Blue Diamond Hearty Beef Stew Target
This article was medically reviewed by Karie Johnson, DVM, veterinary and co-founder of VIP Vet Visit, a mobile vet service in the south suburbs of Chicago.
- Best dry canis familiaris food for adults
- Best wet dog nutrient for adults
- All-time fresh dog food
- Best upkeep dog nutrient
- All-time grain-free canis familiaris food
- Best dry domestic dog food for puppies
- Best dry canis familiaris food for seniors
- How we research dog food
- AAFCO standards
- How to read a pet food label
- Dog food FAQs
- Our experts
- Cheque out our other dog guides
Best dry out dog nutrient for adults
One of the almost popular choices, dry out dog food is convenient and practical. "Dry nutrient is the nigh compact, near shelf-stable, and about economical [choice] generally because yous are not paying for the water that's in college moisture foods," explains veterinarian and lath certified veterinary nutritionist Megan Shepherd, a clinical assistant professor of diet at Virginia Maryland Higher of Veterinary Medicine.
Plus, dry out dog food doesn't usually have special storage instructions (it doesn't need to exist refrigerated, like fresh dog foods) and is simple to scoop and feed. Of course, there's a lot of variation in calorie and food content in kibble-type dog foods, Shepherd points out, which can make information technology harder to pick the right 1.
In terms of nutrient content, wait for a moderate level of protein (the AAFCO minimum is 18% for adults) and low to moderate fatty. You may think more protein is a plus since dogs evolved as carnivores, but that'south non necessarily true, says Kelly Swanson, PhD, professor of brute and nutritional sciences at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Pet dogs are actually omnivorous and don't need super high levels of protein in their diets. Swanson explains that protein quality and digestibility are most important.
With this communication, we evaluated dozens of dry foods to notice ones with whole meats and meat meals at the top of the ingredients list. Rice and beans also provide protein, so those are great ingredients to expect for too. Swanson says fatty concentrations that come up in at less than 20% are best. If your dog is at a salubrious weight and doesn't have pancreatitis or gastrointestinal disease, fat content isn't something you need to worry about as much though.
When it comes to specific ingredients, look for kibble that's fabricated from a multifariousness of food-dense whole foods, advises veterinarian Due west. Jean Dodds, owner of Hemopet Holistic Care Veterinarian Clinic. These include high quality meat and fish, some carbohydrates, a mixture of vegetables, and some fruit. Lots of dry dog foods besides have extra health-boosting ingredients, like omega fatty acids for skin and coat wellness, and glucosamine, chondroitin, and light-green-lipped mussels for joint support.
Our suggestions below have all the must-have nutritional qualities plus a combination of salubrious extras, from omega fat acids to glucosamine and chondroitin.
Our picks for adult dry out dog food:
Salmon and craven meal appear at the top of the ingredients list along with rice, whole barley, and pumpkin. Extras include omega fat acids (fish oil) and probiotics. With a breakup of 26% protein, 16% fat, and 4% fiber, nosotros recommend this food for agile, normal-weight dogs. Each cup contains 437 kcal.
Beef and pork meal lead the ingredients list and there are a diversity of carbohydrates, including chocolate-brown rice, barley, oatmeal, quinoa, carrots, and apples. Health extras include omega fatty acids (flaxseed, salmon) along with glucosamine and chondroitin. With 26% protein, fifteen% fat, and three.v% fiber, this is a good option for moderately active, normal-weight dogs. Each cup contains 386 kcal.
At the pinnacle of the list are chicken repast and chicken fat plus millet and eggs. Carbohydrates include pumpkin seed, kelp, almonds, carrots, apples, blueberries, and cranberries. Healthy extras like probiotics and digestive enzymes are included. We recommend this food for active, normal-weight dogs with a breakdown of 36% protein, 15% fatty, and five% fiber. This food has undergone feeding trials and each cup contains 418 kcal.
Best moisture dog food for adults
Some dogs really prefer the taste or texture of moisture food, says veterinary Jamie Richardson, chief of staff at Small Door Veterinary in New York City. Of course, pet parents want their dogs to enjoy their meals, so it makes sense that this is a popular option.
Other pros of wet nutrient are that it tends to take a longer shelf life earlier it'due south opened, and according to Richardson, some wet foods may be less "processed" or contain fewer preservatives, which can make them easier to assimilate.
