Every dog parent wants to make the right nutritional decisions for their dogs. It is mentally challenging when it comes to researching food and understanding your dogs’ nutritional requirements, but we promise it will be worthwhile and rewarding once you have done it right.
To help you figure out the best possible food for your canine, we are detailing what you need to know when choosing a dog food, plus we will also give you a sneak peek on the best dry dog foods that you can get in Singapore—best dry dog foods to us! It is definitely not an easy task, and we want to help you in this journey so that you’re in the right direction.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT DOG FOOD
In today’s era, thankfully, dog food now comes with an all life stages choice. Pet owners wouldn’t have to crack their heads open in having to plan, research and get different dog food when their dogs are at different stages of life be it adult, puppy, pregnant or nursing. However, an all life stages option does not mean that the dog food is suitable for every dog. It also doesn’t mean it would be the best option for your dog. There are many factors in choosing the right dog food and the most important step in choosing the right dog food is:
READ THE DOG FOOD LABELS
Food labels are required by law to be honest and truthful. Whatever is written and not written is what it is. As such, look for food companies that heed the guidelines of Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) or do better. This association not only sets a benchmark for quality and healthy dog diet but also ensures a minimum requirement is met.
Needless to say, high-quality ingredients must be used in dog food. Like humans, dogs' stomachs get pretty upset when the food is not fresh or proper. Pick foods with meat as the first two ingredients. Better, if they are Meat First. Dogs require a diet high in animal protein to have proper growth, soft silky coats, healthy muscles, and strong bones.
Keep an eye out for any animal byproducts, chemical preservatives and substandard ingredients like wheat, corn, and soy. These are usually not recommended in the long run as they may cause negative health implications towards canines. A healthy dog food only uses fresh ingredients with no additional additives or filler ingredients.
Generally, food that has low carbohydrates is preferred to avoid chronic health issues like diabetes and obesity. These issues can easily lead to other problems such as joint dysfunctionality which will cause serious trouble and pain, and it can be a hassle to treat when it happens. Fiber content is also important to support healthy intestinal tract and bowel movement.
If you’re still lost in what to do, fret not as we also put together a list of brands we highly recommend in Singapore. To help you better, we are also letting you know what the good and bad of each of them are. However, this information is based on our verdicts only. We present:
Top 10 Dog Foods in Singapore
Table of Contents:
1. Zignature Dog Food: Best Hypoallergenic Dog Food Formulas
2. Orijen Dog Food: Biologically Appropriate Nutrition Recipes
3. Acana Dog Food: Highest Protein Recipes
4. Stella & Chewy’s Grain-free/Cage-free Raw Coated Kibble Recipes
5. Wellness Core Series: Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
6. Absolute Holistic Grain Free Recipes
7. Addiction Complete and Balanced Dog Food
8. Taste of the Wild Dog Food: Canine Recipes
10. Primal Freeze-Dried Nuggets Formulas
1. Zignature Dog Food: Best Hypoallergenic Dog Food Formulas
Zignature provides Physiologically Tuned™, nutritionally correct diet for your canine companions with meat first, limited ingredient recipes, inspired from what dogs ancestors would consume in the primal era. This results in an optimal hypoallergenic, high protein and low carbohydrate formula that provides optimal nutrition. Zignature sources their ingredients worldwide to ensure that what goes into your dog’s stomach is best for their health. In addition, probiotics are added inside Zignature’s formula to supply canines healthy bacteria that aid in digesting food and building a stronger immune system. Zignature is also formulated for rotational feeding, a method of feeding a variety of different single animal protein formulas in rotation that offers dogs different types of amino acids, giving dogs the best nutrients and growth they can have.
Formulas Available:
- Whitefish Formula
- Salmon Formula
- Trout & Salmon Formula
- Lamb Formula
- Kangaroo Formula
- Duck Formula
- Pork Formula
- Turkey Formula
- Venison Formula
- Zssential (Mixed Animal Protein) Formula
Some formulas also come with an option for small kibble size, tailored for small breed dogs.
