Concerned about Kirkland dog food reviews. Is it safe for my dog?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I recommend Hill's Science Diet, Royal Canin, Purina and Iams/Eukanuba. These companies employ veterinary nutritionists and have above industry standards regarding quality ingredients and care to prevent contamination at their facilities. These companies are far superior than the boutique brands. Have a good day!

The Internet says a lot of things. Petfood is one of those issues that people can have a lot of convictions about. However the question is have those individuals had actual training about pet nutrition. In making choices about pet food, I often look at a history of recalls. Newer pet food companies and boutique brands are more likely to have recall issues because they tend to not have as much quality control in the production of their food. Mistakes do happen and any company can have a recall but that is something to pay very close attention to. The older, more established companies tend to have good protocols in place to catch any errors before their food gets out on the shelves and pets get sick. I believe Nutro does offer a line of pet food that is more holistically-based as well. You should be able to find a lot of variety within the brand and know that it is all high-quality. Most pets who eat Nutro tend to have good coat and stool quality too, this is a good sign. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Both foods are good! Personally I would save the novel protein (trout) for animals with GI or skin disease. My only requirements for food brands for my clients are: the dog likes the food and eats it well, has a good coat, defecates normal stool regularly and isn't too thin or overweight. Most of the dog foods on the market are aimed at making the owner happy and use marketing ploys to get owners to feed foods for incorrect reasons (grain free, listing ingredients on the bag in differnet orders making owners think that it is better than another brand). Expensive food doesn't equal better. I like Purina, Royal Canin and Hill's Science diet. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I definitely understand your concern. I do think it would be best to switch them to a regular diet. There are many types out there that are affordable and good. I like the Purina Pro Plan shredded blends in that category because they are palatable, affordable and of very good quality. Good luck and have a great day!

Generally yes, the bad food will be removed off the shelves and replaced with food that is safe. If you are not sure if your food is recalled, call the pet store you purchased it from or call the company. If a company has many issues with recalls, this can indicate poor quality control. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello. Unfortunately, there has been an explosion of new & "boutique" type foods that have hit the market lately, some are fine to feed, some are just gimmicks & have no science to back up their claims. You should always look for the AAFCO statement on every label, but be aware that this is a voluntary claim & there is no regulatory agency watching out for dishonest manufacturers. Personally, I recommend sticking with the 3 biggest companies that can actually provide the science behind their pet foods. They are Science Diet, Royal Canin & Purina. All three of these have developed formulations to fit every lifestyle, every trend, & every stage of life that you just cannot go wrong feeding one. If the food you have is suspicious, I would transition Diggy off as soon as possible to another puppy food soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello! All great questions and comments - and you're right, there's a lot of conflicting information out there regarding food. Some of the information you're going to find is based on personal preference or a value bias. Corn is a good source of digestible carbs, fatty acids, and protein - but these things are better digested in dogs than in cats (who are obligate carnivores), and some people prefer to minimize grains, so those people might state corn is "bad".... in my opinion, the focus on grains is based more on trends in human nutrition than evidence-based pet nutrition. Statements regarding what pet foods are "good" vs "bad" will also come from personal preference...your vet can probably explain what made them state that Purina is better than Merrick, and another vet might have their own input on the matter. I do personally like both Purina and Hills because I find their products consistent, reliable, and I like that those companies put a lot of their profits back into nutrition research to work on creating good foods - but that doesn't mean they're the only good foods out there. Raw food is another hot topic. I have worked extensively with dog mushers, and raw meat is a very common component to their food - and I'm fine with that. However, I also have a degree in Public Health, and know that raw foods increase the likelihood of foodborne illness such as salmonella both in the pets themselves, and in the humans who are in contact with them. So, again, there are going to be different sides to the conversation. It's confusing when there's conflicting information! Try to sort through what's based on research and evidence, and what is based on the personal opinions and biases of the speaker. Good luck! Hope this helps.