We All Want A Dog Food Brand We Can Trust
With confusing labeling, misleading marketing, and a lack of transparency so common in the world of dog food, a brands integrity can sometimes be more telling than the ingredient list.
Finding the best dog food is a process that requires attention to all details. Its a delicate balance of being conscious of the brand while not allowing what looks like a great brand history, reputation, and production process to supersede awareness of ingredients and the foods appropriateness for your dogs unique needs.
Read on as we list what are the healthiest dog food brands in the market today.
Here at DogFood.Guide we have a dedicated mission to provide dog owners like you with well-researched information so they can provide the nutrition and health care towards their dogs.
Our readers rely upon our dog food articles, reviews and recall alerts that we took the time to research. We also routinely update and review our own reviews ensuring that any changes by manufacturers are brought to your attention.
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How Do I Know If My Puppy Is A Large Breed
The pet food industry3 defines a large breed puppy as one whose adult weight is expected to be over 70 pounds.
However
Since its impossible to know your puppys adult weight before shes fully grown
Its safer to use a more conservative 50 pound definition advocated by others.45678
If you expect your dog to weigh over 50 pounds when shes fully grown then shes considered a large breed puppy.
Diamond Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food
Image courtesy Diamond
Diamond Puppy Formula Dry Food gives your puppy pal the finest gift of all: top-notch nutrition. This food is designed to make a difference with carefully calculated amounts of protein, fat, and other important nutrients.
This recipe was created to fulfill the unique nutritional requirements of growing pups who are developing fast. Salmon oil includes DHA, which aids in the maintenance of good eyesight and brain function in puppies.
It’s packed with antioxidants and fiber, which support your child’s digestive and immune systems to ensure he receives all the nutrients he needs to develop every day.
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Nutrition For The Outside
One of the most visible components of your dog is its fur. Youve probably noticed that a nice, shiny coat gets a lot of attention from dog lovers! Nutrition plays a vital role in this area.
A large percentage of the protein your puppy takes in goes towards maintaining its coat. Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids are also essential for healthy skin and fur.
Best Dog Food For Puppies
The nutritional needs of dogs vary throughout their life. Puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs, and senior dogs have their own nutritional considerations. Most dog food companies carry specially formulated puppy foods for each stage of a dogs life, making it easier to narrow down your choices. If you are concerned about which is the best dog food for your dogs life stage, consult your veterinarian to see what stage food is appropriate for your dog.
Your puppy requires a different nutrient balance than an adult dog. This is especially true for large breeds. Feeding a large breed puppy food can help, as their growth needs to be monitored carefully to prevent bone and joint problems. Other puppies do well on both puppy food and food labeled for all life stages. The best food for your puppy depends on your puppys size and breed. Always consult your veterinarian for recommendations on puppy feeding, and advice on how to switch puppies to adult dog food.
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Puppy Chow Complete With Chicken & Rice Dry Dog Food
Image courtesy Chewy
With Puppy Chow Complete With Real Chicken Dry Dog Food, you can give your puppy the best start in life. This high-quality dog food for pups is jam-packed with 100 percent of the essential nutrients your young canine needs to develop into a powerful adult.
Plus, the excellent flavor of this dry puppy dog food makes it a must-have for pups. The Healthy Start blend is high in protein and contains 30% more protein than the leading adult dog food. All that protein aids in the development of your pup’s muscles as he leaps and bounds through his daily activities.
The nutritious dog kibble gives DHA to assist his brain and vision development, as well as antioxidants like vitamin C. Serve your puppy this high-protein puppy food for the first year of his life to lay the foundation for a pleasurable, active existence.
How Much Am I Really Paying
When it comes to price, remember that your puppy wont need to eat as much food if theyre getting the nutrients they need.
You might find that expensive dog food brands are a better bargain in the long run than they might seem at first since youll need to feed less and hence buy less often than you would with a cheaper brand.
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Best Dog Foods For American Bullies In 2022
The American Bully is a newer breed of dog and wasnt recognized by the American Kennel Club until 2004. This breed is related to other bully breeds, including the American Pitbull Terrier and Bulldog.
This breed is exceptionally healthy, but they still require a balanced diet to thrive. In this article, well look at some of the best dog foods for the American Bully.
