Best Dog Kibble: A Veterinarian’s Opinion (2025)

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Our Selection

We analyzed 13 brands of kibble and selected these 2 products:

# Best Value for Money 🥇
> Sensitive Dog Kibble for All Sizes – Ultra Premium Direct

# Best Premium Kibble
> Sensitive Dog Kibble – Franklin

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Our Selection Criteria

• % Protein: this is the protein content of the kibble, which should be at least 21%.
• % Fat: this refers to the fat content in the kibble, which should be limited for sterilized and/or overweight dogs.
• PP Ratio: the protein-to-phosphorus ratio is a good indicator of the balance between meat and carcass. The higher it is, the better.
• Price per kg: this refers to the price per kg of kibble (for larger packages).
• Customer Reviews: this average review rating comes from the brand’s website, review platforms, or marketplaces like Amazon.

All the kibble we selected are from French brands, grain-free, and comply with recommended nutrient levels.

Best Dog Kibble

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BEST VALUE FOR MONEY 🥇

We selected this dog kibble for its high protein content, satisfactory PP ratio, and excellent value for money.

The fat content is limited (16%) and the intake of minerals and vitamins is optimized.

This kibble is suitable for dogs with digestive issues or sensitive skin. The recipe is lamb-based, a particularly digestible and low-allergen protein.

They also contain ascophyllum nodosum, an algae that prevents tartar and bad breath by stopping dental plaque from adhering.

Finally, the presence of chondroitin and glucosamine contributes to the joint health of the dog on a daily basis.

Ultra Premium Direct is a recognized French company in the pet food market founded in 2014. This brand has democratized access to high-quality cat and dog food by eliminating middlemen between the factory and the consumer.

By subscribing, you benefit from a 10% discount.

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BEST PREMIUM KIBBLE

Franklin offers premium kibble, grain-free and made up of 70% duck meat, accompanied by vegetables and fruits for good nutritional balance.

This kibble is free from artificial additives and preservatives but enriched with prebiotics, vitamins, and minerals.

They are particularly rich in protein (34%) and have a very high PP ratio (48.6), a sign of excellent composition.

Franklin is a French premium brand specializing in natural and transparent pet food, prioritizing simple and traceable ingredients.

The value for money remains excellent for premium kibble. By subscribing, you get a 15% discount.

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What are the benefits of dog kibble?

A Complete Food

Due to its long cohabitation with humans, the dog is no longer a strict carnivore today, meaning its diet always includes meat, but also vegetables and grains.

Dog kibble contains all the elements needed for their metabolism: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fibers, as well as vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids.

A Safe Food

The kibble is produced through an industrial process called cooking-extrusion. The food is first reduced to a paste and heated, then it passes through sieves that give it its shape.

The dog kibble is then dehydrated. The water content of the final product ranges between 9 and 14%.

This manufacturing method, along with strict regulations, makes kibble one of the safest dog foods from a health perspective. Their low moisture content also allows them to be kept for a long time.

A Convenient Food

Easy storage, simple dosing, and complete composition: dog kibble certainly makes life easier for humans! Logistics are also simplified with the possibility of delivering large format bags.

Furthermore, there are kibbles for all stages of a dog’s life, and some are even adapted to their health status.

An Economical Food

Compared to wet food (pâtés, meatballs…) or homemade (homemade food, BARF…), kibble is more economical, especially for medium to large breed animals.

A Food to Chew

Yes, it’s no secret: dogs love to use their teeth! Thus, kibble strengthens their jaws, fights against tartar, and allows for better oral health.

An Eco-Friendly Food

Yes, again! Dog kibble is made from animal by-products (offal, poultry necks, fish filleting remnants…) which are not widely consumed by humans despite their excellent nutritional quality.

This helps to enhance meat and fish production for human consumption by avoiding waste.

What criteria should you consider when buying dog kibble?

To find the perfect kibble for your pet, you will need to look at their composition and take into account the characteristics of your dog.

Composition of Dog Kibble

The composition of kibble is certainly one of the key criteria to study before purchasing. However, it’s not always easy to navigate between the multitude of brands and the complexity of labels.

The FACCO (Federation of Manufacturers of Foods for Dogs, Cats, Birds, and other pets) recommends the following minimum levels for adult dogs in maintenance:

•  Protein content: 18 to 21% of dry matter
•   Fat content: 5.5% (including 1% linoleic acid)
•  Calcium: 0.5%

For sugars, aim for a carbohydrate content (or Nitrogen-Free Extract) < 50%

Proteins are an essential component of dog kibble. However, a food with the right protein content is not a sufficient quality guarantee: it must also have good nutritional value.

Thus for dogs, we prefer animal-based proteins (eggs, meat or fish meal) which are superior to plant-based ones (soy, rapeseed, cereals…).

