Hundreds of pet food brands are on the market, each with unique benefits and drawbacks. But how to determine which one is best? It depends on your animal, how old they are and what kind of diet they prefer. The article lists the top pet food brands that most vets tend to recommend over others.

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When you take your pet to the vet, you want to know that he or she is getting the best care possible. A good veterinarian will recommend certain food brands for your pet based on their breed and age.

There are many pet food brands available in the market. However, there are certain pet food brands that veterinarians highly recommend. These products contain all the necessary nutrients for your dogs and cats to stay healthy and fit. The most popular ones include Royal Canin, Hill’s Science Diet, Purina Pro Plan, Nutro Ultra, Iams ProActive Health, Blue Buffalo Wilderness, Diamond Naturals, Pedigree, Eukanuba, Wellness Core, etc. There are a lot of different options out there, but here are some recommendations that vets have made:

Royal Canin

Royal Canin is a French pet food company specializing in dog and cat food. It was founded in 1968 by Pierre Comizzoli, who developed the brand’s first dry dog food for his dogs. Royal Canin was acquired by Mars, Inc., which is also the parent company of Pedigree and Whiskas, among other brands. Royal Canin uses high-quality ingredients like chicken meal in their formulas.

Royal Canin has a wide range of products for different types of pets, including puppies and kittens, as well as senior cats and dogs. In addition, their diets are formulated to support certain health conditions such as kidney disease or obesity. They also have special formulas for smaller breeds like Chihuahuas or Pomeranians.

Hill's Science Diet

Hill’s Science Diet was founded in 1957 by Donald F. Smith, a veterinarian and innovator who developed the first commercial dry pet food product. Hill’s Science Diet dog food has since grown to become one of the most popular pet food brands on the market today, with a wide range of products ranging from prescription diets to senior dog food. Hill's Science Diet also offers canned food options for dogs with specific dietary needs.

Purina Pro Plan

Dog food brands like Purina Pro Plan are well-known for their pet food, including dog food and cat food. It’s also popular in the puppy food segment. When clients ask what brand they should feed their pets, Purina Pro Plan is one of the most popular brands veterinarians refer to. It is because it’s one of the few pet brands that has been around for decades and has stood the test of time.

Nutro Ultra

Nutro is a grain-free, high-quality food that focuses on providing your pet with the nutrients they need to live a long and healthy life. It’s packed with vitamins and minerals to give them strong bones, teeth, and muscles. Nutro Ultra is designed to support a healthy dog's diet.

The company behind this product also claims that it’s holistic food and includes no artificial preservatives or additives. On top of this, Nutro dog food has a high protein content (34%), which can help maintain lean muscle mass during weight loss diets.

The ingredients list also reveals that this food contains an impressive amount of fiber (13%), so if your pet suffers from constipation, they may benefit from switching to this brand. Finally, Nutro Ultra isn’t low in carbs; it contains around 25%, but again this number will vary depending on what size bag you buy.

Iams ProActive Health

Dog owners will find Iams ProActive Health to be a high-quality dog food that is also affordable. This product has been developed to address common health issues dogs face like allergies, digestive problems, and weight management. The Iams dog food range of products includes dry food and wet food in different flavors like chicken and beef chunks or shredded chicken & beef.

Iams ProActive Health has become one of the top-rated dog foods on Amazon because it contains all-natural ingredients. It includes real chicken and fresh vegetables, which are much safer for your pet than other brands’ processed grains or meat meals. It can be used for puppies and adult dogs but should never be fed exclusively to puppies since they need extra calcium from their diet until they reach six months old.

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dog Food

Blue Buffalo Wilderness is a grain-free dog food considered as one of the best options for dogs with allergies. It contains no wheat, corn, or soy and doesn’t use artificial preservatives or colors in its recipes. This high-quality formula also contains probiotics that support healthy digestion and help keep your dog’s skin and coat looking great. Blue Buffalo Wilderness is also considered a healthy dog food option due to its quality protein sources and natural fiber.