Hemp Source & Cbd Content
When buying any other dog treat, you must look at the ingredients list and the product. A better understanding of hemp source and quality plays a similar role. As the plant from which CBD is extracted in the later stages, we made sure to consider brands who sourced their hemp from within the U.S. It would have the assurance that regulations are being followed while producing high-quality hemp.
Despite the variety of treats in the market, the manufacturer must also ensure the appropriate method is used for extraction to increase hemp quality. The CBD content would also determine the treats effectiveness thus, a sufficient amount had to be present. Brands that failed to do so did not make it to our list.
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Dry Food For Puppies: What About Wet Food
Dry food has the advantage of being more affordable and less messy when feeding and cleaning up after your puppy at mealtimes. It also has a longer shelf life than wet food . According to PetMD, dry food has been found in some cases to help maintain dental health in dogs . Keep in mind that dry food tends to have a higher carbohydrate content than wet and, especially for small breed puppies, kibbles can be harder to chew .
According to the Clinical Nutrition Service , wet food can be easier for dogs to chew and swallow and is also a good option for picky eaters. Canned food also has higher water content, which can be beneficial for doggos with certain health considerations. Fat and protein are more prevalent in wet food, so this may be a good option if your puppy requires a higher protein diet, but not a good choice for puppies who need to watch their fat consumption.
When used occasionally or at the recommendation of your vet, wet puppy food can be a great supplement to dry puppy food.
Should I Give My Bully Vitamin Supplements
If your canine has any chronic problems, a vitamin supplement may be helpful. Here are some of our favorite vitamin supplements organized depending on what your dog needs:
Overall Health, Coat, and Nails
As a general supplement, we recommend the AVN ProBalance Canine Wellness Formula. This contains some extra nutrients your pooch may need.
For Dogs with Diarrhea and Upset Stomach
The Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Supplements FortiFlora Canine Nutritional Supplement contains probiotics that can help support your dogs digestive system.
This is not a terribly expensive supplement, but it is still premium quality. This supplement can also support your pets immune system.
Salmon Oil
Salmon oil and other fish oils can also be helpful for canines. It is packed full of DHA, which is an essential part of any canines diet. Flaxseed is a similar option, but it comes from a vegetable instead of a fish.
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How Much Water Should An American Bully Puppy Drink
Your puppy will need to drink about ½ to 2 ounces of water per pound of their weight which is the normal amount for a healthy puppy, however, it varies.
Some factors can influence your dog to drink more water: dehydration, medication, illnesses, and a dry diet.
Therefore, if you know your puppys normal thirst, it will help you judge every situation. You have an advantage if you keep a record of your puppys diet because you can tell if there is a problem.
If you find that your puppys drinking habits have changed, visit the veterinarian.
American Journey Senior Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain
This is a grain-free senior dry dog food that helps support healthy aging with real chicken as the first ingredient, plus a blend of targeted nutrients. Its antioxidant blend helps support a healthy immune system while omega fatty acids help maintain skin and coat health and medium chain triglycerides naturally occurring in coconut oil help support brain health in aging dogs to encourage cognitive wellness, said Dr. Nelson.
No need to journey to the store, either, as Chewy can ship this 24-pound bag of kibble right to your home. You can also set up an Autoship subscription, saving more time and money when you need a refill.
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Open Farm Dry Dog Food
Open Farm is committed to offering high-quality nutrition. The brand uses a top-notch variety of protein options whitefish, venison, salmon or lamb in its products. Plus, Open Farm offers both grain-free and grain-inclusive varieties. While Open Farm offers a more standard dry food, its certainly of higher quality than most kibbles. If you prefer something a little fresher, Open Farm makes freeze-dried raw food, too.
No matter the product line, the company is incredibly transparent about ingredient sourcing, making it a solid choice for most dogs, even if they have allergies.
Zignature Lamb Dry Dog Food
Appropriate for older puppies, this food introduces a new flavor to the mix: lamb. Its good for dogs that are susceptible to allergies and its delicious, with many owners commenting on how their dogs absolutely adored the taste. It contains lamb, peas, pea protein, sunflower oil, alfalfa, beet pulp, and other protein-enhanced nutrients that your puppy will go wild for. Another customer reported having success with her dog that had an itching problem and would always scratch because of dry skin. The Omega fatty acids in this food helped relieve that dryness and calm the dogs skin .
