Dog Food Battle! Organic vs Commercial Dog Foods

Organic pet foods have advantages that make them slightly more appealing to the consumer, prompting an increase in production and sales since they were introduced into the pet food market. These foods contain no artificial flavorings, colorings or preservatives. The foods are also made from meat and meat by-products that do not contain growth hormones or antibiotics. Organic pet foods contain little or no fillers, and sometimes contain ingredients that have antioxidants to benefit the health of your pet.

These advantages make the foods easier to digest and more palatable for your dog, along with being more nutritious. You might find that a dog that often vomits after eating because of a finicky stomach will not do so after eating organic foods. Dogs with a large number of bowel movements may have fewer or smaller movements because of a decrease in fillers and non-digestible ingredients in the organic dog food.

The trend of eating organic food is common in people that are switching to this type of diet for health reasons, and the same applies to your pet. Feeding your dog a healthy diet often relates to a dog with fewer health issues that require medical treatment.

To determine if your dog food is a good option, start by reading the ingredient list on the side of the dog food bag. If fillers and carbohydrates are the first ingredients, then it means that the dog food is highly processed and not a healthy option for your dog. A dog eating a large amount of processed food will react similar to a human eating fast food and processed food on a regular basis. You will notice the dog will act lethargic, with a possible increase in weight. These issues are contributors to other health problems that might reduce the life-span of you furry family member.

The problem with organic dog foods is that there is no scientific research showing evidence that this type of pet food is better than the high-quality commercial dog foods on the market. High-quality pet foods do not list processed carbohydrates or fillers as the first ingredients, so they might be just as good as the expensive organic dog food options. While organic dog food might be better for your dog, the food has the disadvantage of being more expensive than other types, and is sometimes difficult to find unless you go to a specialized pet food store. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of organic dog food versus a high-quality commercial dog food and choose the one that best fits the needs of the pet and your budget.