Top Holistic Dog Food Brands for Healthy, Happy Pets

Key Points

• Some of the top holistic dog food brands include Castor & Pollux, ZIWI Peak, and Now Fresh. 

• Holistic dog diets are free of artificial preservatives, dyes, and other additives. 

• A holistic diet provides your dog better health, improved digestion, and a lustrous coat. 

When it comes to your pet’s nutrition, opting for holistic dog food is a wise choice. Holistic dog food brands prioritize high-quality, natural ingredients that promote overall health and well-being. 

In this article, Bark Spot explores the top holistic dog food brands committed to providing wholesome meals for dogs. Each brand offers unique features and benefits, catering to specific dietary needs and promoting your pet's healthy and happy lifestyle.

ORGANIX Organic Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe

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by Castor & Pollux 

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02/18/2024 04:36 pm GMT

Castor & Pollux

Castor & Pollux is known for its exceptional commitment to quality and nutrition. Their holistic dog food formulas consist of organic and natural ingredients, ensuring your pet receives the best for their dietary needs. The brand sources their protein, such as free-range chicken or grass-fed beef, from trusted suppliers.

What sets Castor & Pollux dog food apart is their unique nutrient blends that address specific health needs. The company has formulas for various needs, including joint support, weight management, and improved digestion.

Customer reviews of Castor & Pollux are overwhelmingly positive. Pet owners report their dogs experience improved overall health and vitality after switching to this brand. Many dogs with dietary sensitivities have successfully transitioned to Castor & Pollux, thanks to the brand's dedication to using high-quality, allergen-free ingredients.

Dog lovers also appreciate the brand's ethical and sustainable practices.

Holistic Select

Holistic Select is a dog food brand that firmly believes holistic nutrition is best for a dog's well-being. The brand's dedication to using natural ingredients is evident in their formulas, which prioritize digestive health and gut function.

Holistic Select dog food incorporates prebiotics, probiotics, and digestive enzymes to support efficient digestion and nutrient absorption. Your dog receives all the essential vitamins and minerals for excellent health. The brand also uses omega fatty acids to promote healthy skin and a lustrous coat.

After switching to Holistic Select, many dogs with previous digestive issues or sensitivities had improved digestion and reduced discomfort. Dog owners noticed increased appetite and energy levels in their pets, indicating improved overall well-being.

Natural Balance

Natural Balance formulas are carefully crafted, using only the finest ingredients to provide balanced nutrition for dogs. Natural Balance offers an extensive range of recipes for different dietary needs. Their limited-ingredient diets cater to dogs with food sensitivities or allergies because they contain minimal allergenic ingredients.

Natural Balance's dog food includes premium protein sources like duck, salmon, or venison, along with wholesome grains to provide energy. Their recipes include joint and skin health enhancers, such as glucosamine and omega fatty acids, that improve mobility and promote a shiny coat.

Natural Balance customers emphasize the positive results in managing weight and promoting lean muscle development after switching to this brand. The taste of the food and its acceptance by picky eaters make it a popular choice among dog owners.

Solid Gold

Solid Gold is a brand driven by holistic principles, focusing on providing optimal nutrition for dogs. Their formulas are carefully crafted, with superfoods like pumpkin, blueberries, and kale. These ingredients enhance immune support and antioxidants for overall well-being. 

The brand develops highly digestible formulas to ensure dogs efficiently absorb essential nutrients for their growth and development. There are Solid Gold specific formulations for different life stages and breed sizes. Whether you have a small breed puppy or a senior large breed dog, the brand has a diet for their unique nutritional needs.

Most reviews from Solid Gold customers focus on the brand's positive impact on their dogs' energy levels and vitality. Enhanced coat health and a reduction in shedding, along with an improvement in dogs’ digestion, were noted by pet guardians after switching to this food brand. 

The Honest Kitchen

The Honest Kitchen uses dehydrated whole foods to retain maximum nutrition and taste. Thanks to human-grade, minimally processed ingredients, The Honest Kitchen ensures your dog receives a meal that meets their needs.

Dehydration is a gentle process that maintains the nutritional integrity of the ingredients, making The Honest Kitchen's dog food highly nutritious. The brand also offers customized options, allowing pet owners to create personalized diets to meet their dog's requirements.

Based on customer feedback, The Honest Kitchen recipes improve digestion in dogs. They also help transition from kibble to this new form of dog food, as the diet is highly palatable. 

Nom Nom

It’s not a surprise that Nom Nom is one of the most recommended dog food brands. The ingredients in the company’s recipes contain no grains and are gluten-free, so risk of causing digestive distress is low. 

Unlike other holistic dog foods, Nom Nom has fresh meal plans. The ordering process allows you to customize your dog’s meals depending on their health or specific needs. You get the food delivered right to your doorstep. All recipes use human-grade ingredients. 

The downside is that Nom Nom is more expensive than other options. It’s also not available in all of the U.S. states. If you can afford it and have access to it, it’s worth trying for the sake of your dog’s health. 

