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Dog owners are finally starting to realize that the diet they feed their pets is ultimately the best thing they can do for their overall health. For many years, cheap commercial diets have grown in popularity, but now that pendulum is beginning to swing the other way. More and more pet owners are looking for the most healthy dog food brands, and many want their dogs to eat food that has been certified organic by the USDA.
As more research is done on how commercial dog food is made, lots of pet parents are realizing just how unhealthy some of the most popular brands are.
That is leading them to look for better alternatives. Some owners have even decided to make their own dog food at home. This allows them to select every ingredient and prepare the dog food to their standards.
Ready-to-eat raw dog foods are available for those who don’t have the time to prepare and cook for their pets every day. These most healthy dog food brands save time and ensure that dogs meet their daily nutritional requirement. You need to be sure to check with your veterinarian before switching your dog to a new diet, but perhaps one of these will be best for your furry friend.
RELATED: Top 13 Best Healthy Dog Treats
5 Most Healthy Dog Food Brands
These Are All USDA Organic Certified
1Sojos Complete Raw Natural Dry Food Mix
These raw food dry mixes come in several variants, including chicken, beef, duck, and potato, and this grain-free turkey recipe. These dog foods from Sojos are made from high-quality ingredients that are fit for human consumption. This is one of the top reasons that Sojos is one of the most healthy dog food brands. No by-products, artificial mixes, or GMO-classified ingredients have been added.
- Healthy dog food reviews: Read reviews of other pet owners
Veterinarians recommend this dog food because it is USDA-certified, nutritionally balanced, and appealing to dogs. An 8-lb bag produces about 40 pounds of delicious food after being mixed with water in the recommended ratio of 2:1. Consumers who have tried most of the variants find the grain-free turkey mix the most favored by their pets. It has a thick and creamy consistency compared to the other mixes, which are either mushy or dry.
This ready-mix has the flavors and aroma of a home-cooked meal minus the hassle. Apart from this, pet owners find Sojos Complete Raw Natural Dry Food Mix to help alleviate some food allergy problems previously experienced by their pets. On the other hand, some customers observed that their dogs seemed to have lost weight and were constantly hungry.
Since the product is freeze-dried, owners found it hard to tell if there was enough meat contained in the package. Repeat buyers, however, noted that losing weight and building muscles is healthy, and eagerness for the most healthy dog food brands is actually a good thing. For them, Sojos is definitely their dogs’ staple source of nutritional requirements.
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Most helpful dog owner’s review (read the full Amazon review): “After transitioning from Natural Balance Duck and Potato, we've gone through several bags of Sojo's Turkey over the course of several months, so I feel I can write a fair review. Our dogs are small poodle mixes, rescue…”
2Castor & Pollux Pristine Salmon and Oatmeal with Raw Bites
The salmon and oatmeal recipe by Castor & Pollux contains all-natural and gluten-free ingredients. This product is guaranteed to be free from synthetic fertilizers, chemical pesticides, antibiotics, or added growth hormones. As one of the most healthy dog food brands, the USDA has certified this product as organic.
- Healthy dog food reviews: Read reviews of other pet owners
No soy, wheat, corn, or fillers that may trigger allergies were included in any of the formulas. Preparation has strictly been done in organically certified kitchens. This product has a very strong following, especially among pet owners with hyper-sensitive dogs. Once these dogs start itching, the problems can become endless.
Pet owners didn’t want that and were so grateful to find this dry dog food. It contained none of the various allergens most dogs react to. This says a lot about how great this product is both as a nutritional source and allergy-prevention measure. Many pet parents use this as their dog’s regular food. Others use this to complement home-cooked dog food.
Initially, some buyers thought this product contained soybean, which is not the best protein source for dogs. For this reason, they were not quite as enthusiastic about this dog food. Upon learning that Organix, one of the most healthy dog food brands, is actually soybean-free, they are now reconsidering their initial views. Dog owners have also reported the absence of digestion and gas problems in their dogs after a few days of this dog food.
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3Grandma Lucy’s PUREformance Freeze-Dried Dog Food
This chicken recipe is Grandma Lucy’s chunkier approach to freeze-dried and grain-free dog food. It contains high-quality protein from fresh chicken without antibiotics, hormones, or steroids. Rich protein builds up and supports strong and lean muscles. This food is also ideal for dogs with grain and other allergies. This is one of the most healthy dog food brands, with high-quality USDA-approved ingredients. These include USDA chicken, carrots, apples, papaya, spinach, chickpeas, and celery.
