Who makes PEDIGREE dry dog food

Pedigree Dog Food Review 2024: Recalls, Pros, and Cons

Our Final Verdict

We give Pedigree dog fooda rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars:

Introduction

The Pedigree brand of dog food probably doesnt need much introduction weve all seen these products on the shelves of our local supermarket or pet supply store. In fact, one of the major selling points of this brand is its availability and affordable price point.

As we all know, however, just because something is cheap and easy to find, that doesnt mean its the best option out there. While Pedigree dog food is an accessible option for owners on a budget, its far from the best dog food you could be feeding your canine companions. Between low-quality ingredients and an extensive recall history, it might be time to switch your dog to a more expensive brand. Before you do, though, heres what you need to know:

At a Glance: The Best Pedigree Dog Food Recipes:

The Pedigree brand offers a variety of dog food formulas, including wet food, dry food, and treats. As of our review, here are a few of the best dog food recipes offered by Pedigree:

Pedigree Dog Food Reviewed

Pedigree is an affordable, widely available brand of dog food that almost every pet owner has seen on their local pet store or supermarket shelves. While these formulas are a go-to option for dog owners on a strict budget, they might not be the best option for all (or even most) hungry canines.

Who makes Pedigree Dog Food and where is it produced?

The Pedigree brand is one of many dog food labels owned by Mars, Incorporated, which also owns popular human consumables like M&M candies, Snickers, and Milky Way. Dont worry, though the factories that make your favorite candy bars are not also making your dogs dinner!

While many Pedigree dog food formulas bear a Made in the U.S.A. label, its unclear if this applies to every dog food recipe manufactured by the brand. Since this information isnt readily available, we think its safe to say that not all Pedigree dog food formulas are made in the United States. If youre concerned about where your dogs food is manufactured, we suggest only purchasing Pedigree products that display the Made in the U.S.A. label.

Which Types of Dogs Is Pedigree Dog Food Best Suited For?

Overall, we recommend Pedigree dog food for pups in good health. In other words, these arent necessarily the best formulas for dogs with pre-existing health conditions, food allergies, and other concerns.

With that said, this brand is one of the most affordable dog food labels out there for a reason. If youre able to invest a little extra into your regular dog food budget, your four-legged companions might be better off with something of a bit higher quality.

While we understand that not all dog owners can afford premium dog food formulas, some great alternatives available at your local supermarket might include the Nutro Wholesome Essentials Adult Dry Food or the Purina Pro Plan FOCUS Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach.

Whats Inside? (The Good and the Bad)

Although Pedigree dog food is not perfect, one great thing about the company is its willingness to share information about its core ingredients. These include:

Whole corn

Despite its poor reputation, high-quality corn can actually be an important source of nutrients for your dog, including amino acids (protein), fiber, and linoleic acid. As long as your dog doesnt have any known corn allergies, theres no reason to avoid this ingredient entirely.

However, many Pedigree dry recipes feature corn as the very first ingredient, which means that animal-based proteins are not being prioritized.

Meat and bone meal

While its always nice to see whole meat as an ingredient in our dogs food, it is far from the only option when it comes to sourcing nutrient-dense animal protein. In Pedigrees case, most of its formulas rely on meat and bone meal instead.

In simple terms, meat and bone meal is a ground-up mixture of the unused parts of an animal after being slaughtered for human consumption. No, this doesnt sound very appetizing to our human stomachs, but dogs (and their wild ancestors) rely on bone, cartilage, and organ meat to get their required nutrients.

So, the use of this ingredient isnt too concerning. However, we wish there were additional sources of animal protein in most Pedigree formulas.

Beet pulp

Just like us humans, dogs need a good amount of fiber to stay regular. Beet pulp is a safe, easily digestible source of fiber.

Vegetable oil

According to Pedigree, several of its formulas contain vegetable oil. While its true that vegetable oil is a source of linoleic acid and can help boost coat appearance, there are better oils you could be feeding your dog.

Despite its popularity in dog food recipes, vegetable oil may cause diarrhea or other digestive symptoms in some dogs.

A Quick Look at Pedigree Dog Food

Calorie Breakdown:

• Widely available at supermarkets
• Different recipes for various dietary needs
• More affordable than competitors
• Some products are made in the U.S.A.

• Features some lower-quality ingredients
• Company has been subject to past recalls
• Not a good source of animal protein

Pedigree Dog Food Recall History

Though a larger brand is indeed more likely to experience recalls than a smaller competitor, the number of recalls issued by the Pedigree brand in recent years is on the high end.

