Are Natural Dog Foods Better Than Home Made?

What, exactly, does "natural" mean? More importantly, what does "natural" mean when you see it on a can or a bag of dog food? You want the best of everything for your dog, including his food, but are foods that are labeled as natural dog foods any better than any other not labeled natural?

The basic definition of natural is, "in accordance with nature." As it pertains to commodities - and dog food is a commodity - the definition is, "being unprocessed or manufactured using only simple or minimal processes." The commercial food you buy your dog may contain natural ingredients, but are they good for your dog? Are they nutritious? The definition doesn't say anything about being healthy or good for you - or your dog.

A popular brand of dry puppy food contains "natural poultry flavor". If the manufacturer doesn't give the source, and this one doesn't, then you are relying on his word that this is in fact natural and not a chemical. Even if it is natural, does it contain something your dog may be allergic to? In this case, you don't know.

Meat by-products are a common ingredient in many dog foods, including those advertised as natural. These by-products are the non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals. It includes, but is not limited to, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, partially defatted low temperature fatty tissue, and stomachs and intestines freed of their contents. It does not include hair, horns, teeth and hoofs. Nothing unnatural here, but the nutritional value is much lower than the meat itself. Your dog would get lots of food but little nutrition.

If you want your dog to have a natural diet but you don't want to worry about a whole host of ingredients that may or may not be good for your dog, your best choice is to make your dog's food yourself. You have control over the ingredients. You have control over the nutritional value of your dog's food. Of all the natural dog foods, the ones that will be best for your dog are your own.