Pet owners who want the best for their dogs often choose organic food instead of regular food, but is this really the right choice? Should pet owners like you solely rely on the commercials of big pet food brands or should you look into choosing a more organic diet for your dog?
There are several advantages and disadvantages of organic food that every concerned dog owner should keep in mind. If you care about the well-being of your dog, it’s important to look at the pros and cons of your choice.
Advantages
The most obvious advantage is the nutritious quality of the food itself. Commercial pet food brands commonly use something known as “filler” ingredients, which are additives and preservatives that you definitely would not find in organic dog food. When your dog eats organic food, he is much more likely to properly absorb all the nutrients and minerals as opposed to standard dog food.
Secondly, organic dog food is packed full of vitamins such as: Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and many others. Regular pet foods are often missing important vitamins and nutrients.
So why does this matter?
The nutrition and vitamin profile of your dog’s food can have a significant impact on the stamina and energy level of your dog. A good diet of organic dog food can also improve his resistance to allergies, illnesses, and overall disease.
Usually, organic food is also free of harmful and dangerous byproducts, which can be dangerous for your pet’s health.
An article in the Daily Mail talks to several nutrition experts on the subject. These experts claim that many large pet food brands are selling food which is unfit for dogs. They say that the food produced by these big brands can shorten your dog’s lifespan by up to a year.
Disadvantages
Because you’re paying for higher quality ingredients, organic dog food (and any organic food, really) will definitely end up costing you more. On average, each healthy organic meal will end up costing you around a dollar more per serving.
Another disadvantage about organic dog food is that it is much less commonly available than most commercial dog foods. Where you could easily find commercial food at your local grocery store, you may have to look online or at specialty pet stores to find good organic food for your dog.
Finally, organic food has not been proven to be scientifically better for your dog than regular commercial food. However, studies have proven that a high quality diet will play an important role in cardiovascular, bone, joint health, and helps prevent disease.
What should I do for my dog?
Every dog owner should think very carefully about these pros and cons. Many people (incorrectly) assume that the big brands on TV are the best foods that you can get for your dog.
Unfortunately, this is just not true. As a responsible dog owner, you should pay attention to the individual ingredients of whatever you are feeding your pets to make sure there is nothing harmful to its health.
If you love your dog and want to make that extra investment into keeping your dog healthy, we strongly recommend choosing high quality and healthy food. In the long run, this will result in reduced health costs and a better quality of life for your dog.