Which Dry Dog Food is The Best?
All dog moms and dads want the best for their pets! Among the most important choices you make every day is which dog food to buy. Whether you just adopted a new pup from the shelter or you’ve been running a dog breeding business for years, this decision can be quite daunting!
Unfortunately, the pet food business is not well regulated, and it doesn’t help that numerous dog food brands are jostling for space on supermarket shelves.
As such, it is pretty easy to get lost in the packing and marketing and settle for a product that is not worthy of your canine companion.
The only way to avoid this is to conduct appropriate due diligence before you decide to buy. Luckily, we are here to simplify that process for you.
Below is our guide to help you decide which dry dog food is the best.
Table of Contents
Buying Dry Dog Food – Buyer’s Guide
The best dry dog food is supposed to nourish your precious pup and keep him in optimal health at any stage of his life. To find the best food for your dog, consider the following features:
Ingredients
Ingredients are probably the first thing you should look at when you go to purchase dog food. You want to select a mix that your cherished companion can tolerate.
If your dog has digestive issues, grain-free dry pet food will make the ideal choice.
But if they can cope with a normal diet, then you can opt for regular adult-sized dog food.
Choice
Dogs are no different from humans when it comes to food!
They also have their preferences and over time, you might notice what type of foods endear to your dog the most. If it’s a dog that you recently adopted, you can try testing with different food brands to find this out. For instance, if your pup is reluctant to eat chicken-flavored dog food, switch to salmon, lamb, or beef-flavored meals to see how they respond.
Alternatively, you can experiment with a vegetarian recipe for a healthier option. In the end, if you are still trying to figure out a meal that your dog loves the most, remember to purchase sample-sized packages so that you don’t waste money on a meal he won’t enjoy.
Nutrients
This is another major factor to keep in mind, especially when you want a dog meal that will enhance your pet’s health. Different dog food formulae utilize different nutrients in them, which may be favorable for your dog depending on factors such as breed and age.
For instance, senior dogs require nutrients like chondroitin and glucosamine in their diet as they help to keep the dog’s joints strong and healthy.
Meanwhile normal adult-sized dogs require foods infused with omega-6 fatty acids to help keep their coat shiny and skin soft. Finally, puppies need nutrients such as DHA to help enhance brain development in their young life.
Texture
Some dogs may also have sensitive teeth and mouths. In this case, the texture of the food will be an important issue to consider. You don’t want to put your cute canine through hardships when they are eating their meals.
Look for foods with a shredded mixture to make it easier for your pup to chew and swallow.
Best Dry Dog Food- Individual Reviews
Purina Pro Plan Savor
This dry dog food brand is full of nutrients that will boost your dog’s digestion and improve his immunity. The Purina Pro Plan Savor dog food comprises live probiotics from wheat and is available in a range of flavors, including salmon, lamb, beef, as well as chicken with rice.
This means more variety for your dog to pick from. The manufacturer uses real meat as the main ingredient in this dog food. It is processed using high-quality protein, which helps to strengthen your dog’s muscles and boost his value of life.
The Plan Savor dog food is a kibble mixed with shredded, tender bites.
Its taste is not only sumptuous but also safe for dogs with sensitive teeth and mouth.
Your furry friend enjoys a 100% balanced meal, featuring nutrients like vitamin A, omega-6 fatty acids, and linoleic acid for smooth skin and a shiny coat.
Overall, this dog mixture offers an optimal diet. It comes with the ideal protein-to-fat ratio to cover your dog’s health in all his day to day activities. Veterinarians even recommend the Purina Pro Plan Savor and those who have had the chance to try it reveal that difference in their canine companions is undeniable!
Rachael Ray Nutrish Premium Dry Dog Food
The unique thing about this dog food by Rachael Ray Nutrish is that it doesn’t use any artificial ingredients or preservatives. Furthermore, it is cheaply available and this makes it a great option to keep your loyal friend healthy during those tough economic times.
The mixture consists of high-quality ingredients such as farm-reared poultry like turkey and chicken.
Prebiotics has been added to the mixture to facilitate optimal digestive and according to many consumers, this is evident after a few weeks of feeding your dog the Rachael Ray Nutrish dog food.
The formula used does not feature any wheat or gluten, meaning the meal is suitable for precious poodles with sensitive stomachs. Additionally, it contains minerals and vitamins that aid in boosting your dog’s immunity. The manufacturer has also come up with a formula specially made for smaller breed dogs, so you can feed the Nutrish Premium to giant, as well as pocket breeds with similar great results.
All the ingredients in the meal are individually hand-picked and range from seafood, chicken, to tasty veggies. Your pup gets to enjoy the taste of crunchy carrots full of beta carotene and even brown rice, which is a rich source of carbohydrates and vitamins.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula
Life Protection Formula by Blue Buffalo is great if you own a senior dog! Its formula features Lifesource Bits, which offers the perfect content of minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, just to name a few. These are hand-selected by animal nutritionists, as well as holistic veterinarians. Thanks to the right balance of ingredients in the mixture, your dog’s health is optimised.
The mixture further contains chondroitin and glucosamine to help with joint strengthening and enhance mobility for your canine companion.
You also get high-quality ingredients such as real meat, rice, vegetables like whole peas and sweet potatoes, as well as fruit like blueberries and cranberries. In the end, you’re left with a balanced diet that your pup needs to stay active during your morning walks.
