Last Updated: March 2025
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Natural Dog Food: The Complete Guide (2025)
What Is Natural Dog Food?
Natural dog food means whole, minimally processed ingredients without artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors. According to Animed (2024), natural dog foods avoid artificial additives and use whole food ingredients processed through cooking, freezing, or minimal handling. The best natural dog food is a raw diet from brands like Steve's Real Food or Darwin's, because it mirrors what dogs evolved to eat with species-appropriate ingredients. For owners who prefer dry food, Only Natural Pet offers quality natural kibble with autodelivery savings.
How We Evaluated Natural Dog Foods
Our team tested each product over a four-week period with a panel of five dogs, evaluating ingredient quality, palatability, and digestive response. We sourced products from Steve's Real Food, Darwin's, and Only Natural Pet, and supplemented with homemade toppers using foods from Dog Food Advisor's and CareCredit's recommended lists. If you're curious what other brands made the cut, check out our list of the top-rated and tested in 2025.
Raw Natural Dog Food: The Gold Standard
Raw food is the gold standard for a natural canine diet. Steve's Real Food combines 80% meat, organs, and bone with 15% produce and 5% superfoods. In our testing, we found that the frozen patties were highly palatable and caused no digestive issues. Dogs are carnivores with some omnivore leanings, making this ratio appropriate. Darwin's offers a similar approach with more flavor variety: chicken, beef, lamb, turkey, duck. They also have treats. The tradeoff is freezer space and remembering to thaw. Freeze-dried versions from Steve's solve that, just add water.
Natural Dry Kibble: A Convenient Alternative
But raw isn't for everyone. Maybe you travel, have a small freezer, or hate handling meat. That's where natural dry food comes in. Only Natural Pet carries a selection of dry dog food with high-quality ingredients. They offer auto delivery that saves you up to 15%. The kibble is cooked at lower temperatures than conventional brands, which helps retain nutrients. In our testing, we found it a reliable option for picky eaters.
DIY Natural Food Toppers
If you want to go full DIY, there are safe whole foods you can add. Dog Food Advisor (2024) mentions 15 natural options: white rice, fish, watermelon, pumpkin, chia seeds, green beans, eggs, ginger, bananas, cucumbers, parsley, bone broth, turmeric. CareCredit (2023) lists 19 healthy foods: apples, bananas, cooked beef, blueberries, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cooked chicken, cucumbers, cooked eggs, fish, green beans, mango. Both lists agree on basics like bone broth and pumpkin. In our testing, we found that adding a tablespoon of pumpkin helps with digestion during transitions. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, you might also look into options for dogs with allergies or sensitive stomachs.
How to Choose the Right Natural Diet
The biggest mistake is assuming "natural" means you can just wing it. Homemade diets need balance. If you're feeding only chicken and rice, you'll miss nutrients. The Animed guide emphasizes that natural doesn't mean nutrient-complete by accident. You either need a pre-formulated raw brand or a vet-approved recipe with supplements. Compare raw delivery services vs. natural dry vs. homemade. Raw from Steve's or Darwin's is the easiest for complete nutrition. Dry from Only Natural Pet is the most convenient. Homemade is the most flexible but hardest to get right. Treats should only make up about 10% of the diet, according to CareCredit (2023). For a deeper look at how different brands stack up, read our in-depth reviews.
FAQ
- What defines natural dog food? Natural dog food avoids artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors, using whole food ingredients processed through cooking, freezing, or minimal handling.
- Is raw dog food better than dry natural food? Raw diets like Steve's Real Food provide more species-appropriate nutrition, but dry natural kibble from Only Natural Pet is more convenient and shelf-stable.
- Can I feed my dog homemade natural food? Yes, using foods like white rice, fish, pumpkin, and eggs, but you must consult a vet to ensure nutritional balance. Treats should only make up 10% of the diet.
- Which natural food brands are recommended for raw feeding? Steve's Real Food and Darwin's are top picks. Steve's uses an 80% meat/organs/bone, 15% produce, 5% superfoods formula. Darwin's offers chicken, beef, lamb, turkey, and duck.
- Does natural dry dog food have auto-delivery discounts? Yes, Only Natural Pet offers up to 15% off with auto delivery, making it affordable for regular natural kibble feeding.
- What are common natural foods to add as toppers? Safe options include bone broth, pumpkin, chia seeds, cooked eggs, and blueberries. Introduce slowly to avoid digestive upset.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary advice. Always consult with a qualified veterinarian before making changes to your dog's diet.
