Natural pet foods, which replicate the diets that companion animals eat in the wild, are becoming more popular as pet owners rebel against feeding their pets overcooked “mystery meat”. But as more and more brands of natural and holistic pet foods appear on the market, it can be difficult to know which natural pet food is best for your pet. Of course, there is no objective standard for determining the best natural pet food, as different pet owners will have different needs. Therefore, this article gives a general overview of some of the top brands out there, to enable the reader to make a more informed selection.
The Best Grain Free Natural Pet Foods
Some dogs and cats, like some humans, are allergic to certain grains and/or gluten. Grain free pet foods are easier for these pets to digest, and will not trigger an allergic reaction.
The Evo range from Natura is one such brand of pet food. Using only the highest quality meats as their main ingredient, they are available in both dry and canned form, for dogs and cats. The manufacturers say that Evo’s dry pet foods have the highest protein content of any meat based dry pet food on the market.
Unfortunately, this claim is also made by Wellness for their Core range of grain free dry pet foods. The range is named because the makers espouse a philosophy of taking care of your dog or cat from the inside out. The Core range is nutritionally balanced, low in carbs and contains active probiotics.
The Best Allergen Free Natural Pet Foods
Gluten is not the only food allergy that dogs and cats can suffer from. Soy, food additives and even animal products can trigger allergic reactions. Dick Van Patten offers a range of allergen free pet foods made from just one protein and one starch. For example, their venison and sweet potato formula contains venison, sweet potato and nothing else. There is also a vegan option. Bizarre as it may sound, these naturally carnivorous animals can sometimes suffer from digestive and problems caused by certain animal proteins. The vegan formula contains easily digestible oatmeal, rice and veggies for a healthy cat or dog.
The Best Organic Natural Pet Foods
Organic pet foods are made from meat and vegetables that are free from antibiotics, hormones and pesticides. Evangers offers 100% organic chicken, turkey or beef in the form of a canned dog food. The meat is cooked in its own juices and a little water for processing is the only added ingredient. Evangers 100% Meat Classic line is only recommended for intermittent feeding, as they do not provide complete nutrition. They can be supplemented with dry dog or cat food for added vitamins and minerals.