Experts from Roskachestvo examined the five most popular brands of puppy food on the Russian market. Detailed research results – HERE
. Let us remind you that the results of the study supplemented a previously published large-scale study of dry dog food.
Let's start with one of the main questions - what is the difference between food for adult dogs and for puppies. Of course, in the amount of nutrients and vitamins. For example, a puppy's growing body needs more amino acids. But what happens if you offer a puppy food intended for an adult dog? Answered by veterinarian of the Vega clinic Alexey Alexandrov
:
– If this is an isolated incident, a disaster will not happen, but this should not be done regularly. After all, the needs of a growing organism are different from those of an adult.
Read about other features of puppy food HERE
.
The study found that there are no unsafe products among puppy foods. However, only two foods met the increased requirements of the Roskachestvo standard - Pedigree
(complete dry food for puppies of all breeds from 2 months) and
Royal Canin
(complete dry food for puppies of very small dogs (adult weight up to 4 kg) up to 10 months). Please note that this standard is voluntary. Both products are domestic, which means they can qualify for the Russian Quality Mark.
Royal canin Complete dry food for puppies of very small dogs (adult dog weight up to 4 kg), up to 10 months of age
5
453.33 p/1 kg
Product with a quality mark
Pedigree Pedigree with chicken. Complete dry food for puppies of all breeds from 2 months
5
150 p/1 kg
Best dry dog food
Dry granules store well, are consumed more slowly than canned food and are cheaper. However, in order for the diet to be balanced, it is important to choose a diet that will provide your pet with all the necessary microelements and other beneficial substances.
Acana
The Canadian company “Champion Petfoods” produces pellets using a unique technology: at low temperatures using steam. Acana products are known for their high animal protein content (up to 85%) and balanced composition. Plant components - mainly peas, lentils, beans.
The company produces various lines: according to dog sizes; according to the age; specialized (to combat excess weight, for example); with different sources of protein (chicken, turkey, lamb, duck, salmon, etc.).
Pros:
- Wide variety of options;
- Healthy ingredients: there is no wheat, which often causes allergies, and corn, which is poorly digestible by predators;
- Availability: Acana is easy to find at pet stores.
The downside is the high price.
Wolfsblut
Wolfsblut is produced in the UK by order of the German company Healthfood24 GmbH. “Wolf's Blood” contains at least 50% meat , no wheat or corn, a balanced amount of ingredients of animal and plant origin. The latter are represented by sweet potatoes and rice. Other herbal ingredients are also present (chickpeas, pumpkin, flaxseed, blueberries, ginseng, sage, etc.) in very small quantities. Wolfsblut combines fresh and dried meat, as well as meat fat.
Pros:
- Variety of options: by age, by the degree of activity of dogs, by size, by type of meat (horse meat, chicken, lamb, rabbit, turkey, venison, etc.)
- A balanced ratio of meat and plant elements, vitamin and mineral supplements.
Minuses:
- High price;
- Difficult to find in domestic pet stores.
Farmina
The Italian company Farmina produces products for dogs not only in Italy, but also in Brazil and Serbia. Raw materials for creating products are selected according to the “suitable for human” standard . This means that meat processing waste (hooves, skin, bone meal, etc.) is not used in production. The main sources of protein are chicken, lamb, eggs, pork and fish. Plant components - oats, rice, spelled, corn, processed using a special technology that increases the digestibility of these components.
Pros:
- Farmina products are rich in protein;
- Natural antioxidants and high-quality vitamin and mineral supplements are used;
- Lots of options.
Minus - the use of spelled (spelt wheat) can cause allergies.
Brit
Brit is a Czech brand that produces a wide range of dry and wet food, as well as treats for dogs. Dry granules contain significant meat content for premium food (at least 40%) . Plant ingredients include wheat or peas, potatoes, rice (grain-free types). Brita contains collagen, as well as cartilage and crustacean shells - these components are beneficial for joints.
