Perusing any shelf of dog food at the local grocer, you’re bound to find a nice selection of "organic dog food." While that sounds nice and healthy, and it looks like something we should feed a dog, some of us aren’t too confident in what "organic" really means. We might at first think it means "natural," or "holistic." Maybe we think it’s non-processed dog food. Here’s what "organic dog foods" really are and how they differ from "natural" dog foods.

Dog food that’s advertised as "natural" must follow guidelines set forth by the AAFCO (Association Of American Feed Control Officials). According to the AAFCO, natural dog food must come from either unprocessed plants and animals, or from plants and animals that have been processed via heat, rendering, purification, extraction, hydrolysis, enzymolysis, or fermentation only. No synthetic chemicals are allowed in natural food processing.

Standards for determining holistic dog food aren’t set by any organization. In fact, there aren’t any standards at all so holistic can unfortunately mean anything in the dog food industry.

On the other hand, organic dog food is food that complies with organic standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Produce has to be grown without pesticides, and meat products must come from animals raised without antibiotics and growth hormones.

Organic dog foods vary in the way they are prepared. Some are baked instead of extruded (a process by which feed is subjected to high pressure) so that they are exposed to less heat. You may also find organic dog food varieties that contain meat and vegetable products fit for human consumption. And some organic food products contain meat already, while others are meant to be mixed with raw meat before meal time.

Be aware that whether available in fresh, frozen, or dehydrated form, organic dog food can cost more than processed food. There are no solid scientific studies that prove organic dog foods are more valuable or better for dogs, so choosing organic food over processed food isn’t a matter of life or death. It truly is a personal matter of what you prefer to serve your dog.