The quality of your dog’s diet is directly linked to his health. Therefore, it is important to research on your dog’s diet to understand what food best suits him/her. It can be dry food or wet food, grain-free or grain-inclusive food, puppy food or adult food, etc. In this article, we provide information on how to choose the best food for your pet.
Here we focus on dry dog food also known as kibble. DRY? Yes! You heard it right; these types of foods seem to look like CHEERIOS. Dry food contains 6–10% moisture by volume, as compared to 60–90% in canned food. However, this does not mean that it is less or more nutritious.
Why dry dog food?
Dry dog food is more convenient; it can be left out for several hours, and won’t stink.
The friction of chewing dry food can help keep your dog’s teeth and gums healthy.
Dry dog food is less expensive to buy store when compared to wet dog food.
Why not dry dog food?
As soon as you open a dry food bag, the fats sprayed on the food during production start to stale. Long-term consumption of these stale fats can destroy vitamins, leading to vitamin, protein, and fat deficiencies.
Dry dog foods are inexpensive and don’t require any refrigeration, which means you can carry them easily to any place.
Basing on the above facts, we came with a list of the best dry dog foods with their top ingredients listed, the type of grains used, and the percentage of nutrients available.
High Prairie is one of the dry recipes of Taste of the Wild. High Prairie obtains most of its meat protein from fresh buffalo and both chicken and lamb meals. Taste of the Wild provides a top-rated, nutrient-balanced formula at an affordable price, which is highly recommended for your pet.
Top Ingredients: Buffalo, chicken meal, lamb meal, sweet potatoes, peas
Grain Type: Grain-free
Nutrients %: 36% protein, 20% fat, 36% estimated carbohydrates, and the fat-to-protein ratio of about 56%
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Chicken and Rice is one of the best dry food recipes of The Buffalo Life Protection. This Life Protection example obtains most of its animal protein from chicken and chicken meal. If your dog is a picky eater and has digestive issues, Blue Buffalo Life Protection Chicken and Rice is the right one to choose.
Top Ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, oatmeal
Grain Type: Brown rice, barley, oatmeal grains-inclusive
Nutrients %: 27% protein, 16% fat, 50% estimated carbohydrates, and the fat-to-protein ratio of about 58%.
Pro Plan is one of the best dog food brands most frequently suggested by breeders and veterinary professionals. Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Adult is one of the recipes of dry dog food. A team of board-certified veterinary nutritionists have expertly formulated each recipe. This recipe is specially designed for Adult dogs. For beautiful coats, instant energy, and easy digestion, go with this.
Orijen Original obtains most of its animal protein from chicken, turkey and fish. It is a meat-rich, dry dog food made by a quality company known for its superior, biologically appropriate designs. This is a great food to boost your dog’s energy.
Nulo Freestyle Adult Turkey and Sweet Potato recipe derive the bulk of its meat protein from turkey, turkey meals, and salmon meals. It offers balanced nutrition for a wide range of dogs. For those pet parents, who are looking for healthier and shinier coats for their dogs, Nulo Freestyle might be the best option.
American Journey Lamb and Sweet Potato is one the recipes of American Journey. This recipe is rich in protein sources from deboned meat that’s full of amino acids to help dogs to maintain lean, strong muscles.
Top Ingredients: Deboned lamb, chicken meal, turkey meal, peas, chickpeas
Grain Type: Grain free
Nutrients %: 32% min protein, 14% min fat, and 5% max fiber
Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dog Food
Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dog Food
Most of the dry foods tend to digestive issues in dogs due to less water content present. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dog Food is specially designed for those dogs with digestive issues. You can feed your pet with this dry food if it has sensitive skin.
