Certified organic farming means livestock is raised naturally, not confined to feedlots.
Companion animals are part of the family, just as precious as the human members. Organic foods that are preservative- and chemical-free provide healthy options for your dog, and a natural diet resembles the dog's original habits in the wild. Prepare home-cooked foods using organic meat, or feed your dog raw food that combines balanced quantities of human quality meat, chicken or fish with organically-grown vegetables and fruits.
Certified
Order fresh, organic meat for your dog from your local butcher or farmer's market. Buy meat that is marked "certified organic"' and bears the seal of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This means that the livestock has been raised according to the national organic standards. These standards ensure that the animal has received no antibiotics or hormones, was not exposed to pesticides and comes from a farm that is inspected annually by the USDA. The animals are not confined to feedlots and eat only organic feed.
Cost
Organic meat is usually more expensive. Animals are not fed growth hormones and therefore yields tend to be smaller. In addition, because organic farming takes place on a smaller scale than commercial farming, it is more labor-intensive. Organic feed for the livestock costs more than regular feed, and certified organic processing facilities are limited. Certification requirements, such as the cleanup of polluted water also contribute toward the higher cost of the final product. These factors raise the price of organic meat, for both humans and dogs.
Processed
If you are unable to buy or store fresh organic meat for your dog, purchase frozen meat from qualified pet stores or online pet food retailers. The meat is frozen raw, and after thawing, you can either cook it or feed it raw. Alternatively, buy freeze-dried or dehydrated meat, which you can feed "as is" or reconstitute by adding warm water and letting it stand for a few minutes.
Treats
Offer homemade, organic meat treats to your dog as a reward.
Once you switch your dog over to an organic diet, carry it through to the treats you give as rewards. Treats are available in organic jerky, organic liver chips (chicken and beef). Alternatively, order fresh liver and make your own organic treats by boiling the meat for 1 hour in lightly salted water, and then drying them uncovered for seven days on a greased baking tray in your deep freeze.
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