How we provide nutrition for our animals plays a significant role in determining the quality and length of life they can enjoy. It is essential for those of us who are responsible for the care of cats and dogs to enlighten ourselves on the various dietary options available to us.
We firmly believe that proper pet diets are one of the biggest single predictors of a healthy and happy life for any animal, and we thought it would be a great time to discuss our opinions on the topic of dry feeding versus natural feeding.
First Things First, What is the Difference Between “Dry” and “Natural”?
The concept of dry food is well known. It can be purchased in packs from your neighborhood shop or veterinarian’s office, and the sizes range from small to “forklift required.” The vast majority of dry foods are produced by mixing a variety of ingredients to form a dough, which is then introduced into a machine where it is cooked.
The flaky consistency of dried pellets can be attributed, in large part, to the presence of starch, which makes up a significant portion of dehydrated pellets (normally between 25% and 45%).
After being pushed out and dehydrated, the pellet sausage is cut into small pieces using a knife as it is being sliced. It is then bagged after being sprayed with supplementary nutritional additives.
On the contrary, hand, feeding your pet “natural” food does not simply mean emptying half a package of raw mince into its bowl. Although natural diets do include a significant amount of meat, these diets also include a variety of other foods and components, such as eggs, veggies, oils, and spices. Preservatives are not typically found in natural foods.
It is essential to be aware that the term “natural food” does not automatically imply that the item in question is raw. Some herbs and veggies may be added in their raw form; however, credible producers of natural food will steam the meat to a point where any potential germs or parasites are killed. This is done before the food is packaged.
To the Greatest Extent, That is Compatible With Nature
We are aware of the fact that it is practical to purchase a large pack of dry dog food and store it away in the pantry until it is required, with the knowledge that it will continue to be edible for several months to come. You are given the impression by the marketing campaigns that the product you are investing in provides a “complete,” “nutritional,” and “balanced” diet. That might be the case, but according to whose criteria?
The only reason that newer dehydrated food comprises things like additives, coloring agents, preservatives, and added nutrients is that we’re trying to take shortcuts with the way that we feed our pets. This is the case even with modern dried food. We’re wanting the food to look like we’d prefer it to look like if we were a pet (colorants). We want it to be able to stay in the pantry for three months so that we don’t have to give it much attention (preservatives), and we don’t want the dried food to become an oily mess while it’s sitting there (stabilizers).
In a Natural Diet, Neither of These Concerns Are Ever a Problem
Because of this, we end up spending more money on food than we have to, precisely because we want to create convenience. However, this often comes at the expense of lower nutrient concentrations and dehydrated food that is filled with carbohydrates that our animals are unable to process. Diabetes is a real condition that can affect pets, and its prevalence is increasing. It would be foolish to believe that humans could somehow improve upon what nature has already perfected, as nature has always been right.
We are not suggesting that all dehydrated food is grossly inappropriate for your pet because there are very respectable brands out there that do value the quality of the products that they are selling as well as the health of their customers’ pets. However, we believe that it is incorrect to think that it is an “either-or” choice in the manner that dehydrated food is an alternative to organic feeding and vice versa.
Dried food will never be able to provide the same benefits that natural feeding does because it simply cannot. When you choose to feed your pet a convenience meal that comes in a packet, you are choosing to give up some of the nutritional value of the meal. The decision to feed our pets natural food represents a shift toward a more holistic approach to their care. It is pointless for any of us to argue about which brand of dried food is best for our animals because there is no replacement for natural nutrition.
How Many Servings Does This Food Have?
It is not necessarily true that the packet contains beef simply because it depicts a meat cube on the front of the package. We acknowledge that advertising can be effective and that it is simple to fall prey to its lure because of how accessible it is. This information should not come as a surprise to you. There are times when we must be brought back to the reality that we are susceptible to advertising.
The labeling of foods can also contain a lot of “legalese.” If a dog food advertises that it is, among other things, “with real beef,” then this simply means that the dry food must contain beef in an amount equal to at least 3% of the total weight of the food. The remaining 97% could be anything else you can think of.
Your “beef-flavored” dried food doesn’t even need to contain a gram of actual beef to be considered authentic. It could just be clumps of carbohydrates with beef flavoring added to it. We don’t think any of us ever truly believed that there was actual beef in our “beef-flavored” instant noodles. We were all just kidding ourselves.
The majority of dry infomercial pet foods contain at least fifty percent grain because the carbohydrates serve as a stabilizing material to keep the pellet together. Dogs are not accustomed to taking in such a large quantity of carbohydrates, nor are they capable of digesting such a meal. This is evidenced by the size of your pet’s feces, which is typically much larger in pets that eat only dry food because a lot more of their food is not metabolized. This is because dry food requires less water to digest than wet food.
Advantages of Using Natural Methods of Feeding
The following are some of the purported advantages of natural feeding, as well as changes in your pet’s behavior and attitude, and general well-being that you can anticipate to occur as a result:
- Blood sugar levels are better balanced, resulting in a less hyperactive dog.
- A lower incidence of allergic reactions and food intolerances
- Less flatulence
- A healthier mouth and teeth that are brighter and whiter
- Improved ability to treat chronic conditions such as diabetes Lessening of inflammatory responses in the body
- Stools are tougher, compact, and give off less odor.
- Few digestive difficulties
- Superiority in both the quality and length of one’s life!
Why Don’t You Just Give It a Shot?
Natural feeding comes highly recommended by us, and if you decide to go that route, we’ll do everything we can to make the transition as smooth as possible for you. Start feeding your pet organic produce and see whether it improves their health and well-being.