Is affordable dog food healthy enough, or do I need premium brands?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Max. Higher quality food does make a difference in a dog, but you could see how he does on economical brand. You want him to eat the food and like it. He should have no vomiting or diarrhea on a new diet and should only have 2-3 bowel movements per day. He also needs to have a glossy coat. These are signs the diet is working for him. Of the cheaper brands, I would recommend Purina Dog Chow or Pedigree. Purina ProPlan and Iams will better options of the higher ends foods you listed. I hope this information helps!

Yes, this is okay. Balanced, well-prepared raw diets are great when fed correctly, but high quality kibble is certainly a reasonable alternative that most dogs do very well on. I would suggest a brand like Orijen or Taste of the Wild, if possible.

Hello. There is absolutely nothing wrong with feeding Purina Dog Chow if your dog is doing well on it. Just because it does not have a fancy name does not make it a bad food & some of the really pricy brands are pretty crappy. Purina, along with Hill's & Royal Canin, are the most respected dog food manufacturers. These companies employ veterinary nutritionists to formulate & test their products on real dogs & this means more to veterinarians than any formula just based on laboratory data. Purina does have a premium line, but I just feed my dogs the Purina One. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. Thank you for using PetCoach. Great question! I don't know what this "man's" background is but I don't suggest you take advice from someone who likely knows nothing about nutrition in dogs. This includes many pet stores employees, breeders and people that do internet research from sources with no factual background. Dry food is just fine for dogs and you don't have to use an expensive food. Just don't use a super cheap food (like Ol' Roy). If you are looking for a good dry food that is reasonably priced then I would use Purina One. I would use a weight control diet (it is fine to feed that to both dogs) and be sure you are feeding the correct amount based on their IDEAL weight (not the current weight). You really need to get some weight off the big dog. Minimize treats and it is suggested you not feed any people food when trying to get a dog to lose weight. This is going to be very bad for his joints as he gets older. ( https://www.purinaone.com/dogs/products/dry-dog-food/smartblend-healthy-weight ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Look at the packages for information on the calories. You will want one with higher calories. Try to stick to the better quality foods. Iams, Purina One, Eukanuba and Nutro are all moderately priced and are good diets. Ask about a membership or purchase punch card which some pet stores may have to help save costs. Often, setting up an automatic shipment can save money as well. I hope this helps.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I definitely understand your concern. I do think it would be best to switch them to a regular diet. There are many types out there that are affordable and good. I like the Purina Pro Plan shredded blends in that category because they are palatable, affordable and of very good quality. Good luck and have a great day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I really like the Science Diet canned diets for adult dogs 7+ years. It comes in different varieties such as chicken or beef for example. I have many of my patients on this and I think it provides excellent nutrition. Good luck and have a great day!