“Commercially processed canned or kibble foods healthy and balanced diet are formulated to meet dogs’ nutritional needs for proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals—they're convenient, consistent, and readily available, and they undergo a process of quality control and inspection that is meant to catch any contaminants or pathogens before they affect pets or people,” says Dr. Lori Teller, a board-certified veterinarian and immediate past president of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
I have written about all things dogs—and specifically dog food—for over three years. To help you search, I consulted veterinarians and animal nutrition experts on what to consider when shopping for the best dog food. Below, I compiled expert-recommended dog food brands to consider and options NBC Select staffers feed their own pets.
2-year-old cavalier King Charles Spaniel,
eats his Royal Canin kibble from a slow feeder to prevent him from eating too fast. Courtesy Shari Uyehara Best subscription dog food: The Farmer’s Dog Subscription Dog Food
Before you place an order, you’ll fill out a questionnaire, and the brand calculates the plan that fits your dog’s caloric and nutritional needs. Bandit, a 2-year-old maltipoo, started eating The Farmer’s Dog when he was 6 months old, and he’s still just as excited for mealtime two years later, according to Daruvuri. Courtesy of Sadhana Daruvuri.STORE FOOD IN FRIDGE healthy and balanced diet
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You can store the food pouches in your fridge or freezer, and each package lasts up to four days in the fridge after being thawed, according to the brand. NBC Select social editor Sadhana Daruvuri feeds the Farmer’s Dog to her 2-year-old Maltipoo, Bandit. “I knew friends who tried it, and their dogs were all big fans, so I did a trial with Bandit.
And it was obvious he liked it way more than his kibble,” she says. Bandit was always a picky eater regarding his kibble, Daruvuri says, until she noticed a huge difference in how excited he was to eat after switching to The Farmer’s Dog.
healthy and balanced diet
Subscription prices start at $2 per day, and delivery options range from one week to two months of food (plan pricing varies based on your dog’s weight, breed, activity level, and more).
Food Type:
Fresh | Texture: Soft, easy to chew | Calorie content: n/a (based on questionnaire) | Main ingredients: human-grade (based on questionnaire)
Best dry dog food for sensitive stomachs: Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach.
Best Food For Active Dogs:
Purina Pro Plan Sport Performance Salmon & Cod Dry Dog Food
Purina employs several veterinary nutritionists to help determine healthy and balanced diet formulations and ingredients. The brand’s highly rated Pro Plan dog food is geared toward dogs of different sizes and in all stages of life, including large-breed adults and puppies, according to the brand.
The Purina Pro Plan formula has natural prebiotic fiber for digestive healthy and balanced dIet and omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin A for skin and coat health, according to the brand. NBC Select associate updates editor Zoe Malin says her large 100-pound yellow lab Chance eats the weight-management dry kibble from the brand.
Which has a more optimized protein-to-fat ratio because he’s 10 years old and less active.Food type: dry | texture: crunchy kibble | calorie content: 407 kcal per cup | main ingredients: chicken, rice, corn gluten meal, whole grain corn
Chance, a 100-pound yellow lab, switched to Purina Pro Plan’s weight management dog food when he was 8 years old as he got less active.
Courtesy of Zoe Malin Best canned wet dog food:
Royal Canin Adult Gastrointestinal Canned Dog Food What we like
Great for sensitive stomachs Low-fat Maintains gut healthy and balanced dIet Something to note Needs vet approval More expensive Non-resealable can
Suppose you prefer to incorporate canned food healthy and balanced dIet into your dog’s meals. In that case, Royal Canin has various wet food options tested by veterinary nutritionists that can help you provide them with a little more diversity at dinnertime.
LOW FAT FOOD:
Though it’s pricier, this low-fat option can be good for adult dogs with gastrointestinal issues or sensitive stomachs, according to the brand. (Though remember you’ll need your vet’s approval to order it.).
DIETARY FIBERS:
The formula has prebiotics to help maintain good bacteria in the gut, a blend of dietary fibers that can promote healthy and balanced dIetdigestion, and omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil to help soothe the GI tract, according to Royal Canin.
The brand also has other options to tackle various concerns, including weight loss, digestive care, and joint care (all of which need veterinarian approval). If you don’t want your vet’s approval first, you can opt for the brand’s regular adult canned dog food.
Food type:
wet | texture: soft, easy to chew | calorie content: 345 kcal per can | main ingredients: pork by-products, pork liver, brewers rice flour, corn grits, corn, meal,
Best frozen dog food:
Just Food healthy and balanced dIetFor Dogs Fish & Sweet Potato What we like Locally sourced produce Last a long time Easy to store Something to note Individually packaged
May need to ease into a new diet. Just Food For Dogs has pouches of high-protein food with a low-calorie count, so it’s great for dogs who may be overweight or don’t get regular exercise, according to the brand.
MEAL:
It has a variety of meal options made up of locally sourced produce and has only one source of protein for a limited ingredient diet, including venison, lamb, and turkey. The meals are made for all life stages, and they include a feeding guide on the packaging so you know how much to feed your dog.
All pouches last up to 18 months in the freezer, and thawed meals stay fresh when sealed in the original package for up to seven days, according to the brand.NBC Select associate reporter Bianca Alvarez feeds her 8-year-old pitbull Baylor this Kirkland Signature dry dog food healthy and balanced dIet with chicken, whole grain brown rice, and vegetables.