In 2014, Pedigree recalled a selection of 55-pound dry dog food bags because of potential metal fragment contamination and a single lot of 15-pound dry dog food bags for possible contamination with a foreign material.

In 2012, Pedigree recalled three varieties of wet food for potential contamination with small pieces of plastic.

In 2008, Pedigree recalled a wide variety of dog food products because of potential salmonella contamination.

Unlike some other pet food companies, whose past recalls have been over relatively minor quality issues, Pedigrees recall history is concerning.

Reviews of the 3 Best Pedigree Dog Food Recipes

If youre interested in learning a little more about Pedigree dog food, heres a closer look at three of the brands best formulas:

1. Pedigree Dry Dog Food High Protein (Beef & Lamb)

The Pedigree Dry Dog Food High Protein formula is popular among owners who want to boost the amount of muscle-building protein being fed to their dogs. Compared to the brands standard adult dry food, this formula contains 25% more protein. It also contains essential amino acids and nutrients to meet your dogs dietary needs.

The Beef & Lamb recipe contains a minimum of 27% protein, 12% fat, 4% fiber, and 12% moisture.

Despite our criticisms of the Pedigree brand, this formula is quite popular among consumers. You can see what other dog owners have to say about this dry dog food by reading the Chewy reviews.

• High-protein formula supports lean muscle
• Made in the U.S.A.
• Available at most pet food retailers
• Affordable for most dog owners

• Plant-based protein is the primary source
• Filler ingredients may trigger digestive issues

2. Pedigree Choice CUTSin Gravy (Country Stew)

If youre someone who prefers feeding your dog wet food over kibble, even if just as a special treat, the Pedigree Choice CUTS in Gravy is one of the brands most popular canned food recipes. Unlike the brands dry food formulas, the primary protein source in this food is real chicken, which is great to see. Looking at Pedigree wet dog food reviews, this formula offers well-balanced nutrition for the price.

For the Country Stew recipe, the minimum nutritional breakdown includes 8% protein, 3% fat, 1% fiber, and 83% moisture.

Many dog owners on a budget rely on this food to feed their canine family members, so we encourage you to check out what other consumers have to say by reading the Chewy reviewsfor this product.

• Meat is the primary protein source
• More affordable than many other wet formulas
• Made in the U.S.A.
• Highly digestible ingredients
• Features nutritious fats for coat and skin health

• Protein content is on the low end
• Does not contain much fiber
• Contains a large amount of gravy

3. Pedigree Dry Dog Food Puppy(Chicken & Vegetable)

For those looking for a Pedigree puppy food review, the Pedigree Dry Dog Food Puppy formula is definitely the brands most popular option. This recipe includes key nutrients for puppy development, such as DHA, calcium, and phosphorus. Like Pedigrees adult dry food formulas, though, this product does rely heavily on plant-based protein.

In the Chicken & Vegetable flavor, youll find a minimum of 27% protein, 11% fat, 4% fiber, and 12% moisture.

To hear what other puppy owners have to say about this dry food formula, we suggest hopping over to the Amazon reviews.

• Designed for the needs of young dogs
• Includes a good amount of protein
• Affordable and easy to find
• Made in the U.S.A.

• Primary protein sources are corn and soy
• Not ideal for some large breed puppies

What Other Users Are Saying About Pedigree Dog Food

Looking at what other reviewers have to say about Pedigree and its line of dog food formulas, its clear that we arent the only ones who think this brand is acceptable but definitely not the best.

PetAware: Although Pedigree formulates its products to conform to standards set by nutrition authorities, their use of questionable ingredients cannot be overlooked.

DogFoodAdvisor: Pedigree is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a modest amount of poultry by-product or meat and bone meals as its main source of animal protein.

Dog Food Insider: This is not a food you want to feed your dog if you have alternatives. There are some other foods that have some of the same ingredients, but this food has none of the better ingredients you usually find to offset ingredients you dont like.

Labrador Training HQ: It is safe to say that this dog food, while popular, is not the top dog food that you should be serving to your pup.

Conclusion

So, should you feed your dog Purina dog food? In the grand scheme of things, feeding your dog one of the Purina dog food formulas, either short or long term, is unlikely to do any harm. Theres a reason that Pedigree is one of the most popular budget dog food brands out there, and we dont see it going anywhere any time soon.

