore, you should look to two companies that know what's naturally fit for consumption.

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.

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.