Blue Buffalo dog food comes in four flavors: Venison & Bison, Wild Canyon River, Duck & Salmon, and Chicken & Turkey. All the foods have been cooked at low temperatures to retain their natural flavor, making them an excellent choice for picky eaters. If you’re looking for something new to try out with your pup, we recommend choosing a bag of this food today. It’s sure to become their new favorite snack once they get used to it.

Diamond Naturals

Diamond Naturals is a brand of dog food, cat food, and bird food. In addition to pet foods, Diamond Naturals also produces horse feed. As the name suggests, the products are made from ingredients that are 100% natural. In addition, they use high-quality meats and other ingredients to ensure that your pet gets all the nutrients it needs for optimal health and wellness. Diamond Naturals also offers wet dog food options that are nutritious and come in various flavors and sizes.

One of the most popular Diamond Naturals products is their dry formulas which come in several different formulas based on what your dog needs: weight management; joint support; senior diets; active & performance dogs; puppies & pregnant moms.

Pedigree

Pet parents have trusted Pedigree for a long time. People often turn to a dog food brand when they need something for their dogs. Veterinarians will often recommend Pedigree since they like the brand and think it’s good quality.

In addition, there are a lot of different kinds of Pedigree dog food available on the market, so you can find one that suits your needs perfectly. You might also consider trying out some of their new products. They constantly test new products and improve them over time based on customer feedback from vets like me, who use this product daily at our clinics.

Eukanuba

Eukanuba is a premium brand of dog food and one of the many reputable dog food brands available. It’s one of the most popular brands that veterinarians recommend for your pet, and it’s also the longest-standing member on this list. It was founded in 1973 by Dr. Elroy Hartman, who started making dog food as a hobby in his garage before becoming an industry leader.

Eukanuba is owned by Mars Incorporated, which makes products like M&M’s, Snickers bars, and Royal Canin pet food. Iams formerly owned Eukanuba until 2017, when Mars Incorporated bought them out for $2.7 billion. They now house all of its operations under its umbrella companies like Pedigree Pet Food Company and Royal Canin Pet Care Nutrition USA.

Wellness Core

Wellness Core dog food is a popular choice among dog owners because it is a grain-free food that contains real meat and vegetables with no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. This food also uses high-quality ingredients to give your dog the necessary nutrition.

Another benefit of Wellness Core is that it’s made without corn, wheat, or soy. Being grain-free means you won’t see any problems with allergies, so it’s perfect for dogs with sensitive digestive systems. In addition, different flavors are available, including turkey & salmon, lamb & sweet potato, and beef & peas.

It Is common for a Vet to Refer Dog Food Brands

Vets know a lot about nutrition and how it applies to pets, so they know the best dog food brands for your pet based on their health and age. It can be extremely helpful if you’ve never purchased dog food.

Vets also know which foods are best for specific breeds of dogs because there are different types of dog breeds that have different nutritional needs. For example, suppose you have an English Bulldog. In that case, your vet might recommend a particular dog food with higher calories than normal since English Bulldogs are prone to gaining weight easily due to their short snouts.

If you have no idea which type of food would be best for your dog or cat’s health, always ask your veterinarian what he or she recommends when making these decisions.

What brand of dog food do most vets recommend?

Dr. Deborah E. Linder, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Nutrition) states that AAFCO Guidelines allow personal or commercial endorsements on pet food labels if they are not false or misleading. While claims like "veterinarian recommended" are permitted, the precise criteria to substantiate such claims without misleading consumers are not specified by AAFCO. Conducting a statistically valid survey of veterinarians is essential to support claims like "veterinarian recommended," according to the AAFCO Pet Food Committee. AAFCO does not define the number of veterinarians to survey or the format of the survey, and the concept of "statistically valid" varies based on several factors. State control officials regulate pet food, and they determine what data is needed to substantiate claims made on product labels. The rigor of evidence supporting the "veterinarian recommended" claim remains unknown, as it is rarely questioned. According to NBC, Royal Canin is favored by experts for its peer-reviewed research and esteemed reputation among pet owners and veterinarians. NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio and editorial operations manager Shari Uyehara endorse Royal Canin. Dr. Danielle Bernal, an on-staff veterinarian for Wellness Natural Pet Food, credits Wellness CORE with significantly improving her dog Meg’s canine atopic dermatitis. The Wellness CORE Ocean formula helps Megs avoid key allergens and provides rich sources of natural omega fatty acids from increased amounts of salmon, which helps reduce skin inflammation. After three months, Megs regained her soft coat and color and now only needs medication once a month for occasional flare-ups.

