Of course, as a dog owner, you only want to buy the best of the best when it comes to dog food. However, oftentimes this can be challenging.
Especially as a new dog owner.
If you got your pup from the shelter and he’s considered an adult (which is usually after a year but some breeds still grow until they are 2-years-old) the shelter will provide you with the necessary information in regards to the right diet.
However, keep in mind depending on the breed, some dogs have more allergies than others so it’s important to know if and what your dog is allergic to. Therefore, you can schedule an allergy test with your vet and go from there. Most allergens dogs are sensitive to, are poultry, lamb, chicken eggs, beef, soy, and wheat. In rare cases, rice.
I have a 50 lbs Pitbull and he has sensitive skin. It took me a while to research high-quality dog food for adult dogs and seniors. I even cooked some home-cooked meals for him a few times but that’s another story. Here is a list of dry dog food with limited ingredients and real meat. Keep in mind that good food also has its price, but if you eat good, why shouldn’t your dog?
1. CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Real Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food This dry food is good for adult dogs and senior dogs who have food sensitivities since it’s a limited ingredient list with eight key ingredients. The first six ingredients on the list are; salmon, salmon meal, menhaden fish meal, sweet potatoes, peas, canola oil, and more. It is free of soy, gluten, hormones, artificial colors, flavor, or preservatives, grains, antibiotics, and corn. The kibbles are small and it smells a little strong (like fish), but you’ll get used to it. My dog loves it. Price is a little above average but that’s because the ingredients are sourced in the United States and the Pacific Northwest. Price: $65/24 lbs bag. 5 Stars/5
2. Merrick Grain-Free Real Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food This brand is also pretty good since the first ingredient listed is also real salmon, followed by; salmon meal, whitefish meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes, peas, sunflower oil, and more. This product contains 60 percent protein and healthy fats, as well as 40 percent of fiber, vitamins, minerals as well as other natural ingredients for a balanced diet. It consists of omega fatty acids to advance in healthy skin and a shiny coat, as well as promote good hip and joint function with glucosamine and chondroitin. It also has a slight fishy smell, but your dog will go bananas if he loves eating fish, just like my dog does. Kibbles are
small/medium size. I used to feed my dog this brand for years but I recently changed it to CANIDAE because I looked for food specified for senior dogs. Price: $56/22 lbs bag. 5 Stars/5.
3. Blue Buffalo FREEDOM Adult Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food This brand is good if your dog can tolerate poultry. I learned it the hard way and changed my dog’s diet after my vet told me so. Therefore it’s good to get an allergy test out the way before trying a bunch of foods since changing the food too often can also upset your dog’s tummy because it takes their stomach a few days to adjust. Most dogs have sensitive stomachs, but depending on the breed some dogs are more severe than others. This was the second food I gave him after I adopted him from the shelter, he’s not that picky but twice in our life together he refused the dog food I bought, one from Whole Foods, the other one from Royal Canin. Anyways “Blue Buffalo FREEDOM” is grain-free and uses real deboned chicken as the first ingredient, followed by; chicken meal, potatoes, peas, tapioca starch (a starch derived from the root of the cassava plant), pea starch, chicken fat, and more. The smell is not bad at all and the kibble size is like a medium. Price: $54/24 lbs bag. 4 Stars/5.
