Pedigree provides a selection of dog foods tailored to each dog’s specific dietary needs, with high protein content, stringent quality control measures and an extensive product selection – making them a top choice among pet parents.
According to Dog Food Advisor, Pedigree utilizes too much anonymous bone meals as protein sources; these ingredients often originate in slaughterhouse byproducts and do not digest well.
Contents
Protein
Protein is not only essential to energy intake; it is also crucial for building and maintaining muscle. Nutritionists note that most dry dog food contains 8-18 grams of protein per cup.
This recipe boasts below-average levels of protein and fat while exceeding average amounts of carbs when compared with a typical dry food, and utilizes poultry by-products and meat and bone meals as its main sources of animal proteins.
This recipe contains BHA, which may be carcinogenic. Furthermore, it includes high levels of corn gluten meal – an inexpensive cereal grain with minimal nutritional benefits – and sodium selenite, a less bioavailable form of selenium than traditional selenium yeast sources.
Fat
Pedigree Petfoods was previously known as Chappie and is a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated that produces food specifically tailored for dogs and cats. Their offerings include Cesar, Sheba, Greenies and more!
Pedigree Healthy Weight Complete Nutrition Roasted Chicken & Vegetable Flavor contains moderate levels of named and unnamed meat/bone meal as well as animal fat in the form of lard or poultry fat, earning this food item one star rating from The Advisor.
This recipe includes sugar beet pulp, vegetable oil, ground wheat and brewer’s rice as plant-based ingredients that provide energy and fiber, making this meal suitable for digestion. Furthermore, natural flavor, sodium tripolyphosphate and carrageenan provide natural flavors. Furthermore, salt, calcium carbonate potassium chloride minerals (potassium chloride magnesium proteinate zinc sulfate copper proteinate manganese sulfate iron sulfate potassium iodide potassium iodide), dried yam, guar gum sodium selenite), dried yam as well as vitamins (choline chloride Vitamin E supplement biotin Dcalcium pantothenate d-calcium pantothenate and Thiamine mononitrate). Unfortunately the company did not disclose an omega 3/6 ratio.
Carbohydrates
Carbs provide animals, including humans, with energy. Found in plants like sugarcane and cane juice as starches or fiber sources, carbohydrates provide energy source. Dogs evolved from wolves and possess genes capable of processing carbohydrates efficiently.
Pedigree offers professional nutrition tailored to the unique needs of dogs (taste, texture, digestion and oral care) at each life stage. Their dry food recipes meet AAFCO nutritional levels while their wet foods are designed with research from The Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition in mind. Pedigree also produces various dental products including DentaStix which has been scientifically proven to reduce plaque and tartar by up to 80% when used daily – as well as chew sticks designed specifically to fit with natural shapes of their teeth.
Vitamins
Pedigree small dog food contains low meat content and contains ingredients which may not be appropriate for dogs, potentially causing side effects like diarrhea, vomiting and gas. Furthermore, its high sugar content could contribute to weight gain and obesity in your pup.
Overall, this recipe receives only one star due to its subpar protein level and quality of ingredients. Most of its protein comes from corn gluten meal, soybean meal and dried peas – cheap plant proteins with minimal nutritional value – but also uses questionable coloring agents and potentially carcinogenic BHA; furthermore it includes sodium selenite as controversial form of selenium mineralization.
Minerals
Pedigree uses minerals in its food formulations to ensure their canines get an appropriate mix of essential vitamins and nutrients, including salt. While salt can be beneficial to dogs in terms of providing essential minerals such as iron and copper, excessive intake can be dangerous for their wellbeing.
Other minerals utilized by the company are animal fat, ground whole wheat, brewers rice, meat and bone meal, vegetable oil, and poultry by-products. These ingredients provide abundant sources of protein, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus and iron; all essential for building strong teeth, bones, hair coats and muscles.
Pedigree employs natural flavors and colors to add a palatable taste to their foods, but these ingredients are often considered of low quality with limited safety studies available on them. Furthermore, Pedigree utilizes sodium selenite instead of the more widely-known selenium yeast to add additional selenium into its products.