OUR VERDICTS:
2. Orijen Dog Food: Biologically Appropriate Nutrition Recipes
The Biologically Appropriate Nutrition dog food recipes of Orijen are protein-rich and well known for combining both whole animal and whole prey ingredients. Meaning, to make the dog food, they includes a variety of real meats, combining with what comes with the prey originally and naturally such as organs and bones, mimicking what dogs' ancestors consume in the wild. This approach boosts and covers not only different kinds of proteins but also vitamins and minerals while being low in carbohydrates.
Formulas Available:
- Puppy: Chicken, turkey, and wild-caught fish
- Small Breed: Turkey, chicken & quail, and wild-caught fish
- Original: Chicken & turkey and wild-caught fish
- Six Fish: Wild-caught Mackerel, herring, monkfish, acadian redfish, flounder, and hake
- Regional Red: Beef, wild boar, boer goat, lamb & wild-caught mackerel
- Tundra: Lamb, venison, duck, & fish
- Fit & Trim: Chicken, turkey and wild-caught fish
- Senior: Chicken, turkey, wild-caught fish
OUR VERDICTS:
3. Acana Dog Food: Highest Protein Recipes
Also formulated based on dogs’ ancestral diet, Acana boasts its nutritious, biologically appropriate formulation that is made up with more than 60% quality animal ingredients and at least 30% fruits, vegetables, and botanicals to create a balanced diet. Acana also covers wholeprey ingredients such as organs and bones to supplement dogs with everything they need to stay healthy and strong. The brand promises they use zero artificial flavors, colors, preservatives and subpar filler ingredients like soy, corn and tapioca.
Formulas Available:
- Puppy Recipe
- Free-Run Poultry Recipe
- Light & Fit Recipe
- Freshwater Fish Recipe
- Red Meat Recipe
- Highest Protein, Meadowland / Wild Atlantic / Grasslands / Appalachian Ranch Recipe
- Single, Duck & Pear / Pork & Squash / Lamb & Apple / Beef & Pumpkin Recipe
OUR VERDICTS:
4. Stella & Chewy’s Grain-free/Cage-free Raw Coated Kibble Recipes
Stella & Chewy Stella’s Grain-free Raw Coated Recipes complete a balanced diet. Its ingredients are made with non-farm proteins such as grass-fed lambs and cows or cage-free chickens and ducks. To aid in maintaining hip & joint functions which are important to canines, they fortified their dog food with high levels of glucosamine & chondroitin. The recipe also promises a blend of high quality proteins to help your dog attain lean muscle mass. It is also enriched with omega fatty acids which aid in improving dog’s skin & coat health.
Formulas Available:
- Grass-fed Beef Raw Coated Kibble
- Grass-fed Lamb Raw Coated Kibble
- Cage-free Duck Raw Coated Kibble
- Cage-free Chicken Raw Coated Kibble
OUR VERDICTS:
5. Wellness Core Series: Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Wellness Core is a family of high-protein, natural dog food, treats and toppers. Its recipes are crafted based on the nutritional philosophy that dogs, based on their primal ancestry, thrive on a natural diet mainly of meat. This grain free, protein-rich dry dog food is packed with premium protein along with nutrient-rich superfoods and nutritional supplements that ensure your dog has everything they need to thrive.
Formulas Available:
- Core: Original
- Core: Ocean
- Core: Wild Game
- Core: Lamb
OUR VERDICTS:
6. Absolute Holistic Grain Free Recipes
At Absolute Holistic, everything they pour into the hearty Grain Free recipes are healthy, safe, and natural, just like what we would feed ourselves, but to our pets. Absolute Holistic searches the world for the finest ingredients and sources them from the most trusted farmers that are passionate about quality. Absolute Holistic Grain Free Recipes are delicious, grain free dry dog food blends made with real meat as the first ingredient followed by superfoods, dried fruits and veggies. They are chock-full of vitamins, protein, and antioxidants your dog needs to stay healthy.