- Healthy dog food reviews: Read reviews of other pet owners
This high-protein and low-fat recipe is easy to prepare: just add warm water and stir. Cool for a few minutes and serve. This dog food gets the vote of pet owners with delicate dogs – aging or undergoing medication. Dogs love this chicken recipe and show significant improvement in their health when they switch to this diet.
A dog undergoing chemotherapy has become more energetic with this dog food. Dogs with allergies have stopped scratching. Pet owners were also more excited about the smell and sight of this dog meal than they were about any other food preparations tried. Grandma Lucy's PUREformance Freeze-Dried Dog Food uses limited ingredients. This dog food is highly digestible, too.
After long use, some dogs had to be given another food regimen. The bulk of vegetables in the formulation could be too much for these dogs to digest. Some reported diarrhea, others weight loss. It must be noted that most of these dogs had serious health issues to start with. This means there could be other factors, as well. Still, most customers were satisfied with this product for its human-grade organic ingredients, absence of grains and allergens, and high-protein and low-fat nutritional value.
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4CANIDAE Life Stages Dry Dog Food
CANIDAE’s Life Stages is a unique formula that blends four high-quality meat meals for balanced nutrition: lamb, turkey, chicken, and fish. This is one of the most healthy dog food brands as it contains quality ingredients rich in antioxidants to strengthen the immune system. It's also low in fat, and the protein blend is ideal for less active, senior, and overweight dogs. This dog food also includes adequate probiotics to ensure proper digestion and omega 3 & 6 for healthy skin and coat.
- Healthy dog food reviews: Read reviews of other pet owners
It has adequate levels of chondroitin and glucosamine for senior and overweight dogs suffering from bone and joint pains. This dry dog food is specifically formulated to meet the needs of dogs in all stages of life, from puppies to seniors. This has been a trusted product for many customers. Most of them have been using this for over five years.
Aging dogs have become more active and have shown more interest in food without becoming overweight. Pet owners are very happy to note that their dogs have not had any allergic reactions to the food, and their coats have become smooth and glossy. The glucosamine and chondroitin content may have also made life easier for dogs suffering from arthritic pain. Pet parents who purchased CANIDAE Life Stages Dry Dog Food have been able to taper off medications, and they believe that the food has something to do with it.
There were dogs that reacted differently – became lethargic, gained more weight, and even got very ill. Undoubtedly, not all dogs adjust to new food the same way, and that’s the case with these aversions. For most buyers, though, this is one of the most healthy dog food brands, and it is ideal for their dogs in various life stages. Many pet owners trust CANIDAE to be one of the most healthy dog food brands.
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5Stella & Chewy’s Freeze Dried Surf & Turf Dinner for Dogs
These dinner patties from Stella & Chewy’s come from naturally-produced beef, organic fruits, vegetables, and sources of essential vitamins and minerals for optimum nutrition. This product is hormone-free and antibiotic-free. No grain, coloring, fillers, sugar, salt, or artificial preservatives have been added. Variants include chicken, venison, duck, lamb, and turkey mixes.
- Healthy dog food reviews: Read reviews of other pet owners
This can be your dog’s supplemental food or his complete source of food. These patties are guaranteed to be minimally processed, acquired from reliable suppliers, and meticulously handled by USDA-certified facilities. Dogs love this product so much that there’s no difficulty feeding even the pickiest pet. Pet owners attest that this food preparation has been extremely beneficial for them.
A dog with recurring ear problems has become symptom-free with this raw-meat diet and has actually stopped medication. Stools were definitely much improved, as noted by many dog owners who purchased Stella & Chewy's Freeze-Dried Surf & Turf Dinner for Dogs. Many found this the most practical and quickest alternative to raw-meat feeding.
Some customers, however, couldn’t contain their disappointments with delayed deliveries and poor quality control of the product. After many years of patronizing Stella & Chewy's and believing they were one of the most healthy dog food brands, some customers found a batch that contained foreign objects. Loyal customers hoped that this was an isolated case. Their dogs are unaware of these issues and continue to show appreciation for the product – by licking their feeding bowls clean every time.
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Related Articles:
- Top 13 Best Healthy Dog Treats
- Recipe: Healthy Raw Diet for Dogs
- Recipe: Healthy Homemade Diet for Dogs
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