Choosing the best dog food is not an easy task considering the wide variety of brands that we can find on the market. The most advisable thing is to opt for those products of higher quality, however, on many occasions we can think that these foods are linked to an excessive price. Is this true? Not always, since there are also a large number of brands that offer very competitive prices and high quality ingredients. But how to identify them?
In this article on our site we share the keys to learning how to identify a quality feed and we show a list with food for dogs with a good value for money. Keep reading and choose the most suitable for your dog.
What is the best value for money dog food?
When choosing the best dog food on the market, the first thing we must take into account is the nutritional needs of our furry friend, as well as his characteristics. In this way, we will pay attention to:
- Dog's age
- Your sizeAdult
- The level of physical activity
- His he alth
Puppies, adults and the elderly require specific needs, which is why it is essential to select the food that indicates the age or stage for which it has been designed. In this sense, if our dog suffers from any he alth problem, such as those related to joints, kidney failure, etc., which include a specific diet in the treatment, we will also look for those foods that are adapted to their situation and, above all, everything, we will consult with the veterinarian so that he is the one who indicates the best product.
Once we know the characteristics of our dog and what it needs, how do we choose the best quality-price ratio? Looking at its composition It is recommended to always opt for those feeds that use first quality raw materials, natural foods and, depending on each case, a minimum percentage of cereals or none. To do this, we do not necessarily have to resort to the most expensive feed, since a higher price is not always indicative of good quality, nor is a lower price synonymous with poor quality. For this reason, we recommend consulting the article "Composition of dog food" to learn how to decipher the labels of these products.
Tips to identify a good dog food
As we said, to know if a feed is suitable or not, it is necessary to review its composition. In general, quality feed is considered to be that which:
- Specify the products used Thus, a feed that indicates "chicken meat" in its composition will always be more recommended than one that only says "meat". Along the same lines, feed with "by-products of animal or vegetable origin" is also not recommended.
- They use natural ingredients. Natural, fresh and analyzed products are always a guarantee of quality.
- They give priority to the supply of protein of animal origin Although the dog is considered an omnivorous animal, its body still needs a greater supply of animal protein than other nutrients, which is why we must look at the percentage allocated to this component. This percentage will vary depending on the needs of each dog but, as we indicated, with the exception of some cases due to he alth issues, it must contain more meat and fish than fruits and vegetables, for example.
- Include natural and quality fruits, vegetables, legumes or cereals. All these foods provide the dog with fiber, vitamins, antioxidants and minerals good for his body, as long as they are added in the right percentage and the right products are used. Check the article "Forbidden Fruits and Vegetables for Dogs" to find out which ingredients to avoid.
- They add natural chondroprotectors, L-carnitine, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, taurine, probiotics and all those elements that favor the he alth of the animal, improve the condition of the skin and coat, and guarantee a good digestion.
The quality ingredients will result in greater assimilation and digestibility. Within this general tonic, we must choose the product that fits the characteristics of our dog to meet its nutritional needs. Likewise, it is also important that we make sure that the chosen product does not use a high content of ingredients with a higher rate of allergies or less digestive, such as some cereals.
Now, what is the best value for money dog food? Unfortunately, we cannot answer this question with the name of a brand, since, as we have anticipated, it is vital to adapt the food to the dog's situation. So, below we share a list of feed for dogs with a good value for money The prices indicated are approximate and, in all cases, established based on of the most economical variant, being less expensive to acquire a larger bag than a smaller one.
NFNatcane Canine Nutrition
NFNatcane offers its customers a wide variety of foods designed to meet the nutritional needs of each dog. All of them manufactured entirely in Spain, with natural and quality ingredients, without preservatives or artificial aromas, are classified into two large ranges: he alth and gourmet.
On the other hand, it should be noted that it has a free advice service to be able to choose the food that each dog needs. This, together with the wide variety of products it offers, translates into an increase in the percentage of success in choosing the right product for the dog in question.
Within the he alth range we find food for dogs with excellent value for money, since they are manufactured to meet specific needs while maintaining a correct balance between all the ingredients. Thus, we find hypoallergenic feed, feed for overweight dogs, fish feed for dogs, etc. As for the gourmet range, despite being a little more expensive than the previous one, it is still an affordable product with great quality. 100% of the meat and fish used are processed using systems that favor digestibility and greatly reduce the risk of intolerances. It is a range with quality ingredients, very varied and that is very appetizing for dogs. On the other hand, it specifically cares for joints with a higher content of chondroproctors and adds antioxidants with a variety of fruits.
