Dog Food Brands

Supermarket brands vs. premium dog food

Pound for pound, the well-known brands sold in supermarkets and major pet food chains are obviously a lot cheaper. However, many pet-nutrition experts say that the initial cost difference doesn't tell the whole story. According to veterinarians at ThePetCenter.com, due to the higher-quality ingredients in premium food, your dog will actually eat less compared to inexpensive dog food: "Immediately you will notice that when feeding a high quality, meat-based food, the dog will need to consume fewer cups of it per day than a cheap diet." An added benefit is that since more of the food is absorbed as nutrients, your dog will pass less solid waste.

These statements are supported in tests at Good Dog Magazine. Editors write, "In one test we ran, we had to feed five times as much of the Economy brand dog food to get the same nutritional benefits of the Super-Premium. Despite the lower cost per bag of the Econo brand, it costs you more to feed than a Super-Premium, because you use more bags."

Experts also point out that suggested serving sizes are just that -- suggestions. Feeding needs vary greatly depending on your dog's breed and activity level, and serving-size guidelines are merely a good jumping-off point. A dog that spends all day running around in the yard will obviously need more food than a sedentary dog. Observation will tell you if your dog needs more or less food.