Royal Canin or Proplan: which food is better for dogs, composition

ProPlan

ProPlan is one of the most affordable premium foods in the line. The product consists of approximately half protein components, which is very important for the health and activity of the pet. The downside is that a larger percentage of the proteins contained are of plant origin (corn, soy), rather than animal. They are used for manufacturing due to the low cost of raw materials. But corn gluten and soy flour, among others, can adversely affect the condition of the animal. For example, you may be allergic to these ingredients. The advantages include the content of natural chicken meat and offal, which are healthy. The food also contains prebiotics, which is important for healthy digestion. The ProPlan series of medicinal foods is of significantly higher quality and is recommended by many veterinarians. If the pet feels well and has no health problems, then the ProPlan line can be an ideal budget option.

Experts' opinion about ProPlan food

The last point is highly controversial. 41% protein and only 12% fat causes some debate. Some experts suggest that this ratio is harmful to kidney health, while others claim that it causes orthopedic problems.

But studies have not noted any connection between the level of protein in food and the above diseases. On the contrary, a high percentage of protein is a good food for neutered cats. Reviews from professionals indicate increased animal activity, strengthened immune system, better wound healing, improved condition of the nervous system, coat and skin.

Excess protein is deaminated (broken down) rather than deposited in the body. Therefore, we should not talk about the amount of proteins. It is necessary to pay attention to the quality of protein consumed. The brand guarantees that 20% is a natural product, and the remaining percentage is dried meat. Crude ash is 7%, fiber is 4.5%, fatty acids are well represented (Omega-3 - 0.75%, Omega-6 - 2%).

Veterinarians' opinions on review representatives

Veterinarians speak quite unequivocally about the comparison of the quality of the two foods. In their opinion, they are both at the same level of quality, and are also objectively overrated and do not deserve super premium status due to the nuances of the composition (meat by-products, dyes, preservatives and flavor enhancers). Reviews show that they are recommended equally often for feeding healthy puppies or adult dogs.

For the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, ProPlan is considered preferable. It has a narrower range, but maintaining specifications according to the disease and size of the animal increases the effectiveness of veterinary products. The same applies to nutrition for pets with other diseases: ProPlan Urinari and Royal Canin Urinari are often sold together, but professionals recommend the former.

Video: review of ProPlan dog food

Details about the composition

Is Royal Canin better than Proplan? Judging by the composition of the first one, it’s much worse. Let's figure out why French products are so bad. Can a good food have vegetable proteins in the first place? Some would say that they are a source of protein. Animal protein is ideal for cat nutrition, plant protein is not. Not only is it at the heart of the product, but the quantity is also hidden.

Dried poultry proteins. Where is the clarification of its type? Bird can mean chicken, hazel grouse or crow. The manufacturer kept silent about the species of the bird. As well as about the quantitative component of the declared proteins. According to veterinarians, this is a significant lack of food.

Brit Premium

Brit Premium is a premium product line. The food has a well-balanced composition and is suitable for daily feeding. The product is manufactured in the Czech Republic, which can guarantee European quality control. The disadvantages include the presence of cheaper ingredients than in super premium food from the same company – Brit Care. Brit Premium, unlike higher grades, contains artificial colors and flavors. Also, these foods are not available in every pet store. The advantage of this line is its wide range: you can choose the right food for even the most picky pet at an affordable price.

Where is it produced?

What should an animal owner pay attention to when choosing food for him? Some look at the price, others at the bright packaging, but most look at the composition and manufacturer.

Russian feed is considered to be of poor quality, unlike foreign ones. Which food is better - Proplan or Royal Canin, if you rely on the manufacturer? According to experts:

Pro Plan is manufactured by the American company Purina. Factories are located in France, Italy and Russia.

Royal Canin is a French food. Production plants are located in Poland, France and Russia.

Royal Canin

Royal Canin is a premium balanced food for cats. It can be a good replacement for natural food, as it contains all the necessary nutrients for a pet. The disadvantages of Royal Canin include the presence of various types of chemicals: dyes, preservatives, flavor enhancers, etc. The line of medicinal food from this company is of higher quality. But if your pet tolerates this type of food well, then you can stop with it. It wins among food in its class with relatively good quality, price and availability in any pet store. But since Royal Canin production has been established in Russia, its quality has dropped significantly, so it is best to order European-made food, if possible.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any dry food, Probalance is not ideal and has its advantages and disadvantages.

