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Our dogs are our best friends, important members of the family, and irreplaceable companions that can sometimes sense our feelings before we can. Without question, it’s important to take care of them.
Providing ample love and affection is the easy part, but buying the best dog food on the market takes a bit of research. There are many quality brands to choose from, so it’s important to determine the type of ingredients used in each type of dog food before giving it to your pet.
Not all dog foods are made equally. Over the last decade, we’ve seen numerous brands pop up claiming to be the best.
More so than ever, it’s important to get quality, naturally made dog food so you can be assured that your canine is getting all of the necessary nutrients without preservatives or chemical pesticides. The health of your beloved pet can be easily affected by the ingredients in their food, so choose wisely.
Fortunately for you, we’ve done the legwork to narrow down the best, most accessible, healthiest dry dog food that you can easily purchase online and in-stores. Here are our contenders.
Our Top Pick
Purina Pro Plan SAVOR Shredded Blend With Probiotics
As a company that prides itself on selling to dog lovers as opposed to dog owners, Purina is a reliable, go-to company for quality dog food. Purina Pro Plan SAVOR Shredded Blend With Probiotics is an adult dry dog food that comes in a variety of flavors such as lamb, beef, and chicken. With over 2,000 rave reviews, it’s a wonderful, affordable choice (and our top pick).
Other Great Picks
Wellness Complete Health Dry Dog Food
Wellness Complete Health Dry Dog Food is a fantastic option for balanced nutrition that only contains premium, natural ingredients. This favored brand does not contain wheat, corn, soy, preservatives, or by-products, so you can assure that your pooch will be eating ingredients from the earth only.
Rachael Ray Nutrish Premium Dog Food
Rachael Ray has been a household name for years, making her mark in the professional and entertainment food world. Her line of quality dog food is her contribution to bringing the same quality to our pets. Rachael Ray Nutrish Premium Dog Food contains zero preservatives, quality meats, and promotes healthy digestion for an affordable price.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula
Is your dog reaching their senior years? Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula is created with older dogs in mind and contains essential proteins and carbohydrates to assist adult dogs with their energy needs.
Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe Natural Dry Dog Food
Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe Natural Dry Dog Food is created with whole food ingredients and the brand is proud to be inspired by raw food. With 70% animal protein and 30% vegetable protein, Instinct knows how to feed your dog with balanced ingredients.
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Dry Dog Food
Grains are a natural ingredient for all diets, but dogs often have allergies or sensitivities to grains. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Dry Dog Food is created with real roasted meats, ad highly digestible carbohydrates for energy and fiber. The brand has also jumped on the probiotic bandwagon, using dried fermentation products for digestive support.
Nulo Adult Grain Free Dog Food
Nulo Adult Grain Free Dog Food speaks to a dog’s natural love for meat, with its first ingredients being Deboned turkey, turkey meal, salmon meal, chickpeas, chicken fat. The first ingredients on any food label (humans or pets) lets us know what makes up the bulk of what you or your pet are eating. This is great news for pets eating Nulo Adult Grain Free Dog Food.
Halo Holistic Wild Salmon and Whitefish Recipe
Does your dog love fish? We’re sure they do. Halo Holistic Wild Salmon and Whitefish Recipe is grain-free, made with wild salmon and whitefish, as well as chickpeas, lentils, and non-gmo vegetables. Dogs love it, as they should.
Canidae All Life Stages Dry Dog Food
Canidae offers a wide variety of quality dog food. The brand is a trusted, independent, family-owned company and has garnered a handful of wonderful reviews for its variety of focused formulas.
ACANA Regionals Protein-Rich, Real Meat, Grain-Free, Adult Dry Dog Food
ACANA Regionals Protein-Rich, Real Meat, Grain-Free, Adult Dry Dog Food is, as stated, rich in protein and real meat. It is gluten-free and made with free-range turkey, chicken, and eggs. Dogs love it and humans should feel good about giving their companions the ACANA brand.
What Is Dog Food?
Dog food comes in all shapes and sizes, but dry dog food is typically the most common and accessible kind of food for your pet. Dogs are considered omnivores, with a deep-rooted love for protein, so dog food is typically made with meat, fish, or other proteins as the main ingredient.
Dry dog food is convenient, affordable, and easy to store. Because all dogs have different preferences like humans, dog food comes in a variety of flavors such as chicken, lamb, or fish, and are also formulated with a variety of life stages in mind. For example, some dog food is formulated to support the energy of senior dogs while other brands help specifically with digestion by adding probiotics.
Why Should I Buy Dry Dog Food?
If affordability is a priority, dry dog food is the way to go. Dry dog food, or known as “kibble”, are low-cost and easy to feed. The advantages of dry dog food are high– it does not go bad, it is easy to store, and it can be purchased in bulk.
