It’s time to settle the score. When it comes to the best dog food Australia has to offer, how does it rank on the global stage?
To understand more about how Australian-made dog food compares to the rest of the world, we’re going to pull back the curtain on what makes some dog foods better than others.
We’ll do so by looking at the four key factors that offer a complete and balanced diet for dogs of all life stages. And, as we’ll discover, opting for locally produced dog food is the best option for your furry bestie.
What constitutes top-quality dog food?
In order to separate nutritious dog food – like Prime100 – from unhealthy brands, we need to know the basics of what makes up a delicious doggy dinner:
High-quality ingredients
This is the number one thing that dog owners look for. They want the best ingredients with the most vitamins, minerals and protein.
To help navigate the labelling and promises on the packaging of the ‘best dog food’ options, here are some key descriptors to look out for:
- Primarily protein. Check the hierarchy of ingredients listed on the packaging. The first should be meat, indicating that the meal is primarily made with a protein source rather than cereals or fillers.
- Limited ingredients. Quality food focuses only on what’s nutritionally beneficial – no additional fillers. Essentially, the fewer the ingredients, the better it is for digestion, allergies, and overall health.
- All-natural recipes. The best dog food Australia has to offer will be free of artificial preservatives, colours, and GMOs. Australian brand, Prime100, uses only functional ingredients, which means your doggo is getting a complete and balanced diet at every mealtime.
- Human-grade production. This means that you and your pup could eat out of the same bowl. While your dog won’t want to share their scrumptious food, it’s a strong indication that the contents are high quality. Keep an eye out for mention of HACCP approved and auditable. That’s when you know it’s good stuff!
If you want to go one step further when it comes to high-quality, companies like Prime100 even conduct Quality Assurance checks with every batch of dog food produced. Their team carefully tests, inspects, and evaluates each small batch before packaging to ensure it meets the highest standards.
Digestibility
The best dog food brands are rich in highly digestible ingredients. For your doggo, this means their meals are easier on the stomach, promoting smoother digestion and nutrient absorption.
It’s important to note here – although a type of food might be of high quality, it also needs to align with your dog’s dietary needs. For example; if your dog has an allergy or sensitivity to chicken, look for a single protein diet with an alternative animal source such as kangaroo or salmon.
When it comes to dog food that’s highly digestible, lean meats, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin are known to be gentle on the digestive system.
To help decipher dog food digestibility, look for recipes that have things like essential amino acids, crude fibre, and a healthy dose of dietary fat. These are the elements that you’d find in a well-rounded, fresh meal instead of a manufactured dog food.
You can learn more about the important role of essential amino acids in dog food digestibility in our article, What’s the best meat for dogs?
Strong food safety measures
In the last few years, animal advocates like the RSPCA Australia have done a lot to improve pet food safety for our pets. These groups made sure to push for regulations that would make pet food better, safer and more nutritionally adequate, both in the short and long term.
Although Australia lacks a governing body for pet food, independent audits by the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia (PFIAA) ensure compliance with local standards. Prime100, a PFIAA member, also meets international standards set by governing bodies; AAFCO (US), FEDIAF (Europe), and NRC (Canada).
In addition, Prime100 goes the extra mile and frequently tests the quality of their meals with NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities). This means your dog is getting the ingredients (protein DNA), macro and micro-nutrients as printed in the guaranteed analysis.
Finally, the best dog food Australia has to offer is…made locally!
On the one hand, there’s a huge environmental benefit to buying dog food that’s made in Australia. By eliminating the reliance on imported foods, your furry bestie can enjoy top-quality dog food without the huge carbon footprint.
Prime100’s single protein diet (SPD™️) Slow Cooked range features 71% plant-based packaging, which is recyclable in specific facilities. Their packaging also has 6x less impact on climate change compared to traditional wet food cans.
But there’s another reason why locally-made dog food is preferable: it’s more likely to be fresh. Since it’s produced nearby, it spends less time in transit, ensuring a shorter supply chain. This not only means fresher ingredients but also helps retain more of the nutrients essential for your dog’s health.
Prime100 is committed to supporting Aussie farmers and communities. But not just any – they partner exclusively with licensed and audited human-grade suppliers who meet the strictest animal welfare standards. For example — one of their suppliers is dedicated to revitalising Queensland’s wild game kangaroo industry. Their innovative app tracks kangaroo populations, supporting long-term sustainability.
How does the best dog food Australia has to offer stack up?
When considering high quality ingredients, for instance, Australia has no shortage of healthy proteins and dog-friendly vegetables. Just take a look at the benefits of kangaroo meat, one of the best sources of protein for dogs that just so happens to be abundant in Australia.
And, as we’ve covered, pet food safety standards are making leaps and bounds in Australia.
Australian brands like Prime100 maintain their product integrity in many ways. Locally made Prime100 SPD™️ diets are formulated to meet the nutritional standards for dogs of all life stages, as set out by both the independent body in Australia and the governing bodies in the US, Europe and Canada. This is what sets them apart and provides your dog with complete and balanced diet.
We all know that the best things come right from our backyard, here in Australia. Dog food is no different. Buying locally is the best choice for the planet, and it’s also the best choice for nutritious dog food.
So, like their natural recipes, it’s only natural to choose their meals for your doggo!
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