Natural and Organic Dog Food: A Comparison of the Major Brands
Like us, dogs need a healthy, nutrient-rich diet to thrive. Recent years have even seen the dog food market start to resemble our own, with health crazes and fad diets to boot. The sheer number of organic and all-natural dog food options, however, suggests the move toward healthier pet food is more than a flash in the pan. In fact, according to MarketWatch, organic dog food sales are expected to rise by nearly 10% between now and 2023.
With so many options out there, it can be challenging for pet owners to decide which organic or all-natural food is best for their dog. Let’s take a look at some of the best-selling brands to see how they compare.
Organic vs. All-Natural
First, let’s get our terminology straight. While organic and all-natural are often treated like synonyms, they actually mean slightly different things.
Simply put, all-natural foods are free of artificial additives, like preservatives or coloring and flavoring agents. Organic foods are not only free of additives, but are also produced without the aid of pesticides, herbicides, or antibiotics.
The Honest Kitchen
This family-owned brand proudly underlines the fact that its full line of dog and cat foods include only human-grade ingredients. That’s at the heart of their “honest promise.” One other key differentiator is dehydration. The Honest Kitchen suggests their “time-honored and original” technique preserves the quality of their carefully-sourced ingredients. They even offer trial-sized bags for anyone who’s uncertain about changing their dog’s diet.
The Farmer’s Dog
The Farmer’s Dog started with home cooking. When a co-founder’s dog got sick, he started cooking meals at home to provide them with the nutrients missing from many brands. Their line of fresh foods include only human-grade ingredients. You won’t find any Farmer’s Dog foods in stores, however. Operating through a direct-to-consumer model, the company delivers food to pet owners’ doors at regular intervals.
Castor & Pollux
Founded in 1999, Castor & Pollux bills itself as the first “branded, premium quality line of natural specialty food and supplies for pets.” Their line of organic dog foods feature a blend of proteins and vegetables, as well as oatmeal, to support healthy digestion. The company takes pains to guarantee all ingredients are responsibly sourced and their full line of products are certified gluten free.
Canidae
Amazon’s top-selling organic dog food, Canidae offers a number of specialty blends, including high-protein Ancestral foods and Petite foods for small dogs. The company prides themselves on simplicity, using fewer than ten ingredients in many of their recipes. Frequent buyers can take advantage of their loyalty program.
TruDog
TruDog freeze dries its raw, organic ingredients at peak freshness to preserve their nutritional value. Pet owners simply add water to prepare their pup’s meals. All of TruDog’s ingredients are hypoallergenic and sourced in the United States. Dog lovers can save by registering for TruDog’s subscription program.
That’s just a small sampling of your organic and all-natural dog food options. Consult your veterinarian about additional choices and take care to inform them of any changes to your dog’s diet.