Most dedicated dog owners care a lot about what their pet eats. Like us, their diet can have a huge impact on its health. There’s been so much debate about dry canine food and I know that some owners don’t like feeding dry dog food to their canines . However, there are still some benefits to kibbles. If it’s the choice you make, here are some healthier options to go for.
Best Dry Dog Food: My Top 7 Recommendations
This product is made with real smoked salmon, it’s supplemented with fruits and vegetables, and packed with antioxidants in order to protect your pet better.
Why It’s So Popular:
– Good price
– Based on real smoked salmon
– Supplemented with vegetables and fruits
– Packed with antioxidants
– Grain-free
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Solid Gold Barking At The Moon
This product offers the perfect balance of fresh ocean fish meal, nutrient-rich beef and a unique blend of 20 nutritious superfoods. It’s high in protein, and grain and gluten free recipe. This balanced recipes has 20 nutrient-dense superfoods and clean, high-quality proteins.
Why It’s So Popular:
– Grain and gluten free
– Ideal for active adult breeds of all sizes
– Formulated with 20 nutrient rich superfoods like pumpkin, cranberries, blueberries, carrots, broccoli, almond oil, kelp and lentils
– High in protein
– Healthy, monounsaturated fats such as olive oil, canola oil and salmon oil for overall skin and coat health
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Keep In Mind:
– Some canines might simply not like the flavor
– Contains turkey and pork meal fairly high up on the ingredient list
Wellness Core Natural Grain Free
This is specially formulated for adult, non-reproducing dogs over one year old. Puppies and pregnant or nursing mothers may have special nutritional requirements. It’ grain free, all natural and made in the USA.
Why It’s So Popular:
– Grain free
– Rich with delicious premium proteins including turkey and chicken combined with real vegetables and essential vitamins and minerals
– All natural – no wheat, corn, soy, meat by-products, or artificial colors, flavors and preservatives
– Made in the USA
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This product is made with 80% premium fish ingredients and 20% fresh fruits, vegetables and botanicals. It’s grain-free and carbohydrate-limited, Infused with marine-source DHA and EPA Omega-3 Fatty Acids to support peak skin and coat conditioning. The veterinarian-selected botanicals help support metabolism, strengthen organs and cleanse the body of toxins.
Why It’s So Popular:
– Made with 80% fish ingredients + veggies and botanicals
– Grain-free and carbohydrate-limited
– Infused with marine-source DHA and EPA Omega-3 Fatty Acids
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Keep In Mind:
– Some canines simply don’t enjoy the taste
Nature’s Variety Instinct Ultimate Protein
This kibble delivers pure, protein-packed nutrition like a pet’s ancestral diet. It’s high in protein, grain-free, gluten-free made with only real chicken and absolutely no rendered meats, chicken meal, or by-product meal. It’s loaded with up to three times more real chicken than conventional kibble and also has freeze dried raw coating for pure nutrition and great taste.
Why It’s So Popular:
– High in protein (95%)
– Grain-free
– Made with only real chicken and absolutely no rendered meats, chicken meal or by-product meal
– Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids
– Probiotics and antioxidants
– Good kibble size for small to large breeds
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This product is packed with natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin for joints and mobility. It’s made with natural ingredients plus added vitamins, minerals and amino acids, and has clinically proven antioxidant benefits.
Why It’s So Popular:
– Most suitable for large breeds
– Clinically proven antioxidant benefits
– No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
– Added vitamins, minerals and amino acids
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Keep In Mind:
– Some canines don’t enjoy the taste, maybe since it seems a bit greasy
– Can cause some diarrhea problems (rarely though)
This is an all-natural, grain free canine diet starting with deboned meat as the first ingredient. Provides leading levels of quality protein, along with fruits and vegetables like sweet potatoes, blueberries, peas and more. It has high levels of Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids, and powerful levels of glucosamine and chondroitin foster healthy hips and joints.
Why It’s So Popular:
– All-natural and grain-free
– Deboned meat as the first ingredient
– Packed with proteins and added fruits and vegetables
– High levels of Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids
– Powerful levels of glucosamine and chondroitin
– Gluten free
– Cooked in the USA
Check price and more details here
Keep In Mind:
– Some customers claim that quality changed a bit few years ago when the company was bought by Nestle-Purina
What To Look Out For In Dry Dog Food:
Of course, not any will do. If my canine can’t have my cookies, then at least he deserves the healthiest on the market. So after a thorough research I can sum up my conclusions on what makes canine food good:
- The main difference between poor and good balanced diets is that the poor ones are based on corn (listed as the first ingredient on the list), and the better quality ones have some sort of meat listed as the first ingredient (chicken, beef…)
- Meat-based diet is different than all-meat diet, and way better and healthier.
- According to vets, chicken-based diets are great when compared to other meat-based diets.
- Proper ratios of fatty acids are important, your pet should consume a balanced ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in order to stay healthy.
- When reading the label check for the protein content (should be at least 30%), fat (at least 18%), and presence of Vitamin E and/or C, Omega fatty acids.
Pros
- Has more carbohydrates than canned (46-74%)
- It’s better for canine teeth than canned ones
- It’s more convenient
- Doesn’t need to be refrigerated
- Extended in-bowl feeding time
- Better for your budget
- Doesn’t get contaminated as easy as canned
Cons
- Canned is higher in protein
- Canned has longer shelf life
- It’s more difficult to chew compared to canned
- It’s not as filling as canned
- There are less meat choices
- It has more chemical additives
Conclusion
Your dog deserves the healthiest best dry dog food that will help it keep its energy and health levels high. So what I’d advise you to do is check the products I recommended and choose the one that will suit you and your pet.
For further reading, we also have an article on the best dog food brands out there!
