| Purina. |
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|---|---|---|
  |   |
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| Our rating |  (4 / 5) |  (4.7 / 5) |
| Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
| Primary Protein Source/ Primary Carbohydrate Source | Meat/Corn | Chicken/Corn |
| First Five Ingredients Listed | Ground Whole Corn Meat and Bone Meal Ground Whole Wheat Corn Gluten Meal Animal Fat | Whole Grain Corn Poultry By-Product Meal Corn Gluten Meal Animal Fat Preserved with Mixed-Tocopherols (a form of Vitamin D) Meat and Bone Meal |
| Fat | 10% | 10% |
| Protein | 21% | 21% |
| Fiber | 4% | 4.50% |
| Moisture (max.) | 12% | 12% |
| Life Stage | Adult | Adult |
| Breed Specific | No | No |
| Ingredient Information | BHA and BHT Artificial Preservatives | 100% Organic |
| Advertised Benefits | Promotes Lean Muscles Promotes Strong Bones Promotes Strong Immune System | Promotes Lean Muscles Superior Digestibility |
Pedigree’s bag states its primary source of protein is meat. But when you look closely at the label the first item listed is ground whole corn, a carbohydrate. Dogs are carnivores and love meat. Shouldn’t that be the first thing listed on the bag? Nowhere in the first five ingredients is there a mention of whole, unadulterated meat.
The second item on the ingredient list is meat and bone meal. There’s your protein, but in the form of the nasty bits of the animal – bones, livers, lungs, fetuses, etc. It can be high in protein, which is good for your dog, but it’s still not meat.
Items three and four on the ingredient list include ground whole wheat and corn gluten meal; more carbohydrates. Carbohydrates aren’t bad for a dog, but as in a human diet, carbs can lead to increased weight and lethargy in dogs.
Pedigree also claims that its food will give your dog lean muscles, strong bones and a healthy immune system. Hard to believe with so many carbohydrates in the mix.
Purina’s Dog Chow Complete and Balanced is slighly better than the Pedigree brand. It does claim to be 100 percent organic, which if you’re into that thing could be a big selling point.
First on the list is whole grain corn, more carbs! Next is poultry by-product meal. Again, the bits and pieces of the animal you wouldn’t eat, but at least you know it’s poultry, most likely chicken.
More carbohydrates come next, with corn gluten meal, along with a final mixture of meat and bone meal.
Purina also promotes that its food will give your dog healthy, lean muscle and easy digestibility.
First, corn has a high glycemic index, ranking 53 for straight whole corn to 69 for corn meal. This ingredient could lead to a rise in your pet’s blood sugar and lead to canine diabetes. The ingredients that with the lowest glycemic index – 0 – are chicken and beef.
Secondly is the quality of the corn/corn meal. Many pet foods with corn/corn meal as a main ingredient can contain undetected contaminants such as mites, mite droppings and mite carcasses, which are known canine allergens.
Third, corn is not easily digestible. Whole corn is especially difficult for canines (and humans, if you think about it) to digest. The more it is processed, the easier it is to digest, but then you run into the higher glycemic index from the processing.
Fourth, corn doesn’t have a very high biological value. With eggs ranking 100 on a biological value table, corn has a biological value of only 54.
And finally, corn is not an exceptional source of minerals and vitamins. According to the USDA’s National Nutrient Database, the completeness score for nutrition in corn is only 34. Other ingredients, such as sweet potatoes (55) and spinach (91) are much better sources of vitamins and minerals for your dog.
If cost is a factor, you can choose which is our recommendation for the Best Budget Friendly Dog Food with Best overall ingredients in a budget food.
We recommend this dry food for its balance of ingredients (and antioxidant-rich kale, pumpkin, papayas, blueberries, oranges, chia seeds, coconut, carrots, and spinach), whole grains and vegetables. The first ingredient in this food is chicken, real meat for your dog. That is followed by beef meal. Contains grains that are low on the glycemic chart. This food also includes high levels of natural oils, Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids, for healthy skin and coats. It is also made in America with no ingredients from China (think plastic bits in your dog food).
If cost is no object when it comes to your canine friend, then choose
It is pricey, but some of you really think of your dogs as your furry children and what does cost matter when it comes to your child?
Honest Kitchen Force is minimally processed, and made with ingredients that are human grade!
This is the closest you can get to raw-foods in pre packaged .
I understand that most people can’t or won’t spend that much on a bag of kibble, but before you drop even a twenty-dollar bill on Pedigree or Purina, take time to look at the labels.
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