Best Dog Food Brands Reviewed
- Last updated on November 23, 2023
- By: Hebby Bailey
What is the best dog food brand?
This is often a question that dog owners like to ask. However, there isn’t one best dog food brand as there are many considerations to look at when choosing the most suitable dog food for your lovely pet.
Even among the different types of dog food, there are many top quality dog food brands that you can consider as one of the best dog food brands for your dog.
Table of Contents
What makes a good dog food?
When selecting a good quality dog food brand, your considerations should include the following:
- the company operating principles and values – we have included here examples of two companies: “Blue Buffalo” and “Hill’s Science”. They are good examples of top quality dog food companies.
- the food formulation – should meet ‘The Association of American Feed Control Officials’ (AAFCO) and ‘Food and Drug Administration’ (FDA) requirements for dog food nutrition. The objective for this is that the dog food is then consider ‘Complete and Balanced” meeting the dog’s nutritional needs.
- the dog food specific ingredients should address your dog specific needs.
There many other popular high-quality dog food brands on the marketplace like Royal Canin, Wellness, Fromm, Victor, Nutro, Orijen, Pedigree, IAMS, Acana, Raychael Ray, Natural Balance, Nutrisource, Canidae, Kirkland, Honest Kitchen, Natures Recipe, Wild Earth, Eukanuba that you can consider depending on your dog’s food nutritional needs.
With all the different dry dog food brands out there, it can be hard to decide which is best for your Fido. But we’ve got you covered! Our team of experts research and look at dozens to find out what is really safe and nutritious without compromising your pup’s health or taste buds!
Before making any purchases, read on and check out our reviews as we share our findings to help you make an informed decision.
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Best dog foods reviewed
We have evaluated dozens of top-rated dog food brands in the market to bring you the best ones. Here is our review and recommendation on the best dog food brands for your consideration.
Best Dog Food Brands Reviews
Highlights:
- BLUE BUFFALO Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Dry Dog Food
- Real Meat – High-quality protein from real chicken helps your dog build and maintain healthy muscles.
- Wholesome – whole grains, garden veggies and fruit.
- Essential Proteins and Carbohydrates – help meet the energy needs of adult dogs
- Omega 3 & 6 Fatty Acids – promote a shiny coat and healthy skin.
- LifeSource Bits – a precise blend of antioxidants to support immune system health.
- No corn, wheat, soy,
- No artificial flavors or preservatives.
- Various sizes including 30 lb. bag.
Highlights:
- MERRICK Grain Free Dry Dog Food Real Texas Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe
- Real Deboned Beef – is the first ingredient
- 65% protein and 35% produce, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other natural ingredients
- Optimal Weight Management – with combination of protein and healthy fats to help a dog maintain optimal weight and increased energy
- Glucosamine and Chondroitin – help maintain healthy hips and joints
- Omega Fatty Acids – support healthy skin and shiny coat
- 22 lb bag.
Highlights:
- TASTE OF THE WILD with Wild Roasted Bison and Roasted Venison High Protein Real Meat Recipes Dry Dog Food
- Roasted Bison & Venison Real Meat – is #1 ingredient
- High protein – at 32% providing optimal amino acid for lean strong muscles.
- Antioxidants – to support immune system
- No grain, corn, wheat, filler
- No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives added
- Highly digestible – support with probiotics.
- 28 lb bag.
Highlights:
- WHOLE EARTH FARMS Grain Free – with Chicken & Turkey recipe
- High Quality Protein – from real chicken and turkey
- Grain Free – for dogs with sensitive stomachs
- Nutrient Rich – contains added vitamins, minerals and nutrients
- No grains, corn, wheat, soy
- No artificial flavors, colors or preservatives
- 25 lb bag.
PURINA Pro Plan Puppy Food
Highlights:
- Purina Pro Plan Dry Puppy Food
- High Protein Dry Puppy Food – Chicken & Rice Formula
- Real Chicken as the first ingredient
- DHA from Omega-rich Fish Oil – helps to nourish your puppy’s brain and vision development
- Antioxidant-rich formula – helps support a puppy’s developing immune system
- 34 lb bag.
Highlights:
- Diamond Naturals Premium Large Breed Formulas Dry Dog Food for Adult Dogs and/or Puppies
- High Quality Protein – with real pasture raised lamb tailored for a large breed dog
- Optimal Amino Acid – for lean, strong, muscles
- Omega Fatty Acids – support skin and coat
- Glucosamine and Chrondrotin – for joint health
- No corn, wheat, filler
- No artificial flavours, colors, or preservatives.
- 40 lb bag.
