Review of the best super-premium dog foods

Recently, dry food for pets has become increasingly popular. Breeders use ready-made products based on convenience, relative cheapness, and complexity. Unlike natural feeding, dry products do not need to be prepared; they are easy to store and use. Feed granules contain not only proteins, fats and carbohydrates, but also vitamins. Thanks to this, the pet does not need to be provided with additional medications and supplements.

The choice of dry food should be approached responsibly. Just 3-4 years ago, ready-made food was considered harmful to dogs . In fact, there are now perfectly balanced production formulas that are suitable even for elderly and very small pets. But you cannot rely on the quality of cheap food, below the super class.

Advance

The famous Spanish food for dogs and cats of super-premium class, occupies a leading position in the tops of Europe (5-6th place). Transported to more than 20 countries. The composition varies depending on the type of food, its intended use for a specific breed, age or activity. If we consider the standard appearance for adult pets of medium breeds, we can note some key features:

1. Stated protein content (27%) – chicken (10-15%) and poultry proteins;
2. Plant proteins from corn, wheat and flour;
3. Rice (15%) is used as the main carbohydrate and is considered high quality and non-allergenic;
4. Animal fats (mostly fish fats);
5. Vitamin supplements – dry egg powder, yeast, potassium chloride;
6. Adding salt to increase your pet's thirst is used to prevent urinary tract diseases.

The product line consists of 34 types.

• They are divided into 3 types: veterinary, breed and general standard nutrition. The first group is intended for animals with specific abnormalities that require a therapeutic diet.
• In total, there are 9 similar foods: for urolithiasis, for joint diseases, for obesity, kidney and digestive problems, for dermatitis, diabetes, leishmaniasis, and colitis.
• Narrowly targeted food is intended for certain breeds: Yorkshire Terriers, English and French Bulldogs, Labradors, German Shepherds, Boxers. Standard food is divided by age groups: pappy (puppies), adult (adults), old (elderly).
• There is also a gradation in size and activity.

The advantages of food include a variety of lines, high-quality vitamin supplements, longevity on the market, and well-digestible proteins. Disadvantages: high content of wheat and corn, presence of salt and unspecified animal fats, low percentage of fiber.

Customer Reviews

Rating

When compiling the rating, we took into account:

• composition - volume of meat ingredients and their origin, presence/absence of harmful components, nutritional value;
• price - the “the more expensive the better” approach does not work, some expensive brands are worse in composition than cheaper lines;
• reviews from “dog owners” - veterinarians, breeders, owners: in the description of each food you will find responses from owners whose dogs eat these crackers;
• ratings, analyzes and reviews from specialized sites maintained by veterinarians - “Feed your pet correctly”, “Companion” and others.

I also added my two cents. I have seen more than once how dogs feel worse on seemingly excellent food. And on the brand, the health and appearance of dogs is worse in terms of characteristics.

Genesis Pure Canada

The Canadian product Genesis Pure opens the food rating. This is the best premium brand. The company's drying products contain 80% meat ingredients, no grains or cereals.

The basis of the diet (50-60%) is chicken, beef or salmon, depending on the type. Added exotic varieties - wild boar, deer, goat, buffalo, quail, pheasant. But their share is 2-6%.

Plant components are represented by bananas or potatoes - 9-12%. They are a high-carbohydrate substitute for grains. Other ingredients include carrots, legumes, berries, herbs, and mussel extract.

Genesis Pure Canada in terms of the amount of meat and the absence of grain ingredients is close to the holistic class (as the manufacturer claims). However, the situation is spoiled by the waste remaining after the fat is separated from the carcasses - meat renderings (up to 18%). There are also no statements about the environmental friendliness of raw materials, the cultivation of animal and plant products without pesticides, growth hormones, etc.

Pros:

• quantity of meat components 80%;
• no grains or cereals;
• no chemical preservatives;
• Convenient packaging with a zipper.

Minuses:

• low-quality processed meat products;
• Difficulties with purchasing - there are few places for sale at retail, you will have to order via the Internet.

Reviews:

SunKiss: “Healthy, balanced food. Green Highland Puppy is suitable for puppy dogs, kittens and junior dogs up to one year old.”

Fenix: “I took Genesis Pure Canada for small breed dogs (toy terriers) and another Doberman puppy bag for large dogs. The transition from another drying cycle was normal, there was no vomiting. The stool is formed from the first days and does not smell. The coat has improved, shine has appeared, the color has become richer.”

CRAVE

Crave is a new product on the premium feed market, produced in Germany. The manufacturer places special emphasis on the fact that dogs are predators by nature, their common ancestor is the wild wolf. Therefore, at the level of healthy instincts, dogs prefer diets rich in animal protein. This is why animal protein is the #1 ingredient in Crave diets. The content of the main protein components (chicken, beef, lamb, turkey) in Crave food is at least 60%. The composition also includes animal fats, plant ingredients (potatoes, legumes, beets, apples), a vitamin and mineral complex.

Crave diets are grain-free, which is an added bonus. Some pets may be hypersensitive to grains in their diet. Therefore, Crave food is absolutely safe in this regard. Also, these diets do not contain soy, dairy products, artificial additives - colors, flavors, flavor enhancers, preservatives.

The brand offers two lines of dog diets – dry and wet. There are different tastes: dry food - chicken and turkey, beef and lamb; wet food - chicken, rabbit, beef, lamb.

Pros:

• high content of animal protein – at least 60%,
• optimal energy value – on average 390 kcal/100 g,
• grain-free recipe,
• There are no artificial additives - dyes, flavors, flavor enhancers, preservatives.

Minuses:

• representation is still only being built on the Russian market,
• relatively high price,
• There are universal lines only for adult dogs.

Victoria: “The food is perfectly balanced and contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals.
I liked that it doesn’t have an unpleasant odor like cheaper foods. I would even say that you can smell real meat. The dog’s digestion improved, the hair stopped falling out and became shiny and silky.” Yuri: “As a veterinarian, when preparing a diet for a dog, I advise you to choose high-protein and grain-free food. Crave is ideal for maintaining optimal physical condition of the animal, as it has a minimum of 60% meat ingredients, moderate fat content, low carbohydrate content."