This Go! Carnivore chicken, turkey and duck is one the best dry dog recipes of the brand. This Go! Carnivore recipe gets most of its animal protein from chicken, turkey and salmon meals, as well both chicken and turkey. You can go for Go! Carnivore if your pet mostly loves meat. The other available recipes in Go! Carnivore are salmon, turkey, duck, cod, puppy, and more
Canidae Pure Dry Dog Food is one of the dry foods you can deal with sensitive stomachs, which is free from corn, wheat, or soy. This Canidae Grain-Free product gets most of its meat protein from fresh salmon, as well as salmon and menhaden fish meals. The other available recipes in Canidae dry dog foods are puppy, senior, bison, lamb, duck, small breed, large breed, limited ingredient, and more.
Top Ingredients: Salmon, salmon meal, menhaden fish meal, sweet potatoes, peas
Grain Type: Grain-free
Nutrients %: 36% protein, 20% fat, 36% estimated carbohydrates, and the fat-to-protein ratio of about 56%
Natural Balance Synergy Dog Food helps your pet gain weight and increase its energy level. The primary source of protein comes from chicken and chicken meal. The flavor of this recipe is also unique and loved by most pets.
Top Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, chicken fat, dried beet pulp
Grain Type: brown rice, barley, oat groats and hulls
Nutrients %: 31% protein, 18% fat, 43% estimated carbohydrates, and the fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%
Wellness Complete Health derives the bulk of its meat protein from chicken and chicken meal. Wellness Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken and Oatmeal is one of the recipes from this brand ideal for pets of all sizes. This grain-inclusive recipe can deal with your pet’s digestive issues. It is also available in 14 other recipes such as senior, puppy, large breed, small breed, whitefish and sweet potato, lamb and barley, turkey and oatmeal, and more.
Top Ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, oatmeal, ground barley, peas
Grain Type: Oatmeal, barley, brown rice grains-inclusive
Nutrients %: 27% protein, 13% fat, 52% estimated carbohydrates, and the fat-to-protein ratio of about 50%
Merrick Dry Dog Food is abundantly loaded with grains such as brown rice, barley, and quinoa along with chicken that helps your dog maintain healthy skin and coat. This dry food is ideal for puppies. It is combined with essential vitamins and minerals for a complete and balanced diet for your pet.
Top Ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, turkey meal
Grain Type: Brown rice, barley, quinoa grains-inclusive
Nutrients %: 26% min protein, 16% min fat, and 3.5% max fiber
Nature’s Logic Canine Chicken Meal Feast is one of the best recipes from this product line. This recipe derives the bulk of its meat protein from chicken meal. Nature’s Logic is one of the few dry brands meeting AAFCO nutrient standards by using live feeding trials which is highly recommended for your pets. This recipe is ideal for those pets which have skin and odor issues.
Iams Lamb and Rice formula is an affordable design offering multiple recipe options to deal with your pet’s skin issues. Iams Adult formula derives a large portion of its animal protein from fresh lamb. It is also available in recipes like large breed, small breed, puppy, chicken, turkey, senior weight management, and more. This is one of the highly recommended products by veterinarians and professional breeders.
Holistic Select Adult and Puppy Health recipe is ideal for pets with intestinal problems. This recipe will also help in your dog’s hair growth. Holistic Select formula derives most of its meat protein from fresh salmon, as well as anchovy and sardine meal. Holistic Select offers exceptional grain-free dog food with numerous recipe and flavor options such as puppy, small breed, large breed, senior, salmon, turkey, lamb, and more.
Top Ingredients: Salmon, anchovy and sardine meal, potatoes, peas, menhaden fish meal
Grain Type: Grain-free
Nutrients %: 32% protein, 16% fat, 44% estimated carbohydrates, and the fat-to-protein ratio of about 48%
Annamaet Ultra derives most of its meat protein from the chicken meal. It is highly recommended for sport dogs to attain great energy. It will also help your dog with beautiful long thick coats. The other available recipes are puppies, salmon, small breed, senior, weight loss, and more.
Top Ingredients: Chicken meal, brown rice, chicken fat, whole dry eggs, herring meal
Grain Type: Brown rice, millet grains inclusive
Nutrients %: 36% protein, 22% fat, 34% estimated carbohydrates, and the fat-to-protein ratio of about 63%
Victor Hi-Pro Plus is an all-age dry food obtaining the majority of its meat protein from the beef meal. This grain-inclusive product helps your dog maintain proper weight. It is also available in Chicken, puppy, active sporting dog formula and many other recipes.