The advantages include:

• the protein is substituted with dehydrated meat, and not with food waste: skin, bones, cartilage and trimmings;
• rich vitamin composition, many phytocomponents, minerals;
• a wide range of dry food for all dogs, breeds, ages and needs;
• competitive price - dry dog ​​food Probalance is cheaper than similar in composition.

The disadvantages of the Probalance line for dogs include:

• Despite the production located in Russia, it is difficult to find dry food in the store.

Trust in the manufacturer

Many Russian nurseries and veterinarians do not trust domestic products, as well as companies that produce their food in local factories and according to local standards. This feature of the perception of dog diet plays into the hands of both brands: Royal Canin and ProPlan are produced outside the country or here, but using Western technologies.

Pro Plan is created by the American monopolist in the field of animal nutrition Purina, with factories located in France, Italy and Russia. And Royal Canin is made by a French company. Factories for the production of both dog and cat food are located in Poland, Russia and France. A comparison of Royal Canin and ProPlan by place of production shows that they are in equal positions. The reputation in the media and according to reviews of both companies is also approximately the same.

Why Proplan and Royal Canin?

Royal Canin and Proplan are two competing brands that have captured most of the pet food market. The Royal Canin brand is owned by the large Mars corporation, and Nestle produces Purina Pro Plan products. Both companies invest a lot of money in marketing: you can often see commercials about food on television, you can often see banners and posters on the street, and many veterinary clinics cooperate with manufacturers. As a result, the opinion has strengthened among pet owners that Proplan and Royal Canin products are of the highest quality. Food is in great demand and can be found in any pet store and even in some hypermarkets.

A wide range is another reason for the popularity of Pro Plan and Royal Canin

In reality, the compositions of these brands of food are far from ideal. Most often, the first places in the list of ingredients are occupied by cereals, their type is not always indicated, animal protein is too little for predators... For dogs this is acceptable, but in the case of cats it is better to prefer meatier diets. However, for owners of unhealthy animals, Proplan and Royal Canin food can be a real salvation, since often after switching to them, the pet’s well-being noticeably improves. This occurs due to a decrease in the intensity of work of diseased organs.
For example, my friend’s cat suffers from ICD. They can achieve stable remission only with the help of medicinal wet food. When eating other foods with a more balanced composition, the cat soon experiences an exacerbation.

Hills

Hills belongs to the premium class and has a good composition. It contains poultry meal, or meat, fish oil, vitamin and mineral supplements - everything that is necessary for complete nutrition. The downside of all premium food, including Hills, is the presence of various types of chemicals. In addition, Hills contains a high amount of carbohydrates, which is not very good for a cat’s digestion. The series of medicinal feeds from this company is of the highest quality and belongs to a higher class. But if your pet does not suffer from any disease, veterinarians advise to refrain from feeding the medicinal line of food. The advantages of the product include availability in stores, low price and a vitamin complex in the composition.

Hill's cat food review

Hills Feline cat food belongs to the premium class. Although the Hill's medicinal line of food is often classified as a super premium class, since it is of better quality than daily food for healthy cats. Note that this is not a reason to buy a medicinal line instead of a regular one, because for healthy cats it may be less useful than a regular one.

You can feed medicated food only in case of a certain disease in the cat and the food has been prescribed by veterinarians. If you know what your cat is sick with, you can choose the food yourself, following the labels on the packaging (for example, “for neutered cats,” “for cats with sensitive stomachs,” etc.).

Ingredients of Hill's using Nature's Best Kitten Chicken as an example: Poultry meal, corn gluten meal, animal fat, brown rice, corn, hydrolyzed protein, minerals, barley, oats, fish oil, dried beet pulp, flaxseed, dehydrated carrots, dehydrated peas, tomato pomace, chopped spinach, citrus pulp, grape pomace, rice, oat fiber. Supplements per kg: E672 (vitamin A) 36,830ME, E671 (vitamin D3) 2,170ME, E1 (iron) 87 mg, E2 (iodine) 1.4 mg, E4 (copper) 8.5 mg, E5 (manganese) 9 mg, E6 ( zinc) 180 mg, E8 (selenium) 0.2 mg. With natural preservative and natural antioxidants. Iron oxide colored.

Pros and cons of Hills food

The benefits of Hill's cat food include:

• low price;;
• vitamins and minerals;
• quite a good range of treatments;
• availability in most stores;

The disadvantages of Hills Feline food include:

• high percentage of plant proteins;
• quite frequent cases of allergies in cats;
• Hill's wet food is of worse quality than dry food.

