Organic and Holistic Dog Foods

As more and more dog owners become knowledgeable about dog nutrition, the search for high-quality brands of dog food has become a standard activity for pet owners. Premium dog foods have become a popular option for many dog owners, but for those who want to give their dogs a natural and healthy diet, organic and holistic dog foods may be an excellent choice.

  1. Identification

    • "Organic" means no hormones or antibiotics.

      The term organic means food that has grown and processed by meeting guidelines for organic production. This often means refraining from using hormones, antibiotics, pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Holistic dog foods are based on the principle of ''holism." This means that whole foods are processed as little as possible, so to retain important nutrients for all-around well-being.

    Warning

    • According to the Food and Drug Administration, at this moment, there are no official rules regulating the labeling of organic foods for pets. However, the United States Department of Agriculture may be soon develop regulations dictating what types of synthetic additives may be used in organic pet food.

    Features

    • Be sure to know "the story behind the label" when you shop for organic dog food.

      Dog foods labeled ''100-percent organic" must strictly contain organically produced ingredients, whereas dog foods labeled as ''organic'' must contain at least 95 percent organically produced ingredients. If a dog food advertises that it is "made with organic ingredients," seventy percent of the ingredients must be organic. Organic dog foods will typically carry the "USDA Organic" seal on the package, whereas holistic dog foods may only display the word ''holistic."