For many people, healthier living means choosing more natural products for themselves, and their pets. Dr. Karen Becker, an integrative wellness veterinarian, says, “Many chronic health problems in pets … are in part due to the toxins dogs and cats are exposed to in their daily lives.” Continual exposure leads to what Dr. Becker calls the pet’s “toxic load,” the chemicals and other foreign substances that accumulate in the body of an animal over weeks, months and years.¹ By reducing your pet’s toxic load, you may help them feel better and avoid future health issues.
Avoid Common Sources of Toxins in Pets
Pet professionals offer many tips to help reduce toxins pets encounter, such as avoiding the use of traditional flea control products that contain chemicals. They also suggest you keep your pet away from herbicides and pesticides in lawn care products, and wash their paws when they come in from a romp in the park. Surprisingly, pet food is another common source of potentially toxic chemicals. Read the labels and select pet foods without artificial preservatives, artificial flavors, and dyes.²
Man-made Vitamins and Minerals in Pet Food
But artificial ingredients on the label are not the only chemicals found in pet foods. Chemically-synthesized vitamins and minerals are added to nearly all commercial pet foods, and these man-made nutrients often contain unwanted and potentially toxic ingredients3. Studies by the U.S. National Cancer Institute have shown a relationship between vitamin supplements and cancer in humans, and so the agency does not recommend them. What most pet parents don’t realize is that pets are exposed to these same substances when they consume a pet food containing “added vitamins and minerals.” When consumers see this phrase on pet food labels, it tells them that the added vitamins and minerals are man-made, or chemically-synthesized. Whole foods are more natural sources of essential nutrients for pets.
Choose Pet Foods without Chemicals
You do have a few options if you want to avoid chemicals in your pet’s diet. A homemade pet diet with the right components will supply the protein, vitamins, and minerals your pet needs. Be sure to research this to make sure you are preparing nutritionally complete food for your dog or cat.
Alternatively, you could feed a properly-formulated, commercial raw food. Raw meat and poultry, along with proper percentages of bone and organ meat, supply a naturally-correct profile of amino acids and most vitamins and minerals. Many raw foods do not contain added synthetics, but be sure to check the labels before buying.
For other pet food options without added synthetic vitamins or minerals, Nature’s Logic makes the first and only full-line of raw, canned, and dry foods for dogs and cats made only from whole foods and 100% natural ingredients. Their formulas contain no man-made ingredients so will not add to your pet’s toxic load. For more information visit www.natureslogic.com. 
Thanks for this very useful post for the pet owners. One really should start choosing neutral and chemicals less food for pets.
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When you switch your dog’s diet, do it in stages. Don’t just do commercial food one day and then homemade food the next. Ease into it over a week or two. Gradually decrease the commercial food and increase the homemade food.
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