Your dog’s health and happiness is directly related to food. It can be difficult to choose the right dog food among so many brands and types. To help you decide which dog food is best, today we’ll compare Kirkland and Royal Canin dog food.
Royal Canin dog food offers more options for dogs of different sizes and breeds. Kirkland dog food offers fewer options but has many essential nutrients. It is also a great option to buy bulk Kirkland dog food if you have Costco membership.
This article compares Kirkland and Royal Canin dog food, and outlines the differences between them. You’ll be able choose the best food for your puppy or dog with all these comparisons.
Similarities between Royal Canin and Kirkland Dog Food
Let’s take a look at some of the commonalities between Royal Canin and Kirkland before we get into the Kirkland dog foods vs. Royal Canin. Both brands:
You can sell versions of your dog’s food to puppies, adults, and mature dogs. You can adjust the food to suit your dog’s age and lifestyle as they grow up. You can make a care or weight maintenance version of your dog’s food. These food types are for dogs that are not in their normal weight range or need help maintaining and gaining weight. All of their recalls have been in the past. Kirkland was the subject of a recall in 2012, when salmonella infections were discovered in more than a dozen people. Royal Canin was subject to three recalls. One was in February 2006 when health officials discovered too much vitamin D in the canned food they used in vet clinics. Two were back-to-back in May 2007 and April 2007, when officials found toxic chemicals melamine in many foods.
Kirkland Dog Food Pros & Cons
Pros and Cons: Most ingredients are imported from the United States. You may need to have a Costco membership in order to buy.
The ingredients are mainly made in the United States. The ingredients are then shipped to the United States where they are actually manufactured. Kirkland must import certain ingredients from the United States to make their products. Examples include potato protein, which is from Germany, as well as dried chicory root which is from Belgium.
Manufacturers can only use ingredients in dog food if they have been tested for toxins and provide all the nutrition they need.
Costco memberships are recommended if you wish to buy Kirkland dog food. Your local Costco might even be able to ship directly to your home, depending on where you live. You can also find Kirkland dog foods on Amazon.com, but the prices are usually significantly higher.
There are also fewer options for Kirkland dog food available than Royal Canin. Also, the variety of Kirkland dog food is not based on age, but breed.
Kirkland Signature Puppy Formula Chicken Rice & Vegetable Dog Food
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Pros and Cons
Nutritional Information
Calcium 1.2%Phosphorus 1.1%
Key Ingredients
Chicken, chicken meal. Whole grain brown rice. Cracked pearled barley. Egg product. Salmon oil. Flaxseed. Natural flavor. Carrots, potatoes. DHA, DHA, salmon oil.
Kirkland Signature Puppy Formula contains a variety of essential nutrients that puppies need during their first year of development. These include salmon oil, omega-3 fat acid, and DHA.
It contains important nutrients that dogs require, such as protein for energy and a digestible form of it. Prebiotic fiber supports their digestive system and provides them with the energy they need to live a healthy life.
The kibble is also small so that your dog will have no difficulty eating it.
Kirkland Signature Adult Formula Lamb Rice & Vegetable Dog Food
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Pros and Cons
Nutritional Information
Calcium 1.7% Phosphorus 2.2%
Key Ingredients
Lamb, lamb meal. Whole grain brown rice, ground rice, white rice, and rice bran. Chicken fat (preserved in mixed tocopherols), chicken fat, eggs, crack pearled barley. Flaxseed, natural flavor. Carrots, peas. Dried kelp. Apples, cranberries. rosemary extract. Parsley flake.
Kirkland adult dog food has a high protein content thanks to its primary ingredient, lamb, and the egg. The high protein content is easy to digest and gives your dog the energy they need for a happy lifestyle.
It contains many ingredients and probiotics to help your dog’s immune system remain strong. The active cultures will also keep their digestive system working.
Kirkland Signature Mature Chicken, Rice & Egg Dog food
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Pros and Cons
Nutritional Information
Calcium 1.5% Phosphorus 1.1%
Key Ingredients
Chicken, chicken meal. Whole grain brown rice. Egg product. Oatmeal, cracked pearled barley. Ground white rice. Dried beet pulp. Potatoes. Calcium chloride. Choline chloride. Choline chloride. Carrots, peas. Apples, cranberries. Rose extract. Parsley flake.
Kirkland Senior Dog Food is great for senior dogs that need to be strong and healthy. You can also get plenty of vitamins and other vegetables to help your dog’s immune system stay strong.
Your dog’s skin, and hair, will be nourished by dried chicory root. Important ingredients are also important to keep their joints healthy as you age.
Vitamin E and other antioxidants in the dog’s food will keep it energized even as they age.
