Super-premium dog food

A review article about super-premium dog foods—what they are, how they differ from others, and a list of dog food manufacturers. Every dog ​​owner wants their pet to be healthy, active, and happy. A good owner understands that their pet's quality of life directly depends on their nutrition. After all, the right food can protect your pet from many health problems, and you from unnecessary worries, unplanned visits to the veterinarian, and unexpected expenses. In this article, we'll look at the best super-premium dog foods for your pet, their features and types, and also review the most popular manufacturers. We'll also try to understand the reasons for the high cost of this category of food.

First and foremost, super premium dog food is a product created by professionals. Numerous veterinarians and scientists work on the formulas and ingredients for these foods, drawing on the latest research. Due to intense competition, each manufacturer strives to improve the quality of their products. Many even own their own poultry and livestock farms, the meat from which is used in the production of super premium dog food.

Features of super premium pet food

The concept behind this group of foods is to select ingredients to create a diet that offers the highest bioavailability for dogs. In other words, each component is maximally absorbed and beneficial for your four-legged friend. Therefore, the hallmark of super premium dog food is a high content of animal protein and a minimal amount of plant proteins.

Why are amino acids needed?

Animal protein provides dogs with all the essential amino acids (taurine, arginine, methionine) that the body cannot produce on its own. Plant proteins contain very little of these amino acids, or none at all. Economy and premium dog foods, however, contain a high percentage of grains and a lower percentage of meat. This explains the high price of super-premium dog foods, as animal products are significantly more expensive than grains.

On average, super premium dog food contains between 40% and 60% different types of meat—this percentage may vary between manufacturers. The majority is poultry—chicken, duck, or turkey. Lamb, rabbit, beef, and freshwater or saltwater fish are also used. The more diverse the ingredients, the more complete and digestible your pet's diet will be, which is the main criterion for food quality.

Grain-free and specialty foods

Almost all super premium dog food brands produce separate lines that are completely grain-free. The key argument in favor of this type of diet is the carnivorous nature of dogs. After all, their physiology is better suited to animal protein, and ingredients like corn or soy are practically indigestible, thus providing no nutritional benefit to a four-legged friend. Recognizing such a product is easy—the manufacturer will always indicate on the packaging that it is grain-free for super premium dogs.

To make it easier for dog owners to choose the perfect diet for their pet, manufacturers offer different foods tailored to their pet's age, size, and special needs (such as pregnancy). For pets that engage in intense physical activity (such as training or hunting), there's a separate, super-premium food for active dogs. Many brands also offer a separate line of therapeutic foods and even customized diets for specific dog breeds, taking into account the unique physiological needs of these animals.

Below is a list of the most popular and high-quality super premium dog foods:

• Orijen
• Hill's Science Plan
• Royal Canin
• Acana
• Pro Plan
• Eukanuba
• Canidae
• Brit Care
• 1st Choice
• Profine
• Animonda
• Belcando
• Mono
• Advance
• Pro Pac

Dry food

All of the listed brands offer high-quality products with a well-balanced composition. However, this doesn't guarantee that all the super premium dog foods listed here will suit your pet. Many nuances must be considered when choosing the right food. For example, some dog breeds are prone to overeating and should choose a food with a lower carbohydrate content and a higher protein content. Carbohydrates are quickly broken down, and hunger sets in quickly after eating high-carbohydrate foods. Protein, on the other hand, is digested gradually, so the feeling of fullness lasts longer. Choosing the best super premium dog food requires a strictly individualized approach.

List of the most popular brands of super premium dry food:

• Royal Canin
• Acana
• Eukanuba
• Pro Plan
• Hill's Science Plan
• Orijen

Each of the aforementioned manufacturers makes excellent super-premium dog food, which often receives positive reviews. This is primarily due to the fact that all ingredients in this segment of dry food are suitable for human consumption. These ingredients undergo strict selection and quality control. Only fresh and natural vegetables and fruits, meat, fish, grains, and medicinal herbs are used in the production of the food. They are free of synthetic additives, colorings, and preservatives. Super-premium dry dog ​​food always contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which the body cannot produce naturally. These fatty acids can come from animal sources (salmon, herring) or vegetable fats, but omega-3 from plants (soy, flax) is not digestible by dogs. Therefore, super-premium dog food includes higher-quality animal-based fats.