HILL'S Science Small Paws, Small Breed Dog Food
Highlights:
- HILL’S Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult, Small Paws for Small Breed Dogs
- Highly Digestible IngredientS – easy on your small dog’s stomach
- Omega 6 Fatty Acids – with vitamin E help promote healthy skin and a shiny coat
- High Quality Protein – maintain lean muscle in small breed dogs
- Antioxidant Blend – specifically for lifelong immune support
- No.1 veterinarian recommended
- Various sizes including 15.5 lb bag.
Highlights:
- Castor & Pollux Organix Grain Free Organic Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain Free Dry Dog Food
- USDA organic certified chicken dog food – that contain no artificial preservatives, flavors or colors
- Nutrient Rich – packed with a blend of superfoods, including organic flaxseed, organic blueberries and organic sweet potatoes
- Organic Oatmeal and Organic Barley – to help support healthy digestion
- No corn, wheat, soy, chickpeas or lentils.
- 18 lb bag.
PURINA ONE SmartBlend True Instinct, Adult Canned Wet Dog Food
Highlights:
- PURINA ONE SmartBlend True Instinct Adult Canned Wet Dog Food
- Nutrient Dense – with Beef & Wild Caught Salmon
- Real Beef Is The #1 Ingredient for protein
- No Poultry By Products
- Antioxidants – help support healthy immune system.
- Omega Fatty Acids – help support healthy skin and coat
- 12 cans, each can is 13 oz.
Hill's Science Diet Wet Senior Dog Food
Highlights:
- HILL’S Science Diet Wet Dog Food, Adult 7+ for Senior Dogs
- High Quality Protein – help your senior dog build and maintain lean muscle
- Powerful Antioxidant Blend – support the lifelong health in older dogs
- Omega Fatty Acids – with Vitamin E to support healthy skin and coat
- #1 veterinarian recommended
Dog Food Buyer's Guide
Types of Commercial Dog Food
Other than a homemade diet, there are different types of commercially produced dog food. These include:
- Dry Dog Food: which has 6 to 10 percent moisture. It is the easiest to feed and to portion-manage for specific mealtimes during the day. It comes in many shapes and sizes and you can choose one that your dog prefers.
- Wet Dog Food: which has 75 to 80 percent moisture. Some dogs prefer the palatability of wet or canned dog food. Once the can is opened, it is recommended to store the remainder of the food in a small food container for refrigeration.
- Semi-moist or Soft Dog Food: which has 15 to 30 percent moisture, a great option for dogs with missing teeth.
Note that how good a dog food does not depend on the moisture content. Dry food is usually more convenient to feed larger dogs while wet food is usually tastier and more acceptable to smaller dogs.
One option for feeding your dog is to use a combination of dry, canned or semi-moist dog food each day.
Types of Diet For Dogs
Choosing the right diet for your dog may require some trial and error as there are many choices and brands available.
Based on our research and findings, we have categorised various types of dog food below for your review. You can click on the specific dog food to go to each selection to find out more:
Other Considerations
- Different dogs have different needs – depending on many factors such as their size, activity level, health condition and stage in life, so there is really no ‘one-size-fits-all’ dog food that is considered the best dog food. Some dogs go well on dry dog food, some need canned food or others. Also, athletic dogs do need more protein and obese dogs need low fat. The dog food may need to help out with medical issues such as skin problems, gastrointestinal problems, diabetes, arthritis or others.
- The American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Dog Food Nutrient Profiles – Dog food should provide the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals as specified by AAFCO. Quality dog food all adhere to the nutrient profiles for dogs as provided.
- Look out for your dog’s allergies and sensitivities – The right diet should not cause allergies. If your dog has allergies then you need to find food ingredients that do not cause them. It might mean avoiding chicken, beef, grain or others. Hence, the more your know about your dog’s condition and intolerances, the easier it is to choose the right dog food.
- Quality matters – Dogs seem to look and feel better on better quality food. Better quality brands have quality protein, fat, and carbohydrate and do not contain artificial additives or preservatives. Some of the popular quality dog food brands include Blue Buffalo, Purina, Fromm, Royal Canin, Victor, Nutro, Orijen, Merrick, Diamond, Pedigree, Hill’s Science Diet, IAMS, Rachael Ray, Wellness, Natural Balance, Acana, Taste of the Wild, Canidae, Nutrisource, Kirkland, Beneful, Zignature, Nature’s Recipe, Eukanuba, Whole Earth Farms
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Author: Hebby Bailey
- Updated on November 23, 2023
Disclaimer: This article doesn’t intend to replace professional veterinary advice, nor should it be used as a substitute for veterinary services, diagnosis, or treatment. The content on this website, including information and opinions expressed herein, are intended for general informational purposes only. In case you have concerns or questions regarding your dog’s health and diet requirements, please consult your veterinarian before doing anything that might affect it.
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