What is the best dog food according to veterinarians: TOP 5 manufacturers and advice to owners

Expert: Rudenko Irina Sergeevna

*Review of the best according to the editors of expertology.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.

Almost every Russian family has a four-legged friend who brings a lot of joy and happiness. But in order for him to stay in excellent physical shape and be healthy and active for as long as possible, he needs proper nutrition. Some owners prepare food specifically for their dog. Others choose regular food that they consume themselves. But the majority of breeders prefer to buy ready-made food, which is presented in a huge assortment.

Our experts included in the rating the best dog foods from trusted manufacturers according to veterinarians and took into account numerous reviews from owners. We hope this makes it much easier to choose balanced, high-quality food for your dog.

Veterinarians' answers to popular questions about dog nutrition

To keep your pet healthy, pay attention to information from experts.

Is food really better than natural food?

People often ask what is better to feed a dog, natural food or food: the opinion of veterinarians is ambiguous. On the one hand, with natural nutrition you clearly know what you are feeding the animal. On the other hand, creating a balanced diet on your own is very difficult. And feeding a dog “from the table” only means harming its health.

Good store-bought food frees the owner from unnecessary cooking and maintains the pet’s stable condition.

Is it possible to feed a dog only dry food?

If you feed your animal high-quality food that meets its needs, then it is not necessary to add other products to the diet. For the sake of variety, pamper your pet with ready-made wet food of the same class as dry food. You can also give high-quality treats.

Is it possible to mix “drying” with “natural”?

No. Unfortunately, many inexperienced owners believe that they can feed their dog dry food and natural food. Veterinarians are categorically against this approach, since with a certain type of feeding, the gastrointestinal tract adapts to a specific food. When mixing natural food and dry food, nutrients and minerals are less absorbed and indigestion occurs.

How much food to give the animal?

It is recommended to focus on the table, which tells you how much dry food to give your dog per day. Please note that data may vary depending on the manufacturer:

Royal Canin: quality food for every taste

The list of premium dog foods opens with the French brand Royal Canin. One of the main advantages of the brand is its huge range of products. This includes food for animals of different ages, ready-made diets for various breeds, and dietary menus for pets with health problems. You can also choose food depending on the living conditions and physical activity of your pet.

Buy Royal Canin food

To make an objective comparison of dog foods, it is important to consider the composition. Royal Canin products have the following features:

• The amount of protein is about 25% . Moreover, there is both animal and plant protein.
• The main one on the list of carbohydrates is rice. This product is well digestible and has sufficient energy value.
• Also contains corn and millet . Please note: these components are not recommended for allergy sufferers.
• The amount of fat is within normal limits – 14%.
• The indisputable advantage of the feed is the presence of a complex of useful vitamins and microelements, fatty acids and antioxidants.

The disadvantage of Royal Canin can be considered a rather low level of fiber - 1.5%. In addition, there is an artificial preservative. In general, the products of this brand are approved by experts.

Summary: Royal Canin is the choice of those people who want to make their pet’s diet as varied and balanced as possible. Due to the large range of products, you can easily choose food even for picky animals. The line also includes special Nutritional Supplement snacks, which are often used as rewards during the training process.

GMOs: discovered for the first time, but no need to be afraid

Yes, for the first time in the entire existence of Roskachestvo, we found GMOs in a product. Moreover, in food for adult dogs there are 21 brands out of 39 and in food for puppies three out of five brands, both imported and domestic. Genetically modified soybeans were most often identified. However, there is no need to be afraid. Director of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "All-Russian State Center for Quality and Standardization of Medicines for Animals and Feed" (FSBI "VGNKI") Leonid Kish

commented:

– It should be noted that manufacturers do not indicate soy in the composition. Therefore, we can assume that this is either falsification or a technically irremovable impurity. Due to the intersection of logistics of GM products and non-GM products (transportation by the same transport, storage in the same warehouses), the risks of unintentional contamination of raw materials are high. At the moment, no one can officially say that the discovered GMOs are harmful. To make a statement about the dangers of GMOs, long-term large-scale studies and experiments are required, as well as post-marketing monitoring. GMOs found in the studied dog food are permitted for use in food producing countries. In the Russian Federation, these lines have not passed the state registration procedure in the prescribed manner and are not registered for the production of feed and feed additives.

Out of 21 cases, we highlight only the food manufacturer Grandorf

. He indicated in his labeling: “Does not contain GMOs,” which means he deceived the consumer.

Note that when testing dry cat food, GMOs were not found even in trace amounts.

Hill's: guaranteed quality from the world's leading experts

American Hill's products are recognized as one of the best super-premium dog foods. The manufacturer relies on quality: more than 200 veterinarians, nutritionists, and scientists work on the development of nutrition. All product components undergo preliminary testing and analysis.

The range of foods includes both daily and medicinal solutions that are prescribed by a veterinarian. You can choose an option for animals with excess weight and a high level of stress, elderly pets and pets of decorative breeds.

Buy Hill's food

When talking about which dog food is the best according to veterinarians, again, you need to consider the composition. Hill's has it like this:

• The amount of protein varies from 25 to 30% . This is slightly more than Royal Canin.
• Sources of carbohydrates are corn and wheat. Quite cheap ingredients, the benefits of which are constantly controversial among experts.
• The list of ingredients also includes beet pulp , a useful product for normal digestion.
• Attracts a variety of fat sources : poultry, fish, flax seeds, vegetable oil.
• Vitamin and mineral complexes have also been added .

