The best and worst brands of dog food
The results of our exclusive study show which dog food is the best, according to pet owners.
In this piece: Kindly choose
Dog food comes in hundreds of varieties, ranging from dry to grain-free to raw, but which will make your pet lick the bowl clean?
In order to identify the products that consumers (and their dogs) adore and that provide the most value for their money, we polled 2,304 dog owners about the pet food they purchase.
Check out customer ratings for grocery alternatives from Aldi and Lidl, as well as brands like Burns, Harringtons and Royal Canin.
Dog food comes in hundreds of varieties, ranging from dry to grain-free to raw, but which will make your pet lick the bowl clean?
In order to identify the products that consumers (and their dogs) adore and that provide the most value for their money, we polled 2,304 dog owners about the pet food they purchase.
Check out customer ratings for grocery alternatives from Aldi and Lidl, as well as brands like Burns, Harringtons and Royal Canin.
Dog food products with ratings
Impressively, our top-scoring dog food brand received an 82% customer score and five-star ratings for both canines' overall welfare and how much they enjoyed it.
On the other end of the spectrum, two products received ratings of less than 60%, receiving only two stars out of five for the apparent health of the dog while consuming that brand's food.
Impressively, our top-scoring dog food brand received an 82% customer score and five-star ratings for both canines' overall welfare and how much they enjoyed it.
On the other end of the spectrum, two products received ratings of less than 60%, receiving only two stars out of five for the apparent health of the dog while consuming that brand's food.
How to select your dog's optimal diet
Sorting through the vast amount of pet nutrition information available online can seem like an insurmountable effort. It might be anything from unclear to flat out contradicting.
We got the real scoop from actual pet nutrition researchers about what matters. Fortunately, it isn't as difficult as it first appears.
We got the real scoop from actual pet nutrition researchers about what matters. Fortunately, it isn't as difficult as it first appears.
"Keeping an eye on your pet is the most crucial aspect of selecting a food," stated Dr. Teresa Hollands, a senior lecturer in veterinary nutrition at the University of Surrey. "You're on the right track if your pet seems well-groomed and you're feeding them a specific brand of food," the person said.
Nutritionist Dr. Nigel Kendall of the University of Nottingham concurred, saying that "if your pet is on exactly the wrong diet, then there will be physical
To learn more, we had a conversation with Dr. David Gardner, a physiology professor at the University of Nottingham:
Choosing a complete food
He advised beginning by confirming that the food you are giving your cat is complete. "That's really important, but sometimes the label isn't clear."
Because complete foods are made to provide all the nutrients your pet needs, you may feed them the same item every day without worrying about creating a deficiency or imbalance in their diet.
Because complete foods are made to provide all the nutrients your pet needs, you may feed them the same item every day without worrying about creating a deficiency or imbalance in their diet.
Weighing your pet food
David also emphasised the significance of weighing the food you give your pet each time you feed them.
Recall that if you gradually increase the amount of food your pet eats each day, you could not realise that they are being overfed.
Recall that if you gradually increase the amount of food your pet eats each day, you could not realise that they are being overfed.
Varying your pet food
David also advised switching changing the food you give your pet if you want to take extra precautions to make sure they are receiving the finest nutrition possible, as long as it doesn't disturb their stomach.
These adjustments could be as simple as changing the food's flavour that you feed your pet.
"Try the chicken dog food the next time if you buy a bag of lamb dog food one month," David advised.
Remember to adjust your pet food supplier gradually if you decide to test a different brand or variety. During the first few days, your pet's supper should consist of no more than 25% new food, and then it should increase over the course of a week.
Because they might be picky eaters, dogs should not have their pet food changed.
These adjustments could be as simple as changing the food's flavour that you feed your pet.
"Try the chicken dog food the next time if you buy a bag of lamb dog food one month," David advised.
Remember to adjust your pet food supplier gradually if you decide to test a different brand or variety. During the first few days, your pet's supper should consist of no more than 25% new food, and then it should increase over the course of a week.
Because they might be picky eaters, dogs should not have their pet food changed.
It is possible for both wet and dry diets to be nutritionally complete, which means that they ought to have every nutrient your pet need. This implies that neither food type has any appreciable advantages.
David suggested giving your pet a blend of moist and dry food.
There may be minor variations in the nutritional makeup of wet and dry food, according to the evidence. This implies that if you combine them, you will cover more nutrients.
Wet food does seem more attractive if you wish to feed your dog only one kind of food. Nevertheless, it can make pets more susceptible to dental problems and is frequently more expensive.
