Hey there dog lover. You want the best for your puppo, right?

So, you’ll want to give them a food that’s as wholesome as the very love you have for them.

The burning question is, does that dog food really need preservatives to stay fresh?

The short answer? Nope!

It especially doesn’t need the chemical kind that sounds more like an ingredient you’d find in a science experiment, rather than something your dog should eat!

At Real Dog Food, we’re here to break it down (and bake it fresh) with all the info on the natural way to ditch those chemicals in favour of the good stuff. Let’s do it.

The Truth About Commercial Preservatives

Commercial dog food is produced in very large batches in international destinations. That means it sits around for a lot longer than locally produced varieties. There is a huge process to get commercial dog food from the production line to your dog’s bowl.

It all starts while it sits at the factory awaiting dispatch, it sits on a pallet as it transits the ocean shipping journey to NZ (which can take weeks), it sits in the distribution centres for supermarkets and pet shops, and then it sits on the shelf waiting for you to buy it.

This can all take months to play out, so the inclusion of preservatives is essential for the food to remain fresh all this time. Unfortunately, the preservatives themselves are not that fresh, they are rather more chemically!

What Are Common Preservatives?

You wouldn’t choose to feed your dog something like antifreeze, but some preservative ingredients found in commercial dog food might make you think you are. They can include:

• BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole) - Many commercial dog foods are produced in USA, Canada and Europe where BHA is approved for use in small doses. Unfortunately, BHA is a known carcinogen for humans, so could be a big risk for your pup. It is known to potentially cause damage to their liver and kidneys, as well as irritate the skin and eyes.
• BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) - Often added to commercial foods to prevent fats from going off, BHT is also linked to potential health issues like liver and kidney damage.
• Ethoxyquin - Illegal in human foods in the USA, Ethoxyquin is still permitted in pet foods. It sounds like something you might find in a chemistry lab, rather than a food product! There’s a reason for that, it used to be an ingredient in pesticide! That’s why it can cause allergic reactions and liver issues in dogs.
• Propylene Glycol – Found in some dog foods to add moisture, propylene glycol is actually a cousin to the stuff found in car antifreeze. While it is considered "safe in small doses," who wants to gamble with their pet’s health?

Are There Natural Alternatives?

Mother Nature knows where it is at. She has been preserving food for centuries, all without a white lab coat or set of test tubes! There are plenty of natural techniques and ingredients that can act as preservatives, keeping your pup’s food fresh:

• Reducing Moisture: By baking dog biscuits to crispy perfection, the moisture content is low, making it harder for spoilage to occur. At RDF, we take that to the next level, cooking via extrusion to lock in the goodness with minimal nutritional loss.
• Natural Preservatives: There are plenty of natural ingredients that do the job of a good preservative without the ominous health risks! Things like rosemary and garlic (our preferred choices), along with Vitamins C and E are excellent natural options.
• Fresh Production: Our foods are usually packaged and sent to our customers within 10 days of production, compared to the 3-month timeline of some imported products. This ensures you receive bikkies that are as fresh as possible!

At Real Dog Food, we use nature’s tools (and a fancy extruding machine) to craft biscuits so fresh you might just be tempted to try one yourself! While certainly not recommended as a suitable diet for humans, we do only use premium human quality ingredients!

How To Spot Sneaky Chemicals

Spotting sneaky chemicals can be quite easy if you know where to look for them! Usually, the label on the food packaging will tell you everything you need to know.

• Look for Transparency: Trustworthy brands will list every ingredient clearly, not just the ones they want you to see. If the ingredient list looks quite short, then you are probably right to be suspicious!
• Avoid Words You Can’t Pronounce: If you feel like you need a degree in chemistry to read the label, it’s time to put that product back on the shelf and walk away. Names like BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin are all red flags to be avoided.
• Beware Long Shelf Lives: If there is a good chance that the product can outlast your dog, then it is probably loaded with unhealthy preservatives!

Your Dog Deserves The Best

At Real Dog Food we believe your dog deserves the best, which is why our food is made with simple, natural ingredients and no chemical preservatives. Here’s why you can trust us:

• Freshness First: Our biscuits are baked to lock in natural goodness and stay fresh without the fake stuff. We produce on a weekly basis so our bikkies last up to a year if stored in a cool place in a sealed container
• Flexible Options: Buy single bags or go full commitment with our subscription service so you never have to run out. If you opt for a subscription, you can choose the frequency of your deliveries and we’ll drop it right at your door.
• For Dogs, By Dog Lovers: Real Dog Food began as we couldn’t find a food we liked enough to feed our dogs, so with the help of pet nutrition experts, we made our own! We wouldn’t give your dog anything we wouldn’t give ours.

So, Do Dog Biscuits Need Preservatives?

Nope, they certainly don’t need chemical preservatives if the food is made right. And we make it right at Real Dog Food! Your dog deserves food as real as the love they have for you.

That’s why choosing our natural, fresh and chemical-free dog biscuits will help to keep your furry friend happy, healthy, and begging for more. Shop our range of tasty foods now.