Dogs
by Pat Bradley, DVM
My vet sells a holistic food in their practice. I asked the nurse what makes it holistic and got a blank stare. The doctor's answer was not much better, but he's not a natural doctor. Can you help me understand what makes food holistic? I thought holistic meant treatment that involves both mind and body. Thank you, Petra
Helpful Resources:
You may wish to check out All Things Dog Blog's Food Choices for Every Fido, a page where you can find many holistic, organic or natural dog foods to investigate. All Things Dog Blog does not sell or profit from this information; we simply provide the resource for your convenience. We encourage you to visit the websites of the products you are interested in and read their ingredients. Good luck--Carrie
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© copyright Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved
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Dogs
Ask the Vet, with Dr. Pat: What EXACTLY is Holistic Dog Food?
by Pat Bradley, DVM
(c) Carrie Boyko
Healthy Food = Happy Pups
Dear Dr. Pat: My vet sells a holistic food in their practice. I asked the nurse what makes it holistic and got a blank stare. The doctor's answer was not much better, but he's not a natural doctor. Can you help me understand what makes food holistic? I thought holistic meant treatment that involves both mind and body. Thank you, Petra
--------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Petra:
What a great question! And oh, how I wish I could have seen her face! How many times have I had that blank stare on my face after a client asks me a question that I realize I should know the answer to? The veterinary profession owes people like you a lot for keeping us on our toes. Our clients and patients are always our very best teachers!
You’re right about “holistic”. For humans, it generally means that “body, mind, and spirit” are taken into account. I admire you for asking what it actually means, but the fact is it means different things to different people.
“Holistic”, “wholeness”, and “healing” all come from the same root word, so you can get an overall sense of the direction this is going. In general, when a pet food manufacturer uses the term “holistic” it means “Our company understands there is more to making pet food than just putting the ingredients together into a can. We know and care about the newest research in nutrition as well as the impact of the whole manufacturing process on your pet, the environment, and other people.”
The term, “holistic” has a “feel good” quality to it currently, so people are more likely to buy a pet food when this term is on the label. When you read the label carefully, you might find such things as:
- “natural” ingredients and preservatives, such as vitamin E
- organic ingredients (no pesticides or chemicals have been added)
- human-quality ingredients
- protein from animals that have been treated humanely, such as free-range eggs
- recyclable packaging
- above-average treatment of employees
- donations to animal welfare organizations
- “antioxidant” fruits like blueberries
- additives for health, such as glucosamine and chondroitin for joint problems
I recommend buying and feeding “holistic” pet foods, if they really are holistic. Great quality ingredients cost more, so the price will likely be higher. But always read the label to find out what that company actually claims. You may or may not agree that it’s worth the extra cost.
Pat
 |
| (c) courtesy P.Bradley |
For a personal consultation about your pet's needs, visit Holistic Veterinary Services.
Dr. Pat's opinion or advice does not replace an actual exam with a veterinarian
Helpful Resources:
You may wish to check out All Things Dog Blog's Food Choices for Every Fido, a page where you can find many holistic, organic or natural dog foods to investigate. All Things Dog Blog does not sell or profit from this information; we simply provide the resource for your convenience. We encourage you to visit the websites of the products you are interested in and read their ingredients. Good luck--Carrie
Have you visited 5 Minutes for Fido lately? Tanner and Oliver like today's blog topic and Dr. Pat gets kudos from them. Woo hoo!
Visit Adopt a Dog Park
Help protect our precious dog parks
© Carrie Boyko, all rights reservedFollow All Things Dog at Twitter Find me at Facebook
© copyright Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved
Bookmark this on Delicious
- Human Grade Dog Food Brands
Many people consider their pet dogs as a part of their family and hence, the dogs get a really special treatment as well. They have free access to all the luxuries that a beloved member of the house can have, which is quite thrilling. A dog owner...
- Holistic Medicine For Dogs
Alternative medicine and holistic medicine is fast getting popular with people across the globe. The reason for popularity is simple. The side effects of the conventional cures like antibiotics and other allopathic medicines is pretty evident. So,...
- Best Dog Food On The Market
There are many types of dog foods available in the market and each serves a different purpose. These include holistic, natural, organic, and canned dog foods among others. While choosing the best brand for dogs, you should take into consideration...
- Best Human Grade Dog Food
As a pet lover, if you happen to be a dog owner, there are a series of things (training, feeding, health, bedding) you need to do as a part of dog care. The basic prerequisite for a healthy dog is its diet. Good dog food not only keeps them active...
- Holistic Dog Food Recipes
With the growing concern about the diet of their pets amongst pet owners, many of them have chosen to substitute commercial pet food for a healthier, more holistic diet. Although many people might be unaware of it, the pet food available in the market...