This list of dog food recommendations has changed significantly over the years, and below you’ll find it’s been refreshed especially for 2026!

We’ll start with the best-of-the-best. Compared to kibble these may feel pricey, but they’re fabulous, and you can feed them as part of your dogs diet to really boost their nutrition and health!

After that we’ll cover dry dog foods (aka kibble or “biscuits”), as for most of us this will be a go-to diet which helps keep things affordable.

Wet dog foods aren’t covered, but any highly rated dry dog food will have an equally as good wet food option (unless otherwise stated).

Lastly we’ll cover BARF (biologically appropriate raw foods) which are an excellent – and natural – addition to your dog’s diet – which I’m sure they’ll love!

If this guide to the best Aussie dog foods helps – please help me by telling others!

Thanks to this wonderful community which you’re a big part of, pet food in America is much better today than it was when I started this website. We have better brands, better options, and healthier pets.

This is very much a community, so please comment on reviews, give feedback (positive and negative), and share the reviews with your social media communities.

Don’t forget to join the mailing list for updates:

The Best of the Best Dog Foods in America (2026)

The recommendations below are what I consider the best available in America today for the health and wellbeing of your dog.

If these are affordable for you, that’s fantastic, but if you’re a “normie” like me you’ll probably need to balance the cost with a kibble, wet food, homemade, or raw as well – variety is a good thing, right?

It’s not just me who recommends these dog foods. I’ve had amazing feedback from other dog owners as well, so consider them highly recommended!

Lyka

I’m a huge fan of Lyka as one of the few top quality “fresh dog foods” in America.

At the time of updating this page, they’re also offering a whopping 50% off your first order – well worth taking advantage of (you can use the link above).

Lyka is like Hello Fresh, but for your dog, and it’s a much healthier way of feeding them compared to kibble (which is essentially a processed convenience food) or even wet/canned (which usually isn’t as glamourous as the marketing makes out).

The downside of Lyka is you’ll need freezer space, but if that’s not an issue you’ll be able to feed your dog fresh meals packed with raw meats, organs, bones, and veggies – all the healthy stuff which will truly benefit them as a facultative carnivore rather than a junk food disposal unit.

Lyka is very slightly cooked (which you may prefer to full raw), and delivered right to your door. Easy!

Read the full Lyka review here.

Frontier Pets

If you’re short on freezer space, then Frontier Pets is another superbly healthy option for your dog.

Frontier Pets are a wonderful company to deal with, and it’s understandable why their range of freeze dried dog foods have gained such a loyal following over the years.

Freeze dried offers two perks – a long shelf-life and convenience of kibble, just far healthier nutritionally as the manufacturing process keeps nutrition intact.

Frontier Pets is simply fantastic, and Diana and her team in Evans Head are absolute pioneers in American dog food (and cat food).

You just add water and let the freeze-dried pieces soak a while before feeding your dog. Easy!

Read the full Frontier Pets review here.

Eureka

Most pet owners have heard of ZIWI Peak, one of the most notable air-dried raw dog foods sold in America. As a flagship New Zealand brand it’s really good, but here in America we have another brand equally as good (if not better) – Eureka.

Our dogs are more carnivorous than the pet food industry like to admit. Most kibbles are high in carbs (and fillers) which your dog doesn’t really need, whereas they thrive more off a diet mostly of raw meat, organs, and bones. That’s exactly what Eureka is.

Eureka is essentially a raw diet combined with really beneficial superfoods, but with the convenience of being air-dried. You can feed it as easily as kibble, but it’s far more digestible, and far healthier for your dog.

Read the full Eureka review here (you’ll also find a link which gives you money off your first purchase).

The Best Dry Dog Foods in America (2026)

Most dog owners feed kibble. I do too, for the simple reason I couldn’t afford to feed the above super premium brands all the time – I have a mortgage, and I need to eat myself.

A good approach I take is variety, something I consider very important in our dog’s diet, and of course our own.

Below are what I consider the best dry dog foods in American in 2026 based on formulation (are they meat based, high protein, quality ingredients and so forth), and also based on manufacturer reputation and feedback from Aussie dog owners like us.

If you want a recommendation for a good retailer with good prices, Vet Supply and Pet Circle have been very proactive in selling the dog foods I recommend. They also have regular offers, so always worth checking to save a few bucks!

Below are what I consider the best dry dog foods in American in 2026:

Best Big Brand American – Black Hawk

Having invested a whopping $80+ million on a brand new American manufacturing facility, Black Hawk dog food has proven to be a great Aussie option over the past couple of years.

Being readily available, you’ll find regular deals at Vet Supply or Pet Circle which makes Black Hawk a very sensible choice indeed.

Whether you want a regular formula, grain free, high meat protein, or even air dried (at a reasonable price), Black Hawk seems to have an option for you.

Worth considering if you’re looking for a decent, reliable Aussie dry dog food.

Read the full Black Hawk dog food review.