Thus, Hill's food has a good composition. What is attractive is that raw materials undergo multi-stage testing before manufacturing products. The company's specialists are constantly improving feed compositions, focusing on consumer feedback.

Summary: The main argument in favor of Hill's is its large selection of certified food that exactly meets super-premium standards. The product range is not as wide as that of Royal Canin, but it is quite enough to choose the right food for any need. Judging by the reviews, animals eat Hills food with pleasure. In addition, the products contain no artificial preservatives.

Every day

According to customer reviews, “Every Day” food, which is sold very inexpensively in Auchan, was also blacklisted. And, perhaps, all its advantages end at the low price. In 70% of cases, dogs simply refuse to eat it. As for the composition, despite the huge amount of synthetic dyes and thickeners, there is absolutely no meat in it! It’s scary to imagine what will happen to a dog’s body after such a treat.

Purina Pro Plan: a balanced diet at a reasonable price

This line of the American manufacturer is of high quality. The freshest ingredients are selected for premium products. The company strives to minimize the amount of allergenic components. The product line includes solutions for pets of different ages and different breeds.

Buy Purina Pro Plan food

Regarding the composition:

• About 25% protein . It does not indicate whether the composition contains exclusively meat or whether by-products are also present.
• Carbohydrates include rice, corn, corn flour and wheat.
• The fats used are poultry and fish fat.
• The role of fiber is dry beet pulp.
• There are also vitamins, antioxidants and minerals.

You can also find the phrase “flavoring additive” in the composition. Unfortunately, there is no exact description of it.

Summary: In general, Purina Pro Plan products can be considered optimal in terms of cost and quality. The composition, like that of Royal Canin, Hills, cannot be called ideal, but veterinarians consider it quite acceptable for healthy animals. It is attractive that only animal protein is used, which is easier to digest than plant protein. Conveniently, the Pro Plan line of food can be found in almost any pet store, so they are always available.

Orijen: an expensive holistic product with the perfect composition

Many people wonder what is better - holistic or super premium for dogs. The cost of the first option is much higher, but the quality of the composition also does not raise any questions. Holistic foods are foods that are developed taking into account the natural needs of animals. That is, they do not contain synthetic additives and vitamins, but natural products.

Buy Orijen food

The Canadian company Orijen produces food with the following composition:

• Proteins – more than 35% . This is fresh poultry, fresh fish, fresh organ meats, not cheap substitutes.
• Carbohydrates include red and green lentils, green peas, and beans. In addition, these components are rich in protein. Lentils are a good source of fiber, which promotes normal digestion.
• As fats – herring and chicken fat, which is normally absorbed in the body and does not create a feeling of heaviness.
• Chicken cartilage is a source of collagen and chondroitin, which are good for joints , which is especially important in old age.
• Instead of artificial vitamins, fruits, vegetables, berries, and medicinal herbs are used, specially selected for the health of dogs..

Experts say that due to its fairly high protein content, Orijen is ideal for animals leading an active lifestyle. This is a smart solution for pregnant and lactating dogs who need the maximum amount of nutrients. Orijen can also be included in the diet of pets who are prone to obesity, since the product has a low carbohydrate content. This diet is often prescribed to animals with various health problems.

Summary: From the point of view of composition and macronutrient ratio, Orijen can be considered the optimal solution for caring owners. Its rather high cost is fully justified by the absence of artificial additives. The food consists of natural products, which means that the risk of allergies or problems in the gastrointestinal tract is minimized. If Orijen suits your price, then you should give preference to this food.

Brit Care: super-premium with holistic composition

The Czech manufacturer produces super-premium food. The products are made from natural ingredients that are easily absorbed by pets. This means that it does not contain dyes, flavors, or aggressive allergenic substances.

The food line includes solutions for dogs of different ages, overweight animals and certain health conditions. There is even food for show-class pets: special components contribute to the shine of the coat.

Buy Brit Care food

The composition of Czech-made feed inspires confidence:

• 32-35% protein . The main share of proteins comes from meat, not offal.
• Rice or potatoes act as carbohydrates (if we are talking about a grain-free formula) . No corn or wheat, which often provoke an allergic reaction.
• 15% fish and chicken fat is a good indicator.
• Fruits, vegetables and plant extracts provide the body with all the vitamins it needs.

According to experts, Brit is one of the best dog foods. In composition they are close to holistic ones, but much cheaper.

Summary: Judging by reviews from veterinarians, Brit Care is optimal for everyday feeding because it meets 100% super-premium standards. It contains more protein than Royal Canin, Hills, Purina, but its cost is lower than that of Orijen. Another plus in favor of the Brit brand is the use of a natural preservative tocopherol (vitamin E). Brit Care extremely rarely causes an allergic reaction.

Remember that when preparing a diet or selecting food, it is important to take into account the health status and individual characteristics of the pet. That is why consulting a veterinarian will definitely not be superfluous.

The Best Premium Dry Dog Foods

When producing premium food, the age, size, and physiological condition of the pet are taken into account. High-quality raw materials and innovative technologies for preserving nutritional properties distinguish them from inexpensive products. They include unique formulas to support the functioning of the digestive and genitourinary systems, increase immunity, control weight, and create a protective barrier for the body from numerous negative factors. We included the best of them in the rating.