There are many choices available, what the best natural pet food and optimum diet is, is what you really want to know. It's one thing to give a dog or cat food that will allow them to grow and stay alive. However, like with humans, it's quite another to find the perfect balance to improve immune function, cognition, behavior and prevent cancer. You want organic, you want natural, you want the best natural food for your pet, but how do you choose? Here are the answers to selecting among the best natural pet foods.

Freshness -- the fresher and less processed the better. The more processed the food, the greater loss of nutrients.

Meats -- For our dogs and cats, meat must be the main source of protein because they are carnivores by nature. Grains are an inferior protein source and cats tolerate them less well than dogs. Higher grain and carbohydrate diets can cause weight gain and possible health problems.

Vegetables and fruit -- These foods contain necessary and beneficial antioxidants and vitamins which need to be included in a well balanced diet. This is truer with dogs, because cats are more exclusively carnivores.

Variety -- You can survive by eating the same thing every meal, every day, but it would not be healthy in the long run and certainly not as enjoyable as having some variety. Different foods through combining, mixing and rotating are fine. Every meal does not have to be perfectly balanced, but a variety of healthy natural pet food for your dog will create balance over the course of the week.

Supplements -- It is a good idea to include some fish oil and a multivitamin. The multivitamin is very important since your dog's or cat's food is probably less varied and fresh than what you eat.

Here is your suggestion guide to choosing healthy natural pet food, and creating a healthy natural pet food plan. Not all natural pet foods are equal, and not all natural pet foods provide the same health benefits and nutritional value.

These natural pet foods are in keeping with a holistic approach to organic feeding and highest quality available.

Natural pet food types

Raw Food

Raw food comes frozen to keep in the freezer and thaw before feeding; mostly chicken, turkey necks, fresh ground meat and bones; along with fruits and vegetables. Raw turkey and chicken necks are a wonderful source of natural calcium, phosphorus and a great way to clean teeth. Raw bones are a healthful treat and help add variety to the dog's diet.

Premixes for home Prepared foods

Premixes are the best solution for people who want to feed a natural homemade pet food diet, but do not have the time for the additional preparation and planning. Natural pet food premixes take the guess work out of constructing a balanced meal. All you do is add the meat of your choice and water.

Dehydrated and Freeze Dried

For this group, just add water or boiled water to reconstitute a natural pet food meal. This adds freshness to a canned or dry kibble diet.

Canned

The canned type of natural pet food is a way of adding variety to a natural pet food diet, and much better than straight dry kibble. If you are only feeding dry kibble, try mixing in a can of the natural pet food variety. Another option would be to feed one in the morning, and the other in the evening.

Dry Kibble

This is the less expensive and easiest diet in natural pet food available options. It is not recommended that kibble be a large part of a cat's diet. The feeding of dry kibble to cats contributes to the possibility of many chronic health problems that include urinary tract and kidney disease along with obesity.

A natural pet food feeding plan recommended by one particular veterinarian is to feed a combination of raw food and dehydrated food, along with salmon oil and a supplement.

To supplement or not to supplement, that is the question.

No matter which of the natural pet food options you choose, a good nutritional supplement will assist in optimizing your feline's or canine's health by seeing they receive enough needed vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients along with a natural pet food diet.

Click here to see an informative video about what's really in dog food.

About the Author

We have existed as a company since 1985, but it was a love of dogs, the dogs that have been a part of our life, and the passing of one dog in particular, Rusty, that inspired the creation of http://www.CalloftheDog.com and http://www.CalloftheDogShop.com -- created to provide the things your dogs and pets need. Visit us for great information and quality dog supplies! Be sure to see our About Us page as well.