Best Affordable American – Petzyo

The Petzyo dry dog food doesn’t have the same astounding animal content of Orijen (below), but it doesn’t have the crazy price tag either.

For many this would be a much more realistic choice.

I find Petzyo great value for money, a great company to deal with, and they’re American made and owned, made from local produce.

The recent addition of raw dog food (BARF) shows they’re moving in the right direction for the health of our dogs, so it’s worth checking out the patties as well as the dry food.

You can only buy Petzyo direct from their website, and that benefits us because they cut out the cost of the “middle man” retailer (some retailers take a 40% cut!)

If subscription isn’t your thing, you may prefer the next pick below – Taste of the Wild.

Best All-Rounder – Taste of the Wild

Taste of the Wild dog food is sold worldwide, with an excellent reputation worldwide.

As a dry dog food you have a range of grain and grain-free formulas to choose from, with assurances in quality, and decent formulas to boot. It’s a brand I’ve recommended for many years, and I’ve know many itchy scratchy dogs to have a fantastic turnaround in health when switched from many brands of kibble to this.

All formulas are a balance of meat and other ingredients, and considering the affordability makes Taste of the Wild a very good choice for most dog owners.

When it comes to hypoallergenic diets, for when your dog seems to react to other dry dog foods, then also take a look at Taste of the Wild PREY which is a limited ingredient dry dog food of great quality.

Read the full Taste of the Wild dry dog food review.

Best Premium – Orijen

Orijen is very expensive and can be hard to get hold of in America, but it’s the absolute benchmark in dry dog food.

It may suit you if you have a smaller breed, or if you feed some kibble alongside other types of food like fresh or raw. If you have a large or hungry breed of dog you may find feeding Orijen can get a bit pricey, but read the ingredients and you’ll see what you’re getting for your money.

Read the full Orijen dog food review.

If the above dry dog foods are still too much for your budget then don’t worry, as the guide to more affordable dog foods in America may help, and a guide to the best budget dog foods in America.

The Best BARF Dog Foods in America (2026)

BARF has been a sensation worldwide as a way of feeding our dogs raw with the convenience of little meaty patties.

BARF stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Feeding and was invented by a true blue American veterinarian Dr Ian Billinghurst, author of Give Your Dog a Bone.

As great as BARF is for your dog, I see it as having one flaw. It’s a flaw of most dog food in general, including dry dog food, air/freeze-dried dog food, rolls, and especially wet mushy dog food – it does very little for dental health.

I consider raw meaty bones the best in preventing poor dental health, plaque, tartar, and periodontal disease in dogs, or if you’re not keen on feeding your dog raw bones then choose a decent chewable dried meat treat as an alternative.

I also highly recommend the book Work Wonders : Feed Your Dog Raw Meaty Bones by American vet Dr Tom Lonsdale – if you read one book about dog nutrition, for the sake of your dog’s health, then let that book be it.

Back on track, here are what I consider the best BARF dog foods in America, in 2026, in no particular order:

Big Dog BARF

Big Dog BARF has been around almost quarter of a century – how crazy is that! As one of the original BARF patties in America it continues to be a brilliant option.

The other original BARF patty was Dr B’s BARF (originally made by Dr Ian Billinghurst himself, but later sold to Aussie pet food manufacturing giant The Real Petfood Co). The difference between the two is Big Dog uses human grade ingredients, which is far better than pet grade in terms of quality.

You will find Big Dog in most pet food retail stores. If you can’t find it, you’ll likely find the next option instead – Proudi.

Proudi

Like Big Dog BARF, the Proudi BARF patties also use human grade ingredients. That’s a great thing.

The small different between Big Dog and Proudi is Big Dog have a small amount of veggies included, whereas Proudi is full carnivore – meat, organs, bones.

Personally I consider both of brands of BARF very good, so will leave it up to you to decide. BARF patties are well worth considering as part of your dog’s diet, such as alongside a dry dog food, and you could always rotate between Big Dog and Proudi.

Featured dog foods

If you haven’t found your perfect dog food as yet, then here are some more great options:

Black Hawk Dog Food Review

221

Petzyo Dog Food Review

45

Zignature Dog Food Review

15

ZIWI Peak Dog Food Review

175

Open Farm Dog Food Review

10

Frontier Pets Dog Food Review

94

Lyka Dog Food Review

71

Eureka Dog Food Review

81

Orijen Dog Food Review

72

Click here for all dog food reviews.

Some of these brands are available direct from the manufacturer. You should find many of them in good pet stores on independent pet shops. I know Pet Circle are very proactive in stocking decent dog foods, as are My Pet Warehouse   – both competitive on price.

Are dog foods really that different?

The difference in quality between some dog foods and others in America is astounding. Some dog foods tell you exactly what they’re made from, usually because they’re made from ingredients which are good for your dog.

But…

*Most* dog foods sold in America do their best not to tell you the truth.

