As you’re scooping your pet’s kibble or handing out a goodie from the treat drawer, you may have stopped to ask yourself: why is this so colorful? Like, unnaturally colorful? In fact, why are pet food colors a thing at all?

Well, the answer is that they’re not for your pet. The artificial colors in pet foods are put there for you! Those slightly too vibrant bright greens, reds, and yellows are put into pet food and treats because they appeal to the pet parents. Makes sense, right? It’s not like your dog has their own credit card.

The thing is, not all of these artificial pet food colors have been historically safe for them. Even today, there are still concerns about sensitivities to artificial food coloring in pet foods. Here’s the breakdown on artificial pet food colors – and ways to put you back in control over what goes into your fur kid’s body.

Why Some Are Concerned about Artificial Dyes

The dyes in pet foods may be regulated and food-grade, but that doesn’t mean that they are ideal for all pet parents. In some cases, the origin of these food dyes is questionable, with some synthetic dyes being derived from petroleum. Not something most pet parents would love to feed their pets!

There are also some anecdotal reports from pet parents whose pups cannot tolerate many artificial ingredients, including dyes, and choose to avoid them just to stay on the safe side. Without artificial dyes, there’s one less variable to worry about when feeding a sensitive tummy.

Still Want to Add Color to Their Dinners?

So, if dogs don’t really care whether artificial colors are included in their kibble, what can a pet parent do to make the food look more appetizing or exciting? It turns out that your pup may prefer foods that are served in bright yellow bowls.

Scientists wanted to see if free-ranging dogs had any color preferences. So, they set up different types of colored dog bowls to see which the pups would approach first. They didn’t seem to care about blues or grays very much. But yellow? Their favorite. Something about yellow drew these dogs to their bowls. They even chose to look at empty yellow bowls over gray ones filled with chicken!

This makes total sense based on what we know about how a dog’s vision works. Their eyes are not like ours, and they can only see a range of grays, blues, browns – and yellows.

While the study hasn’t been replicated on domestic dogs, it may be worth switching to a yellow bowl if you have a picky eater. But that’s not the only way to brighten up what’s inside.

The NHV kitchen has been cooking up goodies with only human-grade ingredients to add a 100% natural splash of color and health to mealtime.

Healthier Treats with NHV

One of the best places to look for coloring is nature. The pigments produced by plants not only avoid the concerns pet parents have with artificial dyes, but often also provide unique benefits all on their own. At NHV, we use these natural colors to deliver benefits while still having a bit of colorful fun.

• Orange from beta-carotene can be found in our single-ingredient Sweet Potato Chips. Beta-carotene is known to support eye health.
• Purple from betalains are natural plant compounds, which may help to protect the cells from DNA damage. Find them in our Only Beets! treats.
• Reds from astaxanthin (a type of antioxidant) give our Wild Pacific Salmon Crunch that warm reddish hue that salmon is famous for.

While natural treats may not be as vibrant as artificially colored ones, we believe that the benefits of leaning into natural colors far outweigh the use of artificial ones. And to us, letting those natural benefits and colors shine only makes them all the more eye-catching.

But treats aren’t the only way to regain control over artificial additives. Some pet parents love to cook homemade vet-written recipes, tailored to their fur kid’s unique health needs.

Making the Swap to Home-Cooked Pet Food

To know exactly what goes into your pet’s bowl, cooking pet food from home can help give you total control. But getting the nutrient balance just right can feel a bit daunting on your own.

No artificial dyes needed

That’s where Dr. Amanda, with her extensive experience in holistic pet wellness, comes in. Dr. Amanda can formulate a fully balanced, home-cooked meal recipe tailored specifically to your fur kid. She seamlessly takes into account age, breed, weight, and unique health needs. The plan is a simple way to serve up fresh, vibrant meals that look as good as they make your pet feel – no artificial dyes needed.

Discover the Personalized Veterinary Nutrition Plan here.

Food is The Foundation of Health

An Ayurvedic proverb tells us: “When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.”

It holds true, especially in an age of overly processed food for humans and pets. When we eat well, it fuels our body as it protects us from disease, speeds recovery from injury, and gives us energy for fun and play. Even just a daily boost of plants may help make a difference when diets are processed. That’s why so many pet parents love to add NHV Multi Essentials for just a boost of daily greens from alfalfa, kelp, and more.

They also love to feed their pets fresh, homemade pet food from our Veterinarian Nutrition Plan service. If you are curious about how NHV Multi Essentials, our treats, or the NHV nutrition plans may help make a real difference in the quality of your fur kiddo’s life, feel free to reach out to a Pet Expert using the chat button below.