GO!

Another Canadian manufacturer that produces excellent super-premium food. Petcurean Pet Nutrition claims that their products belong to the holistic class. But in reality this is not the case: there is no fresh meat in it - only dried, frozen or dehydrated.

The basis of GO! constitutes sources of animal proteins. But the manufacturer does not indicate the exact percentage. Presumably it is large, because... meat ingredients are listed in the top five of the composition: as a standard, components are listed depending on their volume - the product with the most amount is placed first.

At GO! There are 3 main lines:

1. Fit + Free Grain Free All life Stages. Grain-free food with chicken, turkey, duck and salmon. Animal protein is represented by meat and fish flour, dried eggs, and vegetable protein - potatoes, tapioca, legumes, berries, bananas, papaya. The share of the latter is small, so the main percentage is allocated to meat products. Fit + Free is suitable for dogs of all breeds and ages.
2. Limited Ingredient Sensitivity + Shine. This group includes 6 categories. They differ in their meat components: food is produced based on dehydrated chicken, duck, salmon, turkey, lamb, and beef. This is the so-called monofeeds - made from one key component. The product is suitable for pets with allergies. All Limited Ingredient Sensitivity + Shine varieties are free of wheat and corn, which are common allergens. However, the drying row contains other grains - oatmeal, lentils, peas, chickpeas, oats. Potatoes, berries, and fruits are also added as plant components.
3. Daily Defense. Monocorm, suitable for an exclusion diet. Available in 2 types: chicken and lamb. In addition to meat flour, it contains a large amount of cereals - oatmeal and brown rice.

Pros:

• economically used;
• suitable for allergy sufferers;
• There are grain-free lines.

Minuses:

• marketers inaccurately translate English names into Russian - for example, meal lamb (lamb flour) turns into fresh lamb;
• the percentage of components is not indicated;
• Some species contain many cereals.

Kyara788911: “Great lineup. However, the granules are large and are not suitable for small and medium breed puppies.”

Nightlighters: “Both dogs are happy to eat “Go!”, even the picky Pembroke. The coat was shiny and there were no allergies. However, the stool was disturbed: familiar dog lovers also mentioned this point, probably this is a feature of the food.”

Interesting: Breeds of small dogs with photos

Wolfsblut

The concept alone makes you fall in love with the English-German food Wolfsblut. Manufacturers focused on the origin of dogs from wolves and developed a formula that is as close as possible to the natural diet of predators - based on meat and without grains.

Original and packaging: images of wolves against the background of various landscapes. The names are surprising: “The Hunter’s Pride”, “Green Valley”, “Western Cape”, “Wild Ocean”.

But the company did not stop at marketing moves alone. The content of the granules is no less original. They contain 50-60% meat. Moreover, along with the usual lamb, turkey, salmon, trout, there are exotic varieties: buffalo, kangaroo, haddock, goat, venison, pheasant, horse meat. All types of drying - monofeed, i.e. made from one type of animal product. Therefore, they are suitable for allergy sufferers on an exclusion diet.

“Wolf's Blood” drying does not contain cheap vegetable fillers - grain, beet pulp. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, white beets, Jerusalem artichokes, chickpeas, seaweed, apples, carrots, and tomatoes are sources of fiber.

True, some types of the brand contain a lot of potatoes - from 40% (ex. Adult Dog Cold River). Whereas in other lines, root vegetables are moderate - 10-20% (ex. Adult Dog Green Valley). Therefore, carefully read the composition of each variety.

Wolfsblut contains an abundance of useful herbal supplements: herbs, medicinal herbs. The variety of dried berries, fruits, and seasonings is also incredible. This splendor is complemented by a balanced mineral and vitamin complex.

Pros:

• a large share of meat products;
• contains exotic meats;
• no artificial preservatives, soy, or flavor enhancers.

Minuses:

• Not every pet store carries Wolfsblut;
• high price;
• some types contain a lot of potato and its derivatives.

Andrey Makhov: “The granules are of medium size and hardness and clean the teeth normally. In my experience, there were no allergies to Wolfsblut. Large assortment of types and tastes. After 2-3 weeks, the condition of the coat and teeth improves, and activity increases. The only concern is the high fat content (18%). Therefore, drying is not suitable for homebodies.”

Ledy N: “My husky liked it. They gobble it up with pleasure, they eat up a portion of 125-130 g at a time. They’re not hungry, but they don’t gain weight either.”

Brit

Brit from the Czech company VAFO Praha sro will give a head start to advertised brands. The manufacturer's specialty is the production of drying products in different price categories.

Brit is produced in 4 types:

1. Carni Love. 50 – 60% consist of meat meal from deer, duck, lamb, pheasant, salmon or wild boar. The remaining share is allocated to berries, vegetables, and medicinal herbs.
2. Care Superpremium. Contains 30-40% dehydrated meat, up to 40% potatoes or rice, the remaining 20% ​​is reserved for vegetables, fruits, oils, and mineral supplements. The best dry food in this price category is 417 to 552 rubles. for 1 kg.
3. Premium. The composition is similar to the previous type. But it is made cheaper due to grain: oats, corn, wheat. They often cause allergic reactions.
4. Petit. Designed for decorative breeds. They consist of 50% meat products, the rest is rice, potatoes, sources of fiber, vitamin and mineral complexes and extracts of medicinal herbs.

VAFO Praha sro classifies the Carnilove line as a holistic class, Care Superpremium as a super-premium, and Premium as a regular premium. However, all of them can be defined as the super-premium segment: Carnilove does not have organic products, and Premium contains 45% meat, which is not typical for budget brands.

Advantages:

• you can choose a look to suit any wallet;
• the manufacturer produces about 100 types of granules - they are designed for different breeds, ages, sizes, and needs of pets;
• Any type of Brit contains at least 30% meat.

Flaws:

• no fresh and raw meat products;
• not sold everywhere.

Never-Office: “I recommend Brit Carni Love for dogs that live in an enclosure, are involved in hunting, sports or service. "Kellets are too high in calories for pets."