Compound

As an example, here is the composition of Orijen Adult Dog food (for adult dogs of all breeds):

Composition guaranteed by the manufacturer:

• The content of crude proteins is not less than 38.8%, various fats - not less than 18%, 5% vegetable fiber, not more than 10% water, 1.3 - 1.6% calcium, phosphorus - 1 - 1.3%, 4.1% omega acids, 8% ash, as well as not less than 1200 and 1400 mg / kg of chondroitin and glucosamine, respectively.
• Vitamins: group A - not less than 30 KIU/kg, group E - 470 IU/kg, D3 - not less than 2 KIU/kg, thiamine - 70 mg/kg, B5 (pantothenic acid) - 64 mg/kg, pyridoxine - 52 mg/kg, riboflavin - 55 mg/kg, niacin - 390 mg/kg, B12 - 0.5 mg/kg, choline - 2400 mg/kg, folic acid - 4.7 mg/kg.
• The share of mineral substances: sodium - 0.3% of the content, potassium not less than 0.6%, iodine and its compounds - 3.6 mg/kg, iron - 230 mg/kg, chloride - 0.6%, selenium - 1.2 mg/kg, magnesium - 0.12%, manganese - up to 25 mg/kg, zinc - not less than 240 mg/kg, copper not less than 26 mg/kg.
• Amino acids: tyrosine not less than 0.98%, valine not less than -1.9%, lysine in the composition - 2.4%, cystine - 0.4%, methionine - not less than 0.8%, tryptophan - 0.4%, isoleucine - 1.5%, histidine - 0.9%, leucine - 2.9%, threonine - about 1.6%, phenylalanine - 1.6%, arginine - 2.5%.
• Plant components: peppermint leaves - about 300 mg/kg, common thyme - 150 mg/kg, dandelion root - 150 mg/kg, chamomile flowers - not less than 300 mg/kg, licorice roots - 500 mg/kg, calendula flowers - about 350 mg/kg, fenugreek - not less than 350 mg/kg, fennel - 350 mg/kg.
• Ingredients: Fresh chicken - 22%, dehydrated poultry meat (15%), chicken liver 4%, herring meat - not less than 4%, fresh turkey meat - 4%, dry turkey meat 4%, fresh turkey liver - about 3%, chicken eggs 3%, pike-perch fillet 3%, fresh salmon not less than 3%, fresh chicken heart 3%, cartilage - 3%, chicken liver fat - up to 3%, lentils, alfalfa, green peas, yams, parsnips, peas, pumpkin, carrots, apples, Bartlett pear, spinach, lingonberries, organic seaweed.
• The energy value of this food is 3980 kcal/kg. The recommended daily feeding rate for a 20 kg dog is 240 g/day for active dogs and 160 g/day for sedentary dogs.

The cost of a 13 kg bag is about 6300 rubles.

It is worth noting that this is a grain-free, super premium dog food, as it does not contain any cereals (rice, corn) or soy.

Wet food

Super premium canned dog food is another convenient feeding option for your pet. Based on their ingredients, they are divided into gourmet and complete diets. Gourmet foods are considered supplementary nutrition, as they cannot replace a main meal. Manufacturers typically indicate the type of food they are feeding on the label.

Wet food Super premium dog food is typically made exclusively from fresh meat, without the use of artificial colors, animal flour, or by-products. This ensures that their products have the highest protein bioavailability, ensuring that they are 100% natural and nutritious.

The most famous super premium canned dog food:

• Animonda
• Eukanuba
• Royal Canin
• Hill's Science Plan
• Belcando
• Arden Grange
• Pro Plan

Wet food contains a wider variety of meats than dry food, including rabbit, horse meat, venison, duck, lamb, quail, and tuna. This naturally makes canned food tastier, but it's also more expensive than dry food. Grain ingredients can include not only the usual rice but also rarer ingredients, such as spelt or barley. Spelt is rich in calcium and fiber, promoting healthy bowel function and preventing osteoporosis. Barley acts as a natural anti-inflammatory.

Medicinal and food for breeds

The wide range of wet food options is especially important when choosing super-premium food for small breed dogs. These are the breeds most often found among fussy eaters or those with poor appetites. These foods also make it easier to choose food for pets with food intolerances or allergies.

A very large niche among canned dog food is occupied by therapeutic dog food Super premium class. There are veterinary diets for dogs with digestive disorders, kidney failure, urolithiasis, diabetes, heart disease, and many other conditions. The main advantages of wet therapeutic diets over similar dry foods are their high palatability and special consistency, which facilitates artificial feeding of a sick animal.

