A Holistic Medicine approach to Different Types of Dog Food

As devoted dog owners, we all want the very best for our furry companions. We strive to provide them with love, care, and of course, the right nutrition. In our quest to ensure our dogs live their best lives, we often come across a plethora of dog food options. From dry kibble, dehydrated, canned, raw and cooked diets, the choices can be overwhelming.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the world of dog food from a unique perspective - the Ancient Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) view. We'll explore different types of dog food, their impact on your dog's health and overall tendency toward imbalance and disease. We'll also introduce you to a holistic approach that aligns with TCVM principles.

Unmasking the Truth about Dry and Canned Dog Food

Dry and canned dog food, often touted as convenient and cost-effective, may not always be the best choice for your furry friend. These foods are by definition lower quality than what we eat.  Defined as feed grade, these ingredients are rejected from being available for human consumption.  In addition, dry dog food breaks down these feed grade ingredients to smaller pieces to make a slurry, then reforms them with an ultra-processing, high heat process called extrusion.  From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCVM) perspective, eating processed food puts heat into the body, this generally translates into inflammation in western medicine.  For all species in TCVM, if you eat a hot, dry food you will become hot and dry.  This explains the high rates of processed food and chronic inflammatory diseases we see today.

Dehydrated Dog Food: A Drying Dilemma

Dehydrated dog foods have gained popularity for their convenience, long shelf life and for being better ingredients than dry or canned feed grade dog food. TCVM sees these diets as less processed than extruded kibble or canned food but they do have an overall drying effect on the body, which might not be suitable for all dogs.  Adding water to dehydrated food is not the same as eating the whole food.  As an example, eating dried fruit and drinking water does not feel the same in our stomach as eating an apple.

Raw Food: “Exploring the Benefits and Limitations of Raw Food

Raw dog food diets for dogs have garnered attention for their potential health benefits, making raw dog food a popular choice among pet owners. A TCVM approach to raw food is to consider raw primarily for very young and healthy dogs with a strong “spleen qi” meaning strong stomach energy.  If a dog has a sensitive stomach, If they are picky or is if they are naturally very thin, raw may not be the right choice.  Sometimes dogs do well on raw when they are young but as they age they can become sensitive to raw feeding, then cooked food becomes a better option for them.

The Gentle Nature of Cooked Dog Food

When it comes to choosing the right dog food, including cooked dog food, it's essential to strike a balance between quality ingredients and the cooking process. Gently cooked real food meals offer the perfect compromise for dog owners who want high-quality nutrition without the potential drawbacks of raw or processed diets.  From a TCVM perspective, these meals are considered ideal when you seek a gentle diet for young dogs, senior dogs or any dog with a sensitive GI tract.

The Chi Dog Approach: A Balanced Diet for Vitality

At Chi Dog, we advocate for gently cooked, low carb, real food meals that are crafted with high-quality ingredients as the most gentle way to feed.  Our meat is only human grade ground muscle meat.  Chi Dog does not use organ meat.  We chose to omit organ meat because organs are high in fat and can concentrate metals, copper, and toxins. Overall, our meals are designed to provide the nourishment your dog needs without the pro-inflammatory effects associated with traditional dog food.