Fresh and Fit Promoting Your Dog s Well Being with Organic Diets

Study Shows Raw Feeding Extends Dog Longevity: Lets Talk About It

Today, we are thrilled to have a guest blogger, James Woller, owner ofRelease the HoundsandJet Pet Resort, write an article for us that further supports the reason why not to feed kibble but to go raw instead.

As per our company's mission statement, we are dedicated in educating pet parents the benefits of raw feeding, which ultimately contributes to your pets' well-being and longevity, so without further ado...

****************************************************************************************

Study Shows Raw Feeding Extends Dog Longevity: Lets Talk About It

There is no doubt that humans' eating behaviors have dramatically changed in the past century. The past 100 years have seen humans largely move away from farming and rural environments towards suburban areas, consuming enormous amounts of convenience foods: some of which would be unrecognizable to our ancestors just two or three generations back.

This same time period has seen a dramatic increase in the domestication of dogs, and the change in our eating habits has unavoidably caused a change in the way we feed our pets. But as we are now learning, dogs are no better equipped to handle cooked, processed foods than humans are. This new unnatural diet is causing dramatic negative repercussions for dogs' health, wellness, and even their lifespan.

Not only does a diet of processed food see dogs presenting with human-style health ailments like diabetes, cancer, and obesity, causing worried pet owners to search for tips to help your dog lose weight, studies have shown that switching to a raw food diet can measurably increase a dog's lifespan.

What Are Dogs Built To Eat?

Dogs existed and thrived in the wild for hundreds of years before becoming domesticated by humans. Descended from the wolf, dogs are clearly carnivores, with their internal physiology, gut layout, and teeth structure providing unavoidable and unambiguous evidence of this fact.

Historically surviving primarily off live prey, wild dogs could survive many days between feeds, with their internal physiology facilitating the consumption of a large amount of protein in a very short period of time. A dog's digestive system is simply not created to facilitate the slow digestion required when consuming carbohydrates, including grains and plant food: nor do dogs have the molar teeth required to adequately grind plants and complex carbohydrates.

Surviving, Not Thriving

That being the case, it seems baffling that the majority of commercial dry kibble is primarily made up of plant-based carbohydrates, with a very small quantity of low-quality protein. Historically, commercial dry kibble was largely carbohydrate-based during times of meat shortages, however, there is no need for this trend to have continued to the present day.

It's true that dogs are, for the most part, able to survive on a diet of commercially produced kibble. Or are they? Scientific studies are now starting to reveal what many have suspected for some time: that commercial kibble is causing a host of diseases and illnesses for dogs, while measurably decreasing their lifespan.

While a dog can technically survive on a diet of dry kibble, it can hardly be said that they are thriving.

When Raw Is On The Menu

A scientific and statistical study by Belgian researchers Bruno Sapy and Dr. Gerard Lippert looked at more than 500 dogs over a five-year period and conclusively proved that diet is one of the greatest factors that can affect a dog's lifespan. Further, while a dog's size and breed will inevitably affect their lifespan, these are obviously factors that are outside the control of a dog's owner. Family configuration and housing were also considered in the researchers' report, "Relation between the domestic dog's well-being and life expectancy," but were found to have no impact on a dog's life expectancy. That left sterilization and food as the only factors under the control of humans that have a measurable impact on a dog's life span.

Sterilization was shown to add as much as 15 months to a dog's natural life expectancy by reducing the chances of the dog suffering from cancer or other illness of the reproductive system.

It was a raw food diet, however, that had the greatest impact on life expectancy, adding as much as 32 months almost 3 years to a dog's life. Indeed, the statistical study showed that dogs fed with industrially processed food live an average of 10.4 years, while dogs fed with home-made food can reach an average age of 13.1 years.

Increased lifespan is just one advantage of feeding your dog a raw food diet. Let's look into the background and benefits of raw food for dogs:

• Natural weight control
• Fewer dental problems following cleaner teeth and fresh breath
• Improved mobility in later life
• Reduced chance of developing allergies
• Improved stamina and energy
• Potential savings, especially when you consider visits to the vet and the cost of the food itself. For more information, see raw vs dry commercialized kibble: cost per daily feed.

It can seem a cruel twist that dogs with whom we share our homes, our families, and our lives have a maximum lifespan that pales in comparison to our own. As a dog owner that loves your pet and wants the best for them, it makes sense that you would do everything you can to not only prolong your dog's life, but ensure they enjoy health and happiness during their limited years.

As we now understand, the type and quality of a dog's diet are directly related to their lifespan. Learning that feeding a raw food diet can increase your dog's lifespan by as much as three years potentially a quarter of your dog's natural lifespan should be incentive enough to consider making the switch to raw.