Dry food, on the other hand, is healthier for dogs' teeth and gums and is typically simpler and
David suggested giving your pet a blend of moist and dry food.
There may be minor variations in the nutritional makeup of wet and dry food, according to the evidence. This implies that if you combine them, you will cover more nutrients.
Wet food does seem more attractive if you wish to feed your dog only one kind of food. Nevertheless, it can make pets more susceptible to dental problems and is frequently more expensive.
Dry food, on the other hand, is healthier for dogs' teeth and gums and is typically simpler and
Can a dog be a vegan?
Sure, as long as you watch what kind of food you feed them.
Vegetarian or vegan commercial dog food is available and is full of nutrients.
While specialists generally do not advise it, some owners may like to cook their dogs homemade vegetarian or vegan meals.
This is because research indicates that even when people adhere to recipes marked as such, homemade food—including diets centred on meat—is usually not nutritionally adequate.
Vegetarian or vegan commercial dog food is available and is full of nutrients.
While specialists generally do not advise it, some owners may like to cook their dogs homemade vegetarian or vegan meals.
This is because research indicates that even when people adhere to recipes marked as such, homemade food—including diets centred on meat—is usually not nutritionally adequate.
Can dogs eat raw food?
silver pet food bowl, empty
In recent years, raw pet food has gained popularity, particularly for dogs, yet most experts don't advise it.
"Given the risk to human health, I would not advise a raw food diet," says Dr. Heather Bacon, dean of the University of Central Lancashire's veterinary school.
Salmonella, listeria, campylobacter, and E. coli are among the bacteria that can be found in raw meat. They seriously injure both people and animals, especially the elderly, young, and those with weakened immune systems.
These can be used as a table spread during meal preparation and consumption. In addition, if your pet kisses your face after eating, they can be transmitted from animals to people.
When meat is properly prepared, all of these microorganisms are eliminated.
In recent years, raw pet food has gained popularity, particularly for dogs, yet most experts don't advise it.
"Given the risk to human health, I would not advise a raw food diet," says Dr. Heather Bacon, dean of the University of Central Lancashire's veterinary school.
Salmonella, listeria, campylobacter, and E. coli are among the bacteria that can be found in raw meat. They seriously injure both people and animals, especially the elderly, young, and those with weakened immune systems.
These can be used as a table spread during meal preparation and consumption. In addition, if your pet kisses your face after eating, they can be transmitted from animals to people.
When meat is properly prepared, all of these microorganisms are eliminated.
How much weight is ideal for my dog?
43% of cats and 50% of dogs are obese or overweight.
Being overweight can negatively affect your pet's quality of life in many ways, such as impairing their ability to exercise or get enough sleep. As stated by the RSPCA
- additionally, it puts them at risk for diseases like:
- diabetes, cardiac problems, and cancer.
Doctor Teresa Hollands suggests a simple way to weigh your pet.
"Make a fist with your hand and use your fingers to feel your knuckles," she instructed. "Your pet is underweight if their ribs feel that way."
After that, spread your palm out and feel your knuckles once more. They are the ideal weight if their ribs feel that way.
Lastly, maintain your hand flat, turn it over, and run your fingertips over the pads at the base of your fingers on your palm. They are obese if their ribs feel like way.
"Make a fist with your hand and use your fingers to feel your knuckles," she instructed. "Your pet is underweight if their ribs feel that way."
After that, spread your palm out and feel your knuckles once more. They are the ideal weight if their ribs feel that way.
Lastly, maintain your hand flat, turn it over, and run your fingertips over the pads at the base of your fingers on your palm. They are obese if their ribs feel like way.
- Extremely skinny (body weight greater than 20% below optimum) There is a noticeable decrease of muscle mass, the ribs, spine, and hip bones are clearly visible (with short-haired pets), and there is no fat beneath the skin.
- 10% to 20% underweight is considered underweight. There is a noticeable waist and abdominal tuck, visible ribs, spine, and hip bones, and very little fat beneath the skin.
- Perfect There is a noticeable waist and abdominal tuck, plainly felt ribs, spine, and hip bones, and just a tiny quantity of fat.
- Overweight (10–15% over optimal body weight): Hard to feel ribs, spine, and hip bones; broad back; layer of fat around abdomen and base of tail; barely noticeable waist.
- Obese (weight exceeding 15% of optimum body weight) Hip bones, spine, and ribs are very challenging to
We asked them to rank the brand based on a number of criteria, such as value for money, their dog's reaction to the food, and how well they thought it was doing.
Based on their level of satisfaction with the brand generally and whether or not they would recommend it, customers' overall scores are calculated.
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