With so much focus these days on the benefits of the grain-free recipe, it seems increasingly likely that a key consideration is being overlooked by some makers of natural foods. Providing a diet that is free of grains and rich in meat and other protein sources is all well and good, but other nutritional elements must also be taken into consideration or the resulting diet could ultimately prove harmful to pets.

Balanced Recipes

Creating a truly healthful, beneficial pet food is a real balancing act. Choosing the right ingredients is a great start, but turning them into a terrific, nutritious recipe is all about balance. For instance, it's critical for pet parents to be aware that the addition of more meat ingredients to a formula naturally increases not just the protein content, but also the fat, calcium, phosphorus and calorie levels. In particular, integrating too much fat into a recipe can cause the kind of weight-management headaches already confronting too many owners of adult dogs. Fat content can be contained by using leaner sources of animal protein, a measure not every manufacturer is willing to take.