| Unquestionably, USDA certified organic pet foods are | | | | be a clearly defined source of animal protein. Don't |
| healthier than pet foods made from conventionally | | | | choose dog foods that contain ingredients listed as |
| produced ingredients. Unlike cheaper conventional pet | | | | 'chicken meals' or 'animal protein,' as these cannot be |
| foods, USDA certified organic pet foods contain no | | | | reliably traced to their origin. Absent any known |
| residues from pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, or | | | | origin, it's easy for manufacturers to use low quality |
| chemicals accumulated during manufacturing that may | | | | sources of animal protein. Moreover--and tragically, as |
| include a number of the toxic chemicals that are | | | | recent history has taught us--if any contamination or |
| associated with conventional pet food processing. | | | | tainting of unsourcable ingredients occurs, it becomes |
| Organic pet foods contain more nutrients--such as | | | | difficult to mount a quick and effective pet food |
| vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals--than non-organic | | | | recall to save animal lives if one can't trace the |
| pet food. This is especially important, considering the | | | | ingredient in question to its source. In the case of |
| depletion of nutrients that comes with heavy | | | | USDA certified organic dog foods, one needn't worry |
| processing and the consequent need to supplement | | | | because the USDA organic standards prohibit the use |
| pet foods with mostly synthetic, low-grade nutrients | | | | of obscure and unsourceable low quality ingredients. |
| in order to provide some level of nutrition to dogs, | | | | Any choice of organic dog food should contain some |
| cats, or other pets. So, USDA certified organic pet | | | | fruits and/or vegetables. However, plant matter |
| foods are a great way to provide your animal friend | | | | should never make up more than 50% of the total |
| with safe, nutrient-rich food staples. But beware: | | | | contents of a given dog food product. The |
| currently in the USA, only organic certification is | | | | percentage of plant matter in a given dog food |
| regulated by law and any claim of organic status | | | | should be more in the range of 30-40% of the |
| other than that of '(USDA) certified organic' is not | | | | contents by weight. And it goes without saying that |
| substantiated by an unbiased third party. | | | | these ingredients should be organic as well, both to |
| Organic dog foods are great if done right. The best | | | | avoid contamination with toxins and increase the |
| organic dog food is, of course, prepared fresh at | | | | nutritional value and health benefits of any given |
| home. However, this may be challenging, given the | | | | USDA certified organic dog food. |
| time constraints of the modern world. Although | | | | The great thing about feeding your animal with whole |
| USDA certified organic dog foods are a great choice, | | | | food-based USDA certified organic products is that |
| there are big differences in quality among the many | | | | you shouldn't have to worry about routinely |
| available choices. Most of these differences stem | | | | supplementing whole foods with isolated nutrients |
| from the quality of the ingredients used. Although no | | | | because organic foods are generally much more |
| low-grade ingredients, such as byproducts or other | | | | nutrient-dense than conventional--or non-organic--pet |
| indefinable ingredients, can be included in USDA | | | | foods. In the case of a truly organic diet, you can |
| certified organic dog foods, a number of important | | | | supplement with nutrients simply on the basis of your |
| nutritional distinctions arise from manufacturers' | | | | own animal's particular individual needs, and only when |
| choices of ingredients. Some of these distinctions are | | | | necessary. Such occasional supplementation makes it |
| highlighted below. | | | | possible for you to choose high-quality supplements |
| Organic dog food should not contain grains or flours | | | | for your dog instead of the typically low-grade |
| as first, or primary, ingredients. Dogs did not evolve | | | | vitamin-and-mineral mixes added by conventional pet |
| to eat grains, whether raw or cooked. Although | | | | food manufacturers to enable them legally to call |
| cooking will render grains digestible by the dog's | | | | their foods 'balanced' or 'complete.' |
| gastrointestinal tract, cooking also destroys many | | | | Although choosing USDA certified organic pet foods |
| constituent nutrients; often, the only thing left are | | | | over conventional varieties is just a first step toward |
| empty calories with little or no substantive nutritional | | | | better health and well being for your animal, it's a |
| value. | | | | very important first step. So, be good to your animal; |
| The first ingredient in organic dog food should always | | | | take that first step today! |