Kennel Blend Dog Food Reviews? Top Answer Update

The pet food recall widens after the Food and Drug Administration announced more than two dozen dogs have died after eating Sportmix brand dry food.

The statement released Monday said the suspect is aflatoxin, a byproduct of the corn mold Aspergillus flavus, which in high concentrations can kill pets.

The expanded recall covers corn-based dry food made by Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. at one of its Oklahoma plants.

Pet food brands listed under the Sportmix, Pro Pac, Splash, Nunn and Sportstrail labels were affected by the recall, the FDA said, adding that over 70 unconfirmed deaths have been reported in connection with pets eating the foods.

Pets poisoned by dry food contaminated with aflatoxin may be sluggish, have gastrointestinal problems, or develop jaundice, which in dogs manifests as yellowing of the eyes or gums.

However, the FDA warned that some dogs may not show any symptoms even if their liver is damaged.

“Pet owners should stop feeding their pets the recalled products listed below and consult their veterinarian, especially if the pet is showing signs of illness,” the FDA wrote, encouraging consumers who purchased the products to dispose of them safely and all to clean feeding bowls.

“The pet owner should remove the food and ensure that no other animals have access to the recalled product.”

Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. began its recall on Dec. 30 and this week expanded it to include all foods containing corn made at a specific factory, so it now has dozens of types of dog and cat foods across hundreds of lot numbers affected by a recall. with a complete list of products with corresponding images of their packaging appearing on the company’s website.

The FDA said it is working with the Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington state governments on the investigation.

When the quality of pet food was seriously questioned in the famous pet food recall of 2007, many breeders and owners decided to go it alone. Most owners don’t realize the poor quality of the average dog food; even the ones advertised as healthy and high protein or low fat. We now even have ketogenic dog diets for our pets.

Quality ingredients have a high cost and directly impact manufacturers’ margins. They use cheap meat by-products to up the official protein amounts and lots of carbs and fillers to keep costs down. The best way for dog breeders to save money on feeding their dogs is to buy in bulk.

Dog food for pregnant bitches

Finding the best dog food for pregnant pooches is crucial for any dog ​​breeder looking to raise a healthy, furry family ethically. A pregnant bitch as well as a lactating bitch have a higher energy requirement to maintain their own growth but also the healthy growth of each individual pup. It’s exhausting and the mother’s diet needs to be the best ever without shocking her body too much. In general, you want to make gradual changes to your pregnant dog’s diet before or early in pregnancy.

Affordable puppy food

Puppy food basically includes all types of feeds and supplements that are essential for the growth of the newborn puppy. Puppies’ bones, muscles, joints, and overall immune system need extra nutrition to help them grow into healthy, adult dogs.

Breastfeeding a puppy is usually a truly enriching experience that begins with you feeding them the best puppy food you can afford. No need to break the bank; There are many affordable or cheap puppy foods on the market. Make sure they’re high in protein to aid in puppy development – aim for at least 22% protein!

Healthy Dog Food Brands

Dog food brands abound, but rare are the authentically healthy dog ​​food brands that live up to their high and mighty claims. The Association of American Feed Control Officials has very low standards when it comes to dog food labeling.

To help you in your decision-making process about the best healthy dog ​​food brand, we’ve reviewed and compiled a list of brands we trust. To be fair, all brands exaggerate their claims and try to pretend that their kibble is better than the next. It’s fair game, but we just hate it when this little game goes too far.

Bestselling dog food

Admittedly, it’s not because many people buy specific dog food that stands for quality. The brand can run a wonderful great marketing campaign. Or the dog food can be sold with a very low and tempting pricing strategy. However, what’s great about a dog food brand being on a bestseller list is that you know thousands of dog owners who serve it on a daily basis and so far everything is fine.

Dog food comes in a variety of shapes and forms:

It’s hard to figure out which dog food brands to trust and which ones to stay away from. This article provides an overview of the top selling dog foods in the United States.

Homemade dog food

Preparing your dog’s meals at home is cheaper, healthier and really creates an extra bond with your dog! By knowing exactly what you are feeding your dog, you have better control over the amount and quality of your dog’s food. You can change the recipe regularly or offer the same thing every day, it’s up to you!

Since dogs aren’t picky eaters, you don’t even need to be a great cook to pull this off! Some meat, some veggies, some carbs and you’re pretty much done.

We always recommend buying the best quality you can afford, but you can save money by buying offal, for example. Offals are nutritious and cheap, your butcher will love them! Try some tasty dog ​​recipes and give your dogs the treats and meals they really deserve!

Low-fat dog food

A gram of fat provides 9 calories, while a gram of protein or carbohydrate provides 4 calories; It makes sense to reduce fat intake when controlling a dog’s weight. Low-fat dog food is very common these days, with most vets recommending it when a dog is a little overweight.

Fatty acids and dietary fat have been demonized for the last few decades and only now is science backing down – carbs may be a bigger problem than fat, but mathematically speaking, cutting out fat will save you twice as many calories as cutting out yours would reduce carbohydrates instead. So yes, mathematically it makes sense to cut out carbs and feed your dog low-fat dog food, but from a health standpoint it may be wiser to go with grain-free dog food.

Ketogenic diet for dogs

The ketogenic diet for dogs has a very simple macronutrient breakdown: 70% fat, 20% protein, and 10% carbohydrates. The idea behind this particular diet is to partially mimic what dogs would eat in the wild – with an emphasis on the fatty acids. In fact, most wolves eat very little carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, grains) so it makes perfect sense to limit these in a tailored diet.

But even very active dogs can benefit from carbohydrates. In fact, dogs use carbohydrates for fuel to increase their energy levels during exercise (e.g. weight lifting, sledding, etc.).

Grain free dog food

Pet food brands have used cheap carbohydrates and grains as inexpensive bulking agents for too long; You have betrayed us, the consumers. In recent years, grain-free dog food has taken the dog world by storm.

Quite simply, grain-free dog food removes all grain-based ingredients from their recipe. A grain-free diet for dogs aims to conform more closely to what dogs would have eaten before humans intervened and began mass producing the kind of dog food we are now so used to having piled on our shelves . By eliminating grains, a grain-free diet attempts to add more meat protein and digestible animal fats to your dog’s diet compared to conventional dog food.

Grain-free doesn’t mean carb-free: These carbs usually come from starchy vegetables and roots like sweet potatoes. It’s a much healthier alternative, but such kibbles are still highly processed. Still need some convincing? Read our list of the top benefits of grain-free dog food.

Biologically appropriate raw feeding

Dry and canned food are very attractive to most dog breeders and the reasons for this are easy to fathom. They’re simple, clean and it’s what everyone else does, so why adopt any other diet for your dog?

BARF, or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, mimics the diets of wild dogs, wolves and other carnivores. For example, a wolf obtains all of the vital nutrients such as protein, fat, minerals, vitamins, enzymes and fiber by eating a whole animal. In addition to prey, the wolf also eats fruits, herbs, berries, grasses, roots, insects and also the insides of herbivores.

Make a change and your dog’s health will prove you made the right decision.

booty diet

The canine prey diet mimics the dietary regime of the wolf’s ancestors. The wolf hunted and ate different kinds of meat, organs and bones. Variety is the be-all and end-all for our dogs.

Feed the different staples you can find; usually chicken, pork, duck, beef, turkey and fish. Of course, you may prefer to feed moose, deer, rabbit, quail, bison, or local meats that are easy and inexpensive to access.

The main priority is to prepare ahead of time to know your dog’s needs in terms of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Then, become familiar with the meats you’re using to provide your dog with the right mix of muscle meat, organs, and bones for a happier, healthier life.

A great website on this subject is preymodelraw.com.

Best Diet for Pitbulls

If you own a bully dog, you need to know that they have different requirements than just about every other breed of dog out there. The best dog food for pit bulls is one that provides enough protein to build the dog’s muscle mass, but also enough fatty acids to improve brain function and overall health.

Carbohydrates, on the other hand, should be given to dogs and pit bulls much more cautiously, since they don’t provide more than fats and proteins do anyway. Carbs are very cheap to mass produce. Because of this, their use in manufactured dog food has exploded in the last few decades. However, they do not promote any health benefit – quite the opposite!

We recommend 50% proteins from red meat, poultry and offal; 30% healthy fats from oily fish, eggs, olive and fish oils; and 20% complex carbohydrates from unprocessed vegetables.

Best dog food for Labradors

If you own or breed Labradors, be sure to check out our list of the best dog foods for Labradors. They have been carefully selected to meet the nutritional needs of the Labrador breed as best as possible. Labs are very active and alert dogs and will usually be fed whatever is available. And this is where things go wrong.

The lifespan of the Labrador breed has declined sharply over the past few decades. We believe that the main cause of such a decline is the Labradors’ diet. In general, such active dogs require higher levels of protein to maintain and build muscle mass, as well as healthy fats (omega 3 and omega 6 in the right ratio) to ensure the dog’s endocrine system and brain functions are functioning properly.

Avoid high-carb dog food that simply uses cheap ingredients to make the food simply high in calories but low in nutrients.

Vegan dog food

Nowadays, the vegan diet is very common for us humans. It was only a matter of time before vegan dog owners started designing vegan diets for dogs so the whole family could transition to a no-animal eating habit.

The whole search for the best vegan dog food started with the poor quality of the various meats and meat by-products used in commercial dog food these days. It’s just a logical conclusion – if the meat used in most dog food today isn’t nutritious at all, then let’s just ditch it altogether and start feeding our dogs and puppies vegan.

Holistic dog food

In the 1980s, consumers became more educated about their own diets and started reading the labels on dog food as well. Some pet food manufacturers began removing chemicals from their products, creating the holistic trend we know today. It’s come a long way since then.

Brands began using meat sources that were sustainable and human-grade, with no trimmings or by-products. Holistic generally means treating something from the inside out.

Choosing the best dog food brands isn’t easy, and here’s why: It depends on what type of dog food you’re looking for.

As someone who has been researching this for years, I would first like to quickly introduce you to the proper way to select the best dog food for your particular dog.

If you are not sure, I recommend reading on.

As someone who has worked in the pet food industry, researched, and written for years about the best dog food, my number one concern is for pet owners to understand what top dog food brands do best for their specific dog.

To make things easier for you, I’ve sifted through hundreds of the best dog food brands, analyzed them and their reviews, and selected the best dog food brands of 2021 based on their ingredients, dog food recalls, company reputation, and several other factors.

Even so, I strongly encourage you to do your research to choose the best dog food for your own Fido.

Choosing the best dog food based on type

We will discuss all of this further in the article. Here is a short summary.

Consider what type of dog food you will be feeding your dog:

Dry dog ​​food, croquettes, etc

Canned wet dog food

Freeze-dried, dehydrated dog food.

Now you can choose two types of dog food:

Balanced dog food

Grain free dog food.

Finally, the age of your dog is also important:

Do you feed a puppy?

Is your pet an adult dog?

Or do you have an older dog?

Here are the top five dog food brands that we’ll cover later in this article (among others):

What is the best dog food brand?

So are these the absolute best dog food brands for our pets?

That does not exist. The correct answer is, it depends.

Anyone (and I mean tons of other dog food review and rating sites on the internet) who tells you otherwise is lying.

With so many variables to consider, it’s impossible to pick the absolute best dog food brands that would be the optimal choice for all dogs.

Instead, you must consider (a) your personal situation, (b) several dog food criteria, and (c) several organizational requirements.

Here’s the formula I recommend (more on that below):

Personalize + Critical Rating + Requirements = Best Dog Food

I mentioned above how to choose the best dog food for your particular dog. Now you also have to consider some criteria for good quality dog ​​food (for a critical evaluation) which I will mention below.

The final ranking factors derive from the FDA’s Pet Food Guidelines and AAFCO requirements, using evidence from research and rational advice from veterinarians and nutritionists in the final step.

How to choose top dog food brands

Knowing how to choose dog food is essential.

There are countless criteria to consider in order to select the absolute best dry food brand in each category (hence my ongoing research on this, even after years of working, reading and studying the pet food industry). The truth is, finding top-quality dog ​​food brands isn’t that easy.

But according to research, canine nutritionists, and veterinarians, ten factors will help you determine the best brand of dog food for your dog (ranked in order of importance, most to least).

Your ideal dog food:

It does not contain any suspicious or controversial ingredients. It contains no chemical and/or artificial preservatives. It contains no artificial flavors or colors. It contains no unknown or anonymous ingredients. It contains no putrid ingredients and generic animal fats Has a fat to protein ratio of 60-80% (or less) Is high in protein and a quality source of protein Has moderate to low levels of carbohydrates and grains Has the most AAFCO and O.G Requirements met Has disclosure of manufacturing location and ingredient sources

While some other criteria can and should be considered, the above ten tend to yield a handful of top dog food brands that are good quality and safe for dogs.

Note that some of the top-rated dog food brands don’t meet all criteria, such as having a different protein-to-fat ratio (but otherwise doing pretty well).

You can easily take the list above and try to find the best dog food brand yourself without my help.

But if you’re looking for a selection of top dog food brands in one place, after doing hundreds of dog food reviews I’ve managed to put together a list of fifteen top dog food brands which you can find below.

For more information on choosing the best dog food brand and how to go about it, read on.

I have used links to Amazon to see more information about the brand on their product page and to read other pet owners’ dog food reviews, which I strongly encourage.

These are the best dog foods for adult dogs; You can find the best puppy food rankings.

15 top dog food brands in 2021

(Best Dry Dog Food)

This list of top dog food brands includes only varieties of dry dog ​​food (grain-free and balanced).

For these dog food reviews and ratings, we used adult dog food recipes/formula. If you are feeding a puppy or senior dog simply select their puppy/senior formula as they rank closely in the rating.

1Merrick Chicken and Sweet Potato Recipe

by Merrick

Valuation:

: Grain-free: $2.16 per pound

Find it on Amazon ($47.99)

Find it on Chewy ($47.99)

dry matter content:

Protein: 43%

Fat: 19%

Carbohydrates: 30%

Fiber: 3.9%

Calories: 381 kcal/cup

Description: Merrick Grain Free dog food ranks high on the list of top dog food brands because it meets most of our ranking criteria, with quality ingredients and little to no controversial items on the list.

Depending on the formula chosen, the first ingredient is always a real source of protein (chicken, lamb, duck, buffalo, etc.). Some healthy additives like a balance of omega-3s and omega-6s with added glucosamine and chondroitin make this a decent choice.

Merrick dog food reviews: read what dog owners are saying on Amazon

2 Diversity instinct of nature

of nature’s diversity

Valuation:

: Grain-free: $2.17 per pound

Find it on Amazon ($59.99)

Find it on Chewy ($59.99)

dry matter content:

Protein: 39%

Fat: 22%

Carbohydrates: 31%

Fiber: 3.9%

Calories: 499 kcal/cup

Description: Nature’s Variety Instinct Grain-Free Dog Food Formula is another quality brand that’s a popular choice with pet owners who know the importance of using different criteria when reviewing their leading dog food brands.