Luckily, the aforementioned nutritional standards employ to both dry and wet food. Only comparing their labels isn't exactly apples to apples because moisture food has much more than water content. So in order to empathise how a wet food's nutrition compares to a dry food, you need to await at the percentages of poly peptide, fat, and fiber on a "dry out matter basis." Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University has some handy instructions on how to calculate that yourself. Another pick: Call the brand that makes the nutrient or enquire your veterinarian for help. For the foods we recommend in this guide, we contacted the manufacturer to go all the info.
Heads up: Keep an center out for wet domestic dog food that'due south made from 100% meat. These won't provide complete, balanced meals for your dog. "Dogs have evolved from wolves to become obligate omnivores," explains Dodds. They need to eat more than just meat in order to be healthy. That doesn't mean these foods are totally off-limits though. Consider them supplements. Y'all tin fifty-fifty apply pocket-sized quantities of meat-only moisture foods as delicious toppers to your dog's dry food.
After doing our inquiry, we chose wet foods that meet the same AAFCO complete and counterbalanced standards that apply to dry food. It's worth noting, though, that moisture food oft has more protein and fat and fewer carbohydrates. And then before you swap dry out food for wet food, it's a good idea to talk to your vet then yous tin can be on the lookout for any problems with digesting a lot of protein or fat.
Our picks for developed wet canis familiaris food:
This wet food has protein sources of craven, chicken and turkey broth, and chicken liver. Brown rice, carrots, peas, sweetness potatoes, and pumpkin round out the list, plus flaxseed for omega fat acids. It contains 48% protein, 28% fat, and 1.5% cobweb and 320 kcal per 12.5-ounce carton, which is almost 25.6 calories per ounce.
At the front of the ingredients list are lamb broth, lamb, beef, and beefiness liver as protein sources. Carbohydrates include dark-brown rice, apples, carrots, and spinach. This food consists of 41% protein, 26% fatty, and 1% fiber. A 12.5-ounce can contains 359 kcal, or about 29 calories per ounce.
This limited ingredient food has a single protein source (turkey) and 2 carbohydrates (brown rice and oatmeal). A limited-ingredient food may be good for dogs with allergies that need to avoid certain ingredients. It contains 36% protein, 27% fat, and vi% fiber. A 12.7-ounce tin can is 402 kcal, or about 32 calories per ounce.
All-time fresh dog food
"An increasing number of pet owners are asking the states about fresh food for their pets," Richardson says. That may be partly due to marketing, which has helped pet owners learn about the benefits of feeding your dog a fresh diet. Usually, these foods are minimally candy, made with wholesome, gently cooked ingredients, and oft, they're preservative-free.
Of course, because these foods are a flake fancier, they tend to be on the pricier side. Lots of fresh pet nutrient brands are subscription-based, meaning they deliver fresh, individually customized meals correct to your doorstep. So while you might end upwards spending more on this type of dog food , it'south too super convenient.
If you lot're wondering how to cull a fresh dog nutrient, the standards are much the same as for dry and wet food, Richardson says. Information technology should have an AAFCO argument of nutritional capability and be advisable for your canis familiaris's size, life stage, brood, and activity level.
You lot should aim to buy fresh dog food from a reputable manufacturer that ensures good quality control. It's also key to look for the same types of ingredients yous would in other types of dog food: meat sources of protein, whole grains, fruits, and marine sources of fats — with bonus points for healthy extras like omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
We've tested all of our fresh food picks and can vouch for their quality.
Our picks for fresh dog nutrient:
Just Food For Dogs makes a variety of fresh, shelf-stable, and custom meals. Its fresh-frozen turkey and whole wheat macaroni contains footing turkey, broccoli, zucchini, carrots, cranberries, and cod liver oil for omega fat acids. It consists of 35% protein, 13% fat, and iii% fiber (dry affair basis). The brand conducts feeding trials and uses human-class ingredients and no preservatives. Save 35% on your first purchase and 5% on recurring autoship orders.
Ollie's chicken recipe includes chia seeds, carrots, peas, spinach, and blueberries, plus omega fatty acids from fish oil and cod liver oil. It's also costless of preservatives. It contains 37% protein, xi% fat, and 7% cobweb (dry matter basis). Salvage 50% on your first box.
Best upkeep canis familiaris food
In that location'south definitely a relationship between toll and quality when information technology comes to dog nutrient . So it's not a groovy thought to buy the absolute cheapest dog nutrient y'all tin can discover. That's because ultra-cheap domestic dog foods tend to exist filled with lower-quality ingredients to bulk them up and keep their prices down.
