Introduction
Human grade dog food is pet food made with ingredients that are suitable and safe for human consumption. The key characteristics of human grade dog food include:
- Made with human food-grade ingredients
- Contains no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
- Manufactured in human food facilities
- Typically free of common pet food allergens like corn, wheat and soy
- Often has higher quality protein sources like meat, fish and eggs
The main benefit of feeding dogs human grade food is providing superior nutrition from ingredients that people would eat themselves. This leads to better health, longer lifespan, healthier skin and coat, and smaller stools. Human grade dog food aims to give dogs the same quality nutrition that humans enjoy from their meals.
Higher Quality Ingredients
Human grade dog foods use ingredients that are approved for human consumption. This means the ingredients are fresher, more natural, and higher quality than what goes into many mass-market dog foods. Human grade ingredients adhere to strict government regulations and safety standards.
Typical pet food ingredients like meat meals, by-products, and artificial preservatives don’t meet the same standards as human foods. Meals and by-products may contain parts of animals not deemed safe or appetizing for humans, while preservatives extend shelf-life at the cost of freshness.
In contrast, human grade dog foods rely on whole, fresh meats like chicken, beef, lamb and fish. Fruits and vegetables provide natural sources of key nutrients without mystery additions. Even the grains and carbohydrates come from recognizable, human-quality sources.
This fresher, less processed approach provides dogs with optimal nutrition from ingredients just like their owners eat. The higher quality ingredients offer superior taste and digestibility compared to standard kibbles using lower grade, mass produced components.
Better Nutrition
Human grade dog food uses higher quality ingredients like fresh meats, whole foods, and minimally processed carbohydrates. This provides premium nutrition and a well-balanced diet compared to commercial kibble made with rendered meats and artificial vitamins. The fresh ingredients in human grade food have a higher bioavailability and nutrient density. Dogs are able to better absorb the proteins, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. This supports overall health, energy levels, healthy skin and coat, joint health, digestive health, immunity, and more. Whereas lower quality dog food relies on synthetic vitamin and mineral supplements to make up for the nutrition lost in processing.
Improved Digestibility
Human grade dog food uses high-quality protein sources that are more digestible for dogs. This includes ingredients like real meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products. These whole food sources are gentler on a dog’s digestive system compared to rendered meals, by-products, and fillers used in low-grade dog foods.
The digestibility of a dog food refers to how much of the nutrients can actually be absorbed and utilized by the dog’s body. Human grade ingredients are more bioavailable, meaning the proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals are more easily absorbed. This leads to less digestive upset like gas, bloating or loose stools.
Dogs fed a human grade diet will produce smaller, firmer stools that are easier to pick up. Their digestive system operates more smoothly and efficiently. This is important for providing the vital nutrition that dogs need for energy, growth and health.
Allergy Reduction
One of the biggest benefits of human grade dog food is the reduced risk of allergies. Many dogs suffer from food allergies and sensitivities, often to lower quality ingredients like corn, wheat, soy, eggs, and chicken. These mass-produced kibbles rely heavily on grains and cheap protein sources in order to keep costs down.
When you switch to human grade dog food made with high quality ingredients like wild-caught fish, grass-fed meats, and organic fruits and vegetables, you significantly lower your dog’s exposure to common allergens. Your dog will be eating an ancestral diet closer to what his or her body is designed for. This greatly reduces inflammation, digestive distress, skin irritations, hair loss, and other allergy symptoms.
Human grade dog food uses novel proteins, superfoods, and probiotics to support a healthy gut and strong immune system. Your dog will no longer suffer itching, licking, wheezing, sneezing, or other signs of allergies. Instead of just managing symptoms, you can address the root cause through proper nutrition.
Disease Prevention
One of the biggest benefits of feeding your dog human grade food is the potential to prevent many common canine diseases. Some of the diseases that can be prevented or mitigated by high quality human grade dog food include:
- Obesity – Human grade dog foods have controlled calorie counts and balanced nutrients to maintain a healthy weight.