Halo

Halo makes a wide range of wet and dry dog food varieties. The dry options are convenient when you need to spend a lot of time out of the house. What sets some recipes apart is the lack of meat meal or meat by-products. Halo also has no non-GMO fruits and veggies in its recipes.

Halo recipes add calcium, taurine, L-carnitine, and omega fatty acids. The so-called ‘fillers’ are pearled barley, oats, and dried legumes, rather than the wheat and corn that other food manufacturers use.

Earthborn

While this Earthborn is committed to making its recipes as healthy and wholesome for dogs as possible, some foods contain "meal." An example is herring meal, found in Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch Natural Dry Dog Food. Fish meal isn’t necessarily a bad ingredient. However, it can be a sign that other fish parts are used — such as gills and skin — that you might not want in a holistic dog diet. 

This food is well-rounded and provides dogs with what they need for their bodies to thrive. Most Earthborn foods have added fiber from fruits like apples and cranberries. Other healthy ingredients are omega fatty acids and L-carnitine. 

Health Extension

Health Extension makes dog food that contains no soy, wheat, corn, sugar, or gluten, ensuring your dog doesn’t experience an upset stomach. The brand’s recipes are free of artificial colors and flavors that can cause cancer later in life. Every meal is designed in keeping with the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient profile.

Some of Health Extension’s dog food varieties contain animal fat and animal meal, the two most common being chicken meal and lamb meal. Brewers’ yeast and beet pulp are somewhat controversial ingredients in some recipes. The first is added as a supplement because it’s rich in minerals and B vitamins. The second is a filler. 

Now Fresh

Now Fresh claims to use the purest and freshest ingredients in developing its dog food, all with minimal processing. Its most common protein sources are turkey, duck, and salmon, which are less likely to cause food intolerances than chicken, beef, and pork.

Every recipe contains fruits and veggies that provide vitamins and minerals for excellent health. Ingredients such as pumpkin or flaxseed contribute to your dog’s good digestion, allowing them to pass stools regularly. 

Senior dogs benefit from a change in their diet to Now Fresh recipes because these foods contain glucosamine for joint health. There are also wet dog food options, with the turkey and pork stew being the brand's most popular choices.

ZIWI Peak

ZIWI Peak recipes are unique because they don’t contain any grains, glycerin, render meat or meat meal, or potatoes. That, and the fact the company uses high-quality protein in its dog food, allows for excellent digestibility and well-rounded nutrition for your pet at every age. 

The company relies on an air drying technology that allows the ingredients to preserve their healthy qualities. These recipes also contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for a shiny coat, heart health, and joint support. 

What is Holistic Dog Food?

"Holistic" is a term that refers to the health of the body. Regarding dog food, this term is a synonym for natural. It also describes a diet that positively affects a pet’s body, with no potentially harmful ingredients.

Oregon-Based veterinarian Dr. Teri Sue Wright says, "The quality of the raw ingredients going into the food is everything. Most companies use AAFCO feeding guidelines, and they can buy quantities of supplements that you add to base ingredients that you can source from anywhere. They’re anything from parts of animals that contain sawdust, beaks, and feathers to prime rib."

Holistic dog food brands do things differently. They use some of the best protein sources, no meat by-products, essential fatty acids from fatty fish and flaxseed, and carbohydrates from healthy fruits and vegetables suitable for dogs.  

Commercial dog snacks can be holistic, or you can reward your dog with fresh foods. An AKC article from July 2023 highlights that dogs can eat apples, bananas, and blueberries. However, cherries, avocados, and grapes are a no-go. 

How To Choose the Best Holistic Dog Food

Getting informed about the dog food ingredients is the most important step. Here are some other factors to consider.

Ask Your Vet

Your dog's health is unique to them, so seek your veterinarian's advice on what's good and what's bad for them nutrition-wise. As healthy as some holistic food brands might be, if your dog isn't supposed to have a specific ingredient included in that recipe, that variety isn't a good fit for them.

Besides talking with your vet, seek out a brand that customizes your dog's meals based on their health conditions and the medications they take.

Test Different Varieties

Every dog has individual taste preferences. While some dogs love fish, others hate it and can't be convinced to eat it no matter what. To avoid waste, it's a good idea to test several different brands before settling on one or two. Don't buy 10 lbs. of dog food if your dog has never had it before.

Read Reviews

People who have dogs know what their pets appreciate and how the food they give them impacts their health. Look for feedback from other dog owners regarding the quality and freshness of the ingredients. Reviews can also tell you whether these diets positively impact pet health.

Should You Feed Your Dog a Holistic Diet?

Choosing a holistic dog food brand is essential to provide a healthy and happy life for your pet. 

The top holistic dog food brands discussed in this article have all proven themselves in terms of quality ingredients, unique formulations, and positive customer feedback.

Holistic nutrition gives your dog the essential nutrients they need for their best health, improved digestion, and a lustrous coat. Make an informed decision based on your dog's dietary needs and taste preferences.

Give your canine companion the best chance for a vibrant and fulfilling life.

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