Your dog deserves the best — and that means a wholesome, natural food packed with necessary vitamins and minerals. But choosing the right holistic dog food can often be confusing, overwhelming, and even a bit frustrating: Every brand makes unique claims, every article offers different advice, and words like “natural” take on a whole new meaning when you actually look at the ingredients (yum, charcoal!).
The good news? Though it may feel like it, you don’t need a degree in pet nutrition to make an educated choice. Below, we’ve gathered all the information you need to choose the most nutritious diet. Explore your dog’s nutritional needs, learn how to avoid sneaky tactics from pet food companies, and discover what to look for in a holistic dog food. You have nothing to lose — and your dog has everything to gain.
Prioritize Nutritional Needs
When choosing a pet food, it’s important to consider the unique nutritional needs of your pet. The basics are fairly simple: Dogs need appropriate amounts of water, protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. But if you really want to meet your dog’s nutritional requirements, it’s vital to look at the big picture.
“Nutrition experts don’t agree on everything, but one thing they generally concede to be true is that all animals enjoy the best health when given a balanced and varying diet of fresh, species-appropriate foods,” according to The Whole Dog Journal.
Veterinarian Karen Becker ranks dog food types from her her top recommendation to her bottom. Her first choice? Raw dog food. “A raw diet is the most biologically and species-appropriate option for your pet,” Dr. Becker says. Her second choice is a high-quality canned food and/or dehydrated raw food — specifically those that are grain free and rich in moisture. Her last choice is dry food.
Consider the attributes of the scientifically formulated Ancestral Diet:
Each species has unique nutritional needs, and dogs are no exception. Though your pup may drool while he watches you eat dinner, the food on your plate isn’t best for him. Today’s dogs are descendants of gray wolves who hunted for fresh meat (and sometimes fish) and scavenged some fruit and grasses — and their diet should reflect this fact. Species-appropriate food.
A biologically appropriate diet:
Each type of animal has a unique anatomy. Factors such as their digestive tracts, the types of enzymes they produce, and the way their jaws work dictate their ideal diets. Dogs have teeth that are perfect for tearing flesh and gnawing on bones!
Unfortunately, much of today’s commercial pet food doesn’t take biology into account. It tends to be highly processed, heavy on carbohydrates, light on protein, and chock full of chemicals, fillers, hormones, steroids, and antibiotics.
Complete and balanced nutrition:
Nutritional balance is vital to your dog’s health. Many experts believe that shelf-stable kibble can’t ever be complete and balanced. Why? Dogs require essential fats that can easily become rancid after opening.
Even when owners try to provide a diet that’s natural and biologically appropriate, it can still lack key nutrients. For instance, pet owners who serve homemade food may inadvertently be making serious errors such as choosing too-fatty meat or assuming that feeding parts of domesticated “prey” will completely meet a dog’s nutritional needs. This can result in diets that have a fatty acid imbalance, incorrect amounts of minerals and vitamins, and a shortage of antioxidants.
Sadly, these well-meaning owners can be risking their dogs’ health, as this can result in poor organ health, a weak immune system, unbalanced skeletal growth, or a host of other issues. Learn more about how to ensure your dog is getting the right nutrients in this information-packed blog series by dog nutrition expert Steve Brown.
For people and for dogs, diets aren’t necessarily one-size-fits-all.
When deciding on a diet for your dog, take these factors into consideration:
Life stage:
Throughout your dog’s life, his nutritional needs will evolve. That adorable, playful puppy is growing so quickly that his nutritional needs are at an all-time high. Puppy foods tend to have more protein, fat, and calcium, among other nutrients. Adult dogs simply need a diet that meets their energy needs and helps maintain and repair tissues. As dogs age, they become more prone to disease and their chance of becoming obese increases as their metabolism slows. Some diets for older foods contain less fat and higher levels of antioxidants.
Activity level:
Dogs play so many different roles in our lives. The hunting companion who treks for miles and swims through icy water possesses different nutritional needs than the pup who prefers to snooze by the fire. Matching a dog’s dietary needs to his activity level is an important part of helping him maintain a healthy weight.
Breed:
From the tiniest Brussels Griffon to the most enormous Great Dane, dog breeds run the gamut. Some are prone to specific health issues, such as obesity or heart disease. Some small breeds may reach their full stature by six months old, while large breeds might continue growing during their second year.
Large-breed dogs are at a higher risk of developing orthopedic issues (such as hip dysplasia), and quick growth spurts can cause major health issues. Pet food produced for large breeds tends to be lower in calories with lower levels of calcium and phosphorous (as well as a balanced calcium: phosphorous ratio) to promote slower growth. Tempted by food that’s labeled for a specific breed? These are generally more gimmicky than scientific.
Special needs:
Dogs with certain health conditions may require special diets. For instance, dogs with cancer can benefit from carbohydrate-free food, dogs with a metabolic disorder might require a diet higher or lower in certain minerals, and pets recovering from surgery may have greater caloric needs to aid in healing. Some pets have food allergies or intolerances that make it even more important to carefully review the ingredients list.
Read the Labels Carefully
Pet food commercials on television, magazine advertisements, and even packaging can seem so appealing that you may be tempted to rush out and make a purchase. But you can’t judge a food by its image. It’s important to scour the label for key information before you serve the food to your dog.
Here’s how to gauge whether the pet food contains high-quality ingredients:
Whole foods:
Low-quality kibble is the canine equivalent of the greasy fast food meal — low in quality and short on nutritional value. What you want to see on a pet food label is whole food that is minimally processed, unrefined, and free of additives.