The quality of the proteins in kibble can also be determined by the PPR (Protido-Phosphoric Ratio) which should ideally be above 35. Indeed, high-quality protein ingredients (meat, fish…) have a high PPR, while lower quality ones (carcass, bones, cereals…) have a low PPR.

To calculate the PPR (not indicated on labels), you simply need to divide the protein content by the phosphorus percentage. For example, if your kibble has a protein content of 32% and a phosphorus percentage of 0.8%, your PPR is 32/0.8 = 40. You’re all set!

The Age of the Dog

The needs of a growing puppy are different from those of an adult. For the young, FACCO recommends a minimum protein content of 25% and a calcium content of 1%.

Luckily, there are special puppy kibbles available in the market, adapted to the breed (from miniature to giant puppies).

Indeed, a Leonberger puppy, whose growth lasts 18 months, is not fed the same as a Chihuahua; large breed puppy kibble will be less fatty for a gentler growth, more favorable to joint development (12 to 16% lipids compared to 14 to 20% for small breed animals).

Generally, growth kibbles are also suitable for pregnant and nursing females.

The senior dog will receive kibble with a maintained protein content to preserve its muscle mass, a higher fiber intake (4 to 8%) to combat intestinal sluggishness, and a reduced phosphorus content (0.5 to1%) to protect the kidneys.

Kibble for neutered dogs

Ovariectomy in females and castration in males are common procedures. They result in a change in internal metabolism and can lead to long-term weight gain, which promotes the development of certain diseases such as diabetes or arthritis.

The caloric intake of the diet should be reduced without the animal experiencing hunger.

Kibble for neutered dogs are lower in fat and contain more fiber to enhance satiety. This may result in an increase in the number and frequency of stools.

“Medical” kibble for dogs

Veterinary nutritionists have developed kibble to meet the needs of animals with specific conditions. The composition of these foods varies depending on the diseases involved.

For example, you can find:

•  foods enriched with high-quality soluble fibers (microbiota substrate) for animals with sensitive intestines,
• kibble with chondroprotectors (glucosamine, chondroitin…) to combat the effects of arthritis,
• kibble for dogs with renal insufficiency with reduced phosphorus and protein levels
• dry foods that prevent the recurrence of urinary stones
• kibble with hydrolyzed proteins for dogs suffering from food allergies…  

These kibbles for dogs should only be used on the advice of a veterinarian.

Organic kibble for dogs

Ingredients from organic farming and livestock are undoubtedly a real asset. They guarantee a healthier food, free of residues.

However, they must also contain high-quality nutritional ingredients. A chicken carcass, even organic, is less interesting than meat…

Should you buy grain-free kibble for dogs?

The trend is for grain-free kibble. These nutrients (wheat, corn, rice, barley, rye, oats), which have been used in dog food for centuries, are suddenly considered undesirable.

Why? Cereals contain proteins, but also starch, a slow-acting sugar that provides energy. Undercooked starch can cause diarrhea or digestive discomfort in dogs. When well-cooked, there is generally no problem.

Wheat, rye, and barley also contain gluten, which causes digestive issues in humans (gluten intolerance or celiac disease). This disease is extremely rare in dogs. However, cases have been documented in Irish Setters.

But in kibble, starch not only provides proteins and energy, but it’s also an essential agent for texturizing the kibble (giving it its consistency). In fact, even grain-free kibble contains… starch, but it comes from other vegetables such as peas, lentils, or potatoes.

Foods that are not always well-digested by dogs and can lead to diarrhea and/or flatulence.

Therefore, grain-free kibble for dogs does not guarantee better digestibility at all.

Where to buy kibble for dogs?

At veterinarians

Veterinary clinics offer premium brands of high quality. Furthermore, the professional, who knows your pet, will provide good advice for personalizing your companion’s diet.

Many veterinarians are now working with online stores that offer more competitive prices.

In pet shops

They offer kibble similar to those from veterinary clinics.

In supermarkets

Supermarkets generally offer kibble of lower nutritional quality, especially if the prices are particularly low.

Online

Warning danger! You can find anything online! Before ordering, check the reliability of the site, the origin of the kibble, and inform yourself about the composition.

To summarize

Quality dog kibbles:

1. Contain animal proteins at a minimum level of 21%

2. Have a PRA over 35

3. Have a carbohydrate level (NFE) < 50%

4. Are preferably ORGANIC, but NOT necessarily grain-free

5. Are adapted to the age and health of your little companion

6.  Contains reduced fat content if your dog is neutered (10-15%)

7.  Typically purchased through specialized channels

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BEST VALUE FOR MONEY 🥇

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BEST PREMIUM KIBBLES

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