Mama-Exidna: “I feed for six months. The favorite eats with pleasure, eats every last cracker. The wool looks great. A dog's body is neither thin nor fat. There are no problems with the toilet."

Carnilove

Carnilove is produced by the same company as Brit - VAFO Praha sro. And the concept coincides with the German Wolfsblut - creating a diet that closely matches the diet in the wild.

The design of the packs is also similar - images of wolves and natural landscapes. Another coincidence is that the meat is based on exotic varieties of meat from wild animals: carp, wild boar, trout, ostrich, deer. There are also the usual ones: chicken, turkey, lamb, duck, rabbit.

The difference from Wolfsblut is that there are no potatoes or their derivatives. Instead, legumes: peas, chickpeas. In addition, their content is lower than potato products in German granules - 20%.

Added by Carnilove:

• forest berries, fruits;
• herbs;
• vegetables;
• salmon fat;
• chicory, seaweed;
• shells of crustaceans;
• brewer's yeast;
• cartilage extract.

Advantages:

• there are no cheap fillers - cereals, grains, sweet potatoes, potatoes, beet pulp;
• The quality is close to the holistic class;
• excellent diet at a low price.

Flaws:

• in most varieties of pellets, dried meat, fresh or raw, is rare and in small quantities;
• Difficulties with purchasing - retailers almost never sell them; you have to order from online stores.

SIris: “Interesting line-up. I liked that the manufacturer brings the diet closer to the diet of wolves and produces dry food without grain, soy and potatoes. Good food, trusted company. My dog ​​and I recommend it.”

Artem: “I have been feeding an adult husky Carnilove for 2 months and a tail. The first one was taken with venison, now we are finishing the crackers with duck. Pesel crushes the granules like a vacuum cleaner and licks the bowl until it shines.”

1st Choice

Another food produced by the Canadian company PLB International. It is actively promoted on the market, so it is known to every owner. But no matter how much its manufacturers praise it, it is not the best.

1st Choice does not carry fresh or raw meat or fish. Only dehydrated components or flour from lamb, chicken, duck, herring. Moreover, their total share is 30-35%, depending on the variety.

1st Choice has a lot of herbal ingredients. Brown rice and broken rice (listed separately to reduce percentages), oatmeal and barley, dried potatoes, beets and tomatoes.

Animals like the granules because of their pleasant smell. It is provided by chicken liver hydrolysate, a natural flavoring additive. In addition, hydrolysates are useful for pets with allergies to animal protein - products are broken down into small molecules that the immune system does not perceive as a threat.

A significant advantage of 1st Choice is the abundance of useful additives. Here are flax seeds (a source of Omega-3), extracts of yeast, green tea, chicory (prebiotic) and medicinal herbs, shrimp and crab shells (glucosamine), green midi (glycosaminoglycan), sea cucumbers (chondroitin).

Pros:

• there are no grain crops that often cause allergies;
• easy to buy at a pet store and online;
• balanced vitamin and mineral complex.

Minuses:

• low % of meat products, no fresh ones;
• large proportion of grains and vegetables.

SunKiss: “At Fest Choice the dog is active, cheerful, cheerful, with a smooth, silky coat. Excellent composition, pleased with the abundance of useful additives.”

Ufo-59: “With the transition to 1st Choice, the dachshund walks mostly 4 times a day, while the norm is 2. This means that drying takes place in transit and is not properly digested or absorbed. There are no allergies: the eyes and ears are clean, the discharge is normal.”

Pronature Holistic

Pronature Holistic is produced by Canadian family-owned business PLB International. Its products are supplied to 30 countries.

Holistic food from Pronature is a clear demonstration of how the manufacturer substitutes concepts and inflates the drying class. The concept holistic means that all products in granules are organic, obtained without the use of pesticides, GMOs, or growth hormones. In “Pronature Holistic” there are only a few of these plant components, macro- and microelements.

Pronature Holistic has little fresh meat (15-19%). The second main source of animal protein is dehydrated chicken (15%). Moreover, the proportion of meat ingredients is not indicated for each type, or the percentage content of only some is indicated.

There are a lot of grains in Pronature, which is not acceptable for a holistic person. First of all, rice - and it is designated under different names to hide the total share: wild, brown, bran, just rice. There is also oatmeal, barley, oats. The only grain-free option is Adult Dog Duck & Orange Grain Free.

Potatoes, legumes, and tomatoes were added as sources of vegetable protein and fiber. Be careful: the Adult Dog Indoor & Outdoor and Senior, Mature, Less Active Dog varieties contain cellulose powder - a fiber of unknown origin that is dangerous to the health of dogs. Exotic foods are also confusing - pineapples, oranges, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric. It is forbidden to give them raw to animals.

Advantages:

• a good percentage of animal products - from 30%;
• lack of wheat, corn;
• division of the line for puppies, adults, inactive and elderly pets.

Flaws:

• a large proportion of cereals and a small proportion of fresh meat products;
• harmful exotic fruits and root vegetables;
• hazardous substance – cellulose powder;
• unreasonably inflated price - 800-900 rubles per kg.

Lyudmilabagira 98: “It smells nice, there is no strong smell. The croquettes are a bit large for my little one and have to be soaked in water - although I took the kind for decorative breeds. After a couple of weeks, the discharge from the eyes, which were constantly watering, disappeared.”

Missie: “Our picky dog ​​liked it, although he rarely eats any food on his own. The dog feels fine, there are no problems with the toilet, the coat is shiny, the eyes and ears are clean.”

Nutra Gold

American granules Nutra Gold ProBreeder are a solid average. They have the optimal composition in terms of price/quality: 1 kg costs 300 rubles.

There are not many meat ingredients. The manufacturer indicated the percentage of chicken only - 20%. One can only guess about the share of other components - chicken flour and fat, poultry offal, egg products.

Nutra Gold contains hypoallergenic rice (in flour form). The cereal is safe for dogs, but there is a lot of it in drying - 18%. There are natural vitamin supplements: chicken cartilage (a source of chondroitin), shellfish meal (contains glucosamine), tocopherols, flax seeds.