The company is known for producing high-quality pet food that always contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals and never artificial preservatives, colors or flavors.

The high protein and ultra-low carb ratio makes this a perfect grain-free choice.

Nature’s Variety dog ​​food reviews: read what dog owners are saying on Amazon

3Flavour of the Wild High Prairie Canine

by Taste of the Wild

Valuation:

: Grain-free: $1.86 per pound

Find it on Amazon ($48.99)

Find it on Chewy ($48.99)

dry matter content:

Protein: 32%

Fat: 17%

Carbohydrates: 43%

Fiber: 5.6%

Calories: 370 kcal/cup

Description: Taste of the Wild dry dog ​​food is arguably the most popular top dog food brand on the market today.

They use a simple formula that follows closely (but not too extreme) the diets of dogs’ ancestors, and prioritize recipes that are high in protein and extremely low in carbohydrates.

Their bison and venison formula is the most well-known, which includes a high-quality protein source as the first ingredient, with the rest of the diet supplemented with low-calorie, healthy additions like vegetables and fruits.

Taste of the Wild dog food reviews: read what dog owners are saying on Amazon

4Wellness Core naturally grain-free

by WellnessCore

Valuation:

: Grain-free: $2.23 per pound

Find it on Amazon ($67.99)

Find it on Chewy ($67.99)

dry matter content:

Protein: 38%

Fat: 13%

Carbohydrates: 41%

Fiber: 6.7%

Calories: 421 kcal/cup

Description: Wellness Core Natural Grain Free dry dog ​​food is another trendy brand that hasn’t been poisoned by the multinationals gobbling up natural dog food makers who still care about producing quality dog ​​food.

It ranks high on our list of top dog food brands because of its ongoing commitment and promises to be reduced fat, low carb and high in quality protein pet food.

Always made in the USA, this is never a bad choice as long as your dog loves the taste.

Wellness Dog Food Reviews: Read What Dog Owners Are Saying on Amazon

5Canidae Grain Free PURE

from Canidae

Valuation:

: Grain-free: $2.37 per pound

Find it on Amazon ($64.99)

Find it on Chewy ($64.99)

dry matter content:

Protein: 33%

Fat: 13%

Carbohydrates: 45%

Fiber: 4.4%

Calories: 509 kcal/cup

Description: Canidae Grain Free Pure dry dog ​​food has been around for a while but deserves a lot more attention than before.

Like the other top dog food brands I mentioned above, this company follows a very simple formula for making pet food with high quality protein sources, no additives or unnecessary carbohydrate loading, with the addition of essential vitamins and minerals.

Their PURE recipe is particularly good for dogs with sensitive stomachs and is one of the most popular alternatives.

Canidae Dog Food Reviews: Read What Dog Owners Are Saying on Amazon

6Orijen Six Fishes

from Orijen

Valuation:

: Grain-free: $4.70 per pound

Find it on Amazon ($106.99)

Not available on Chewy

dry matter content:

Protein: 42%

Fat: 20%

Carbohydrates: 30%

Fiber: 5.7%

Calories: 449 kcal/cup

Description: Orijen grain-free dry dog ​​food is arguably one of the highest quality foods, but it is also one of the most expensive brands on the market.

It is often ranked as the top choice by veterinarians and canine nutritionists.

The company hasn’t changed much in all its years in the industry, and its recipe is straightforward (read: awesome).

The most popular option is the Six Fish recipe, which is formulated to be biologically suitable for dogs, but at a price not every dog ​​owner can afford.

Orijen dog food reviews: read what dog owners are saying on Amazon

7Castor and Pollux Organix

by Castor & Pollux

Valuation:

: Balanced: $2.08 per pound

Find it on Amazon ($73.67)

Find it on Chewy ($73.67)

dry matter content:

Protein: 30%

Fat: 16%

Carbohydrates: 46%

Fiber: 5.6%

Calories: 383 kcal/cup

Description: Castor & Pollux Organix dry dog ​​food is one of the few top organic dog food brands among the popular, reputable companies that can still boast of high quality.

Their main ingredient is usually real chicken, followed by brown rice and the addition of flaxseed oil and other minerals, which is the most popular option in their line.

They are not grain free. So if your dog doesn’t mind a few extra carbs, this American-made brand of organic dog food is by far the best dog food of the non-grain-free variety.

Castor & Pollux Organix dog food reviews: read what dog owners are saying on Amazon

8Iams Proactive Health Adult Minichunks dry dog ​​food

by IAMS

Valuation:

: Balanced: $1.12 per pound

Find it on Amazon ($31.64)

Find it on Chewy ($31.64)

dry matter content:

Protein: 28%

Fat: 18%

Carbohydrates: 46%

Fiber: 4.4%

Calories: 485 kcal/cup

Description: Iams Grain Free Healthy Naturals dry dog ​​food is quickly climbing the rankings and joining other popular top dog food brands and their companies as more pet owners choose Dodos.

You can find either grain-free or non-grain-free formulas, and they have an excellent protein to fat to carb ratio. Some of their popular formulas contain a rich blend of essential minerals and vitamins for dogs.

The company prides itself on never including wheat, soy, or meat by-products (a popular option for many others) in its recipes.

Iams dog food reviews: read what dog owners are saying on Amazon

9Horizon Legacy

from horizon

Valuation:

: Grain-free: $2.80 per pound

Find it on Amazon ($64.99)

Find it on Chewy ($64.99)

dry matter content:

Protein: 38%

Fat: 17%

Carbohydrates: 38%

Fiber: 3.9%

Calories: 420 kcal/cup

Description: Horizon Legacy dog ​​food is one of the least popular top dog food brands on this list, and it’s very unfortunate.

Her salmon recipe in particular is made with extremely ultra-healthy and natural ingredients, 80% of which is simply high-quality salmon (this is very rare in most dry dog ​​foods).

This is a non-grain-free formula, but the small amount of carbohydrates it contains provides all the necessary nutrients for the dog without useless fillings.

The reason it’s not as popular as other dog foods is because of its price.

Horizon Legacy Dog Food Reviews: Read What Dog Owners Are Saying on Amazon

10Victor Active Dog & Puppy

by Victor dog food

Valuation:

: Grain-free: $2.23 per pound

Find it on Amazon ($47.82)

Find it on Chewy ($47.82)

dry matter content:

Protein: 36%

Fat: 18%

Carbohydrates: 38%

Fiber: 4.2%

Calories: 397 kcal/cup

Description: Victor Dog Food Grain Free dry dog ​​food is not yet popular with pet owners.

The company wasn’t as well known as some of the famous top dog food brands mentioned above, but its commitment to producing quality dog ​​food is already noticeable.

This formula specifically includes three protein sources as its main ingredients – beef, chicken and pork – with minimal carbohydrate loading.

The rest of the food is supplemented with everything else dogs need: omega-3 and omega-6, vitamins and minerals.

Victor dog food reviews: read what dog owners are saying on Amazon

11Bully Max high performance super premium

by Bully Max

Valuation:

: Balanced: $3.20 per pound

Find it on Amazon ($49.99)

Not available on Chewy

dry matter content:

Protein: 33%

Fat: 22%

Carbohydrates: 37%

Fiber: 4.2%

Calories: 535 per cup

Description: Bully Max High-Performance Dog Food is the latest addition to everyone to make the list of top dog food brands.

Whilst we are still monitoring them to see how they continue to evolve as the company grows, to date they have produced high quality, high performance dog food typically marketed for pit bulls (although there is no reason other dog breeds can’t use this) . .

This best dry dog ​​food contains no wheat, soy, corn and is mostly meat based. It is a high calorie dog food that is perfect for weight loss in dogs.

Video analysis: Bully Max dog food review

Bully Max dog food reviews: read what dog owners are saying on Amazon

12 Pinnacle Bread Hibbles

by Pinnacle

Valuation:

: Grain-free: $4 per pound

Find it on Amazon ($15.99)

Find it on Chewy ($15.99)

dry matter content:

Protein: 47%

Fat: 24%

Carbohydrates: 21%

Fiber: 6.1%

Calories: 373 kcal/cup

Description: Pinnacle Grain Free dog food is another unpopular option among our top dog food brands, and it’s mainly their cat foods that pet owners are familiar with.

Nonetheless, the company makes a great grain-free dog recipe with its key ingredient made from high-quality, natural, real turkey, salmon or duck.

Her recipes also include sweet potato, pumpkin, or quinoa seeds for added nutrition and the necessary vitamins and minerals to complete the formula.

Pinnacle Dog Food Reviews: Read What Dog Owners Are Saying on Amazon

13Crave dry food for adult dogs

by CRAVE

Valuation:

: Grain-free: $5.30 per pound

Find it on Amazon ($42.66)

Find it on Chewy ($42.66)

dry matter content:

Protein: 47%

Fat: 24%

Carbohydrates: 21%

Fiber: 2.8%

Calories: 516 kcal/cup

Description: Crave Grain Free dog food has recently hit the market and they first did so successfully with their canned dog food.

Recipes from one of the top brands of dry dog ​​food will not disappoint – no grains, lack of carbohydrates, high protein and a great protein-to-fat ratio.

More than 80% of their formula typically includes a high-quality protein source, followed by a small number of fruits and vegetables to ensure adequate vitamin and mineral intake.

Crave dog food reviews: read what dog owners are saying on Amazon.

14 Farmina Natural & delicious

by Farmina

Valuation:

: Low-Grain: $6 per pound

Find it on Amazon ($35.99)

Find it on Chewy ($19.56)

dry matter content:

Protein: 41%

Fat: 20%

Carbohydrates: 31%

Fiber: 2.9%

Calories: 436 kcal/cup

Description: Farmina Natural & Delicious Ancestral Grain dry dog ​​food is a popular choice for puppy food in particular, but the adult dog food formula and/or all life stage recipe is just as great.

However, their higher prices prevent the company from becoming more popular with pet owners.

When it comes to ingredients, the company focuses primarily on grain- and gluten-free recipes with a high proportion of natural, high-quality, fresh protein sources and a low proportion of fiber and carbohydrates.

Farmina dog food reviews: read what dog owners are saying on Amazon

15Weruva Caloric Melody

by Weruva

Valuation:

: Balanced: $7.5 per pound

Find it on Amazon ($18.99)

Find it on Chewy ($18.99)

dry matter content:

Protein: 41%

Fat: 15%

Carbohydrates: 36%

Fiber: 5.9%

Calories: 360 kcal/cup

Description: Weruva Caloric Melody dry dog ​​food is another young company that has wormed its way onto the scene and into our list of top dog food brands as one of the best dry dog ​​foods with quality ingredients.

They’re not very well known yet, but if they continue to include grass-fed lamb (extremely rare in dog food) and focus on certified non-GMO ingredients (also rare), they should quickly gain popularity.

The company is very transparent and upfront about sourcing ingredients, but their prices are still very high.

Video: Weruva dog food review

Weruva Caloric Melody reviews: read what dog owners are saying on Amazon

Honorable Mentions: Other frequently recommended top dog food brands

While the above options are the best choices for dry dog ​​food, they are far from the only ones. The following brands are also frequently suggested. If your dog doesn’t love anything on the list above, you can check out these deals.

Blue Buffalo

Diamond Naturals

zignature

The logic of nature

Nulo

dr Tims

Freshpet

Annamaet

The Farm Dog

Nutro

Walk!

Eagle Pack

Rachel Ray Nutrish

Royal Canine

Hill’s Science Diet

Holistic

natural balance

Purina Pro plan

Natural pet only

farms all over the world

Understanding dog nutrition and top dog food brands

When it comes to choosing the best dog food for your specific dog, you ideally want to be able to make your own top dog food brands based on your dog’s age, breed (to a certain extent), health status, and other unique needs choose only you will know about it.

To do this, you need to understand the basics of dog nutrition. Without knowing how to feed your specific dog, no top-notch dog food lists will do you any good.

That makes any dog ​​food reviews, rankings, and analysis like the ones on this list or the reviews from Dog Food Advisor of little use.

I have already mentioned above the criteria that are best to apply when choosing the best dog food brands. Additionally, you can also educate yourself about dog nutrition and use reputable resources.

With this information, you will better understand why some premium dog food brands rank higher or lower.

There is a lot of misinformation out there about dog food.

I have been in the pet food industry for several years now and have been writing about dog food for over a year.

I’ve seen a lot of dog feeding advice and all the top 10 dog food brand rankings.

With so much misleading and false assumptions and blatantly wrong advice floating around the internet, it’s important to use the most accurate, up-to-date information, reputable resources, and well-referenced data when choosing the best dog food for your pet.

Unfortunately, it is far beyond the scope of this article to delve deeper into understanding premium dog food brands at their core, but I would suggest looking at the research as a first point of reference.

Some studies evaluating the nutritional adequacy of dog food brands:

If you can pay for it, there is another important paper on the subject (behind the paywall) called The Effect of Ingredients in Dry Dog Foods by Malathi Raghavan, DVM, Ph.D., et al. (Google it).

Some good and short guides to understanding dog nutrition and distinguishing top dog food brands from false advertising that will ultimately help you choose your own top dog food brands for your particular dog can be found here and here.

The devil is in the details, so read carefully.

When collecting dog food and choosing top dog food brands, be sure to use only reputable resources.

Government sites may or may not be a good point of reference as I have seen that they sometimes provide incorrect information.

Websites run by university veterinarians are usually my favorite points of reference and veterinary and medical journals from which I have compiled the list of leading dog food brands above.

Just to be clear, in this article we have selected the best brands of dry dog ​​food.

All of the top dog food brands above are market leaders, not because of low price and mass production, but because they invest a lot of resources into formulating appropriate and healthy dog ​​foods for the general canine population.

If dry dog ​​food isn’t what you were looking for, here is a list of other top dog food brands that are more specific to your situation and on a case-by-case basis:

Overall, if you are not after top dry dog ​​food brands, you can find more suitable dog foods in the articles above.

Dry food is the most popular choice among pet owners, so you can likely find the best dog food brand for your dog among the fifteen options I mentioned above.

Alternatively, you can also check out the article on vet recommended dog food brands for some tips from Dr. Debora Shores, DVM.

With all of the above information, you should be able to easily distinguish between inferior dog food and top dog food brands that are best suited for your specific dog at their life stage (age) and condition.

Remember to use your common sense and do more research before choosing top dog food brands as it all depends on your individual dog.

Use my suggested formulas or just seek a second and third opinion.

I firmly believe in collecting and deriving a lot of serious information.

Frequently asked questions about the top dog food brands

If you still have questions about the top dog food brands, or just want more concise answers, check out the FAQs below:

What are the 10 best dog foods?

You can choose any of the best kibble from our list above. Or simply search for products from leading brands such as Orijen, Canidae, Instinct and Wellness.