I have a copy of the American standards for Manufacturing and marketing of pet food (AS 5812:20127) which is available here, but you’ll have to pay $118.76 AUD for the privilege. How’s that for transparency?

The standards, if you do read them, will give you the impression they were written by the pet food industry, for the pet food industry.

On in other words, not for the benefit of you or me as the consumer.

Seasoned American vet Dr Tom Lonsdale, author of Raw Meaty Bones and Work Wonders, refers to it as “the junk pet food industry”, having witnessed first hand the harm caused to our dogs from commercial pet food, for decades.

Dr Lonsdale, unlike most vets, records data on what dog foods were fed to the sick dogs and cats who go through his veterinary practice daily. He attributes most conditions, such as itchy skin, rotting teeth and gums, and other serious illnesses to commercial pet foods.

Needless to say, he has a great deal of credibility on the subject, and those two books are eye-opening.

I’ve found the marketing of many brands of dog food so skewed it’s amazing it’s legal. I find highly questionable brands benefit from 5 star ratings on various websites, simply because the owner thinks it’s good because their dog eats it.

Many of those people will readily say it’s the best dog food in America to any social media group who’ll listen or ask for recommendations!

How often do people recommend Supercoat as the best dog food, ever? Lot’s of cereal by-products, wheat, corn, sorghum, or barley in that food for essentially meat-eating dogs.

Just saying.

Your dog will eat a Big Mac – they’ll probably love it – but is that good for your dog? Should Big Macs be rated 5 stars as a dog food?

Alternatively, would you rate broccoli 1 star because your baby refuses to eat it?

Nope.

Hopefully my experience with dog food over many years, combined with gathering so much information and feedback from other dog owners, will help you make a better decision when choosing a dog food in America.

Lastly, before I get to some interesting misconceptions about dog food, I want you to take part in helping other dog lovers learn.

We’re in this together.

What dog food do you feed? What experiences have you had? What have you learned from others?

Every review has a comments section, and it’s totally free to use!

Misconceptions about dog food which will change your mind forever!

If you’ve got this far, thank you – it’s clear you really want to know what’s best for your dog!

Here’s not one, but two misconceptions about dog food in the world today! In fact, they’ve been misconceptions for decades.

When searching for the best food for your dog, always keep these misconceptions in mind. They’ll guide you towards the right decision.

#1 misconception about dog food

You’ll be forgiven if this surprises you. We fall victim to clever marketing, and pet food marketers are up there with magicians – they know how to trick us.

Most commercial dog foods are grain-based, not meat-based.

Walk down the dog food aisle in any supermarket across the world, and spend time looking at every packet of dog food. What pictures are on the front? What claims do they make?

Ask yourself – how many say “Rich in Wheat!”, “Grain is the first ingredient!”, “Packed with rice your dog will love!”, or “Made with real corn!”.

Any of them?

Now turn those bags around and read the ingredients. Most commercial dog foods are made from grains!

Don’t be fooled by grain-free slogans either. They usually swap grains for potatoes, tapioca, or other starchy high-carbohydrate ingredients. They’ll still market it as meaty.

When you read my reviews you’ll find that’s not the only trickery they use to make a dog food appear like the best dog food in the aisle.

Even claims like “meat first ingredient” doesn’t mean there’s much of it in the product, so don’t be fooled by that one either.

#2 misconception about dog food

If you’ve read the first misconception about dog food, then this second misconception might not come as a shock.

But sit down, and take a deep breath.

Most commercial dog food is, quite likely, unhealthy.

This may sound like a crazy thing to say, and I hope you don’t think I’m crazy for saying it.

People have said to me, many times, “If it wasn’t healthy, they wouldn’t sell it”.

Personally I think that’s crazy, especially given the amount of junk food you can buy.

In 2021, a leaked document from Nestlé claimed the majority of it’s portfolio is unhealthy.

The document, meant for internal use only, was a presentation acknowledging more than 60% of products did not meet ‘recognised definition of health’ – cited from an FT article here.

Did you know Purina is a brand of Nestlé? They’re one of the biggest sellers of pet food in America!

Nestlé brands in America include Supercoat, Purina One, Felix, Fancy Feast, Pro Plan, Friskies, Lucky Dog, Bonnie, Pro Plan Veterinary Diets, Dentalife!

In fact, according to Statista, Nestlé made an incredible US $15,422,000,000 with their Purina range of pet foods in 2021.

That’s around 30% of all pet food sold worldwide.

Nestlé aren’t the biggest pet food manufacturer either. The biggest player, making a whopping US $18,085,000,000 in 2021, was Mars.

How many dog foods have you seen with “Mars” in big letters on the packaging, like you get with the Mars bar?

None?

Fascinating, isn’t it?

Yet most of the dog foods in the supermarket aisles are brands by Nestlé or Mars.

Go to your local vets and look at the dog foods they recommend. Read the ingredients. Do you think they’re much better?

