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Our Recommendation
A lot of us have dogs that struggle with weight issues. I know our Great Pyrenees, Ruby Pearl, will stay as plump as can be on what seems like little food. We have tried weight-control formula dog foods, but it still seems to be a challenge to keep the weight off. What has worked best for us is to feed her what the other dogs eat but far less than what the bag says she should have. At the same time weight control dog foods can work for some dogs. Scout does not recommend this brand due to some questionable ingredients and lack of digestive support.
Let’s take a look at the positives and negatives of Beneful Healthy Weight so you can have what you need to make the right choice for your pooch.
Positives
- Offers an affordable option for diet dog food.
- Chicken is the first ingredient.
- Apples and carrots for sweetness and nutritional balance.
- Contains 10% less calories than regular Beneful.
- Made in the USA.
Negatives
- Lots of GMO grains.
- Artificial coloring.
- Price point. There are a lot of more natural options in this price range.
- No Probiotics.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Soybean Hulls*,
Barley, Whole Grain Wheat, Corn Gluten Meal, Soybean Meal, Rice, Turkey
By-Product Meal, Glycerin, Egg and Chicken Flavor, Beef Tallow Preserved
with Mixed-Tocopherols, Oat Meal, Poultry and Pork Digest, Calcium
Carbonate, Salt, Mono and Dicalcium Phosphate, Dried Apples, Dried
Carrots, Dried Green Beans, Potassium Chloride, Minerals [Zinc Sulfate,
Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate,
Sodium Selenite], Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Vitamin A
Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin
B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1),
Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Menadione
Sodium Bisulfite (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Biotin, Folic Acid],
Choline Chloride, L-Lysine Monohydrochloride, Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow
5, Blue 2, Garlic Oil.
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Nutritional Analysis
Pet food ingredients, nutritional values, and the way they are labeled for consumers are monitored by several organizations in the United States including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the NGO, Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
Each year the AAFCO publishes two sets of nutritional minimum standards for dog food intended to help specify if a food is suitable for:
1. Dogs in the growth & reproduction phases of life
2. Adult dogs maintaining a healthy weight and activity level
Caloric Content
3,177 kcal/kg, 310 kcal/cup
Guaranteed Analysis
| Nutritional Component | Value | Meets AAFCO Growth & Reproduction Standards | Meets AAFCO Adult Maintenance Standards |
|---|---|---|---|
| ____________________________ | ____________________ | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| CRUDE PROTEIN | 25.0% min | – | – |
| CRUDE FAT | 8.0% min | – | – |
| CRUDE FIBER | 9.0% max | – | – |
| MOISTURE | 14.0% max | – | – |
| LINOLEIC ACID | 1.2% min | – | – |
| CALCIUM | 1.0% min | ||
| SELENIUM | 0.2 mg/kg min | ||
| VITAMIN A | 10,000 IU/kg min | ||
| VITAMIN E | 100 IU/kg min | – | – |
* – indicates not yet analyzed
Feeding Amounts
Depending on your dog’s size and activity level, they may need more or less food than the recommended measurements in their daily feeding amounts.
| Weight | Weight Maintenance Daily Feeding (cup) | Weight Reduction Daily Feeding (cup) |
|---|---|---|
| _______________________ | _______________________ | |
| 3 – 12 LBS | 1/2 – 1 1/3 | 1/3 – 1 |
| 13 – 20 LBS | 1 1/2 – 2 | 1 1/8 – 1 1/2 |
| 21 – 35 LBS | 2 – 2 3/4 | 1 1/2 – 2 1/8 |
| 36 – 50 LBS | 3 – 3 2/3 | 2 1/4 – 2 3/4 |
| 51 – 75 LBS | 3 2/3 – 4 3/4 | 2 3/4 – 3 2/3 |
| 76 – 100 LBS | 4 3/4 – 5 3/4 | 3 2/3 – 4 1/3 |
| > 100 LBS | 5 3/4 + 1/3 for each 10 lbs of body weight > 100 lbs | 4 1/3 + 1/4 for each 10 lbs of body weight > 100 lbs |
Transition Instructions
Transition over a period of 7 – 10 days to help avoid digestive upset. Add a limited amount of the new food to the current supply. Each day, increase the amount of the new food while decreasing the amount of the current food.
The Bottom Line
I have no doubt that this dog food would help with weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight in overweight and senior dogs but the use of artificial colors, fillers, and the lack of probiotics to help promote digestive health are enough to not choose Beneful Healthy Weight With Real Chicken Dog Food.
Purina gets kudos for offering real meat as the first ingredient but they need to think beyond this and provide a dog food that offers better digestive support. If Purina really is just using colors for the benefit of the people then I wish they would realize we all would rather they didn’t.
If you are traveling and can’t find your brand then this would do in a pinch but it is not a kibble Scout would want for long-term feeding. For puppies, check out our review of Beneful Healthy Puppy food.