- Diabetes – High fiber and low glycemic ingredients in human grade foods help regulate blood sugar.
- Kidney Disease – Human grade foods have reduced protein, phosphorus and sodium to support kidney health.
- Pancreatitis – Human grade foods are lower in fat and have easily digestible protein sources.
- Allergies – Limited ingredients and novel proteins reduce exposure to common allergens.
- Urinary Crystals – Controlled mineral levels, especially magnesium and phosphorus, prevent crystal formation.
- Heart Disease – Balanced sodium, high in Omega-3s from fish and plant sources help prevent heart disease.
- Cancer – Antioxidants from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains may reduce cancer risk.
Longer Lifespan
Feeding human grade dog food can help extend your dog’s lifespan by providing better overall nutrition. Just as people who eat whole, fresh foods tend to live longer, the same goes for dogs. Human grade dog foods use high-quality protein sources, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to create balanced nutritious meals for dogs. This provides dogs with optimal nutrition without fillers, by-products, or artificial ingredients found in lower quality kibbles. Getting the right balance of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals is key to supporting your dog’s health and longevity. Feeding human grade ingredients provides real, minimally processed food that is easier for dogs to digest and assimilate. This allows their bodies to function optimally and avoid chronic disease caused by nutritional deficiencies. The superior nutrition in human grade dog food strengthens the immune system, heart health, joint health, digestion, skin and coat. By promoting wellness from the inside out, you enable your dog to live life to the fullest for many years to come. The investment in high-quality nutrition from human grade ingredients can give your dog more healthy and happy days with you.
Better Taste
One of the most noticeable benefits of feeding your dog human grade food is that they simply enjoy the taste more. Human grade dog foods use fresh, high-quality ingredients that are similar to what humans eat. This includes real meats, vegetables, grains, and fruits.
Dogs have a powerful sense of smell, which is closely linked to their sense of taste. The appealing aroma and flavors of human grade ingredients are far more enticing to dogs than rendered meats, artificial flavors, and mystery ingredients found in many commercial kibbles.
When you observe your dog eagerly gobbling up their food made with human grade ingredients, it’s a clear sign they find it delicious. The improved taste will make your dog excited to eat. Additionally, the superior taste may lead to better appetite and nutrition for picky eaters.
Dog food using human grade ingredients often has more moisture as well. The combination of higher moisture and meat protein creates a texture and taste dogs love. Kibble can be dry and boring for dogs to eat every day.
If your dog turns their nose up at their current dog food, transitioning to human grade ingredients can make a big difference in their enjoyment and motivation to eat. The difference in taste is like going from processed fast food every day to home-cooked meals made with fresh food.
Food Safety
Human grade dog food has much higher food safety standards compared to standard pet food. All ingredients in human grade dog food are required to meet the strictest quality and safety regulations set for human consumption. This includes rigorous inspection of facilities, stringent cleanliness protocols, and extensive product testing.
In contrast, standard pet foods are held to significantly lower food safety standards. Their facilities and ingredients do not face the same level of oversight and regulation. Issues like contamination, pathogens, toxins, and spoilage happen more frequently with standard pet foods.
By choosing a human grade dog food, you can have peace of mind knowing your dog’s food meets the highest food safety requirements. The risk of any foodborne illnesses or contamination is extremely low. Essentially, your dog can enjoy food that lives up to the same safety standards as the food you eat yourself.
Conclusion
In summary, feeding your dog human grade food provides many benefits over low quality kibble. The higher quality ingredients and better nutrition support your dog’s health in multiple ways. Human grade food is easier to digest and less likely to cause allergic reactions or other issues. It can help prevent disease and allow your dog to live a longer, happier life. The food also tastes better to your dog, making mealtimes more enjoyable. With improved safety standards and oversight, you can feel confident knowing exactly what your dog is eating. While human grade dog food may cost more upfront, the investment pays off exponentially in your dog’s wellbeing and lifespan. Overall, making the switch to human grade food is one of the best things you can do as a dog owner to maximize your pup’s health and quality of life.