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Natural Dog Food: For a Healthy Hound

2016/5/3 14:42:14
Despite the fact that dogs are commonly regarded as man's best friend, those who keep them as pets give nary a second thought to how they are fed. The common practice is to rely solely on mass-produced dry pellets or canned food, yet many brands are made without any consideration for the nutritional well-being of dogs. But if you truly care for your fuzzy companion, then you should take his health seriously and feed him natural dog food.
To be fair, the reason why dry pellets and tins continue to sell is because of the convenience they give dog owners. Food tins are moist and tasty, and when unopened, keep very well in the pantry. Dry pellets on the other hand, can be left out for days in the dog's feeding dish, which means that there is no need to sit and watch the dog finish his food. He or she can merely eat and leave at whim.
Still, some would argue that the endorsement of natural dog food is merely born from a marketing trend that exploits the hippie feel-good urges of consumers, a fad that has made "organic" and "fair trade" a means to add value to commodities. The reality though is that commercial dog food is also unhealthy and in some cases unfit for consumption. They can be made from disgusting animal by-products, coated in chemical additives and preservatives or filled with unhealthy corn gluten.
Furthering confusion is the fact that many companies exploit the liberal interpretation of "natural" exercised by food labelling regulation authorities by selling products falsely branded as "natural." In practice, it is possible to pass of dog food as "natural" even when it is filled with processed intestines and cow brains. Therefore, make sure the brand of natural dog food is from a trustworthy company.
For example, Honest Kitchen is a company that attempts to merge the convenience of dry food with the healthiness of all-natural ingredients. They take fresh ingredients such as real meat, organic grain and vegetables and place them into a dehydrated process that can be rehydrated with warm water later. The result is a wholesome and colourful meal full of nutrition that can be had with convenience.
Merrick Dog Food, on the other hand, specializes in wholesome meals that have all the storage convenience of canned food, but with all the aesthetic qualities of human grade food. Their products are free of preservatives, hormones, animal by-products and chemical additives. Some of their varieties include a multi-grain and meat ensemble called Puppy Plate and a wholesome chicken and turkey combo for older dogs called the Senior Medley.