What Are The Worst Dog Food Brands

Can I Mix Wet And Dry Dog Food

Yes! You can mix kibble and canned food, but you need to be careful about the quality of food and calorie intake. Dry food has more calories, and you should be careful not to overfeed your pup. If theres a mismatch in ingredients quality, this can lead to an upset doggy stomach as well.

Mixing dry and wet food is usually something dog parents resort to if their pooch needs to gain weight.

If your dog has a sensitive stomach, you should avoid mixing these two and should serve them separately instead. Likewise, if theyre used to one type of food and you introduce a mix, it might cause an upset stomach or diarrhea.

Cesar Filets Dog Food Trays

Ingredients of Prime Rib: Water, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Beef, Animal Plasma, Wheat Gluten, Chicken Heart, Corn Starch, Wheat Flour, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Added Color, Magnesium Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Xanthan Gum, DL-Methionine, Prime Rib Flavor, Guar Gum, Manganese Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Sodium Carbonate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate , Riboflavin Supplement , Potassium Iodide, Vitamin A Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride , Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement.

Why this dog food brand is a bad choice:

• Too much wheat
• Too much fillers, by-products, colorants

Pet Worshiper rating: 3.6/10.0

There are many flaws in the ingredients of this food. The most serious mistake is high salinity. Dogs are much harder to bear high salinity than humans. In addition to dehydration, this can have several other health disadvantages.

But there are also harmful ingredients in this food. Examples are wheat gluten and wheat flour. They are also considered fillers and contain gluten. And then there are the meat by-products and dyes. I have already mentioned the by-products. They are worth avoiding because they are not the ideal sources of protein.

Dyes can be harmful to the health of dogs. Plus, theyre completely unnecessary. Your dog will not be interested in the color of the food achieved.

Healthy alternative:

Merrick LilPlates Mini Medley

Avoid Low Protein / Low Fat Dog Foods

Sometimes its hard to tell from the ingredients that a dog food is high in carbohydrates. Its not required to list a carbohydrate percentage on the label. A dog shouldnt have too many carbs in their diet, and if they dont burn them off theyll turn to sugars and body fat, and we all know that doesnt lead to optimum health.

Even when meat is the first ingredient it could be backed up by a whole load of grain ingredients which significantly outweigh the meat in the food. For example, ingredients could be listed as Chicken By-Products, Wheat, Wheat By-Products, Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, when all ingredients are in the same proportion. Very deceiving.

Average pet foods have a protein percentage of around 22%, and fat of around 12%. Thats not ideal, but anything less than that is best to avoid. Decent dog foods can be found with upwards of 30% protein , and around 20% fat. This ensures far less carbs than other brands.

Read Also: Best Costco Dog Food

Poor Dog Food Nutrition

The ideal nutrition for dogs is a hotly debated topic, and there are many ways of thinking. Regardless of these, the AAFCO set out minimum levels of nutrients such as protein and fat that dog food must contain to be sold in the USA.

While these standards set out minimum levels, we and many others do not believe they are sufficient nutrition for most dogs, especially those that are more active.

While dogs can consume large proportions of carbohydrates, they are not an ideal component of their diet. Instead, most dogs would be better served with a balance between protein, fat, and carbohydrates.

Most low-cost and poor quality dog food brands only just surpass the minimum standards set by the AAFCO and then fill the rest of their recipes with poor-quality carbohydrates ingredients.

These Are The Worst Dog Food Brands That You Should Avoid

Michelle Rei

Theres a huge number of dog foods out there, and it can be difficult to know which ones are good for your dog and which ones arent. While there are a number of brands you likely do know are not good for your pup, there are some others that may surprise you! A number of brands marketed as healthier may be anything but, and pet parents are often mislead into thinking they are feeding their dog a quality food, when in reality its just more crappy food hyped up by marketing teams.

In todays article were going to do something a little different. Were going to actually cover some of the worst food for dogs, and tell you what makes them so bad. Then well offer you some much better alternatives which you can give to your pooch instead. If youre currently feeding one of these brands to your dog, then the benefits of a new and higher quality food will likely make themselves apparent quickly. Your dogs coat and skin will look better, if they have previously had an digestion issues they will likely go away, and you may even find hes more energetic as well.

Recommended Reading: Who Makes Dr Pol Dog Food

Royal Canin Chihuahua Dog

IngredientsCorn chicken meal,brewers rice, corn gluten mealbrown rice, oat groats, soy protein isolate, natural flavors, dried beet pulp, fish oil, vegetable oil, sodium silico aluminate, sodium tripolyphosphate, salt,, trace minerals , glucosamine hydrochloride, marigold extract , L-carnitine, green tea extract, chondroitin sulfate, rosemary extract, preserved with natural mixed tocopherols and citric acid.

A General Guideline For Preparing Homemade Dog Food

My DIY dog food recipe is more of a general guideline, rather than an exact meal plan that I follow each week. My dogs diet changes the same way ours does, depending on what we do and what we buy or grow.

