Belcando dog food

Belcando dog food is a member of the super-premium class of dog food. When the topic of feeding commercially prepared pet food to pets arises, heated debates quickly erupt among dog owners, with each side ready to offer a host of arguments in support of their position. Most dry food enthusiasts believe that the most important factor is the quality of the product, and such food should be chosen from the super-premium category.

About the company

One of its representatives is Belcando dog food, which earned its reputation not through extensive advertising at shows or on TV, but through reviews from dog lovers and kennel owners. It is now a recognizable brand that has earned the trust of many dog ​​owners and has only strengthened its position in the Russian pet market in recent years. Furthermore, this brand has long been known in Europe and is a worthy competitor to many high-quality pet food products.

Bewital petfood GmbH & Co. KG, a German company founded in 1963, produces dog food under the Belcando brand. Its portfolio of dog food also includes the Bewi Dog and Dogland brands, which are also quite popular in Russia, judging by the number of reviews. The Belcando factory is located in Germany, and the products are also packaged there. According to the manufacturer, all ingredients used in its dog food are sourced from nearby farms and delivered fresh to the factory. All ingredients undergo quality control in the factory's in-house laboratory beforehand. All these factors undoubtedly reflect the quality of Belcando dog food, and the reviews from satisfied consumers are the most important confirmation of this.

Assortment

All products of this brand are divided into three categories. Two of them are dry food, and the third consists of wet and canned food.

Classic

Belcando Classic Belcando is a classic line of food differentiated by two main criteria: age and size. It's somewhat unusual, but Belcando has introduced an additional age range for puppies—up to 4 months and beyond—and breeders often note this as a plus in their reviews.

Dogs requiring specialized diets were also considered. This category includes formulas for sensitive digestion with lamb, for overweight animals, and with increased and high energy value (Active And Power). The latest menus are recommended for sled dogs and search-and-rescue dogs, including hunting dogs or those participating in various competitions, during periods of intense physical exertion.

Grain Free

Grain-Free (GF) This category includes Belcando grain-free dry dog ​​food, which has proven popular with many four-legged friends, hence the overwhelmingly positive reviews. Amaranth, potato, peas, and various vegetables are used to replace grain in the formulas. Amaranth is a plant whose grains contain a high amount of protein, rich in lysine, and are also gluten-free, a common allergen in animals.

This segment also features another special grain-free diet – Belcando Mix itThis is a type of dog food supplement that will be appreciated by natural food enthusiasts; it is used as an addition to raw, frozen, or canned meat.

Wet diets

Wet diets This segment includes 125g pouches (sachets) with five different flavors and Belcando dog food in 400g and 800g cans, also offering five flavors to choose from. The manufacturer claims that the meat and meat ingredients used in these foods are of the highest quality and are classified as human-grade. Belcando wet food is suitable for both adult dogs and puppies. It's also a great way to satisfy even the pickiest pets, as confirmed by numerous reviews from owners of picky eaters.

An interesting detail: The Belcando website lists a separate line of canned dog food called Single Protein. These recipes contain only one protein source and are designed for pets with food allergies. There are six food options to choose from: beef, chicken, horse meat, kangaroo, salmon, and lamb.

The Russian distributor's website doesn't list this category at all; there's only one item from this line: Bel Canto Single Protein dog food with kangaroo meat.

Evaluation and analysis of the composition

First of all, it's important to note that Belcando brand diets contain the unique ProVital and ProAgil complexes. These supplements are designed to strengthen and boost the immune system. ProVital is found in diets for puppies, senior dogs, and small breeds, while ProAgil supports joints and strengthens ligaments. This complex is found in diets for puppies, senior dogs, and Active and Power foods.

Belcando Finest Croc dry dog ​​food for small and medium breeds was selected for review and analysis. It's marketed as a food for very picky pets with average activity levels. It has a curious property: when warm water is added to the food, the kibble becomes coated in a fragrant and delicious sauce. Apparently, this trick is designed to make the food more appealing to a gourmet pet.

Let's look at the guaranteed content of essential nutrients:

The manufacturer assures that 85% of the protein source is animal protein, with 75% coming from poultry and 10% from fish, while the remaining 15% of the total comes from plant proteins.

It's worth noting that with this balance, the carbohydrate content will be around 30%, which is, without exaggeration, a very respectable figure, and one that's rare even in the super-premium category. This fact can be considered a plus for this food.

It is also worth noting that Belcando dog food has a fairly high fat content, which often causes conflicting reviews among dog owners.

The Finest Croc diet's ingredient list is quite extensive, comprising approximately 30 items, nine of which are various types of herbs. For this reason, we'll only list the first few ingredients that form the basis of this recipe:

• Fresh poultry meat – 30%;
• Rice -17%;
• Oat seeds (there may be a translation error, the original is oat flour);
• Dried poultry protein with low ash content – ​​12%;
• Dried duck protein – 10%;
• Herring meal – 5% (in English – “Fish meal from sea fish” – meal from sea fish);
• Poultry liver hydrolysate – 5%;
• Next comes poultry fat, followed by vegetable oils (palm, coconut).
• Next comes grape seed flour – 2.5%, then dry brewer’s yeast – 2.5%.