On the other hand, we believe that there is a wide variety of other great options out there that may be healthier for your dog than Pedigree Dog Food. If you have access to higher-quality dog food, we definitely recommend checking out your options before settling on a Pedigree formula.

Best and worst dog food brands

There are hundreds of dog food options available, from dry to grain-free to raw, but which ones will have your furry friend licking the bowl clean?

We surveyed 2,304 dog owners about the pet food they buy to uncover the brands that customers (and their dogs) love and which offer the best value for money.

See how brands such as Burns, Harringtons and Royal Canin are rated by customers, as well as supermarket options from the likes of Aldi and Lidl.

Eat well, live better, stay healthy sign up for our free monthly Food & Health newsletter for all the latest insights delivered straight to your inbox

Dog food brands rated

Our top-scoring dog food brand achieved an impressive customer score of 82%, and five-star ratings for how much pets liked it, as well as their wellbeing when eating it.

At the other end of the scale, two brands scored less than 60%, with just two stars out of five each for how healthy the dog seemed when eating food from that brand.

Which? members can log in now to unlock the full results. If you're not yet a member, join Which? today to get instant access to this and thousands of other reviews.

Make sure your furry friend is covered see our guide to the best pet insurance for your dog

How to choose the best dog food for your pet

Deciphering all the pet nutrition information on the internet can seem like an impossible task. It can range from confusing to completely contradictory.

We spoke to real pet nutrition researchers to understand what actually matters. Good news: it isnt as complicated as it seems.

The most important part of choosing a food is actually monitoring your pet, said Dr Teresa Hollands, senior lecturer in veterinary nutrition at the University of Surrey. If you're feeding your pet a particular brand of food, and they have plenty of energy and seem well in themselves, then you are on the right track.

Dr Nigel Kendall, lecturer in nutrition at the University of Nottingham, agreed: If your pet is on completely the wrong diet, then there will be physical signs.

Signs that your pet is eating a nutritious diet, and the right food for their needs, include:

• good overall health
• plenty of energy
• good sleeping habits
• regularly passing firm stools
• maintaining a healthy weight.

Also a cat owner? See our guide to thebest and worst cat food brands

How to feed your dog the best and healthiest diet

As well as choosing the right food, you can also maximise the nutritional value of your pets diet by feeding them in the right way.

We spoke with Dr David Gardner, professor of physiology at the University of Nottingham, to find out more:

Choosing a complete food

Start by making sure you are feeding your pet a complete food, he said. Thats really important, but it isnt always clearly labelled.

Complete foods are designed to give your pet all the nutrients they need, so you can feed them the same thing every day without causing a nutritional imbalance or deficit.

Weighing your pet food

David also highlighted the importance of weighing your pets food every time you feed them.

Remember, you may not notice that you're overfeeding your pet if you increase the size of their feed very slightly each day.

Varying your pet food

If you want to take additional steps to ensure your pet is getting the best nutrition, David also suggested varying the food you give them, provided that this doesnt upset their stomach.

These changes could be as small as varying the flavour of food that you give to your pet.

If you buy a bag of lamb dog food one month, try the chicken next time, David suggested.

If you do want to try changing the type or brand of your pet food, remember to do so gradually. Your pet's meal should be no more than 25% new food for the first couple of days, increasing over the course of a week.

Dogs can be fussy, so know that varying your pet food is not essential. The main thing is that they eat and enjoy their food and that it's nutritionally complete.

Best dog harnesses see our pick of the best and worst as tested by dog owners

Is wet or dry dog food better?

Both wet and dry foods can be nutritionally complete, meaning that they should contain all the nutrients your pet needs. That means there is no significant advantage to either food type.

David recommended feeding your pet a mixture of wet and dry food.

Evidence suggests that there are slight differences in the nutritional composition of wet and dry food. That means you are going to cover more nutrients if you mix them together.

If you want to feed your dog exclusively one type of food, then wet food does tend to be more appealing. However, it is often more expensive and it can predispose pets to dental disease.

In contrast, dry food is beneficial to dogs teeth and gums, and it is usually easier and cheaper to use and store. Just make sure that your dog has access to plenty of fresh water, as they will not be getting hydration from their food.

Best food and drinkwe've rated the tastiest food for humans too. Discover our top picks, from chicken soup to red wine

Can dogs be vegan?

Yes, provided you are careful about the type of food you give them.

There are commercial dog foods available that are vegetarian or vegan and nutritionally complete.

Some people may want to prepare homemade vegetarian or vegan meals for their dog, which is not typically recommended by experts.