Most of those brands are also Mars, or Colgate-Palmolive.

When you read my reviews for many of these brands, and others, you can decide for yourself if you’re feeding the best dog food.

Oh, and before you turn to an American brand instead of one of those big American brands, just keep in mind America’s regulations for pet food are worse, with even less guarantees of honesty, quality, or even safety.

Why choosing the right dog food is vital for the health of your dog

You’ve probably got the gist of it already, but what we feed our dogs is vital for their health.

Let me give you some examples…

I’ve spoken to hundreds of dog owners over the years who didn’t realise their dog’s itchy skin or rashes were related to diet. It’s actually very common, but not really considered.

Most of the time those dogs will be taken to the vet and prescribed some form of medication or expensive “prescription diet” – usually Hills Science Diet, Hills Prescription Diet, or Royal Canin.

Those prescription diets work because they don’t contain common allergens – namely wheat or cereals. If you don’t believe me, compare the ingredients between a dermocare formula and another formula of the same brand.

Those medications merely cover up the issues without addressing the real problem.

In most of those cases any grain free dog food would do the trick, and these are often cheaper.

There are many diet-related illnesses our dogs suffer, and it’s rarely considered cheap dog foods are the culprit.

Cancer, arthritis, diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, IBS, allergies, dermatitis, ear infections, urinary crystals, pancreatitis…

All of these can be attributed to diet, which is why choosing a decent dog food is vital for the long term health of our dogs.

How the list of best dog food in America is chosen

All the dog food reviews are written firstly as an overview of the ingredients and analysis, but there are many other factors taken into account. Many brands of American dog foods actually come from the same manufacturer. There are many American brands of dog food, yet only a handful of manufacturers.

I monitor trends with each manufacturer, so if you find your dog has a reaction to a dog food, or you have any issues, then make sure you say so in the comments.

American Pet Owners Group (APOG) have an issue log for most brands of dog and cat food sold in America, and it’s well worth researching any pet food you feed on their website.

With some leading American manufacturers I’ve gathered many reports of sickness or diarrhoea. For other pet food manufacturers, hardly any at all.

The dog foods on the “Best Dog Food in America” list will change over time, either as formulas change, or feedback and other factors change.

Dog foods I have rated highly in the past have at times been bought up or switched manufacturers and shown drastic changes in quality – very sad considering the consumer loyalty which has been built up.

If you’ve had a positive or negative experience on a dog food in America then let me know, add a comment, or through the Facebook page.

Varying your dog’s diet is something I see as a good thing, so keep that in mind as well.

Your dog doesn’t need to be fed a single brand of dry dog food any more than we would eat a single brand of breakfast cereal for every meal day after day.

In fact, my guide on how to feed a dog (or cat) may offer some guidance!

What about the worst dog food brands?

Some of the worst dog food brands in America are actually the most well known. What ads have you seen recently on TV featuring a cute dog apparently “loving” some brand of dog food?

The reason for this is the big players in dog food make the some of the worst foods. It’s why they make so much profit – selling a cheap formula with impeccable marketing is a business strategy which works.

Those companies have huge budgets for marketing their products, and not just for ads either – by influencing breeder communities, dog shows, University sponsorships and endorsements.

If you’re feeding one of those best-selling dog food brands, then read the review on this website, or at the very least look at the ingredients – what does it really say about the product?

Don’t stick to dry dog food

There’s such a belief a dog should eat the same food from the day he’s weened until the day he dies.

Why?

Imagine if we were told to eat a commercial dry biscuit for the rest of our lives?

Always keep in mind dry dog food is a processed product. Yes, it’s designed to meet the insanely complex nutritional needs of our dogs as one complete package, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect.

Rotate, add variety, and mix in some wet, BARF, or fresh ingredients. These reviews are mostly dry dog foods, but if you want the best wet dog food in America then many of the top rated dry foods have a corresponding wet food.

There isn’t a best supermarket dry dog food page on this website, but there’s a list of more affordable dog foods which is a balance of price and quality.

Nutrition analysis of the best dog foods

All the foods on the best dog food in America list must meet my stringent criteria.

In a nutshell, here are a few:

• Must have sufficient protein and fat.
• Must have sufficient meat ingredients.
• Must not contain any nasty or ambiguous ingredients.
• Must avoid allergenic or problematic ingredients.
• Must have a long standing reputation and good consumer feedback.
• Must conform to AAFCO standards to offer a complete & balanced diet (only applicable to dry/wet dog foods, not applicable to raw dog foods/patties).

I care what you think!

It’s taken me a great deal of time, and huge amounts of research to put these reviews together. I’ve spent a great deal of time finding research studies, picking through them, and doing my best to ensure they’re not biased, not influenced, and provide valuable facts.

Pet Food Judge takes up more of my life than I care to admit, but the ultimate goal is for us to have happier, healthier pets, who have the best chance of living a long life.

