Fueling Puppy Vitality Understanding the Nutritional Value of Holistic Pet Food

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

Contributions sourced from

Vitality ValueMeal Lamb & Beef Puppy Dry Food

ValueMeal Dog Food is a premium hypoallergenic dog food from Australia that contains Australian lamb, beef and wholegrain cereals.

This is formulated with Omega-6 essential fatty acids for healthy skin and shiny coat. This dog food does not contain any by-product to ensure high digestibility of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals for good health.

Ingredients:

Wholegrain Australian Wheat, Australian lamb and beef, premium animal fats, canola oil, sunflower oil, essential vitamins including chelated minerals (vitamins A, D3, E, K3, B2, B3, B5, folic acid, calcium, copper, zinc (from oxide), zinc as amino acid chelate, manganese as chelate form, selenium, and iodine), antioxidants.

Guaranteed Analysis:

Crude protein (min): 25%Fat (min): 14%Fiber (max): 3.5%Moisture (max): 8%Calcium: Phosphorus Ratio:1.6:1.0

Metabolizable Energy (kcal/100g):400kcal ME/100g

Feeding Guidelines:

Weight of Dog	0-3 months puppies	3-6 months puppies	6-12 months puppies
2kg	109 grams	87 grams	65 grams
4kg	183 grams	146 grams	110 grams
6kg	248 grams	199 grams	149 grams
10kg	364 grams	291 grams	218 grams
15kg	493 grams	394 grams	295 grams
20 kg	612 grams	489 grams	367 grams
25kg	724 grams	578 grams	434 grams
30kg	829 grams	664 grams	498 grams
35kg	930 grams	745 grams	558 grams
40kg	1029 grams	824 grams	618 grams

1 cup = 100 grams (approx.)

Quantities can be adjusted depending on the dog's litter size, condition, age and activity level.

What Is Holistic Dog Food?

Reviewed for accuracy on June24, 2019, by Dr. Natalie Stilwell, DVM

With pet ownership on the rise in the US, the pet industry is seeing an uptick in pet food sales across the board. According to the American Pet Products Association, American pet owners spent an estimated $30.32 billion on pet food in 2018, which represents a 4.3 percent increase over 2017 spending.

Pet owners are not just buying more kibblemany are seeking out healthier, premium-grade pet foods for their four-legged family members. This includes natural and holistic options.

But understanding what constitutes holistic dog food is a tricky matter. If youre considering trying a dog food thats labeled as holistic, heres what you should know about what that term means, how its different from natural dog food, and which ingredients you should look for.

What Does Holistic Mean on Dog Food Labels?

While you may be inclined to think that you can draw parallels between holistic medicine and holistic food, the reality is that the term holistic carries a different weight and meaning with each use.

Currently, within the pet industry, there is no universal or standard definition of what classifies a dog food as holistic, says Dr. Travis Arndt, director of the Animal Medical Center of Mid-America.

Sometimes, says Dr. Arndt, the words on dog food bags and containers are simply used as marketing tactics to entice consumers.

Knowing that pet parents want what is best for their dog, holistic gives them the impression that the food will be nutritious and balanced and will benefit the pets total health and wellness, Dr. Arndt says.

Dr. Angie Krause, DVM, CVA, CCRT, and owner of Boulder Holistic Vet, agrees that the term holistic is not clearly defined in the pet food industry. Holistic pet food is more of a movement towards a less-processed diet with higher-quality ingredients, she says.

Industry Standards for Pet Food Labels

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) sets quality standards for animal feed and pet food, adding a label to products that the organization deems complete and balanced nutrition for animals.

One of the things AAFCO does is establishes regulations for pet food and sets standards for nutrition, says Dr. Arndt. While they have definitions for words like natural or organic when it comes to pet food, they do not define holistic, he says.

Holistic Dog Food vs. Natural Dog Food

AAFCO defines natural dog food as:

a feed or feed ingredient derived solely from plant, animal or mined sources, either in its unprocessed state or having been subject to physical processing, heat processing, rendering, purification, extraction, hydrolysis, enzymolysis or fermentation, but not having been produced by or subject to a chemically synthetic process and not containing any additives or processing aids that are chemically synthetic except in amounts as might occur in good manufacturing practices.