Price difference

Most often, buyers are interested in market prices for feed and wonder whether ProPlan or Royal Canin is more expensive. And this is not surprising - most often they are overpriced and differ from the average in this segment.

Video: review of Royal Canin dog food

Reviews of Royal Canin food

Ekaterina: We have a kitten (female) of the Don Sphynx breed.

We started feeding him Royal Canin food for kittens from 4 months. In our stores this food is one of the most expensive, but our little one did not eat it very willingly. When the cat grew up, we switched to Royal Canin for Sphynxes, but the cat didn’t like to feast on it either. Moreover, after some time a rash appeared on the cat’s body - the diagnosis was allergy. We decided to switch to another food - everything went away and the cat was happy. Our cat not only didn’t like Royal Canin, but also did a little harm. Therefore, I do not recommend buying it; it is better to take something of better quality.

Elena: I fed my cat Royal Canin dry food from the age of six months. For two years there were no problems, but when a British cat moved in and appeared, problems arose. The cat was quickly gaining weight, although everything was fine with the cat. Perhaps the reason is that the cat is sterilized. I had to change the brand of food, I chose 1st Choice, it suited both)) There are no complaints about Royal Canin, I just didn’t want to buy different food for the cat and cat, so I chose one suitable for both.

Review of Royal Canin medicinal food

, writes Galina: After diagnosing urolithiasis in our cat, the veterinarian, in addition to medications, also prescribed Royal Canin Urinary dietary food for the prevention of urolithiasis. They treated and fed as prescribed by the veterinarian, and after a month the cat’s condition improved significantly. She began to eat better and lead a more active lifestyle. An examination at the clinic showed that the cat was already healthy. The veterinarian stopped taking the medication, but recommended feeding him food for another 3-4 months. If veterinarians recommend it and it helps, then Royal Canin is a good medicinal food!

Arden Grange

Arden Grange is a super premium range of pet products. It is popular in European countries, as it is one of the highest quality in its class. The food does not contain artificial colors, enhancers and other chemicals that help the animal become accustomed to the food. Arden Grange consists only of natural and well-balanced ingredients, and also contains enzymes and prebiotics that promote better absorption of the product. Its quality is confirmed by European quality control and positive reviews from many veterinarians. In terms of quality, this line is close to the holistic class, which is also evidenced by the relatively high price of Arden Grange.

Comparison of the quality of the composition of two brands

When figuring out which of the two brands is of better quality and preferable for purchase, you need to pay attention to the composition. Both companies have different lines, but one problem repeats itself: the quality of the main component leaves much to be desired.

What is the best food to feed your dog?

If the animal is healthy, then you can choose any of the compared brands of food that is suitable for the pet’s age and breed size.

For animals suffering from certain ailments, veterinarians primarily recommend medicated diets from Royal Canin.

In addition, some animals refuse food for various reasons (they may not like the size or shape of the pellets, or the taste or smell of the food). And also in rare cases, individual intolerance to certain components of the diet appears. Therefore, in any case, when switching to a new food, the owner must carefully monitor the dog’s condition and appetite.

1st Choice

1st Choice is a super premium food made in Canada. 1st Choice has a high-quality and balanced composition. It consists of one third animal protein, which is optimal for a healthy diet. The food contains dietary poultry meat, as well as chicken eggs and fish oil, which are sources of amino acids necessary for a balanced diet. The composition contains only natural flavors that promote better pet appetite. The 1st Choice line also contains hypoallergenic food, which is recommended by experts for the treatment of allergies in pets.

Which food is better for a puppy - Pro Plan or Royal Canin?

Which of these feeds is of better quality?
What do you prefer to feed your animals? Why?

The quality of feed is determined by its composition. Royal Canin, ProPlan, Hill's, Eukanuba, Iams have long ceased to be quality food, since most of the income is spent on advertising and promotion. Plus, there is nothing natural in the composition - proteins of animal origin, it doesn’t even say what animal these proteins were taken from. Corn, soybeans, wheat - those grains that are not digestible by animals are present in large quantities in these feeds. And almost all of these cereals are excreted from the body along with feces, without being absorbed one bit.

The feed must contain meat; it must be indicated whose meat is used and in what form it existed before. Meat and bone meal is bad, it is better to have dehydrated (dried) meat, meat removed from the bones, fillet or minced meat. The total amount of meat should be at least 30 percent. Further cereals may contain rice, barley and oatmeal; these cereals have a high content of vegetable protein and are well digested by animals.