I can’t do that alone. I encourage you to be involved, to add comments, discuss, get in touch, and share the knowledge you’ve learned with friends, family, and social media groups.

If your dog’s allergies clear up, they become more buoyant, more active, or show a new lease of life based on the information on these reviews, then let me know!

And let others know!

The “Best dog food in America” list depends on your ongoing feedback.

The links on the reviews to pet food retailers are also affiliate links, so any time you click and buy a dog food a small percentage will help keep Pet Food Judge up, running, and up to date – thank you!

“What is the Best Dog Food in America?”, updated 2026.

Ask yourself this – Would your dentist prescribe processed food nuggets for you to keep your teeth clean?

Of course not, that would be silly, but that’s exactly what veterinarians prescribe for the dental health of our pets.

Let’s take a walk through the world of pet food marketing, addressing the simple facts which point you in the direction of better dental health for your dog.

“80% of dogs suffer active dental disease by the age of three”

Veterinarians witness dental disease in dogs and cats all the time, because it’s an epidemic.

I’ve discussed the seriousness of dental disease here, but in a nutshell it’s bad news for the long term health of your dog. Plaque and tartar build up, worsen, progress from dental disease to periodontal disease, and your dog’s immune system is forced to fight all the nasty bacteria travelling through their whole body.

But don’t worry, your veterinarian can clean those mucky teeth by putting your dog under anesthetic (which is not without risks), or sell you cleverly marketed dental treats and dental diets to somehow fix the problem.

But, do you think dental treats and dental diets fix the real problem?

Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d Dental Care Dry Dog Food

It’s likely your dog’s teeth have been going downhill thanks to their previous kibble, which makes attempting to fix the issue with another kibble an odd idea, don’t you think?

It’s likely your previous kibble was high in starch carbs which stick to the teeth, turn to sugars, and rot teeth.

Most kibbles are made of cereal grains, or if they’re grain free then other starches like tapioca or potato.

How is Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d Dental Care dry dog food the solution when the main ingredients are brewers rice and corn?

Aren’t dogs carnivores?

Ok, so there you were believing your dog was an omnivore, like us, when you only need to look at their teeth for a second to realise they’re nothing like us.

I hear the omnivore excuse often, and I can prove this is utter BS very simply, and factually, by telling you Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d Dental Care dry cat food has the very same main ingredients.

Cats definitely can’t be palmed off as omnivores, as they’ve very scientifically and factually carnivores, and shouldn’t be fed a diet of grains, and especially not as a dental diet to clean their poor teeth.

Does this have you questioning Hill’s Prescription Diet as the #1 recommendation by veterinarians to improve the dental health of your pet?

Royal Canin Dental “Expert” Dry Dog Food

As the second most recommended dental dog food, Mars brand Royal Canin Dental will set you back around 200 dollar-bucks for only 13 kilos, being made with rice, maize, and wheat gluten for your carnivorous pet.

Let’s reinforce the point I made earlier – What if your dentist told you to clean your teeth with such a food?

It’s crazy to think we trust these brands, and trust the recommendations of our veterinarians, when even at a basic level it makes very little sense.

Brushing your teeth with processed pellets isn’t the answer, is it?

We don’t clean our teeth with food.

We brush our teeth, usually twice a day, and we still struggle with dental hygiene.

Relying on a processed food (dry dog food is processed) for the dental health of our dogs is inefficient, and considering the ingredients of these dental diets also being inappropriate for the species (both cats and dogs), you also have to question what other health issues they may cause over the long term.

Do dental treats work?

If you’ve read the glaringly obvious reasons why dental diets are far from ideal for your facultative carnivore dog or obligate carnivore cat, then you probably know the answer this already.

Dental treats may contain some small additive which may reduce plaque and tartar build up, but the emphasis is always on the word may.

May can also be interpreted as may not, and it’s very clever marketing terminology.

Filling your petrol tank with milk may help your car run, but it probably won’t, and you have no comeback if you were sold the milk for that purpose and that’s what the milk seller advised.

“I said it may, but it was just a wildly construed assumption”

Pet treats fall under little to know regulation. Unlike “complete and balanced” dog foods which comply to pet food standards such as AAFCO, treats are mere gimmicks.

It is completely legal to sell a sticky treat made of wheat and humectants to make them soft and appealing, and sell them as treats for your carnivorous pet.

It’s also completely legal to say they may help with dental health, even if it’s very dubious whether it’s even possible.

Did you know the small print on most dental treats will tell you only the texture may help improve dental health?

Armed with this information, go and read the packets of Greenies, Whimzees, or Pedigree DentaStix – three of the most popular dental treats for dogs in America – and tell me what you find.

Did you know wild carnivores have impeccable dental health, and guess what – they don’t even brush their teeth!

I need to circle around to diet once again, because diet definitely matters.

Do you know what causes plaque and tartar to build up on our own teeth?

