Top 9 Healthiest Dog Foods

In response to the concern over the latest dog food recall in 2007, LoveToKnow Dogs has compiled a list of the top 9 healthiest dog foods. Come take a look and decide for yourself if they're worth trying.

Feed your dog the healthiest foods you can find.

The labeling on commercial dog foods can be very deceptive; so much so that it's nearly impossible to understand exactly what is in them. You might think you're feeding your pet the best available protein formulas, but in all too many instances you'd be wrong.

Labels on brands marked "holistic", "organic" and all natural are often just as misleading. Organic doesn't necessarily guarantee that all the ingredients in the mix are organically certified. Some brands marketing themselves as all natural still contain more grains than real meat in order to meet minimum protein guidelines while still turning a tidy profit.

The following suggestions for what may be the top 9 healthiest dog foods are merely that: suggestions. LoveToKnow has sifted through numerous alternative brands to find formulas that provide a healthy, highly digestible protein source. At the same time, we've weeded out brands that use harmful chemical preservatives to maintain dubious freshness. In the end, only you can decide if a particular dog food formula is beneficial for your pet.

The follow brands are listed in no particular order, but you should understand that a named meat is the most desirable protein choice, as named meat meals are dehydrated, highly concentrated protein sources.

• Karma Organic: This pet food formula is considered to be 95% organic, and we couldn't find another brand with as high an organic food content. Their main source of protein is organic free range chicken, not "poultry by-products". Their secondary source of protein is organic rice.
• Newman's Own Organics: Although this brand is not completely organic, it does rate a healthy 70%, so it is worthy of consideration. The formula contains chicken and chicken meal as its first two protein sources, with chicken liver weighing in further down the ingredient list. Vitamins C and E are used as preservatives instead of the chemicals ethoxyquin, BHT and BHA.
• Orijen: This relatively new brand produced on a small scale in Canada sources its protein locally. De-boned chicken, chicken meal and turkey meal are the first three ingredients on the list, followed by turkey, salmon meal and salmon further down. Orijen uses a combination of vitamin E and airtight packaging to preserve freshness.
• Eagle Pack Duck and Chicken Formula: We thought it was important to list at least one canned food in our top 9 selections to offer your pet some variety. This food lists duck, duck broth and chicken as the first three ingredients. There are no chemical preservatives listed, mainly because the canning process locks out oxygen and preserves freshness. This means opened cans should be used within 48 hours for maximum freshness.
• Fromm Adult Gold: Duck, chicken meal, chicken and brown rice are the first four ingredients and protein sources. Whole egg is also included. This brand preserves their product with mixed tocopherals and citric acid.
• Wellness Lamb Super5Mix: Lamb is the number one ingredient and protein source in this mix, followed by Menhaden fish meal. Salmon meal weighs in at number nine. This formula contains no artificial preservatives, flavors or dyes.
• Timberwolf: This brand's Southwest Chicken & Herbs formula lists chicken meal, chicken and turkey meal as the first three ingredients and protein sources. The formula also contains brown rice, whitefish meal and dried chicken liver. Mixed tocopherols, a source of vitamin E are used as preservatives.
• California Natural Lamb Meal & Rice: This brand has one of the simplest ingredient lists, making it a good candidate for dogs suffering from food allergies. Lamb meal is listed as its only meat source, with additional protein provided by a combination of brown and white rice respectively. This brand does not include chemical preservatives.
• Innova: Turkey, chicken and chicken meal are the first three ingredients listed in this protein packed formula. Additional protein is provided by brown rice and eggs. No chemical or artificial preservatives are included

We've discussed nine of the healthiest brands and we've saved the healthiest dog food for our own special number 10: food you prepare for your own dog. That's right, it's not a commercial brand of any type. There's simply no surer way to control the quality of the foods that go into your dog than to select them yourself.

No matter how good the nutrition might be in any organic, holistic or natural dog food, nothing compares to feeding your pet in the manner he was designed to eat in nature. Dogs actually have fairly large stomachs and short intestinal tracts, so they need foods they can render the nutrition from very quickly. The harder the food is to digest, the fewer nutrients your dog will able to absorb from it before it completely passes through his system.

Dogs are primarily carnivores, so real meat protein should make up the largest portion of their diet, followed by a moderate amount of fat and very little carbohydrates. Whole crushed eggs can provide an additional source of protein as well as calcium. Green vegetables, carrots, apples and blueberries are wonderful sources of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Throw in a little fresh fish oil and you have an excellent source of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, one of the building blocks for healthy cell structure.

Although as humans we may be a little squeamish about serving some food items raw, this is a completely natural way for canines to eat, just as their ancestor the wolf still does to this day. Heating foods actually compromises some of the nutritional contents, so feeding raw is the better of the two choices whenever possible..

• Beagle Dog Christmas Ornaments
• Funny Halloween Dog Pictures
• Miniature Teacup Chihuahuas
• Name That Dog Breed Quiz
• Choosing a Puppy Quiz

• Signs Of Dog Pregnancy
• Dog Anal Glands
• Sick Dog Symptoms
• Female Dog Heat Cycle
• Dog Heat Cycle and Breeding

• Innova Dog Food
• Category:Dog Nutrition
• Dog Food
• Dog Food for Puppies
• Natural Dog Foods