Help your aging dog maintain their mobility and overall wellness into old age.
by Dana J. Cook on January 5, 2022
Dana has been deep in the pet grooming business for over 10 years. Being a life-long dog lover, she's passionate about educating dog owners on making the best purchasing decisions.*
We, dog owners, are presented with overwhelming varieties and options of dog food all claiming to be the best on the market. We all have been there, and we know that reviewing sites and looking for legitimate customer feedback is frustrating, tiresome, and time consuming. So, to help you, our team of vets and dog experts decided to conduct their own review with more than 30 different dog food based on vets' recommendation and consumer reports, to learn which dog food actually helps our dogs to stay happy, healthy, and active.
We narrowed it down to the top 3 best dog food based on safety, effectiveness, and overall value. But first, let's tackle what makes a dog food safe and effective and what ingredients to look for and avoid when choosing for our furry friends.
Our priority is to give our dogs what they need and of course, what they want. But we should consider that there are dog foods that are specially made for small dogs, senior dogs, picky eaters, dogs with allergies, and weight loss among others. So, we should be extra careful before we finally decide on what dog food to put in our pushcarts.
But studies and research have shown that reading labels on the containers is often inadequate. It's true that a good dog food should contain valuable source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. However, we should think whether our dogs would find it delicious, or the brand is high quality. With these in mind, we boiled down the important things for deciding which dog food to choose to three factors: Palatability, Recall History, and Nutrition Seal AAFCO.
For starters, we have examined the common ingredients found in dog food for their optimum nutrition. Not everything is beneficial - some ingredients are simply fillers that might harm our dogs in the long run. Here are the essential nutrients that should be found in your dog food for optimum nutrition.
Generic Animal Fat - It should be identified on the label to know which species of animal the fat has been trimmed.
BHA and BHT - These preservatives are proven to cause cancer but they are still included to some dog foods in US.
Corn Syrup - These sweeteners are just added to make poor grade ingredients taste better but doesn't actually contribute to your dog's health.
Xylitol - A substitute used in products like chewing gum but highly toxic to dogs.
The go-to for millions of people looking to purchase products. However, most don’t realize that up to 60% of the positive reviews are written by paid promoters. Some of them are also promised free products in exchange for positive feedback.
Proteins: Protein is made up of amino acids, which are essentials for creating strong muscles and repairing body tissues. Because the dog can only create half of the amino acids he needs, the other amino acids must come from their diet.
Carbohydrates: Dog foods should have anywhere between 30 to 70 percent carbohydrates. Dogs are omnivores - meaning they use carbohydrates as a source of theirenergy.
Fats: Dogs healthy diet require balanced fatty acids intake. Fats provide energy, as well as taste and flavor and encourage the absorption of certain nutrients. Fat also helps dogs maintain their healthy skin and a shiny, healthy coat
Vitamins And Minerals: Vitamin E supports your dog’s immune system and Vitamin A is important for maintaining healthy skin and hair. There are other helpful vitamins and minerals which should be included in your dog food.
Water: Water is essential for healthy waste disposal, regulating body temperature, transporting nutrients, and of course, preventing dehydration.
This comprehensive list was made after extensive research and analysis, measuring the full value of each product by considering the ingredients, safety, efficacy, refund and return policies, and overall customer satisfaction. We also collect research from the latest studies and clinical trials to ensure that our criteria takes into account the most important details, presenting you with the results, and, in the process, saving you time and money.
After extensive data gathering and clinical trials and testing, we proudly present to you our compiled list for the best dog foods available in the market today. The research includes precise scoring for ingredient safety, projected effectiveness, value, return policy and history, and customer satisfaction along with the average grades of common dog foods. To paint the whole picture, we have also listed down the pros and cons, and identified the total ranking and overall grade.
INGREDIENT SAFETY
PROJECTED EFFECTIVENESS
VALUE
RETURN POLICY
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
Minerals are chelated and ready to absorbHigh nutrition valueNo corn, no wheat, no soy, and multiproteinPrepared for all sizes and all stages
Size of the kibble makes it difficult for large dogs to chew Not completely grain freeMost dog breed don't find the smell and taste appealing#1 pick goes to Canidae All Life Stages Dog Dry Food. It offers dog food varieties for all life stages, breeds, and sizes. The nutrition and ingredients are essential for dogs' average needs - healthy digestion, antioxidants, and omega 3 and 6.
Based on the reviews, some find the size and texture of kibbles not suitable for all dog sizes. All in all, because of high ingredient safety, its very good nutrition value and high customer satisfaction, we placed it #1 in our list.
INGREDIENT SAFETY
PROJECTED EFFECTIVENESS
VALUE
RETURN POLICY
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
100% grain freeNo reports of yeast infections or moldsBest for sensitive stomachs and picky eatersCrafted for all life stagesAAFCO certifiedSome reports it causes diarrhea and upset stomachMight cause dehydrationOur #2 pick goes to Taste of the Wild Dog Food. It is a protein-packed diet that's rich in antioxidants and fiber. The product line also has a variety of flavors to offer.
Based on customer reviews, it might cause diarrhea and upset stomach due to high fiber content. It is recommended to consult your vet first before giving this food to your dog. Overall, it's the brand that's recommended by most vets and passed the AAFCO standard. However, it garnered average customer and value rating. We place it in our #2 in the list.
INGREDIENT SAFETY
PROJECTED EFFECTIVENESS
VALUE
RETURN POLICY
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
No preservativesCrafted for all life stagesContains protein concentration between 38% and 42%Availability of products may vary by regionVery high product price due to locally raised ingredientsWhen it comes to protein content, Orijen is the best choice. They made sure their whole meat ingredients are diverse enough to contain chicken, turkey, eggs, and fish nutrients.
However, because of very few satisfied customers and pricey product lines, we place it in our #3 ranking. If it gains enough positive reviews from customers over time, and lowers it price, we may place it on higher rankings.
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