What is the best dog food recommended by vets?

Some of the best vet recommended options are Purina Pro Plan, Wellness, Orijen, Nutro Ultra and Iams or Eukanuba.

What is the highest quality dog ​​food?

Each of the dog foods on our list are quality options. Merrick is always an excellent choice for quality dog ​​food.

What is the healthiest dog food on the market?

All of our picks for the top dog food brands are healthy choices. Your dog will be fed a healthy, balanced meal with foods from Merrick, Canidae, Wellness or any other brand on our list.

What Dog Food Kills Dogs?

You should always be on the lookout for possible dog food recalls. The most recent recall involved Sportmix dry food. It has been linked to more than two dozen dog deaths.

READ MORE: 16 things you didn’t know about prescription dog food

Disclosure: The links on this page may allow us to earn affiliate commissions at no cost to you. This did not affect our evaluation of the products. Read more here and find the full disclosure here.

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Select is editorially independent. Our editors have selected these offers and items because we think you will enjoy them at these prices. If you buy something through our links, we may receive a commission. Pricing and availability correct at time of publication.

Dogs offer people unconditional love and emotional support, something pet owners could be especially grateful for during the stressful times we’re going through. Providing your dog with a nutritious diet is just one way to show him how much you care for him, in addition to providing him with the right dog bed, toys to play with, and the occasional dog treat. Put simply, dogs deserve to eat well – in fact, “food appropriate” ranks fourth in the American Veterinary Medical Association’s guidelines for responsible pet ownership.

SKIP How to shop for dog food

Pursuing the best food for dogs also offers them clear health benefits, said Jennifer Freeman, DVM, resident veterinarian and pet care expert at PetSmart. “Premium dog food has meat for protein, vitamin-packed vegetables and fruits, and omega fatty acids for a shiny coat,” Freeman said, adding, “It’s also likely to have fewer fillers like corn, wheat, and soy.”

Another noticeable difference: The best dog food for your best friend can help with better absorption and digestion, and produce dog poo that’s smaller and denser, Freeman explained. (Any dog ​​owner knows this is a big win). The field of high-quality, full-fledged (and often human-grade) options is growing, as is the demand for them. According to the nonprofit American Pet Products Association, people will have spent more than $38 billion on food and treats for their pets by 2020 (up from $36.9 billion in 2019). But what dog food is best for your dog? To compile the best dog foods now, we consulted experts to find out which dog food is the best and some of the best dog food options.

Which dog food is best? Here are some leading options

They revised their formula to include ancient grains like sorghum and millet, but the first two ingredients are buffalo and pork to pack in protein.

If you’re feeding your dog dry food, Morgan recommended adding a topper to expand the range of nutrients you’re feeding him. You can make this at home by adding a boiled egg, canned sardines in water, sautéed dark leafy greens, blueberries, or squash, to name a few. You can also buy freeze-dried raw “toppers,” which are chunks of traditional meat and offal that you mix with their kibble, like this one from Instinct.

The company says that 85 percent of the ingredients in it are of animal origin (the rest are fruits and vegetables). In their original recipe, you’ll find fresh chicken, turkey and cage-free eggs as the first three ingredients, followed by offal and fish.

In Organix, organic chicken is the first ingredient, along with oats and barley for whole grains, and flaxseed and coconut oil for a healthier fat.

This wet canned food contains lamb as the first ingredient, along with chickpeas, flax and sunflower oil.

You will find chicken as the first ingredient. Considering you can see the different foods in it — like cranberries and carrots — you can feel good that your dog is getting a meal full of goodies.

There are several subscribed home delivery services such as The Farmer’s Dog. “I call these TV dinners for dogs,” said Judy Morgan, DVM, a vet who specializes in integrative care. These companies will regularly ship to your home bags of fresh, food-safe food that is specially formulated to meet your dog’s needs. If you’re on a budget and have a large dog, this may not be a cost-effective option for you, but it may be more viable for owners of smaller dogs, she said.

A newcomer to dog food, this dry food features beef as the first ingredient along with a variety of fruits and veggies like squash, blueberries, spinach and carrots.

How to buy the best dog food

One of the most important steps in figuring out the best dog food is the ingredient list, Freeman said, noting that the first three are the most critical. “This will help you determine if the formula is vegetable-based with things like corn and rice or meat-based with chicken, fish or lamb,” Freeman said. Although every dog ​​is different, they generally thrive best on a high-protein, meat-based diet, she added.

Next, analyze what kind of meat is inside. “Look for brands that specifically name the type of meat, like beef, chicken, or lamb,” Morgan said. She found that meat, bone meal, or meat by-products could come from any animal. Similarly, “poultry meal” signals to any bird, she said.

The ingredients will also highlight some of the things you want to avoid. Freeman suggested avoiding dog food that contains: coloring (dogs don’t care what color their food is, she points out), sugar, and lots of salt (which could be used as a preservative), as well as other solvents and preservatives like Propylene Glycol, BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin.

Types of dog food to consider

The field of dog food is broad and so are your options. They have wet dog food and dry dog ​​food, chilled food and fresh subscription options.

Organic dog food

While buzzwords like “natural” aren’t regulated, Freeman noted, there are some solid takeaways you can get with an “organic” label. With this label, your dog food is certified free of antibiotics, synthetic hormones, toxic pesticides and preservatives. And according to the certification, its ingredients cannot be genetically modified, grown in chemical fertilizer, or irradiated.

Dry dog ​​food versus wet or canned dog food

Freeman argued that the amount of water in wet food could make it an unwise investment, and instead recommended opting for dry food. One benefit of dry food (or kibble), she noted, is that the friction of chewing can help keep your dog’s teeth and gums healthy. It’s also less messy. Morgan added that bags of kibble also tend to be cheaper compared to the other options.

Morgan noted, however, that kibble usually contains less meat and often contains some type of grain, legume, or potato. If you opt for kibble, Morgan suggested topping the kibble with some canned food, home-grown meat, or other toppers.

Is grain-free dog food better?

Grain-free formulas are growing in popularity, but there have been concerns of late: The FDA opened an investigation in 2018 to look into a possible link between a grain-free diet and a heart condition in dogs called dilated cardiomyopathy. Existing research is based on a small sample size, can be breed specific and other factors may be at play, Morgan said: “Overall more research needs to be done and unfortunately this has affected a lot of quality dog ​​food.” Consider checking with your vet about the Discuss your dog’s unique nutritional needs before making the leap to grain-free dog food.

While ingredients are important, you really want to determine whether the food contains the nutrients your dog needs to be healthy, and not necessarily whether or not it contains grain, some experts argue. To ensure you are buying quality food, look for the nutritional adequacy statement. You should be able to find the statement – which the FDA considers “one of the most important aspects of a dog or cat food label” – on the back label (in small type). It may take a bit of detective work to find at first, but it will provide plenty of helpful details about the dog food, including profile information about the type and age of dogs it’s best for.

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Grain-free dog food contains no wheat, rice or other grains.

Legumes are usually replaced with grains, which can cause dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

If you leave out grains, dogs can miss out on fiber, fatty acids, and protein.

Dog parents often treat their dogs like family, which means they are provided with the utmost care and a nutritious diet. As a result, fad diets popular with humans can sometimes lead to fad diets for dogs.

For example, gluten-free dog food became popular around the same time that gluten-free diets (for humans) were all the rage, says Rebecca Greenstein, DVM, Veterinary Medical Advisor for Rover.

These fad diets aren’t always good for humans, however, and neither is your pooch—especially if your vet didn’t recommend it.

Here we take a closer look at grain-free dog food and share tips from veterinarians on the benefits and risks.

What is grain free dog food?

Grain-free dog food does not typically contain ingredients such as:

Wheat

barley

rice

Corn

Instead, it typically includes potatoes or legumes like peas or lentils as an alternative carbohydrate source, Greenstein says.

The health risks of grain-free dog food

Although dog parents have good intentions when feeding their dogs a grain-free diet, it can actually be harmful. The FDA has alerted pet owners that there may be an association between grain-free diets and a diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), says Emily Wilson, DVM, a veterinarian at Fuzzy, a pet telemedicine company.

DCM is a disease of the heart muscle that can cause the heart to enlarge, affecting its ability to pump blood properly.

Conditions where DCM can cause heart murmurs

arrhythmias

collapse episodes

exercise intolerance

heart failure

It is believed that the high percentage of legumes in a grain-free diet is responsible for this problem.

“Legumes used to be used in dog food diets as they are a source of plant-based protein. More recently, however, they have been used at a much higher level in certain diets, often referred to as grain-free diets. ‘ says Wilson.

When the FDA examined diets of dogs containing DCM, 93% of the products the dogs ate contained peas or lentils.

However, the FDA is still investigating closely why a grain-free diet puts dogs at higher risk of DCM, says Rebecca Ruch-Gallie, DVM, associate professor of clinical sciences at Colorado State University. But Greenstein says the lack of grains in the diet appears to impair the bioavailability of key nutrients like taurine, which is important for heart muscle health.

The good news, says Ruch-Gallie, is that when grain-free diets were stopped and grains were reintroduced into the diet, researchers found that DCM reversed itself.

Aside from the DCM risk, there are other health downsides to not eating grains. When you eliminate grains from the diet, Ruch-Gallie says your dog is missing:

protein

Essential Amino Acids

fatty acids

fiber

The health benefits of grain-free dog food

Wilson says there is no substantial scientific evidence to support the benefits of feeding your dog a grain-free diet.

The main benefit of grain-free dog food would be if your dog has a direct grain allergy. Then your vet can recommend a grain-free diet.

However, according to Wilson, grain allergies are very rare, and it is more common for food allergies in dogs to be associated with the protein source rather than the grain source.

“Very few pet owners have ever had to avoid grain-containing diets for medical reasons, but there was a perception that grains were kind of a nutritional ‘bad guy’ and eliminating them entirely was the next big thing,” says Greenstein.

Insider snack

Grain-free food can be useful if a dog has a grain allergy and a veterinarian recommends it, but the diet poses serious health risks.

All three vets are not proponents of grain-free diets for dogs and advise discussing specific diet plans with your vet.

“Pet owners should avoid choosing diets arbitrarily or based on human dietary fashions. Your veterinarian is your best and most overlooked resource in helping you determine the safest, most appropriate diet for your fur baby,” says Greenstein.

When dogs were hunter-gatherers, they could snatch eggs from birds’ nests and eat them raw. Nowadays, dogs don’t need to hunt for their own food, but eggs still provide dogs with a good amount of protein. As long as eggs are safe to consume, they make excellent dog treats or supplements.

Are Eggs Good for Dogs?

Eggs are perfectly safe for dogs. Eggs are a great food source for your four-legged friend. They are high in protein, fatty acids, vitamins and fatty acids that help support your dog inside and out.

Remember that eggs are only as good as the chicken they come from. Try feeding your dog eggs that come from free range chickens that are fed an organic diet. If you can get them from a trusted source, that’s ideal. Just like us, chickens are as healthy as what they eat, and healthier chickens lay healthier, more nutritious eggs.

Talk to your veterinarian before feeding your dog eggs. Some dogs with illnesses shouldn’t eat eggs, so always check first. Eating too many eggs can also lead to health issues like obesity, so talk to your vet about the appropriate amount of eggs to feed your beloved dog.

Aside from that, eggs can sometimes be used to relieve an upset stomach.

Eggs shouldn’t be used as your dog’s main meal, but they make a great snack between meals.

How do eggs help dogs?

Eggs provide much-needed minerals and vitamins for dogs. Nutrition includes:

iron

fatty acids

folate

protein

riboflavin

selenium

Vitamin A

Vitamin B12

These nutrients and vitamins support your dog’s skin and coat.

Can I feed my dog ​​raw egg?

Most vets recommend boiling eggs before feeding them to your dog, but some dog owners feed their dogs raw eggs. There are a few concerns about feeding raw eggs to dogs that owners should be aware of:

Salmonella – Dogs are at risk of contracting Salmonella. Owners who feed dogs raw eggs could also be exposed to salmonella. If a dog eats an egg contaminated with salmonella, it can get an infection called salmonellosis. Symptoms of salmonellosis include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy.

Biotin Deficiency – Feeding raw eggs can lead to biotin deficiency because egg whites contain avidin, an enzyme that prevents biotin from being absorbed into the body. Biotin is a vitamin that supports healthy skin, metabolism, cells and digestion. Biotin deficiency is rare in dogs, but it can happen.

Bacteria – When eggs go bad, they can develop bacteria that can harm your pup.

It’s also possible that your dog is allergic to eggs. Watch your dog for symptoms of an allergic reaction, including sneezing, swelling, hives, difficulty breathing, lethargy, or coughing.

If you plan on feeding your pup raw eggs, talk to your vet first.

What to do if your dog eats raw egg

If your dog eats raw egg, monitor him for problematic symptoms, including symptoms of salmonellosis. It’s also a good idea to talk to your veterinarian and take them along for a test, just in case.

Can dogs eat eggshells? Are Eggshells Nutritious for Dogs?

You can technically feed your dog eggshells, but only if your vet thinks it’s a good idea.

Egg shells contain calcium, which some dogs need to supplement in their diet. However, there are easier ways to get your dog more calcium, and eggshells aren’t the tastiest option. Also, eggshells have sharp edges.

Egg shells can help older arthritic dogs. According to a 2016 study, eggshell membranes significantly reduced joint pain and improved joint function in 51 dogs with a range of joint problems.

How to feed your dog eggs

Eggs should be boiled before giving them to a dog. Boil or boil eggs without oil, butter, salt, spices or other additives. It doesn’t matter how your dog likes his eggs — sunny side up, scrambled, or hard-boiled — as long as they’re cooked. There are several ways to incorporate eggs into your dog’s diet, from the occasional bite of hard-boiled eggs to sprinkling scrambled eggs on dog food.

Start by feeding your dog just one egg. Watch for signs of gastrointestinal distress such as diarrhea or vomiting. As long as they don’t show any digestive symptoms, you shouldn’t have a problem feeding them eggs.

Eggs cannot be your dog’s only source of protein, as dog food contains other much-needed nutrients for every dog. Additionally, because eggs are packed with protein, if your dog eats too much of it, it can lead to weight gain from eating too many calories.

In general, dogs should not eat more than one egg per day. It’s best to get your eggs from an organic farmer so they haven’t been chemically treated.

You should treat eggs like a treat for your dog. If you treat your dog to a boiled egg every now and then, it is completely safe and provides a special surprise that your dog will enjoy.

Should you feed your pet grain-free?

from Dr. Noelle Weeks, veterinarian, Veterinary Resource Center

There are many dog ​​and cat foods that are sold as grain-free, with marketing suggesting that feeding grain-free is healthier. This is not true and can actually cause illness in some dogs and cats. There is no medical or physiological basis for feeding dogs or cats grain-free.