Pros:

• universal diet for all breeds, ages and activity levels;
• there are no cheap allergenic fillers - corn, wheat;
• no artificial preservatives;
• low price.

Minuses:

• there are no lines for pets with different needs;
• not all ingredients are indicated in percentages - this is how the manufacturer hides their real quantity.

Neyada: “The dog is well-groomed, with shiny coat, no allergies. One-bite granules – easy to chew.”

EFR: “Great inexpensive option. Balanced, suitable for everyone - I bought one bag for the entire nursery. The dogs eat with pleasure. True, the granules are too small for large pets.”

Karmy

With Russian Karmy food, the situation is the opposite in terms of marketing approach. The manufacturer's website states that drying is premium. But it can be safely assigned super-premium status.

Karmy is based on dehydrated turkey, salmon, lamb or veal. Their mass fraction is 27-38%. Among other types of animal protein, only salmon oil is a source of Omega acids. Therefore, I recommend using this brand for an exclusion diet.

The second and third products by volume are brown and white rice. Their % is not indicated, but, because. they follow the meat - a large share. And in total it can exceed the volume of animal products.

Sources of fiber are dried apples and seaweed. All lines are enriched with chondroitin, probiotics, glucosamine, and Yucca Schidigera extract. Natural substances – vitamin C and E – were used for preservation.

Karmy has many lines for pets of different breeds, ages, and with special needs (allergic, inactive, obese, etc.). However, the division is more conditional: there are no fundamental differences between the different types.

Pros:

• volume of meat ingredients up to 40%;
• high nutritional value – 384-396 kcal per 100 g;
• no artificial additives;
• balanced vitamin and mineral complex.

Minuses:

• a lot of cereals;
• no fresh or raw animal products;
• almost not sold in stores;
• Not all cities have representatives - so when ordering via the Internet there are difficulties with delivery.

Vikakuzmenko1991: “The dog is delighted. Of all the foods, only “Karmi” was suitable: the dog eats up quickly, does not beg between feedings, I use the granules for training - they are so tasty. Appearance and health are fine, no complaints.”

Natali68: “Everything is fine so far. I transferred some of the dogs to “Carmi”, but left the rest as they were – there are pets on “Monge”, “Boshe”, “Royal”. I don’t see any difference in adult animals, but young animals grow better on Karmy.

Arden Grange

The various Arden Grange foods are made from lamb, chicken, chicken, pork, salmon or ocean white fish. The percentage is high - from 40%. However, there are fewer fresh ingredients - up to 20%. The remaining ingredients are dehydrated or dried.

While there is plenty of meat at Arden Grange, there is just as much grain. So, it contains rice (25-30%) and wheat (% not specified). In addition, beet pulp is in the top ten components - this arrangement indicates that it was used not only as a source of fiber, but also as a cheap filler.

Advantages:

• no hazardous components;
• high percentage of meat, incl. fresh;
• there are vitamin and mineral supplements;
• no harmful components;
• low cost - 430-450 rubles per kg.

Flaws:

• may cause allergies due to corn;
• not suitable for an exclusion diet, because in addition to the main meat components, it contains other sources of animal proteins (fish meal and fat).

RANGERKING: “I have been feeding Arden Grange Pekingese for over 3 years. I have never had an allergy, although I have had it with other diets. It’s a pity that it’s not sold in every pet store.”

Lasurkina: “Excellent drying! No E-sheks, natural, contains chondroitin and glucosamine. I took a ruler for large breeds for my Ridgeback. After a month, our food allergies disappeared, and the dog eats with pleasure. Very high in calories, lasts a long time.”

Eukanuba

The list continues with Eukanuba. It is popular with dog owners, is sold in every store and is inexpensive - about 500 rubles per kg.

However, the drying composition is not the best. It is based on dehydrated animal proteins. This unappetizing name hides the dried parts of the carcasses. The manufacturer does not indicate what exactly (fillet, giblets, skin).

In addition, the company does not indicate the percentage of meat components on all packages. And if it is indicated, it is in the range of 26-32%.

There are many grains in Eukanuba. There is barley, rice, wheat and wheat flour. The last two are essentially the same thing: the component is designated under different names - so it seems that there is less of it than in reality.

Pros:

• cheap;
• good % of meat;
• contains animal and fish oils that are beneficial for skin and coat;
• no problems with delivery.

Minuses:

• no fresh or raw meat;
• flavoring additives are present;
• Lines are produced for pets of different breeds and ages, as well as medicinal ones.

Len'tochka: “At first everything was fine. But on the last pack the eyes are running, the fur is falling off, the tummy is grumbling. Maybe I got a fake, but I won’t take any more risks.”

Catty Shark: “Completely satisfied. We tried several types for large breed dogs: the dog eats everything with pleasure and feels great. We also feed Eukanuba to a pug who is always allergic, no problem.”

Belcando

Belcando is a controversial food. It is not clear which class it belongs to - in one type there is allergenic corn, in another the main source of energy is rice, in the third the share of meat reaches 70%. And the manufacturer even puts the “holistic” mark on the packs, although the granules do not reach this category.

Fresh meat not available in all types. And in those where there is, it does not exceed 30%. However, its origin is not clear - the packaging indicates the combined name “meat, liver, lungs”. It is not clear what volume of fillet and what offal the manufacturer added. The remaining sources of animal protein are dehydrated or dry proteins. These are recycled components whose origin and quality cannot be verified.

I recommend buying varieties declared by the manufacturer as hypoallergenic - based on rice and lamb. They contain the best composition of this brand. If your pet is not allergic, try other types.

Pros:

• there are diets containing 50-70% animal products;
• an abundance of lines for pets of different weights, ages, and activity levels;
• The company produces a unique diet Puppy Granula Start - it is suitable for babies from 1.5 months, intended for the transition from breastfeeding to an adult diet.

Minuses:

• inflated price - 450-600 rubles per kg;
• almost all pellets contain more grain than meat;
• there are low-quality sources of animal protein.

