What, exactly, does “natural” mean? More importantly, what does “natural” mean when you see it on a can or perhaps a bag of pet food? You wish the better of everything for your dog, including his food, but are foods which are labeled as natural dog foods any better than any other not labeled natural?
The essential definition of natural is, “in accordance with nature.” The way it pertains to commodities – and dog food is a commodity – the definition is, “being unprocessed or manufactured using only simple or minimal processes.” The commercial food you purchase your dog may contain natural ingredients, but are they good for your dog? Are they nutritious? The definition doesn’t say anything about being healthy or good for you – or your dog.
A popular brand of dry puppy food includes“natural poultry flavor”. If the producer doesn’t give the source, and this one doesn’t, you then are counting on his word that it’s in reality natural and not a chemical. Even if it is natural, does it contain something your dog might be allergic to? In this case, you don’t know.
Meat by-products are a typical ingredient in several dog foods, including those advertised as natural. These by-products are the non-rendered, clean parts, besides meat, derived from slaughtered mammals. It includes, but isn’t limited to, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, partially defatted low temperature fatty tissue, and stomachs and intestines freed of the contents. It doesn’t include hair, horns, teeth and hoofs. Nothing unnatural here, however the nutritional value is way under the meat itself. Your dog would get a bunch of food but little nutrition.
If you’d like your dog to have a natural diet but you don’t want to stress about a whole host of ingredients that may or may not be good for your dog, your best option is to make your dog’s food yourself. You’ve got control over the ingredients. You have control over the nutritional value of your dog’s food. Of the many natural dog foods, the ones that will be best for your dog are your own.
