Holistic Dog Food: What to Look for Before You Buy
These days, dog parents are more focused than ever before on providing the best possible nutrition for their furry companions. With so many dog food options on the market, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Holistic dog food can be an excellent choice, but not every recipe offers the same level of quality. That's why it's important to look closely at the ingredients, nutritional balance, and preparation methods before making your decision.
Holistic Food For Dogs: What This Means
Holistic derives from the Greek word holos, which means all or entire. So, when we talk about a holistic dog food, we essentially mean it is a type of food that supports the overall health of your dog.
For instance, holistic medicine is designed to treat the “whole” person, or in this case, the “whole” dog. A holistic practitioner would focus not only on a specific health issue but also on factors such as exercise, mental stimulation, environment, overall lifestyle and nutrition when evaluating a dog’s well-being.
A thoughtfully crafted holistic dog food, therefore, would reflect this philosophy by emphasizing ingredient quality and balanced nutrition as an important component of a comprehensive approach to caring for your dog.
7 Factors to Consider When Selecting Holistic Dog Food
To be honest, any dog food company can slap the label “holistic dog food” on their products and sell them. There are no laws or regulations that restrict the use of this term, which is why it’s so important for dog parents to research the food carefully before making a decision. Here are a few things to look for when selecting food.
1. Food Should Provide “Complete and Balanced” Nutrition
Dogs should receive the majority of their nutrition from their dog food. The American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is a nonprofit organization that sets standards for commercial dog food as well as other types of animal feed.
While AAFCO is not a government agency, this group’s nutritional standards are used by many state regulators and manufacturers. When a company states that its dog food meets AAFCO standards, this is an indicator that the food was designed to provide complete and balanced nutritional support for all life stages.
In simple terms, this means that if your dog eats the recommended amount of a complete and balanced food each day, it should receive the nutrients it needs for its age and life stage.
2. Manufacturing Practices Are Important
It is important to select a dog food company that is transparent about where its food is made and where ingredients are sourced. At Chi Dog, all of our holistic dog food diets are produced in USDA-inspected kitchens using only whole, human-grade ingredients. This ensures the highest standards of safety and quality.
3. Study The Protein Quality
A dog food could be labeled “natural and holistic,” meet AAFCO standards, and the company could adhere to proper manufacturing standards, and it still might not be the healthiest choice for your dogs.
For instance, when studying a pet food label, it is important to look for high-quality protein sources, specifically lean cuts of protein such as chicken, beef, and turkey. If you notice vague ingredients such as meat byproducts or meat meal, this is a sign that the protein is likely not high-quality. All of the ingredients also should be human-grade, which means they are fit for human consumption as well as for dogs.
Of course, not all “human-grade” proteins are ideal options for dogs. Many fresh dog food brands use high-quality, human-grade ingredients, but too often these include fatty organ meat, such as liver, which is often not the best choice for many dogs.
A diet high in fat has been linked to issues such as weight gain and pancreatic stress. Additionally, dogs prone to gastrointestinal issues may have trouble digesting high-fat proteins. Some dog breeds are copper-sensitive, as well, and organ meats are high in this mineral. For these dogs, a low-fat, low copper dog food is a better option.
4. Look For “Good Carbs” Vs. Fillers
When it comes to carbohydrate sources, there is some debate about whether dogs need them. While as veterinarians, we believe dogs benefit from a low carb dog food, adding some carefully chosen carbohydrates can ensure that your dog has balanced nutrition.
Unfortunately, many dog food manufacturers add cheap filler carbohydrates to their food, such as corn or wheat. While some dogs have issues with wheat and would benefit from a grain-free diet, corn and wheat are poor carb choices because they simply don’t pack a solid nutritional punch. They provide calories but not much else.
Instead, it’s best to opt for quality ingredients such as brown rice, millet, and other healthy grains as well as thoughtfully selected vegetables and fruits that provide your dog with good sources of fiber and an abundance of vitamins and minerals.
