This article was created in sponsorship with Dog is Human, which helps make content like this possible.
If you’re a dog owner who’s spent any time on the internet over the past few years, you’re likely all too familiar with many human-grade dog food brand names that are advertised everywhere you look or listen. Fresh meals, raw food, specialty diets delivered straight to your door, promising long-term health benefits with each bite. But with the sheer number of companies out there, it can be hard to know which one is right for you and your furry friend.
Let’s start with the basics: are they even worth it?
When you hear the phrase “processed dog food,” it’s likely that the first word that comes to mind is “unhealthy” or “bad” or “low-quality,” but the truth is a little bit more complicated. There’s nothing inherently wrong with processed dog food. It’s shelf-stable - which means it won’t go bad over short periods of time - it’s inexpensive, and it’s usually fairly well-rounded in terms of its nutritional value.
And fresh food, despite how much it’s praised for its health benefits, is not the pinnacle of dog nutrition that it markets itself as. Unlike dried, processed food, fresh dog food has a very short shelf life and can go bad if kept too long or stored improperly. Though the ingredients are high quality and much more familiar to most owners, these fresh food diets are often lacking in key nutrients that your dog needs to be healthy. There’s a higher risk of foodborne illnesses because of lower cooking temperatures and minimal processing. And, most notably, fresh food diets are expensive - far more expensive than the average dog owner can afford regularly.
But at the same time, there are indisputable benefits to fresh food diets: it’s more digestible than dry or canned dog food, it’s more hydrating, it’s more appealing to picky eaters, and less-processed diets have been linked to long-term health benefits and decreased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
So how do you strike a balance between fresh and processed food, and reap the benefits of both without breaking the bank?
Give your dog a multivitamin.
Seriously?
Yes. Seriously.
Whether you choose to go fresh or processed, a multivitamin can help supplement any missing nutrients and supply key health benefits that might otherwise be lacking.
The Dog is Human Daily Multivitamin is not some miracle fix for your dog’s diet: it’s better than that. This daily chew is formulated by experts - including leading veterinarians, canine nutritionists, and researchers - for long-term health benefits in five key areas:
- Skin & Coat – ingredients like Vitamin E and omega-3s promote shinier fur and boost your dog’s skin barrier
- Hip & Joint – MSM and glucosamine lubricate joints and support cartilage cushioning
- Digestion – balance your dog’s gut microbiome and ease digestive issues with a probiotic blend
- Immunity – essential vitamins and minerals help support your dog’s immune system
- Overall Health – a broad-spectrum formula designed to fill nutritional gaps in any diet
