Many dog food manufacturers have come out saying theirs is of high quality as they use the best natural ingredients.
Choosing which dog food brand may be one of the toughest decisions that dog-owners will need to make when they consider what really is best for their dogs. It is quite a daunting task!
In this article, we will give you some tips on how to identify and choose a top dog food brand, and a list of the top 5 natural dog food brands in the US.
How to identify the best quality dog food
Read the labels carefully. How many of us dog-owners are fooled by the pretty pictures and fancy descriptions?
These are meant to catch our eyes and inadvertently get the focus out of the real ingredients.
The term, “Natural” can be misleading! What we need to put top priority on is what we are going to feed our animals with and how they could possibly react to it, especially if they are ill.
In the US, The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) had already established the rules that regulate animal feed, including dog food ingredients.
All dog food manufacturers are required to follow and stick to these “Rules” and show the following information on all their product labels:
- Product Name
- List of Ingredients
- Guaranteed Analysis
- Nutritional Adequacy Statement
- Dog Feeding Guidelines
- Net Quantity Statement
- Manufacturer’s Name and Address
What we should be aware of is that it is allowed to omit critical information entirely on the label, i.e. ingredients that manufacturers do not add themselves but are obtained from their suppliers.
Another thing is that common descriptions are not regulated at all, i.e. “Recommended by top Veterinarians”, “All-Organic”, “All-Natural” and other similar catchphrases. We just need to be cautious.
Compare dog food brands. There’s just so many to choose from and so many information to absorb! What we need to pay attention to and look for is human grade dog food. (Read more)
Look online for dog food products’ websites and reviews. We need to make sure that the ingredients are made locally from USDA inspected facilities or from reputable countries.
Review diligently the food label and check the list of ingredients before the fat source. Most manufacturers that deliver high quality dog food list down up to 10 more ingredients before the source of fat.
Study the meat components. Meat is the highest source of protein which is the most vital substance in a dog’s diet. You want high quality meat product that has more meat than grains.
Avoid dog food brands that do not mention a specific animal as the source of the meat. Avoid the term ‘by-product’ as well – even if source is cited.
Look for information on quality sources of fat and grains. Although fruits and vegetables are not as important in a dog’s diet, it’s a good source of extra nutrients but veer away from onions.
Study the label for food preservatives and chemical additives. Look for more natural preservatives such as Vitamin E and Vitamin C.
Top 5 Natural Dog Food and Holistic Brands
Here is what we have gathered as America’s leading dog food brands of natural and holistic in quality:
1. Solid Gold
2. Innova
3. Nature’s Variety
4. Holistic Blend
5. EVO Grain-Free