Pedigree dog food has been in existence for a long time…
In fact, the company making Pedigree began producing dog food in 1934…
And it’s undergone various name changes until finally, the name was settled as Pedigree in 1972…
Now initially, the food was aimed at dog breeders, but this gradually shifted to affordable pet food for the average dog owner…
And with extended experience in producing dog food, people may assume that the company knows what food is best for dogs…
But is this true – is Pedigree good for dogs…?
This article will answer that question for you, and by the end, you’ll have all the information you need to determine if Pedigree is the right dog food for your dog or not…
Let’s get started!
Disclaimer: None of the opinions in this article were made by a Veterinarian. If you have questions about your dog’s food, consult with a Veterinarian…
>> You Can Chat With A Veterinarian In Minutes By Clicking Here…
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Is Pedigree Good For Dogs? – A Quick Answer…
The major component in Pedigree dog food is plant-based, including corn and soya. These are known allergens and difficult to digest for many dogs. The protein content is 21- 27% in the dry food and 8 – 9% in the wet food, which is inadequate for a dog’s needs…
Pedigree is easily affordable, and the dry kibble and canned meat can be conveniently found in most major retailers around the country…
It is easy to pick up a bag of dog food while grocery shopping, but that being said, convenience is not always the best reason to choose dog food, and some thought needs to go into what your dog needs…
So Is Pedigree Food Good For Your Dog?
Pedigree dog food is not the best food for dogs as its nutrient and ingredient profile is inappropriate for the canine digestive system…
If you can afford alternative foods, it is better to choose another option for your dog… (RECOMMENDED LIST)
If your finances are restricted and you can only afford Pedigree, you can improve the food by adding extra protein. You must consider other options if your dog shows adverse effects when eating Pedigree…
What Dog Foods Does Pedigree Produce?
Pedigree produces a variety of kibble. These include products marketed for:
- Adult dogs
- Small adult dogs
- Big adult dogs
- Puppies
- High protein for adult dogs
- Tender bites for small breed dogs
The kibble comes in a range of flavors, including steak, chicken, and turkey. The adult kibble has a crude protein of 21%…
The Pedigree puppy and high-protein adult kibble have 27% crude protein. All the kibble has 11% crude fat except the high protein, which has 12%…
The Pedigree wet food range is available in sachets and tins. There are multiple flavors and some combination flavors to tantalize your dog’s tastebuds.
What Is The Major Ingredient In Pedigree Dry Kibble?
Dog food nutrition has become very contentious in the last ten years. Veterinarians are sold the propaganda by veterinary or science-based diets that only those are good enough, and they only recommend these diets…
Pet owners struggling to keep up with rising costs often hope their dogs are healthy on cheaper supermarket products such as Pedigree…
But Holistic veterinarians and some breeders feel that commercial dog foods are inadequate and even harmful. They advocate feeding raw food or home-cooked meals…
All these differing opinions are a minefield for owners who want to provide the best care for their dogs…
A good tip for owners is to consider the package labels on Pedigree food. The pet food industry governing boards require the manufacturer to list the ingredients in the order of the percentage they contribute to the food…
The first ingredient listed will be the major component of the food…
In Pedigree dry food, this is ground whole grain corn indicating that a large proportion of the food is comprised of maize…
This means that the major nutrient in the food is carbohydrates…
Maize or corn is a problematic ingredient for many dogs. Corn has been implicated in many allergies and digestive issues in dogs…
Symptoms can range from skin irritation to recurrent ear infections, diarrhea, frequent vomiting, and difficulty house training a dog due to unpredictable bowel movements…
Does Pedigree Contain Enough Protein For My Dog?
Protein is a critical nutrient for dogs, and there is much argument about the ideal quantities of protein needed for dogs…
A common-sense approach is to look at the dog’s anatomy and understand from that what the dog is designed to eat…
Dogs have sharp teeth designed to bite down hard, cutting into the food. This dentition is what is seen in carnivorous animals…
Their teeth are used for biting into meat, tearing off chunks, and swallowing…
Dog molars do not have grinding surfaces, and their jaws do not move sideways in a chewing action…
Molars that grind and a jaw capable of chewing are the dentition of herbivores that must thoroughly grind up plant material before swallowing…
Additionally, dogs’ digestive tracts are very different from herbivore or omnivore digestive systems. A dog has a large stomach, capable of holding a considerable amount of food…
The food stays in the stomach for up to eight hours, being digested by very powerful stomach acids…
The intestines are relatively short, and food moves through them rapidly…
A dog’s gastrointestinal system is ideal for digesting meat, and keeping grains in the stomach for longer periods causes fermentation and gas production…
It makes sense then that animal proteins are the best nutrient and should form the largest component of the diet…
Pedigree kibble contains 21% crude protein or 27% in the puppy and high protein food…
It is vital to remember that some of this protein content is from plant sources such as soya meal…
Based on the fact that animal proteins should form the major component of food, these protein percentages are probably inadequate…
Chicken by-products are listed as the main source of protein. By-products can include everything not required by the human market…
This can be bones, beaks, heads, feathers, and feet…
While meat by-products are not necessarily bad, dogs also need lean muscle meat, organ meat, fat, and skin to meet all their amino acid requirements…
By-products are more difficult to digest than other meat sources…
Is Pedigree Wet Food Good For Dogs?
Pedigree wet food contains only 8 to 9% protein and cannot be considered a complete meal for dogs…
Pet owners report that Pedigree wet foods are popular with their dogs, and adding the wet food to kibble may help increase overall protein intake.
Is Pedigree Kibble Easily Digestible?
Soybean meal is another plant product listed in Pedigree dog food…
Pet food manufacturers often include soya meal in foods as it is a high plant protein ingredient…
Unfortunately, soya, together with corn, is listed as one of the top ingredients causing digestive and skin issues in dogs…
Dog’s stomachs are not equipped to digest plant materials easily…
They can cope with small amounts, and certain plant sources are easier to digest than others. Non-grain plant nutrients are usually more easily digested by dogs…
Soya is known to produce gas and discomfort for many dogs…
Giant and large breed dogs such as Irish Wolfhounds, Great Danes, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds are prone to stomach bloat and torsion…
This dangerous condition can kill dogs in less than an hour if intervention is not obtained…
Any food that produces extra gas should be avoided in dogs vulnerable to bloat.
Is Pedigree Affordable?
Pedigree is an affordable food available at most grocery stores and pet shops…
And in difficult economic times, Pedigree is a dog food that most owners can manage to purchase…
Although some owners will claim their dogs eat Pedigree and are healthy, the long-term effects of an inadequate diet may be seen in shortened life spans…
In modern times, dogs live for shorter periods, and the rates of cancer and autoimmune conditions are high…
Scientists attribute inadequate diets as one of the reasons for this trend…
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In Conclusion…
Pedigree is not the ideal food for your dog because the protein level is not quite high enough…
It would be best to consider other options if possible because food that does not include corn or soya will provoke fewer health issues.
I recommend you take a look at our list of the Best Dog Foods currently available by clicking here…
Again, your dog should have a higher protein content than what is available in Pedigree food.
And that higher level of protein will help him or her to live a long and healthy life…