Dog Chow dry food – analysis of ingredients, reviews from experts and owners

We offer a detailed review of premium food category – Dog Chow food for dogs. Let's analyze the composition, reviews from veterinarians, the food line, the value of this product, its disadvantages and other important points.

The choice of diet for your four-legged friend must be approached thoroughly. The quality of food directly affects the health of an adult pet and its development at an early age. Manufacturers assure that their product meets all requirements and is a suitable option. But you can’t blindly trust bright advertising slogans.

Feed composition

In order to answer the question about the possibility of recommending the Dog Chow diet for the daily nutrition of dogs of various breeds, we will analyze its composition. Let's see what ingredients are included in the general composition of the food:

• A distinctive feature of Dog Chow food is that it contains cereals, which are sources of carbohydrates, in the first place. Usually the manufacturer does not specify which grains are used, but on the company’s official website the following are listed as such: brewer’s rice, corn, wheat and barley. We can say that only barley is a high-quality source of carbohydrates; brewer’s rice is worse than whole rice. But corn and wheat often provoke the development of allergies in dogs;
• in second place is protein. The source of protein in Dog Chow food is: meat and meat and bone meal, poultry by-product meal, fish by-products, corn gluten and soybean meal (allergens). Typically, the proportion of animal protein is less than the proportion of vegetable protein, which is absorbed much less well by the dog’s body. Most of the components that act as a source of protein are allergens or do not have sufficient nutritional value compared to meat;
• the source of fats and fatty acids is animal fat, which is inferior to chicken fat in terms of the content of beneficial acids;
• dry chicory root (1.1%) and sugar beet pulp act as a source of fiber;
• Dog Chow food contains a natural antioxidant – garlic, which lowers blood cholesterol levels and prevents the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases;
• mineral and vitamin supplements: biotin for skin and coat; calcium iodate for the thyroid gland; lysine for bones and calcium absorption; folic acid, copper; tocopherols to support immunity; vitamins of groups A, C, B;
• The food contains flavorings and flavoring additives: dry mixture from animal tissue, artificial flavoring and salt.

It should be noted that the manufacturer Dog Chow thought about the need to clean pets’ teeth and ensure proper jaw function. For this purpose, the food is made in the form of granules of different sizes.

Price

The price of Dog Chow dog food is really affordable. On average, it is:

• 800 g – from 270 rub.;
• 2.5 kg – from 780 rub.;
• 14 kg – from 2660 rub.

You can now see the current price of food and buy it right here from Yandex Market with fast delivery:

The main disadvantage of Dog Chow food is its composition, which is quite poor and presented inaccurately. We have no way of knowing which meat products were used as a source of protein; the origin of oils and fats also remains unknown. The list lists antioxidants, but does not say which ones. There are vegetables, but not many of them - only chicory root and dry beets. The list of vitamins and minerals could be much more impressive; the product for large dogs does not contain glucosamine and chondroitin, which are very important for pets weighing more than 25-35 kg. It should also be noted that the composition contains cereals in the first place, and not protein-containing components, which are much more important for the proper nutrition of the dog.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

• the price is lower than that of other premium manufacturers;
• the product is freely available;
• a special form of kibble cleans the dog’s teeth well;
• the food is enriched with a vitamin complex and mineral supplements.

Flaws:

• contains only by-products and processed products;
• there is no information about the grains, fats and other ingredients used;
• the protein percentage is low;
• dogs are poorly nourished due to insufficient nutritional value of the food.

Why Dog Chow is better than other foods

As already noted, the granules of this dry diet have different sizes, which allows dog breeders to successfully prevent the development of tartar in pets. Most foods (Proplan, Pro balance, Acana, Calibra, Royal Canin) change the size of the granules depending on the size of the pets for whom the diet is intended, but do not use different-sized “crackers” in one package.

In addition, Dog Chow contains B vitamins, which are necessary for the normal functioning of the dog’s nervous system and the entire body as a whole. Purina Van and Natures Protection do not enrich their composition with so many vitamins from that group.

Are there any advantages of this food over other brands?

One of the main advantages of Purina Dog Chow dog food compared to other brands is its structure. The kibble is designed in two sizes, which encourages your pet to chew its food thoroughly. Thanks to this, nutrients are better digested and absorbed. This design helps clean teeth and train the jaw muscles.

Unlike the manufacturers of the Natures Protection brand, Purina Van and ProPlan, the Dog Chow recipe includes B vitamins. It has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the central nervous system, metabolic processes and other important functions of the body.

Dog Chow feeds offer a selection of menus for different weight and age categories. The Purina Van brand, for example, specializes in nutrition for small breed pets.

Dog chow food line

For puppies

Diets for the smallest (up to a year) are labeled Puppy and have a specially developed composition: increased content of vitamins D, A and C. The line of puppy food includes diets for babies of all breeds, as well as for large and small ones.