About The Author:

James Woller is a long-time dog enthusiast, and owner of Release the Hounds and Jet Pet Resort, professional dog walking and boarding companies in Vancouver, Canada. On his days off from running his companies, he enjoys learning and writing about topics that are of interest to caring pet owners.

5 Best Organic Dog Foods (2024)

How to Choose the Best Organic Food for Dogs

When it come to the best organic dog foods, it is important to know that not all diets are created equally. The word organic itself has become somewhat of a buzzword as companies realize pet owners interests in feeding their dogs food that they believe to be the best for them.

Organic and natural dog foods typically are the best for dogs to consume since great care is taken to source ingredients that have been raised in the ideal conditions and that are free from pesticides and other harmful agents. However, there is a difference between what is defined as an organic food and a natural food, and it is important for families to understand this to make the best selection for their dog.

Under the regulations established by the Association of American Feed Control Offices (AAFCO), natural is defined as a feed or feed ingredient derived solely from plant, animal, or mined sourcesnot having been produced by or subject to a chemically synthetic process and not containing any additives or processing aids that are chemically synthetic.

What this typically means in terms of dog foods which are often filled with items that would seemingly defy this description is that a natural food must be free from corn, wheat, soy, and artificial colors to be designated as natural. It is also important to note that currently there are no specific rules that companies must adhere to to market their diets as natural dog foods.

Organic foods are bound by a far more stringent set of guidelines. For a dog food to receive the designation of certified organic, all plants included in the food must have been cultivated without the use of any pesticides, artificial fertilizers, genetic modification, irradiation, or sewer sludge.

Any proteins included in organic diets are also required to be taken from animals which were fed organic materials, provided with the opportunity to roam outdoors, and to have never been subjected to treatment by antibiotics or hormones.

Receiving certification as an organic dog food is a lengthy process with many hoops to be jumped through to accomplish. Regulations surrounding the privilege of labeling a dog food as organic are very strict. As a result, sourcing ingredients of this quality as well as achieving certification is an extremely lengthy and expensive task, meaning the dog food itself is more costly for the consumer as a whole.

Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Organic Dog Foods

Organic dog foods are made from the best available ingredients thus meaning their quality is exceptional. Ingredients are most often included in their whole form, and as a result, the food is nutritionally dense. This means that though a food may come with a higher price tag less of it will need to be fed on a daily basis to achieve the same results as a lesser quality food. So though the initial financial output may be high, savings are realized through fewer health issues and a food that lasts longer.

The amount of the best organic food for dogs each dog will need will depend on a number of factors. Among the biggest considerations are age, weight, activity level, breed, and the type of food itself. As a general guideline, it is a good idea to follow the suggested serving sizes printed on the bag of food. These can be adjusted until the correct portion size is determined.

As with all foods, a dogs weight and appetite can help families to assess whether meal sizes should be increased or decreased.

Dietary Requirements for Organic Dog Foods

Even within organic dog foods, some differences do exist. It is important for owners to take the time to understand what is in any food they are considering purchasing for their dog.

One of the key distinctions in organic dog foods today is labeling. Some organic foods will be marketed as containing organic ingredients while others declare themselves to be all-organic. When a food is labeled USDA Organic, this means that the food was certified to contain a minimum of 95% organic ingredients as defined by the USDA. Foods that are simply made with some organic ingredients have a lower requirement imposed on them with only 70 percent of their ingredients required to be certified as organic.

It is also important to select a food that specifically labels its proteins. If an organic food simply lists things such as meats or animal fats, these diets are best avoided.

Within the United States, the FDA is responsible for ensuring a food is suitable for animal consumption. This authority is also regulated by the Department of Agriculture in each individual state. It is important to note that though inspections of food manufacturing plants do occur regularly, notices to comply are not always adhered to, and regulations are not always enforced. This means that not all dog foods that proclaim themselves to be organic truly are.

Always look for the title certified organic on any food that proclaims to be an organic diet. Many companies try to avoid this by stating they include certain ingredients that have received the designation of being a USDA organic product. These may contain one item that has been certified as USDA organic while the food as whole is not certified.

As with all dog foods, it is important that the first ingredient in any organic dog food be a meat with whole meats preferable. Carbohydrates may be from whole grains or fruits and vegetables with their main goal being providing excellent amounts of dietary fiber and antioxidants. Lastly, healthy fats provide dogs with the energy they need and are also a vital help in maintaining good skin and coat quality and promoting healthy joints.

Any food suited for the need of an adult dog should contain a minimum of 18 percent protein and 5 percent fat. Use this criteria as a basic rule of thumb when considering which diet is the best organic dog food.

Things to Look for in the Best Organic Food for Dogs

Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in an organic dog food:

• Whole meat or meat meal proteins heading up the ingredients list
• Prepared without the addition of chemicals, flavorings, fillers, or mystery ingredients
• Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
• Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
• Has been certified organic and bears this designation on its label