Compound

Complete food for adult dogs of all breeds with turkey Hill's Science Plan™ Canine Adult Savory Turkey (USA) contains:

Turkey meat (at least) 11%, pearl barley, beef, pork liver, dry whey, protein hydrolysate, animal and vegetable fats, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, iodized salt, vitamin complex and microelement supplements. Vitamin and microelement content: vit. A - 7210 IU/kg, vit. D — 300 IU/kg, vit.E — 45 mg/kg, moisture – 74.5%, fat -3.8%, fiber – 0.3%, protein – 6%, potassium – 0.16%, phosphorus – 0.13%, calcium – 0.15%, sodium – 0.05%, magnesium – 0.02%, carbohydrates – 12%, copper – 3.7 mg/kg, fatty acids: Omega-3 – 0.08%, Omega-6 – 0.87%. Energy value per 100 g: 101 kcal or 421 kJ. The recommended daily feeding rate for a dog weighing 10 kg is 1.5–2 cans of 370 g. The price of a 370 g can is about 190 rubles.

Specialized feeds

For dogs with allergies

There are many reasons why our pets develop allergies. Hypoallergenic stern Super premium dog food can only help in cases of food allergies. Statistically, this occurs in one in five cases. In other situations, allergic reactions can occur due to insect bites (fleas), parasites (worms), and even the wrong dog shampoo. Some dog breeds are genetically predisposed to allergies and have a congenital hypersensitivity to specific food ingredients.

Often, this reaction manifests as a skin rash, itching, dandruff, and hair loss. Food intolerances also affect the gastrointestinal tract, causing diarrhea, vomiting, bloating, flatulence, or rumbling. In such situations, it's essential to transition your pet to a special diet. Super premium hypoallergenic dog foods are an elimination diet containing a very limited number of ingredients. They replace the most common food ingredients (chicken) that cause allergies with other protein sources.

If you pay attention to price, for example, Acana's super-premium hypoallergenic dog food will cost significantly more than its competitors, but this brand's products are guaranteed to relieve your pet of this annoying ailment.

In this category of food, we recommend Acana Lamb & Okanagan Apple (price of 18 kg package – 7400 rubles), Royal Canin Anallergenic AN18 (price of 8 kg package – 3600 rubles) and Eukanuba Dermatosis FP (price of 12 kg bag – 4200 rubles).

For small breed dogs

Miniature breed dogs (weighing between 1 and 10 kg) also have their own nutritional requirements. Manufacturers have created a special super-premium food for small dogs, specifically tailored to their higher energy needs. It contains more protein to maintain optimal physical condition, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. It also comes in small kibble shapes for more convenient feeding.

When recommending super premium food for small breed dogs, we'll focus on the brands Hills, Royal Canin, and 1st Choice.

For large breed dogs

Dogs weighing over 25 kg are considered large and especially need additional nutrients to prevent musculoskeletal disorders. Therefore, in addition to the essential high-quality ingredients, super premium dog food for large dogs contains glucosamine and chondroitin. These components strengthen joints and help prevent arthritis, thereby maintaining healthy joints for years to come. Another important factor for large breeds is the inclusion of substances that help prevent heart problems. For example, the Czech manufacturer Brit, whose super premium dog food is very popular, does an excellent job of addressing this issue – its formula already includes substances that minimize the risk of arrhythmia in large dogs.

Our recommendation in this group of foods is Eukanuba and 1st choice.

For castrated and sterilized dogs

After castration or sterilization, a dog's hormonal balance changes. This necessitates a change in diet. Super premium dog food for neutered dogs is a balanced diet that meets the special needs of these animals. It contains low-calorie ingredients that help maintain a healthy weight and prevent obesity. For overweight dogs, this type of food is recommended for gradual weight loss. The formula also focuses on preventing urolithiasis, as the risk of developing it increases after castration or sterilization.

Our portal recommends super premium food for sterilized dogs: Eukanuba Daily Care Overweight, Sterilized (2.5 kg pack: 1300 rubles) or Pro Plan All Size Adult Light/Sterilized (3 kg pack: 900 rubles).

Read also:

• Hypoallergenic dog food
• Grandorf dog food
• Organix dog food

Read also:

• Nutram dog food
• Ontario – dog food
• Husse dog food