Paleo Pet Food
I'm looking after some dogs at the moment, in the owners home. I'd assumed animal nutrition – Pet Food – would be difficult to get wrong – but I couldn't have been more incorrect with that assumption.
Surely dogs are supposed to eat raw meat? That would make a lot of sense, as in the wild what else would they eat?
The tins of dog food we've been left contain the following ingredients:
Meat including chicken, beef, lamb and pork; vegetables; vegetable protein; pasta; vegetable oil; cereal; gelling agents; gluten; vitamins & minerals; vegetable fibre; flavours; colouring agents.
Looking at some other brands of Pet Food, these certainly aren't the worst either.
We've also been instructed to boil up pasta and add it to the food to keep the weight of the dogs down. This is, apparently, on instruction of the vet. I can't think of a single good reason to give animals pasta.
Sadly as these aren't my dogs I can't change their menu, but it has made me wonder how different the dogs would be on a different diet – and what the ingredients in their food is doing to them?
Why Pet Food Ingredients Matter More Than You Think
Most commercial pet foods are formulated for convenience, long shelf life, and mass production — not necessarily the long-term health of the animal. Just like with processed human food, these products often prioritise cost and palatability over quality. While the label might show a high percentage of meat, the fine print often tells a different story.
Take a closer look, and you'll likely see vague ingredients like “meat derivatives” or “animal by-products.” These may include offcuts, organs, or even unidentifiable parts of multiple animals, all processed at high heat, reducing nutritional integrity. Add to that grain fillers, artificial colours, preservatives, thickeners, and sweeteners, and you’ve got a product that may keep your pet alive — but not necessarily thriving.
The Case for a Species-Appropriate Diet
Dogs, while technically omnivores, evolved primarily as carnivorous scavengers. Their teeth, jaw motion, and short digestive tracts are all designed for digesting animal protein, fat, and bones. Cats are even more strict in their requirements — they are obligate carnivores, meaning they must eat meat to survive.
Feeding them diets high in pasta, cereal, or vegetable protein goes completely against their biology. Just as humans feel better avoiding ultra-processed food, pets benefit immensely from eating closer to what their bodies are designed for. When pets are transitioned to a more natural, species-appropriate diet, many owners report improved coat health, reduced allergies, better breath, increased energy, and even behavioural improvements.
What is a Raw or Whole-Food Pet Diet?
Raw feeding is based on the principle of mimicking what a dog or cat would eat in the wild — fresh meat, organs, bones, and a small amount of plant matter. A typical raw dog diet might include:
- Raw meaty bones (chicken necks, lamb ribs, turkey wings)
- Muscle meat (beef, lamb, kangaroo, chicken, etc.)
- Organ meats (liver, kidney, heart — small amounts)
- Blended vegetables like leafy greens, carrots or zucchini (optional)
- Eggs and occasional fish for variety
For cats, the focus is almost entirely on meat and organs, without vegetables or grains. It's important to ensure variety and balance — especially with calcium from bones or added supplements — but when done correctly, this approach supports overall wellbeing far more effectively than dry kibble or tinned food ever could.
Common Issues with Commercial Pet Foods
Many of the health problems we see in pets today are likely linked to their highly processed diets. Consider the parallels with the Standard Australian Diet — high in carbs, additives, and low-quality oils. Pets are now commonly suffering from:
- Allergies and chronic itching
- Obesity and related joint issues
- Pancreatitis and inflammatory conditions
- Digestive issues, including diarrhoea and constipation
- Dental disease from dry biscuits marketed as teeth-cleaning
It’s no surprise that when pets are moved onto a real food diet, these symptoms often improve dramatically. Just like humans, animals thrive on nutrient-dense food that hasn’t been stripped of its goodness through extreme processing.
Why Some Vets Still Recommend Pasta
While many vets are open-minded and nutrition-focused, the curriculum in most veterinary schools includes very little in-depth study of real food feeding. Instead, students are often taught nutrition through pet food industry representatives, leading to a bias toward big-brand processed pet foods.
Veterinarians may recommend foods like pasta or grains in an attempt to manage weight by increasing volume without increasing calories. But this often masks the underlying issue — inappropriate food choices in the first place. High-carb fillers can spike blood sugar, increase inflammation, and leave pets undernourished despite appearing well-fed.
Making the Switch to Natural Pet Food
If you’re considering transitioning your pet to a real food or raw diet, it’s best to do it gradually. Start by adding small amounts of raw or gently cooked meat to their current meals and slowly reduce the processed food over the course of a week or two. Make sure you research the right ratios and, if necessary, consult a holistic or integrative vet who specialises in nutrition.
Many pet owners find success with homemade raw meals, but there are also several Australian companies offering pre-made, balanced raw meals that are ready to serve. Look for options that contain identifiable ingredients — real meat, organs, vegetables (if applicable), and no fillers, colours, or preservatives.
What About Cost and Convenience?
While it might seem like feeding your pet a raw or whole-food diet would be more expensive, it often works out comparable in the long run. Consider this: you’re likely to save on vet bills, medications, and expensive specialty foods designed to treat symptoms caused by poor nutrition.
Buying meat in bulk, using cuts not in high demand for human consumption, and rotating ingredients helps keep costs down. You can also prepare meals in advance and freeze them in portions, making the process efficient and budget-friendly.
Pets Thrive on Real Food
Switching to a more natural diet can be one of the most rewarding things you do for your pets. It’s not about being extreme or striving for perfection — it’s about acknowledging that just like us, animals are biologically designed to eat real food. They deserve the same care and attention we give ourselves when it comes to nutrition.
If you're dog-sitting or caring for someone else's pet, you may not have control over what they eat — but you can start the conversation. Share what you've learned and how you've seen positive changes in your own pets. The more people begin to question the contents of commercial pet food, the more the industry will be pushed to evolve.
Whether you feed your pets a fully raw diet or simply add more whole food elements to their meals, every small step matters. Just like humans benefit from trading packets for produce, your pets will too.
Have you got dogs, cats or other pets? What Pet Food do you feed them? I'd love to hear what happened if you changed their diets to a more natural way of eating.