Royal Canin Dog Food Pros & Cons
Foods designed for certain sizes of dogs
Royal Canin dog food has a lot more advantages than Kirkland. They make food specifically for certain breeds and can distinguish between food by age.
If you look at dog food, for example, there are 15 varieties that are specifically made for bulldogs, German Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers.
Royal Canin Medium Puppy Dog Food
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The pros and cons
Nutritional Information
Crude Protein (min) – 30.0%Crude Fat (min) – 18.0%Crude Fiber (max) – 3.6%Moisture (max) – 10.0%Vitamin E (min) – 350 IU/kg
Key Ingredients
Chicken by-product meal, chicken fat, brewers rice, corn, wheat, corn gluten meal, dried plain beet pulp, wheat gluten, natural flavors, brewers rice flour, fish oil, monocalcium phosphate, vegetable oil, sodium silico aluminate, potassium chloride, salt, fructooligosaccharides, hydrolyzed yeast (source of beta-glucans), Yucca schidigera extract
Royal Canin Puppy Food also available in other varieties
X-Small Puppy (available at Amazon)Small Puppy(available at Amazon)Small Indoor Puppy(available on Amazon).Large Puppy/Pup (available from Amazon)Giant Puppy/Giant Junior (available from Amazon)
You are based on your pup’s expected adult weight when you select the size for your dog’s food. You should consult a veterinarian to ensure you do not purchase food that will negatively impact your dog’s growth or weight.
The antioxidants and vitamins found in the food will help your dog develop a strong immune system. They will also give you the energy to live the life you want.
Your puppy will be able to chew every piece of food easily, so that they can eat it slowly and properly. These are key factors to ensuring your dog has healthy eating habits for life.
Royal Canin Medium Adult Dry Dog Food
ProsConsEPA & DHA keep fur and skin healthy.
Nutritional Information
Crude Protein (min) – 23.0%Crude Fat (min) – 12.0%Crude Fiber (max) – 3.2%Moisture (max) – 10.0%Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) (min) – 0.13%Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) (min) – 0.05%Omega-3 fatty acids* (min) – 0.39%
Key Ingredients
Brewers rice, chicken meal, oat groats and wheat, corn gluten meal. Natural flavors, dried plainbeet pulp, fish oils, calcium carbonate. Vegetable oil, potassium chloride. Salt, monocalciumphosphate, choline phosphate. Hydrolyzed yeast. Vitamins
Royal Canin Adult Dog Food also available in other varieties
X-Small Adult (available at Amazon)Small Indoor AdultSmall AdultSmall AdultSmall Adult (available at Amazon)Large Adult 5+(available on Amazon).Giant Adult
After your pup is grown out of puppyhood, adult food can be a great way to keep them healthy. Your dog will still have the same energy levels as when they were puppies thanks to the antioxidants found in the food.
Other ingredients like omega-3 fatty acid promote healthy immune systems to help them stay healthy and strong as they age.
The food is also easy to digest and encourages chewing. It is vital that your dog chews so they don’t eat too quickly or have trouble digesting the entire food.
Royal Canin Medium Adult 7+ Dry Food for Dogs
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Pros and consAntioxidants to fight the aging of dogs. Dogs must know their approximate weight to determine how much to feed them. Half to one cup (64 to 128g) more for high-activity dogs than for low-activity dogs.
Nutritional Information
Crude Protein (min) – 23.0%Crude Fat (min) – 12.0%Crude Fiber (max) – 3.5%Moisture (max) – 10.0%Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) (min) – 0.17%Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) (min) – 0.07%
Key Ingredients
Brewers rice, chicken by-product meal, wheat, corn gluten meal, chicken fat, natural flavors, dried plain beet pulp, oat groats, wheat gluten, fish oil, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, psyllium seed husk, vegetable oil, fructooligosaccharides, sodium tripolyphosphate, monocalcium phosphate, hydrolyzed yeast, choline chloride, vitamins
Royal Canin Adult and Dog Foods in Other Variations
X-Small Adult 8+ (available at Amazon)X Small Aging 12+(available at Amazon)Small Adult8+ Small Indoor SeniorMedium Aging10+ (available at Amazon)Large Aging (8+) (available from Amazon)
Royal Canin Medium Adult 7+ Dry Food is similar to the adult food, but has more antioxidants to aid your dog’s ageing process. This food will ensure that your dog’s immune system is strong and they continue to receive the nutrients they need as they age.
There are many foods that can be fed to older dogs, depending on their age and size.
Last Thoughts
Royal Canin offers a wide range of food options for dogs with specific breeds or sizes. Kirkland is another option if you are a Costco member and wish to purchase the food in bulk. Royal Canin also offers a variety of foods for different ages at Kirkland.