Formulas Available:
- Lamb & Peas
- Salmon & Peas
- Duck & Peas
- Pork & Peas
OUR VERDICTS:
7. Addiction Complete and Balanced Dog Food
Addiction Complete and Balanced Dog Food is made in New Zealand, one of the cleanest countries to source the purest and freshest ingredients. Their ingredients are ethically sourced and manufactured under the strictest standards. The foods are free from added artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. However, the foods are higher in carbohydrates compared to conventional healthy protein, fat and carbs ratios, but have excellent meat and fat quality. They also have probiotics added to provide good bacteria that aids with digestion health and boosting the immune system.
Formulas Available:
- Le Lamb & Peas
- Salmon Bleu
- Mega
OUR VERDICTS:
8. Taste of the Wild Dog Food: Canine Recipes
Taste of the Wild aims to replicate a natural diet rich in meat proteins, yet maintain at an affordable price. Like most dog foods that are inspired by canines’ ancestral diet, the foods made by Taste of the Wild are grain-free formulations that provide your pet with complete nutrition for health and vitality. They are made using high quality real meats as first ingredients, followed by fresh vegetables and probiotics. The dog food, however, is moderately high in carbs than other ancestral inspired dog food, but the main carbs they used are sweet potatoes, an excellent low GI option and a better alternative to many grains or conventional potatoes. Sweet potatoes together with peas also provide highly digestible energy for your dog.
Formulas Available:
- Sierra Mountain with Roasted Lamb
- Pacific Stream with Smoked Salmon
- Appalachian Valley Small Breed with Venison & Garbanzo Beans
- Pine Forest Canine with Venison & Legumes
- High Prairie Recipe with Roasted Bison & Roasted Venison
- South Canyon Recipe with Wild Boar
- Wetlands Canine with Roasted Fowl
OUR VERDICTS:
9. Merrick Grain Free Recipes
Merrick Grain Free Recipes are specially crafted to deliver all the great taste and premium nutrition that ingredients can offer to a dog. Features up to 84% of protein from animal sources, foods are made with real deboned meat and real whole foods like sweet potatoes, blueberries and more to provide nutrients that are complete and balanced. Merrick Grain Free Recipes are also made with leading levels of Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids to support healthy skin and coat. They also contain glucosamine and chondroitin to help maintain hip and joint functions.
Formulas Available:
- Real Bison, Beef + Sweet Potato Recipe
- Real Chicken + Sweet Potato Recipe
- Real Duck + Sweet Potato Recipe
- Real Lamb + Sweet Potato Recipe
- Real Salmon + Sweet Potato Recipe
- Real Texas Beef + Sweet Potato Recipe
- Real Turkey + Sweet Potato Recipe
OUR VERDICTS:
10. Primal Freeze-Dried Nuggets Formulas
Primal Freeze-dried Nuggets Formulas are nutritionally and essentially the same as their raw products counterparts except that these have their moisture removed. This is so the food can last almost forever. Primal Freeze-dried Nuggets Formulas are claimed to be human grade and only using real whole food’s nutrition with no synthetic vitamins or minerals. Antibiotic-free and steroid-free whole meats, organ meats, and bones make up the protein sources, and no additional hormones are added. Primal’s foods also contain a wide range of organic fruits and vegetables to provide fiber, vitamins and minerals to canines—or humans—who consume them.
Formulas Available:
- Beef Formula
- Chicken Formula
- Duck Formula
- Lamb Formula
- Pork Formula
- Rabbit Formula
- Turkey & Sardine Formula
- Venison Formula
OUR VERDICTS:
In Conclusion
Bear in mind that the most expensive food is not necessarily the best dog food. It takes effort to understand the food label and ingredients list, but you will be grateful and satisfied for investing time in making the right decision, especially when you see your dog grow well and spend happy times with you.
We hope that our list of the best dog foods in Singapore has helped you choose the best and most suitable dog food for your furry kid. If you find the list useful, please feel free to share it with your family and friends. You can also learn more about dogs here. On the side note, you may be interested to know that:
Zignature has launched an Exclusive Trial Feeding Programme for paw-rents who are exploring solutions for their allergic furkids, or those who are looking for the best suitable food for their canine companions. If you are interested, register here to join Zignature’s Exclusive Trial Feeding Programme. It is FREE.
Share this Post:
