What are the top dog food brands, and how do I pick the best?

If you ask 100 people and 100 vets you will probably get at least 150 different answers. It is really personal preference. Don't stress too much. Just remember that more expensive foods are not necessarily better. Buy what you can comfortably afford and if Bella is doing well on that food (no gas, no diarrhea, no vomiting, has a healthy coat, etc) then keep her on it. I have seen dogs eating Ol'Roy arguably the worst food and they look great on it. I have seen dogs on the most expensive foods look terrible. I personally like Royal Canin foods but they can be expensive. I you are looking for a less expensive brand then I would go for Iams or Purina One. Hope this helps. If you have more questions you are welcome to post again or opt for a private consultation so you can ask as many questions as you'd like.

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.

Foods in the US need to be regulated under AAFCO standards to be complete and nutritionally balanced, so most foods will do a good job of making sure your pet stays healthy and happy. Specialist foods generally are designed to treat an issue, such as a food allergy or a health problem, and are beneficial for pets that need it. As for the prescription diets your vet sells, these are specially formulated to help treat a specific medical condition like a prescription medication would. They are prescription-only because of this, and sometimes cost a bit more because a lot more research and formulation (and sometimes unique ingredients) goes into them to make them able to treat a health condition. In many cases, your vet can send a prescription for this food to an online pet store or pharmacy so you can purchase the product cheaper.

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!

I am not familiar with this type of dog food. In general, I tend to recommend Hill's Science Diet and the high end Purina products. My reason for this is because these are the only two brands who do extensive food testing on all of their diets prior to putting them on the market. I also feed Wellness to my own cats and dogs, but this is based simply on my own anecdotal positive experience with this diet. In terms of extra fiber, you can add small amounts of fruits and vegetables. Canned pumpkin is often a good addition that most dogs eat up. Hope this makes sense.

Unfortunately, there is no one "best" food or treat for Snickers. There are higher quality diets such as Acana, Royal Canin, Canidae and a few others. The key to choosing a diet for your dog is to find one that he will eat, that doesn't cause any GI upset and is easy for you to buy. Choose a diet with a named protein source over diets with by-products and meat meals. Also, stay away from store or discount brands as these typically contain low quality ingredients and more fillers. The website www.dogfoodadvisor.com is an excellent resource for comparing diets.

Hello! All great questions and comments - and you're right, there's a lot of conflicting information out there regarding food. Some of the information you're going to find is based on personal preference or a value bias. Corn is a good source of digestible carbs, fatty acids, and protein - but these things are better digested in dogs than in cats (who are obligate carnivores), and some people prefer to minimize grains, so those people might state corn is "bad".... in my opinion, the focus on grains is based more on trends in human nutrition than evidence-based pet nutrition. Statements regarding what pet foods are "good" vs "bad" will also come from personal preference...your vet can probably explain what made them state that Purina is better than Merrick, and another vet might have their own input on the matter. I do personally like both Purina and Hills because I find their products consistent, reliable, and I like that those companies put a lot of their profits back into nutrition research to work on creating good foods - but that doesn't mean they're the only good foods out there. Raw food is another hot topic. I have worked extensively with dog mushers, and raw meat is a very common component to their food - and I'm fine with that. However, I also have a degree in Public Health, and know that raw foods increase the likelihood of foodborne illness such as salmonella both in the pets themselves, and in the humans who are in contact with them. So, again, there are going to be different sides to the conversation. It's confusing when there's conflicting information! Try to sort through what's based on research and evidence, and what is based on the personal opinions and biases of the speaker. Good luck! Hope this helps.