Veterinarians' opinion: which dog food is best?

For every dog ​​owner, the question of feeding their pet is far from trivial. What and how should you feed your pet from the first days they're "adopted" into the family?

The range of prepared dog food is quite extensive. Manufacturers offer a variety of dry foods and canned meats tailored to each pet's needs. The only problem left for owners is the choice.

What's the best diet, and what do veterinarians say? Let's find out...

Ready-made feed mixtures and canned food for animals

Rating of pet food by points from 1 to 100 in different categories and prices

From 0 to 10 pointsThis category of food isn't cheap, but in terms of quality and animal safety, it's the worst. The ingredients are scraps from the processing of livestock and poultry carcasses, plus they contain indigestible additives and drugs. For owners, this is the best way to get rid of an unfortunate animal, and quite quickly.

In this category:

1. "Kiteket" - according to nutritionists and veterinarians - 1 point
2. Chappie - 1
3. Pedigree - 3
4. Whiskas - 3

From 10 to 25 points"Meat" foods in this category contain everything but meat—which justifies the low price of this product. Most often, the ingredients include offal from meat processing, giblets, cheap cereals, and bran. Vitamins are unheard of here, even though they are usually listed on the packaging. While this type of food isn't particularly life-threatening, it certainly won't improve health. In the absence of better options, the animal's body adapts to this type of food, and if there's a clear vitamin deficiency in their diet, they find the necessary vitamins themselves or "save" them in their liver.

In this category:

1. "Meal" - 13 points
2. Vaska - 15
3. Max - 22

From 25 to 50 pointsThis is a very economical food of low quality. It contains extremely low-nutrient ingredients, vitamins, and protein, and is poorly balanced. It is suitable for unpretentious animals without genetic health issues. This food should be fed to young animals with extreme caution, and it is best to avoid it altogether until at least two years of age.

In this category:

1. Gourmet - 26 points
2. Oscar - 38
3. My Lady - 40
4. My Lord - 40
5. Friskies - 43
6. "Doctor Clouder" - 45

From 50 to 75 pointsThis category of inexpensive foods is of satisfactory quality but lacking in vitamins. Most dogs thrive on this diet, provided they increase their intake and add additional vitamin supplements. The financial savings here are quite limited, as you'll still have to purchase the necessary ingredients. The owner is the master, as they say...

In this category:

1. Purina - 60 points
2. Sheba - 67
3. "Gourmet" - in different types from 55 to 65
4. "Doctor Alders" - from 50 to 70
5. Gimpet - 72
6. "Doctor Alders Nature Coast" - 75

From 75 to 90 pointsThis category of food offers good results. If animals accept this food well, there's no need to upgrade to a higher, more expensive category. The ingredient list is balanced and closely matches the label. It doesn't require additional vitamin supplements and doesn't cause allergic reactions.

In this category:

1. Royal Canin (Russia) – 77 points
2. Pro Pak (Ukraine) - 78
3. Diamond - 79
4. Leonardo - 80
5. Belcando - 80
6. Flatazor - 82
7. “Pro Pak” (America) – 85
8. Nutro Gold - 85
9. Gut Nuggets - 85
10. Royal Canin (France) - 88
11. Biomil - 89
12. Pro Plan - 89

From 90 to 100 pointsThe best, highest category of food. This nutrition is developed using the latest technology. It is perfectly balanced, of excellent quality, and contains maximum beneficial components for our furry friends. Despite the high price, this diet is very economical, as a relatively small portion provides everything your pet needs for a healthy and active life.

In this category:

1. Yams - 93 points
2. Eagle Pack - 95
3. Bosch - 95
4. Eukanuba - 99
5. Hills - 100
6. “Nutro Choice” – 100

The Best Dog Foods According to Vets

All types of prepared dog food can be classified into three main groups: economy class, premium class and super premium classOf the categories presented above, for obvious reasons, we recommend food for animals with a rating of 50 points or higher. However, this doesn't mean that all economy class food is toxic, just as elite super-premium class food isn't suitable for all dogs. It's important to remember that every animal has different needs and body characteristics.