If a dog or cat has a particular food allergy, there may be a medical reason to limit the carbohydrate source, which some animals can be accomplished by feeding them a grain-free diet. The grain-free fad began as a result of an anti-corn concern. There was concern that some dogs with food allergies would react to corn in dog food, so it was removed as a carbohydrate source. The carbohydrate source was replaced by tubers (potatoes and sweet potatoes) and legumes (peas and lentils); These foods were labeled as “grain-free.” The anti-corn sentiment is baseless and actually a myth. Grains in pet foods can be corn, soybean, wheat, rice, barley, or other grains. While some dogs or cats can develop food allergies to these sources, the majority of pets get along fine with grains. After all, many cats and dogs eat grass; grass is a grain. The grain-free foods contain peas, lentils, other legumes or potatoes as a carbohydrate source.

In 2017, veterinarians saw a specific type of heart disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, in dog breeds that are not prone to this type of heart disease. Dilated cardiomyopathy is a heart condition in which the heart expands. When the heart muscle expands, it becomes a very ineffective pump, preventing blood from circulating well throughout the body. This disease, called DCM, can be deadly by causing heart failure.

There are certain dog breeds that are genetically prone to developing DCM. However, as of 2017, DCM was diagnosed in dogs with no known genetic susceptibility AND ate grain-free food. Veterinary medicine has recognized that some dogs that eat grain-free foods develop heart disease due to dilated cardiomyopathy. There have even been some reports of cats developing DCM while being fed grain-free food. In 2019, the FDA issued a report on dogs diagnosed with DCM that ate a grain-free diet. Research has shown that some DCM in pets is due to a lack of taurine from the grain-free diet, but other pets have developed dilated cardiomyopathy for other reasons, which may include protein or thiamine deficiencies, toxins, or heavy metals in the diet.

If you are interested in learning more about the link between a grain-free diet and dilated cardiomyopathy, please visit: https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain -diets-and-dilated-cardiomyopathy-dog#top

⚠ Important recall information is shown below.

For years, Ol’ Roy was the best-selling dog food in the United States. And it hasn’t just edged out its competitors — it’s outperformed them by a solid 20%.

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Where did Ol’ Roy come from? And why does it still dominate the pet food market? We will talk about that below. We’re also sharing updates on every single Ol’ Roy recall since this dog food first hit stores in 1981.

Ol’ Roy Quick Facts brand line includes: Ol’ Roy Complete Nutrition, Ol’ Roy High Protein, Ol’ Roy Puppy Complete, Ol’ Roy Cuts in Gravy, Ol’ Roy Meaty Loaf, Ol’ Roy Bright Bones, Ol’ Roy Munchy Bones , Ol’ Roy Soft & Moist, Ol’ Roy Bark’n Bac’n Dog Treats, Ol’ Roy Puppy Mini Morsels, Ol’ Roy Rawwhite Chews, Ol’ Roy Porkhide Rolls, Ol’ Roy Jerky Sticks, Ol’ Roy Natural Marrowbone Slices , Ol’ Roy Dog Biscuits

Cost: $

Company: Walmart Stores Inc.

Headquarters: 702 SW 8th St., Bentonville, AR 72716

Contact Information: 1-800-925-6278, Website (Chat Feature)

Story of Ol’ Roy

Ol’ Roy was named after Sam Walton’s bird dog. If Walton’s name sounds familiar, it’s because he was the founder of Walmart, the world’s leading retail company.

But stop! Despite what you may have heard about the myth of this dog, there really wasn’t an Ol’ Roy – according to one of Sam Walton’s hunting friends, there were several such dogs.

“He had several dogs named Ol’ Roy. If an Ol’ Roy died, he would name another dog Ol’ Roy. Sam loved quail hunting and we’ve had some great hunts in South Texas, but his dogs were no more spoiled than he was,” billionaire businessman Drayton McLane said in a 2011 interview with the Dallas Morning News.

When did Ol’ Roy first appear? 1981

Many Ol’ Roy customers have no idea that their dog food is private label, only sold at Walmart.

Seeing an opportunity for a pure Walmart dog food, Sam Walton hired the Doane Pet Care Company to manufacture a product that matched the quality of other foods on the market. He wanted a dry dog ​​food that was just as good as other brands for pennies less.

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“How could Walmart create a private label that matches or exceeds comparable national brands in quality while undercutting the price? The answer was simple: there would be no marketing budget, no TV ads, no newsletters,” explains the book Walmart: Key Insights and Practical Lessons From the World’s Largest Retailer.

Ol’ Roy dog ​​food made its debut in 1981, and being “only available at Walmart” was definitely not a disadvantage.

The results were probably better than Walton’s wildest dreams: “Walmart’s scale, combined with its focus on quality and price, enabled Ol’ Roy to surpass Purina and become the top-selling dog food brand in the United States.”

Ol’ Roy and Walmart: A deeply successful pairing

The growth of the Ol’ Roy brand has been tied to Walmart’s carts from the start. And the dog food kept up with the legendary rise of Walmart. Indeed, Ol’ Roy was a key building block in Walmart’s rising star.

Another factor that propelled Ol’ Roy to the forefront of the market was increasing consumer confidence in generic drugs. Market research shows that between 1997 and 2002 shoppers increased their private label purchases by 38%.

“Private label [pet food] has come a long way,” said Colette Dahl, a private label manager, in 2009. “The average consumer is not always aware that a particular brand is private label.”

Production then and now

Executives at the Doane Pet Care Company must have felt like they had won the lottery when Walmart gave them the green light to start manufacturing its brand new line of dog food, Ol’ Roy, in 1981.

Based in Brentwood, Tennessee, Doane would become the largest producer of private label pet food and the second largest producer of dry pet food in the United States overall. It produced pet food for a number of national brands as well as around 175 own brands.

Private labels in its portfolio included Walmart’s trademarks: Ol’ Roy dog ​​food and Special Kitty cat food. In fact, Walmart was Doane’s largest customer, accounting for about two-thirds of Doane’s revenue.

This kind of deal was too good for the corporate giants to overlook. And in 2006, Doane’s US business was acquired by Mars Inc., Pedigree’s parent company.

Mars quickly moved to shut down many of Doane’s 20 plants — moves that, according to a report in Private Label Buyer magazine, sent industry shockwaves describing “significant supply disruptions as [retail chains like Walmart] struggled to to find a new “private label vendor” to manufacture their private label pet food.

“We’ve never seen anything like it,” one private label supplier told the magazine. The source “wondered if the closures were actually an attempt by Mars to protect its national branding business from a perceived private label threat.”

After Mars acquired Doane, Ol’ Roy was manufactured for Walmart by Mars Petcare US, the pet supplies division of Del Monte Foods, Simmons Pet Food Inc., and Sunshine Mills Inc., depending on the product.

In 2014, following the sale of all of Del Monte Foods’ People Food assets, Del Monte’s pet division was given a new name: Big Heart Pet Brands. Just one year later, the J.M. Smucker Company acquired all of Big Heart’s properties in a $5.8 billion deal.

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Which brings us to today. Ol’ Roy appears today from J.M. Smucker and its subsidiary Big Heart Pet Brands.

Realize cost savings by doing without advertising

Instead of paying for exorbitantly expensive TV and glossy magazine ads, Walmart markets Ol’ Roy by making visually stunning pyramids out of its own packaged dog food.

The bags’ bright red labels combine to form attention-grabbing monoliths that are hard to miss. The hurried or absent-minded buyer often loads up on Ol’ Roy just because it’s so prominent there.

At the same time, this marketing strategy costs Walmart no more than what it costs to put products on the shelf anyway. So the 15-20% of profits that other brands spend on marketing still constitutes a discount on the product that Walmart’s price-conscious shoppers can’t ignore.

In the early 1980s, you could find 15-ounce cans of Ol’ Roy dog ​​food in Walmart stores for as little as 17 cents a piece, or you could buy a 25-pound bag of the dry stuff for about $4.

Over the past decade, Ol’ Roy has lost its enviable lion’s share of the dog food market. According to a study published in 2019, Purina and Pedigree have ousted generic brands from the top.

The same research shows that generic dog food only accounted for about 15% of dog food sales in recent years.

Has Ol’ Roy ever been recalled?

Yes. Independent testing in February 2018 by a television news investigative team reportedly showed traces of sodium pentobarbital — often used as a euthanasia drug — in Gravy Train samples. Pentobarbital can be deadly when consumed by dogs or cats.

As a result of this investigation, the J.M. Smucker Company is recalling several flavors of Ol’ Roy, Gravy Train, Kibbles ‘n Bits and Skippy canned dog food. It wasn’t the first time pentobarbital had popped up alongside mentions of Ol’ Roy. More on that soon…

A recall in October 2008 was expanded a few weeks later. The manufacturer, Mars Petcare US, had been alerted to a possible Salmonella contamination of dry pet food products, which included certain packages of Ol’ Roy dry dog ​​food manufactured at a Mars Petcare facility in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The previous month, September 2008, Ol’ Roy dry dog ​​food was also recalled for the same reason: possible Salmonella contamination. This recall also affected many other brands of dog and cat food — such as Pedigree, Special Kitty, PMI Nutrition, Red Flannel, Members Mark and Retriever — all of which were manufactured at Mars Petcare’s Everson, Pennsylvania manufacturing facility.

In June 2007, a single batch of 55 pound bags from Ol’ Roy Complete Nutrition was recalled for the same reason: possible Salmonella contamination. However, this dog food was made at the Doane Pet Care facility in Manassas, Virginia. Other Ol’Roy products were not affected. The recalled groceries had been distributed to Walmart locations in Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

In March 2007, as part of the larger Menu Foods/melamine recall that shocked the country, several sizes and varieties of Ol’ Roy dog ​​food and treats were recalled due to possible melamine contamination.

In June 2006, certain Ol’ Roy canned dog food products were recalled due to delamination of the liner in the cans. According to manufacturer Simmons Pet Food, there was “accidental chipping” from the inner lining of the cans. Simmons said the incidence of chipping is extremely low, affecting less than 0.1% of cans, but the company still believes it is “in the best interest of our customers to voluntarily withdraw this product from the market.”

Finally, in November 1998, there was a major recall from Ol’ Roy following reports of pet illnesses and the deaths of “around 25 dogs”. The food was thought to be contaminated with aflatoxin, a toxic byproduct of a mold that attacks corn under certain temperature and humidity conditions. Drought, insect damage to crops, and improper storage and handling can increase the risk of contamination.

The recall affected at least 17 brand names of dry dog ​​food manufactured by Doane Pet Care at its Temple, Texas facility between July 1 and August 31, 1998 – including Country Acres, Dura Life, Exceed, Feedin Time , Golden Boy, Grand Paw, Hill Country, Maxximum Performance, Ol’ Roy, PMI Nutrition, Remarkable Menu, Retriever, Slick, Sportsman Choice, Wendland, Winchester and Winner. Corn was the main ingredient in the food.

In all, nearly 1.4 million bags of dog food that had been distributed to Texas and Louisiana were recalled. Doane Pet Care incurred $3 million in costs as a result of the recall.

“We sincerely apologize if any of the products we manufacture contributed in any way to the death of a family pet,” said Douglass J. Cahill, then-CEO of Doane. He noted that the company had launched its own “round-the-clock investigation” “since the first indication of the problem.”

Full details of all Ol’ Roy dog ​​food recalls are below.

2002 pentobarbital study

In 2002, the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) published the results of its investigation into the presence of pentobarbital in popular dog food. This euthanasia drug found its way into dog food via euthanized, rendered cattle and horses.

“Rendered out” means that some of the meat ingredients resulted from the process of by-products and other materials being cooked together and then centrifuged. Applied ingredients may include animal digests, animal fat, beef and bone meal, beef tallow, and meat and bone meal.

A previous study (by the University of Minnesota in 1995) had already shown that pentobarbital survived the reprocessing process with virtually no damage. In other words, high temperature cooking does not destroy it.

CVM scientists analyzed non-representative samples from dozens of dog foods purchased at retail stores in 1998 and 2000. Brands that tested positive for the presence of pentobarbital included Ol’ Roy, Dad’s, Purina Pro Plan, Nutro, Kibbles ‘n Bits, and Gravy Train. Yes, all of these brands contained some amount of pentobarbital, a deadly drug.

However, according to the CVM, its researchers concluded that “the low levels of exposure to pentobarbital that dogs may receive through pet food [were] unlikely to cause adverse health effects.” The center also stressed that dog or cat DNA was “completely absent” from the samples – meaning that contrary to decades-old horrific rumors and myths, no euthanized dogs or cats were transferred to the pet food.

Laboratory results released after the CVM investigation was completed in 2002 showed that samples from Ol’Roy, along with several other dog food brands, tested positive for the presence of pentobarbital – but not at levels thought to be harmful to dogs . Here are the strains that tested positive:

Ol’Roy Krunchy Bites & Bones

Ol’ Roy Premium Formula with Chicken Egg White and Rice

Ol’ Roy High Performance with chicken egg white and rice

Ol’Roy Meaty Chunks and Gravy

Ol’ Roy Puppy Formula Beef Flavour

Ol’ Roy Puppy Formula Chicken and Rice

Ol’ Roy Lean Formula

Understand that these 2002 test results simply reflect “a snapshot” as the CVM describes it. The research took place many years ago and pet food formulations have certainly changed since then. Therefore, “the data cannot be used to make any inferences about dog food made and sold in the United States today,” says the CVM.

You can see the full test results here, including results for other brands like Alpo, Pedigree, Purina, Nature’s Recipe and Hill’s Science Diet. About half of the dog foods tested contained small amounts of pentobarbital.

