Best Holistic Dog Food

Many pet owners turn to the best holistic dog food to provide the best nutrition possible for their treasured pets. These foods include everything from home-cooked recipes to expensive premium dog foods, but no matter what the source, two characteristics remain the same: fresh, all-natural ingredients and a lack of fillers and other artificial additives.

1.

 Whole Dog Journal has recognized Azmira as one of the best holistic dog foods every year since 2000. Their food includes only natural ingredients and is designed to be part of a larger holistic lifestyle.

2.

 California Natural received 4.5 out of 5 stars from Epinions.com users; reviews most often praised it as a great food for dogs with allergies. The food is designed to be suitable for dogs with sensitive systems, with a short ingredient list of one protein, one fat, and one carbohydrate.

3.

 So many of the best dog foods boast human-grade ingredients. Why not take matters into your own hands and give your dog food made with the "human-grade ingredients" in your own kitchen? With homemade food, you have the ultimate control over what your dog eats. There are no unknown ingredients, and you can control the quality of everything your pet eats.

There are numerous sites online offering potential recipes. For instance, Recipezaar offers over 200 pet food recipes, although a good deal of them are treats instead of everyday food. Natural Dog Food provides a list of "emergency food" which can be a good starting point for making the switch. You can also experiment with your own combinations of meat and vegetables. Consult your veterinarian before starting a homemade food diet to make sure you are providing all the nutrients your dog needs. You should also familiarize yourself with the human foods that can be harmful to dogs.

4.

 The concept behind the raw food diet is that dogs should eat raw meat and bones just like they would if they were living in the wild; raw food is the way nature intended animals to eat. ShirleysWellnessCafe.com explains some of the philosophies behind the diet and provides several recipe ideas. You should check with your veterinarian before switching to a raw food diet to ensure you are taking care of your dog's nutritional needs. There is also some controversy surrounding the raw food diet, with opponents arguing that uncooked meat can harbor harmful bacteria, so those interested in this diet should research it carefully before making an informed decision.

5.

 If you're interested in a raw food diet but you don't have the time or the inclination to provide fresh meat and bones yourself, you can turn to Steve's Real Food. Using all-natural ingredients, the brand's nuggets and patties are promised to be "a 100% complete and balanced diet for all ages & stages of your pets development." In an overview of dog foods, ConsumerSearch listed it among its top foods.

6.

 While Orijen actually eschews the term "holistic", the food is actually one of the best holistic dog foods because it fits the basic holistic ideals of healthy, natural food. By providing meat, vegetables, and grains in a ratio of 70/30/0, the company feels it is creating "Biologically Appropriate" food for dogs. It is a top-rated product among consumer dog food reviewers at Rate It All.

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