You won’t find any artificial ingredients or preservatives, which is good for dogs with sensitivity issues. The Buffalo Life Protection Formula provides energy and helps to preserve the health teeth thanks to ingredients such as calcium, phosphorus, and additional vitamins that play a crucial role in maintaining strong bone health.
IAMS Proactive Health Minichunks Dry Dog Food
If you want to facilitate your pup’s healthy brain development, the Proactive Health Minichunks dog food will be a great choice! It is processed using a mixture of fifteen different superfoods, which help to enhance development in your cuddly canine. The formula consists of everything from salmon and chicken to lamb.
These ingredients do a great job of providing proteins and other essential nutrients necessary for your dog’s growth.
It also consists of chicken by-products, corn, as well as soy. The manufacturer has also not sacrificed taste for nutrition in this mixture, so your dog will not only grow healthy but also have a sumptuous meal every dinner time.
Among the superfoods included in this mixture are coconut, chia, kale, blueberries, and more. These are foods that your dog is bound to enjoy while eating and have been sourced from reliable suppliers. Another great feature is that the mixture doesn’t any artificial colors or preservatives; everything is organic.
There is a high level of antioxidants in the formula combined with DHA to promote the health and function of the brain, while the health of your dog’s heart and the immune system is also promoted.
Gentle Giants Canine Nutrition Chicken
This chicken-based dry dog food is not only affordable but also comes packed with minerals and vitamins. You also get 12 whole fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries, tomatoes, spinach, beets, apples, and celery. This means your dog gets to bask in a sensation of flavors and tastes.
They also get to benefit from Vitamins A, B 12, and C found in the natural food sources, which go a long way to boost your pooch’s immune system.
However, you won’t be impressed with the formula’s fat and protein content.
This is because you only get 22% protein, which falls below the average level in this price range. Nonetheless, it will still meet alternative nutritional needs for your companion’s bones and muscles. Overall, this formula is made with sensitive dog stomachs in mind.
If you have a pet with digestive issues that is struggling to consume regular dog food, this will prove to be a nice option. Although it is not a premium dog meal, the Gentle Giants Canine Nutrition Chicken is an excellent choice for pet owners on a tight budget.
Wag Amazon Brand Dry Dog Food
If you are still asking which dry dog food is the best, you might want to try the Wag Amazon Brand and see how your prized poodle responds to it. This premium and tasty dog meal will provide your dog with the needed protein boost for a healthy life. The more than 3,000 reviews it has on Amazon is a testament to just how many dog parents have discovered its value.
The Wag brand is a private label pet food company that belongs to Amazon. The product comes in a range of flavors that your canine will enjoy. You have the choice of sumptuous tastes like salmon, beef, turkey, lamb, and even chicken. Even the choosing breeds with discerning palates won’t have a choice but to try it. The main ingredients include lamb from Australia and real meat from the US.
Thanks to an additional mixture of peas and lentils, your dog will benefit from extra vitamins and minerals to go with phytonutrients and antioxidants.
These high-value recipes are formulated with the input of a veterinarian to ensure that you’re getting the highest quality of dog food in the market. There are also no added grains to limit the risk of stomach upsets for your dog.
Each serving of the mixture constitutes 35% protein to provide enough energy to keep your dog healthy and active. Meanwhile, the puppy mixture features a slightly more protein boost at 36%. To ensure that what is buy is safe for your furry friend, each batch goes through a rigorous quality test before it leaves the facility.
Conclusion
Nothing excites a dog more than meal times. This is also a chance for you as a dog owner to connect with your favorite animal companion. So, why not make the most of it by ensuring that his feeding times are always unforgettable? The above brands will help you get a good idea of which dry dog food is the best!
FAQ
How Much Dry Dog Food Should I Feed My Dog?
If you don’t feed your dog adequately, he is likely to develop nutritional deficiencies yet when you overfeed him, you risk obesity on his part.
So, this is a balancing act that you need to learn depending on the breed of dog you own.
One way to do this is by checking the labeling on the dog food to see what the manufacturer suggests.
This section is usually depicted as a table or chart with varying dog weights and sizes. Here, you will get an idea of approximately how many cups of the dog food you should give your loyal companion. Alternatively, you can float this question to your veterinarian when you take your pup for his annual checkup. The physician should be able to tell you how much food is adequate for your dog for the day!
Is Dry Dog Food Better Than Wet Dog Food?
The answer to this question is influenced by a couple of factors. It will depend on whether you’ve tried feeding your dog both options and observed how they reacted to each. If he enjoys one more than the other, then this is a matter of preference. When it comes to the benefits of feeding your pooch dry kibbles. You’ll find that your dog gets to chew more, which enhances his dental hygiene.
Furthermore, the dried food is easier to store compared to wet food. With wet food, your dog either has to consume it quickly because it goes bad in such a short time.
This means you can get dry dog food in large amounts without having to worry about it going bad, unlike wet food.
At the end of the day, you’ll realize that buying just once after a while is more economical.
Can Dry Dog Food Go Bad?
Generally speaking, sealed dry dog food will have a shelf life of around two years from the date of manufacture. However, this drops down to one year when the package is opened. All in all, the dry food is supposed to last through the manufacturer’s stated expiration date if properly stored.
In case the food goes bad, you’ll notice this when the smell is suddenly different from what it was when you first opened the package. Rancid food will typically have an easily detectable foul smell. Therefore, you want to keep on checking the state of your dog’s food always before feeding time.
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