Dry food

Answers to questions about choosing the best dry dog ​​food private practicing veterinarian L. Rudnitskaya, St. Petersburg:

If you've decided to buy a dog food based on a friend's recommendation, you should first check the ingredients, which should be listed on the packaging. A high amount of animal protein indicates high-quality food. Please note! If grains, such as corn, are listed first on the ingredients list, then the food is considered economy-class. Corn is a good bulking agent that gives dogs the illusion of satiety, but it doesn't provide much energy and is difficult to digest.

Highest categories of feed They are better absorbed and digested by the animal's body, so the daily dose of such a diet is smaller but of higher quality. Premium and super-premium food categories must contain fatty acids, glucosamine, probiotics, and chondroitin. The higher the category of the feed mixture, the greater the amount of these beneficial components.

If the ingredient list includes flavor enhancers, food colorings, or artificial preservatives, it's a sign of low-quality food. All of these substances can significantly compromise a dog's health! Carcinogens disrupt kidney and liver function, cause anemia, food allergies, itchy skin, and other unpleasant symptoms.

Super-premium pet food enriched with natural antioxidants, vitamins, and herbs. To be fair, by-products are also included in premium feed categories, such as the heart or liver of poultry and cattle. However, by-products such as intestines, trimmings, feathers, and lungs are found exclusively in the economy category.

Sometimes even the most expensive dog food isn't suitable for your dog. This doesn't mean the food contains a lot of unnatural ingredients; it's just that one of the ingredients is causing an allergic reaction or intolerance in this particular animal. In this case, you need to find a dog-specific food or switch to a natural diet.

Recently, Holistic class meals have appeared., meaning "holistic." This food may contain 3 to 4 human-grade meat ingredients, also suitable for human consumption. The foundation of this well-balanced diet is meat, vegetables, fruits, berries, herbs, as well as fatty acids, prebiotics, probiotics, beneficial digestive enzymes, and a vitamin complex. This diet is extremely beneficial for animals and does not cause any painful symptoms. These brands include Acana, Earthborn, Orijen, Go Natural, Earthborn, and others.

Wet food, canned meat

Wet dog food or canned meat - favorite food for four-legged friendsAll types of this category of dog food can be divided into the following types:

• Basic, everyday food;
• As a treat (meat delicacies);
• Food for treatment.

The main food should contain all the necessary substances that must be replenished in the dog's body every day. meat and plant products, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements. This food should not be mixed with other brands of food to avoid gastrointestinal problems.

It's not recommended to feed your dog deli meats (treats) frequently. These treats can be used as a reward, for example, during training or as an incentive to reinforce various behavioral factors.

The use of therapeutic food is primarily under the direction of a nutritionist or veterinarian. If your dog has health issues or conditions related to age, previous illnesses, or pathologies, this allows for seamless prevention, treatment, and feeding in one bowl.

Some helpful tips from veterinarians, breeders and dog owners!

So, if you've already decided to feed your pet canned food, premium and super-premium foods are recommended. These foods have a well-balanced, natural formula, are safe for dogs, and contain ingredients that support their health.

It is mandatory to do so directly upon purchase. Please pay attention to the following points:

1. The packaging must be free of damage and rust. The tin must be free of dents and dents.
2. Pay special attention to the expiration date of the food. Don't risk your pet's health!
3. Check the ingredients. In the right canned meat, meat should be the first ingredient listed. Otherwise, it'll be, at best, a vegetable soup. Also, inquire about the presence of healthy grains, vegetables, vitamin supplements, etc.
4. There's no point in buying several identical canned foods at once. It might turn out that a particular food isn't suitable for your dog. Use a gradual, rational approach to choosing.
5. Alternate between wet and dry food. Wet food contains up to 75% moisture, which compensates for the lack of water in the dog's body. Dry food cleans teeth well and prevents tartar buildup. Some dogs enjoy a "soup" of dry food mixed with water.
6. When choosing wet food, remember to consider your pet's characteristics—age, breed, health, genetic predisposition to disease, anthropometry, and personal preferences.

According to veterinarians, the best premium and super-premium dog foods include the following brands: ROYAL CANIN, BOSCH, BELCANDO, GIMBORN SHINY DOG, Dr. ALDERS, HILLS PD k/d, YARRAH, MERRICK, OSCAR, EXI, HAPPY DOG, POILUX, ANIMONDA, and other foods in this line.

It is worth noting that canned food They are more easily digested by the animal's body than, say, dry foods or less complete natural foods. They are carefully designed and contain all the essential elements for a dog's daily nutrition.