Bella, a 6-year-old Havanese and bichon frise mix, eats her Royal Canin adult kibble combined with Hill’s Science Diet canned food healthy and balanced dIet every night. Courtesy of Mili Godio Best prepared wet dog food: Purina Beneful Prepared Meals Beef & Chicken Med.
As a treat, Smith mixes a scoop of this prepared meal with Mac’s dry foodhealthy and balanced dIet about once a week. The stew comes with veggies, chunks of real beef, real chicken, and rice. It’s also a fully balanced meal, so you can serve it on its own as long as you follow your dog’s recommended portion size (you can calculate portions on the brand’s website) or sprinkle it on top of your dog’s favorite kibble.Main ingredients:
Beef and chicken broth, beef, wheat gluten, liver, white rice
Natural FOOD:
It has to be derived solely from plant, animal, or mined sources and cannot be produced by a chemically synthetic process (although ingredients can have trace amounts of chemically synthetic compounds and still be considered natural).
“Some say natural ingredients like whole chicken are better than something processed like chicken meal; however, both are from the same source—chicken meal is just dehydrated chicken,” says Roberts.
Nutritional Value And Proportions:
To ensure you’re giving your dog the appropriate nutrients and proportions, check the food’s energy density—shown as kcal (calories) per cup, can, or ounce, similar to the nutritional facts on human foods—and its feeding guidelines.
“Generally speaking, commercially prepared brands of dog food healthy and balanced dIethave all the essential nutrients that a dog needs for healthy and balanced dIet life function,” says Dr. Kristin Michael, a board-certified veterinarian and medical director at VCA Liberty Animal Hospital.
“Each specific brand and type of dog food should have clearly labeled feeding amounts for your dog’s ideal weight.”
Feeding Guidelines:
You should keep an eye on your pet’s weight with the Body Condition Score, which is a visual scale that evaluates the amount of fat on key parts of the dog’s body (a 4 or 5 score is ideal). Vets use this scale to help gauge a pet’s body condition at each medical appointment and monitor it over the lifespan of a pet, says Michael.
“A dog outside of [a healthy and balanced dIet] range in either direction could be struggling with a medical issue that needs to be addressed,” she says.
NUTRITIONAL DISEASES IN DOGS :
Unfortunately, the top nutritional disease in dogs is obesity, and, in some breeds, this can take as much as two years off their lifespan, according to Hill. A lot of obesity problems in dogs come down to the owner’s inability to understand their dog’s calorie intake:
“We often pay attention to what’s on the side of the bag, and those recommendations are for the normal, active dog—a lot of dogs aren’t normal and active,” says Wakshlag. (More on dogs and obesity below.)
Dog’s Size, Weight And Life Stage:
Generally, your dog’s food healthy and balanced dIetshould match their life stage. For example, you should feed your puppy food healthy and balanced dIetthat’s specifically labeled for puppies until they reach their adult body weight—small breeds can switch to adult dog foodhealthy and balanced dIet at seven to nine months, while bigger breeds typically switch at 12 to 14 months, according to the American Kennel Club.
“Giant breed dogs can remain on a puppy diet until 1.5 years since they continue to grow for longer than standard-sized dogs,” says Michael.
According to Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, if your senior dog is healthy and balanced dIetand eating a nutritionally balanced diet in the later stages of its life, there is no need to change its food.
healthy and balanced diet
Dog Foods Labeled For Small, Medium, Large breeds:
These labels mostly deal with the size of the kibble and whether it’s easy for them to ingest. Some brands, like Royal Canin, have breed-specific formulas, which can help certain breeds’ needs.
“Manufacturers that follow nutritional science have developed diets with ingredient content for specific classes of breeds who are predisposed to certain problems,” says Roberts. “Many large and giant breeds can develop joint problems in life—some of which are linked to certain ingredients—and diets labeled ‘giant breed’ take this into consideration.”
Be mindful of whether the formulas are actually beneficial or just marketing tactics, and you should double-check the ingredient list and nutritional content to make sure the food is actually serving its purpose for your breed, says Wakshlag.
Dry And Canned Dog Food :
“kibble is 10% water, [while] canned food is upwards of 70% water,” says Roberts. If both products have the same ingredients and only the water content differs, it’s okay to mix the wet food with your dog’s dry dog food, especially if they often get picky about their food or need an extra boost of hydration, he says.
Fresh Dog Safe Vegetables healthy and balanced diet
You can also add fresh dog-safe vegetables and fruits to their meals or as dog treats to add nutritional value without adding the calories (as long as they’re still getting their normal kibble), says Wakshlag. (We go more in-depth about dog food toppers below.)
Dry foodhealthy and balanced dIet is also more economical and typically much more stable if it’s stored in its original container in a dry location compared to wet food, which perishes at room temperature after opening, according to our experts.
Dog Food Ingredients Should You Avoid:
The main ingredient you should avoid that’s commonly seen in commercial pet food healthy and balanced dIet is garlic powder. Garlic is a flavor, which means it’s designed to make the food taste better, but it can have healthy and balanced dIet risks, says Michael.
Onions, raisins, grapes, and sugar-free additives are also toxic to dogs, though most commercially prepared food won’t contain these ingredients. You should also avoid dog foods that are heavily ladened with dyes, which often give the food a more consistent and visually appealing color, says Michael.
