Because our dogs aren't doing the grocery shopping, thy have to leave it to us to choose the best food for them. That can you just bought may seem like a good deal, but ask yourself: is it good for your dog? If it's junk consider this: would you feed your children junk food, and nothing else, for every day of their lives?" This is why more and more people are turning to natural dog foods.

There are a lot of nutritionists today who tell people that a lot of their health problems come from processed foods: transfats, bad cholesterol, an excess of sugar or carbohydrates. The same applies to the so-called food that we feed our dogs: today, a lot of the contents in a can of dog food aren't necessarily good for your dog, and may give him health problems.

One such ingredient is meat-byproducts. Now, meat by-products are classified by the Association of American Feed Control Officials as "The non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals. It includes, but is not limited to, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, partially defatted low temperature fatty tissue, and stomachs and intestines freed of their contents."

If you think that's disgusting, consider this: the AAFCO doesn't closely monitor what animals are used to extract byproducts from. Here are many documented accounts of all sorts for animals contributing to this list: animals killed on roads, 4D (Dead, Diseased, Dying, Disabled) farm animals, and even other cats and dogs from the pound!

The latter ingredient isn't common, fortunately, but if you really want to take no chances, avoid foods that list "meat by products" in the contents and just switch over to natural dog food. Brands like Lifes Abundance dog food or Flint River dog food specifically list their ingredients, especially the sources of meat: free-range lamb, for example, or range-fed chicken and North Atlantic fish.

Because you're not feeding your dog junk, switching to natural dog foods means your dog will require less per meal. This not only makes up for the higher price point, but also consider: less food means less scooping up after your dog!

Natural dog food is a great way to make sure that everything you're feeding you dog is good for him, and not just inexpensive but overprocessed, unhealthy junk food. Brands like Lifes Abundance dog food and Flint River dog food contain only the essential ingredients for nutririon, with meat from chicken, lamb and fish, along with grains and other healthy ingredients.