Dry dog food is also great for your dog’s teeth, a priority that is often overlooked. Since dry dog food is crunchy and harder than canned, wet dog food, the kibbles are designed to clean your dog’s teeth as they eat. This can help with dogs that are prone to teeth or gum issues.
Can I Mix Wet And Dry Dog Food?
Canned wet dog food can be great for your dog if they are dehydrated or have issues chewing, but many dogs take well to dry dog food. As a pet owner, you can certainly mix dry and wet dog food if your dog prefers the canned varieties.
Mixing wet dog food and dry dog food offers your pet a change in texture and can be great for a new type of balanced meal. It is important to maintain portion control since wet food has fewer calories. Start by gradually adding wet food and decreasing the amount of dry food you give to your dog, but you should check with your vet to understand the proper portion control for specific dog breeds and ages.
What Are The Ingredients In Dog Food To Avoid?
Not all dog foods are made the same, with some brands honing in on quality, natural ingredients, and cheaply made brands making food with by-products. It’s important to give your dog high-quality ingredients and you can make sure by checking the ingredient list on the packaging. Quality dry dog food is made with real meat and fish as the main ingredient.
Avoid dog food that has by-products, chemical preservatives such as Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT), and Ethoxyquin, food dyes such as Blue 2, Red 40, and Yellow 5 and 6. You should also avoid purchasing dog food that contains corn and wheat-gluten as well as rendered fat.
How Much Dog Food Should I Give My Pet?
There are many resources to determine how much dog food to give your pet, including online calculators, asking your vet, and reading the label on your dog food packaging. There is no one correct way to determine the proper amount of food to give your pet because all dogs and breeds are different.
Vets often recommend feeding your dog twice a day, so breaking down portions should take that into consideration. It’s important to know and keep up with your dog’s weight in order to determine the amount of food. From there, you can look at the chart on the dog food package and correlate it with your dog’s weight. It is also important to stick with a consistent feeding schedule.
Why Should I Buy Grain-Free Dog Food?
Grain-free dog food has become a popular, healthy option for your dog, and justifiably so. The grain-free varieties of dog food contain more protein and fewer carbohydrates, which can stand as a healthier, more balanced meal for your canine. The need for grain-free or gluten-free dog food can be determined by some physical characteristics and reactions from your canine.
Benefits of grain-free dog food include reduced canine food allergies, longer-lasting fullness, healthier skin, shinier coat, better breath, and more energy. Grain-free options have become popular because of the rise of canine food allergies. Signs of allergies include skin irritations, loose stool, vomiting, and ear infections.
What Is The Best Way To Store Dry Dog Food?
A benefit of choosing dry dog food for your pet is how easy it is to store and keep fresh, even if you choose to buy in bulk. To limit the amount of air, it is recommended that you seal your dog’s food in its original packaging by simply, keeping the bag shut or keeping it in airtight containers (plastic or stainless steel). Make sure to store the dog food in a cool, dry place.
Another good tip to keep your dog healthy is to always make sure that their food bowl and food container is kept clean to limit bacteria. Thoroughly wash the containers and bowls before storing or refilling. It is also a good idea to keep food out of reach of your pet (and children, for that matter).
Is It Okay To Leave Dog Food Out?
All dogs have different feeding habits– some eat their food right away, while others nibble throughout the day. The best way to feed your dog is with a consistent feeding schedule, which can vary based on habits. It is recommended that dogs be fed twice a day, at the same time each day.
Dry food can be left out safely for 24 hours. It should be discarded after one full day, if not consumed. In order to monitor proper feeding and appetite, do not add additional food to your dog’s bowl if left unconsumed as it is best to stick with the same amount of given food each day. If choosing canned, wet food, an open can should be stored in the refrigerator and eaten within seven days.
How Do I Choose The Best Dog Food For My Pet?
Your dog’s physical characteristics, habits, weight, and age are all important factors in choosing the best dog food for your companion. Fortunately, there are a handful of high-quality brands out there that can give your dog the proper nutrients and support their overall health.
Many dogs aren’t picky, but it’s a good idea to gauge what type of ingredients they tend to flock to. Does your dog love poultry-based dog food? What about fish? Have you noticed any reactions or allergies to grains in the food?
Reading the ingredients to make sure they are all-natural, USDA-certified organic, and made with high-quality meats and ingredients are a great place to start. Choosing the right food will give your dog a shiny, healthy coat, good energy, a strong immune system, and more. It is always a good idea to talk to your veterinarian before switching your dog’s food or determining how much to feed.
The Best Dog Food
There you have it – our picks for the best dog food. If you are looking to feed your canine high quality, natural ingredients, this list is a great place to find the best brands out there. Looking for other ways to make your pet happy? Be sure to take a look at our other top picks in the pet category.