That means a dog food using the term natural needs to be free from chemically synthesized ingredients, additives and preservatives.

A few examples of chemically synthesized ingredients that are not allowed in natural pet food include:

AAFCO makes an exception for synthetic vitamins and minerals, which can be included in natural pet foods. For these diets, the products label will indicate the diet is natural with added vitamins and minerals.

However, since the label holistic does not have a formal, regulated definition, dog foods labeled as holistic may contain some or all of the above ingredients.

While the terms [natural and holistic] are often used together, they typically arent used interchangeably, says Dr. Arndt. Because of the regulation and oversight, the term natural ensures that ingredients have come from natural sources. It carries more weight than the term holistic, since there is no regulation for those claims.

Holistic Dog Food Ingredients

Because any dog food brand can label their formulas as holistic, its up to pet parents to conduct more research into ingredients and read food labels carefully.

While there is no standard for holistic dog food ingredients, some pet food brands include specific additives or ingredients that are thought to promote overall wellness in dogs. These ingredients might be probiotics, vitamins or minerals, or supplements reported to help with certain conditions, like joint and skin health.

The current and past trend in holistic diets includes grain-free formulations that substitute legumes and potatoes for wheat, corn and soy, says Dr. Krause. Adding superfoods to formulations like fruits and greens is also a popular trend. Raw diets and air-baked kibbles are also largely popular.

But Dr. Arndt says that pet parents shouldnt assume that all ingredients in a holistic dog food are good or beneficial to their pets. Without a standard definition, pet food companies can use any ingredients they choose and claim that the food is holistic, he says.

Choosing the Best Holistic Dog Food

Pet parents can choose from a variety of holistic dog foods. Holistic foods come in the standard kibble and canned, but also come in raw preparations, Dr. Krause explains. Within the raw food category there are dehydrated, freeze-dried and raw patty or chub formulations.

Before you decide which holistic dog food brand is the best for your pup, make sure you do your research first. Here are three steps you can take prior to purchasing a holistic dog food:

1. Talk to Your Veterinarian

Dr. Arndt says that its important for dog owners to talk to their veterinarians to find the best food to fit their dogs individual lifestyles.

Some dogs dont do well on raw or limited-ingredient foods, and home-cooked diets require pet parents to be diligent about making sure nutritional requirements are met, he says. Working with your veterinarian is the best way to ensure your dog is getting the nutrition and diet he or she needs.

2. Do Your Research on Dog Food Brands

In addition to speaking with a veterinarian, pet parents should read the ingredient labels on holistic dog foods carefully. They should also research the company and the brand responsible for creating and manufacturing the food.

Dr. Krause recommends that pet owners consider the following three things when researching holistic dog food options:

Recalls. What is the recall history of the brand? Some brands have had at least one recall due to incorrect labeling, ingredient contamination or another issue related to product quality or safety. Get the details if possible.
Quality Control. Determine what type of quality controls the company has in place to test food quality. These tests can help ensure foods are correctly labeled and free of contaminants.
Formulation. Ensure that the formulas are approved by a veterinary or animal nutritionist and meet AAFCO minimum requirements.

3. Make Sure There Is an AAFCO Label

Since there is no oversight of holistic dog foods, Dr. Arndt says that a label from AAFCO is important for ensuring a baseline of balanced nutrition.

AAFCO sets the minimum standards for pet food nutrition, so look for a statement that says the food provides complete and balanced nutrition, he says.

By: Deidre Grieves

Featured Image: iStock.com/AVAVA

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Vitality Lamb & Beef Dog Food
Vitality Lamb & Beef Dog Food is enriched with Omega Magic Oil Blend to give your dog the full #VitalityExperience for a healthier skin, thick and lustrous coat!
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#VitalityExperience
Give them a super premium hypoallergenic meal with Vitality Lamb & Beef Dog Food for healthy digestion and lush glow!
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Fortified with Omega magic

Vitality is hypoallergenic. It uses only Australian lamb and beef as main sources of protein. It does not use any meat from poultry products that may cause allergies to some dogs.