Value for money
NFNatcane is considered one of the best value for money dog food brands for several reasons. The first of these, the use of natural ingredients and the wide variety of products. In this sense, it is important to highlight the most used products: salmon, lamb, chicken, turkey, duck, fruits, legumes and brown rice. Thus, they also use antioxidants, preservatives and natural aromas, in addition to essential elements for the proper functioning of the body and proper he alth of the skin and coat, such as L-carnitive, taurine, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and yeast. beer, among others, resulting in highly appetizing foods for dogs as well as being beneficial.
The second reason is the manufacturing process used, guaranteeing easy food assimilation, digestibility and reduced risk of intolerances, something that is also achieved with the ingredients used.
By all of the above, we can conclude that NFNatcane is a brand of quality dog food, with a wide variety of foods and good results, all at an affordable price. Your products are not available in online stores, except for yours, so the sale is much more direct.
Averaging all the products, the price per kg of feedis found on the 3 €.
Taste of the Wild
Taste of the Wild is a dog food company with a wide range of products that, for many, could be classified as exotic because the ingredients used, such as duck, wild boar, bison or smoked salmon meat. The results support the quality of this brand's products, however, it should be noted that it is surprising that the percentage of each ingredient is not specified in the composition of its feed, although the general nutritional percentages are indicated.
Available both in bags of dry feed and in cans of wet food, Taste of the Wild offers a wide variety to select the food adapted to the animal.
Value for money
This brand has been recognized numerous times as one of the best dog food brands in the USA. However, and although its quality is acceptable, the nutritional information, as we said, leaves some variables up in the air.
Due to export costs and because it is a brand that is sold through physical and online stores, and not directly through the manufacturer, the price of its products is somewhat higher than that of the previous brand, so we can say that, in general terms and taking an average of all the foods, the price per kg of weight is situated at the 4, 2 €
Hill's
Hill's Dog Food Company was founded by Dr. Mark Morris, who began making the first foods in the late 1930s, and has since grown into the brand we know today. It has become one of the leading companies in therapeutic nutrition for dogs and cats, so that they offer a whole range of products for the treatment of different problems of he alth and pathologies, such as those related to joints, with the digestive or renal system. Each of these products is part of the "Prescription Diet" range and is formulated to treat a certain ailment, problem or disease, so their ingredients and percentages are different based on this. Thus, when selecting a Hill's product, we recommend doing so under the advice of your veterinarian.
On the range of products for dogs that do not suffer from diseases, cataloged as "Science Plan", we also find a wide variety that includes feed without grains, hypoallergenic, with meat, with fish, etc. Although the results and the veterinarians vouch for the quality of the food, we believe it is important to highlight that, as with the previous brand, the percentages used for each ingredient are not specified.
Value for money
As we say, it is a product brand that stands out, above all, for its range of foods formulated for therapeutic uses. So if our dog needs to follow a specific diet to treat a certain disease, Hill's is more than recommended for its value for money and results.
This brand is also marketed in online and physical stores, so the sale is not direct either and, therefore, the costs are higher due to exportation and the profit that must be made by the shops. Thus, we can establish the average price of the Science Plan range per kg of weight between 4 and 5 €, and on the 7 €/kg the Prescription Diet range
Fish4Dogs
Fish4Dogs stands out for being a dog food company that bases its formulas on the use of fish, so that all its products They are considered hypoallergenic and rich in omega 3 fatty acids. It uses natural ingredients and offers both dry dog food and treats, wet food and food supplements such as salmon oil. It does not use added sugars, artificial preservatives, colorants or cereals, but instead opts for the use of foods such as potatoes or peas, in addition to fish, to obtain complete and nutritious products.
In addition to the above reasons, Fish4Dogs is considered one of the best quality-price dog foods for offering complete transparency regarding the ingredients used to manufacture the products, adding the percentages of each of them, the nutritional composition and the additives.
Value for money
Above all, their treats have received numerous awards for their quality, since in addition to being nutritious, dogs like them a lot because of their flavour. Fish4Dogs can be purchased through its own website but also through external stores. Regarding the price of feed, due to export costs it is higher, with the average per kg being around 4.5-5.5 €
