Switching to organic pet foods

January 7, 2:21 PMSanta Barbara Pet ExaminerKaren Lee Stevens

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Dexter, an 11-year-old Aussie Shepherd, is ready for dinner. Photo: Sam Sontag

Ladies and gents, start your engines and rev up your post-holiday bulky bods by doing some crunches and curls at the Club and dining on delicious (and nutritious) dishes. And while you’re at it, why not make a get-healthy New Year’s resolution for your four-legged foodie as well?

Lucky for you, I recently chatted with Edward Moser, MS, VMD, DACVN, a Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Nutrition at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, a member of the USDA’s National Organic Program’s Pet Food Task Force and Consulting Veterinary Nutritionist to Wellness Natural Pet Food about—what else?—pet food.

This Q&A column is the first in a four-part series on natural and organic pet foods. Next time, Dr. Moser will talk about the benefits of good ol’ H₂O. Thanks, Dr. Moser. I’m sure many pets are feeling healthier and more hydrated already!

Q: Please give a simple definition of organic pet food.
A: Organic refers to the process rather than the product. In other words, organic looks at the whole process, from where the feeds are grown to how the animals are fed. A cow or chicken must not only be raised in a pasture that doesn’t use chemicals, hormones or pesticides, but they must be fed foods that are grown organically.

Q: How tasty are natural and organic pet foods?
A: An old argument said that, if a food is organic or natural, it doesn’t taste good, it’s not very digestible, it’s not balanced. That might have been true 20 years ago, but today, organic and natural diets are complete and balanced for the life stage of your pet (e.g., growth, maintenance, or senior), they are highly digestible, and they’re highly palatable.

Q: What are some reasons for switching to a natural or organic pet food?
A: A lot of people start feeding their pet natural or organic food because their pet is already having a health problem, so they’re relying on the benefits of the food. When you’re talking about choosing natural or organic foods, the emphasis is on quality ingredients and the elimination of unnecessary, possibly reactive ingredients. You’re feeding a simpler diet, which may have preventative health care implications.

Q: What are the different grades of organic pet foods?
A: There are basically four different types: 1) “100% Organic,” which speaks for itself—the food is 100% organic; 2) “Organic,” which contains 95%-100% organic ingredients; 3) “Made with Organic Ingredients,” which is made of 70%-95% organic ingredients; and 4) “Less Than 70%,” meaning that one or more ingredients, such as chicken, is organic. In this instance, the label would read “organic chicken,” but the other ingredients would not be labeled organic.

For more info:  To read Part II of Dr. Edward Moser's interview, click here.