Odry: “Good for daily feeding. My pets have been eating it for a year now. The assortment is pleasing - there are types for pets of different weights, sporty and inactive lifestyles, with different needs. Belcando's coat has improved, the dogs are happy and cheerful. Digestion and output are also normal.”

Aksinia: “Belcando is suitable for adults and puppies. Using it, we restored digestion, reduced shedding, and got rid of the smell from the mouth. There are many flavors, so even the pickiest ones can choose a variety.”

ABBA premium

The peculiarity of the food is that it is intended mainly for adult dogs of medium breeds. The main ingredient is dried lamb meat (60%). In addition, the composition contains corn, legumes and rice, which is not a positive quality; often these products cause allergies.

ABBA produces selected grain-free products based on potatoes and potato starch. Other advantages include the primacy of pure protein in the composition and the variety of useful microelements. The products do not have a wide range of varieties; you can only see the difference in meat components: chicken, lamb, beef.

Among the shortcomings , buyers note that they are difficult to access and not widespread. Veterinarians are confused by insufficient information about the composition.

Customer Reviews

No. 10 – Acana Grass-Fed Lamb

Price: 320 rubles

Hypoallergenic dry food intended for dogs with digestive problems. It contains New Zealand lamb meat, freeze-dried liver, apples and two types of pumpkins: nutmeg and table pumpkins. Eating Akana dog food allows you to normalize the animal's digestion, which is particularly sensitive to nutrition. All brand products are manufactured at the NorthStar factory and boast the freshness and naturalness of the ingredients in their composition. The food is grain-free, does not contain animal fats, and only vegetable and flaxseed oil are included in its composition. It is rich in B vitamins, zinc and biotin, which ensure a thick and healthy dog's coat.

Acana closes the dog food ranking. The advantage of this product is its hypoallergenic properties, the absence of GMOs and chemicals. In addition, the food has a healing effect. Unfortunately, nutrition does not take into account the age characteristics of the animal.

Acana Grass-Fed Lamb

Acana Puppy & Junior

This is a Canadian super-premium food intended for medium breed puppies. The product formula takes into account the growth characteristics of puppies. Babies develop quickly and grow larger, so they need “building” materials to form the musculoskeletal system.

Main components of the feed:

• Raw and dry chicken meat;
• Dehydrated turkey;
• Fresh chicken by-products (heart and liver);
• Whole eggs and flounder;
• Herring meat;
• Green beans;
• Yellow peas;
• Fresh seaweed and fruits (apples, pears, blueberries, rose hips, cranberries).

The main advantages are a high content of real meat, a reduced percentage of carbohydrates, no rice, and the correct proportion of fiber. Disadvantages - high cost.

Customer Reviews

Almo Nature Medium Puppy

One of the feeds is holistic and meets European quality standards. In addition, he was awarded the status of Human Grade. This means that the product is suitable as food even for humans. The main purpose is medium-sized puppies. The food is hypoallergenic. The brand is considered one of the best due to its fresh inclusion formula (using raw rather than dehydrated ingredients).

Feed composition: fresh and dry chicken or fish, fresh vegetables, oils, yeast, rice. In the lines you can find products based on lamb and salmon.

The advantages of the food include hypoallergenicity, easy digestibility, prevalence on the world market, compliance with standards, high content of crude protein and unprocessed ingredients. Disadvantages - high cost, vague specified composition.

Customer Reviews

Belcando

German food with a wide range for different breeds, ages, activity levels . There are separate lines for pregnant, elderly and sick animals. The product is suitable for holistic people. The approved composition indicates 50-70% protein content and natural meat products.

The main ingredients of the food: poultry and fish, vegetable fats, cereal substitute (amaranth), brewer's yeast, herring flour. Chia seeds and a selection of dried herbs are mixed in as additives. The advantage is that the company produces a really wide range of products with different protein options.

Lack of food - negative reactions of pets: diarrhea, vomiting, gas, bloating. Customers have complained that kibble in the mini dog ranges are too large. In addition, the product is difficult to purchase in Russia.

Customer Reviews

№5 – Farmina Vet Life Canine UltraHypo

Price: 1240 rubles

Farmina is a dry food for dogs with allergies, the main component of which is fish. The exclusivity of this product lies in the use of only high-quality raw materials for production and the latest technological equipment, which allows preserving the beneficial properties of the ingredients used. The food is enriched with proteins that provide the animal with energy, and fish oil helps relieve irritation and restores damaged areas of the dog’s coat. The carbohydrate source here is rice starch. Farmina food has medicinal properties, so it is good to use them as a medicine to eliminate the effects of allergies and prevent their recurrence.

The advantage of this product, which ranks in the middle of our TOP 10, is its pronounced therapeutic effect: the natural ingredients and prebiotics in the composition serve to ensure the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and maintain the functioning of the immune system. The cost of the feed is quite high, but its effectiveness and quality justify it.

Farmina Vet Life Canine UltraHypo

Brit Premium

This Czech food belongs to the super-premium class and has gained popularity in the European and Russian markets due to its relative low cost and high meat content . In fact, the composition of the product is vague. The main ingredient sounds different in different translations. For example, Russian labels say 41% chicken flour, Ukrainian ones say dehydrated meat, and original ones just say chicken, and this wording may hide by-products and preservatives.

Of the carbohydrates in the feed, the average percentage content is wheat, corn and rice, dried fruits. In addition, a separate plus is the variety of vitamin supplements (organic zinc, copper, brewer's yeast, etc.).

The food line includes about 40 products.

The gradation is typical: by size, age, activity. The company produces a special veterinary dietary line and products for pregnant women. It can also be noted that various additives are used: chicken, beef, lamb, salmon; in some types, cereals are replaced by potatoes.

Main advantages : low cost, good composition of vitamins and minerals, high percentage of chicken content, prevalence. Among the shortcomings are a vague composition and poor-quality translation. There have been cases when the food was not suitable for the animals and caused diarrhea or constipation.

