One of the questions we occasionally receive from pet parents is:
"Why do you include garlic in your recipes?"
It's a great question, and one we're always happy to answer.
At Somerford Raw & Natural, every ingredient we include serves a purpose. We carefully select ingredients not only for their nutritional value but also for how they contribute to your dog's overall wellbeing. Garlic is one of those ingredients that can sometimes spark debate, so we'd like to explain why we've chosen to include it in our complete and balanced recipes.
Garlic Has Been Used in Dog Nutrition for Many Years
Despite some common misconceptions, garlic has been included in commercial pet foods and natural feeding programs for many years.
The confusion often comes from reports of garlic toxicity in dogs. While it is true that very large quantities of garlic can be harmful, the amount matters enormously. The concerns surrounding garlic are generally associated with excessive doses that are far beyond the levels used in properly formulated pet foods.
Like many ingredients, the key is appropriate inclusion rates.
The Amount Matters
In Somerford Raw recipes, garlic makes up less than 1% of the total formulation.
This level is carefully controlled and incorporated as part of a balanced recipe. We formulate our meals with safety and nutritional balance at the forefront of every decision we make.
When used in these small, controlled amounts, garlic is widely considered safe by many pet nutrition professionals and raw feeding advocates.
A Note About Garlic in Our Puppy Ranges
You'll notice that while garlic is included in our Puppy & Adult recipes, it is not included in our Baby Puppy recipes. Our Baby Puppy range is specially formulated for puppies from the moment they begin weaning from their mother's milk, with a focus on simple, nutrient-dense ingredients that support healthy growth and development. As puppies mature and transition to our Puppy and Adult ranges, they are introduced to the wider variety of carefully selected ingredients, including the small amount of garlic used as part of our complete and balanced recipes.
Why Include Garlic at All?
Garlic has long been valued for its naturally occurring compounds and has traditionally been used for its health-supporting properties.
Many natural nutritionists and holistic pet food formulators include garlic because it contributes a range of beneficial plant compounds to the diet. It complements the variety of proteins, organs, vegetables and nutrient-rich ingredients that make up a complete raw feeding approach.
At Somerford, we believe that nutrition is about the whole recipe rather than focusing on a single ingredient in isolation. Garlic is just one small component of a carefully balanced formulation designed to support your dog's overall health and vitality.
Looking at the Whole Diet
One of the things we encourage pet parents to consider is the complete dietary picture.
No ingredient should be judged solely in isolation. Instead, it's important to look at:
- The amount being used
- The overall balance of the formulation
- The quality of the ingredients
- The nutritional goals of the recipe
Just as many foods can become problematic in excessive quantities, garlic is no different. The scientific and practical discussions surrounding garlic often come down to dosage and context.
Our Commitment to Transparency
We understand that every pet parent wants to make informed decisions about what goes into their dog's bowl.
That's why we're always happy to discuss our ingredients and formulations openly. If you ever have questions about any ingredient in our meals, our team is here to help.
Our goal has always been simple:
To create nutritionally balanced raw meals using carefully selected ingredients that help dogs thrive.
Garlic is included as part of that philosophy, in a small, controlled amount and within a complete recipe designed to support overall wellbeing.
Learn More
For those interested in learning more about the discussion surrounding garlic in canine nutrition, this article provides a detailed explanation:
👉 Read the garlic safety article
From Our Family to Yours
At Somerford Raw & Natural, we've spent decades helping Australian dogs thrive on fresh, species-appropriate nutrition. Every ingredient in our recipes is chosen with care, and every formulation is built around the same goal: helping your dog live a healthier, happier life.
If you've ever got a question about what's in your dog's bowl, we'd love to chat. After all, we're dog people too.
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