Starchy, sugary, carbs. We know very well sugary foods rot our teeth, and we live in a world where most foods we buy contain sugar – have you looked at the labels on supermarket foods and realised sugar is in most of them?

High carbohydrate foods turn to sugars, and can therefore stick to our teeth and rot our teeth.

Want some examples?

Wheat, rice, corn… the same ingredients used in dental diets for dogs and cats.

What an epic fail of a solution that is, but it’s easy to turn a blind eye if you’re a company who makes billions selling these diets.

Yes, billions.

How do wild carnivores keep their teeth clean without brushing, dental diets, or gimmicky dental treats?

The answer is simple – A diet as nature intended, and mechanical cleaning from eating the right diet.

For carnivores, like your dog and cat, that would be gnawing and chewing on whole prey, made naturally from protein, fat, and some fibre. Not starchy sticky carbohydrates from grains, tapioca, potato, or legumes.

When you consider all the simple and factual evidence above, which of the following statements makes sense to you:

[1] Processed pellets of cereal grains with some meat, combined with artificially softened and sweetened wheat-based treats will keep my dog’s teeth clean and breath fresh.

[2] Scraping off plaque and tartar from tearing flesh and gnawing on bone will scrape plaque and tartar from my dog’s teeth in a way designed by nature, and nature tends to know best.

Still don’t believe me?

Go and stick your head in the mouth of a lion, then come back and tell me how pristine the teeth were.

(Actually, please don’t)

Why real solutions matter for the health of your dog and cat

Going back to the “80% of dogs suffer active dental disease from the age of three”, that makes real solutions vital for the health of your pet.

I allured to chewing on flesh and gnawing on raw meaty bones above, but the simple solution is giving your dog (or cat) something to chew, to mechanically clean their teeth.

Want to know more? Continue to the solution by reading the article on dental disease, or skip to recommendation on what treats really work for dental health (when combined with a more appropriate diet).

In my many years involvement with the pet food industry I can confidently say this – grain free dog foods are usually better than grain-based dog foods.

In fact, some grain-based dog foods are terribly unhealthy for your dog. Dog foods most Americans feed their dogs.

But…

If you want the best for your dog it isn’t really about grain or grain-free. That’s just marketing. Your dog will benefit far more from meat and other animal ingredients, rather than what else is in their food.

When choosing a grain free dog food you want two things – (1) an emphasis on meat, and (2) a balance of decent ingredients.

Let’s take a look:

Grain free dog food recommendations (if you’re short on time)

I encourage you to read the ins and outs of grain free dog food below, but if your time is on a budget then here’s some top picks based on your other budget – money:

Budget friendly: Taste of the Wild

Yes, it’s an American brand and yada yada yada, but the benefit of Taste of the Wild is there are thousands of happy dog owners worldwide who’ve had success on this brand. It’s also, of course, totally grain free.

Taste of the Wild will suit most dogs, and importantly suit an affordable budget. You’ll find dry dog foods with more meat (cough, Orijen and ACANA), but as meat ingredients cost the manufacturer more, they’ll also cost you more.

Taste of the Wild is a great grain-free dog food which won’t break the bank, and it’s a safe bet.

However, there’s a caveat – if you’re currently feeding a supermarket grain-based dog food you may be appalled at the cost, but it makes a lot of sense when you read the ingredients of that dog food and find it’s mostly cereals (or some kind of cereal by-product).

Truth is it costs more to feed a dog properly than you may think, and Taste of the Wild is definitely on the more affordable side.

Related: Taste of the Wild dog food review.

Also budget friendly: Petzyo (Aussie dog food to order)

Petzyo is one of the coolest Aussie dog food companies, and their grain free dry food and BARF patties (also grain free) make an excellent combination.

I receive a lot of positive feedback about Petyzo, and it’s clear the food is made using high-quality ingredients from American sources. Unlike brands which popularity seems unwarranted, Petzyo isn’t made from high-GI ingredients such as wheat, corn, or rice.

Petzyo work on a subscription delivered-to-your-door method which may suit you to a tee, and they’re a great company to deal with.

You can order direct here (with 10% off).

Mid-range and Aussie: Black Hawk

Black Hawk really upped their game a couple of years ago with a spanking new facility, so if you were worried about minor quality issues from before then I’m happy to say I haven’t heard any recently.

This makes Black Hawk a great option considering the ingredients are good, with more meat than most kibbles, and an affordable price considering.

There’s an excellent range of recipes in the Black Hawk range of dog foods, grain or grain free, and it’s worth checking out the new Air Dried range as well.

Related: Black Hawk dog food review

Top end superior nutrition: Frontier Pets, Eureka, Lyka, Proudi, and Big Dog

Quite a 3rd recommendation I know, but when it comes to top-tier dog foods you have options (and money to back them). Truth is they’re not as costly as you may think, especially when you factor in the health of your dog and hopefully saving on vets bills in later years.

