10 Most Known Dog Food Brands

There are a many different types of dog food on the market from well-known commercial brands to newer raw foods. How do you know what is best for your pet? This guide offers suggestions on some of the best types of dog food and what to look for in dog food, and also what you should avoid. In the grain-free vs. grain debate, it is generally agreed that dog food that is totally grain-free can be harmful to some dog breeds with certain conditions.

The Farmer's Dog: The Farmer's Dog is a service that allows the owner to pick a food that is tailored to their dog's need. The food is made fresh and delivered and the food is made with high-quality ingredients that can be eaten by humans! Farmer's Dog even exceeds the standards set forth by the dog food industry. The Farmer's Dog has several different recipes to choose from and can take into account dogs with sensitive stomachs or allergies.

Nom Nom: Nom Nom is another personalized pet food delivery service. Nom Nom is great for pets that need a personalized meal plan. The food is single-serve meals and there is free delivery on all orders. Nom Nom can be great for dogs that need to count calories.

Fresh Pet: This is not a food delivered through a service, rather, this food is found refrigerated in the pet food aisle of most major retails including Wal-Mart. The ingredients used in fresh pet are real meat including beef and chicken. The food is all-natural and has no preservatives

Taste of the Wild: Taste of the Wild is a dog food available in both wet and dry forms. This food is not available in retail stores, but can be found in pet stores such as Petco and PetSmart. Taste of the Wild dog food is owned by Diamond Dog Food which manufactures in the U.S. Taste of the Wild includes high-quality ingredients including real meat such as salmon and beef. Taste of the Wild includes peas and garbanzo beans to give dogs some fiber into their diet. The product is highly rated by most customers and most dogs enjoy the taste.

Darwin's Natural Pet Products: Some pet owners prefer to feed their dog raw. Darwin's is one of the bigger companies on the market that caters to this type of pet owner. Darwin's is a delivery company that uses raw food. Raw food consists of bones, organ meat, and raw bones. Advocates of the raw meat diet explain that is most closely resembles the diet of dog's ancestor the wolf. Darwin's has a variety of products to help different dogs of different ages and stages.

Canidae: Canidae comes in both wet and dry verities. It is not usually found in most large retail stores, but can be found in specialty pet stores or online at places such as Chewy. Canidae has fresh meat as the number one item in their products followed by brown rice. Canidae also uses oatmeal and peas for grains and for fiber in the dog's diet.

Ollie: Ollie is another delivery-based food company. The food that comes from Ollie is cooked but frozen. The customer can customize the recipe based upon their dog's dietary needs and four different meats are available as the base of the meals.

I Love and You: This brand comes in wet and dry and can be found in some higher end retail stores. This food is high in protein including bison, salmon, chicken, and lamb. This product also contains veggies such as sweet potatoes and carrots.

Gentle Giant Dog Food: This food is available in both wet and dry. This food was developed by Burt Ward of Batman fame. The dry food has chicken or salmon as the main protein and the wet food includes beef, turkey, chicken, or salmon as the protein ingredients. The grains included are brown rice and oatmeal. Mussels are another ingredient used to help brain health. it is also available in many major retail stores and is fairly affordable.

Purina Pro Plan: Purina Pro Plan is one of the most affordable dog foods on this list. Most dogs enjoy the taste of Pro Plan and many owners saw improvement to their dog's skin and coat.

What Dog Food is Best for My Dog?

This question has several different factors to consider. First of all, an owner needs to look at their budget. If he or she cannot afford a delivery service, then buying food from either a retail store or pet service like Chewy is a better option. Chewy does not have foods such as Farmer's Dog, however, they do carry most dog food brands. Secondly, an owner needs to consider if their pet has any special diet or medical restrictions. If so, they need to look at foods that can meet those dietary needs.

What to Look For in Dog Food?

There are several things dog owners can look for when seeking the best food for their pooch. Some of the best dog food is human grade. What does human grade mean? This means that this dog food company uses standards set forth by the FDA and USDA on food for use in humans including production and ingredients.

Animal protein should be one of the first ingredients on the list of any good dog food. This should not include words such as "meal" but rather just a regular protein such as beef, chicken, salmon, etc. There should be good sources of grain including brown rice, peas, barley, oats or oatmeal. There are ingredients to avoid such as corn, soy, or anything with meal. Quality dog food includes fruits and vegetables such as blueberries, sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, etc. Foods that should be avoided include beet pulp or citrus pulp

What Dog Food to Avoid?

Pet owners should avoid any bargain brand dog food as it is chock-full of additives, preservatives, and grains that are unhealthy for a dog. Yes, dogs do need some grain, but bargain dog food often contains corn which is unhealthy for dogs. Better quality dog food contains peas, barley, brown rice, or oats. Lower quality dog food with have meal rather than regular meat as the first ingredient. Owners should avoid any food that has high fructose corn syrup as an additive.

Dog Food FAQs

1. Can good quality dog food be found in retail stores?

Yes, many dog food brands can be found in large retail stores or from places such as Chewy.com.

2. What are the basic nutrients dogs need?

Dogs are omnivores meaning they can eat both meat and plant-based material. That being said, the majority of a dog's diet needs to be made up of protein. Dogs also need carbohydrates and fats. Dogs need vitamins and minerals to build up their body.

3. Can't I fix my dog's food myself?

Some people do fix and make their dog's food, however, this is not recommended. Dogs need a specific amount of minerals, vitamins, and a balanced diet that can be difficult to achieve without advise from a veterinary nutritionist

4. How much does my dog need to eat?

This depends on a few factors including life stage, activity level, and breed. A puppy, for example, will need more calories than an elderly dog. A Chihuahua will require much less food than a Great Dane! Dogs that are highly active and pregnant dogs also have special nutritional needs. Dogs with disabilities may also have needs that are different.

5. What Should I Do About My Dog's Allergies?

The best thing is to consult with a vet to find out the specific allergy and then remove this from the dog's diet. Many dogs are allergic to certain proteins such as chicken or rice. Whatever the case may be, find the ingredient(s) and switch your dog's to a different diet.

6. How Do I Switch My Dog's Food?

The gradual method is best. Start with the regular food and add less than half the new food mixed together. After two weeks, add more of the new food and less of the old. After four weeks, you should be able to switch to the new food entirely.

7. Is wet or dry better for my dog?

Both types of foods have benefits and cons. Dry food is easy to store and lasts longer than wet food. Some dogs find dry food dull and may be picky eating it. Wet food is much more palatable and comes in a variety of flavors. Many dogs love wet food. However, wet food can leave plague on dog's teeth unlike dry food which can encourage a dog to chew more.

8. Is raw food right for my dog?

This is up to the individual dog and owner. Some owners believe that it encourages healthier teeth and bones.

9. Will my senior dog need different food?

The nutritional needs of senior dogs are different than adult dogs. Giant dogs become seniors at age six, large dogs, age eight, medium to small dogs, age ten, and toy dogs at age 12. Senior formulas help dogs stay mentally alert and address joint health.

10. Should I buy grain-free food?

This issue is hotly debated, but recent veterinary research had indicated that grain-free food can be harmful to dogs, so it is best to avoid it.

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