Human-Grade Dog Food is trending in the pet food industry, but what is it?
This article will enlighten you with facts about Human-Grade Dog Food.
Let’s dive in.
What Does It Mean?
According to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), Human-Grade Dog Food is where each ingredient and the final product is stored, processed, handled, and transported in a way that follows and complies with regulations for human foods. This means that the food must be made in facilities that produce human food.
Ingredients
Its ingredients are ingredients that are edible by humans. In addition, for an ingredient to be deemed human-grade, it should be handled, stored, processed, and transported to comply with the current manufacturing conditions for human edible food according to the Regulations.
What are the benefits?
It comes with lots of benefits. Below are some of the reasons you should go for human-grade pet food:
- Improved digestion: It has no fillers. Filers and other unhealthy additives cause digestive problems. Human-grade pet food is highly digestible, resulting in fewer and smaller stools. The food promotes regular bowel movements.
- Improved skin and coat appearance: The large amounts of fillers in processed food are responsible for skin and coat problems. Human-grade pet food uses fresh, nutrient-dense ingredients with lots of omega fatty acids for a smooth coat and a lustrous skin.
- Improved immunity: Most commercial dog foods are cooked at high temperatures, thus losing essential nutrients. This dog food retains all the vital nutrients. It has loads of antioxidants and vitamins that work together to boost your dog’s immunity.
- Longer lifespan: It is packed with vitamins and minerals that support heart health and reduce the risks of obesity. This translates to a longer life.
Buying human-grade dog food and treats
Buying these dog food and treats can be a tedious process. Although a product labeled Human-grade could have met all the requirements to be human edible, there is no guarantee that it is highly nutritious. This is because it may still not have a complete nutritional profile for dogs.
However, you should not worry about as many varieties to choose from. They include complete-prepackaged meals, ready-to-eat, canned food, dog treats, and frozen daily diets.
Extensive research is paramount for these dog food. Do not be misled by the packaging. Be sure to go through the ingredient list. Consulting your dog’s vet also helps in making the right choice.
What to Look for
These foods can be confusing as it doesn’t state whether the food is balanced and nutritionally complete. When selecting human-grade foods for your dog, ensure the food contains a statement that follows any of these two AAFCO lines showing your dog’s food is well-balanced and nutritionally complete:
Animal feeding tests that use AAFCO procedures substantiate that dog food X provides balanced nutrition and complete nutrition.
Dog food X has been crafted to meet the nutritional requirements given by the AAFCO Dog Food nutrient profile.
These two statements give you the confidence that, at the very least, the specific dog food meets the nutritional needs of your pooch.
Human grade dog food recipes
These dog food recipes are available in physical and online stores. Purchasing Human-grade dog food made with high-quality ingredients ensures your dog gets all the benefits of human-grade Formulas. Here are some of the human-grade recipes:
Human-grade Dehydrated Dog food
- The Honest Kitchen Beef Recipe Whole Grain Dehydrated Dog Food.
- The Honest Kitchen Fish recipe Limited Ingredient Dehydrated Dog Food.
Human-grade Wet Dog Food
- Caru Turkey with Lamb Daily Dish Grain-Free Wet Dog Food
- JustFoodForDogs Beef & Russet Potato Pantry Fresh Dog Food
Human-grade Dog Food Toppers
- Brutus Broth Bone Hip & Joint Human-grade Beef Flavor Dog Food Topper.
- Nature’s Diet Whole Cream Goat Milk Wet Dog & Cat Food Topper.
Human Grade Dog Food Brands
Some pet food manufacturers are well-known for human-grade dog food. They produce their foods according to the AAFCO standards. However, you cannot be 100% sure that the food is fully human-grade. Below are some of the human-grade dog food brands:
- Nom Nom Fresh Dog Food.
- Tylee’s Human-Grade Dog Food.
- Canisource Grand Cru Dog Food.
- The Honest Kitchen Dog Food.
- Nature’s Diet Dog Food.
- Portland Pet Food.
- Just Food for Dogs Dog Food.
- Caru Dog Food.
- Yumwoof Natural Pet Food.
- Ollie Pet Food.
- Sundays for Dogs.
- Open Farm Dog Food.
- Spot Farms Dog Food.
Do vets recommend human-grade dog food?
Yes, most vets recommend human-grade dog food. This dog food has lots of benefits for your dog. However, before choosing any dog food, ensure it is nutritionally balanced.
Is human-grade dog food better than kibble?
Yes, human-grade food is made with high-quality ingredients and is better than kibble according to the AAFCO standards. This food has no fillers, but kibble contains some unhealthy ingredients harmful to dogs.
Should you feed your dog human-grade food?
Yes, you should feed your dog human-grade dog food. This is because consuming these dog food boosts digestion, immunity, skin and coat appearance, energy, agility, and lengthens your dog’s lifespan.
Can I feed my dog human food every day?
Although human food is good for your dog, moderation is key. Try balancing between human-grade and feed-grade dog food for maximum health and nutritional benefits for your dog.
Why should you not feed dogs human food?
You should not feed dogs human food because human food does not have all the essential nutrients for your dog’s overall wellness. Dog food is specially crafted to provide complete and balanced nutrition.
Can I feed my dog real food instead of dog food?
Although you can feed your dog real food, the food should not be a regular habit. Dog food is formulated to provide sufficient nutrition, while real food may lack some important nutrients.
Can you mix dog food with human food?
Yes, you can mix dog food with human food. Add some cooked or raw chicken, fish, beef, vegetables, or fruits. Adding raw meat mimics wild dog food to delight your picky eater Frenchie.
What can you feed dogs instead of dog food?
You can feed your dog cooked or raw meat, including beef and salmon. In addition, fresh fruits and vegetables provide vitamins and antioxidants for overall growth. Be sure to consult the vet first.
Can I feed my dog half homemade and half kibble?
Yes, you can feed both. However, homemade dog food and kibble digest differently. You should, therefore, avoid serving both at the same time. Separating the meals lowers the risks of digestive problems.
How do you put human food in dog food?
Human food should not exceed dog food for balanced nutrition. Add small amounts of unseasoned real meat or vegetables to your dog’s food and mix well before serving it.
Conclusion
Human-grade dog food comes with lots of benefits for your dog. However, it is best to consult the vet before switching to these dog food. Introduce new food gradually to reduce the risk of digestive problems.