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Pedigree Puppy Food Review 2024: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Patricia Dickson

By Patricia Dickson

Pedigree Puppy Food Review

Review Summary

Our Final Verdict

We give Pedigree Puppy Food a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

If you have a puppy, or any dog, then you’ve probably heard of Pedigree. It is an established dog food brand known for its happy dogs splashed across yellow backgrounds in commercials and advertisements everywhere.

When searching for a puppy food that fits your budget while still covering essential nutrition for your growing puppy, Pedigree could be the right choice. If you’re still unsure, read our reviews, recalls, pros, and cons below to help you decide whether Pedigree puppy food is the ideal choice for your little furry friend.

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At a Glance: The Best Pedigree Puppy Food Recipes

Rating Image Product Details
Our Favorite
Winner
Pedigree Puppy Chicken & Vegetable Dry Food Pedigree Puppy Chicken & Vegetable Dry Food
  • Created to suit a puppy’s needs
  • Has quite a bit of protein
  • Made in the USA
  • Second place
    Pedigree Puppy Grilled Steak & Vegetable Dry Food Pedigree Puppy Grilled Steak & Vegetable Dry Food
  • Affordable
  • High protein content
  • Contains DHA
  • Third place
    Pedigree Puppy Variety Pack Wet Dog Food Pedigree Puppy Variety Pack Wet Dog Food
  • Contains omega-3 fatty acids
  • Fits any budget
  • Made with morsels of chicken and beef
  • Pedigree Puppy Chopped Ground Lamb & Rice Recipe Pedigree Puppy Chopped Ground Lamb & Rice Recipe
  • Affordable
  • Made in the USA
  • High protein content
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    Pedigree Puppy Food Reviewed

    Pedigree is an affordable brand that covers the basics of nutrition. The brand sells wet and dry puppy food and treats. Now that you know what our top Pedigree puppy foods are, we’ll tell you a bit about the company.

    Who makes Pedigree puppy food, and where is it produced?

    Pedigree is one of the many brands that fall under the umbrella of Mars, Incorporated. Yes, this is the same company that makes the Mars candy bar, Milky Way, M and M’s, and other popular candy bars.

    However, Mars didn’t always own the Pedigree brand. Pedigree was developed in 1957 as a company known as Chappie. You can find its puppy food at Amazon, Chewy, and local stores in your neighborhood.

    The Pedigree brand is made in the United States, but some of the ingredients come from China. Pedigree puppy foods display the made in the USA label, so if you’re concerned about whether the food is made solely in the USA, only purchase the foods with the label clearly displayed.

    Which type of dog is Pedigree best suited for?

    If you’re looking for a puppy food that fits your budget, then Pedigree is your brand. However, we feel that the food is best suited for puppies and dogs that are already healthy. This is not the best food for puppies that have allergies or other health-related issues.

    While it’s an affordable option, if you can spend a bit more money on your puppy food, there are better options.

    Which type of dog might do better with a different brand?

    As previously stated, this might not be the best puppy food choice for a puppy with food allergies or preexisting health issues. If you can work it into your budget, Nutro Choice Natural Puppy Food might be a better option for your pet.

    Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

    One of the biggest redeeming qualities of the Pedigree brand is that they’re transparent when regarding the food’s core ingredients.

    • Meat and Bone Meal; While most of us want to see whole meat in our puppy’s food because they need protein to grow healthy and strong, it’s not the only option. Pedigree relies on meat and bone meal instead of whole meats. While whole meats are preferable to some pet parents, this formula is nutrient-dense, and it’s okay to feed it to your growing puppy, as long as it’s healthy already.
    • Beet Pulp; Puppies need a steady diet of fiber to stay regular, just as we humans do. Beet pulp is one of the ingredients in Pedigree puppy foods that provide quality fiber.
    • Whole Corn: While there’s a debate on whether whole corn is the best choice of ingredients for your puppy, it’s a great source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. Pedigree puppy foods contain whole corn as well.