The manufacturer provides us with fairly detailed figures about the quantities of each component in the recipe; this approach is rare and typical for high-quality foods.

Squirrels

There are several sources of animal protein here, with fresh poultry ranking first. While this is a worthy ingredient, the lack of a clear indication of the source (specifically, the type of poultry) somewhat understates its quality. Furthermore, 30% of fresh meat is 70% water, and during cooking, it will turn into 9-10% dry matter, definitely dropping from the top spot to a lower position.

After grains, there are four more ingredients rich in animal protein. Both fish meal and duck protein are good ingredients, rich in protein, which are easily digestible and welcome in the food. Additionally, Belcando dog food includes dried egg and hydrolyzed liver. Eggs are a valuable protein source, and liver is apparently very little, used as a natural flavor enhancer.

Fats

Component #8 is poultry fat, which is easily digestible and often found in pet diets. However, the quality of this ingredient is questionable, as the vague wording makes it difficult to determine the species of bird used.

Belcando dry dog ​​food #9 also includes palm and coconut oils. These are rare ingredients in animal nutrition, especially coconut oil. Unlike most vegetable fats, it is easily digestible and promotes normal metabolism. Palm oil, on the other hand, is considered a cheap ingredient and is considered undesirable in pet diets. This is the reason why some reviews of Belcanto dog food are negative.

Carbohydrates

The main sources of carbohydrates here are rice and oats. They are easier to digest than many other grains, but rice doesn't offer much benefit to dogs. Oats provide fiber. Both ingredients are low-allergenic and are recommended for dogs with digestive issues.

Other feed components

Belcando dry dog ​​food is a rather unique product because its formula contains ingredients not found in most other brands. These include grape seeds, chia seeds, and carob pods. It also includes a whole list of medicinal herbs: nettle, fennel, caraway, chamomile, nettle leaves, blackberry, and yarrow. More common ingredients include yucca schidigera, beet pulp, and dry brewer's yeast. While these additives are relatively minor, let's take a look at the most interesting ones:

• Grape seed cake – left over after juice or wine production. The seeds are rich in vitamin E, which is a natural antioxidant. They also contain a lot of fiber.
• Chia seeds – a very trendy product among vegetarians because it's extremely rich in protein, calcium, fatty acids, and fiber. It's considered a good substitute for grains, but it's also significantly more expensive. In this case, this supplement exists more as a fashion trend and offers little benefit.
• Carob or Tsaregrad pod The beans of this plant are used as a dietary supplement. They are rich in pectin and lignin, which have a beneficial effect on intestinal microflora and replenish dietary fiber. They are also used as a thickening agent.
• Phytocomposition of various herbs makes Belcando dry dog ​​food similar to holistic nutrition. Many of these medicinal plants are used in herbal medicine; they help strengthen the immune system, contain antioxidants (which slow down aging), and substances that improve metabolism.

In this video, a veterinarian from Belcando, a dog food distributor, explains the food's features and ingredients:

Advantages and disadvantages

1. Availability of fresh meat and a large amount of animal protein;
2. Low carbohydrate content;
3. Instead of cheap grains (corn, wheat), hypoallergenic grains are used;
4. A complex of useful supplements and herbs;

Disadvantages of food

• Questionable source of fat.

Reviews of food

Many people across the RuNet were willing to share their impressions of Belcando dog food and leave reviews. As expected, opinions varied, but the majority were positive:

Daria, owner of a 2-year-old Labrador:

"My dog ​​has been eating Belcando since he was a puppy. First it was the baby version, now it's the adult version. Everything is fine: his ears, his body condition, and his appetite. One time, I decided to pamper him and bought him a can of the food, and he ate every last bit of it from his bowl. But the next day, he had some really nasty diarrhea. I'm not experimenting with it anymore; I only feed him dry food. I highly recommend it!"

Lena, Samoyed:

"I was recommended this food at the pet store when I was once again trying to find something good for my allergy sufferer. My dog ​​stopped scratching her ears after just a couple of weeks, and after about a month and a half, I completely forgot what it was. It's been almost four months since Milka started eating it, and I can now say for sure that it's a good choice for us, and we'll continue feeding it."

The opinion of veterinarians

Veterinarians' reviews of Belcando dry dog ​​food generally agree that it's a high-quality, super-premium diet that's well-balanced and meets all the criteria for its intended class. However, experts point out that the fat content is slightly higher than generally accepted norms, which can lead to excess weight gain in dogs with a sedentary lifestyle.

Price

Price of Belcando Finest Croc dry food for picky dogs:

• 1 kg – 605 RUR;
• 4 kg – 2100 rub.;
• 12.5 – 5550 rub.

Adult Dinner dog food for adult dogs will cost:

• 1 kg – 477 RUR;
• 5 kg – 2207 rub.;
• 15 kg – 5527 rub.

The price for Belcando grain-free (GF) dog food with lamb will be slightly higher:

• 1 kg – 624 RUR;
• 4 kg – 2213 rub.;
• 12.5 kg – 6051 rub.

In conclusion, Belcando dog food's price-quality ratio puts many other dog food products to shame. These are definitely super-premium recipes, even "with a holistic focus." Our resource recommends it as a daily diet for your pet.

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