"Simply it's important to remember that there are many more affordable canis familiaris foods that are perfectly adept options," Richardson notes. Translation: You definitely don't demand to intermission the bank to feed your dog a healthy diet.
There are plenty of high-quality domestic dog foods available at lower prices. As long as a nutrient meets AAFCO complete and balanced standards like the options listed beneath and makes sense for your dog's life phase, you lot're good to go.
Our picks for budget dog food:
Chicken meal and turkey meal are the principal ingredients in this dry dog food. It also includes brown rice, oatmeal, barley, peas, and apples. Salmon oil is added for omega fatty acids. With 26% poly peptide, 14% fatty, and iii.v% fiber, nosotros recommend this food for moderately active, normal-weight dogs. One cup contains 376 kcal.
The principal protein sources in this recipe are deboned chicken and chicken repast. Standout carbohydrates include brown rice, barley, oatmeal, peas, sweet potatoes, carrots, blueberries, and cranberries. Healthy extras include omega fatty acids (flaxseed) and glucosamine. We recommend it for moderately agile, normal-weight dogs, with 24% protein, 14% fat, and 5% fiber. One cup is 378 kcal.
Craven and craven meal lead the list of ingredients and other ingredients include pearled barley, peas, oat groats, dark-brown rice, carrots, and flax seed. It also contains fish oil for omega fatty acids. Its nutrition breakdown of 23% protein, 13% fat, and five% fiber is ideal for normal, active-weight dogs. One cup contains 370 kcal.
All-time grain-free canis familiaris food
There's a lot of buzz nearly grain-free diets, simply it'southward important to know that they're non necessarily improve for your dog. If your dog happens to exist allergic to or intolerant of sure grains, and so a grain-free food might be helpful.
And FYI, these foods aren't carbohydrate-free. Instead, the carbs in grain-costless dog foods come from non-grain sources like white potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas, lentils, chickpeas, soybeans, and tapioca.
As well, it'south key to talk to your veterinarian earlier switching your dog to a grain-free nutrition. The FDA continues to investigate a potential link between dogs fed grain-gratis diets and the evolution of a heart status chosen non-hereditary dilated cardiomyopathy, which can exist fatal in a thing of months, according to Richardson. Because of this, some vets are strongly opposed to grain-gratis diets in general. They believe the risks of feeding a grain-costless nutrition simply outweigh any potential advantage. In a written report published in the journal "Scientific Reports" in August 2021, researchers at Tufts Academy found that peas are a common ingredient in the DCM-associated foods they examined, only research is ongoing and conclusions can non be drawn at this time.
The grain-gratuitous recommendations below are made from whole meats and salubrious bonus ingredients like omega fat acids and glucosamine. Like all the other picks in this guide, they're likewise AAFCO consummate and counterbalanced. Even better, Orijen Fit and Trim and Purina One Truthful Instinct have been tested in feeding trials to ensure they're easy to digest, palatable, and a good nutritional choice in the long term.
Our picks for grain-free dog food:
This grain-free dog food contains poly peptide sources from free-run craven, wild-caught flounder, costless-run turkey, wild-caught Atlantic herring, and cage-costless eggs. It too includes pumpkin, carrots, butternut squash, kelp, kale, spinach, carrots, apples, and pears, plus omega fatty acids and probiotics. This food has undergone feeding trials and is a practiced choice for active, normal-weight dogs. It consists of 42% protein, 13% fat, and eight% fiber and 402 kcal per cup.
Cage-free chicken and chicken meal are in this grain-free recipe along with peas, carrots, apples, and cranberries. Probiotics and omega fatty acids from herring meal and menhaden fish repast are added. With 37% protein, 20% fat, and 3% cobweb and 518 kcal per cup, we recommend it for highly agile, normal-weight or underweight dogs.
This grain-free nutrient contains beefiness, chicken meal, and sweet potatoes, plus healthy extras similar omega fatty acids and glucosamine. Information technology has undergone feeding trials and consists of xxx% protein, 17% fat, and four% fiber. With 386 kcal per cup, we recommend it for moderately active, normal-weight dogs.
All-time dry out dog nutrient for puppies
If you're wondering whether your puppy really needs a special nutrient just for younger dogs, the reply is yes! Puppies demand more calories, more fat, and a dissimilar vitamin and mineral balance to support good for you growth, Shepherd explains. Typically, puppy nutrient is made for dogs nether 1 year of age.
