Up until a few months ago, I always fed my dog regular dog food that I bought in the pet aisle of the grocery store and sprinkled a little cheese or chicken broth on top. But, the last time I took her to the veterinarian for her yearly checkup I heard the dreaded news that she's having liver problems that could be due to the added "human food" to her diet.
She won't eat the old dog food on its own so now I'm stuck looking for healthy but tasty dog food for my poor pooch. She is very picky about her food and I'm worried that I'm about to head into a month or two where all I'll do is try different brands until I find one she likes. Like most of us, I live on a budget and I can't afford to spend too much on food for my dog, so I need to find a reasonably priced dog food brand that will provide her with the daily nutrition she needs.
Not sure where to start on my quest, I decided to look into what the top searched dog food brands are among our users. Many holistic and natural dog foods topped the list including Wellness, Evolve and Pinnacle. Other popular natural dog foods include Eukanuba, Innova and the BARF diet. The BARF diet stands for "biologically appropriate raw food." The living enzymes in this dog food are believed to be the secret to a healthy dog. The BARF diet is a sort of doggy lifestyle, not just a food, so owners must mix up a dish at meal time for their pooch along with the rest of their family.
Do you know of any other dog food brands that did not show up on our list? If so, please tell us about them. Try searching for dog food on AOL Search or purchase some dog food through AOL Shopping.
Top Searched Dog Food Brands on AOL Search:
1. Wellness
2. Authority
3. Pinnacle
4. Evolve
5. Merrick
6. Royal Canin
7. Eukanuba
8. Iams
9. Innova
10. BARF diet
More Sponsored Links For: pet food, dogs health, dog training
COMMENTS
visit the Whole Dog Journal website for the true list of the best foods available.
www.whole-dog-journal.com
By Julie L. Mueller on Jul 19th 2008 at 8:18PM
Our dog breeder recommended Eagle Pack Holistic Select Super Premium Anchovy, Sardine & Salmon. There are other flavors, but this fish combination is wonderful for their hearts, their brains and their coats! You can get this, and other healthy dog food from PetCo.com
By Maura on Jul 19th 2008 at 8:19PM
I have a 2 year old retriever. He had horribly itchy, red and patchy skin. I asked the local pet store what I should feed him as it wasn't a parasite (fleas) or any other medical issue. Food allergies will commonly show up as a skin condition in pets. They highly recommended Pinnacle. I buy the Duck and Potato blend. It's pricey, but well worth it. $15 for a small bag and $50 for the large bag, which I buy on a "frequent buyer" program with the store. A large bag lasts a month and he is a "medium" sized dog. His skin is back to it's natural color. He doesn't scratch any more, and his BMs have become less frequent as more of the dog food it absorbed into his system. What I learned about what is really in "grocery store" dog food was disgusting. Every thing from parts of animals we wouldn't eat as humans to animal fur and hair. I was shocked to think that I was feeding that to my dog. Pinnacle boasts that even humans can eat it, not that we would. And you can feed it to your dog as it's first food from puppy to adult. You don't have to change it at all is it get's older. I highly recommend it!
By L.B. on Jul 19th 2008 at 8:19PM
Finding a dog food is tricky business. I have a Gr. Shepherd who is allergic to all kinds of things found in most dry dog foods. I have her on a grain free dry food (Timberwolf) and I rotate manufactures and flavors of canned food daily. This seems to keep her active and healthy with less severe allergic symptoms. She also receives raw meat (frozen) once a week. The Whole Dog Journal, www.whole-dog-journal.com does frequent articles on types of food and feeding suggestions. Check them out.
By dokmerlin on Jul 20th 2008 at 12:17PM
what a rip-off!! Every dog I have had has lived to be 14 or yrs old and ate plain dry food with afew "table nibbles" this article surely has been written by the human "food nuts" who believe rather than enjoy your food you need to fill up on grass & weeds and say "Oh! how delicious"...bah, humbug.
By mtngirl92 on Jul 19th 2008 at 8:20PM
i am a vet tech and everyone who is saying that the vet who said human food is bad for dogs are the ones who have no clue what they are talking about. human food is horrible for dogs, it can cause liver and kidney failure, i've seen it multiple times. of course every now and then scrapes are not going to cause this but being feed human food on a regular basis will. the best food you can feed your dog is Hill's Science Diet. most dogs love the taste and it is healthy for them. Science Diet also will take back any food that your dog wont eat.
By xcchick81o on Jul 19th 2008 at 8:21PM
After the scare with dog food containing wheat and corn, my daughter, who is a former vet tech, searched long and hard for a good food for her dogs and cat. She used Natural Balance for a while and then came across another very natural brand that was even more natural and is comprised of the meats that dogs love as well as a few vegetables that add vitamins to their diet. The brand is called Taste of the Wild and is mostly available in feed stores. You can google their website and locate a feed store in your area that carries it... the site is www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com. They have products for either cats or dogs in several different blends.
By cokejazz on Jul 19th 2008 at 8:22PM
I feed "Evo Ancestral Diet" by Innova to my 4 yorkies. It is grain free, high protein, ultra low carb, has wonderful superior quality natural ingredients for all life stages. They don't eat as much because there are no fillers and they have non-smelly tiny firm poop as a result.
