Is Organic Dog Food Better for Your Pup?

Organic dog food is simply food in which the ingredients are made without antibiotics, GMOs, pesticides, genetic engineering, or chemical fertilizer.

Now that organic food has become commonplace in supermarkets, many people are now also interested in the potential benefits of feeding it to our favorite furry friends. 

In this article, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of feeding your pup organic dog food.   

Benefits of Organic Dog Food

Here are a few reasons why organic food is a good option not just for your dog, but also your family, and the world at large.

1. Reduced Risk of Pesticide Exposure

Non-organically grown foods in the U.S. typically contain pesticide residues which could potentially contribute to health issues in both pups and humans. Organically grown foods are raised without the use of chemical pesticides, for peace of mind. 

Note: the health effects of consuming small amounts of pesticide residue is not fully known yet. However, the environmental benefits are more certain, as you'll see below.

2. Better for the Earth

USDA organic standards have a strong focus on ethical and sustainable farming. Organic farming helps to reduce water waste, pollution and soil erosion, while improving soil fertility.

Conversely, non-organic agricultural practices are responsible for 9.3 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, and those emissions are continuing to increase. Organic farming plays a big role in the future of safe and sustainable agriculture. 

3. Easier Digestion

Organic dog foods are much less likely to contain additives like dyes, coloring agents, and preservatives. These cosmetic dog food ingredients haven’t been proven to make your dog’s kibble taste any better, and can be harder for their digestive system to process.  

Shortcomings of Organic Dog Food

While organic dog food has a number of great benefits, there are some drawbacks as well. When considering starting a new type of diet or product for your pet, it’s important to take multiple factors into consideration in order to make the best decision for you and your pet. 

1. The Cost

Many big-name non-organic dog food brands keep their prices lower by cutting corners and using less nutritionally rich ingredients and lots of fillers. It’s no secret that organic food can have a pretty hefty price tag and can cost up to twice the amount of non-organic food per serving. 

2. The Limited Availability 

USDA-certified organic farms make up only 0.6% of all US farms, so as you can imagine, the organic food supply is actually quite limited, which also drives up the cost. In addition, most organic food is grown for human consumption, making it less available for the production of dog food. 

3. Organic Doesn’t Always Mean Healthier

While certified organic dog food starts with higher-quality ingredients, it often still ends up as over-processed kibble or canned food. Just because it says “organic” does not make it a higher quality end product. 

Instead, for a more reliably healthy option, look for minimally processed raw or dehydrated raw dog food made from whole ingredients. You’ll also want to make sure your pup’s meal is nutritionally balanced, with plenty of protein, fruits and veggies, and fatty acids. 

4. The Need for More Dog and Pet-Specific Research 

So far, there is actually very limited research proving the health benefits of organic dog food. While we can presume that fewer pesticides are better for a dog’s overall health, more studies are needed to determine and measure the impact of your pup eating organic. 

Raw Bistro’s Solution

Because “USDA-Certified Organic” is just one indicator of healthy food for your dog, Raw Bistro takes a broader, holistic approach to making healthy dog food. That means that we use care in sourcing ALL of our ingredients.  We do use organically grown fruits and vegetables, and we can confidently say that our beets, broccoli, carrots, celery, cucumbers, kale, parsley, red peppers, spinach, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, and strawberries are all organic. 

When it comes to our meats, we use only 100% grass-fed beef, free-range turkey, free-roaming chicken, and free-range bison. We work closely with a number of local farms, so we can see firsthand how the livestock is being treated and processed. While not organic, livestock that is ethically and humanely raised makes for healthier meat. 

Finally, all our raw dog food is made in our own, human-grade facility in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, so we can ensure the highest standards of health for our products.