Best Holistic Dog Foods
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Dog food offers a vast variety of products, each unique and high-quality. Understanding these categories is crucial for selecting a healthy and high-quality option.
Holistic dog food is a top choice due to its wholesome, natural ingredients and balanced nutrition. Understanding your dog’s basic dietary needs and selecting the best holistic dog food can help you make informed choices.
Compare Best Holistic Dog Foods
| BEST AFFORDABLE  2. Nutro Natural Choice Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food | BEST FOR SENIORS  4. Halo Holistic Grain-Free Natural Dog Food for Senior Dogs | |||
| Protein 23% Min | Protein 22% Min | Protein 28% Min | Protein 23% Min | Protein 18% Min |
| Fat 15% Min | Fat 14% Min | Fat 18% Min | Fat 12% Min | Fat 6% Min |
| Fiber 4.50% Max | Fiber 3.5% Max | Fiber 4.5% Max | Fiber 5% Max | Fiber 4% Max |
| Calories 3718 kcal/kg or 454 kcal/cup | Calories 3654 kcal/kg, 343 kcal/cup | Calories 400 kcal/cup | Calories 387 kcal/cup | Calories 3,330 kcal/kg |
What Is Holistic Dog Food?
There is no legal definition for the word “holistic” when it comes to dog food, so don’t believe everything you read on a dog food package.
Generally speaking, however, holistic products are made with all-natural ingredients with no artificial additives. They are also usually made with whole-food ingredients and supplemented to ensure nutritional balance.
Here are some things to look for in a holistic dog food:
- Natural Ingredients: A holistic dog food should be made with all-natural ingredients rather than by-products and unnamed proteins or fats. Look for a high-quality source of animal protein and fat at the top of the list, along with digestible carbohydrates.
- Nutritional Balance: All dog foods use synthetic vitamin and mineral supplements to ensure complete and balanced nutrition, but a good holistic dog food will also contain fresh fruits and veggies to provide natural sources for some of those nutrients.
- Beneficial Supplements: In addition to vitamins and minerals, a good holistic dog food will contain other beneficial supplements to support your dog’s whole-body health. Examples include prebiotic fibers, probiotics, and joint-supporting nutrients.
- No Additives: Just as important as the ingredients included in holistic dog food are the ingredients not included. Holistic dog food should be free from artificial additives, including colors, flavors, and chemical preservatives.
Here are our top 5 picks for the best holistic dog food that you should consider:
Holistic Select Natural Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 23% Min
- Fat: 15% Min
- Fiber: 4.50% Max
- Calories: 3718 kcal/kg or 454 kcal/cup
- Made with all-natural ingredients, no artificial additives
- Supplemented with prebiotics and probiotics for healthy digestion
- Digestible whole-grain carbohydrates for fiber and energy
- Some dogs may be sensitive to grains
- Fairly expensive to feed as a staple diet
It also contains fresh fruits and vegetables as natural sources for key nutrients and beneficial supplements for balance. Plus, it contains digestive enzymes and live cultures to ensure healthy and regular digestion.
Nutro Natural Choice Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 22% Min
- Fat: 14% Min
- Fiber: 3.5% Max
- Calories: 3654 kcal/kg, 343 kcal/cup
- Real chicken as the first ingredient
- No artificial additives or low-quality fillers
- Highly digestible recipe with whole grains
- May not be high enough in protein for some dogs
- Some dogs may be allergic or sensitive to grains
This formula is completely free from by-products, low-quality fillers, and artificial additives so you can feel good about feeding it to your dog. You’ll also be glad to know that it’s very digestible and supplemented with chelated minerals.
Holistic Select Puppy Vantage Grain-Free Dry Food
Product Info
- Protein: 28% Min
- Fat: 18% Min
- Fiber: 4.5% Max
- Calories: 400 kcal/cup
- Single source of high-quality animal protein (chicken)
- Made with digestible grain-free carbohydrates
- Fresh fruits and veggies as natural sources for nutrients
- Some dogs are sensitive or allergic to chicken ingredients
- Expensive to feed as a staple diet
It contains dried fruits and vegetables to provide natural sources of key nutrients with chelated minerals to ensure optimal nutrient absorption. You’ll also be glad to know that it is completely grain-free and supplemented with probiotics for healthy digestion.
Halo Holistic Grain-Free Natural Dog Food for Senior Dogs
Product Info
- Protein: 23% Min
- Fat: 12% Min
- Fiber: 5% Max
- Calories: 387 kcal/cup
- Made with fresh turkey as the main ingredient
- Digestible grain-free carbohydrates for energy and nutrients
- Probiotics for healthy digestion and nutrient absorption
- Contains some plant protein (pea protein)
- Could be higher in fat for some puppies
This recipe features fresh turkey as the main ingredients with dried legumes and peas for carbohydrates. It is rich in healthy fats for energy and skin/coat health with chelated minerals for nutritional balance and probiotics for healthy digestion.
Solid Gold Sensitive Stomach Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 18% Min
- Fat: 6% Min
- Fiber: 4% Max
- Calories: 3,330 kcal/kg
- Designed for digestibility in dogs with food allergies or sensitives
- Whole-grain carbohydrates for nutrients and fiber
- Supplemented with dried fermentation products for probiotics
- High carbohydrate content, may be too high for some dogs
- Fairly expensive to feed as a staple diet
This Solid Gold Sensitive Stomach Dry Dog Food is all-natural and made with digestible whole grains as well as premium animal proteins. It features oatmeal, pearled barley, and peas as well as ocean fish meal and chicken fat. It also contains dried fermentation products for probiotic support and fresh fruits and veggies.
How Do You Choose the Best Holistic Dog Food?
When choosing the best holistic dog food, consider your dog’s basic nutritional needs and the quality of the product. A protein-rich diet is essential for supporting lean muscle mass, with at least 18% protein coming from animal-based sources.
Healthy fat, a rich source of energy and essential fatty acids, should also come from animal-based sources, with a minimum of 5% crude fat depending on breed size and activity level. Holistic dog food should contain whole grains or grain-free carbohydrates like sweet potatoes, peas, and chickpeas.
It should also contain vitamins and minerals for nutritional balance and supplements like probiotics for healthy digestion. All ingredients should be natural and free from artificial additives.
A good holistic dog food starts with all-natural ingredients, including premium sources of animal protein and fat, digestible carbohydrates, fresh fruits and vegetables, and vitamin and mineral supplements to ensure whole-body health.
How Much Should You Feed Your Dog?
The amount you feed your dog depends on its age, breed, and body weight. Small breeds need more calories per pound of body weight than large dogs, so they may need three meals a day versus the two meals that are appropriate for medium- to large dogs. In terms of the actual volume of food, that will depend on the product you choose because all dog foods have different calorie contents. Choose a high-quality dog food formulated for your dog’s breed size, then follow the feeding recommendations on the package based on its age and weight.
What About Food Allergies and Sensitivities?
All dogs have the potential to develop food allergies and sensitivities, but holistic as well as best Hypoallergenic dog food reduces those risks by removing low-quality ingredients and artificial additives from the equation.
All-natural ingredients are easier for your dog’s body to digest, so make sure the holistic dog food you pick contains whole food ingredients. If your dog is allergic to a common protein or another ingredient, you may want to find a limited-ingredient diet or switch it to a grain-free recipe.
Final Thoughts
While you can’t always believe what you read on a dog food label, it is generally safe to assume that holistic dog food offers quality nutrition. Take what you’ve learned here to start shopping for holistic dog food or try one of our top 5 picks for the best holistic dog food.
