The Science of Complete Puppy Nutrition Exploring Holistic Pet Food

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

Best Holistic Dog Food: What to Look for in a Holistic Food

Reading the health claims on a pet food package is like reading the headlines from the tabloids that line the checkout aisle at the grocery store you cant always believe what you read.

Pet food manufacturers do their best to make their products as appealing to pet owners as possible and they use some pretty clever tricks to encourage you to pick their brand over another brand.

One of the tactics pet food manufacturers use is plastering their product labels with words and health claims and that give you a positive impression of the product the word holistic is an example.

Keep reading to learn what holistic means in its application for pet food and to receive some tips for shopping for a holistic pet food product for your dog.

What Are the Top 7 Brands of Holistic Dog Food?

If youre looking for a pet food product that will nourish your dogs body from the inside out, a holistic dog food might be the way to go.

Holistic pet foods may not have a standard definition but you can count on them to offer high-quality, natural nutrition in complete and balanced formulas. To help you get started with your search for the ideal holistic formula for your dog, here are some quick reviews for our top six choices in holistic dog food brands:

1. Nom Nom Fresh Pet Food

If you want to give your dog the best of the best, consider Nom Nom Fresh Pet Food Delivery. Nom Nom delivers freshly prepared dog food right to your door. Simply fill out some information about your dog online and choose a recipe the pros at Nom Nom will do the rest!

Nom Nom is a premium dog food company making gourmet dog food when you order it. They have a variety of recipes to choose from that are suitable for all breeds and life stages.

You wont find many ingredients at all, and never colors or dyes. Every recipe is hand made from the highest quality ingredients, used in part and in whole.

You can customize your dogs meals to his unique calorie requirements, and you can rest easy knowing that they use only the highest quality ingredients.

Keep in mind that fresh food is fairly pricey, and youll be paying quite a bit if you feed your beloved dog Nom Nom as a staple diet, but its hard to beat the quality and the difference you see in your dogs overall health status will be noticeable!

Nom Nom has recently come out with the Fresh Variety Pack, which I think is a marvelous idea. With this food pack, you can get 200g of each of Nom Nom's four pet cuisines so you can try each out and see which flavor your dog might take to the best. (Its also always a good idea to trial food first to see how your pup does on it.)

As a devoted fur parent, my dogs health is foremost on my mind. That's why I've been a regular customer of Nom Nom for quite some time now. I can truly say that Its fresh recipes have made a huge difference in my pets' health and vitality.

2. Earthborn Holistic

With a name like Earthborn Holistic, you shouldnt be surprised to learn that this brand follows a wholesome approach to pet nutrition, designing each product to nourish your dogs whole body from the inside out.

Every recipe features premium ingredients for balanced nutrition that supports your dog physical health and total wellbeing. Earthborn Holistic offers an assortment of original and grain-free dry dog foods as well as several canned food formulas they also offer moist grain-free dog treats and oven-baked grain-free dog treats.

For their dry foods, Holistic Select has several life stages formulas for puppies through adult dogs as well as recipes made for small breed dogs. No matter what your dogs needs may be, this brand has a product to match.

3. Holistic Select

The Holistic Select brand of pet food has been in business for just over ten years but they have already made a name for themselves in the natural pet food industry. This brand makes it their mission to provide natural nutrition for dogs and cats, believing strongly in a philosophy that total-body health begins with digestive health.

All of Holistic Selects products are supplemented with their Unique Digestive Health Support System which includes natural fibers, prebiotics, probiotics, and digestive enzymes as well as other healthy and natural ingredients.

Holistic Select dog foods come in dry food and canned food form including original and grain-free recipes. This brand also offers a selection of formulas for dogs in all life stages as well as breed size and healthy weight recipes.

4. Annamaet

The Annamaet pet food company was founded by Rob Downey in 1986 and it has remained a family-owned and -operated company. This brand offers holistic pet food products that are made in the USA using premium ingredients.

Every recipe is an example of complete and balanced nutrition, formulated using the finest quality ingredients to ensure that your dog gets more of the nutrients he needs and less of the things he doesnt.

Annamaet currently only offers dry dog food formulas and there are eleven recipes to choose from. This brand uses premium proteins like wild-caught salmon, free-range venison, breast meat chicken, and fresh duck in recipes that offer anywhere from 23% to 32% protein.

Annamaet offers a selection of original and grain-free recipes as well as formulas for working or performance breeds and breeds of different sizes.

5. Halo Holistic

Halo Holistic line of dog foods which they describe as, the best dog food ever. Every recipe is designed to promote the health and happiness of pets throughout their entire lifetime. Halo Holistic dog foods are made with real meat proteins, wholesome carbohydrates, and fresh fruits and vegetables.

They offer a blend of omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, not to mention plenty of antioxidants and other healthy nutrients. Halo offers a selection of original and grain-free formulas featuring real WHOLE meat, poultry, or fish, and no meat meal of any kind.

Many of their recipes are designed for puppies and dogs of specific sizes as well, so you can choose the formula that best suits your dogs individual needs.

6. Fromm Gold

A family-owned and -operated business, Fromm follows a holistic approach to pet nutrition in their Gold line of products. This product line features recipes in three categories Heartland Gold (grain-free red meat), Gold Coast (grain-free ocean fish), and Fromm Gold (an original recipe with duck, chicken, and lamb.

