Organic Dog Food Comparison

I decided to do an organic dog food comparison. There is a lot of controversy over what is considered an organic dog food. Although the organic definitions and guidelines are stricter than other labeling on dog foods, there is still room for confusion. Therefore, as always, Buyer Beware – look at the ingredients in your dog food before buying to be sure of what you are getting.

‘Organic’, as defined by the FDA, means 100% organic ingredients (no synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics or growth hormones). Organic refers to how foods are grown, not how they are processed. I think the best dog foods out there are 95% certified organic (I don’t know if any are 100%, as some vitamins and minerals are not available in organic form and must be used to create a complete, balanced diet). Most dog foods that are considered organic, are actually classified as ‘made with organic ingredients’ by the FDA as they use at least 70% organic ingredients.

To compare organic dog foods, look at the dog food ingredients and see which ones are not organic. Are they further down the list, or near the top? Is your dog allergic or have any reactions to pesticides, fertilizers, or antibiotics? All of these play into how to compare organic dog foods to get the best one for your dog. Of all the dog foods that claim to be organic, some top quality organic dog foods are:

• Natura’s Karma
• Newman’s Own Organic
• Castor & Pollux Organix
• Nature’s Variety Raw Food Diets

So, is an organic dog food also natural? If it’s not, do NOT buy it. What’s the difference? Organic refers to how the food is grown, natural refers to the processed food. Natural dog food cannot use any chemical or synthetic flavorings, colorings, or preservatives. If you find an organic dog food that is not also natural, that should be a BIG red flag for consumers.

Why does organic, or even natural, matter? Because artificial coloring, preservatives, pesticides, growth-hormones, and fertilizers are often tied to a lot of dog food allergies and illnesses. By first going to an organic and natural dog food, many people see their dog’s food allergies are relieved tremendously.

It should be noted that neither of these terms, organic or natural, say anything about the quality of the ingredients, only how they are grown or processed. I say this only because it seems there is ALWAYS someone/some-company out there that will exploit these terms and actually provide an inferior dog food to make a bigger profit.

Keep your guard up and look at the ingredients and the companies! When doing a  dog food comparison, look first at the company and how it operates – that will tell you a lot. Then look at the dog food ingredients label. This is the only way to really do a  thorough dog food comparison.