Is Pedigree WSAVA-Approved?
WSAVA does not approve, certify, or endorse any dog food brand. No such list exists. What "WSAVA-approved" actually refers to is whether a manufacturer satisfies the five questions the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee tells owners to ask. Pedigree meets 4 of the 5, so it sits between the fully compliant brands and those that meet none. It substantiates its diets through formulation to AAFCO profiles rather than feeding trials, and typically costs $15 – $45 per month for a 50 lb adult dog.
Pedigree against the 5 WSAVA questions
| WSAVA question | Pedigree |
|---|---|
| Employs a full-time qualified veterinary nutritionist | Yes
|
| Diets formulated by a credentialed expert | Yes |
| Substantiates diets with AAFCO feeding trials | No |
| Owns and operates its manufacturing plants | Yes |
| Runs a documented quality-control program | Yes |
| Criteria fully met | 4 of 5 |
| Typical monthly cost (50 lb dog) | $15 – $45 |
Pedigree across our catalogue
We track 128 complete-and-balanced Pedigree dog foods. Everything below is measured from those products rather than from the brand's marketing.
- Products tracked
- 128
- Dry / wet
- 66 / 62
- Adult / puppy / senior
- 113 / 15 / 0
- With by-products
- 39 of 128
What Pedigree actually contains
Guaranteed-analysis figures are label minimums, shown separately by food type because a 10%-moisture kibble and a 78%-moisture canned food are not comparable as-fed.
| Form | Products | Crude protein | Crude fat (median) | Energy (median) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| dry | 65 | 26% | 12% | 3,365 kcal/kg |
| wet | 38 | 8% | 4% | 900 kcal/kg |
A cross-section of the Pedigree line
12 of the 103 Pedigree products whose label data we were able to verify, spread across the range. Repeat recipes at different bag sizes are collapsed to one entry.
| Product | Life stage | Protein | Fat | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PEDIGREE Adult Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food 17 Pounds | Adult | 26% | 12% | $1.00/lb |
| Pedigree Choice Cuts in Gravy Country Stew & Chicken & Rice Flavor Adult Canned Wet Dog Food Variety Pack, 13.2-oz can, bundle of 48 | Adult | 8% | 4% | $1.92/lb |
| Pedigree Choice Cuts in Gravy Variety Pack, Hickory Smoked Chicken Flavor, Grilled Chicken Flavor in Sauce & Filet Mignon Flavor in Gravy Adult Wet Dog Food Pouches, 3.5-oz, pack of 18 | Adult | 8% | 3% | $3.65/lb |
| Pedigree Chopped Ground Dinner Adult Wet Dog Food Filet Mignon Flavor 13.2 oz. Can | Adult | 8% | 4% | , |
| Pedigree Chopped Ground Dinner T-Bone Steak Flavor Adult Canned Wet Dog Food, 13.2-oz, case of 12 | Adult | 8% | 4% | $1.96/lb |
| Pedigree Chopped Ground Dinner with Chicken & Beef Adult Canned Wet Dog Food Variety Pack, 13.2-oz can, bundle of 48 | Adult | 8% | 4% | $1.92/lb |
| Pedigree Dry Dog Food for Adult Dogs, High Protein, Beef and Lamb Flavor, 18 lb. Bag | Adult | 26% | 12% | , |
| Pedigree Dry Dog Food with MarroBites Pieces, Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor for Adult Dogs, 14 lb. Bag | Adult | 26% | 12% | $1.21/lb |
| PEDIGREE High Protein Adult Dry Dog Food Beef and Lamb Flavor Dog Kibble, 50 lb. Bonus Bag | Adult | 26% | 12% | $0.54/lb |
| Pedigree Large Breed Adult Roasted Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food, 80-lb bundle | Adult | 26% | 12% | $0.65/lb |
| Pedigree Puppy Growth & Protection Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food, 14-lb bag | Puppy | 26% | 12% | $1.21/lb |
| Pedigree Puppy Variety Pack Wet Dog Food, 3.5-oz pouch, pack of 18 | Puppy | 8% | 5% | $4.05/lb |
What Pedigree costs
Across 103 priced products the median works out at $1.66 per pound, with most falling between $0.94 and $2.35. That is below the $3.74 median for dry dog food across every brand we track.
Bagged retail pricing only. Packages under 2 lb are excluded because their per-pound figures are unreliable.
Strengths
- Meets 4 of WSAVA's 5 questions through Mars Petcare's named PhD nutrition scientists
- Low cost, about $15-$45 a month for a 50 lb dog
- Publishes a finished-product testing program and annual system audits
Watch-outs
- Flagship label says "formulated to meet" AAFCO profiles rather than citing feeding trials
- Pedigree's own pages name no nutritionist or formulator, so the credit comes from Mars's named staff
Who Pedigree suits
Best for: Healthy adult dogs on a tight budget whose owners want a maker with published testing and credentialed nutrition staff.
Avoid if: You want feeding-trial substantiation on the label, or your dog has a medical condition (ask your veterinarian first).
Pedigree head-to-head
Personalized recommendation
WSAVA compliance is one input. Your dog is the other.
IntelliBowl's free 60-second quiz ranks 14+ brands (including Pedigree) against your dog's age, breed, weight, activity, allergies, and budget. Completely free.
Methodology: Scores reflect Pedigree's publicly documented manufacturer-quality practices as of October 2026, assessed against the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee's 5-question rubric. WSAVA itself does not certify, approve, or rank any brand. Monthly cost reflects typical US 2026 retail for a 50 lb adult dog at premium spec, before autoship discounts. See our recommendation methodology.