Every recipe in the Gold lineup is made in small batches in company-owned facilities in Wisconsin to ensure quality and safety. Choose from a dozen different recipes for dry food products and seven canned food formulas.

The products in this lineup are formulated for dogs in all life stages including puppies, adults, and senior dogs. There is also a weight management and a reduced activity recipe, plus formulas for small and giant breeds.

7. Solid Gold

The Solid Gold pet food company was founded in 1974 by Sissy Harrington McGill, an animal lover who made it her mission to create a nutritious, natural food that would keep her own dogs happy and healthy.

The brands first product, Hund-N-Flocken was a big success and the company now offers a well-developed line of natural and holistic dry dog foods. Solid Gold makes what they call pet food with purpose and their products are made with powerful proteins, digestible carbohydrates, and vitamin-rich super foods.

Every recipe is designed to unlock your pets healthiest self, so they dont use any corn, wheat, or soy ingredients and their products are free from artificial additives as well. Simply put, Solid Gold offers healthy, holistic formulas that deliver quality nutrition the way nature intended.

What Does Holistic Mean?

The FDA has a long list of specific definitions for the words food manufacturers use on their packaging. The American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) performs a similar role for animal feed and pet food that the FDA performs for people food. They monitor and regulate the manufacture and sale of pet food products, including the use of certain health claims.

What many pet owners dont know, however, is that pet food is much more loosely regulated than people food, especially when it comes to what a manufacturer can put on their packaging.

Some of the words you see plastered across pet food bags dont actually have a set definition according to the FDA or AAFCO this means that pet food manufacturers can pretty much use them however they like.

But what does this mean for you? It means that you cant always believe what you read and you need to take the time to make your own evaluation of a pet food product before you buy it.

Though the word holistic doesnt have a specific definition according to the FDA or AAFCO, it does have certain connotations. According to Merriam-Webster, the word holistic means, relating to or concerned with wholes or complete systems rather than with the analysis of or dissection into parts.

To put it into context, holistic medicine involves practices that attempt to treat the whole person, both mind and body. Keeping this context in mind, you might understand holistic pet food to include products that are designed to support your dogs total-body health and wellness products that go beyond just meeting your dogs minimum nutritional requirements.

The ingredients in holistic dog food are selected carefully and with a purpose to ensure that your dog gets all of the essential nutrients he needs and nothing he doesnt.

What Should You Look for in a Holistic Dog Food?

Because holistic dog foods are designed to nourish your dogs total body health and wellness, it is generally safe to assume that they are high-quality products. Just remember, however, that you should always take the time to evaluate the quality of a pet food for yourself before you buy. The beauty of holistic dog food is that it doesnt just meet your dogs needs for energy and nutrients it ca provide other benefits which may include the following:

• Improved skin and coat health
• A stronger immune system
• Healthy and regular digestion
• Improved heart health
• Strong, healthy teeth and bones
• Sharp vision and hearing

In order for a holistic dog food to provide these benefits, however, it needs to be made with high-quality ingredients. When shopping around for a holistic dog food formula, that is exactly what you need to look for quality ingredients.

It is always a good idea to start evaluating a pet food product by looking at the guaranteed analysis to make sure that it doesnt just meet your dogs bare minimum requirements for protein and fat. Generally speaking, the higher the protein content of a dog food formula the better.

Higher fat content is usually a good thing as well, but only if it doesnt lead to an excess of calories. Your dog will need more fat in his diet while he is a growing puppy but his metabolism will slow down a little as he ages, causing his need for calories to decrease slightly as well.

Once youve determined that the dog food you are looking at has the right protein and fat ratios, you should move on to examining the list of ingredients. Holistic pet foods should always have a high-quality source of animal protein as the first ingredient consider it a bonus if the first two or three ingredients are all premium proteins.

You also want to see digestible carbohydrates near the top of the list, though they dont necessarily need to be grain-free. If your dog struggles with an allergy or sensitivity to grains you should by all means avoid those ingredients but whole grains can be valuable ingredients to include in a holistic dog food formula.

You should also look for high-quality animal-based fats like chicken fat or salmon oil these ingredients provide a concentrated source of energy as well as essential fatty acids to support your dogs brain, skin, and coat health.

In addition to knowing what ingredients to look for in holistic pet food products, you should also know what ingredients to avoid. If a product contains artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives it probably isnt a holistic recipe. You want to see all natural ingredients, no chemicals or by-products.

Holistic foods also tend to be free from hormones, antibiotics, and steroids as well as GMO ingredients. It is not necessarily a requirement but a bonus if the product includes organic or certified ingredients. Dont be too concerned if the brand doesnt qualify as a human grade pet food.

In order for a product to truly qualify as human grade they need to use human grade ingredients and manufacture their products in human food facilities there are only a handful of brands out there that meet this requirement.

All in all, a holistic pet food should start with a high-quality source of protein and carbohydrate then be supplemented with other natural ingredients and beneficial supplements.

Dog food comes in many different forms from dozens of different brands. To some degree, the words a pet food brand uses to describe their own products should be taken with a grain of salt but brands that describe their products as holistic generally mean it.

Holistic dog foods are made with the finest quality ingredients in healthy, wholesome formulas designed to support your dogs total health and wellness. If youd like to give holistic dog food a try, start your search with one of our top six choices reviewed above.