Vitality uses Omega-3 and Omega-6 to give dogs superior coat shine and healthy skin. This Omega Magic Oil Blend brings out their vibrant glow.

Vitality makes a dogs stool firm and with minimal odour. It does not contain any by-product for a healthier excretion.

Vitality Experience

See your dogs higher energy and healthier shine with Vitality Lamb & Beef Dog Food. Fortified with Omega Magic Oil Blend, Vitality gives them a healthier skin, thick and lustrous coat.

Vitality Classic

Maintenance for adult dogs

Available in 1kg, 3kg and 15kg

Vitality High Energy

For puppies

For pregnant and nursing females

For show dogs and working dogs

Available in 1kg, 3kg and 15kg

Feeding Guide

Weight of Dog	Normal Dog Daily Amount	Active Dog Daily Amount
2-10 kilos	60-200 grams	80-250 grams
10-20 kilos	200-350 grams	250-450 grams
20-30 kilos	350-650 grams	450-850 grams

Weight of Dogs (kgs)	0-3 months puppies (gms/day)	3-6 months puppies (gms/day)	6-12 months puppies (gms/day)	Adult (gms/day)
2	109	87	64	58
4	183	146	110	97
6	248	199	149	132
10	364	291	218	193
15	493	394	295	261
20	724	489	434	384
30	829	864	498	441
35	930	745	558	495
40	1029	824	618	547
45	...	...	...	597
50	...	...	...	646
60	...	...	...	741

1 cup = 110 grams (approx.)

Quantities can be adjusted depending on the dog's litter size, condition, age and activity level.

Nutritional Analysis

Crude Protein	21%	Minimum
Crude Fat	10%	Minimum
Crude Fibre	3.5%	Maximum
Moisture	8%	Maximum
Energy	375 kcal ME / 100g
Calcium: Phosporus	1.7:1.0

Crude Protein	27%	Minimum
Crude Fat	16%	Minimum
Crude Fibre	3.5%	Minimum
Moisture	8%	Minimum
Energy	400 kcal ME / 100g
Calcium: Phosporus	1.6:1.0

Customer Testimonials

Vitality is proven and tested because It has been fortified with Omega 3 & 6 oils in order to give your dog a healthy skin and shiny coat thats why wherever we go we always have this lamb & beef vitality shield for our Furbabies.

My furbaby has had trouble adjusting to other dog foods in the past. Her allergies would start to act up and her skin would get itchy. But then a friend recommended Vitality! Not only does my furbaby stop getting allergies, but now she is more energetic!

Toby, my 3 year old dog, has never had skin this healthy since I tried giving him Vitality! I'm never turning back now! I love seeing him look so vibrant!

Holistic Recipe Lamb & Rice Puppy 15kg Dog Dry Food

*This product has recently undergone a packaging change. Customers may receive old packaging during this transition.*

Holistic Recipe Lamb and Rice Formula includes greeb tea, lamb meal and brewers rice, all high quality ingredients that provide a healthy balanced diet for puppies up to 12 months of age or 18 months for large breed, and for pregnant or lactating dog.

It is specially formulated to prevent allergic reaction to food, help in development of the digestive system, prevent formation of free radicals, improve the immune system, reduce fecal odor and inprove skin and hair condition.

Ingredients:

Lamb Meal, Brown Rice, Barley, Ground Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Fat ( Preserved with Mixed Tocopherole a source of Vitamin E) and Citric Acid, Beet Pulp, Natural Flavors, Brewers Yeast, Flax Seed, Potassium, Chloride , Salt, Proteinate Minerals, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Cobalt Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Choline Chloride, Vitamins ( Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Thiamine, Mononitrate, Puridoxine, Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex ( Source of Vitamin K Activity ), Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B 12 Supplement, DL Methionine, Lysine, Preserved with Mixed Tocopherolsand, Citric Acid, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Ascorbic Acid ( Vitamin C ), Green Tea Extract, Tryptophan, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Rosemary Extract.