Customer Reviews

Bozita (Bozita), Sweden - premium

Bozita is premium wet (pouch) and dry food for cats, which is ideal for daily feeding of the animal, supplies its body with the necessary energy, and also contains a maximum of vitamins and minerals for good health. You should know that Bozita food is recommended exclusively for healthy cats and is contraindicated for animals with chronic diseases.

Advantages:

• — all components are subject to state control, which guarantees the absence of harmful substances
• — in addition to fresh meat and fish, there is taurine, proteins, and natural minerals
• - no dyes
• - excellent taste and pleasant smell
• - wide range of products
• - affordable price

Flaws:

• – the presence of corn flour, which can sometimes cause diarrhea
• - insufficient number of preventive supplements
• - lack of medicinal feed

Cost: from 113 to 6100 rubles depending on the weight of the package.

Grandorf

The food belongs to the holistic class, which is confirmed by its absolutely grain-free composition. Some products contain rice (for example, adult pet food with lamb and rice) or sweet potato (or starch-free potatoes). If we consider the composition of a particular feed, we can make the following points:

1. The first place is always dehydration of the base meat (if the food contains lamb, then lamb, if it contains duck, then duck);
2. Second place - extra dried turkey meat;
3. Third – carbohydrate – rice, potatoes;
4. Fourth – fresh declared meat (lamb, duck);
5. Fifth - fresh turkey meat.

It would seem that the food is almost ideal in composition, even despite the low inclusion of fiber (3%). Questions arise when users try to deal with manufacturers. In fact, the declared transport country is Belgium. But the goods do not enter the European market; the company works for Russia. You can only purchase food online, with delivery to major cities. Therefore, it is difficult to recognize the product as absolutely correct and of high quality.

Advantages : low cost, high protein content (including raw meat), good vitamin supplements. Disadvantages : vague information about the manufacturer, lack of certification documents, low fiber content.

Customer Reviews

GO! NATURAL Holistic

One of the very first and most widespread grain-free foods belonging to the holistic class. It has a high protein content, which is not always beneficial for animals. The original Canadian composition indicates 50% main meat content (chicken, duck, lamb, etc.). This percentage includes dry and fresh meat, flour, animal (chicken) fats and natural flavors.

Doubts arise from peas and lentils in the dominant positions in the composition . These products contain about 25% protein, the rest is carbohydrates. Veterinarians are confident that such a cheap (relatively) supplement serves as an additional source of fiber. To increase the carbohydrate component, potatoes were added to the feed.

Additional beneficial substances are: tapioca (gluten-free additive, non-allergenic, can serve as a complete substitute for lentils); Herring flour is a component rich in O3 (omega-3).

Advantages of the product: prevalence, high ratings among consumers, honesty of the manufacturer regarding the composition; high protein content and simple assortment (does not mislead the buyer). Disadvantages : the bulk of the food is based on chicken, which often causes allergies and disorders in dogs; despite the primacy of lentils and peas, there is little fiber in the finished product; Potassium chloride content is a chemical additive typical for economy feeds.

Customer Reviews

Hills Science Plan

Brand of super-premium food produced in America and Europe . Represents three lines - Science Plan (everyday diet), veterinary diet and the best selected variety. The third type is practically no different from ordinary everyday food.

From the first lines of the composition, it becomes clear that the product does not reach the holistic level.

• Firstly, flour from meat (chicken, duck, etc.) is used. This means that it contains not only pulp, but also offal, bones, and skin.
• The second sign of cheapness and average quality is the presence of corn, which often causes allergic reactions. Rice is indicated as a carbohydrate supplement, and beet pulp is indicated as fiber.

Despite the poor quality composition, the food has positive aspects : low cost, widespread availability, wide range of products, inclusion of all useful microelements.

Customer Reviews

Premium class

Often the difference between economy and premium class food is almost invisible, only the volume of meat has been increased (most often it varies from 10% to 20%). Due to this, the content of cereals in premium is reduced and animal protein is increased, but only slightly.

The basis of premium feed is still cereal crops, such as wheat, rice, corn. Meat in premium feeds usually still has unclear quality.

“Fresh boneless chicken meat” and “chicken” are not identical to each other. Just “chicken” can include skin, bones, heads and necks, and all the offal.

When choosing wet food for a cat of this class, it is recommended to carefully read the labels, because they also contain dyes, thickeners and preservatives. Premium feed should contain vitamins and taurine.

16th place. Our Brand (NM). Food from domestic producers.

Ingredients: meat and animal products (chicken 10%, beef 4% and liver 4%), plant components (vegetable protein extract and natural fiber), vegetables (carrots 4%), mineral supplements, probiotic (whey protein), thickeners and vitamins (taurine).

Advantages:

• Affordable price.
• The content of meat products is slightly higher than in other economy feeds.
• The food contains taurine.
• There are probiotics that will reduce the risk of digestive disorders.
• Wide range of tastes.

Flaws:

• The food as a whole has an opaque composition.
• The first ingredient in the composition consists of meat and meat products combined together. This means that the basis of such food may not be high-quality sirloin, but skin, beaks, meat trimmings and other animal derivatives.
• It is unclear whether the food contains corn, wheat or other grains.
• Partial list of mineral and vitamin supplements.

15th place. Hill's is a food produced by Hill's Pet Nutrition. The medicinal food of this brand, in contrast to the daily nutrition series, belongs to the super premium category.

Ingredients: meat and animal derivatives, plant derivatives, vegetables, various sugars, egg and its derivatives, cereals, vegetable protein extracts, minerals, oils and fats.

pros:

• Extensive assortment: canned food and pouches.
• Hills products are available in many pet stores.
• Reasonable price.
• Medical series of higher quality.
• Meat components come first in the composition.

Minuses:

• Opaque composition of the feed.
• Large percentage of plant proteins.
• Pouches and canned food are inferior in quality to dry food from the same manufacturer.
• The manufacturer added sugar to the food to enhance the taste and give the food a rich color.

14th place. Happy Cat is a fairly well-known German-made food . Sometimes food is classified as super-premium.

Ingredients: Meat and meat products (lamb – 4.0%, veal – 4.0%), vegetables (green beans – 4.0%), minerals, inulin (0.1%). Vitamins: D3, E, biotin. Microelements: copper, manganese, zinc. Antioxidants: taurine.

