There’s nothing quite like the love a pet owner shares with their dog. The companionship formed between man and beast is something unique and genuine. In order to keep this bond as strong as possible, people search for the best types of dog food on the market. Just like the human food industry, there are products out there on the pet market that are unhealthy, lack proper nutrition, and are mostly unenjoyable for dogs. With so many food items out there, let’s provide some ratings of dog food so you as a pet owner can recognize credible pet brand names.
Alpo Dog Food
The first dog food we’ll look into is Alpo Prime Cuts. In the past, Alpo was extremely popular and highly praised as one of the top dog food manufacturers in the market. Unfortunately, it seems those marketing days of glory are long gone. When looking at the ingredients contained in a bag of Alpo food, it’s hard to understand why so many people gave this food to their dogs in the first place. For example, the top ingredient in this item is ground corn, which has been scientifically proven to be difficult for dogs to digest. This corn acts more as a filler than anything else! There is also soybean meal, a mostly unhealthy ingredient that acts as filler as well. In terms of meat, the quality isn’t there. The beef portion of this dog food comes from some of the most undesirable parts of the cow, and even contains pieces of bone. Lastly, there’s the dreaded “digest of chicken by-products,” which is basically a slew of animal parts that would probably make most people sick to their stomach if they even saw or smelt it. In short, I would have to give Alpo one of the lowest ratings of dog food possible.
Acana Dog Food
Let’s explore the opposite side of the spectrum. One of the highest ratings of dog food on the market comes from the people at Acana. Chicken meal is the top ingredient on the list, which is great news. The food also contains chicken fat, chicken liver, and chicken liver oil, all of which provide great sources of vitamins and omega fatty acids. Chicken aside, Acana dog food also contains great sources of carbohydrates such as potatoes and oats. Lastly, Acana also has bountiful protein sources such as whole eggs, flounder, and even peas. When comparing this food to the Alpo product mentioned above, it’s no wonder why Acana receives some of the highest ratings of dog food on the market.
Blue Buffalo Company Dog Food
Another dog food brand that receives high praise is the Blue Buffalo Company. Within the first five ingredients listed on the package, we can see that three of them are named meat ingredients. This means that there is a respectable amount of protein in this food. Peas are also found in this dog food, and act as the main source of carbohydrates and fiber. On top of all of this, the people at Blue Buffalo Company have also added sweet potatoes, blueberries, and cranberries; providing a great source of fruits and vegetables. When looking at this top of the line dog food, it’s no wonder why Alpo deserves the lowest ratings of dog food possible.
Making The Right Choice
In conclusion, making the right choice on dog food can be overwhelming as a pet owner. Hopefully this article provides you with a better idea of what to look for when you’re shopping at your local pet store or supermarket. As we’ve seen, major dog food brand names doesn’t necessarily mean that the product is top quality. If anything, you should take the extra five minutes to explore all of the possibilities offered to you, and see which one has the most natural and hearty ingredients.