Dr. Tim’s Pursuit Active Dog Formula recipe is recommended for sportive dogs and also for those with hard stool issues. This product obtains the bulk of its animal protein from the chicken meal. The other available recipes are active formula for sporting dogs, salmon, pork, chicken, and more.
Top Ingredients: Chicken meal, brown rice, chicken fat, whole oat groats, dried beet pulp
Grain Type: Brown rice, oat groats inclusive
Nutrients %: 33% protein, 22% fat, 36% estimated carbohydrates and the fat-to-protein ratio of about 67%
Whole Earth Farms Adult recipe is one of the best dry foods available at affordable prices with quality ingredients. This Whole Earth Farms product obtains the bulk of its meat protein from chicken and turkey meals. The available Whole Earth Farms recipes are Small breed, turkey, salmon, pork, beef, puppy, and more.
Top Ingredients: Chicken meal, turkey meal, brown rice, oatmeal, barley
Grain Type: Brown rice, oatmeal, barley grains inclusive
Nutrients %: 29% protein, 16% fat, 47% estimated carbohydrates and the fat-to-protein ratio of about 54%.
Eagle Pack Power Adult can be the right choice if your dog is prone to itches and allergies. This recipe derives the majority of its meat protein from chicken and pork meals. The other available recipes from Eagle Pack are puppy, small breed, large and giant breed, lamb, pork, and more.
Top Ingredients: Chicken meal, pork meal, ground brown rice, peas, chicken fat
Grain Type: Ground brown rice, dehulled barley grains inclusive
Nutrients %: 33% protein, 21% fat, 38% estimated carbohydrates, and the fat-to-protein ratio of about 63%.
Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Beef
Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Beef
Instinct Original with Real Beef makes an ideal choice for picky eaters due to its unique taste. This Instinct product obtains the bulk of its animal protein from beef and chicken meal, which dogs easily digest. This product is also available in small breed, chicken, duck, rabbit, salmon, and more recipes.
Top Ingredients: Beef, chicken meal, white fish meal, peas, chicken fat
Grain Type: Grain-free
Nutrients %: 40% protein, 23% fat, 29% estimated carbohydrates and the fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%
Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete is ideal for increasing your dog’s weight. Chicken meal and fresh chicken are the leading animal protein contents in Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete. It is one of the most affordable dry dog foods, which is highly recommended. The other recipes of Diamond Naturals are large breed, small breed, puppy, senior, lamb, beef, and more.
Top Ingredients: Chicken meal, chicken, ground white rice, chicken fat, cracked pearled barley
Grain Type: Ground white rice, cracked pearled barley grains inclusive
Nutrients %: 36% protein, 28% fat, 29% estimated carbohydrates, and a fat-to-protein ratio of about 78%
Nutro Ultra Adult is a dry recipe that can be used to feed dogs ranging in different sizes and breeds. The chicken and the chicken meal are the most deriving animal protein from this Nutro recipe. The other flavor and recipe options in Nutro are beef, duck, lamb, fish, small breed, large breed, puppy, senior, and more.
Top Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, whole brown rice, brewers rice, rice bran
Castor & Pollux ORGANIX is one of the best dry dog foods that doesn’t compromise on quality. Most of the dogs love having this food due to this recipe’s unique taste and smell. It provides a sufficient amount of nutrients for your dog and helps it stay healthy. Coconut oil is added to this product in order to provide your dog with healthier fat.
Rachael Ray Nutrish uses U.S. farm-raised chicken as the #1 ingredient in this natural food for dogs of all stages. It’s a complete, balanced meal formulated without poultry by-product meal, fillers, wheat or wheat gluten, artificial colors, or preservatives. Rich in wholesome fiber from brown rice and beet pulp, which also provides prebiotics. They both work together to help support a healthy digestive system.
