High-priced VS Low-priced dog food — Which is better?

As if choosing the best kind of dog food for your beloved pooch wasn’t confusing enough, pricing is yet another thing we need to take into consideration. The consumer maxim “you get what you pay for” applies even when shopping for your pooch’s meals; so, does this mean high-priced brands are automatically better than lower-priced ones?

To a certain extent, yes. Higher-priced brands tend to have better-quality ingredients than their lower-priced counterparts. For example, a brand which lists meat—say, chicken—as its first ingredient will obviously cost more than one that lists corn. The quality of the meat itself can also drive the price up, so not all chicken-flavored dog food will have the same cost. Chicken meal, a more concentrated form of chicken and packed with more protein, can be found in some of the higher-end brands.

Holistic pet food manufacturers have started sprouting all over the Internet. While their products are considerably pricier than those available at the supermarket and in pet stores, they claim that you save more money in the long run because their food is healthier and more filling. This equates to less trips to the vet and less food actually consumed in one meal. Many holistic brands offer healthy ingredients such as grape seed extract and vegetables that contain antioxidants as well as phyto-nutrients, which promote good health. Some also provide probiotics, which helps digestion boosts the immune system.

You won’t find these things over at the discount aisle.

Another thing to consider is the issue between wet (canned) and dry (kibble) dog food. Canned variety is more expensive, which is one reason most dog owners prefer the more affordable and easier to prepare kibble. But kibble is higher in carbohydrates and lower in meat protein, so plant-based protein is added to boost the overall protein content. While not necessarily a bad thing, it is not what you would call a good quality product either. Plus, it is not the most natural kind of food to give your dog. What matters most, however, is the quality of the ingredients used in the formula and striking a balance in your dog’s diet. You might want to give your dog a meal that combines two parts kibble with one part canned food.

Bear in mind, though, that what may work for one dog will not necessarily work for another, and price has no say in this whatsoever. Some dogs can be very picky eaters, too. You may have to undergo a little trial and error first. Wholesome beef meals may be expensive and may seem to be one of the healthier options out there, but there are dogs that cannot digest beef properly and can only tolerate grain-based diet. One of the world’s most successful labrador breeders, for example, feed their labs Purina Dog Chow—practically a poster child for low-quality dog food—but obviously it works for them.

So which is better, high-priced or lower-priced dog food? Do you order the holistic brands online (plus shipping) or settle with the humble grocery store item on aisle five? The answer is, quite simply, it all depends on your dog.