"Organic food for my dog because I want to give him the best".... Currently, "organic" dog food is not recommended because it does not meet the nutritional needs of our dogs. They are deficient in proteins and certain vitamins. In addition, they are relatively low in energy density, which forces owners to give more than a "standard" food. The standard balanced kibbles but containing cereals had however led to the disappearance of many food deficiencies which appear again with the emergence of these new food modes. The "organic" food is based on a current trend and on good intentions but it can be dangerous for your dog. Some organs such as the heart, bones and skin do not tolerate deficiencies well in the medium or long term. (see the video of the RTL news in link at the beginning of the article)
"We could cook to bring the healthiest nutrients to our dog...". Yes, food rations can be elaborated for your dog but to be complete, they will have to contain +/-40 different nutrients per day. To be balanced it will be necessary to consult a veterinarian specialized in nutrition.
"I give my dog a raw diet because it is more natural. A diet consisting only of raw meat is unbalanced in more than 60% of cases. A study published in the scientific journal Vet Record in 2018 analyzes 35 foods based on raw meat, of 8 different types, shows that pathogenic bacteria are present in the marketed food: Escherichia coli serotype O157:H7 (23%), Listeria monocytogenes (54%), other Listeria (43%) and Salmonella (20%). From a parasitic point of view Sarcocystis cruzi (11%), S tenella (11%) and Toxoplasma gondii (agent of toxoplasmosis) (6%). The raw meat food is a potential risk for the dog but also for humans in contact with a non-negligible risk of transmission of multi-resistant bacteria problematic for human health Royal Publishing 2019 ... ESCCAP (European Scientific Consel Companion Animal Parasite) has also published a warning about the risks associated with raw food.
Also, if your dog has a food allergy/intolerance raw meat is more allergenic. Bone fragments are also problematic because they can puncture the lining of the digestive tract.
"Grain and carbohydrates in my dog's diet are bad..." When talking about sugars (carbohydrates) we need to differentiate between starch and soluble sugars which should not be present in the diet of carnivores. Starch is cooked and is very well digested (>90%) by domestic carnivores. This digestibility rate is much higher than the average digestibility coefficient of many proteins. The owner often believes that gluten is a carbohydrate, but it is mainly composed of two proteins: prolamine and glutenin. Gluten intolerance is rarely observed in dogs. They are mainly described in Irish Setters (genetic transmission: autosomal recessive gene).
The Food & Drug Administration has, recently mentioned the increasing number of cardiomyopathies associated with grain-free foods: in the top 3 are: Acana, Zignature and Taste of the Wild https://news.vin.com/VINNews.aspx?articleId=53973. A 2018 article published in the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association also provides useful information regarding the association between certain types of foods and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
Critical reading of kibble labels is very difficult because it does not allow for a qualitative classification of the kibble except in cases of obvious deficiencies. How can we know if the proteins present are of good or poor quality? What do you replace the energy provided by carbohydrates with? Lipids represent a bad choice given the sedentary nature of many dogs and the risks linked to obesity... Are proteins of animal origin currently a defensible ethical or ecological choice?
Why should we favour "organic" or "locally produced" foods when there are few or no published and controlled scientific studies proving their benefits? Wouldn't it be wiser to trust food companies that have been on the market for several generations of dogs and have published major scientific research for the health and well-being of our dogs and cats? Why would we want to deny that these foods, combined with constantly improving medical care, have increased the life expectancy of dogs by more than 1 year and cats by more than 2 years and 2 months over the past 8 years? When will consumers be informed using scientists (veterinary nutritionists) as a source of information instead of resorting to sensationalism to create an audience?