| What, exactly, does "natural" mean? More | | | | Meat by-products are a common ingredient in many |
| importantly, what does "natural" mean when you see | | | | dog foods, including those advertised as natural. |
| it on a can or a bag of dog food? You want the | | | | These by-products are the non-rendered, clean parts, |
| best of everything for your dog, including his food, | | | | other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals. |
| but are foods that are labeled as natural dog foods | | | | It includes, but is not limited to, lungs, spleen, kidneys, |
| any better than any other not labeled natural? | | | | brain, livers, blood, bone, partially defatted low |
| The basic definition of natural is, "in accordance with | | | | temperature fatty tissue, and stomachs and |
| nature." As it pertains to commodities - and dog food | | | | intestines freed of their contents. It does not include |
| is a commodity - the definition is, "being unprocessed | | | | hair, horns, teeth and hoofs. Nothing unnatural here, |
| or manufactured using only simple or minimal | | | | but the nutritional value is much lower than the meat |
| processes." The commercial food you buy your dog | | | | itself. Your dog would get lots of food but little |
| may contain natural ingredients, but are they good | | | | nutrition. |
| for your dog? Are they nutritious? The definition | | | | If you want your dog to have a natural diet but you |
| doesn't say anything about being healthy or good for | | | | don't want to worry about a whole host of |
| you - or your dog. | | | | ingredients that may or may not be good for your |
| A popular brand of dry puppy food contains "natural | | | | dog, your best choice is to make your dog's food |
| poultry flavor". If the manufacturer doesn't give the | | | | yourself. You have control over the ingredients. You |
| source, and this one doesn't, then you are relying on | | | | have control over the nutritional value of your dog's |
| his word that this is in fact natural and not a chemical. | | | | food. Of all the natural dog foods, the ones that will |
| Even if it is natural, does it contain something your | | | | be best for your dog are your own. |
| dog may be allergic to? In this case, you don't know. | | | | |