What are the best dog food brands and how to add fiber to dog food?

I think Blue Buffalo is a decent brand of dog food but I see many dogs who end up with diarrhea issues on it. Nutro is a good one that can offer some more holistic dog food. Natural Balance is another one that most dogs seem to do very well on. Take a look at either one of these brands. Lastly, by-products are not bad. By-products are the parts of the carcass that humans don’t generally eat like the internal organs. The internal organs tend to contain most of the vitamins and minerals within the body so in the wild, these are sought out by predators. That’s why I never get too excited about by-products in a meal. I do like to see though that two out of the top three ingredients within a diet are meat-based. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions!

Brands I recommend include Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet, Purina Pro Plan, and Iams (Eukanuba). I recommend these brands because they meet AAFCO feeding standards, run their own food trials, and have veterinary nutritionists on staff. They are the only four brands to have these things.

If you ask 100 vets, 100 dog owners, 100 pet store employees you are going to get 300 different answers. It is personal preference and experience with certain brands. There are regular diets, prescription diets, organic diets, grain free diets, weight loss diets, diets for working dogs, etc. What are actually trying to determine? What, for you, is considered "best"? A diet with organic ingredients, an inexpensive diet, a diet with no grains?? I would give a different list for someone who wants their dog to lose weight versus someone who uses their dog for working or shows or someone who wants to feed an organic diet. Any list you get from any of the experts on this forum is just going to be personal preference. So, if you want to post again with more specifics we can try to help you better.

As you've experienced, diet changes can certainly cause some changes in stool volume, and for some dogs, can cause a bit of vomiting and diarrhea. When it comes to the countless brands of dog food on the market today, it's overwhelming to pick one for your pup. I recommend brands that have been formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, are manufactured in their own facility (less cross-contamination that facilities that manufacture numerous formulations), conduct AAFCO feeding trials, and meet WSAVA guidelines. When it comes down to it, the brands that meet those criteria include Hill's Science Diet, Purina, Royal Canin, Eukanuba, and Iams. As a result, I would recommend switching Lilly over to the Science Diet puppy food. Just remember that anytime you switch foods, be sure to do so by gradually mixing the old and new foods together over a 5-7 day period. I hope that everything goes well!

There is no one "best" dog food. Choose a brand that is easy for you to get, one that Opie will eat and one that doesn't cause GI upset or other issues. If you can find a food that satisifes these 3 things, that's the one to feed. Stay away from store or discount brands. They typically contain low quality ingredients and more fillers. Premium brands include Canidae, Orijen and Acana. The website www.dogfoodadvisor.com is an excellent resource for comparing diets. Always transition to a new diet slowly to prevent stomach upset.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. My top recommendations of veterinary diets include Hill's Science Diet, Purina, and Royal Canin. These are well-known brands that are stocked in veterinary hospitals, and are AAFCO formulated to be balanced and appropriate. I recommend avoiding grain-free, boutique diets from other brands, as these are not regulated and often are do not have balanced nutrients. I hope this is helpful!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sure that you have probably noticed that there are several different foods available in the market which does not make it any easier sometimes. I prefer any of the Purina pro Plan diets as they are highly nutritious and also very palatable. Also, I highly recommend the hill's Science Diet foods which are also great. Both of these brands have puppy specific diets that would be perfect for Snoopy. Good luck and have a great day!