You would never rely on junk food for long term survival, so why should your dog? It is a known fact that many popular brands of dog food contain chemicals which can create adverse health effects. Recently, the discovery of melamine and cyanuric acid in pet food caused controversy in the United States as these foods were not on the recall list. Cyanuric acid is used to disinfect swimming pools, whereas melamine is commonly used to manufacture plastics and dishware. The combinations of these two chemicals in commercial pet foods, have led to a number of pets dying from kidney failure. Other undesirable ingredients found in pet food include artificial colors (i.e. yellow 6; also used for fertilizers), preservatives (BHT; Butylated Hydroxytoluene, BHA; Butylated Hydroxysanisole, Ethoxyquin), lead, additives (propylene glycol), artificial flavors, fillers, wheat (causes allergies in dogs), by-products and animal fat. What is disheartening is that some of these chemicals can also be found in human food as well. It is important to be aware it is in your pet’s food (and yours too) to ensure good health.

So now that you have ditched the unhealthy pet food, what next? Well there is a variety of healthy organic pet food available to maintain the health and safety of your pet. The consumption of organic food has many benefits for both pets and pet owners.  Organic pet food is made with natural ingredients using little or no chemicals. This means all fertilizers and animal feed used in production were organic. Furthermore, steroids and pesticides are not used for the making of 100% natural dog food. The obvious advantage of using organic pet food is that your pet will be consuming whole vegetables rather than artificial ingredients and fillers. Common ingredients used in the best organic dog food are: fresh meat, grains, fish, and vegetables. The nutritional value is much higher in organic food since only whole ingredients are used. There are reports of dogs maintaining less severe allergies when on a diet of organic food. Moreover, dogs who consume healthier pet food are found to have higher energy levels, a stronger immune system, a better weight, and an increase in overall good health. Many grocery stores do not carry organic dog food, however local pet stores may carry organic dog food alongside regular dog food.