Single-source meats:
When it comes to meat in pet food, unfortunately sometimes you don’t know what you’re getting. In an effort to cut corners, some manufacturers rely on meat that comes from a wide range of sources. In the worst cases, your dog may be dining on meat derived euthanized pets, zoo animals, and even roadkill. Look for labels like “beef” and “chicken” rather than the more general “meat” or “poultry” to help ensure you’re getting a quality product.
No meals or by-products:
Often commercial pet food contains highly processed meat/poultry meals and animal by-products. To produce meat meal, meat undergoes heat and pressure to take out water and fat and leave just protein and minerals. Animal by-product meal is the same except it includes other parts of the carcass (hair, hooves, etc.). Given that fresh, whole food is biologically appropriate for dogs, these meals and by-products are not ideal.
No artificial ingredients:
Artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners are the last thing your dog needs. Not only are they unnecessary, but they also have the potential to cause health problems.
Don’t Fall Prey to Trends
Pet owners adore their dogs, and these days they’re willing to pay big bucks to make their pets happy: doggie daycare, paw-dicures, high-end pet boutiques … the sky’s the limit. But this love can also cause clouded judgment when people look at pet food labels — and some sneaky manufacturers are taking advantage of people’s love for their dogs. Here’s how you can avoid getting suckered by unfounded marketing claims.
Keep an eye out for humanization tactics
Your dog may act human at times, but he’s definitely a dog — and his nutritional needs don’t include pet food disguised as soup, stew, or roast beef with gravy. Those meals are designed to appeal to us (“Mmmm, what dog wouldn’t love a tasty chowder?”), but that doesn’t make them biologically appropriate for your dog.
Watch for meaningless jargon
Your dog deserves food that’s natural, gourmet, artisan, and premium, so it’s tempting to reach for packages that tout these fabulous-sounding concepts. Unfortunately, these kinds of words don’t mean much at all.
Ignore pretty pictures
In hopes of encouraging your purchase, some pet food companies pull out all the stops. They’ll plaster labels with photos of garden-fresh vegetables, whole chickens, or slabs of steak to conjure up positive visions of their contents. Don’t fall for it.
We’ve covered a few of the things to avoid in labels. Read more about how premium dog food comes naturally.
Packaging features you’ll want to ensure you’re getting high-quality dog food:
Food that meets AAFCO standards:
In the United States, the non-profit organization Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) sets the nutritional standard for pet food. Though AAFCO does not test, regulate, or certify pet food, the food must be complete and balanced according to AAFCO standards in order to be labeled as such.
Fresh food:
You probably find yourself regularly going through your cupboards and refrigerator to discard food that’s wilted, stale, or spoiled. There’s no doubt that for both people and pets, fresh food is best. Dry and canned dog food often undergo a lengthy distribution process, and some manufacturers play fast and loose with expiration dates. Do your research and don’t be afraid to ask the manufacturer or retailer to tell you exactly when a food is produced.
If you buy raw food that’s frozen, it’s a little easier to know what you’re getting. You can look carefully at the food (is it gray? old-looking?), check out the date it was produced, and ensure it was produced by a reputable company with safe handling practices. “One of the reasons I recommend and feed Darwin’s Pet Foods is that it’s the freshest raw dog and cat food one can buy,” writes Steve Brown, a renowned pet nutrition expert and author.
Minimally processed ingredients:
To the dismay of many health-conscious people and foodies, these days processed food seems to be the norm — and the same goes for pet food. Most commercial pet food is processed or pasteurized; unfortunately, being subjected to this type of heat, pressure, or oxidation can remove valuable antioxidants, phytochemicals, and enzymes. Look for food with minimal processing to give your dog superior nutrition.
Human-grade food:
AAFCO does not recognize “human-grade” as an official definition, often reputable pet food manufacturers use the term to refer to food that is free of potentially dangerous ingredients as well as sourced and handled according to the more rigorous standards for human foods (as opposed to “feed grade” foods).
As you can see, choosing the right holistic dog food may not be quite as complicated as it seemed. At Darwin’s we feel feeding your dog the Ancestral Diet is far and away the best step you can take for health, wellness, and longevity. Consider your dog’s nutritional needs, do your research and read labels carefully, and watch out for gimmicks and trends.
Learn more about how Darwin’s raw dog food diets stack up against dehydrated, canned, and dry dog foods in this handy comparison chart. Or how the Ancestral Diet means fresh, uncooked foods, an abundance of protein, and balanced fats and all of Darwin’s raw dog food diets are based on this model.
If you have a dog with certain health conditions, Darwin’s offers prescription raw dog food meals. Each offers complete and balanced nutrition for dogs dealing with kidney problems, liver issues, cancer, or joint and mobility problems.
Reputable companies will share information freely and answer any questions you may have. Darwin’s is proud of the high-quality ingredients in our food, and we’re happy to provide as much information as you’d like! We’d also love to fill you in on our convenient home delivery service, customizable options, and health benefits.
Do you have more questions about choosing the right diet? Visit us at darwinspet.com to discover what makes our food stand out from the pack.
Kim Hildenbrand is a writer and editor who loves pets. She spent her childhood rescuing worms from puddles, playing with her hamsters, and hanging out with her boisterous Labrador retriever. She now spends her days writing and drinking endless cups of coffee with her rescue dog Daisy (a cairn terrier mix) by her side.
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