Food Do Chow for babies of all breeds with lamb

The diet can be used to feed puppies of any breed up to one year old, pregnant and lactating bitches, and adult dogs of small breeds. Contains: vitamin E for immune protection, prebiotic for digestion (chicory), omega-3 fatty acid for brain and vision development.

Dry food for large breed puppies, with turkey

Intended for feeding large breed dog puppies up to 2 years of age. The product contains an increased percentage of protein (28%) and an increased amount of vitamins to achieve optimal physical fitness during the period of intensive growth.

Food for small breed puppies, with chicken

The food allows puppies, which quickly reach their adult size, to form a strong skeleton and correct eating behavior, ensure a sufficient level of calories and oral hygiene.

For adult and senior dogs

The line of products for adult animals is quite diverse and provides options for:

• representatives of all breeds;
• dogs of large and small breeds;
• elderly animals;
• pets leading an active lifestyle (for example, doing agility);
• having health problems.

Dog Chow diet for adult dogs of all breeds, with lamb

The size of the granules allows the food to be used for dogs of almost all breeds, providing high-quality oral hygiene, and the content of B vitamins helps to obtain the energy of proteins and fats to maintain activity and health. The prebiotic relieves problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

Dog Chow for adult dogs with sensitive digestion, with salmon

The product contains fish and its processed products as a source of protein, which supply the dog’s body with additional omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. The amount of prebiotic (dry chicory root) has been increased to normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

For active adult animals, with chicken

The diet is designed in such a way as to fully replenish the strength of the dog, which needs more nutritious and energy-intensive food. The protein component has been increased, a more diverse vitamin and mineral composition is provided to normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and prevent heart diseases.

Dog Chow food for dogs over 9 years old, with lamb

Senior dogs of all breeds need a nutritious diet that will keep them full and prevent obesity, support their skeleton and prevent heart disease - this is the special product of this brand.

All prices are current as of May 2022. The exact cost can be found at the links above.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Dog Chow Dog Food

The advantages of Dog Chow food include the following features:

• Affordable price.
• Ubiquitous - you can buy dry food not only in specialized stores, but also in regular supermarkets. There is also a wide selection available in almost all online stores dealing in pet products.
• Supplements in the form of vitamins and minerals.
• A large assortment in which every dog ​​owner has the opportunity to select products in accordance with the age and size of the animal.

Daily feeding rate

On each package, the manufacturer indicated the recommended consumption rate of the product. It is a guide; each owner, through experience, comes to the “norm” necessary for the animal.

Reviews from veterinarians

Ksenia K.

I do not recommend this brand of food for feeding patients. The composition is poor, the meat component is of unknown origin. True, many dogs really love Dog Chow kibble. This can most likely be explained by the presence of flavorings. Pellets can be used as a reward in the training process.

Alexander O.

In my practice, I am of the opinion that the dog chooses the food itself. If there is no allergy or other negative reaction of the body, the dog eats the granules with appetite - then this is his option. I recommend mixing the brand’s wet products with dry food for greater satiety. In addition, we select additional complexes of vitamins and minerals. Many owners choose food because of its affordable price, which is understandable.

Price of Dog Chow food, and where can you buy it?

The cost of the product may vary depending on the trade markups of individual stores. The price is also affected by the dollar exchange rate if the product is imported.

Estimated cost of Dog Chow food:

• for 800 g – 175 rubles;
• for 2.5 kg – 520 rubles;
• for 14 kg – 2200-2400 rub.

You can buy Dog Chow food in an ordinary supermarket, a specialized pet market, or order it through an online store.

Video: Dog Chow dog food review

Host reviews

Olga S.

Now we are looking for new food for St. Bernard. The dog is big and needs a lot of food. Before this we used Royal Canin. After two years of use, the eyes began to run, hair began to fall out, and scratching began to appear. We tried several other types, the dog himself settled on Dog Chow. Allergy symptoms disappeared. I am happy with the cost of the food, the composition is not surprising at this price. We chose an additional complex of vitamins.

Irina K.

Our pug has a very sensitive stomach. We ate Pedigri drying and have had constant diarrhea lately. I had to look for a better quality diet. We settled on Dog Chow because of the manufacturer - it inspires confidence. The dog liked it, now there are no problems. I heard the opinion that this food is economy class. But I’m happy with the price, it’s always in the store, and the dog is happy.

Manufacturer

The Dog Chow brand is owned by Nestle Purina Pet Care. It is a subsidiary of the world famous Swiss food manufacturer Nestle.

The original food is made in the USA and belongs to the premium class. But there are also production facilities in other countries. One of Purina's manufacturing subsidiaries is located in Russia to cater to the local market. This type of product is slightly inferior in quality, and can be classified more likely as economy class.