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The family has decided to get a puppy, and it’s quite the playful one. Obedient, loyal, fun – it’s all you could ask for in a dog. However, as the days turn to months, the puppy grows and grows until the thought of it running towards you to give you a hug is enough to throw you onto the floor. If that sounds like a familiar situation, then you’ve come to the right place. What would be the best inexpensive dog food for large breeds like the one you have running around your house?
Having a big dog at home is a great idea. They’re fun to play with and satisfying to cuddle, but what do you feed them? An animal like that would eat by the pounds. They should be eating almost a pound a day, and that can get quite costly. That is why we’re here to help you figure out how to feed the family pet and to do it in a way that won’t break your bank or hurt your beloved, overgrown puppy.
After all, the canine is family. We don’t cut corners for the family here.
If you scour the internet, you find several options. The more you look into it, the tougher it gets to decide. For every single dog food brand, there are a dozen opinions. Everyone loves their dogs, so the talks can get really difficult. Each dog owner claims to know more than the other. At the end of the day, each animal is different and each family is different. The best thing we can do is to shortlist the options for best inexpensive dog food for large breeds and give you all the information you need. You can then make the final decision based on your own preferences.
One of the most renowned dog food brands in the market, Pedigree is available at every grocer across the country.
Their ads are always running on the TV, and every dog owner has had the experience of feeding their pup some Pedigree.
However, it should be noted that not all the feedback is good. People have found that their dogs reacted poorly to the kibble at times. It might be good for most pups, but all canines are not made equal.
Pedigree is often the go-to kibble for many because it is sold in large quantities and it is affordable. However, while this is definitely the cheapest item on the list, is it really the best inexpensive dog food for large breeds compared to the other ones on the list?
Well, to answer that question for yourself, you can weigh the pros and cons and see if it works for your dog.
Purina is a brand that competes with Pedigree in terms of fame and quality. The protein they use is from chicken remains, and those are about three times denser in nutrition and health. It’s not really tasty, but dogs don’t need highly-seasoned food to make their meal worth their while. Have you met a dog?
They will throw up their food then eat the vomit. You don’t need a chef to cook for them, as long as they’re getting a balanced diet, they will be okay. That’s where Purina shines.
It is definitely not the best tasting dog food out there. However, it checks all the necessary boxes and covers all the bases. As such, it provides good value for its price.
That being said, if your pooch has some sensitivities, like an allergy to grain, then this won’t do. Keep in mind the following pros and cons:
On the more premium side of Purina, the Pro Plan is a costlier purchase. However, since they have established themselves as a reputable and reliable company, the higher cost is going somewhere worthy of trust.
The protein, the fat, and the carbs are all well balanced. It tastes better than most, and it has more protein than average as well. There are blends for this too, going by age, fitness and whatever else you can imagine. The quality is above average and there is enough variety for you to pick whatever suits your dog best.
Purina proudly boasts the chicken content. This is important because chicken is the most important source of lean protein out there. Ask your local fitness enthusiast, they’ll tell you how good it is for you.
This is perhaps the most carb-dense dog food on the list. Most brands focus a lot on protein sources and intake. Iams focuses a lot on different sources of carbs and makes sure they’re healthy.
The focus is not on growth but on sustainability. High amounts of corn make up most of its base – it is the second most-common ingredient in the Iams ProActive Kibble. You can feed this to your pet for a long time!
That being said, is suggested to supplement it with another kind of dog food to make sure your dog is getting all the right nutrients. It’s definitely a contender for the best inexpensive dog food for large breeds out there. The high proportion of carbs provide enough energy for the puppy to stay energized throughout the day.
The Rachael Ray Premium Food is relatively new to the dog food market. Unlike the others, which have massive repute and countless reviews, this brand is somewhat unknown. It only became mainstream in the past few years when Big Heart Pet Brands bought it in 2018. The brand itself has been around since 2009, so it is quite disappointing that the name isn’t as well-known as its competition, Purina and Pedigree.
Regardless of their popularity, they are a great choice for regular kibble. There’s a reason why they’re still in the market. That is because they don’t add a lot of corn to give their kibble mass.
Corn is a controversial item that a lot of companies put in their dog food. It doesn’t have a lot of nutrition and isn’t a great choice for regular consumption. This food has other, better ingredients that prove to be beneficial for your dog.
My dog is allergic to wheat. What options do I have?
Conclusion: Your dog has a lot of nutritional requirements, being a large animal that eats a lot. That means if there’s even a trace amount of questionable ingredients in the kibble, it can add up quite quickly. You also need to get a lot of food. This is why we suggest the Purina ONE SmartBlend for your dog’s needs. It is well balanced and has everything your dog would need.
The Purina Pro Plan comes as a close second, but the SmartBlend is far better for your needs because of the sheer amount you would need. It is easily the best inexpensive dog food for large breeds on this list. Pedigree is definitely the cheapest but it has many questionable ingredients. Not knowing what you’re feeding your canine can be alarming and dangerous.
Keeping all this in mind, we’re opting for Purina ONE SmartBlend. Purina outlines the sources of their nutrition and they compete with Pedigree in terms of price. The fact that it’s a little more expensive by comparison is far outweighed by how healthy it is.
From our research, we have a preference for one over the others. It is still up to you, as the consumer, to make the final decision. We can only do our best to guide you. We hope our reviews help you out – good luck!
