Research and Science Behind Natural Pet Food Recognising the importance of natural pet food, especially in its alignment with the primal diets of animals, brings to light its significance in pet healthcare compared to alternative, lower-quality, and highly processed diets. Inspired by the dietary preferences of wild animals, natural pet food aims to emulate a healthy diet similar to what pets’ ancestors would have consumed. In the wild, these animals flourished on diverse diets abundant in high-quality animal proteins, healthy fats, limited carbohydrates, and nutrient-rich plants and herbs.
Informed pet owners, seeking to protect their pets from chronic illnesses such as kidney disease, pancreatitis, diabetes, gastroenteritis, dermatitis, and thyroid disease often associated with poor-quality pet foods, are increasingly drawn to diets closer to nature (4,5). By prioritising minimally processed ingredients that animals would instinctively seek in their natural habitats, feeding with nutrient-rich whole foods mirrors the primal diet, reducing the risk of chronic disease and promoting overall well-being.
Benefits of Natural Pet Food: 1.
Optimal Bioavailability of Wholesome Ingredients: Ingredients in natural diets often include minimally processed whole foods, such as real meats (not meat flavours), fruits, vegetables, herbs, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. These ingredients provide a spectrum of nutrients in forms that are closer to their natural state, enhancing absorption and physiological utilisation by pets (2,3,6).
2. Avoidance of Artificial Additives: The exclusion of artificial additives, colours, flavours, and preservatives is a significant aspect of natural pet food. Scientific research suggests potential adverse effects of these food additives, including behaviour disorders, allergies, sensitivities, digestive issues, kidney disorders and even malignancies (1,2)
3. Health Benefits: Scientific studies indicate potential health benefits associated with natural diets, including anti-inflammatory benefits, improved digestion, immune support, reduced risk of allergies, reduced risk of osteoarthritis, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and enhanced overall well-being in pets (5).
4. Optimal Nutrition •
Macronutrients High-quality animal proteins such as chicken, turkey, and fish provide the essential amino acids crucial for muscle development, immune function, and overall well-being.
Natural cat and dog food leans towards complex carbohydrates like sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, spinach, and lentils, providing sustained energy while minimising potential allergic reactions linked to certain grains.
Moreover, balanced natural diets focus on healthy fats from sources like salmon oil and chicken fat aligns with the ancestral diet’s emphasis on omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These fats play pivotal roles in maintaining healthy skin and coat, supporting nervous system function, supporting joint health, and replicating the balanced fat intake animals would have consumed in the wild.
• Herb and Plant Inclusion: Unlike highly processed alternatives that rely on synthetic additives to sustain life, the natural diet incorporates nutrient-dense herbs, feline and canine superfoods, and plants like spinach, parsley, basil, spirulina, ginger, and turmeric. These natural additions are rich in anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that offer remarkable health benefits like anti-inflammatory support, immune support, nervous system support, protection against mental degeneration, anxiety and behaviour disorders, digestive support and protection against malignancies—benefits that synthetic alternatives can’t match (7). For instance, turmeric offers anti-inflammatory benefits, aiding joint health, while parsley promotes fresh breath and digestive wellness. For intensive health support, herbs are often added to compliment the natural diet in the form of pet health supplements, to enhance the benefits of natural resources on a pet’s health and longevity.
5. Types of Natural Diets for Pets: Natural pet food types cater to varied preferences, sensitivities, and budgets. Options include raw food incorporating meat, bones, fruits, vegetables, premix and homemade food, dehydrated and freeze-dried food, pouched wet food, and dry food (kibble, considering hydration importance).Raw pet food versus Kibble: The most popular choices of natural pet food include raw and kibble diets. Raw diets prioritize unprocessed, biologically appropriate ingredients, resembling the ancestral diet more closely. This approach often offers higher levels of moisture, essential enzymes, and raw nutrients, potentially contributing to improved digestion and nutrient absorption in pets. Conversely, commercial kibble diets, while formulated to meet pets’ nutritional requirements, often involve some level of processing and may contain a higher percentage of carbohydrates and preservatives to maintain shelf stability. While convenience and affordability favour kibble, some pet owners opt for raw diets to align more authentically with their pets’ primal instincts, despite the need for careful handling and preparation.
6. Quality Control and Standardization: Reputable natural pet food manufacturers adhere to strict quality control measures, ensuring consistency and adherence to nutritional guidelines in their formulations. This focus on standardized practices contributes to the reliability and quality of these pet food options.
7. Customized Nutrition: While aligned with scientific principles, it is crucial that any diet acknowledges individual pet needs. Consulting veterinarians or nutritionists aids in tailoring dietary choices to specific pet requirements, lifestyles and health conditions.
Conclusion When selecting natural cat food or natural dog food, essential considerations include the quality of the food, the presence of easily digestible, quality proteins, a complete and balanced composition, utilization of gentle and easily digestible ingredients, and the provision of essential vitamins and minerals. Consulting a veterinary nutritionist can offer valuable guidance in formulating a nutritious meal plan so that your pet can thrive.
References 1. Additives in pet food: are they safe? https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352299571_Additives_in_pet_food_are_they_safe
2. Natural pet food: A review of natural diets and their impact on canine and feline physiology https://academic.oup.com/jas/article/92/9/3781/4702209
3. The impact of food processing on the nutritional quality of vitamins and minerals. Reddy MB, Love M. Adv Exp Med Biol. 1999;459:99-106. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4615-4853-9_7. PMID: 10335371.4. Toxicological and Teratogenic Effect of Various Food Additives: An Updated Review. Sambu S, Hemaram U, Murugan R, Alsofi AA. Biomed Res Int. 2022 Jun 24;2022:6829409. doi: 10.1155/2022/6829409. PMID: 35782077; PMCID: PMC9249520.5. Effects of a whole food diet on immune function and inflammatory phenotype in healthy dogs: A randomized, open-labeled, cross-over clinical trial. Jaffey JA, Su D, Monasky R, Hanratty B, Flannery E, Horman M. Front Vet Sci. 2022 Aug 23;9:898056. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.898056. PMID: 36082214; PMCID: PMC9447376.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9447376/6. Natural versus Synthetic Vitamin B Complexes in Healthy Humans and Their Effects on Homocysteine, Oxidative Stress, and Antioxidant Levels.Lindschinger, M. et al., 2019. A Randomized Pilot Trial to Evaluate the Bioavailability of Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2019, pp.1–14.7.
The Role of Phytonutrients in Canine Health and Behaviour https://canineceuticals.com.au/blogs/news/why-dogs-need-plants-to-be-happy#:~:text=Feeding%20dogs%20a%20diet%20supplemented,counteract%20cognitive%20decline%20with%20aging. 