However, we almost always stay with this basic formula:

• 50 percent cooked protein
• 25 percent cooked complex carbohydrates
• Fats and supplements
• Eggshells

Protein is always meat and usually chicken, though weve also used turkey, pork, and beef. We feed any and all parts of the animals, but most commonly, we saute chicken breasts or chicken thighs in coconut oil and ground turmeric.

Coconut oil has a host of health benefits for dogs, such as improving the skin and coat, increasing energy, aiding digestion, reducing allergic reactions, promoting wound healing, preventing yeast and fungal infections, and supporting arthritis or ligament problems.

Turmeric has long been studied for its powerful medicinal properties, including its use as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

We add it to the coconut oil since it is fat-soluble, and use it to support our pugs joint health.

Speaking of dark meat, we feed thighs and breasts interchangeably. While well remove the skin from poultry and trim off excessive fat from red meat, we dont worry about buying the leanest meat possible for our dogs.

A little fat is necessary for a well-rounded diet.

They tend to be the leftovers in our produce bin, so we never have to buy, say, a whole head of cauliflower just for the dogs.

Don’t Miss: Who Makes Dr Pol Dog Food

Worst Dog Food Brands To Avoid This Year 2021

There’s no shortage of dog foods available on the market these days. Take a stroll through your local pet store and you’re bound to find aisles and aisles of products with dramatically different price points. While it’s not always the case, the price typically dictates the quality of the food.

It can be tempting to go with those cheaper brands. However, doing so could put your dog’s health at risk!

What your dog consumes daily has a large effect on their overall health.

Unfortunately, not all brands are focused on providing high-quality meals.

Cheap fillers, subpar protein sources, and a host of other bad ingredients are often used to keep the manufacturing costs low. Sadly those inferior ingredients can have a lasting effect on your dog.

Not only will they prevent your pup from reaching their full potential, but they can cause all kinds of health issues.

There are a ton of big no-nos in the pet food industry. While those premium brands work hard to provide a balanced diet for your furry friend, others use questionable ingredients you want to avoid. To help you shop smarter, here are some dog food brands you want to avoid in 2020.

Top 10 Worst Dog Treat Brands Of 2021

Dog treats play an important part in our dogs everyday life. So its important we feed our dogs a healthy, well balanced dog treat. Many low-end dog treats will contain corn or wheat in the first few ingredients. Dog owners need to be aware of the high carbohydrates these treats may contain. Over-feeding could cause weight gain or other health-related issues. So whats the worst dog treats? Here are the worst dog treat brand for 2019.

Recommended Reading: Is Iams Dog Food Any Good

How Bad Are They

As a general rule of thumb, owners should avoid dog food formulas with ingredients they wouldn’t consume themselves.

Who wants to eat dead, dying, or diseased meats? This particular ingredient is especially harmful to dogs because owners will never know the exact source.

High-quality formulas contain all-natural protein from healthy animals. However, 4-D meats are often full of chemicals, hormones, steroids, and much more.

Not only that but these rejected and discarded meats may harbor potentially deadly extras. For example, sick and dying animals can contain all kinds of diseases.

The same goes for roadkill that may harbor a slew of bacteria and parasites.

Even seemingly innocuous sources like expired meat from a grocery store may be thrown into the formula without even being removed from the package. Because of the uncertainty with 4-D meats, dogs can be exposed to a lot of harm.

Steroids, insecticides, and growth hormones can affect the way they develop and grow while chemicals and parasites can lead to a variety of health issues like cancer.

Corn and grains are bad for dogs because they aren’t built to consume these ingredients on a regular basis. Dogs are carnivores through and through. They don’t have the right teeth to grind up grains.

As a result, many dogs can develop digestion problems. The influx of GMOs, insecticides, and mold on corn and grain products can also lead to cancer and allergy issues.

Account For The Calories

It’s important to remember that this is not an epic, human-sized cheeseboard, so go small. “It needs to be in proportion in your pet,” Nelson says. “Don’t put a massive amount in front of a chihuahua unless you want to pay for the emergency room.”

And, just like humans, Nelson advises, if a dog is going to enjoy a special meal, “All calories for the day still need to be counted.” If you’re serving up a barkcuterie board, “Be sure to pull out a little bit of their kibble,” she says, to help keep their day in balance.

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Best For Sensitive Tummy: Hills Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dog Food

Source: hills pet nutrition

This is food for dogs with sensitive stomachs. If your pooch has any gastrointestinal or digestive system problems, this canned food is perfect for them. Its main ingredient is easily digestible chicken, and it contains prebiotic fiber which supports a balanced microbiome.Hills Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dog Food also has vitamins that promote skin nourishment. Our pick for the best canned dog food for the sensitive stomach has an excellent blend of nutrients, including minerals and antioxidants, maintaining the natural balance in your canines stomach and intestines, while building a solid environmental defense at the same time. Its recommendable for adult dogs. Puppies or pregnant or nursing dogs shouldnt be eating this product.

