The Value of using Organic Pet Foods
This subject is probably only difficult for people who themselves, for themselves see no real point in buying and eating organic foods. And, let’s face it; if the entire planet is contaminated with one thing or multiple things in a pervasive way, then nothing ultimately is free from the harms of toxins. That being said, making an effort to eat the cleanest foods that producers who care are providing makes better sense than living on junk food. The same applies to your pets. We are all adventurers together on the same home base, planet earth. Is there a bit of politics involved? Yes there is a bit. I do not want to eat seeded foods provided by the monopoly, Montesano. I want to eat seed foods from seeds from organic farmers and those not manipulating the DNA of the seeds with questionable outcomes as to their food value compared to other producers of seeds.
But, as the situation is as it is, I would say a moderate approach is a good one. You can blend the food choices for your diet and certainly for your pets’ diet. Better quality diet will just improve the quality life of your pet, from its skin and coat quality, to the health of the teeth and eyes. Your pet may have allergies, and organic foods often help those conditions improve.
Organic foods often have more “ whole” food ingredients, which is always a better level of product than “ parts “ of food products. By Products often found on the labels of non-organic foods is not good for your pets. Organic foods do not use sugar or sweeteners, or added preservatives. In a nutshell, while many dog food companies are improving what their foods contain, as more information comes to light, a fair amount of the non organic foods might be a bit more to put it in a nutshell, feeding the dogs TV dinners as opposed to preparing them a more nutritional meal with better ingredients that are fresher and prepared in a more wholesome way. To make it simple, organic pet food means, “ less toxic pet food.”
A few books on the subject or Organic Pet Foods are listed here.
ONE NATION UNDER DOG, BY MICHAEL SCHAFFER
PETS AND THE PLANET, by Carol Frischmann
THE NATURE OF ANIMAL HEALING, by Martin Goldstein, D.V. M
THE WHOLE PET DIET, by Andi Brown, with foreword by Richard Pitcairn
Natural VS Organic
With so many options in pet food and so many different labels, it’s hard to know what the difference is. Sometimes the largest ‘gray’ area comes from what is natural versus what is organic. What is really the difference between these two words? What is Natural? Natural is the coined term of the moment, and many foods utilize natural ingredients. The numerous pet food recalls where various ingredients made pets sick and caused some deaths helped the popularity of natural foods spring to the forefront. There are still foods today that count artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives among their ingredients. There is great debate as to what these artificial things do to our dogs. The same debate rages on in people too with many advocating that artificial colorants and flavorings cause a range of issues, like hyperactivity, in children. One commonly used preservative in pet food is ethoxyquin. This preservative has been linked to a wide variety of health problems including liver damage, skin issues, infertility, and dead puppies. Ethoxyquin is a preservative that is also used in human food but it is at a level of 5 parts per million, but in pet food it can be 75 parts per million (Lazarus 29-33). Natural pet foods steer clear of these artificial and chemical preservatives and colorants. Instead, colors come from natural food based products, like vegetable coloring, and preservatives are more likely to be vitamin E. Natural pet foods are not as shelf stable because of the natural preservatives, so they can’t be stored for super long periods of time. Once a bag is open, it is recommended that it be fed within one month. What is Organic? Organic is a special label with special requirements. Food items can’t be produced with synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, antibiotics, growth hormones, genetic engineering, or the use of irradiation. In 2002, The US Department of Agriculture placed these guidelines for what is organic into law to insure uniformity and a better understanding for the consumer. While many researchers and authorities won’t claim organic to be any healthier for the consumer, The Environmental Protection Agency has warned that there are carcinogenic properties to 30% of insecticides, 60% of the herbicides, and a stunning 90% of the fungicides commonly used in non-organic agriculture (Schultze). Another thing that is removed from pet food that is organic in nature is the excesses of antibiotics used in farm animals as well as any growth hormones. It is commonly known that many farmers routinely give livestock low doses of antibiotics with their feed to help keep them healthy. Yet, this is contributing to both people and dog’s increasing drug resistance. Whole Foods Approach: Often times, organic and natural go hand-in-hand. When seeking the best pet food, look for one that takes a whole food approach and is interested in the health of your pet. This means looking for one that is natural and seeks to avoid chemical preservatives, colorings, and flavorings, as well as one that tries to be organic. They might not be 100% organic, but often many natural foods utilize organic ingredients because they are interested in the whole foods concept and well being of your pet. Now a days, you can find several foods at your local petstore chain that fit the bill, but there are also specialty natural pet food stores that only offer selections that are natural and/or organic. Works Cited:
Lazarus, Pat. Keep Your Cat Healthy the Natural Way. New York: The Ballantine Publishing Group. 1999. Print.
Schultze, Kymythy R. “Healthy Treats for the Whole Family: Furry and Non-Furry.” Organic Authority.com. n.d. Web. 30 December 2009.
