Certified Organic Dog Foods | Mastiff Food Requirements

Naysayers say “Going organic doesn’t add much to your Tibetan Mastiff, except increased costs.” But going organic may add years to your dog’s life.

Don’t believe me? Read on.

Is Organic Food Better For TM Dogs?

The Consumer Council of Hong Kong performed tests on the 40 most popular pet foods around the world. The result?

The pet food that you buy normally at the pet store probably contains Aflatoxin B1, which is known to be toxic. In fact, the trend isn’t something new. Back in 2005, over 100 dogs in the U.S. were killed because of aflatoxin-contaminated pet food.

And it’s not just one chemical we are talking about.

Animal health and nutrition company Alltech tested over 965 pet food samples in the U.S.

The results were similar.

Over 93% of the samples were contaminated with two or more mycotoxins. And as many as 98% of the samples contained at least one mycotxin that is harmful for your pet.

Non-Toxic Dog Mastiff Food Is Needed!

You need non-toxic food for your pet! And going for organic can be an ideal start. But going organic isn’t easy as well. You need to know where you’re treading.

First off, to understand what organic dog food does for your pet’s health, you may want to know what ‘organic’ really is.

Exactly What Is Certified Organic Dog Food?

Let’s look at the regulations for approving organic products (in the USA):

The USDA gives producers organic certification. This certification states that the production process complies with a set of standards, mainly the methods used for pest control and fertilization.

When you are looking to buy pet dog food in the store, here is what you need to look for:

The pet food that you buy normally at the pet store probably contains Aflatoxin B1, which is known to be cancer causing!

In fact, the trend isn’t something new. Back in 2005, over 100 dogs in the U.S. were killed because of aflatoxin-contaminated pet food.

And it’s not just one chemical we are talking about.

Organic Reduces Mastiff Food Allergy

Animal health and nutrition company Alltech tested over 965 pet food samples in the U.S.

The results?

Over 93% of the samples were contaminated with two or more mycotoxins. As many as 98% of the samples contained at least one mycotoxin that is harmful for your pet.

What does this tell you? That going organic is a bad idea for your dog? Or does it tell you something else?

Is Non-Organic Dog Food Worth The Risk?

Going organic can be confusing, yes that’s true. So, we need to know what organic REALLY means, to understand what you really can get out of it for your Tibetan Mastiff.

How organic products are approved in the US

Let’s start by looking at what the regulations are for approving organic products in the US market.

The USDA needs producers to get organic certification. This certification states that the production process complies with a set of standards, mainly the methods used for pest control and fertilization.

To obtain the USDA certification for an organic product, it must be grown in soil without synthetic fertilizers, no genetic modifications, and pesticides.

Image: USDA Organic Meanings (by USDA).

Similarly, all animal products must come from animals that are free-grazing (in their natural habitat), not treated with hormones or antibiotics and raised solely on organic feed.

Once the producers get the certification, they are allowed to print an official “organic” seal on product labels and packaging.

Now it gets more complicated, though.

95% Or 70% USDA Organic Dog Food?

There are two major types of organic food in the market – ones with over 95% organic ingredients – that carry the green and white USDA seal – and ones with an organic ingredient percentage of over 70 % – and don’t carry the USDA seal.

Instead, the 70% organic products receive the “Made with organic products” stamp. However, they still do not contain any ingredients that were modified genetically (Non-GMO).

That’s how you find the best organic dog food – by looking for the right labeling.

The label to the left (sort of) guarantees at least 95% organic ingredients. The label to the right (sort of) guarantees at least 70%. Both labels have Non-GMO cerfification. On the US market.

"Organic" Mastiff Food Prices Vs. Benefits

The ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture Program studied organic pricing and costs of production, and they agree that there is a price premium associated with organic products.

That being said, there is no doubt that you get benefits – if you know what to look for:

For instance, not all organic dog food brands are the same.

If you buy it right, your pet dog will experience increased antioxidants in the body, higher energy levels, and a healthy weight.

The absence of artificial colors and toxic pesticides may reduce the skin allergies seen in dogs, and the better nutritional value of organic foods will build the immunity against skin ailments.

That’s not all.

Organic pet food is also easily digestible. Unlike regular dry pet food with lots of wheat and corn, their content has higher nutrient density. This means your dog doesn’t consume much but still receives a diet packed with nutrition.

In other words, you pay some extra for organic food, and help your Tibetan Mastiff dog live a longer and healthier life.

So the question is: Does the extra price justify the health it gives your TM dog?

Sort of a stupid question.

Avoid This In Non-Organic Mastiff Dog Foods

As a dog owner, you want to avoid dog food with pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, hormones, and other chemical poisons.

In the case of meat and poultry, non-organic products can be toxic, and in some instances poisonous.