Pros:
- A variety of options: by size, by age, by level of activity, there are also specialized types (for weight loss, for long-haired dogs, for allergy sufferers - there is even food containing dehydrated fish and insects).
- Cheaper than other premium foods.
Minus - the designation “chicken” instead of “chicken meat” may indicate the use of offal.
Briefly about the main thing
- To feed a puppy you need to select a special diet.
- The choice is made from super premium and higher lines.
- Recommended portion sizes must be followed.
- The dog should always have water available to him.
We recommend choosing food from any of the manufacturers listed in the article that your puppy or young dog will like. What kind of food do our readers feed or did feed their pets when they were little? Share your opinion, please.
Rating of wet dog food
Canned food and spiders delight all tailed ones: appetizing pieces, aromatic pates, delicate jelly - even the most fastidious people do not refuse such a diet. However, it is important to choose the best dog food that is not only tasty, but also healthy.
Attention! Do not leave wet food in a bowl: it spoils very quickly. Opened packaging can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than two days; it is advisable to generally limit storage to 24 hours.
BarkingHeads
This food is made in the UK from natural raw materials. 85% of meat ingredients and a small amount of healthy plant components (apple, spinach, celery, chicory root, etc.) are enriched with balanced vitamin supplements. The packaging clearly states the ratio of meat ingredients (for example, 85% beef includes 60% fresh boneless meat and 25% beef broth).
Pros:
- lVariety of flavors: salmon, turkey, chicken, lamb, beef, etc.
- Healthy composition (there are options for older dogs, for those struggling with excess weight, for puppies, grain-free).
The downside is the high cost of production.
Belcando
These pouches and canned food are made in Germany. The manufacturing company is proud of the quality of meat raw materials and provides more than 90% of meat components in its products. The following types of meat are used: beef, lamb, duck, chicken, pork, rabbit, salmon. Plant ingredients are represented by rice, potatoes, chickpeas with the addition of carrots, spinach, and lingonberries.
Pros:
- Wide range (there are even canned single-protein products consisting of meat, offal and broth).
- Balanced composition, very clearly described on the packaging.
- Special processing of components to preserve beneficial properties.
Minus - the product is popular in Europe, but is not yet widespread in Russia.
Hill's
The well-known manufacturer of dog and cat food is based in the USA, and its factories are located not only in America, but also in France, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic. The company strictly selects suppliers and is proud of its internal quality standards.
Pros:
- Acceptable protein content (more than 20%) ;
- A variety of food types: by age, by activity level, by type of meat (chicken, duck, turkey, salmon);
- A wide range of specialized foods: for pets with sensitive digestion, taking care of the health of the kidneys, joints, liver, heart, etc.;
- Easy to find at almost any pet store.
Minuses:
- The description of the ingredients does not contain their percentages;
- The manufacturer uses wheat and corn.
Alma Nature
The Italian company produces dry and wet dog food in Europe, Canada, and the USA. The products are packaged in tetrapacks, pouches, and cans. The content of meat ingredients is about 50% . You can choose chicken, tuna, veal, turkey, beef or lamb.
Pros:
- Convenient packaging options;
- High percentage of meat ingredients;
- Various options (fish, grain-free, two meat and regular).
Minuses:
- The full composition is not indicated on the packaging; the manufacturer is limited to general wording: for example, “products of animal origin”, without specifying whether meat, animal fat or offal is used;
- High price.
Dry or natural?
I feed my dogs dry food. I explained in detail why I chose dry food in this article . I envy, of course, those owners who can provide their dogs with proper, balanced, healthy natural food! Look at the article “What to feed a natural dog. 33 recipes." Looking at these photos will make even a man's mouth water! To THIS way, you need not only a lot of time, desire and opportunity, but also serious knowledge of how to create a balanced diet. Start by reading the material “30 foods prohibited for dogs.” I am sure this information will be very helpful to novice dog owners. And I think it will not be superfluous for experienced people either!
All this was just a preface.