Ingredients: Chicken, Brewers Rice, Chicken Meal, Yellow Peas, Cracked Pearled Barley, Whole Grain Sorghum, Egg Product, Chicken Fat, Soybean Oil, Brown Rice, Dried Beet Pulp, Chicken Liver Flavor, Lactic Acid, Pork Liver Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Flaxseed, Iodized Salt, vitamins , Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Choline Chloride, Taurine, minerals , Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Oat Fiber, Natural Flavors, Beta-Carotene, Apples, Broccoli, Carrots, Cranberries, Green Peas.

Alert: The Top 11 Worst Dog Food Brands To Avoid Immediately

Feeding your dog with the right food brands should be your pet-care priority.

You should aim at keeping your dog satisfied and healthy while ensuring that its body doesnt react to the meals you fed it.Most experts recommend that you should feed your dog twice a day .

Cant wait to see the worst dog food brands?

In this article you will see:

• The top 11 worst dog food brands to feed your dog.
• Worst dog food list 2018 that you should avoid immediately.
• The best brands to feed your dog.

So in order to avoid bad dog food and feed your pet with the right food you should first know which are the worst dog food brands and why. Wanna see the list of the top 11 worst dog food brands to feed your dog?

Ensure your dog a happier& healthier life by avoiding the following brands

Also Check: Does Dog Food Taste Good To Dogs

Worst Adult Dry Dog Food: Iams Proactive Health

The primary ingredient in IAMS Proactive Health Adult Chunks dry dog food is chicken.

Though chicken is a quality item and raw chicken comprises about 80% water, but when cooked, most of the water is lost, which reduces the meat content to just a portion of its initial weight.

After processing, these ingredients would probably account for a smaller fraction of the whole content of the finished food.

The second ingredient is cornmeal which is coarse ground flour made from the dried corn. Corn is a controversial and inexpensive cereal grain of low nutritional value to a dog.

For that reason, it is not a preferred part of any dog food.

The third ingredient of this product is sorghum , a starchy cereal grain with a similar nutrient profile to corn.

Because it is gluten-free and claims a smoother blood sugar performance than other grains, sorghum may be considered a satisfactory non-meat ingredient.

The fourth ingredient is chicken by-product meal, which is a dry product of the slaughterhouse waste.

This meal is made after all prime cuts have been separated, which includes almost anything left, including beaks, feet, and even undeveloped eggs, anything except the feathers.

But on the bright side, these portions are meat concentrates and comprise protein approximately 300% more than the fresh chicken.

The fifth ingredient is beet pulp, a controversial ingredient, as it is a high fiber by-product made of sugar beet processing.

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Iams Proactive Health Overall Bad Dog Food

IAMS is a known producer of dog and cat food, often praised for high-quality ingredients and good food formula. However, when you take a closer look at the ingredient list, youll quickly find out that IAMS is far from providing high-quality dog food.

For example, the Proactive Health food contains primarily chicken. Now, this wouldnt generally be an issue hadnt we taken into the consideration the low amounts of actual chicken in the food. The label doesnt show how much chicken is in there.

Moreover, the second ingredient on the list is cornmeal, which is just ground corn. As we mentioned, corn is a no-go for dogs since it acts as a food-allergen. Moreover, it has no nutritional value for the dog and it can cause digestive issues.

And of course, we have to mention that this food also contains chicken by-product meal. Now, this means that all of the chicken waste , are used to make this high-quality dog food. So, you can see why weve included IAMS on this list.

So, what would be a good alternative for IAMS dog food? Well, since were talking about food that claims to actually boost and promote the dogs health, wed gladly recommend you check out the American Journey Grain-Free dog food.

Now, this dog food is filled with actually nutritious ingredients that will boost your dogs immune system on a daily basis. The formula features real, deboned meat and protein, as well as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Also Read:

Read Also: Iams Ko Dog Food

Purina Pro Plan Focus Dog Food

Rating:

Pro Plan Large Breed Adult is one of 18 kibbles featured in our review of the Purina Pro Plan Focus product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Chicken, brewers rice, whole grain wheat, corn gluten meal, whole grain corn
• Type: Grain-inclusive
• Other recipes: Puppy, small breed, sensitive skin and stomach, senior, weight management and more
• Price: $

Focus Large Breed Adult derives the majority of its animal protein from fresh chicken. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 30% protein, 14% fat and 49% estimated carbs creating a fat-to-protein ratio of about 46%.

Pro Plan is one of the dog food brands most frequently mentioned by breeders and veterinary professionals.

Each recipe has been expertly formulated by a team of board certified veterinary nutritionists.

In addition, the entire Pro Plan product line is designed and manufactured according to rigorous guidelines recommended by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association.

Purina Pro Plan is one of the very best brands youll find on this or any list. And its easy on the budget, too. Highly recommended.

Actual buyer reviewMy black lab loves this food. Her coat is beautiful, her energy is high, and she digests it easily. My vet recommended this food and I couldnt be happier. I saw a noticeable difference within days of feeding this to her. My dog eats the dry food with a little bit of the PPP wet focus for large breeds. Do not hesitate to feed this to your pups.. its a game-changer!