Conventional (non-organic) animals are commonly injected with growth hormones and antibiotics. It simply means that, when you feed your dogs with non-organic meat or poultry, you basically feed them some drugs.

Also, conventional animals grow in confinement, without the possibility to roam and exercise freely. They are fed an unnatural diet, with food that they would never eat naturally.

This leads to obese and diseased animals.

Irradiation is a common method used to kill bacteria in fresh produce and animal feed. It is also used in dry foods such as spices and grains for better shelf life. All these practices affect your pet detrimentally.

Irradiation is also used as a vaccine against parasitic diseases in animals. This takes the natural force out of the animal and its natural way of living.

None of this happens to organic animals, as they are allowed to roam and exercise naturally and grow at a normal rate.

They are fed the same as they would eat in nature. Organic cows, for example, eat grass that has not been laced with chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.

Feeding your Tibetan Mastiff organic meat ensures that what they eat will be as close as possible to what nature intended.

How Do You Identify True-Organic Pet Foods?

In the USA, the USDA Organic seal on a product is the best way to identify true-organic products. This seal guarantees that the product is no less than 95% organic.

That is not entirely true-organic, but we are getting close.

There are other seals, badges and labels that identify organic products, issued by different institutions, which certify a certain degree of organic content for your TM.

The Oregon Tilth Seal

The Oregon Tilth seal, for example, certifies that a product is at least 70% organic.

And as mentioned earlier, there are certain processed products that have more than 70% organic substances, but also some non-organic ingredients.

They contain a “Made with Organic products” seal, and none of the products in these items are genetically engineered (GMO).

How To Find The Best Organic Food For Your Tibetan Dog

Take a look at the ingredient list of the product for hints of how organic it is. For example, if a pet food product contains fish meal, it is certainly not organic.

Good hints are whole ingredients, like eggs, turkey, chicken, and nutritious ingredients, like fruits and vegetables. Bad hints are processed ingredients, stabilizers, emulsifiers, preservatives, and other hard-to-read chemical stuff.

If you want to find out exactly what is in the pet food bag, then use the independent Petsumer Report.

Get the Right Balance of Organic Dog Food Ingredients

Leading vets like Jennifer Freeman suggest that dog food needs a balance of high proteinaceous meat, vegetables rich in nutrients, and a considerable amount of fatty acids that can ensure a shiny fur-coat.

High quality dog food provides better absorption and digestion, guaranteeing healthier poop.

The meat that you choose for your Tibetan Mastiff may come from any source, but do ensure that it is free of dyes, poultry bones, and excessive salt or pepper.

Is rice, oats, and other grains necessary?

Remember that you can include in your dog-food diet a bountiful quantity of grains like rice and oats. Avoid going for options like wheat.

Clinical Nutritional Team at Tufts University Veterinary Medical Centre agrees that whole grains are one of the ingredients you need your four-legged friend to have.

However, a dog’s diet needs to be protein rich, therefore the presence of grains is not entirely mandatory.

Another tip: While searching for the best organic food, look for the labels of the AAFCO food statements under the ingredient list.

Is Grain Free and Human Grade Pet Food Better?

‘Grain-free’ and ‘human-grade’ pet food isn’t necessarily better. ‘Human-grade’ pet food, for instance, is food prepared in kitchens, in conditions similar to how we prepare edible human food. That doesn’t mean that it’s healthier or better than other organic pet food.

Remember: What is good for you is not necessarily good for your dog.

How to Find the Right Mastiff Food - Step by Step

A starter is to go for a USDA organic seal dog food containing high organic nutrients.

Read the label list carefully. Certain ingredients on food labels, for instance, are clear signals to steer away from the product. This includes use of generic terms such as meat and bone ‘meal’, or ‘animal’ fat, wherein the animal is not mentioned.

Yes, it can be anything ranging from roadkill to diseased cattle. Is this what you want for your pet?

Don’t trust the pictures or big words on Big Pet Food brand packages. They have spent millions of dollars with one goal in mind: To manipulate you into believing that you buy a healthy product.

Remember: Read the ingredient list carefully to really know what the product is made of.

However, the ingredient list does not necessarily tell the entire truth.

Don’t even trust your dog’s taste here – something as simple as a little more salt in its food can confuse your furry friend.

Final suggestion: Use the Independent Pet Store List of store owners.

These store owners are independent of the major pet food brands (which you cannot trust).

The store owners often have more knowledge of dog food nutrition than a veterinary, and genuinely care for your pet.

A few hours of research can give you a healthier pet for the rest of your life.

Is your dog’s lifelong health worth a few hours of research on your part?

Bon apetit!

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Certified Organic Dog Foods | Mastiff Food Requirements