Digging Up the Dirt on Dog Food
- Oopsie Doodles Family
- Jul 3, 2020
- 5 min read
Guest post by R. Adams
Our dogs are more than just pets. We are more than just owners. They are family. Because of this we try our hardest to ensure that they are happy, and well taken care of. One of the most basic ways to take care of our dogs is through choosing good dog food. One that you can feel good about knowing they are getting proper nutrition, and that they will enjoy eating.
We’re sniffing out five popular brands to let you know what you can expect to find in the bag. All of the brands included could be considered very good dog food with quality ingredients. Most of the brand’s recipes have shied away from the use of corn, soy, and wheat as fillers to help with common digestion problems. Even though dry dog food is the most popular form to feed our furry friends, it should be noted that every brand has wet food available as well.
You should have no difficulty finding this popular dog food, as it is widely available anywhere in the US. Purina is the largest company in this list, and makes a ton of different foods. The Pro Plan is their segment of premium dog food. The packaging is easily comprehensible, and straight forward in helping you decide which food in their lineup would be best for your dog.
Their Focus products do just that; focus on a specific need to keep your dog healthy. With choices such as Bright Mind, Sensitive Skin and Stomach, Large Breed, and Sport, the base of the recipes are all relatively the same. Real meat protein being the first ingredient in their food. Purina invests heavily in on-site veterinary analysis of their foods, and varies the vitamin and mineral additives to this food to get your dog the nutrition they need.
Most of those varieties do contain wheat and corn, but there is a grain free option that uses cassava root, beets, and pea for their carbohydrates. It is also the best priced grain free food amongst the list.
Click the specific food links above, or here for comparison of all varieties: Purina Pro Plan.
This in-store brand of dog food is manufactured by Diamond Pet Food and available at Tractor Supply Company. It hits all of the marks for quality use of ingredients with a few varieties available. Real meat proteins are generally the first ingredient, with the exception of the Special Care line that uses potatoes, legumes, and eggs as the main ingredients to help sensitive dietary needs. Glucosamine and chondroitin can be found throughout their entire line of food, which helps with joint support as your dog begins to age.
Potatoes are the main source of carbohydrates in the Special Care, Grain Free, and Original recipes. While their Untamed recipe uses lentils as their carbohydrate. 4Health includes a diverse array of fruits and vegetables such as kelp, carrots, apples, spinach, and berries in their recipes. The Original recipe is offered in a large 44 pound bag, which is nice when you have large dogs, or large dog families.
The price of this food is lower than the other four foods in this review. The manufacturing company, Diamond Pet Food, is one of the largest in the world which would account for this low price tag. With Tractor Supply Company being the largest rural lifestyle retailers in the U.S., it’s a good chance you’ll be able to find a store near you.
With over one hundred food and treat offerings, you shouldn’t have difficulty finding something your dog will like from this Texas company. The use of “Real Deboned Meat” as their first ingredient across their entire food line is a plus for flavor. There are also supplemental animal meals in the mix to help amp up the protein content. They also use whole foods such as peas, blueberries, and apples to round out the complete nutritional needs of your dog. Their Classic Healthy Grains uses quinoa and chia seeds as fiber to help with digestion.
Using potatoes as their main source of carbohydrates, their Grain Free food is the most popular recipe. It is also the easiest to find in small, independently owned pet food stores. The addition of glucosamine and chondroitin helps with the joints. Their Backcountry lineup adds freeze dried meat bits to up the protein content and flavor.
The company proudly donates to many local humane societies, and animal shelters. They also provide food and treats to the K9s For Warriors charity.
If your dog is a fan of cheese, you might want to check out this family owned company from Wisconsin. It is the only company in this review that has it across their entire food line. They have an inherent focus on supporting local, independently owned pet specialty stores which could make this food difficult to find in stores, although it is widely available online through Amazon (unauthorized), and authorized for sale at these listed retailers here. To find it in store in your area, you can use their handy search tool here: https://frommfamily.com/retailers/where-to-buy/.
Of their three major offerings the Gold lineup is the best deal, as this brand is the most expensive in this review. It does use barley in it, so their grain free Four Star would be the best choice if you’re trying to avoid gluten.
Their lineup includes a large selection of dog food for all types of dogs, and a variety of food shapes and sizes. Their comprehensive, and easy to navigate website will help you choose the right food for your pup.
Oopsie Notes: We buy ours from this link -> HERE, with free shipping and free returns, as well as recurring auto shipments so we never run out: We like the Surf & Turf recipe for sensitive pups: https://www.gofromm.com/fromm-four-star-nutritionals-surf-turf-food-for-dogs.
This boutique dog food company out of Texas puts as much effort into sustainable farming, and business practices as it does in producing premium, holistic dog food. They own and operate their own pet nutrition plant. It is also the only other company, along with Purina Pro Plan, not found in the FDA's study on Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy.
Their grain free offering, Pure, has a few options within it. Their budget friendly, grain and potato free, Under The Sun, is the best priced grain free choice, with the exception of 4Health’s grain free offering. Under The Sun uses a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as single animal proteins to make up the recipe.
If you have multiple dogs of different ages, they offer up All Life Stages. It is their most economical choice, and, just like 4Health, they sell it in a big 44 pound bag which is nice when you have a lot of dogs to feed. Their food is in the premium pricing range, but most independent pet food stores participate in their frequent buyers deal where you get a free bag after the purchase of twelve.
Within each dog food brand, there is such a wide variety of recipes. You can rest assured knowing that whichever brand you decide to feed your loved ones, you’ll be able to find a nutritious recipe that they’ll love. Pets are a major part of our family. With so many choices available now, and ease of availability online and in pet stores, it’s a good thing to take a little time to research exactly what you’re feeding your loved one.
Click below to compare the foods we've featured above:
Looking for other things to make feeding time fun and enjoyable for you and your pet? Check out these products used and loved by our Oopsie Doodles family:
Leave us a comment below. What do you feed your doodles?
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