Dry Food
Look for foods that contain high-quality animal proteins in the first few ingredients. Whole meat contains a lot of water weight. If a food starts out with chicken and does not have another animal protein for the next several ingredients, it is not high quality. Chicken meal (or another named meal) as the second ingredient is a better choice. Animal proteins are better than plant proteins.
Do not use food containing meat or poultry by-products nor fat or protein not named by type (meat meal, animal fat).
Look for whole grains and vegetables. No artificial flavorings or colorings, preservatives, or sweeteners. Always go organic if you can afford it.
Some good choices are the following:
- Canidae (all life stages)
- Canine Caviar (lamb and pearl millet)
- Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul (adult formula)
- Eagle Pack Holistic Select (all)
- Hund-N-Flocken (Solid gold)
- Innova
- Merrick (cowboy cookout)
- Natural Balance (Organic formula)
- Newman’s Own Organics
Wet Food
Eliminate artificial anything. No animal proteins or animal fat (too unspecific). No by-products or sweeteners.
Whole meat must be the first ingredient and optimally the second and third. No water as the first ingredient.
Some good choices are the following:
- Eagle Pack Holistic Select
- Innova Adult or Evo
- Merrick (Merrick offers a wide variety. The stewy ones have higher moisture).
- Natural Balance
- Newman’s Own Organics
- Nutro Natural Choice (better than the Ultra). This starts with chicken broth but it is better than grocery store food.
The above selections are just samples of good foods. There are many good foods out there. Just check the ingredients and use common sense. Don’t go by advertising and marketing.
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