Advantages:

• Rich in minerals and vitamins.
• Wide range of flavors: lamb, duck, sea fish, beef, venison.
• Affordable price.

Minuses:

• Insufficient percentage of meat – only 8%.
• Unpopular brand.

13th place. Royal Canin is a French-made food that began its history in 1967. Five to six years ago it was especially popular among cat owners in Russia.

Ingredients: meat and meat by-products, cereals, vegetable by-products, vegetable protein extracts, minerals, sources of carbohydrates. Additives: vitamin D3, iron, iodine, copper, manganese, zinc.

Advantages:

• Meat and meat by-products are in first place in the composition.
• Balanced veterinary line.
• Financial inclusion.
• Available in almost any store.
• There are vitamins and microelements.

Flaws:

• There are no percentages for any product.
• Everyday food from this brand is of lower quality.
• Most of the feed sold is now of Russian origin, which has led to a deterioration in quality.
• The composition does not contain taurine.

NOW FRESH (Natural holistic New)

Another food from the manufacturer of the product GO! NATURAL. The food is holistic, so instead of grains it contains potatoes, peas and dried fruits. In addition to these ingredients, the first positions are occupied by a whole dried egg and pea fiber. But the main content is considered to be fresh fillet, for example, turkey (depending on the type, the meat filling varies). Additional protein carriers are fresh salmon and duck meat.

Despite the low protein content (20-26%), we can say with confidence that it is absolutely natural. Therefore, this amount is due to the nutritional value and usefulness of fresh foods.

The product has a lot of positive reviews from fans of this company. The food is natural, healthy, and does not contain harmful oils, simple carbohydrates or allergenic substances. The product is widespread, so purchasing will not be a problem. The only negative is the high cost.

Customer Reviews

Frank´s Pro Gold (Franks Pro Gold), Holland - super-premium

Frank´s Pro Gold is a perfectly balanced premium cat food that does not contain grains, GMOs or soy additives. A distinctive feature of these feeds is reasonable price and excellent quality. A wide range of these products allows you to choose the optimal diet for your pets, regardless of their age, physical condition and breed. Among the rich variety of tastes there are: fresh meat of lamb, rabbit, chicken, turkey, fish.

Advantages:

• - affordable price level and high quality
• — availability of a line of special dietary foods for diseases of the liver and heart, digestive system, kidney diseases, and urinary system
• - no gluten component
• — availability of preventive feeds to strengthen teeth and bones
• — special food for kittens and cats over 11 years old

Flaws:

• — average level of quality among premium feeds

Cost: from 1110 to 3400 rubles depending on the weight of the package.

Orijen

The most expensive holistic food supplied to Russia. A feature of the production is the approved slogan, the essence of which is that the food is based on a natural nutrition formula. This means that the dog will receive the same substances that it could obtain in the wild. A distinctive feature is the high protein content (30-40%), some veterinarians consider this harmful. On the other hand, a dog is a predator. The products are good for large active breeds, although there are separate products for small pets.

The composition is replete with meat: chicken meat, chicken meal, liver, herring, turkey (fresh fillet only); as additives - cartilage, hearts, fresh eggs. Carbohydrates include red and green lentils, peas, and sweet potatoes.

The advantages of the food are clear - high-quality ingredients, fresh meat, absence of preservatives and low-quality carbohydrates. Disadvantages - suitable only for active animals, not recommended for allergy sufferers, low fiber content and high cost.

Customer Reviews

Pro Plan

The food is produced by a well-advertised company, which does not make it the best. The fact is that it cannot be classified as a super-premium class due to the large amount of corn and animal fats in the composition. Despite the fact that the manufacturer indicates 27% turkey, it is worth understanding that this figure includes not only meat, but also bones, sinews, and skin.

Certain advantages include a wide range of tastes and intended uses (for puppies, elderly, pregnant, sick pets). Good vitamin supplements included. But one of the significant disadvantages is the increased content of cheap carbohydrates - corn, cereals; unknown flavors; poor composition; blurred percentage of meat components.

Customer Reviews

What you need to know about the composition of feed

When choosing food for your pet, first of all, carefully read the composition of the product, remembering that the classification of the product is not always accurate. Please note that ingredients are listed in descending order of their percentage in the product. It is advisable that the meat component be listed first, because the cat is a predator and a meat eater, it needs to eat meat regularly. If the name of the meat component in a dry product is preceded by the word “dehydrogenated,” you can be sure that there is exactly as much of it as indicated. The absence of a designated term indicates that the list of ingredients indicates the amount of raw meat, but in reality it is at best three times less (when making dry food, the meat is evaporated). It’s great if there is information about which specific animal meat is present in the food, for example, chicken meat, beef, rabbit meat, etc.

The percentage of grains should not be too much; the cat does not really need them. In any case, it is advisable that grains do not occupy first place in the list of ingredients. Rice and oatmeal are preferred, as they are absorbed by the animal’s body better than other grains. It’s good if they are presented whole and not ground into flour. A good source of carbohydrates is potatoes, including sweet potatoes.

Take a close look at the information about by-products. If these ingredients are high-quality and healthy, for example, liver, tripe, lungs, manufacturers will certainly disclose this information. If you see the mysterious inscription “animal by-products,” you can be sure that among the components there was a place for processed horns, hooves, bones, beaks, heads, ligaments, blood and other very unappetizing waste, whose beneficial properties are approaching zero.

The presence of fruits, vegetables, lactobacilli, probiotics, and plants in cat food is welcome, especially if these components are presented whole, that is, not ground into powder or processed into paste. The listed ingredients are added to food to fortify it.

Animal fats in inexpensive feeds are mostly of low quality. If the fat is of high quality, the packaging will indicate that it is fish or chicken (not poultry!).

Fillers such as corn and wheat gluten, corn flour, and cellulose powder are undesirable. They often provoke allergies in many cats.

