Currently, there’s an abundance of dog food brands in the market, but sadly, not all of them are good for your pup’s health. There are some dog food brands to avoid at any cost, including some of the most famous brands. In this article, we will discuss the same.
Keep reading to know which dog food brands you must avoid to keep your dog’s health risk free.
12 Dog Food Brands To Avoid
Here’s the list of 12 dog food brands to avoid feeding your dog and keep them safe.
1. Pedigree
Pedigree is one of the most famous dog food brands you must avoid. Many pet parents turn to it, thinking it’s a healthy option for their dog’s health. But the truth is the opposite.
According to various sources, Pedigree food is considered a high risk food and can cause various health issues in our furry friends. The brand’s most food product’s are ultra-processed and contain excess sugar, seed oils, vitamins and minerals, corn, wheat, and soy, which can result in upset stomachs and even allergies in dogs. It also costs much more than the other brands, but isn’t really worth it.
2. IAMS
IAMS is known to be one of the oldest dog food brands and is trusted by many people. Despite being in the market for such a long period and being known to produce high-quality food, the brand has recently faced allegations for including harmful ingredients in the food products. For example, it contains ingredients like sorghum, cornmeal and by-product chicken which are not ideal for dogs.
Another harmful ingredient IAMS product contains is beet pulp, which contains as much sugar as carrots. It can cause various health issues in your dog, like obesity and diabetes.
3. Great Choice
Great Choice is a dog food brand specifically marketed as a healthy and pocket-friendly dog product. However, in actuality, the brand contains some ingredients which aren’t good for dogs. The brand also faced a major recall between 2017 and 2018 for metal contamination.
Great Choice includes ingredients like poultry fat, corn meal, and wheat middlings, leading to high amounts of carbohydrates – causing various digestive issues in dogs like bloating, vomiting, and diarrhea.
4. Kibbles ‘N Bits
Kibbles ‘N Bits is a food brand with a perfect marketing campaign that has convinced people that their dog food products are healthy and tasty for dogs. Now, again, that is far from the truth. Recently, many reports have claimed that consuming Kibbles ‘N Bits products can cause vitamin D toxicity in dogs.
Furthermore, according to Pet Education, Kibbles ‘N Bits is a corn-based food that does not provide that much nutritional value and only works as a filler. It also consists of loads of grains, food colors, low protein, and unhealthy fat.
5. Purina Dog Chow
Another dog food brand to avoid is Purina’s Dog Chow. Purina is a manufacturing company that mainly produces and markets dog and cat food.
Dog Chow is a popular dog food brand marketed as a highly nutritious meal for pups. But, in reality, Dog Chow contains many ingredients that risk your dog’s health.
The brand includes almost every filler in its food, like corn, wheat, and soy, which are inappropriate for dogs to consume. They also add artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, which are not considered healthy for dogs. According to a source, the brand also contains low quality by-product meat, which can cause digestive issues in dogs.
In the past, Purina also faced many allegations of adding harmful ingredients to their food, and in 2013, they even had to recall some of their foods.
It is worth noting that Dog Chow is not alone. There are also some other brands of Purina that are not considered healthy for dogs, for example, Benful and Alpo.
Benful contains real meat but also brings along by-products and other fillers, which prevents the food from staying healthy. Coming to Alpo, it is much worse than other brands of Purina. Many pet parents complained that after consuming Alpo, their dogs became sick, and some dogs even died. For that reason, the FDA also got issued a warning for customers.
However, Purina also has some dog food products which might be considered healthy for dogs. But, still, it’s recommended to take a glance at the ingredients list and bring it home only if it is made up of healthy ingredients.
6. Gravy Train
Gravy Train claims that they add real meat to their food product, which is a good thing. But, we can’t ignore that their food also contains by-product meat, which can be difficult for dogs to digest. They also add ingredients like corn and soy, which can leave a negative impact on a dog’s health . Therefore, avoid Gravy Train dog food to save your dog from unhealthy ingredients.
7. Kal Kan
Kal Kan is one of the oldest brands in the dog food industry. Although it has never been recalled, there are still many serious issues with their food products that need to be addressed.
The brand’s food contains many harmful ingredients like artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors, which may lead to health issues like allergies.
