Introduction
For many owners, providing their dogs with a nutritious, delicious and most importantly satiating meal everyday can be quite the challenge. Nowadays with the market filled to the brim with a number of different brands, it’s hard to keep track for what will be best for you and your pet.
Join DogBreedo as we take a peek into Royal Canin to see if it’s the right choice to keep your puppy’s tummy full and tails wagging.
Pros and Cons of Royal Canin Dog Food
Pros:
1.Wide range of products
Founded in 1968, Royal Canin has managed to come out with a variety of different products for both cats and dogs alike. The company, which is famously known for its kibbles, actually offers both wet and dry food. These products vary based on age (for example: Adult and puppy), size (for example: Mini and Maxi) and can be even breed specific (for example: Labrador, Golden Retriever, Beagle etc.), as well as cater to specific medical needs (for example: weight management).
2. Affordable and Accessible
It isn’t a secret that dog food can definitely be quite expensive, especially the older and bigger your puppy gets. For the quantity and quality, Royal Canin is on the cheaper side. Of course this depends on where you source it from. Your local veterinarian may give you a better deal than some other pet shops and vice versa. It’s also available online on Amazon, Petsutra, Flipkart, Headsupfortails, etc.
3. Easily adjustable
Royal Canin is one of those brands that can easily be paired with other foods. It is recommended, for an adult dog, to have 50% Royal Canin and 50% homemade food. While for puppies, you can provide 75% Royal Canin and 25% homemade food. This helps to add more variety and texture into your dogs’ diet, which can help combat the buildup of tartar and plaque. It also allows you to stretch the food over a period of time, especially if you’re on a budget.
Cons :
- Royal Canin does have its perks but still offers a pretty average list of ingredients.
- Maybe due to poor management or by accident, there have been instances of damaged packaging. Customers have reported tears and rips that results in the products going stale and getting infested with worms.
- The brand has had 3 notable recalls in recent history.
Ingredients of Royal Canin
Like any consumable good, you can always tell the quality of dog food by its ingredients. A good rule of thumb would be checking out the first five ingredients listed on the back of the product. Food companies must always name the ingredients according to their quantity in descending order. Generally, these specific ingredients make up for 65% – 70% of the entire dog food! It’s enough to establish how good or how bad a recipe is. So let’s take a look:
1. Rice
This carbohydrate is the primary ingredient used by Royal Canin. Though Rice is a great source of energy for your dog, too much of this product can definitely make your pooch gain weight. This is especially true for specific breeds. So that’s why you should pay extra attention to portion sizes before pairing it with home cooked food like boiled chicken and rice.
2. Dehydrated Poultry Protein
Currently it contains around 22 to 34% of protein. The use of Dehydrated Poultry Protein, mainly of chicken, helps in preserving the protein content.
3. Animal Fat
Another great source of energy for your dog, fats are responsible for supporting good cellular development, blood clotting and even muscle movement.
4. Vegetable Protein Isolate
In simple terms, this means protein extracted from plants. But even though they have low biological value, they can help in preventing cancerous diseases. What many people may not know is that a number of experts consider dogs omnivores, which basically means they have the ability to derive nutrients from both plants and animals, just like us! So that’s why they are able to benefit from specific vegetables and fruits in their diet, like potato, sweet potato, pumpkin, peas and carrots among others.
5. Beet Pulp
Beet Pulp provides the necessary fibre for your furry friend to have successful bowel movements.
6. Other Remaining Ingredients
Royal Canin has Soya Oil, which contains both omega-6as well as omega-3 fatty acids. These will keep your dog’s coat healthy and smooth as ever. Another thing you can do is give your dog some salmon oil on the side. Besides them going nuts over the smell and taste, it’ll rejuvenate their skin and hair.
To bind all of these goodies together, Royal Canin uses Maize, which is a commonly used filler in dog food.
Royal Canin Dog Food Cost
Royal Canin is considered to be one of the more expensive dog food brands out there. What you should know is that there is no fixed price range, because the cost would vary depending on the product, the age bracket of dog it’s meant for, the nature of food, the breed it is specific to and the overall quantity. Also, the retailer you purchase it from could also determine the price.
For example, Royal Canin Mini Starter 1kg Dry New Born Dog Food can cost around INR 850 to INR 950. But if you consider Royal Canin Maxi Adult Dog Wet Gravy Pouches (10 pouches) 1.4kg, the cost can be anywhere around INR 1400 to INR 1600.
Conclusion
Royal Canin is definitely worth considering for your pooch’s nutritional needs. They do have a fair variety of products, although the quality is not necessarily considered the best by many dog lovers. Plus it can be a tad bit expensive as compared to some other brands out there. Ultimately, it’s good to consult with your veterinarian once before buying any specific product.
See also: Best Dog Food Brands in India