I also mix it with "Honest Kitchen" dehydrated raw diet as a topper. You just mix it with water and it makes a gravy.
I also give them a teaspoon of non fat plain yogurt daily . This helps with digestion, tear stains, and makes anything yummy for picky eaters.
I have tried it all in the past and my dogs have never been healthier!
By Ellina on Jul 19th 2008 at 8:24PM
Don't use Iams. They do cruel animal testing on dogs in cages. I also doubt that the "human food" you described caused the problem. I would look at the additives in popular dog food, and corn--which dogs can't digest, and meat-by-products--which sounds too nasty to imagine. Beaks, feathers, blood, ground feet... My dogs get "Pet Promise" hard dog food which does not contain antibiotics or hormones. They also get Hills Prescription Diet wet food. It is rice and meat based. I also feed my dogs tuna as a treat.
By Dorrie on Jul 19th 2008 at 8:22PM
I have a white shephred born in England and flew to USA alone- now 10, and a wonderful pitt, sweet as can be, and both love the semi-soft foods, and beneful, and I do give them some chicken and steak treats. I cook eggs and bacon (not a lot) couple times a week, and they get cheerios, oatmeal and creme of wheat at times for breakfast, and Arnolds grain bread, and they get a steak a month with a bone, and hamburger, and they are healthy as can be, and coats are beautiful. Yes, they get a peanut butter cookies at times as well.
By scarlett on Jul 19th 2008 at 8:24PM
Flint River Ranch. Dog and cat, mail order only, delivered UPS for the same price as the premium pet store brands. Baked, not extruded containing all natural ingredients, no human food prep by-products or rendered fat. They have a full menu of different types of food (senior, puppy, arthritis formula etc.)
By Mainer on Jul 19th 2008 at 8:25PM
ONLY JAX MAX, Research it!!!
jaxmax.com
By Todd Maloney on Jul 19th 2008 at 8:23PM
I have 2 Boxers and a Rottweiler mix. We used to spoil them with table scraps until we learned how bad it is for them. So we switched to regular dog food. They didn't eat the plain dog food by itself for a while either. However, when a dog is hungry, he will eat, and after they realized they weren't getting anything additional, they ate. They weren't too happy about it until we started feeding them California Natural. We mix the chicken and rice formula with the heron and sweet potato formula. It has done wonders! They lick their bowls clean, and their coats have never looked more healthy. One has an awful skin condition that has no safe treatment. He scratches and scratches until his skin is raw and black. However, he scratches much less now, and we think it's thanks to the new food!
By meemee816 on Jul 19th 2008 at 8:24PM
I have always cooked for my pets, both cats and dogs. My veterinarian provided me with recipes from textbooks. The newer "science" formulated diets were created for the convenience of owners. Dogs produce small, dry stools, easier to clean up. Not "science formulated" for pet health at all. Dry foods often contain insecticides. You could leave a bag of dry pet food sitting outside and insects go "around" it. Insects can smell the insecticides. I have healthy cooked recipes for both soft and crunchy dry food and my veterinarian told me it extends their lives by 2 or more years.
By Susan on Oct 22nd 2008 at 12:36PM
I found, and love the Life's Abundance from HealthyPetNet. Developed by a holistic vet, it contains what your pets need, but none of the junk. Human grade, very concentrated, and most dogs love it. Compare for youeself.
http://www.HealthyPetNet.com/djj4jc
By Debbie on Jul 19th 2008 at 10:19PM
I suggest checking out this page: (scroll to the bottom to see how your dog food rates)
http://www.pawstoadmire.com/index_files/Page411.htm
You can see how your dog food rates and what foods are the healthiest and safest for your dogs. My dogs had a bad experience with 2 different dog foods that my vet RECOMMENDED! I found out that the by-products in the food was very unhealthy for my dogs and I switched to a much healthier food. They have been on Innova and Back To Basics, which they seem to like a lot, and I can feel comfortable knowing they are eating something healthy.
I'm told if you can buy a dog food in your grocery or discount store, those are the foods to avoid the most!
By Valerie on Jul 20th 2008 at 11:28AM
FROMM one of the best lines of dog food in the marketplace! Our 5 year old Akita has never been sick, and she never had trouble adjusting to each food blend.. She loves them all! The ingredients are exceptional.
By ssca on Jul 19th 2008 at 9:47PM
please advise me if the dog food i'm giving my dog is ok....we are giving hime ceaser,and beniful dry dog...thank you...
By linda on Jul 19th 2008 at 8:29PM
Two superior foods that did not make your list are Nature's Variety Instinct and Solid Gold Barking at the Moon. They are both grain-free and contain everything one would give his animal if he were feeding raw, but in kibble form.
By spitfyr323 on Jul 19th 2008 at 8:32PM
Try mixing dry food with canned food and then add a little bit of water to create a "gravy". My dogs are also very picky eaters and ever since I started using this method for feeding them, they have not turned their nose up at dinner once:) Best of all, they get the benefits of dry food, and the canned food is just as doggie liver friendly:)
By sarahgogal on Jul 19th 2008 at 8:33PM