List of Ol’ Roy dog ​​food recalls

February 2018

Cause: Potential for low pentobarbital levels. Announcement: FDA announcement dated February 16, 2018 and updated March 2, 2018 (archived here). What was recalled: The following Ol’ Roy dog ​​food was manufactured from 2016 to February 16, 2018:

Ol’ Roy Strips Turkey Bacon, 13.2 oz. Can, UPC# 8113117570

October/November 2008

Cause: salmonella potential. Announcement: Company announcement of Nov. 25, 2008 (archived here); expanded from a previous FDA report dated October 27, 2008. What was recalled: The following Ol’ Roy dry dog ​​food with expiration dates between August 11 and October 3, 2009 and manufactured in Allentown, Pennsylvania (designated “50 “ as the first 2 digits in the coding line directly below the best-before date):

Ol’ Roy Complete Nutrition Premium Dog Food, 4 lb., UPC No. 8113117550

Ol’ Roy Complete Nutrition Premium Dog Food, 4.4 lb., UPC # 8113169377

Ol’ Roy Complete Nutrition Premium Dog Food, 8 lb., UPC # 0538867144

Ol’ Roy Complete Nutrition Premium Dog Food, 20 lb., UPC No. 8113117549

Ol’ Roy Complete Nutrition Premium Dog Food, 22 lb., UPC No. 0538860342

Ol’ Roy Complete Nutrition Premium Dog Food, 44.1 lb., UPC # 8113117551

Ol’ Roy Complete Nutrition Premium Dog Food, 50 lb., UPC No. 7874201022

Ol’ Roy Puppy Complete Premium Dog Food, 4 lb., UPC #8113179078

Ol’ Roy Puppy Complete Premium Dog Food, 20 lb., UPC #8113179080

Ol’ Roy High Performance Nutrition Premium Dog Food, 20 lb., UPC #0538860345

Ol’ Roy High Performance Nutrition Premium Dog Food, 50 lb., UPC No. 7874205815

Ol’ Roy Meaty Chunks ‘n Gravy Premium Dog Food, 22 lb., UPC #8113169630

Ol’ Roy Meaty Chunks ‘n Gravy Premium Dog Food, 50 lb., UPC #8113169631

Sep 2008

Cause: salmonella potential. Announcement: FDA report revised September 17, 2008 (archived here). What was recalled: The following Ol’ Roy dry dog ​​food manufactured at Mars Petcare’s facility in Everson, Pennsylvania from February 18 to July 29, 2008 (identified by a “17” in the first two digits of the Batch number):

Ol’ Roy Complete Nutrition Premium Dog Food, 4.4 lb., UPC # 8113169377

Ol’ Roy Complete Nutrition Premium Dog Food, 8 lb., UPC # 0538867144

Ol’ Roy Complete Nutrition Premium Dog Food, 22 lb., UPC No. 0538860342

Ol’ Roy Complete Nutrition Premium Dog Food, 50 lb., UPC No. 7874201022

Ol’ Roy Puppy Complete Premium Dog Food, 4 lb., UPC #8113179078

Ol’ Roy Puppy Complete Premium Dog Food, 8 lb., UPC #8113179079

Ol’ Roy Puppy Complete Premium Dog Food, 20 lb., UPC #8113179080

Ol’ Roy High Performance Nutrition Dog Food, 20 lb., UPC #0538860345

Ol’ Roy High Performance Nutrition Dog Food, 50 lb., UPC #7874205815

Ol’ Roy Meaty Chunks ‘n Gravy Premium Dog Food, 8 lb., UPC #8113169629

Ol’ Roy Meaty Chunks ‘n Gravy Premium Dog Food, 22 lb., UPC #8113169630

Ol’ Roy Meaty Chunks ‘n Gravy Premium Dog Food, 50 lb., UPC #8113169631

June 2007

Cause: salmonella potential. Announcement: FDA report dated June 6, 2007 (archived here). What was recalled: Ol’ Roy Complete Nutrition Dry Dog Food, 55 lb. (bonus bag), lot #0407351, expiration April 13, 2008.

March 2007

Cause: melamine. Announcement: American Veterinary Medical Association website listing updated August 22, 2007 (archived here); Del Monte Pet Products announcement of April 6, 2007 (archived here); Sunshine Mills announcement of April 5, 2007 (archived here); Walmart Announcement of April 3, 2007; and FDA 2007 archives. What has been recalled: The following flavors of Ol’ Roy have been recalled in the United States:

Ol’ Roy Beef Jerky, Stack Strips, Snack Sticks and Bark ‘n Bac ‘n Dog Snacks, Various Sizes/Flavors, UPC#

Ol’ Roy with Savory Beef Cuts in Gravy, Dog Food, 13.2 oz. Cans, UPC #7874220855, production code BC6M21, best before December 21, 2009

Ol’ Roy with Savory Beef Strips in Gravy Dog Food, 13.2 oz. Cans, UPC no. 68113157407, production code BC7A19, expiration January 19, 2010

Ol’ Roy Country Stew Hearty Cuts in Gravy Dog Food, 22 oz. Cans, UPC no. 68113170378, production code BC6M15, expiration date December 15, 2009

Ol’Roy 4 Flavor Large Biscuit, 10 lb. Treats, UPC #8113146959, plant code RB, and best of 30308, 30408, 30508, 30608, 30708, 30808, 30908, 31208, 31308, 31408, 31508, 31608 31908, 32108, 32108, 32108, 32108

Ol’ Roy Peanut Butter Biscuit, 5 lb. Treats, UPC #7874234501, plant code RB, and best of 30508, 31008, 31208, 31508, 31608, 32108, 32308

Ol’ Roy Puppy Cookie, 28.8 oz. Treats, UPC #8113192197, plant code RB and best of 30208, 30308, 30408, 30608, 30708, 30908, 31008, 31408, 31508, 31608, 31708, 31808, 32108, 32208, 32208

Ol’ Roy Beef/Noodle/Vegetables, 5.3 oz., Bag of 24, UPC #8113174248, Best Use Date November 8, 2008 – March 7, 2009

Ol’ Roy Chicken Teriyaki/Gravy, 5.3 oz., Bag of 24, UPC# 8113174249, expires November 8, 2008 – March 7, 2009

Ol’ Roy Filet Mignon/Gravy, 5.3 oz., Bag of 24, UPC #8113174246, Best By November 8, 2008 – March 7, 2009

Ol’ Roy Lamb/Rice/Gravy, 5.3 oz., Bag of 24, UPC #8113174247, Expires November 8, 2008 – March 7, 2009

Ol’ Roy Beef, 5.3 oz., Bag of 24, UPC #8113163331, Best Use Date November 8, 2008 – March 7, 2009

Ol’ Roy Chicken, 5.3 oz., Bag of 24, UPC #8113163330 Shelf Life November 8, 2008 – March 7, 2009

Ol’ Roy Stew, 5.3 oz., bag of 24, UPC # 8113163332, expiration November 8, 2008 – March 7, 2009

Ol’ Roy Turkey, 5.3 oz., 24-count bag, UPC # 8113163377, expires November 8, 2008 – March 7, 2009

Ol’ Roy Sliced ​​Beef, 5.5 oz. Cans, 24-pack, UPC no. 8113180029, expiration November 8, 2009 – March 7, 2010

Ol’ Roy Sliced ​​Chicken, 5.5 oz. Cans, 24-pack, UPC no. 8113180030, expiration November 8, 2009 – March 7, 2010

Note: The above list is not an all-inclusive list. We believe there were a number of other Ol’ Roy dog ​​food jars/bags that were part of the recall, but unfortunately the information available was unclear to our research team.

June 2006

Cause: Lining detachment/flaking in cans. Announcement: Press release dated June 12, 2006 (archived here). What was recalled: The following 22 oz. Cans of Ol’ Roy canned dog food with expiration dates between March 16th and June 6th, 2008:

Ol’ Roy Beef Flavor, UPC #0068113189763 and 072562350237

Ol’ Roy Chicken Flavor, UPC #0068113189762 and 072562349231

Ol’ Roy Savory Bread with Ground Beef, UPC No. 0068113189770

Ol’ Roy Hearty Loaf Chopped Meaty Combo, UPC #0068113189771

Nov 1998

Cause: aflatoxin. Announcement: November 2, 1998, per FDA Enforcement Report (archived here). What was recalled: The following varieties of Ol’ Roy dry dog ​​food with an “expiry date” of July 1, 1999 through August 31, 1999 and an “E” in the date code:

Ol’Roy Premium

Ol’ Roy Puppy

Old Roy Lean

Ol’ Roy performance

Ol Roy Krunchy Bites & Bones

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Contact information can be found on our reports page. Leave a comment below to share your experience with others.

references

Wanderer, Rob. “This is how we live now.” New York Times. February 22, 2004. https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/22/magazine/the-way-we-live-now-2-22-04-consumed-ol-roy.html.

Petro, Gregory. “Walmart vs. Amazon: The Private Label War.” Forbes. June 15, 2018. https://www.forbes.com/sites/gregpetro/2018/07/15/walmart-vs-amazon-the-private-label-war/.

Sasser, Ray. “Astros Owner Recalls No-Frills Hunt With Sam Walton.” Dallas Morning News. January 31, 2011. https://madison.com/sports/recreation/outdoors/astros-owner-recalls-no-frills-hunting-with-sam-walton/article_3909077a-2a5d-11e0-b1d8-001cc4c03286.html.

Roberts, Bryan, and Natalie Berg. Walmart: Key insights and practical lessons from the world’s largest retailer. Kogan Page Publishers. 2012

“Walmart: Early Bird Specials (Advertising).” Greenwood (Mississippi) Commonwealth. Oct. 21, 1983. 12A.

“Walmart (Advertising).” Del Rio (Texas) News Announcer. May 18, 1983. 12A.

“Doane Pet Care Q2 2002 results in line with expectations.” PR-Newswire. Aug 7, 2002.

Leather, Denise. “Barking the Right Tree: Private Label Outperforms National Brands in the Increasingly Premium Pet Food Category.” Private Label Buyers 23, No. 7 (July 1, 2009): 54–57.

Manhertz, Huntley Jr., PhD. “Market Observation: Brand + Private Label = Mars Inc.” Pet Food Industry. May 16, 2007. https://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/581-market-watch-brand-private-label-mars-inc.

“Mars Inc. Announces Agreement to Acquire US Business of Doane Pet Care Company.” Businesswire. April 26, 2006. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20060426005450/en/Mars-Incorporated-Announces-Agreement-Acquire-US-Operations.

“Mars Inc. Announces Completion of Acquisition of US Business of Doane Pet Care Company.” PR-Newswire. June 13, 2006.

Bedford, Emma. “Market share of leading dry dog ​​food brands in the United States in 2017, based on sales.” Statistics. August 9, 2019. https://www.statista.com/statistics/188670/top-dry-dog-food-brands-in-the-united-states/.

“J M. Smucker Buys Big Heart Pet Brands in $5.8 Billion Deal Wealth. February 3, 2015. https://fortune.com/2015/02/03/smucker-big-heart-pet-brands/.

Martin, Anne N. “Bone Appetite.” Better Nutrition 64, No. 8 (August 2002): 32.

“The Dark Side of Recycling.” Earth Island Journal 5, No. 4 (Fall 1990).

O’Connor, John J., DVM, MPH, et al. “Fate of Sodium Pentobarbital in Rendered Products.” American Journal of Veterinary Research 46, no. 8 (1985 Aug): 1721-1724. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4037499/.

“Food and Drug Administration/Center for Veterinary Medicine Report on the Risk of Pentobarbital in Dog Food.” US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). February 28, 2002. https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/cvm-foia-electronic-reading-room/food-and-drug-administrationcenter-veterinary-medicine-report-risk-pentobarbital-dog-food .

“Appendix – Dog Food Samples Used in CVM Pentobarbital Survey and Analysis Results.” FDA. https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/cvm-foia-electronic-reading-room/appendix-dog-food-samples-used-cvm-pentobarbital-surveys-and-analytical-results.

“Dog Food Survey Results.” FDA. 28 February 2002. https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/cvm-foia-electronic-reading-room/dog-food-survey-results-survey-1-qualitative-analyses-pentobarbital-residue.

“The FDA is warning pet owners of possible pentobarbital contamination in canned dog food approved by the J.M. Smucker Company, including certain Gravy Train, Kibbles ‘n Bits, Ol’ Roy, and Skippy products (updated).” FDA. March 2, 2018. Archived at https://www.petful.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/fda_gov-ucm597135.pdf.

“Mars Petcare US Announces Extension of Voluntary Recall.” Mars Petcare. November 25, 2008. Archived at https://www.petful.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Mars-Petcare-2008-Recall-Information-Special-Kitty-Ol-Roy.pdf.

“Mars Petcare US Issues Voluntary Recall of Everson, PA Plant Dry Pet Food Product Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination (Revised).” FDA. September 17, 2008. Archived at https://www.petful.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ucm162800.pdf.

“A batch of 55 pound bags of Ol’ Roy Complete Nutrition dry dog ​​food voluntarily recalled by Doane Pet Care at select stores.” FDA. June 6, 2007. Archived at https://www.petful.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ucm112215.pdf.

“Del Monte Pet Products is Voluntarily Retiring Certain Product Codes for Treats and Wet Dog Food in the United States.” Del Monte Pet Products. April 6, 2007. Archived at https://www.petful.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Del-Monte-Pet-Products-Voluntarily-Withdraws-Specific-Product-Codes-of-Pet-Treats -and-wet-dog-food-products.pdf.

“Sunshine Mills Inc. is issuing a voluntary nationwide recall of certain branded and private label dog biscuits.” Sunshine Mills. April 5, 2007. Archived at https://www.petful.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Sunshine-Mills-Voluntary-Nationwide-Recall.pdf.

“Statement on Manufacturers’ Pet Food Recalls.” Walmart. April 3, 2007. https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2007/04/03/statement-on-manufacturers-pet-food-recalls.

“2007 Melamine Pet Food Recall.” FDA. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/recalls-withdrawals/melamine-pet-food-recall-2007.

“To Customers; Re: 22 oz. Canned Pet Food.” Simmons Pet Food Inc., June 12, 2006. Archived at https://www.petful.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Simmons-Pet -Food-June2006-recall.pdf.

The FDA Enforcement Report: 1999. FDA. 1999. 18-19. Archived at https://www.petful.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/1998-ol-roy-recall-fda-enforcement-report.pdf.

The Associated Press. “Temple Company Recalls Dog Food.” Kerrville, Texas Times. November 4, 1998. 3A.

“Doane Pet Care Company: Form 10-K405 for the year ended December 31, 1998.” US Securities and Exchange Commission. March 26, 1999. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1002211/0000950129-99-001163.txt.

Stenske, Katherina A., DVM, et al. “Aflatoxicosis in Dogs and Management of Suspected Contaminated Commercial Food.” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 228, no. 11 (June 1, 2006): 1686-1691. https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/pdf/10.2460/javma.228.11.1686.

Look for another brand

You won’t find two greater titans in the world of pet food as Pedigree and Purina are respectively the largest and second largest pet food brands in the world. You’ll find their brands wherever pet food is sold—but does the fact that they’re ubiquitous mean they’re good?

And more critically, when it comes to Pedigree vs. Purina, which is better?

We dug deep into both brands to pick a winner so you can give your dog food you can trust. And while there was one brand we preferred to the other, that doesn’t mean we didn’t uncover a few surprises along the way (more on that in a minute).

A little taste of the winner: Purina

Rating Image Product Details Best Overall Impression Purina One True Instinct No fillers or animal by-products High Protein Good for active and overweight dogs Check Price Runner Up Pedigree Complete nutrition Very affordable Good for multi-dog homes Decent amount of fiber Check Price

Pedigree seems more focused on providing affordable food than ensuring food is of high quality, while Purina achieves both goals with much greater success.

However, it should be noted that since both manufacturers make such a wide variety of foods, you can find some on one brand that are very cheap compared to a few on the other, and vice versa. So why should we feed our dogs Purina food instead of Pedigree? Read on to find out.

