Natural Dog Food Ingredients

Natural Dog Food Ingredients  (Look Closer)

If you were like me, reading the labels on the back of a bag or can dog food was something that I seldom did. I assumed that buying a quality brand of good food which had a good reputation was enough for me, and off I went to the least busiest cashier. I am not suggesting that these brands of food I was buying were not quality, I just never took the time to read what I was actually feeding my pet. After doing some extensive research and making some educated comparisons, I discovered that feeding my dog with natural dog food ingredients was essential to the well-being of my pet.

Time For A Change?

Which ingredients do I look for to ensure my dog is eating healthy? Before I answer this question, there are a few items that should be addressed. First of all, the choice of feeding my dogs with natural dog food ingredients is based upon the results I have seen with my own pets. As mentioned in the About Me page, I have been the proud owner of three Afghan Hounds throughout my life and have seen firsthand the benefits of natural dog food ingredients. Without a doubt, the difference these ingredients made in their life span, was obvious. With a change of diet, my dogs became more energetic, shiner coats, minimal digestive issues, less visits to our vet and most importantly, longevity. Secondly, you must be aware of the changes in your dog and take notice of any underlying medical conditions that may be attributed to their diet. Consulting with your vet before changing food choices is always a wise thing to do!

What Do Labels Mean? … Everything!

With that said, here are the label ingredients that absolutely must be in place before I purchase my dog food. It will probably come to no surprise that the number one ingredient must be meat. It must be! Dogs are obviously a carnivorous mammal that craves a good healthy portion of meat. Number two on my list is also centered around a meat item, which includes a meat meal such as turkey or chicken. At number three is brown rice, a whole grain. Benefits of whole grains in our dogs’ diets include reduced risks of kidney disease, high cholesterol, diabetes and cancer. My choice of natural dog food will also include some type of wholesome vegetable that is healthy. Potatoes are a good source of carbohydrates, which supplies energy to our pets. One item I suggest you stay away from, is any ingredient related to soy. It virtually has no significant impact to your dog’s diet, and may in some cases have side effects that may put your animal in harm’s way. 

These are in fact the top three ingredients I look for in my dog’s food. I am not suggesting that the other ingredients beyond the top three are not important, but these three are essential to me. In a nutshell, do your best to find a product that contains natural ingredients, staying away from unhealthy preservatives, soy and unhealthy fillers.  Your thoughts? Feel free to drop me a comment below. Thank you for visiting and I will continue to update my findings to assist in keeping our four-legged companions with us for a long time! Feel free to leave a comment or a question.