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10 Best Dog Foods Ranked, including Best Dry Dog Food

Dog Food

There are many things to know prior to adopting a dog into your home (regardless of their size). For instance, if you are planning on owning a small dog then it is vital to research the various types of small dogs with regards to their appearance, temperament, grooming standards, health conditions, living standards, trainability, and the breeds’ best suited for children. When it comes to diet and nutrition, conducting research regarding food for your dog is also critical.

When purchasing food for your dog, there is much to know in the way of nutritional value and how to determine which brands are the healthiest. In order to help our visitors understand "what to look for" when purchasing food for their dogs, we have provided information explaining the pet food industry practices and standards. In addition, we have categorized some of the different topics and listed them above in an "easy-to-navigate" format. Simply click on the link of your choice and you will be directed to that specific topic located within this page.

Standards

The pet food industry is regulated by the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials). Basically, the AAFCO sets specific standards governing what the pet food manufacturing companies can use in their products. These guidelines are known as the “Nutrient Profiles”.

These restrictions have been subject to some criticism by pet experts due to their generic specifications and allowance of particular label advertisements. For example, many dog foods are considered standard for all dog breeds from a nutritional standpoint. This however, seems quite inaccurate. Certain breeds have specific nutritional requirements that other breeds do not such as hairless dogs compared to dogs that shed heavily. These are two completely different breeds that will require separate nutritional diets in order to aide their particular ailments.

Although there are standards regarding the various types of dog foods, it is recommended that you consult with your vet before purchasing any specific brand. Your vet should be able to provide you with nutritional information focused specifically on your small dog breed (or large breed).

Understanding the Labels

When purchasing food for your dog it is imperative that you understand the meanings on the labels. If you do, making the correct purchasing decision will be much easier and much healthier for your dog. In essence, it is important to understand that information located on a pet food label is accurate to the standards of the pet food industry regulated by the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials). For example, if a label states that the dog food includes a specific meat such as chicken or turkey; the label may read “With Real Chicken”. This is accurate according to the AAFCO’s guideline which explains that a label can use the advertisement “With Real Chicken” if the product consists of at least 3% of that particular meat.

In addition, pet food companies are able to advertise different flavors (such as turkey, chicken or beef) on their labels regardless if the food actually contains any of these meats. In multiple dinner meals such as turkey and beef, roughly 25% of the food must contain these meat products. Moreover, of that 25% only 3% needs to be provided in the second variety. In other words, only 3% needs to be beef (as used in our example).

Due to the practices used by the pet food industry, it is important to consult with your vet for recommendations regarding different types of food for your dog.

Preservatives

Preservatives in pet foods should also be monitored by the owner. In essence, preservatives are provided in dog foods in order to improve the taste and in many cases the appearance of the product. They also prevent the food from going bad too soon, which means you can continuously feed your dog on one bag of food for a longer period of time. Unfortunately, most preservatives are not healthy for dogs or any other pet.

There have been cases in which both dogs and cats have become ill due to heavy preservatives located in their food. Preservatives in dry foods contain chemicals such as "ethoxyquin" (a synthetic preservative) that has been reported to stay in the animal’s body for months after being removed from their food intake. Typically, preservatives are more commonly found in dry foods than in canned. This is because canned foods are already in a form of preservation (they’re canned). The long term affects of these preservatives needs to be further researched.

Thus, it is better to purchase food for your dog that contains natural preservatives. Again, consult with your vet for recommendations regarding different types of natural preservative dog foods.

Premium Food for your Dog

According to consumer research as of August 2010, the top 10 best dry foods for your dog include:

Top 10 Dry Dog Foods
1. Innova Evo
2. Orijen
3. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Duck Recipe
4. Taste of the Wild High Prairie
5. Wellness Core
6. Solid Gold Barking at the Moon
7. Natural Balance Ultra Premium
8. Acana
9. Nature's Variety
10. Merrick

Recommended Canned Dog Foods
1. Innova Evo's Chicken and Turkey
2. Wysong Beef Au Jus Beef
3. Newman's Own Organics
4. Natural Balance Ultra Premium
5. Canidae's Chicken, Lamb and Fish All Life Stages Formula

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