Why do vets recommend Purina?

Dr. Michael Hoover, DVM, recommends Purina Pro Plan and Purina ONE as good foods. Hills Science Diet is also recommended for making its food in a human-grade plant with human-grade ingredients, conducting extensive research, and employing more veterinary nutritionists in-house than other companies. Purina and Hills have a long history of producing pet food and prioritize quality and experience over advertising. These companies do not offer incentives to veterinarians and have built their reputation through years of providing nutritious food. Zack Keithy, a certified veterinarian technician, says that Purina conducts comprehensive testing of both ingredients and finished products to ensure they adhere to high standards. Testing includes screening for contaminants like bacteria or toxins to maintain product safety. Purina also responds swiftly to product recalls when necessary and implements a robust traceability system for tracking ingredients and products throughout manufacturing. This system enables quick identification and removal of any products that fail to meet quality and safety standards. Purina adheres to all relevant regulations and industry standards, including those set by AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).

Is Blue Buffalo recommended by vets?

Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, a veterinarian and pet nutrition expert, personally recommends Blue Buffalo's products to her clients because the brand collaborates with veterinarians and pet nutritionists to formulate their recipes. However, details about the specific veterinary team, their credentials, and roles within the company are not readily available. Blue Buffalo prioritizes real meat as the first ingredient in all their recipes, avoiding low-quality fillers like corn, wheat, and soy. The brand offers a wide variety of food lines, catering to dogs with allergies, sensitive stomachs, and specific health concerns such as aging joints, digestion problems, and obesity. Blue Buffalo provides a 100% satisfaction guarantee, allowing customers to return uneaten products with a receipt for a full refund if they are not satisfied. However, Blue Buffalo products tend to be more expensive, with an average cost ranging from $70 to $80 for a 34 lb bag of dry pet food. Also, while generally safe, grain-free diets have been linked to heart problems in some dogs, possibly due to legume content. The brand has experienced several voluntary recalls due to quality control issues such as aluminum and salmonella contamination, excessive thyroid hormone levels in meat sources, and faulty packaging. Some Blue Buffalo products contain controversial ingredients like tomato pomace and carrageenan, although these are not present in the top five ingredients and are unlikely to harm dogs.

What dog food do vets not recommend?

Dr. Nicki Cohen, associate veterinarian at the Dupont Veterinary Clinic in Washington, D.C., expresses strong reservations about feeding dogs a raw food diet. Studies have found that many raw food diets for dogs contain harmful bacteria, some of which are multi-drug resistant. The FDA conducted a two-year study that revealed concerning findings about raw pet food. Raw pet food was found to be more likely contaminated with disease-causing bacteria compared to other types of pet food. Also, children and immunocompromised adults can contract infections from handling raw food or dealing with their dog's waste. Dr. Sarah Hoggan, medical director of the California-based VCA Animal Hospitals, says that human food, particularly rich items like meat and cheese, pose dangers for dogs if consumed. Meat fat can lead to pancreatitis, while cheese and dairy products can cause digestive issues and diarrhea. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which dogs cannot metabolize. Ingestion of chocolate can result in significant illness and even death, with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, rapid heart rate, excessive urination, and increased thirst. Foods containing xylitol sweeteners, like sugar-free gum, candy, and some peanut butter brands, can be life-threatening to dogs, as it can cause hypoglycemia and liver damage, with symptoms including vomiting, loss of coordination, seizures, and liver failure. Consumption of grapes and raisins can lead to kidney failure in dogs. Even small amounts can be dangerous, with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and decreased appetite. Avocados contain persin, a fungicidal toxin that can cause health problems and even death in animals. While dogs are more resistant, ingestion can lead to vomiting and diarrhea, with the avocado pit posing a choking hazard. Avocados are also high in fat, which can trigger pancreatitis or diarrhea. Bones, especially chicken bones, should be avoided as they can cause tooth fractures or choking, while bone splinters can cause intestinal blockages or tears.