About family tree

Pros Very affordable

Very Affordable Can be bought almost anywhere

Can be bought almost anywhere Good for owners who prefer to feed dogs wet food Cons Uses cheap fillers

Uses cheap fillers. Heavily dependent on animal by-products

Heavily dependent on animal by-products Wet food may not be as good for dogs as dry food

Pedigree is a subsidiary of the giant Mars, Inc. Corporation, a brand best known for manufacturing a variety of candy bars. And as you’d expect from a candy maker, nutrition isn’t necessarily their biggest concern.

Instead, the brand focuses on making edibles at affordable prices, regardless of whether they meet all of your dog’s nutritional needs. It’s not entirely junk food — but no one will ever accuse it of being a healthy food.

Pedigree had cornered the pet food market for a long time

In addition to producing dog food, the company is also known for its cat food brand, Whiskas. They were also notable for popularizing canned food, although kibble was still by far their best-selling product.

For a long time, the pet food market consisted of Pedigree and lots of smaller, regional brands, most of which made the same boring, cheap treats. As a result, there was little pressure on Pedigree to improve or diversify.

However, that changed in the 1980s and 1990s. At this time, Purina was beginning to become a viable competitor to Pedigree, and many other boutique brands were also beginning to gain traction nationwide.

This forced Pedigree to change with the times, but they also kept their ideology unchanged, at least when it came to their staple: They wanted to make dog food that anyone could afford to feed their pet.

Pedigree continues to be the largest pet grooming company in the world

The UK-based company sells more pet food than any other organization in the world.

They held the global market in a stranglehold for some time, and then tightened their control of the US market by buying Los Angeles-based Kal Kan in 1968.

In addition to their flagship Pedigree line, the company also owns brands such as Sheba, Eukanuba, Cesar, IAMS and Nutro, among others.

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Pedigree’s focus is affordability

The company tries to ensure that its dry food is affordable for all dog owners, which is why you can find it in grocery stores and major stores, as well as pet boutiques.

However, to keep their food affordable, they skimp on meat and rely on cheap fillers like corn and wheat. Also, the meat they contain often depends heavily on animal by-products, which are the leftover parts of the animal that would otherwise have been discarded.

Pedigree pushes wet food as hard as dry food

When most people think of pedigree, they probably picture their big yellow cans. The company has long advocated wet food as a healthy alternative to dry food, although the science doesn’t necessarily support it in that regard.

Some of their lines – like Cesar for example – are mainly based on wet food.

About Purina

Pros Uses generally healthy ingredients

Generally uses healthy ingredients Wide range of products

Wide range of products to choose from Great for specialized diets Cons Still relies on cheap fillers and animal by-products

People still rely on cheap fillers and animal by-products. The choice can be overwhelming

Purina ranks second behind Pedigree in terms of global sales, but is the largest US-based pet care company. Many of their products therefore appear to be focused on the American market, and almost all of their production takes place in the United States.

The quality of their food varies greatly depending on which line produces them. As a result, you can buy everything from dirt cheap kibbles that rival Pedigree to high-end recipes designed to please the pickiest of eaters.

Purina has placed an increasing emphasis on nutrition

Purina has long been as price conscious as Pedigree and their food was as cheap as their larger competitor.

However, as the pet market (particularly in the United States) began to move toward healthier, more natural foods, Purina began to shift its focus as well. They began introducing specialized lines that were more expensive but also used higher quality food.

Their ONE line was the first large-scale premium pet food ever made, and while it doesn’t quite measure up to some of the human foods made today, it still represented a seismic shift in the pet food industry. ONE is still one their top performing brands.

Despite their continued focus on high-quality, nutritious foods, the company still makes many affordable options that use cheap fillers and animal by-products. However, lately, they are trying to offer foods with healthy ingredients at prices that compete with their competitors.

Purina has a wide range of specialty brands

While Pedigree seems to think dog food is dog food, Purina has gone the other way to become one of the most specialized dog food companies in the world.

They have several different brands (such as ALPO, Beneful, and Mighty Dog, among others), but their main Purina brand is largely divided into three main lines: Purina Dog Chow, Purina ONE, and Purina Pro Plan.

Purina Dog Chow is just plain dog food, with recipes as imaginative as its name. However, the latter two brands offer a variety of sub-brands, each targeting specific issues your dog may be facing.

As a result, there’s a Purina recipe for just about anything you want to focus on with your dog, whether it’s aging him gracefully, giving him gentle food for his sensitive stomach, or making sure he’s getting the maximum amount of food Gets food to strengthen his active lifestyle.

Purina generally uses healthy ingredients—but there’s plenty of room for improvement

In her cupboard you will find some recipes that only use quality ingredients, with no questionable foods or additives.

For the most part, however, every food has room for improvement. The vast majority use cheap fillers like wheat and corn, and many use at least some type of animal by-product.

That being said, real meat is usually the first ingredient, so at least the rest of the meal builds on that healthy bedrock.

Purina is made almost exclusively in the United States.

Founded in the United States, Purina is still focused on the American market, despite the merger with global company Nestle in 2001.

It owns several manufacturing facilities in the US, mainly in the Midwest and Northeast. Almost all food is produced domestically.

While that’s good, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the food is also locally sourced. With a few exceptions, the company keeps a low profile about where its ingredients come from.

The 3 most popular recipes for purebred dog food

1. Pedigree dry adult dog food Check price at Chewy Check price at Amazon This is the company’s staple food and is extremely affordable. You can buy a large bag cheaply, making it a great choice for owners on a budget or those trying to feed multiple dogs without breaking the bank.

Why is it so cheap? A big reason is that the first ingredient is corn. This is a fairly cheap bulking agent, and it’s also packed with empty calories. The second ingredient is meat and bone meal, which is packed with important nutrients but feels incomplete when lean meat is also included.

Most of the other ingredients are either animal by-products or grain flour, so don’t expect a ton of nutrients. Again, it’s only 21% protein and 10% fat – which isn’t ideal for keeping your dog lean and fit.

There’s a decent amount of fiber inside, mostly due to the dried beet pulp it contains. Although fiber is important, it is a distant second to protein. We’d say we’d like them to up the amount of protein inside, but given the ingredient list, we’re afraid where they’d find the meat for it.

Pros Very affordable

Very Affordable Good for multi-dog households

Good for households with multiple dogs Decent fiber content Cons Made almost entirely of filler and by-products

Made almost entirely from filler and by-products. Low in protein and fat

Low in protein and fat Not ideal for overweight animals

2. Pedigree High Protein Dry Adult Dog Food Check price at Chewy Check price at Amazon We complained above about the minimal amount of protein in their ground food and this recipe is their response to that criticism. However, for most other food manufacturers, “high protein” seems to mean “average protein” to them.

The protein content is 27%, which is good – but hardly outstanding, especially for a food that bills itself as high protein. It contains slightly more fat and the same amount of fiber as regular dry food.

The list of ingredients is just as problematic, even though it contains real beef. Unfortunately, it’s buried so far down the list that we’re left wondering how much is in there.

Lamb meal is down there near the beef, which adds a little more animal protein. However, it’s not enough to get us excited.

Benefits More protein than other Pedigree kibbles

More protein than other Pedigree kibbles. Contains real beef

Contains real beef lamb meal for added protein. Disadvantages Uses as many fillers and by-products

Uses just as many fillers and by-products. Just average protein content compared to other brands

Only average protein content compared to other brands. Limited amount of lean animal protein

3. Pedigree Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food Check price at Chewy Check price at Amazon.

It has 1% more protein than this food, which is good, although hardly worth writing about. Overall scores are still low.

The meat and bone meal trades places on the ingredient list with chicken by-product meal, as the latter has a higher content of glucosamine, which is good for joint health. This is extremely important for large puppies and we’re happy to see it, but getting this glucosamine from inferior meat is still very off-putting.

Also, all cheap fillers are full of empty calories, so your pooch may end up putting more stress on his joints because he’s adding extra pounds. Again, it’s only 10% fat, so most of its energy comes from simple carbohydrates.

We would definitely feed a giant dog this kibble food over their base food, but it wouldn’t be hard to find a non-Pedigree food that performed better than both.

Benefits More glucosamine than regular dry food

More glucosamine than dry food More protein, also cons Low amount of protein overall

Low total protein intake May lead to weight gain

Can lead to weight gain Strong focus on basic carbohydrates

The 3 most popular Purina dog food recipes

1. Purina ONE SmartBlend True Instinct Natural Grain-Free Formula Adult Check price at Chewy Check price at Amazon. However, you will get at least twice as much food, if not more.

There are neither cheap fillers like corn or wheat nor animal by-products. In their place, you can find real chicken, chicken meal, and starches like cassava root meal and lentil meal. This gives you longer lasting energy as well as fewer empty calories.

The protein content is also much higher – there’s 30% protein in here, which is more than Pedigree’s “high protein” kibble. There’s the same amount of fiber but significantly more fat. Therefore, this is a better choice for both active and overweight dogs.

However, this meal is far from perfect. It contains ingredients like dried egg products that many dogs find difficult to digest, and it uses lots of plant-based proteins. Plus, as mentioned, it costs about twice as much.

However, if you can afford it, it’s a far better meal.

Benefits No fillers or animal by-products inside

No fillers or animal by-products inside. High protein content

High amount of protein Good for active and overweight dogs Cons Twice as expensive as Pedigree

Twice the price of Pedigree Contains ingredients that some dogs find difficult to digest

Contains ingredients that some dogs find difficult to digest. Heavily dependent on plant proteins

2. Purina Beyond Grain Free Natural Adult Check Price at Chewy Check Price at Amazon Another grain-free offering from the brand, this one is slightly more expensive than the ONE option above. Still, we prefer the above meal to this one.

The biggest change happens with the first three ingredients. While the ONE food has animal proteins as the first two ingredients and starches as the third, this food takes the starches up a notch. As a result, you get slightly less protein (27% vs. 30%) but more fiber (5% vs. 4%).

However, fussy dogs may prefer this food as it contains tender protein bites mixed in with the regular protein that enhances the taste while being gentle on the teeth.

This food shares many of the same issues as the ONE variety, including reliance on plant-based proteins and ingredients that dogs may not be able to digest.

Purina Beyond Grain Free is a particularly good edible, but we think you might as well do it and save a few bucks by purchasing ONE Grain Free instead.

Benefits Chewy protein chunks mixed with dry food

Chewy protein chunks mixed with dry food More fiber than ONE Grain Free

More fiber than ONE Grain-free Good for picky eaters Disadvantages Same problems with plant proteins and triggering ingredients as the ONE variant

Same issues with plant proteins and triggering ingredients as the ONE variety. Less protein

Less protein Slightly more expensive

3. Purina Pro Plan SPORT Formula Adult Check Price at Chewy Check Price at Amazon While there are a variety of recipes in their Pro Plan SPORT line, this is one of the few that is grain-free. As a result, we like it best. Of course, we might just have an expensive taste, as this is also one of the most expensive.

It is high in protein and fat (30% and 20% respectively), making it a good choice for active or energetic puppies. There’s quite a bit of animal protein in here (as well as some plant-based protein), but they also add fish oil to give your dog valuable omega fatty acids.

It is a very high calorie food so if your dog is sedentary it may be too rich for him. Also, there is more salt than we would like.

You won’t find many better foods than this across Purina’s entire line, but know you’ll be paying a premium for it.

Benefits High in fat and protein

Rich in fat and protein Ideal for active dogs

Great for active dogs Lots of fish oil Cons Expensive

Expensive Too high in calories for lazy dogs

Too high in calories for lazy dogs. High salt content

Pedigree vs. Purina Comparison

Now that you have a better idea of ​​what each brand stands for and how some of their foods are performing, it’s time to compare them across a variety of key metrics.

taste

This depends on what specific recipes you’re comparing, but by and large, most dogs prefer real meat over cornmeal. As a result, Purina should be the clear winner most of the time.

nutritional value

As we wrote above, Pedigree often sacrifices nutrition to create budget foods. This means that instead of high-quality meat and starches, they use bulking grains and animal by-products.

Purina don’t always excel in this regard, but they almost always outperform Pedigree.

Price

This is the only area where Pedigree has a clear advantage over Purina. Almost all of their groceries are inexpensive and within the price range of most dog owners.

You get what you pay for, and what you pay for with Pedigree is cheap ingredients.

selection

Purina has a much larger selection than Pedigree. You can find entire recipes aimed at a single concern, and many recipes come in regular, high-protein, and grain-free varieties.

However, all this choice can get a bit overwhelming. So if you just want a basic kibble, Pedigree is much less likely to mess you up.

In total

Unless you’re extremely price conscious, Purina is the clear winner when you battle Pedigree vs. Purina for the best dog food option.

It’s better food and higher quality ingredients are used. Most dogs seem to prefer it too.

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Recall History of Pedigree and Purina

Pedigree has suffered numerous recalls in recent years. In 2008 there were several due to possible Salmonella contamination, although no dog was reported to have been affected from eating the food.

In 2012 there was another due to concerns that plastic parts in the food could pose a choking hazard. Two years later, another recall was made due to the possible presence of foreign material – specifically metal fragments. We couldn’t say if any of the issues involved dogs, but none of the incidents are very reassuring.

Purina recently had two recalls. In 2013, a possible Salmonella outbreak triggered a recall, despite contamination being limited to a single bag; no pups were harmed.

In 2016, they recalled some of their wet foods over concerns that the foods might not contain the advertised number of vitamins and minerals. The food was not classified as dangerous.

Pedigree vs Purina Dog Food: Which Should You Choose?

In a way, it feels unfair to compare Pedigree and Purina dog foods as they both have different goals. Pedigree is designed to be affordable, while Purina is designed to be nutritious and delicious.

However, since Pedigree is the largest pet care company in the world, it hardly feels like we’re picking on David at Goliath’s expense here. The company could easily improve the nutritional profile of its foods if it so chooses.

At the end of the day, the only reason to feed your dog Pedigree instead of Purina is if your budget requires you to make sacrifices. However, if your primary concern is your dog’s health and well-being, you should choose Purina almost every time.

Which Dog Food Is Better: Blue Buffalo or Purina Pro Plan?

Your dog’s diet has a major impact on their health and well-being, so choosing the right dog food is important. If you’re stuck between Blue Buffalo dog food and Purina Pro Plan dog food, you may be wondering which is the best option.

As with most things in life, there is no easy answer, so you need to dig deeper and examine the pros and cons. Also remember that all dogs are different, so the best food for one dog is not always the best for another.

Blue Buffalo dog food

Blue Buffalo dog food is touted as a healthy and holistic brand. It contains high-quality ingredients without unnecessary additives. Complete and balanced, it contains all the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients your dog needs to stay healthy. It’s made in the USA, but with ingredients from around the world.

At Blue Buffalo you can buy both wet and dry dog ​​food and dog treats. Bags of dry food cost around $15-$75 depending on size and variety, while wet food costs around $2-3 per can.