The brand also puts other below-average ingredients like corn, soybean, wheat middling, and meat, which barely provide any nutritious value but may threaten a dog’s health.
8. Ol’ Roy
OI’ Roy is a brand owned by Walmart. The brand markets its food as a complete source of nutrition for dogs. But, in reality, it is entirely something else.
OI’ Roy’s dog food products are filled with unhealthy ingredients like corn, soybean meal, wheat, and by-product meat, which are very low quality. According to some sources, the brand also includes citric acid in its food, which is a highly toxic substance for dogs and can result in stomach problems.
9. Sportmix
Sportmix is another major brand that you must avoid if you do not want to see your dog ill. The brand claims its food products contain high amounts of nutrition and are specifically made for athletic dogs. But, the products primarily contain fillers in their ingredients, which doesn’t provide any true nutritional value.
In fact, in the past, there have been many cases in which dogs fell ill, and some even died after consuming Sportmix’s food product.
10. Twin Pet
Again, Twin Pet is a brand that keeps corn and wheat middling as the main ingredients in their dog food product, making it a low-nutritional meal for pups. Not only that, the brand also includes by-product meat in their food products, which is even worse for dogs.
11. Cesar
Cesar some dog food products that contain unhealthy ingredients like high amounts of salt and by-product meat, which can cause numerous health issues in your dog. It is better to avoid the brand than risking your dog’s health.
12. Wegman
Another brand which is full of filler and doesn’t really care about a dog’s nutritional needs. The brand includes all the ingredients that are considered toxic for dogs, for instance, corn, by-product meat, soybean, etc., which are not considered healthy for dogs.
What more? The brand also includes artificial preservatives and food colors which can lead your dog to experience many health issues. However, according to Dog Food Advisor, Wegman has some products which might be good for dogs. Therefore, if you opt to buy this brand’s dog food, make sure to read the ingredients list before you bring it home.
What Are The Best Food Brand To Opt For?
The dog food brands mentioned above are well-known but fail to deliver the best. Now, you might be wondering if any good dog food brands are in the market or not. Well, yes, there are a few dog food brands that produce their products while keeping dog’s health as the top priority.
Here are four best food brands you can use to fulfill your pup’s nutritional requirements and help him stay healthy.
1. Merrick
Merrick is primarily known for using high-quality ingredients in their dog food products. The brand includes real meat and fish as the main ingredients in their food, making it a healthy and highly nutritious meal for dogs.
Furthermore, the brand also includes farm fresh fruits and vegetables in its food product, increasing the overall nutritional value of the dog food.
2. Just Food For Dogs
Just Food For Food is one of the best dog food brands that you must try. The brand’s mission is to provide dogs with nutritious food that improves their overall quality of life and increases their lifespan. One of the best things about Just Food For Dogs is that they make all their food products by hand in their kitchen.
The main ingredients they include in their food products are chicken thighs, chicken gizzard, chicken liver, fish oils, apples, carrot, and spinach, which are known to be best for our furry friend’s health. Also they don’t include any preservatives and gluten, keeping your dog from various health issues like poor digestion.
3. Blue Buffalo
Blue Buffalo is the first choice of pet owners who want to provide all the important nutrients to their dogs. The brand is quite popular among the athletic or active dogs.
Blue Buffalo‘s main ingredients include high-quality chicken, chicken fat, oatmeal, barley, brown rice, flaxseed, natural flavors, peas, potatoes, tomato pomace, etc. The combination of these ingredients make the brand’s dog food extremely nutritious, providing many health benefits like improved immunity and overall digestion.
The brand is perfect for both small and large breeds.
4. Orijen
Orijen is suitable for both puppies and adult dogs. The brand aims to create food products that nurture dogs and help them grow healthy. Most of their food comprises high quality animal ingredients and also contains finest fruits, vegetables, natural preservatives, vitamins and minerals. The brand also meets all the requirements that AAFCO issues, making it a trustable brand.
Final Words
These are some of the dog food brands to avoid in order to keep your dog healthy.
Never opt for a brand just because of its popularity and good marketing tactics, as it doesn’t confirm the quality of the food.
Hence, next time you are going to the market to buy food for your sweet pup, carefully look at the ingredient list. If it includes corn, wheat gluten, artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, or other ingredients that are not considered good for dogs, avoid that dog food product at any cost.