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Purina Pro Plan Focus Dog Food
Rating:
Pro Plan Large Breed Adult is one of 19 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
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!
How To Shop For The Best Dog Food
There is so much variety out there in the world of pet foods. This list of best dog food brands helps narrow your choices down, but in the end, you still have to select one.
Choosing the perfect food for your fluffy pal is no easy feat. To help you along in the process, weve put together a few specifics to look out for as you browse. Lets check them out.
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Taste Of The Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula Grain
Image courtesy Taste of the Wild
Roasted bison and roasted venison are combined in this delicious meal to provide highly digestible energy for your growing puppy. The tastes of roasted meats, vegetables, legumes, and fruits in a tiny kibble form make it simple for pups to get all of the nutrients they need for overall health.
This recipe is ideal for pregnant or nursing women, as well as other adult dogs, due to the guaranteed levels of DHA and proper nutrition.
Most Popular Puppy Food Brands
Beneful is a well-known brand that specializes in keeping your pups brain, heart, and vision healthy.
The DHA in the dry food helps puppies whose brains and vision are still developing.
In this particular puppy food, there is real chicken, which is high in protein, a vital component to your puppys diet, and there are a whopping 23 vitamins in the food, promoting a healthy diet.
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Best Puppy Food For Medium Breeds
Puppies classified as medium breeds may grow up to be dogs weighing in anywhere from 21 to 50 lbs. They dont require the specialization that small or large breed puppies do, but you still want to choose the right food for them. Nutritional requirements for medium breed foods are at least 22% protein and 10% fat.
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6. Taste of the Wild Grain-Free High Prairie Puppy Formula Dry Food
This grain-free medium breed option features bison and lamb as main protein sources. Plenty of vegetables and fruits are here too as well as important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Taste of the Wild designs their food to closely imitate the diet of a wild dog, and customers report an increased energy level in their puppies, as well as healthier skin and coats. This food is a good selection for puppies with allergies.
7. Wellness Complete Health Puppy Recipe
Wellness is a good food choice for puppies because of its lack of artificial substances, additives, and by-products. All the bases are covered with this food which includes core vegetables and fruits for antioxidants and vitamins.
Chicken and salmon are primary protein sources for healthy brain growth and development, while oatmeal and potatoes help make this a food that is easy for your pup to digest.
8. Blue Buffalo Basics Limited-Ingredient Dry Puppy Food
9. Canidae All Life Stages Dry Food for Puppies, Adults, and Seniors Duck Meal, Brown Rice, and Lentils Formula
Best Large Breed Puppy Food
In addition to meat, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, the recipe contains LifeSource Bits, a blend of antioxidant-rich ingredients like omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to promote healthy skin and coat. A balance of calcium and phosphorus also helps large breed puppies achieve optimal growth and development.
Highlights
- Made with deboned chicken and whole grains.
- Formulated for healthy muscle growth and bone development in large breed puppies.
- No corn, wheat or soy no poultry byproducts.
- Available in 15-and 30-pound bags.
Things to Consider
- One formula with chicken as the main ingredient.
- Its not grain-free.
Sample buyer review: I was using another high end dog food for my 3 fur babies and they liked it. My sisters dog passed away and she gave me his food, this Blue Buffalo. I gave it to my dogs and they loved it! Even my 17-year-old picky eater pounded it down. I highly recommend this. I have happy kids now.
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Are Meat Byproducts Bad
AAFCO defines byproducts as “secondary products produced in addition to the principal product.” Pet food advertising often portrays byproducts as undesirable and unappetizing, but byproducts that are properly processed are safe and nutritious. Byproducts include liver, for example, which is full of vitamins and minerals that are good for pets.
Before meat byproducts can be used in dry or canned pet food, they must be heat-treated and undergo additional processing to eliminate all disease-causing bacteria. Sometimes, pet food manufacturing facilities will render byproducts, meaning that the byproducts are cooked to kill disease-causing bacteria.
On a dog food label, you will see a meat byproduct listed as “byproduct” or “meal.” Either term indicates that the meat ingredient has undergone additional processing and is safe for your dog to eat.