It is necessary to ensure that the level of calcium in the food for the puppy is high enough; also for large breeds during the active period of growth, it is advisable to feed chondroprotectors (glucosamine and chondroitin), which, by the way, are already present in many good foods.

If we are talking about super-premium food, then we can highlight some good brands: Brit (in a white pack), Summit (unfortunately, only large bags), ProNature and 1st Choice, NeroGOLD . There are also foods of an even higher class - holistic (read as “whole”), which contain exclusively whole meat, and most often such foods are grain-free, that is, they contain non-grain sources of carbohydrates, such as legumes or nightshades. Companies of such feeds: GO and NOW, Applaws, Almo Nature, Acana, Pronature Holistic, Orijen.

Natural food is only 40 percent digestible by animals, since the ingredients do not undergo sufficient processing to be fully absorbed by the body. Moreover, bones should not be given to dogs at all, purely for the purpose of gnawing - maybe, but there are toys and special treats for this. And cheap food consists of waste, which is seasoned with a ton of flavorings and flavoring additives, otherwise the animals simply will not eat them.

Variety of food lines

To understand which dog food is better: Royal Canin or ProPlan, you need to compare the composition of the product lines of both companies. This comparison allows you to understand whether the range includes products for a particular dog.

Owner reviews

Irina S. I have a couple of Yorkies. I'm not a breeder, but I do have puppies from time to time. I feed everyone the same type of food, it is suitable for a pregnant bitch, nursing mother and babies. Of course, after being torn away from my mother. Good value for money. At the store nearby they bring it to me upon order, otherwise I might not find it.

Oleg N. Before this we bought Hills Labrador. After 5 years I began to get better, shortness of breath. Tried Diet Hills, didn't work. The dog refused. The veterinarian suggested trying Probalance. I got it for the price and the dog liked it. The weight has returned to normal. I order several bags at once on the website.

Bosch SANABELLE

Bosch SANABELLE is one of the best super premium food of German quality. This product line contains only natural ingredients and no artificial flavor enhancers. It is optimally balanced and consists of almost one third animal protein. In addition, it contains fish oil and a mineral complex, which are vital for an animal living at home. There are also natural additives that contribute to the normal functioning of the digestive system. The food contains a small amount of cellulose, which can cause allergies in cats. But the risk of an allergic reaction, experts say, is very small, so this food may be quite suitable for your pet. Bosch SANABELLE can be found on the shelves of many pet stores, but it has a relatively high price.

Detailed analysis of the composition

Chicken is a dietary product that is good for cat health. The question just arises: what is hidden under this word? According to American standards, chicken includes offal, skin, bones and feathers. Therefore, it remains a mystery what is in Pro Plan food: real meat or industrial waste. Veterinarians note that the amount of chicken is negligible and does not reach the level of super-premium food.

Now about wheat, its percentage component is not indicated. Wheat is a source of carbohydrates, but its place in the feed composition is alarming. A cat is a predator; the first three lines in dry food should be occupied by meat products. Wheat is not one of these; it is a cheap and filling filler. It is suitable for economy-class products, but hardly for food that claims to be super-premium.

Poultry protein powder contains proteins. Again, its quantity in the composition is not indicated. Rice is another source of carbohydrates. Too many carbohydrates for a complete cat diet. The manufacturer replaced the natural meat component with them.

Wheat gluten contains plant protein. The key word is plant-based, let’s take that into account. Based on the above, the conclusion is drawn: the food does not correspond to a super-premium product. It contains too many plant proteins and carbohydrates. Veterinarians rarely recommend the product to cat owners.

Let's analyze the composition of French food to find out which is better: Proplan or Royal Canin.

NOW Natural

The top three best foods include only holistic foods. NOW Natural line of products for cats belongs to . The main ingredient of the food is natural, boneless meat. NOW Natural does not contain by-products or grains, as the latter can cause allergies. The product contains a balanced amount of vegetables and fruits with gentle processing to preserve all the beneficial substances and deliver them to the pet. Like all holistic products, NOW Natural contains prebiotics for better absorption of nutrients. Veterinarians recommend holistic food of proven quality for proper and complete nutrition. These include NOW Natural. This line is not available in all pet stores, but it can be ordered online.

How to choose the best food, what should you pay attention to when buying it?

It is necessary to read on the front side of the package for whom the product is intended - a kitten, an adult animal, an elderly animal. On the reverse side there is information about the composition and nutritional content.

