Holy Proccessing.com

Despite the fact that dogs are commonly regarded as man's best friend, those who keep them as pets give nary a second thought to how they are fed. The common practice is to rely solely on mass-produced dry pellets or canned food, yet many brands are made without any consideration for the nutritional well-being of dogs. But if you truly care for your fuzzy companion, then you should take his health seriously and feed him natural dog food.

To be fair, the reason why dry pellets and tins continue to sell is because of the convenience they give dog owners. Food tins are moist and tasty, and when unopened, keep very well in the pantry. Dry pellets on the other hand, can be left out for days in the dog's feeding dish, which means that there is no need to sit and watch the dog finish his food. He or she can merely eat and leave at whim.

Still, some would argue that the endorsement of natural dog food is merely born from a marketing trend that exploits the hippie feel-good urges of consumers, a fad that has made "organic" and "fair trade" a means to add value to commodities. The reality though is that commercial dog food is also unhealthy and in some cases unfit for consumption. They can be made from disgusting animal by-products, coated in chemical additives and preservatives or filled with unhealthy corn gluten.

Furthering confusion is the fact that many companies exploit the liberal interpretation of "natural" exercised by food labelling regulation authorities by selling products falsely branded as "natural." In practice, it is possible to pass of dog food as "natural" even when it is filled with processed intestines and cow brains. Therefore, make sure the brand of natural dog food is from a trustworthy company.

One company that attempts to find a realistic place between health and convenience in making and selling natural dog food is Honest Kitchen. Their natural dog food products come in dehydrated form and are made from fresh natural ingredients such as organic grains, vegetables and real meat. Serving them merely requires adding warm water to rehydrate them into a full meal packed with nutrition.

On the other corner is Merrick Dog Food, a company that specializes in canned meals that many have rated as human grade. They are free of hormones, antibiotics, preservatives and animal by-products and resemble a great dinner. Some of their varieties include a hearty stew called Working Dog Stew and a multi-grain and meat ensemble called Puppy Plate.