This is because evidence suggests that homemade food (including meat-based diets) is typically not nutritionally complete even when people follow recipes labelled as such.

Is raw food good for dogs?

Raw pet food has become more popular over the past few years, especially for dogs, but experts don't generally recommend it.

I would not recommend a raw food diet due to the risk to human health, says Dr Heather Bacon, dean of veterinary medicine at the University of Central Lancashire.

Bacteria present in raw meat can include salmonella, listeria, campylobacter and E-coli. These cause significant illness in humans and animals, particularly young, old and immune-compromised individuals.

These can be spread around the house during food preparation and eating. They can also be passed from animals to humans if your pet kisses your face after eating.

All of these bacteria are destroyed when meat is correctly cooked.

How much should my dog weigh?

According to a 2022 survey by UK Pet Food, 50% of dogs (and 43% of cats) are overweight or obese.

Your pet being overweight can have a huge impact on its quality of life, including limiting their ability to exercise or sleep properly. According to the RSPCA, it also predisposes them to illness including:

• diabetes
• heart disease
• cancer.

How to if tell your dog is overweight

Dr Teresa Hollands recommends an easy method for checking your pets weight.

Create a fist with your hand, and feel your knuckles with your fingers, she said. If your pets ribs feel like that, they are underweight.

Then lay your hand flat, and feel your knuckles again. If their ribs feel like that, they are the perfect weight.

Finally, keep your hand flat, turn your hand over, and run your fingers over the pads on your palm at the base of your fingers. If their ribs feel like that, they are overweight.

Physical signs that your dog is overweight

• Very thin(more than 20% below ideal body weight) Ribs, spine and hip bones easily seen (in short-haired pets), obvious loss of muscle bulk, no fat can be felt under the skin.
• Underweight (10-20% below ideal body weight)Ribs, spine and hip bones easily seen, obvious waist and abdominal tuck, very little fat can be felt under the skin.
• IdealRibs, spine and hip bones easily felt, visible waist and abdominal tuck, small amount of fat can be felt.
• Overweight(10-15% above ideal body weight): Ribs, spine and hip bones are hard to feel, waist barely visible, broad back, layer of fat on belly and at base of tail.
• Obese (more than 15% above ideal body weight)Ribs, spine and hip bones extremely difficult to feel under a thick layer of fat, no waist can be seen and belly may droop significantly, heavy fat pads on lower back and at base of the tail.

How we rated dog food brands

To uncover the best and worst dog food brands, in July 2023 we surveyed 2,304 Which? members who had bought dog food recently, and asked all about their experiences with their chosen brand.

We asked them to rate the brand on various attributes including value for money, how their dog responded to the food, and its perceived wellbeing on the food.

Overall customer scores are based on how satisfied customers were with the brand overall and whether or not they would recommend it.

Discover the best head torches for taking your dog for a walk in the dark

Which? Limited is registered in England and Wales to 2 Marylebone Road, London NW1 4DF, company number 00677665 and is an Introducer Appointed Representative of the following: 1. Inspop.com Ltd for the introduction of non-investment motor, home, travel and pet insurance products (FRN 610689). Inspop.com Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to provide advice and arrange non-investment motor, home, travel and pet insurance products (FRN310635) and is registered in England and Wales to Greyfriars House, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff, South Wales, CF10 3AL, company number 03857130. Confused.com is a trading name of Inspop.com Ltd. 2. LifeSearch Partners Limited (FRN 656479), for the introduction of Pure Protection Contracts, who are authorised and regulated by the FCA to provide advice and arrange Pure Protection Contracts. LifeSearch Partners Ltd is registered in England and Wales to 3000a Parkway, Whiteley, Hampshire, PO15 7FX, company number 03412386. 3.Optimise Media Limited (FRN 313408), for the introduction of HSBC Group, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority to provide credit brokering activity. Optimise Media is registered in England and Wales to Exchange Street Buildings, 35-37 Exchange Street, Norwich, England, NR2 1DP and company number 04455319. We do not make, nor do we seek to make, any recommendations or personalised advice on financial products or services that are regulated by the FCA, as were not regulated or authorised by the FCA to advise you in this way. In some cases, however, we have included links to regulated brands or providers with whom we have a commercial relationship and, if you choose to, you can buy a product from our commercial partners. If you go ahead and buy a product using our link, we will receive a commission to help fund our not-for-profit mission and our campaigns work as a champion for the UK consumer. Please note that a link alone does not constitute an endorsement by Which?.