Be sure to read: What kind of porridge can be given to cats and at what age? You need to find out what percentage of meat and meat ingredients in the diet, what plant components and in what quantities are contained in the feed mixture. Conscientious manufacturers indicate which biologically active substances are added and in what quantities.

They inform you about it. what preservatives and antioxidants are included in the feed mixture. You should not purchase food that has no specific information about its composition.

DRY FOOD FOR BRITISH KITTENS

Don't forget about kitten food. Food is selected according to age.

Stage 1. From a very early age, kittens can eat dry food intended for pregnant and lactating women or especially for the youngest (as a first food). The food is high-calorie, nutritious, contains an increased amount of microelements, vitamins, additives for proper growth and development. The pellets of this food are the smallest in size.

At the age of 1.5-2 months, dry food is recommended to be given in a soaked form.

Stage 2. Dry food 1-4 months. The food is also very high in calories and contains everything necessary for the development of a kitten at this age.

Stage 3. Age up to 12 months. It is up to a year when the body actively grows, so the composition of the feed meets the needs

Stage 4. After 12 months, the kitten becomes an adult animal. You can choose food taking into account the individual characteristics and preferences of your pet.

In any case, you need to start feeding a British kitten not with dry food, but with pates and canned food for kittens, then you can add spiders with pieces of meat, then soak the dry food, after 2 months the kittens will be happy to eat dry food, developing their jaws and strengthening teeth.

I would like to note that most kitten foods contain chicken and turkey. If you want variety, then new complementary foods should be introduced gradually.

Acana

Acana is one of the popular brands of holistic food for pets. The Canadian manufacturer of the Acana line has received many awards for the quality of the product. The food in this series contains only fresh and high quality ingredients. All of them consist of more than half selected meat. The product also contains fruits and vegetables, which are a natural source of vitamins and minerals. The presence of flavorings and preservatives in this line is out of the question. It is for this reason that experts recommend these foods. The disadvantages of this series include the lack of medicinal feed and a relatively small assortment.

Feed composition

When choosing food, price is one of the main parameters that buyers focus on, but not the most important, since caring owners still try to pay attention to the composition of the product.

As noted above, the range of Royal Canin dog food is simply huge, but upon comparative analysis of the composition it turns out that in general they are similar to each other. Of course, the content of useful and nutrient-rich foods varies, and some diets are, if necessary, enriched with additional additives - Omega fatty acids, chondroitin, glucosamine and others.

Negative factors include the presence of grain in Royal Canin feed, namely corn and wheat, soybean oil, as well as the presence of not only animal, but also plant proteins. Thus, if you are the owner of an animal prone to allergies, this line for the most part will not suit you. In this case, you can pay attention to specialized veterinary food with a hypoallergenic set of ingredients. However, it is precisely thanks to the composition of the feed diluted with cereals that the feed has an attractive price, because it is the grain and vegetable components that are a cost-cutting addition. It should be noted that they will not harm an animal with good tolerance to cereals; moreover, the manufacturer states that these raw materials were selected on the basis of maximum digestibility. But to improve the digestive process, the composition includes prebiotics, for healthy skin and coat - Omega fatty acids, for joints - chondroitin and glucosamine, and for the heart and maintaining vision - taurine. The main suppliers of protein in various diets are poultry, pork or fish. What is noteworthy is that even food for sensitive dogs contains grain, so here, most likely, the calculation is made specifically for dogs with sensitive tummy, and not for those with allergies. To your surprise, you will not find grain-free food in the Royal Canin daily line.

The next most expensive food is Purina Pro Plan, so how are they doing? In general, the composition is similar to that of competing feeds and also includes corn, soy and wheat. Various useful additives are also present. However, I would like to see additives that are beneficial for joints in diets for large dogs. Unfortunately there were none. At the same time, they were in Royal Canin food.

Hills food is the most expensive compared to the two manufacturers listed above, but not significantly. The difference in price is mainly due to the higher quality composition - there are slightly more meat components and, in addition, the composition contains additives that are beneficial for the health and keeping the animal in good physical shape - herbs, taurine, chondroitin, glucosamine, L-carnitine. Grains such as corn and wheat are also included in Hills diets, but here you should also pay attention to the Hills Ideal Balance series of feeds. This series includes grain-free food, as well as several other foods where corn and wheat are replaced by less allergenic grains - barley and oatmeal. These positions, of course, make Hills stand out from its competitors, but they will also cost more.