Why a sustainable diet is important for your pet

Pet parents want the best for their dogs, but the products on pet store shelves might clash with eco-friendly family values. You don’t have to compromise your green lifestyle to keep your dog healthy and happy. Look into creating a sustainable diet for them instead.

What Is a Sustainable Diet?

A sustainable diet is a diet that doesn’t harm the environment or socio-cultural region with how the food is created or transported. That can include steps like organic farming, sourcing from areas without food insecurity and avoiding any ingredients that aren’t biodegradable.

Why Is a Sustainable Diet Important for Pets?

Humans can enjoy a sustainable diet even if they have specific dietary restrictions, but how can pet foods be sustainable? Here are a few looks at how pet food can be eco-friendly and why it’s an excellent alternative for many dogs.

1. Every Ingredient Is Organic
When someone creates a sustainable meal, the food caters to their health and well-being by avoiding chemical additives. Sustainable pet food is the same way. It utilizes organic ingredients by sticking with whole foods grown without chemical fertilizers or genetic modifications.

Pet food can be sustainable because these choices are simple. Whole foods and natural sources of vitamins help your dog stay healthy — just like how fruits and veggies can stabilize your blood sugar and prevent health complications.

2. The Protein Is Pure
Sustainable diets make protein the first ingredient on their nutrition labels. The first ingredient is always the most important because it’s contributed the most to the recipe. Eco-friendly dog foods make this possible by deriving non-synthetic proteins from plants and animals.

Natural proteins retain their amino acids, unlike artificial proteins bulked with artificial tampering to make a cheaper product. Your dog’s coat and skin will glow from the healthy fatty acids while the protein keeps them full and supports muscle development.

3. It Won’t Expand Your Carbon Footprint
Eco-friendly pet food brands use fewer resources to make their products. They’re conscious of how they raise and manage their livestock with efforts like water conservation. Their agricultural methods also put the Earth first to eliminate resource waste and pollution. Every decision reduces its emissions, which helps in numerous ways.

The planet is better off when people and companies reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainably-minded pet owners also get to support companies that align with their green values. A sustainable diet is essential for pets because it’s healthier for them and creates a better world for them to grow up in.

4. The Food May Be Hypoallergenic
Chemicals and dyes often appear in traditional pet foods. However, they may cause allergic reactions in some dogs. Sustainable dog food doesn’t have either ingredient because they don’t come from nature. Dogs with allergies and sensitive stomachs might notice an immediate difference in their health by switching their food.

Some animal allergies result in continuous sneezing like humans, but food allergies cause other problems. Dogs may experience continual itchy skin, hives, redness and breakouts. A sustainable diet is vital for pets because it prevents these allergies from causing health issues that degrade their quality of life.

5. It Won’t Include By-Products
When you review the ingredient list on your pet’s current food, you may notice an ingredient called animal by-products. It’s more than extra meat that may become kibble — “by-product” is a term that includes typically inedible animal parts, including ones that process toxins like the liver and kidneys.

Pet food companies grind these animal parts into a paste and add it to their kibble products. It results in fewer animal parts wasted after their investment in buying the ingredients. The effort to save a few dollars results in your dog eating parts they wouldn’t have swallowed even when fending for themselves in the wild.

Sustainable dog foods prioritize organic ingredients and whole foods, so by-products aren’t part of the menu. You can rest easy knowing your dog is eating only natural foods when you find an eco-friendly food brand you prefer.

Most Common Sustainable Food Mistakes

If you’re ready to start searching for your pet’s new sustainable food, ensure you don’t make these common mistakes when comparing products.

1. Not Researching the Brands
You may need to grab extra kibble after your dog socializes with new friends at the local dog park. In your rush to get home, you might grab a bag that looks more eco-friendly than others on nearby shelves.

Brands can appear sustainable due to product design and marketing, but that doesn’t mean they put the planet first. Research sustainable dog food brands before making your first purchase so you know you can trust the company. They’ll likely have a green mission statement on their website and posts about how they help the planet while making healthy dog food.

2. Missing the Ingredient Label
A sustainable diet is also important for pets because every ingredient is chemical-free. However, some brands have higher standards for their ingredients than others. Always check the ingredient label before buying new kibble to see which food is first on the list and if any are artificial.

3. Forgetting to Check For Green Certifications
Pet food companies should have green certifications if they’re eco-friendly businesses. Look at each product to check for certification symbols and research the brand online. You can quickly locate their certificates on the brand’s website or read about the awarded certifications in news articles.

Consider a Sustainable Pet Diet

Now that you know how pet food can be sustainable, consider creating a sustainable diet for your dog. They’ll eat healthier food they may enjoy more while you get the satisfaction of aligning your dog’s dietary routine with your eco-friendly lifestyle.