Though there aren't whatsoever official AAFCO nutrient standards specifically for small and big breeds, some puppy foods are made specially for dogs of different sizes. "Balancing the food needs of dogs given their wide size variety and ages is wise and common sense," says Dodds. For case, large breed puppies demand a special ratio of calcium to phosphorus for their growing big basic, and they can benefit from supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin to help keep their joints good for you, according to Shepherd. On the flip side, puppy foods for smaller breeds often accept smaller kibble pieces for smaller mouths. They may also exist a scrap higher in calories, since smaller breeds tin can take higher metabolisms.
If you lot want to make sure a nutrient is appropriate for puppies, check the label for an AAFCO complete and balanced statement that says it's intended for growth for all life stages. Some foods might also specifically state that they're for younger dogs. Keep an eye out for any food that says "maintenance" on the bundle. These are meant specifically for adult dogs, so they won't exist correct for a puppy.
Below, you'll detect three different puppy foods, one for pocket-sized breeds, 1 for large breeds, and ane for any size breed. Feeding trials have been done on both Wellness Complete Health Small Brood Puppy and Orijen Puppy Large Grain-Gratuitous Food.
Our picks for puppy nutrient:
Turkey, craven meal, and salmon meal are the principal proteins in this food that has undergone feeding trials. The list of carbohydrates includes oatmeal, barley, brown rice, carrots, spinach, sweetness potatoes, blueberries, and apples. Information technology also contains probiotics and omega fatty acids from salmon meal, menhaden fish repast, and salmon oil. The nutritional breakup is 28% poly peptide, 19% fat, and 4.25% cobweb and 489 kcal per cup.
Orijen's grain-free food for big puppies counts complimentary-run chicken and turkey, whole wild-caught fish and cage-free eggs among its protein sources. Standout carbohydrates include pumpkin, butternut squash, kelp, kale, spinach, carrots, apples, and pears. Omega fatty acids and probiotics are added as healthy extras. This food has undergone feeding trials and contains 38% protein, 16% fat, and 6% fiber and 446 kcal per cup. The FDA continues to investigate a potential link betwixt dogs fed grain-free diets and the development of dilated cardiomyopathy, so talk to your veterinarian before feeding your dog this food.
Chicken and craven repast are the main protein sources in this recipe. Carbohydrates include brown rice, barley, oatmeal, apples, and carrots and there are salubrious extras including omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin. Information technology consists of 28% protein, xvi% fat, and three.5% fiber and 406 kcal per cup.
Best dry dog nutrient for seniors
Typically, you might consider a senior domestic dog food around age 6 or 7 for a large breed, and effectually 10 or 12 for a pocket-sized, says Richardson. The right food for a senior dog depends on the specific senior and how they're doing, says Shepherd. If they're maintaining a healthy weight and muscle tone, their stool is well-formed, and they're enjoying their food, you may non even need to change their nutrition.
That said, in that location are lots of canis familiaris foods tailored specifically to the needs of older dogs who may take certain health problems. "Senior diets are formulated to target some of the common ailments of older pets, such every bit articulation health, digestive health, immune health, and possibly others," says Swanson.
Senior dog food is usually easier to digest and may be lower in calories since older dogs aren't always equally active. Nutrient for senior dogs may exist higher in protein to aid maintain their muscle, cobweb to help them stay regular, and extra antioxidants to limit oxidative stress and proceed their immune organization healthy. You may also come across omega-iii fatty acids for cognitive performance because some senior dogs suffer from cognitive dysfunction, aka "doggy dementia."
For older dogs, a bit of extra poly peptide is a plus. As long as your domestic dog doesn't accept any wellness conditions, await for a senior dog food that'south lower in fat and calories and has actress protein beyond the AAFCO minimum of 18%.
Our senior dog food picks are protein packed and take nutritional boosters that can support an older dog's changing needs.
Our picks for senior domestic dog food:
Chicken and poultry byproduct repast are the main protein sources in this food that's undergone feeding trials. It also includes rice, corn, wheat, barley, omega fatty acids, and glucosamine. With 29% poly peptide, 14% fat, and 3% fiber and 423 kcal per loving cup, we recommend it for agile normal-weight dogs.
This recipe counts chicken, chicken meal, and turkey repast every bit its main protein sources. Carbohydrates include brownish rice, oatmeal, barley, quinoa, apples, and carrots and omega fatty acids (flaxseed, salmon oil), glucosamine, and chondroitin are added as healthy extras. We recommend it for moderately agile, normal-weight dogs. It contains 27% protein, xv% fat, and iii.v% fiber and 381 kcal per cup.
