Most dry dog foods provide adult animals with optimal nutrients. What is particularly surprising here is that not only expensive branded products are convincing, but also the cheap food from discounters. You can save a lot of money with the standard feed in particular. However, the picture changes when you examine the special food for older dogs – then the special food that is commercially available for this age group is often not sufficient for an all-round healthy diet. The Stiftung Warentest found this out in a study (“test”, 6/2021).
You can read the full test results for a fee at Stiftung Warentest.
The testers looked at 28 dry dog foods, including one organic product and eight products specifically for older dogs. While the results for the food for adult dogs are very pleasing (five times “very good”, eleven times “good”, four times “satisfactory”), the seniors’ Happi-Happi is hardly convincing.
Dog food at Stiftung Warentest
Only dog food suitable for seniors received the grade “good” (Rurina, Beneful Happy Years 7+ with chicken, 3.70 euros per 3 kilos). Six times there was only “sufficient” and one failed completely. The reasons given by the testers: too few amino acids and other nutrients such as potassium, scarce protein, incorrectly recommended amounts of food, questionable health claims.
The food test winners for dogs in their prime were: K-Classic croquettes with lamb & rice from Kaufland (8 euros for 10 kilos), Romeo premium complete feed for poultry from Aldi Süd (2.99 euros for 2 kilos), Real Nature Country Selection Alpine Adult by Fressnapf (25 euros for 10 kilos), Lucky Dog vital food with fresh poultry from Penny (2.99 euros for 3 kilos) and Ja strong chunks with 25% fresh poultry from Rewe (2.99 for 3 kilos).