First up here is what you are not being told about all natural dog food.

In dog food terms the use of the word natural has no defined or regulated meaning.

Once again us dog lovers have no protection from our regulating authorities. Once again our trusting nature is being bombarded and misguided by marketing hype.

We are being led to believe what manufacturers want us to believe, and when that come to using the word natural it is apparently "open season" on dog owners!

You will no doubt have seen the bold highlighted claims like "Our blah blah brand does not contain artificial additives, coloring or flavors"

Excuse me for not doing cartwheels of excitement Mr Manufacturer but whilst you might not be adding these things into you product, during your production process, what about the suppliers of your ingredients?

Has the meat come from a growth inducing hormone fed animal? Have the vegetables been sprayed with chemicals to fast forward readiness and optimum size for market? Are you using any "GM" modified ingredients?

Sure the manufacturer may not be doing the adding, but that is no absolute guarantee that they are non-existent within the product.

Now here is the something that they certainly do not want you to find out about.

Your all natural dog food is allowed to contain rendered meat! How is that natural?

What it means is that all of the dark side of 4D meat (Dead, Dying, Disabled, Diseased) is allowable as an ingredient inclusion!

Should you be thinking that AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officers) would not allow such unnatural stuff to be included in a product that intends to use the word natural, then think again.

These words appear in the AAFCO guidelines for manufacturers, regarding allowed inclusion for "natural" products;

"either in its unprocessed state or having been subjected to physical processing, heat processing, rendering, purification, extraction, hydrolysis, enzymolysis or fermentation"

Is it me or is that more or less saying anything goes!

When searching for your all natural dog food please be aware you are in the minefield of buyer beware.

Whatever you do look hard at the claims and take nothing at face value. For true peace of mind check that all important ingredient listing, and have the knowledge to pick what is good and what is bad.

Alternatively go for CERTIFIED organic, a BARF diet, or make your own. These, along with your ingredient understanding knowledge for other options, are your best form of protection against a cocktail of chemicals in the recipe, or less than desirable ingredients pertaining to be natural.