Blue Buffalo dog food professionals

Blue Buffalo dog food lists meat as the first ingredient, plus it often includes healthy whole grains and vegetables.

It contains no artificial flavors or preservatives and stays away from poultry by-product meal, corn, soy, and other fillers.

There are a number of varieties to choose from including senior dog food, small breed dog food and limited ingredient dog food for dogs with food allergies or sensitivities.

Most dogs find Blue Buffalo food palatable and you can choose from a wide range of formulas or flavors to appeal to fussy eaters.

Disadvantages of Blue Buffalo dog food

The company sells a line of grain-free dog foods, but studies suggest a link between grain-free diets and heart disease in dogs. So you should avoid them unless your dog has a legitimate grain allergy, which is extremely rare.

Blue Buffalo had five dog food recalls, but only three posed a serious risk.

It doesn’t offer quite as many special options as Purina Pro Plan, such as B. Powerful and sensitive skin formulas.

Best Blue Buffalo dog food

Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein dog food

An excellent choice for active dogs, this food is high in protein to give them the energy they need to keep going. Choose one of the healthy whole grain versions, as grain-free formulas can be detrimental to heart health.

Sold by Amazon

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula dry food for adult dogs

The perfect dry food for an average dog. You can choose from several formulas that best suit your dog. Options include a small bite for dogs that like smaller kibble and a healthy weight for dogs that need to lose eight or gain weight easily.

Sold by Amazon and Chewy

Blue Buffalo Homestyle recipe wet dog food

This tasty wet food can be fed alone or mixed with dry food. Meat is the first ingredient and also includes a mix of nutrient-dense vegetables.

Sold by Amazon and Chewy

Purina Pro Plan dog food

Purina Pro Plan dog food is just one type of dog food from Purina. It’s Purina’s high-end offering, containing better quality ingredients than its other foods. For the most part, it contains quality ingredients, although it does contain some fillers and by-products in some of its lines.

Buyers can choose from a range of formulas, some suitable for most dogs and others tailored to specific needs. It’s priced similarly to Blue Buffalo, with bags of dry food priced at $15-$70 and cans of wet food around $1.50-$3 each.

Purina Pro Plan dog food professionals

All Purina Pro Plan dry foods and most wet foods contain heart-healthy whole grains.

This food is made in a facility in the USA, but with ingredients from around the world.

There was only one recall from Purina Pro Plan foods, suggesting the company’s quality control is good.

You can choose from a wide range of formulas to suit your dog including small breed, large breed and performance.

Purina Pro Plan dog food cons

Some formulas contain questionable ingredients, such as: B. Poultry by-product meal.

You’re more likely to find fillers like corn gluten meal in Purina Pro Plan foods compared to Blue Buffalo.

Purina is owned by Nestle, a company known for unethical practices that some shoppers prefer to avoid.

Best Purina Pro Plan dog food

Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials dry dog ​​food

A solid all round dry food suitable for most adult dogs. It has a chicken and rice flavor and is available in different bag sizes.

Sold by Amazon, Chewy and PetSmart

Purina Pro Plan dry dog ​​food for sensitive skin and stomach

This carefully formulated food is made from easily digestible ingredients and excludes common allergens, making it perfect for dogs with sensitive skin or stomachs. It contains a prebiotic formula to aid in digestion.

Sold by Amazon, Chewy and PetSmart

Purina Pro Plan Sport wet food for dogs

Due to its high protein content, this wet food is suitable for very active dogs and working dogs. It also aids in hydration, which is important for dogs on the go.

Sold by PetSmart and Chewy

Should you buy Blue Buffalo dog food or Purina Pro Plan dog food?

There is no clear winner between Blue Buffalo and Purina Pro Plan. Blue Buffalo has more consistently high-quality ingredients, but Purina Pro Plan only includes a small handful of questionable ingredients and not in all of its formulas.

Purina has a slightly larger range of options tailored to the specific needs of dogs, but then again, most dogs will be fine with a standard adult dog food – plus Blue Buffalo with some tailored formulas, such as. B. Senior food, food for small and large breeds.

Ultimately, settle on the option that you think suits your dog best, and don’t be afraid to change your mind if your four-legged companion doesn’t thrive on their new food after a reasonable transition period.

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Lauren Corona writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.

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This article lists the 15 foods that sources and studies in the United States and Western Europe consider the healthiest. It is important to be aware of the healthiest foods to ensure a wide range of nutrients in the diet. A balanced diet is the secret of a healthy diet. This article covers the 15 healthiest foods and their benefits.

Fish, Meat and Eggs When it comes to fish, meat and eggs, there are many healthy alternatives. For example: 13. Oily fish Some examples of oily fish are salmon, trout, mackerel, herring, sardines and anchovies. These types of fish have oil in their tissues and around their intestines. Their lean fillets are high in omega-3 fatty acids. These oils may offer heart and nervous system benefits, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). The ODS also suggest that omega-3 fatty acids may help with inflammatory conditions like arthritis. They’re also rich in vitamins A and D. A 2014 study suggested that fatty acids can significantly reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. 14. Chicken Chicken is an inexpensive and healthy meat. Free-range chickens serve as an excellent source of protein. However, it is important to remember that preparation and cooking methods affect chicken health. This means people should limit their intake of fried chicken and always remove the skin before eating. Chicken skin is high in saturated fat. 15. Eggs Eggs are another source of protein that people can easily incorporate into a balanced diet as they are very versatile. Eggs contain vitamins like B-2 and B-12, both of which are important for conserving energy and forming red blood cells. Eggs are also a good source of the essential amino acid leucine, which plays a role in stimulating muscle protein synthesis. Eggs also provide a good amount of choline, which is important for cell membranes. The yolk contains most of the egg’s vitamins and minerals, as well as fat and cholesterol. However, a 2017 review found that eating up to seven eggs a week does not increase your risk of heart disease. However, the authors mention that people with cardiovascular disease or diabetes should see a doctor about including eggs in their diet. In fact, one study found higher rates of cardiovascular disease in people who consumed more cholesterol from eggs. Consuming fat in moderate amounts is healthy as part of a balanced, nutritious diet. Learn more about eggs here.

Select is editorially independent. Our editors have selected these offers and items because we think you will enjoy them at these prices. If you buy something through our links, we may receive a commission. Pricing and availability correct at time of publication.

Dogs offer people unconditional love and emotional support, something pet owners could be especially grateful for during the stressful times we’re going through. Providing your dog with a nutritious diet is just one way to show him how much you care for him, in addition to providing him with the right dog bed, toys to play with, and the occasional dog treat. Put simply, dogs deserve to eat well – in fact, “food appropriate” ranks fourth in the American Veterinary Medical Association’s guidelines for responsible pet ownership.

SKIP How to shop for dog food

Pursuing the best food for dogs also offers them clear health benefits, said Jennifer Freeman, DVM, resident veterinarian and pet care expert at PetSmart. “Premium dog food has meat for protein, vitamin-packed vegetables and fruits, and omega fatty acids for a shiny coat,” Freeman said, adding, “It’s also likely to have fewer fillers like corn, wheat, and soy.”

Another noticeable difference: The best dog food for your best friend can help with better absorption and digestion, and produce dog poo that’s smaller and denser, Freeman explained. (Any dog ​​owner knows this is a big win). The field of high-quality, full-fledged (and often human-grade) options is growing, as is the demand for them. According to the nonprofit American Pet Products Association, people will have spent more than $38 billion on food and treats for their pets by 2020 (up from $36.9 billion in 2019). But what dog food is best for your dog? To compile the best dog foods now, we consulted experts to find out which dog food is the best and some of the best dog food options.

Which dog food is best? Here are some leading options

They revised their formula to include ancient grains like sorghum and millet, but the first two ingredients are buffalo and pork to pack in protein.

If you’re feeding your dog dry food, Morgan recommended adding a topper to expand the range of nutrients you’re feeding him. You can make this at home by adding a boiled egg, canned sardines in water, sautéed dark leafy greens, blueberries, or squash, to name a few. You can also buy freeze-dried raw “toppers,” which are chunks of traditional meat and offal that you mix with their kibble, like this one from Instinct.

The company says that 85 percent of the ingredients in it are of animal origin (the rest are fruits and vegetables). In their original recipe, you’ll find fresh chicken, turkey and cage-free eggs as the first three ingredients, followed by offal and fish.

In Organix, organic chicken is the first ingredient, along with oats and barley for whole grains, and flaxseed and coconut oil for a healthier fat.

This wet canned food contains lamb as the first ingredient, along with chickpeas, flax and sunflower oil.

You will find chicken as the first ingredient. Considering you can see the different foods in it — like cranberries and carrots — you can feel good that your dog is getting a meal full of goodies.

There are several subscribed home delivery services such as The Farmer’s Dog. “I call these TV dinners for dogs,” said Judy Morgan, DVM, a vet who specializes in integrative care. These companies will regularly ship to your home bags of fresh, food-safe food that is specially formulated to meet your dog’s needs. If you’re on a budget and have a large dog, this may not be a cost-effective option for you, but it may be more viable for owners of smaller dogs, she said.

A newcomer to dog food, this dry food features beef as the first ingredient along with a variety of fruits and veggies like squash, blueberries, spinach and carrots.

How to buy the best dog food

One of the most important steps in figuring out the best dog food is the ingredient list, Freeman said, noting that the first three are the most critical. “This will help you determine if the formula is vegetable-based with things like corn and rice or meat-based with chicken, fish or lamb,” Freeman said. Although every dog ​​is different, they generally thrive best on a high-protein, meat-based diet, she added.

Next, analyze what kind of meat is inside. “Look for brands that specifically name the type of meat, like beef, chicken, or lamb,” Morgan said. She found that meat, bone meal, or meat by-products could come from any animal. Similarly, “poultry meal” signals to any bird, she said.

The ingredients will also highlight some of the things you want to avoid. Freeman suggested avoiding dog food that contains: coloring (dogs don’t care what color their food is, she points out), sugar, and lots of salt (which could be used as a preservative), as well as other solvents and preservatives like Propylene Glycol, BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin.

Types of dog food to consider

The field of dog food is broad and so are your options. They have wet dog food and dry dog ​​food, chilled food and fresh subscription options.

Organic dog food

While buzzwords like “natural” aren’t regulated, Freeman noted, there are some solid takeaways you can get with an “organic” label. With this label, your dog food is certified free of antibiotics, synthetic hormones, toxic pesticides and preservatives. And according to the certification, its ingredients cannot be genetically modified, grown in chemical fertilizer, or irradiated.

Dry dog ​​food versus wet or canned dog food

Freeman argued that the amount of water in wet food could make it an unwise investment, and instead recommended opting for dry food. One benefit of dry food (or kibble), she noted, is that the friction of chewing can help keep your dog’s teeth and gums healthy. It’s also less messy. Morgan added that bags of kibble also tend to be cheaper compared to the other options.

Morgan noted, however, that kibble usually contains less meat and often contains some type of grain, legume, or potato. If you opt for kibble, Morgan suggested topping the kibble with some canned food, home-grown meat, or other toppers.

Is grain-free dog food better?

Grain-free formulas are growing in popularity, but there have been concerns of late: The FDA opened an investigation in 2018 to look into a possible link between a grain-free diet and a heart condition in dogs called dilated cardiomyopathy. Existing research is based on a small sample size, can be breed specific and other factors may be at play, Morgan said: “Overall more research needs to be done and unfortunately this has affected a lot of quality dog ​​food.” Consider checking with your vet about the Discuss your dog’s unique nutritional needs before making the leap to grain-free dog food.

While ingredients are important, you really want to determine whether the food contains the nutrients your dog needs to be healthy, and not necessarily whether or not it contains grain, some experts argue. To ensure you are buying quality food, look for the nutritional adequacy statement. You should be able to find the statement – which the FDA considers “one of the most important aspects of a dog or cat food label” – on the back label (in small type). It may take a bit of detective work to find at first, but it will provide plenty of helpful details about the dog food, including profile information about the type and age of dogs it’s best for.

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As humans, we have been conditioned to read food labels carefully (no high fructose corn syrup allowed!). We need to train ourselves to be just as skeptical about our dog’s food labels. Commercial brands often contain ingredients that are not healthy for puppies – they are generally used for one of two reasons, being cheap or helping the food stay fresher longer. Either way, you don’t want your pup ingesting these potential toxins on a regular basis. Before you open another sachet (or can), check the label and if you see any of the following ingredients, you might want to reconsider:

1. Melamine

This type of plastic contains nitrogen, which has been added to dog food to make it appear like it contains more protein, says Gary Richter, veterinarian and author of The Ultimate Pet Health Guide. “Ingesting melamine is definitely toxic,” he explains. “It can cause kidney failure and death, depending on the size of the dog and the dose.” In fact, in 2007, it was responsible for one of the worst dog food recalls of all time. Even today, melamine testing isn’t mandatory, so always ask questions if you’re not sure what your dog’s food contains.

2. BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin

These are artificial preservatives found in some traditional dog foods and treats that are used to extend their shelf life. “There are concerns that these chemicals can be harmful with long-term exposure and ingestion,” says Richter, who recommends avoiding artificial ingredients in foods or treats. For example, ethoxyquin, used as a fat preservative, is also used as a pesticide. One study found that it increases liver enzymes in the blood and increases hemoglobin pigment in the liver. If you see these on a label, back off!

3. Propylene Glycol

This artificial additive is used to maintain texture and keep foods soft and moist. While PG is generally recognized as safe by the FDA, it’s still an artificial ingredient, and Richter says he wouldn’t recommend feeding it to dogs. Also, there is often confusion between propylene glycol and ethylene glycol (antifreeze). The latter is extremely toxic to dogs, although the former has been used as a non-toxic alternative in antifreeze.

4. Carrageenan

Carrageenan is an ingredient derived from red algae and is used as a thickening agent to maintain consistency, particularly in wet dog food. It has been listed as safe as a food additive by the FDA and AAFCO, however the “degraded” variant called polygeenan (which is not approved in food) has been shown to be potentially harmful. Studies suggest it can lead to gastrointestinal inflammation and possibly cancer, Richter says. Our verdict: avoid it!

5. Meat meal

If you see a protein meal on a dog food label, step away! This is the product of a process called rendering, in which the waste from sick and dead animals is heated: “Meat producers take all the leftover parts and waste and cook them down to remove the fat,” Richter explains. “Once the fat has been removed, what’s left is meat meal.” While meat meal contains protein, the quality of the diet can vary widely depending on the animal parts it contains.

6. Food coloring or corn syrup

There’s no reason to artificially color pet food – it’s done to make it look more appealing to humans! And your pup’s food doesn’t need to be sweetened, either — especially not with an ingredient like corn syrup, which has a high glycemic index with no health benefits. “Dogs don’t even want candy in their food,” says Richter. “Both should be avoided.”