Preservatives and antioxidants such as BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin, propyl gallate, propylene glycol are toxic, and their content should be kept to a minimum. Elite food contains safe natural compounds - vitamins E, C, citric acid, herbal extracts, oils. However, even an expensive product often uses toxic ethoxyquin, designated in the international codification as E324.

The difference between the products themselves included in the food composition and the results of their processing should be taken into account. For example, fish (with specification of what kind) is welcome, but fishmeal is undesirable: it is usually made from heads, tails, and bones. Eggs are preferable to egg powder, and whole barley and rice are healthier than broken grains.

The presence of soy or soy protein concentrate is undesirable - this product often causes allergies in cats. Yeast, which is added to increase the volume and give the feed an attractive taste, is also allergenic. Dyes that make food colorful can only attract the cat's owner; the animal itself does not need them at all.

Check out the information on the product package about the guaranteed analysis, revealing data on proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fiber, ash, water. Please note that the best source of protein is muscle meat from chicken, beef, veal, game, eggs, and some high-quality offal.

For clarity, let’s compare the composition of the most unpretentious and most expensive dry food. The first will contain protein and plant extracts, cereals (in the majority), meat (in a clear minority), meat and bone meal, mysterious offal, attractants - flavoring additives that cats adore, but are harmful to them and are addictive.

In the best food you will see such appetite-stimulating foods as fresh and dehydrated lamb, boneless duck meat, duck fat, lamb fat, herring oil, pollock fillets, herring, yellow perch, and salmon. Meat is present exactly in the quantity indicated on the package. In the list of ingredients you will also find eggs, red lentils, chickpeas, green peas, dried alfalfa, kelp, pumpkin, spinach greens, carrots, apples, pears, cranberries, chicory roots, dandelion, ginger, peppermint leaves, cumin seeds, turmeric , dog-rose fruit. Delicious “crackers” are characterized by a natural brown color; there is no place for dyes in such a product.

ProNature Original

Standard inexpensive food, which still does not reach the super-premium class. The manufacturer specifies 20% chicken and turkey flour content. As practice shows, there is almost no meat in this percentage. Giblets, bones and skins are used, which do not provide the required amount of protein and nutritional value. In addition, the production lists corn oil and gluten. Otherwise, the food is no different from similar ones and contains the necessary vitamin complex.

Pros : low cost, abundance, lack of preservatives, natural flavors. Cons : high corn content, low meat content, questionable composition.

Customer Reviews

Probalance

Despite the fact that the food is produced in Russia, the owner of the company is Denmark, which means the recipe and work plans belong to it . The quality of the food can be described in one word - middle class (it falls short of super-premium). Unlike other foods of this level, Probalance does not contain “chicken meal”, which is a vague concept. The composition contains 20% inclusion of dehydrated (dry) meat. Another feature is the absence of corn and beans. The manufacturer uses rice, barley and oats.

Overall, the product can be called one of the best among the premium class. It is inexpensive and contains a normal percentage of meat rather than protein ingredients. In addition, it is produced in a wide range with certain types of veterinary diet and puppy food.

Customer Reviews

Composition and features

There is no clear division of feed into classes.

This move was invented by the producers. Therefore, the distribution of drying by category is arbitrary. In addition, companies often lie: they claim the line as holistic, but in reality it is super-premium.

Another option is to call a product super-premium when its composition is simply premium.

However, it is possible to classify this or that food into a specific class. Each line has key features that define its category.

This:

• digestibility by the dog’s body is 85-90%, caloric content per 100 g is 350-400 kcal;
• quantity of meat components from 30%;
• first-order by-products: liver, lungs, hearts;
• whole grains, less often grain crops;
• natural preservatives;
• there are no chemical flavors, dyes, or flavor enhancers - the granules are homogeneous, neutral brown in color.

These features are common. The company may deviate from them for better or worse. For example, exclude cereals and grains or use artificial preservatives.

That is why the range in the quality of feed in this class is so large. We will now find out which of them are the best.

Wolfsblut

Quite a young food, it appeared in Russia only in 2010. It attracted attention with its unusual variety of food lines and names. The fact is that the company is focused on standard adult dogs, without deviations or diseases. Divided according to guidelines into sizes. There is a separate line for puppies.

This is a high-quality holistic product with a high percentage of protein (30-40%), which means that it is suitable only for active pets. The first place in the composition is occupied by sweet potato (potatoes), which is not entirely correct. Then comes game meat, namely meat, not flour and offal. Venison is used to a greater extent. Dried fruits and vegetables are sources of fiber, carbohydrates and vitamins.

Advantages - rich natural composition, high percentage of meat, lack of preservatives and flavors. Disadvantages : not widespread, expensive, low fiber content.

Customer Reviews

1st Choice

The food is not holistic, but it has been awarded super-premium status because it does not contain animal fats or corn. The main part is protein - lamb or turkey flour (depending on the type of food), herring flour (there may also be bone flour). Carbohydrates – brown rice, oats, barley. Fiber is the pulp of fresh vegetables.

The food is good for its level. It contains all the necessary minerals and vitamins and contains no preservatives or harmful substances. The main disadvantage is that it is not widespread on the market.

Customer Reviews

The choice of pet food is not always based only on the properties of the product. Much depends on the financial capabilities of the owner. Of course, it is worth carefully studying the composition and choosing products with a low content of harmful or non-beneficial substances.

4.3 / 5 ( 7 votes)

Eukanuba (Eukanuba), Canada - premium

Eukanuba is a premium dry food for cats, divided into two large groups: for daily feeding and medicinal (veterinary).

The presence of all the minerals and vitamins the animal needs, as well as their perfect balance, is a guarantee that your pet will be healthy and happy. The medicinal line of these foods implies the presence of special ingredients that are indicated for specific diseases.

Advantages:

• — high quality of used components
• - optimal granule size
• - high energy value allows the cat to eat a relatively small amount, which helps save
• - has a positive effect on the coat, which is important for animals participating in exhibitions

Flaws:

• - relatively high cost
• — low content of natural meat in food for adult cats (only 20%)
• - presence of vegetable fats

Cost: from 410 to 5700 rubles depending on the weight of the package.