tips for caring for your pets through winter

There are a lot of pet foods on the market labeled as "natural." In most cases, natural pet food is a good choice for your dog. These foods tend to contain fewer processed, chemical additives and more nutrient-dense, real foods. But how do you settle on a natural food to purchase? It's a good idea to look a little deeper at some of the other labels you see on the natural dog food bags. Here are some other labels you may see that indicate a food may be a good choice for your dog.

Limited Ingredient

Many, although not all, natural dog foods are also marketed as limited ingredient dog foods. Technically, a natural dog food could contain 50 or 60 different ingredients as long as they are all-natural ingredients. But a natural dog food specifically labeled as "limited ingredient" is only made with a few ingredients. The exact number varies, but it might be 4, 5, or 6 in many cases. Limited ingredient foods can be really good for dogs with food sensitivities. You may not be sure what your dog is allergic to or sensitive to, but he or she is less likely to run into that ingredient in a food that only contains a few ingredients.

Organic

Foods that are organic are ones grown without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Since these chemicals can end up in the food and cause issues with your dog's health, buying organic foods is often wise. Not all natural dog foods contain organic ingredients, but many do. If a food is made with all organic ingredients, this is usually clearly indicated on the front of the bag. But you can also check the ingredient list. If the ingredients are organic, you'll see ingredients like "organic chicken" and "organic green beans" rather than just "chicken" and "green beans."

Easy Digestion

Many dogs who do best on natural diets also need foods that are easy to digest. Natural dog foods are sometimes labeled "easy digestion" or "easy to digest." The ingredients tend to be ground more finely. The food may also contain more fiber, which makes it easier for the digestive system to process and pass along. If your dog is prone to diarrhea or impactions, then a natural food labeled "easy digestion" should make a big difference.

Buying a natural dog food can be a good start. If you want to go further, look for one or more of the labels above.