7. MSG

MSG, or monosodium glutamate, is used in both human and dog foods as a flavor enhancer. It’s widely believed to be good for neither humans nor puppies, and many are allergic to it. In addition to adding no nutritional value, MSG can also be used to enhance the flavor of foods that contain lower-quality ingredients. For both of these reasons, you should keep foods containing MSG away from your pup. If you occasionally eat Chinese or other fast food with MSG, you should be fine unless you are allergic to it!

8. Sodium hexametaphosphate

This is one of those ingredients that falls into the category that if you can’t pronounce it, you might want to reconsider letting your pup eat it. Sodium hexametaphosphate is an additive used in dog food to reduce tartar build-up. While this may sound tempting given that most dogs need to be put under anesthesia even for routine dental cleanings, there is a caveat. It can have adverse effects if ingested. If you’re concerned it may do more harm than good, consider choosing foods that don’t contain this ingredient and simply brushing your dog’s teeth instead.

Once you start looking at dog food labels, you’ll realize just how common these toxic ingredients really are. At Ollie, you can be assured that we only use high-quality human-grade meats, fruits and vegetables in our recipes. Our recipes feature delicious proteins including beef, chicken, turkey and lamb.

We add nutritious liver and organ meats and pack the recipes with superfoods like kale, chia seeds, blueberries and squash.

We never use cheap fillers like wheat, corn or soy, by-products or preservatives. Only the best for your pup. To keep it fresh and safe, our food is gently cooked, portioned and frozen in individual packs.

Your pup’s meals come with feeding instructions, including the amount of food to give at each meal. You can store ollie packs in the freezer for up to three months. You thaw them in your fridge, where you can keep them unopened for up to two weeks and four days after opening. We hope all of our pet parents are excited to share our delicious recipes with their best friends every day.

We know puppies get very excited when the Ollie Puptainers come out of the fridge at mealtime – it means the good stuff is on the way!

The Ollie blog is dedicated to helping pet owners lead healthier lives with their puppies. To learn more about our fresh, food-grade food, visit MyOllie.com.

Vet Approved Tested and fact checked by Dr. Paola Cuevas Veterinarian, MVZ The information is up-to-date and reflects the latest veterinary research. Learn more ”

When it comes to “human” dog food, this loose term can be a bit confusing. According to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), this means all ingredients are edible to humans. Essentially, this label means the food goes through different federal regulations than other dog foods, such as: B. Handling, manufacturing and minimal processing in USDA kitchens. Dog food that does not carry the label “safe for humans” processes ingredients in an entirely different type of facility where ingredients are considered inedible for human consumption, such as: B. unspecified by-products and chicken or beef meals.

Dog food for humans has been gaining in popularity lately and in this article we look at our top nine reviews for the best dog food for humans available today. We hope it sheds some light on this topic and that the information will help you make the best decision for your pooch.

A look at our favorites in 2022

Image Product Details Best Overall Nom Nom Fresh Dog Food Delivery Service Fresh, human-safe ingredients Meets AAFCO Nutritional Standards Variety Packs Available Without Subscription Click Here To Save 50% + Free Shipping! Best Price Tylee’s Frozen Food Grade Dog Food Food Grade Ingredients No Peas Contains Omega Fatty Acids Check Price Canisource Grand Cru Dog Food 100% Food Grade Dry Food Raw Grain Free Check Price Best for Puppies The Honest Kitchen Food Clusters Whole Wheat Chicken & Oats Recipe Pupp Human-grade ingredients Contains added probiotics and DHA Real chicken and oats are the first ingredients

The 9 best dog foods for humans

1. Nom Nom fresh dog food delivery service – best overall

Click Here To Save 50% + Get Free Shipping With Nom Nom! Food Type: Fresh Food, Treats Calories: 177kcal/cup to 206kcal/cup depending on recipe Crude Protein: 7% to 10% depending on recipe Crude Fat: 4% to 6% depending on recipe Crude Fiber: 1% to 2% depending on recipe

When it comes to fresh human-grade dog food, Nom Nom has it covered, making them our top pick for the best overall human dog food. Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists formulate their recipes so your dog gets the best. Four recipes are available: mashed beef, chicken dishes, pork potluck and turkey dishes. All ingredients are sourced from trusted US suppliers using the highest quality vegetables and proteins, and all meals meet AAFCO nutritional standards suitable for human consumption.

The dishes are pre-portioned and conveniently delivered to you. You start by answering a few questions about your dog and based on your answers he will suggest a feeding plan. All meals are prepared and cooked in their own USDA kitchens with no cross contamination. If you’re not ready to commit to a specific recipe, you can try the variety pack with all meals and let your dog decide which is the winner. You don’t need a subscription to order variety packs. They also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.

They offer free shipping using recyclable materials. Nom Nom is pricey, but if you’re looking for the best human dog food, you can’t go wrong with a subscription. They also offer discounts for households with multiple dogs.

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2. Tylee’s Recipe for Food Grade Pork Frozen Dog Food – Best Value Check Price at Chewy Check Price at Amazon Food Type: Whole Food, Frozen Calories: 152 cal/cup Crude Protein: 12% Crude Fat: 8% Crude Fiber : 2%

Tylee’s Human-Grade Pork Recipe Frozen Dog Food is made with food-grade ingredients like USDA pork and fresh fruits and vegetables, including pineapple, butternut squash, carrots, kale, and broccoli. It’s pea-free for those with pea allergies and is minimally processed to preserve all the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. This food comes frozen; All you have to do is thaw in the fridge or microwave and serve. You can keep it in the freezer for a year or in the fridge for a maximum of 10 days. The manufacturer recommends throwing away leftover food after 2 hours.

The recipe contains salmon oil, powdered cod liver oil, sunflower oil and flaxseed, which provide omega fatty acids. It’s made with food-grade ingredients and is free of mysterious by-products, artificial flavors, preservatives, and colors.

Be careful when opening the bags as they have been known to break and render the food unsealable.

Although it’s a bit pricey compared to regular dog food, you can get a 6 lb bag for a reasonable price compared to other human products, making it our pick for the best human dog food for the money.

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3. Canisource Grand Cru Fish Grain-Free Dehydrated Dog Food Check price at Chewy Check price at Amazon Food Type: Dry Calories: 470kcal/cup Crude Protein: 28% Crude Fat: 16% Crude Fiber: 3%

Canisource Grand Cru Fish Grain Free Dehydrated Dog Food is perfect for the fish loving dog. The first ingredient is North Atlantic Herring and is made from 100% food grade ingredients such as lentils, peas, carrots, apples, seaweed and cranberries. The kibble is dehydrated, i. H. it is cooked at a low temperature to preserve the original nutrients in the croquette.

This food is grain-free, therefore suitable for dogs with gluten allergies and suitable for dogs of all ages. This dry food offers the benefits of a raw food diet with sufficient protein (28%) and is 100% free of by-products or artificial flavors and preservatives.

This food is on the expensive side, and the kibble can be difficult to chew for some dogs, especially puppies. We recommend rehydrating it.

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4. The Honest Kitchen Food Clusters Whole Wheat Chicken & Oats Recipe Puppy Mix – Best for Puppies: 5%

If you have a puppy in your life and want to start your puppy off with food grade foods, then The Honest Kitchen Food Clusters Whole Grain Chicken & Oat Recipe Puppy Blend might be the optimal choice. The first ingredients are real chicken and oats, which help ease your pup’s digestion. This food is made from food-grade ingredients in a food-grade facility that uses only natural, whole foods. It also meets FDA food safety standards.

This food is dehydrated to contain all the essential nutrients, but you will need to add warm water to your pup’s food bowl before serving to start the rehydration process. This food can be your pup’s exclusive food, or you can use it as a topper or mix it with dry food.

This food contains all the necessary components to give your pup a healthy start. It’s expensive, but the human-grade quality has exceptional ingredients, like added probiotics and DHA for brain health.

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5. Nature’s Diet Fresh Beef Simply Raw Freeze Dried Dog Food

Nature’s Diet Fresh Beef Simply Raw Freeze Dried Dog Food is raw dog food made from human ingredients. It is packed with prebiotics and probiotics, antioxidants and omega fatty acids. Because it is freeze dried, no refrigeration is required. They add water to the mix before feeding, which starts the rehydration process. Once the food is rehydrated, it needs to be refrigerated and can be kept in the fridge for three days.

Freeze-dried raw beef is the main ingredient, followed by beef bone broth, eggs, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, and a host of other food-grade ingredients.

It contains peas, so avoid this food if your dog has a pea allergy.

It’s important to follow the feeding instructions as the food will have a soup-like consistency if you add too much water.

This high quality food is made in small batches in the USA and is perfect for dogs that need a good amount of protein in their diet. It comes in a 3 pound bag for a cheaper price than some of the others on our list.

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6. Portland Pet Food Company Human-Grade Dog Food Pouch Chicken and Yams Check price at Chewy Check price at Amazon Food Type: Food mix, wet Calories: 395 kcal/cup Crude Protein: 13% Crude Fat: 5% Crude Fiber: 0. 4%

Portland Pet Food Company Human-Grade Dog Food Pouch Chicken and Yams is one of their five different recipes made with human-grade ingredients. This feed is a mix intended for a topper or a mixer with dry croquettes. If you have a small breed, you can use this mix as a rotation meal.

It’s made in the USA with USDA certified meat and doesn’t need to be refrigerated until opened. All food comes in a 9 ounce pouch and is ready to serve. no water needs to be added.

The Portland Pet Food Company donates 5% of their profits to nonprofit animal shelters, so buying this product gives you peace of mind while you’re feeding your dog food-grade ingredients. It is free from artificial flavors or preservatives and contains no animal by-products. It’s also gluten, wheat, and grain free.

This company offers many recipes and a mixed pack of all the recipes is available. A downside is that food can get caught in the corners of the bag, making it difficult to get it all out. It’s also pricey for a 9-ounce bag of groceries.

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7. Just Food For Dogs Pantry Fresh Dog Food Check Last Price Food Type: Pate Calories: 1,270 kcal/kg Crude Protein: 6.5% Crude Fat: 6.5% Crude Fibre: 2%

Just Food For Dogs Pantry Fresh Dog Food offers a complete, ready-to-serve meal. This meal is prepared in a USDA kitchen using food-grade ingredients and also meets AAFCO’s nutritional standards. The vet-formulated recipes are fully balanced and you have a variety of flavors to choose from: chicken and white rice, lamb and brown rice, turkey and whole wheat macaroni, and beef and red potato.

This dog food is gluten and grain free, making it a great choice for the few dogs with gluten and grain allergies.

Human-edible ground beef is the first ingredient, followed by red potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, apples, green beans, cod liver oil, and a special nutrient blend. The food is gently cooked and ready to serve.

This food is high in calories, so it may only be suitable for active and large dogs. Food may have a strong odor when opened and food may appear different than advertised. It’s also expensive.

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8. Caru Real Chicken Stew Check price at Chewy Check price at Amazon Food Type: Wet Calories: 291 kcal/cup Crude Protein: 5% Crude Fat: 5% Crude Fiber: 2%

Caru Real Chicken Stew offers 100% food grade quality for your dog. This wet dog food is made with no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives and is free of any by-products; in other words, the ingredients are fit for human consumption. This food is grain free for those who may suffer from wheat allergies and real chicken and chicken broth are the key ingredients. The fiber comes from fresh fruits and vegetables for easy digestion.

A downside is that the food is low in protein at only 3.5% so it may not be suitable as your dog’s sole source of nutrition. However, this stew would make a great topper or simply mixed in with your dog’s dry food. It contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that help keep your dog’s coat healthy and shiny, and it’s manufactured and sourced in the USA under FDA regulations. It comes in a 12 piece case with a 12.5 ounce carton pack at a reasonable price.

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9. Yumwoof Natural Pet Food

Check Latest Price Food Type: Dry Mix Calories: 335 kcal/cup Crude Protein: 23% Crude Fat: 10% Crude Fibre: 1%

Yumwoof Natural Pet Food is made with 100% food-grade ingredients such as carrots, pumpkin, blueberries, beef liver, flaxseed, chia seeds and cranberries. This food is a low-carb diet for picky eaters that’s packed with antioxidants, minerals, and fiber.

This food is a mix, so you’ll need to add whatever protein your pup likes. For food-grade foods, this blend is slightly more affordable than others and contains no fillers, corn, wheat, peas, legumes, or soy. It’s made in the USA and is gluten-free. It’s easy to feed; Simply mix with the desired protein, done.

This food is only available in a 1 pound bag.

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Buying guide: How to choose the best dog food for humans

When it comes to buying dog food, all of the options available today can confuse a dog owner. Dog parents want the best for their canine friends, and offering healthy dog ​​food is vital to their overall health. Now that we’ve explored our top food-grade food recommendations, let’s discuss other topics related to this new dog food craze.

Is food grade food better?

Yes! Even though human dog food is more expensive than store brands, the quality ingredients speak for themselves. Dog food for humans contains no fillers or rendered feed grade meat meals; only fresh, high-quality foods that provide plenty of nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

In order for a dog food to label its product “human-safe” the manufacturer must comply with FDA regulations such as: B. Manufacture, handling and minimal processing in USDA kitchens. If the food is fit for human consumption, it means it has not been processed in a facility where products labeled as unfit for human consumption are then processed into meals to produce an animal-grade feed.

What nutrients should you look out for?

When purchasing human dog food, you should ensure that the food meets FDA regulations and is rendered product-free. USDA certified meat is usually the first ingredient in these foods, and that means the food was actually prepared in a USDA certified kitchen.

If you plan to only feed human dog food, make sure the label states that it meets AAFCO’s nutritional standards and is complete and balanced. Not all human dog food has these claims, and if that’s the case, it’s better to serve it with your dog’s regular kibble. It is better to feed some human dog food than none at all.

What nutrients to look for

Dehydrated dog food means the moisture evaporates to extend its shelf life. Freeze drying the food is essentially the same process; only freeze-drying is done at low temperature.

Price

If you want to feed your dog human quality, your wallet will see the impact. Even if it’s more expensive, you’re providing your dog with the best possible nutrition, and that alone can help reduce potential expensive vet bills in the future. If you can swing it, it’s definitely worth the price.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed our top nine picks for the best dog food for humans. In summary, we recommend Nom Nom as the best dog food for humans. They offer four different recipes, all foods meet AAFCO nutritional standards and are made in USDA kitchens. If you have multiple dogs, you get a discount. For the best value, Tylee’s Human-Grade Pork Recipe Frozen Dog Food is minimally processed, easy to serve, and uses USDA certified pork at an affordable price. If your dog loves fish, Canisource Grand Cru Fish Grain-Free Dehydrated Dog Food is for you.

We wish you the best of luck in your search and to the health of your dog!

Selected image source: Africa Studio, Shutterstock