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    A Quick Look at Pedigree Puppy Food

    Pros
    • Available online and in supermarkets
    • Affordable for almost any budget
    • Some products are made in the United States
    Cons
    • Contains a few unhealthy ingredients
    • Isn’t the best source of animal protein
    • The company has had a few recalls

    Recall History

    While you expect the recall history of a brand as large as Pedigree to be larger than, say, a smaller brand, the recall history in recent years has been a bit extensive, in our opinion.

    Pedigree recalled a wide selection of their 55-pound dog foods in 2014, as well as 15-pound bags for possible foreign materials and metal fragment contamination.

    In 2012, the company detected plastic in three different varieties of their wet food. In 2008, they had a recall of several of their dog foods because of possible salmonella contamination.

    Unlike many other pet food companies that have had to recall their dog food over minor issues, Pedigree’s history is quite concerning.

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    Reviews of the 3 Best Pedigree Dog Food Recipes

    Here are three of the best Pedigree puppy food recipes.

    1. Pedigree Puppy Growth & Protection Chicken & Vegetable

    Pedigree Puppy Growth & Protection Chicken & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food

    The Pedigree Puppy Growth Dry Chicken and Vegetable Flavor is created to suit a puppy’s needs. It has a chicken and veggie blend and contains 27% protein. However, the recipe relies heavily on plant-based protein, and if your puppy has a sensitive stomach, this might not be the right choice. The food is affordable and made in the USA.

    However, some pet parents reported their puppies refusing to eat the formula, and the Growth and Protection recipe might not be suitable for large breed puppies.

    Pros
    • Created to suit a puppy’s needs
    • Has quite a bit of protein
    • Made in the USA
    • Affordable
    Cons
    • Not great for some large breed puppies
    • Some puppies didn’t like the taste

    2. Pedigree Puppy Growth & Protection Grilled Steak & Vegetable

    PEDIGREE Puppy Growth & Protection Dry Dog Food

     

     

    The Pedigree Puppy Growth & Protection Grilled Steak and Vegetable recipe contains DHA to support your puppy’s brain function. It also has a high protein content at 27%, but the blend relies heavily on plant-based proteins. However, it is affordable for those on a budget and made in the USA.

    Some dogs disliked the recipe, but that could be because they didn’t like the flavor.

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • High protein content
    • Contains DHA
    Cons
    • Some dogs refuse to eat
    • Has quite a bit of plant-based protein

    3. Pedigree Puppy Variety Pack Morsels in Sauce Wet Food

    Pedigree Puppy Variety Pack Morsels in Sauce with Beef & Chicken

    Pedigree Puppy Variety Pack Morels are in a sauce flavored with beef and chicken. They come in individual packs that contain omega-3 fatty acids and are made with morsels of chicken and beef. The wet food fits almost any budget, and it’s also made in the USA.

    Some pet parents reported the food as causing upset stomach in their puppies, and some puppies refused to eat the food.

    Pros
    • Contains omega-3 fatty acids
    • Made with morsels of chicken and beef
    • Made in the USA
    • Fits any budget
    Cons
    • Could cause upset stomach
    • Puppies refused to eat

    What Other Users Are Saying

    We gave this brand a four out of five stars, for the reasons above. It’s clear we aren’t the only pet parents who feel that this food is affordable and covers basic nutrition, but there are other, probably better options. Most customers were pleased with Pedigree, but others were disappointed that some ingredients come from outside the United States.

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    Conclusion

    We gave Pedigree Puppy a four out of five stars. While it’s a great food for basic nutrition, it uses a lot of plant-based proteins and doesn’t have all the nutrition we feel a growing puppy needs.

    There’s a reason that Pedigree is one of the most popular dog food brands on the market today, but it’s more about the affordable price than the nutrition the food provides to your growing puppy. If you’re unsure Pedigree is suitable for your puppy, ask your veterinarian for advice.


    Featured Image Credit: Pedigree, Chewy

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