This grain-complimentary recipe includes poly peptide sources like trout, turkey meal, salmon meal, and deboned turkey. Standout carbohydrates consist of sweetness potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, blueberries, and apples. Omega fatty acids (trout and salmon), glucosamine, chondroitin, and probiotics are salubrious extras that round out the list. With 30% poly peptide, 12% fat, and 5% fiber and 396 kcal per loving cup, we recommend it for agile, normal-weight dogs.
How to read a pet food label
Just like human food brands, canis familiaris nutrient brands use marketing to make their products more appealing. That means they've got dainty-looking images and aesthetically pleasing color schemes on the packaging that are meant to signify the healthfulness and quality of the food. But in gild to know the truth about the ceremoniousness of a dog nutrient, it's essential to learn what to look for on the nutrition label.
One identify to get started is this handy reference from the WSAVA about interpreting nutrient labels. The summit things to look for are the AAFCO complete and balanced statement, the guaranteed analysis (crude protein, crude fat, rough fiber, and wet), and the calorie content.
Adjacent, read the ingredients listing. It'southward tricky for the average dog owner to brand a decision about a dog food based on the ingredients alone though. "Although many pet owners make their decision based largely on the ingredient panel, information technology is only one of many considerations," Swanson says. "Without knowing the verbal formula and percent of each ingredient, it is not as well useful. What is more of import is that the dietary formula is complete and balanced." So basically, as long equally the food is complete and balanced, don't stress about the private ingredients as well much.
Also, beware of buzzwords. "Terms like 'natural' and 'organic' are very mutual in the manufacture today," Swanson says. "While both terms were intended to highlight college quality ingredients, they do non guarantee high quality." Quality is determined by the raw ingredients a company uses and their manufacturing processes, something you can't always determine from the characterization lone. "Like other ingredients that practice non conduct these terms, they are highly variable due to differences in soil quality (plants), feed quality (animals), ingredient storage, ingredient handling, etc.," he says.
If reading pet food labels proves to exist more disruptive than helpful, check in with your veterinarian. They can aid you decide your dog's specific needs, guide you toward the right nutrient for your pet, and give you advice on how much to feed them.
Dog food FAQs
What is the all-time nutrient I can feed my dog?
There's no end-all-be-all, best dog food ever. That's because every dog is different. Some dogs may do better with more poly peptide or fat and some with less. Dogs handle amounts of cobweb differently too.
It's too important to detect a food your dog enjoys eating, which tin take some trial and fault. According to Shepherd, you'll know you're feeding your canis familiaris a food that'due south right for them, when they maintain a healthy weight (meaning their torso condition score is a 4 or 5, and they have a normal muscle status score); accept formed stool that'southward easy to pick upwards, but not so house that they're having a hard time pooping; aren't vomiting between meals; take healthy pare and coat (meaning they don't take dry, flaky peel); and are growing appropriately if they're a puppy.
Other signs of practiced health, Osborne says, include clear optics and nose, ears that aren't smelly, and bowel movements that are homogeneous, meaning they don't take little undigested pieces of food in them.
What is human-form canis familiaris food?
If a dog food says it's "human-class," that means the finished food is processed, handled, stored, and transported according to the manufacturing practices for human foods. This process needs to be meticulously documented, and the label should conspicuously mention the food is for dogs.
In his years of experience, Swanson has tested a few human being-grade pet foods in his lab. "While I don't have a strong preference to any one type or brand of diet, I can say that the human-grade foods I have had experience with are highly palatable, highly digestible, and resulted in a depression volume of stool that allowed for easy clean up," he says.
What is a raw diet for dogs?
Most typical dog nutrient contains a mix of cooked meat, grains, fruit, and vegetables. But a raw diet ways your canis familiaris's food is simply fabricated upwards of uncooked meat, basic, fruit, vegetables, raw eggs, and yogurt or another dairy product.
Is a raw diet proficient for my canis familiaris?
Insider Reviews spoke to veterinarians who said that even though at that place are some reported benefits of raw diets, they're just likewise risky. They put pets at take chances of nutritional deficiencies, bacterial infections, and maybe fifty-fifty injuries from bones in the nutrient. Plus, there are risks to humans. Those who are immunocompromised, elderly people, and young children are at risk of bacterial infections if they live in a household where a dog is fed a raw diet. If you want to learn more than, you can cheque out the statements from the FDA and CDC on the health and safety risks of raw domestic dog foods.
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