Holistic Nutrition for Dogs

Labels

• Just because your dog's food is "premium" or "gourmet" doesn't mean it's any better than the rest. Those accreditations don't represent any kind of nutritional standard. Foods labeled "natural," however, must meet certain criteria; they feature only plant, animal or mineral ingredients and cannot contain synthetics. Even "organic" foods have criteria: "100 percent organic" foods are made from all organic ingredients. Foods that are just plain "organic" have a makeup that's at least 95 percent organic, and those "made with organic ingredients" have only 70 percent organic products. "Dinner" is another tip-off word; for example, a chicken "dinner" only has to contain 25 percent chicken. "With" means "with at least 3 percent," and "flavor" means flavoring, not actual nutritional substance.

Healthful Foods

• Poultry protein, whole grains (like brown rice), organic oats and barley, organic eggs and organic ground beef, lamb or pork can add essential nutrients to a holistic canine diet. In a strict holistic diet, 50 percent of the dog's food should be made up of grains, and if you're preparing the food yourself, these grains should be boiled or steamed. Twenty-five percent of a dog's diet should be vegetables that are boiled, steamed or raw, depending on the pet's preference. The final quarter of the dog's diet should consist of meat. If it's fresh, organic meat, you can feed it to him raw, but if you're nervous or don't know the source, steam or boil it. Fish and eggs are also OK for an occasional treat. This formula is meant to emulate the kind of diet your dog would have if it were in the wild and eating on its own.

Raw Diets

• Some holistic enthusiasts prefer feeding their pets raw foods. Their bodies are meant to process raw foods, because left to their own defenses, that's what they'd eat. Raw food diets include as many raw components as possible, including meat and vegetables. Raw poultry bones can be given to dogs as well; when uncooked, these bones crunch instead of splintering and are a great way to clean teeth. Such diets have proven to help with fleas, hot spots, excessive shedding, dental health, allergies, digestion, the immune system and degenerative disease.

Supplements

• If you're the cook, adding some natural supplements can help complete your dog's diet plan. Some of the problems your dog may be experiencing won't clear up with ordinary food, and supplements could help remedy them. Glucosamine and chondroitin protect and improve joint health; vitamins C, B12, A, E and B are all beneficial. Calcium, zinc and magnesium are also recommended. Any dog involved in a rigorous training program may already be taking some or all of these.

Treats

• As you may have surmised, a holistic food diet doesn't include most treats, especially those of the prepackaged, junk-food type. However, you can still reward your dog more natural alternatives. Any human-grade whole ingredients; organic flaxseed oil; vegetables like carrots, green beans and zucchini; fruits, such as apples, blueberries and bananas; barley and oatmeal; honey and peanut butter can all be components for healthy snacks. Avoid anything containing garlic, onions, grapes, raisins, chocolate, yeast dough, avocado or macadamia nuts; these foods can cause harm and illness in dogs.

Benefits

• Not only do more natural diets leave out "dinners" and "flavors," they don't contain cancer-causing preservatives. None of the calories in a holistic diet come from synthetic materials like colorings and flavorings, so your dog won't put on unnecessary weight. And dogs who maintain a good weight tend to live longer. Just like humans, dogs who go natural can be healthier and have more energy when owners do a better job meeting their nutritional needs.