Review: Pure & Natural (Bernat) Dog Food for Medium/Large Breed Puppies and Adults

1 Overview

Bernat’s factory is in China and it counts as a relatively high-end domestic natural food, centered on grain-free and hypoallergenic formulas. Grain-free already far exceeds natural food in share. In 2014 Bernat became the No.1 grain-free brand in the domestic market. Because it is produced domestically, it is also a domestic dog food. Today let’s review this food.

First, the medium/large-breed puppy formula. This is a recently repackaged version with a slightly changed formula. Large breeds eat more, and this puppy food sells astonishingly well. We cannot verify raw materials, so let’s judge quality from authoritative test data.

At a glance, Bernat shows 30% crude protein – not especially high. Too much protein causes soft stools in puppies who cannot absorb it all; too little causes deficiency. This level is just right for medium/large puppies. Plant protein is added appropriately: oats, though plant protein, help prevent constipation and are quite high in calcium; potato is another plant protein said to strengthen the body and increase size. Though potato protein rivals egg, adding potato to food is a good thing. The protein sources are lamb, egg, chicken fat and fish oil, plus pricier flaxseed oil – fat is one of the most important sources for skin protection. Lecithin and chondroitin sulfate are added too: lecithin cares for the coat, chondroitin protects joint growth.

This food also has astragalus polysaccharide; weak puppies get immune support, helping prevent enteritis and distemper. Fructooligosaccharide mainly balances gut flora. Various probiotics such as dried Bacillus subtilis aid digestion. Cranberry and taurine in the food brighten eyes and reduce tear stains. The preservative is rosemary. Crude fat is 16% – higher fat means better palatability and more appetite, and this food is palatable with good mouthfeel. Crude fiber and crude ash are both low, indicating better raw materials.

Overall this medium/large puppy formula has very good ingredients, suits all puppies, boosts immunity and regulates the gut while caring for skin, coat and joints. The only drawback is slightly low total phosphorus, and lamb formula can be a bit heating in hot weather – switch formulas in summer. Puppies on this food need calcium and trace-element supplements at 3 months.

The 15 kg adult formula differs slightly: lamb, chicken, plant protein and potato remain; fats are chicken oil, fish oil and olive oil, with added seaweed, lecithin and shark cartilage. Otherwise similar, and generally good. Adult protein is 26%, crude fat 14% – just right for medium/large adults and long-haired dogs alike. Price is moderate-to-high; stocking up on promotion is about 12 yuan per 500 g.

Now the drawbacks. Some say Bernat puppy food causes eye discharge – partly from heating lamb, partly from internal parasites. If eye discharge persists after deworming, consider switching food. Another point is total phosphorus is a bit low, though that is normal; total phosphorus readings are often interfered with by other added ingredients during testing.