5. Avoid “Artificial” Ingredients
Many dog foods, especially canned food and dry dog food (kibble), are packed with artificial colors and flavors, as well as chemical preservatives. As veterinarians, we recommend avoiding these ingredients and opting for a limited-ingredient diet with nothing artificial.
When reading dog food labels, look for terms such as Red 40, Yellow 5, BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene). If the ingredient is a vague color or a long, complicated series of nearly unpronounceable words, this is not a great fit for your dog.
A dog food label should be simple and fairly straightforward. At Chi Dog, we offer five limited-ingredient diets. As an example of simplicity, our Fire Diet contains turkey, millet, carrots, edamame, and broccoli. We use no preservatives and nothing artificial, as they are not necessary and do not support dogs’ overall health.
6. Choose A Gently Cooked Dog Food
Pet parents can provide their furry friends with canned food, kibble, raw food, freeze-dried food, or fresh dog food. While all of these technically can provide complete and balanced nutrition, fresh dog food is usually the best choice for several reasons.
Canned food and kibble are highly processed, and this reduces the nutritional value of the proteins and carbohydrates. In some cases, these foods also might be a bit too high in sodium, not to mention that they contain a plethora of artificial ingredients.
Freeze-dried food typically includes raw meats and raw veggies that are flash-frozen. A limited-ingredient raw diet with human-grade ingredients can be a good fit for some dogs.
However, many raw foods include organ meats, which are high in fat and copper. Additionally, raw food can be difficult for many dogs, especially older dogs, to digest. If you have an older pooch or are looking for a dog food for digestive problems, raw and freeze-dried food is likely not a great choice.
Opting for a high protein low carb dog food with gently cooked ingredients is what we recommend. Gentle cooking retains moisture and nutrients, yet is far easier to digest than raw food or heavily processed foods.
7. Select A Diet Developed by Veterinarians
A vet developed dog food can be a great option to consider, especially if the diet also adheres to the factors discussed previously in this article. At Chi Dog, our recipes were formulated by Dr. Susan Bohrer, based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, which promotes the idea of clean eating to prevent disease and support optimum health.
Additionally, we worked with Dr. Edward Moser, an experienced veterinary nutritionist, to ensure that our holistic dog food diets are balanced and meet or exceed AAFCO standards for all stages of life, and this includes the growth of large-breed puppies.
At Chi Dog, we offer holistic food for dogs that meets all of the criteria listed above. Our dog food subscription service also makes it as easy as possible to provide your dog with quality food. To discover which of our five diet plans might be the best fit for your dogs, head to our homepage and take our short dog food quiz. If you have any questions about the diet plans, don’t hesitate to contact our team at any time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes holistic dog food different from regular dog food?
Holistic dog food is designed to support your dog's overall health by using high-quality, whole-food ingredients and balanced nutrition. While the term "holistic" is not regulated, the best recipes prioritize human-grade proteins, limited ingredients, complete and balanced nutrition, and avoid artificial preservatives, colors, and fillers.
Is holistic dog food good for dogs with sensitive stomachs?
Yes. Many holistic dog foods use limited, easily digestible ingredients and gently cooked proteins that are easier on the digestive system. Choosing recipes without artificial additives, excess fat, or low-quality fillers can help support dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Should holistic dog food meet AAFCO standards?
Absolutely. A quality holistic dog food should meet or exceed AAFCO nutritional standards for complete and balanced nutrition. This helps ensure your dog receives the essential nutrients needed for its life stage when fed as directed.
What ingredients should I avoid when buying holistic dog food?
Look for foods that avoid artificial colors, flavors, chemical preservatives, meat byproducts, excessive organ meats, and inexpensive fillers such as corn and wheat. Instead, choose recipes made with whole-food ingredients, lean proteins, healthy grains or vegetables, and natural sources of vitamins and minerals.
Is gently cooked holistic dog food better than kibble?
Gently cooked holistic dog food can offer advantages over heavily processed kibble because it helps preserve more nutrients while remaining highly digestible. Many veterinarians recommend gently cooked, whole-food diets for dogs that benefit from fresh, minimally processed nutrition, especially those with digestive sensitivities or specific dietary needs.
