Vet Developed Dog Food: Supporting Your Dog’s Health

Choosing a vet developed dog food can be a smart way to support your dog's health, as these diets are formulated with canine nutrition in mind. However, a veterinarian's involvement is just one piece of the puzzle. The quality of the ingredients, how those ingredients work together, and whether the recipe meets your dog's individual needs can be just as important when selecting a food that promotes long-term wellness.

At Chi Dog, our company was founded by veterinarians, and all five of our dog diets were formulated by veterinarians as well as a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. While this factor is important when choosing dog food, we also encourage dog parents to look for these additional signs that indicate the food you select is high-quality and designed for optimum nutrition.

USDA-Inspected Kitchens

Dog foods produced in USDA-inspected kitchens are manufactured under rigorous sanitation and quality-control standards. While USDA inspection does not guarantee that food is nutritionally superior, it can provide pet owners with additional confidence in the safety, handling, and overall quality of the product. All of our dog diets are prepared in USDA-inspected kitchens.

AAFCO Standards

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is an independent organization that sets standards for dog food as well as other types of animal feed. A food that meets AAFCO standards means that it has been formulated to provide complete and balanced nutrients according to a specific life stage. Standards for puppies, adult dogs, and seniors will differ somewhat, as each stage has unique nutritional needs.

All of our vet developed dog food diets have been formulated to adhere to AAFCO standards. However, it is important to note that dog food can meet AAFCO standards and yet still contain low-quality ingredients. Many canned dog foods and kibble (dry food) technically meet these standards, but that does not mean they are a good choice for any dog. When it comes to dog food, the quality of ingredients is paramount.

Human-Grade Ingredients

We recommend choosing dog foods made with human-grade ingredients. This means every ingredient is suitable for human consumption, a standard that exceeds the requirements for most commercial dog and cat foods. Many commercial foods contain poor-quality scraps of meat or poultry, sometimes even from diseased animals.

Foods made with human-grade ingredients offer an added level of quality and transparency. Again, it is important to note that while human-grade dog diets are important, the ingredients still should be the best fit for your dog's unique health needs.

Gently-Cooked Ingredients

Kibble and canned foods tend to be heavily processed and cooked, which can reduce the nutrient level of the ingredients. Because of this, many people opt for fresh dog food or raw dog food.

Raw dog food, especially with high-quality ingredients, can be a better option than canned food or kibble. Young dogs (not puppies) can thrive on a balanced raw diet. However, raw diets can be difficult to digest. If you have an older dog or a dog with digestive issues, lightly cooked food is a much better option. Puppies also should eat a lightly cooked diet. After all, human baby food is lightly cooked and pureed to aid digestion, and this theory applies to our canine babies, as well.

Lean Proteins

Protein should make up the bulk of your dog's diet, but many dog food brands contain organ meat, and while organ meat can be human-grade and does possess nutritional value, we have omitted it from all of our dog diets for a few reasons.

For one, organ meat, especially liver, is high in fat. These days, many dogs struggle with obesity, which can cause a number of health problems, and leaner protein is a better option for any overweight dog. If you are searching for the best dog food for overweight dogs, options that include organ meat are not ideal.

Also, as dogs age, it can become more and more difficult for them to digest proteins that are high in fat. Whether you have an older dog or need a dog food for digestive problems, foods that contain liver, kidney, heart, or other organ meats probably should be avoided.

We also have concerns about organ meat, especially liver and kidneys, because these organs act as filters for a variety of substances, and these can include environmental contaminants, including agricultural residue, heavy metals, and other toxins.

While this risk may be small, we would never want to expose any of our furry friends to anything that could be potentially dangerous to their health. Instead, we focus on using lean skeletal muscle for our diet plans. This is the protein that does the body's physical work rather than its metabolic filtering.

Additionally, liver is very high in copper, which can be problematic for dog breeds that are prone to liver issues or for dogs that currently have liver issues. Opting for a low copper dog food can be a smart choice, in general, as these diets are gentle on the liver. All of our five diet plans are low in copper. Dogs do need some copper, but ensuring that they ingest only a low controlled amount is typically best for many dogs.

Zero Fillers

Every ingredient added to your dog's food should be intentional. Too often, commercial dog food, especially dry and canned food, contains cheap fillers such as wheat and corn. These fillers may provide calories, but they tend to be of low nutritional value and don't truly support a dog's health. In some cases, especially with wheat, dogs will have difficulty digesting these fillers, and they can cause allergic reactions, such as inflammation.

Additionally, too many fillers can translate into too many carbohydrates. Dogs do need some carbohydrates, but a low carb dog food is a better option. A dog's diet should be high in healthy, lean proteins with carefully selected sources of beneficial carbohydrates.

A Holistic Approach

At Chi Dog, we believe in the power of holistic food for dogs. Holistic nutrition focuses on supporting the whole dog by combining high-quality ingredients that nourish the body, support healthy digestion, and promote overall wellness.

Each of our holistic dog food diets is vet-designed to promote overall wellness as well as provide support for dogs with special health needs. For instance, if you have been searching for a low phosphorus dog food or kidney support dog food, our Water Diet is especially gentle on your dog's kidneys and helps support overall renal health.

In the final analysis, we definitely encourage dog parents to select a vet developed dog food, but we also encourage you to look carefully at each ingredient and ensure that the food is human-grade as well as gently cooked to preserve nutrients. If you think Chi Dog will be a good fit for your furry companions, head to our homepage and take our dog food quiz to determine which of our five diets might be the best option.

FAQ's

1. What is vet developed dog food?

Vet developed dog food is formulated with input from veterinarians to help ensure it meets canine nutritional needs. These diets are often designed to support overall health, specific life stages, or particular health concerns while providing balanced nutrition.

2. Is vet developed dog food better than regular dog food?

Not necessarily. While veterinary involvement is a positive factor, ingredient quality, nutrient balance, cooking methods, and how well the food meets your dog's individual needs are equally important when choosing the best diet.

3. What should I look for in a high-quality vet developed dog food?

Look for foods made with human-grade ingredients, formulated to meet AAFCO standards, prepared in USDA-inspected kitchens, free from unnecessary fillers, and made with high-quality protein sources that support your dog's overall health.

4. Does vet developed dog food meet AAFCO standards?

Many vet developed dog foods are formulated to meet AAFCO nutritional standards, which helps ensure they provide complete and balanced nutrition. However, it's still important to evaluate ingredient quality, as AAFCO compliance alone does not guarantee premium ingredients.

5. Why are human-grade ingredients important in dog food?

Human-grade ingredients must meet standards for human consumption, providing an additional level of quality and transparency. Many pet owners prefer these ingredients because they are typically sourced and handled under stricter standards than feed-grade ingredients.