Sponsored by Nature’s Logic
With so many choices in pet foods available these days, it can be confusing for a loving pet parent to determine if the ingredients in their pet’s food are healthy or not. To help you make good choices, here are a few of the types of ingredients you might find in a high quality, all-natural, nutritious pet food.
Take a look at your pet food label…what do you see? Hopefully you see a list of ingredients you recognize….or can easily learn about with a quick search online. Anything that sounds like a chemical probably is, so look for familiar ingredients you know and trust.
Did you know that when you see a vitamin listed on an ingredient panel, that is a synthetic form of that vitamin? For example, if you see Vitamin A listed, that means it’s created in a lab and added to the food to meet AAFCO’s nutritional standards. Look for pet food brands like Nature’s Logic that provide your pet’s nutrition from food, not synthetic vitamins.
Meals can be a confusing ingredient because they range in quality. A “meal” is the dried and powdered form of an ingredient. When looking at a pet food label, make sure the “meal” in the ingredient list has a specific “named” protein associated with it like beef meal or chicken meal. Stay away from pet foods that contain by-product meals, which can also include undesirable parts of the animal.
Clay in a pet food? Sounds weird but it can actually be beneficial for your pet. Most dry pet food contains some sort of ingredient to keep moisture at bay and prevent the kibble pieces from sticking together. Montmorillonite Clay is an all-natural agent used for these purposes and more. It’s also nutritious with lots of benefits for your pet including immune support, toxin removal and more.
Plasma may have an initial “ick” factor for humans, but remember that carnivores in the wild consume blood when they eat their prey. Plasma, the liquid part of blood, is chock full of nutrients like magnesium, amino acids, iron and more. Plus to a pet, it’s pretty tasty, so it has the added benefit of adding lots of natural flavor.
Most kibble pet food contains a grain or other starchy ingredient to help the kibble hold its shape, which is referred to as a “binder.” Wheat, corn, or other grains are commonly used for this purpose. Millet is a grain you might find in high quality, natural pet foods. It’s also part of the grass family so it’s low in sugar and GMO-free, too.
There are many other ingredients you might find in an all-natural pet food that might surprise you in a good way. Fruits and vegetables are great ingredients and provide lots of nutrition. You might come across other ingredients like egg shell meal, bone broth, almonds, or more. In short, look for natural ingredients you recognize and do your research to help you choose the best option for your best pal!
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