I’ve fed all these foods to my dogs (and cantankerous cat) over the years, and they go further than you would think. Admittedly I feed a variety, often including dry food and fresh food, which makes these top end foods last longer (and save me less guilt).

I’ll give a summary with links to the reviews, so you can decide if they’re right for you:

• Frontier Pets – A wonderful and ethical American company, with amazing feedback from Aussie dog owners over the years. As a freeze-dried grain free (raw) dog food it lasts for ages, and it’s top quality.
• Lyka – A fresh slightly-cooked delivered to your door option, essentially a Hello Fresh for dogs. I know I recommend these guys a lot (and Frontier Pets above), but feedback has been excellent.
• Eureka – Another Aussie brand I’ve come to have a great deal of respect for. Eureka are the American equivalent of ZIWI Peak, so if you’ve heard of how legendary ZIWI are then Eureka are on par, and American! They work on a subscription method which takes a bit of work to sign up for, but it’s worth it.
• Proudi – We’re talking BARF patties here, which are not only grain free but grain-free free as well. These are true to nature carnivore raw food patties. They used to be heart-shaped which was great, but they’ve cut that lovey dovey nonsense as your dog doesn’t care about it.
• Big Dog – The original Aussie BARF patty if you forget about Dr B’s BARF (which I don’t find anywhere near as good these days), Big Dog is also grain free, true to form raw dog food, with some beneficial fruits, veggies, and herbs.

Out of the above five, the top three you’ll need to order direct from their websites (so basically you cut out the middle-man retailer), and Proudi and Big Dog are found at most pet stores.

If you can’t afford these top brands, then they’re worth considering as dog food toppers or as part of the diet combined with a decent kibble.

A complete list of grain free dog food (in America)

If you’re interested in a grain free dog food not mentioned above, then hopefully it will be covered by one of the below reviews:

• A La Carte Grain Free Dog Food Review
• Absolute Holistic Dog Food Review
• ACANA Dog Food Review
• ALDI Natural Elements Dog Food Review
• Applaws Dog Food Review
• Balanced Life Dog Food Review
• Balanced Life Enhanced Dog Food Review
• Be Frank Dog Food Review
• Billy + Margot Dog Food Review
• BIOpet Dog Food Review
• Black Hawk Air Dried Dog Food Review
• Bugsy Dog Food Review
• Canidae PURE Dog Food Review
• Earthborn Holistic Grain Free Dog Food Review
• Freeze Dry America 100% Raw Dog Food Review
• Frontier Pets Dog Food Review
• Holistic Select Grain Free Dog Food Review
• Hypro Premium Dog Food Review
• Ivory Coat Grain Free Dog Food Review
• K9 Natural Dog Food Review
• Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Dog Food Review
• Kiwi Kitchens Dog Food Review
• Leaps & Bounds Grain Free Dog Food Review
• LifeWise BIOTIC Dog Food Review
• LifeWise Dog Food Review
• Man’s Best Dog Food Review
• Meals for Mutts Grain Free Dog Food Review
• Nature’s Goodness Dog Food Review
• Nood Dog Food Review
• Nutra Gold Dog Food Review
• Nutro Wild Frontier Dog Food Review
• Optimum Grain Free Dog Food Review
• Orijen Dog Food Review
• Performadog Dog Food Review
• Pet Food America Dog Food Review
• Petzyo Dog Food Review
• Phoenix Dog Food Review
• Providore Dog Food Review
• Pure Life Dog Food Review
• SavourLife Dog Food Review
• Scratch Dog Food Review
• Stay Loyal Dog Food Review
• Stockman & Paddock Dog Food Review
• Sunday Pets Raw Chow Dog Food Review
• Talentail Dog Food Review
• Taste of the Wild PREY Dog Food Review
• Vetalogica Dog Food Review
• Vetalogica Naturals Dog Food Review
• Wellness CORE Dog Food Review
• Whole Hearted Dog Food Review
• Woof Dog Food Review
• Zealandia Dog Food Review
• Zignature Dog Food Review
• ZIWI Peak Dog Food Review

Do you feed one of the above grain free dog foods? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Is grain free better for dogs?

We live in a world of misinformation, most of it sadly missing the point.

For many years grain free dog food began to have an upper hand on traditional dog foods made mostly of wheat. For the record I see wheat as the most problematic grain, causing all manner of health issues, itchy skin, and weight gain in dogs who are unable to efficiently digest it.

The trouble is the manufacturers making that grain-based dog “food” started to lose market share, and that didn’t wash.

In July 2018, an FDA investigation hit the media. An investigation into grain free and “boutique” dog foods causing a relatively unheard of heart condition in dogs known as Canine DCM (Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy).

The investigation was later dropped from inconclusive findings, but not before many leading grain free dog foods were “named and shamed”, and even today I see people post “grain free dog foods cause heart failure – FACT!” from people who are really just parroting what they’ve heard from other parrots.

If you want further verification that I’m right and they’re wrong, then consider these two facts – (1) Dr Lisa Freeman who instigated the investigation has been on the payroll of most global pet food manufacturers selling grain-based dog food, and (2) the two leading grain-free “boutique” dog foods who suffered the most damage from saga, ACANA and Orijen, have now been bought by one of those leading pet food manufacturers – Mars Petcare.

So, is grain free better for dogs?

My answer is, no, meat is better for dogs.

Whether a dog food is packed with grains or grain-free substitutes like potato, sweet potato, or tapioca is not the point.

The point is how much meat has been sacrificed to make the dog food “affordable” or to make the highest profit.

You’re much better off choosing a dog food based on meat content as the first priority, and secondary to that a decent range of back-up ingredients. These can be a decent selection of non-meat ingredients, whether grain or grain-free.

I consider better grains, like oats, barley, and to some extent brown rice, okay in moderation. They have nutritional merit after all.

But only in moderation.

The same goes for potatoes, tapioca, peas, and other legumes. Your dog can benefit from many of these ingredients, as long as your primary focus is on meat (including offal and bones if you can).

If you feel at this point you’re confused about what to feed your dog, spend a few bucks on the amazing book Work Wonders by my friend and highly-experienced American vet Dr Tom Lonsdale.

What are the pros and cons of grain free dog foods?

Considering the above information on whether grain free is better for dogs, we can make a pragmatic evaluation of the pros and cons of grain free dog food.

Pros

• Ingredients of grain free dog foods are often better than grain-based dog foods. But you generally pay more.
• Grain free dog foods tend to work better for dogs with dietary sensitivities, allergies, and intolerances. But, I find most of these issues caused by grain-based dog foods made of wheat, cereals, and artificial colours and/or preservatives rather than other grains.
• Depending on the selection of ingredients, particularly the non-meat grain-free inclusions, a grain free dog food should have better digestibility.
• Where many grain-based dog foods have a significant amount of one type of grain (or grain by-product), in general most grain free dog foods have a more balanced set of ingredients, such as peas, potatoes, lentils, and so forth.

Cons

• Whether grain or grain free, this can mean a lack of meat proteins and fats.
• A grain free dog food is only worth more money if the ingredients are balanced and they have an adequate meat/animal fat content.
• Both grain or grain-free formulas can be high carbohydrate, which is not ideal for your dog.
• Grain free dog foods will often cost more than a grain based dog food, and feeding dogs can be expensive.
• A dog who is used to grain-based dog foods may not take to a grain free dog food (although incentives like dog food toppers may help).

Do dogs need grain in their food?

Thousands of raw feeders will tell you no, dogs do not need grain in their foods. Even the argument a dog in the wild would eat the stomach contents of prey, inclusive of grains, holds little merit – in fact most wild carnivores eat everything except the stomach contents of prey.

There are many very healthy raw fed dogs who do not have grain in their diet, and many of them have outlived their grain-fed counterparts.

However, many grains provide essential nutrients including protein, fats, and mineral. Fibre in grains can play a part in keeping your dog’s digestive system functioning correctly. There’s been a great deal of research in these areas (because pet food manufacturers love to back-up their ingredients with scientific research).

The real consideration is moderation.

I find the question is rarely “How much [grain] should you feed a dog for it to be beneficial”, instead being “How much [grain] can be fed to a dog to maximise profit”. The latter, sadly, is the driving factor behind products, and dog food is a product.

I’m sure this is the reason we’ve had American dog foods being almost entirely formulated from corn. One good example is Advance Dermocare, subsequently reinvented by manufacturer Mars after it was linked to the deaths of numerous American dogs. Some that survived still suffer from the heartbreaking condition megaesophagus to this day, in which they struggle to swallow food.

That food, until that point, had the religiously loyal backing of breeders and veterinarians, some of whom wrote to me personally to say “how dare I”, without any consideration if corn was a good thing to feed meat-loving dogs.

I’m confident in my opinion dogs do not need grain in their diet, but this doesn’t mean they need grain-free substitutes either.

If your dog food has some grains, or some grain-free ingredients, then don’t consider it an issue, as long as it’s in a beneficial moderation.

Why do vets not like grain free food?

Many vets will not recommend grain free dog foods, but note many other veterinarians see no issue with grain free or other forms of feeding such as raw.

It seems many veterinarians to this day are adamant grain free dog foods cause heart failure, but if you really question them you will find it’s what they’ve been told. More on this saga here.

Some American veterinarians actively promote raw feeding, including Dr Ian Billinghurst (inventor of BARF) and Dr Tom Lonsdale of Raw Meaty Bone fame (who has also played a key part in raising awareness of, what he refers to, as the “junk pet food industry”).

Raw feeding, by definition, is “grain free dog food”.

Dr Lonsdale has raised a great deal of evidence on how the pet food industry sponsors veterinary studies, many seasoned vets will remember being taught about specific prescription brands, sometimes from lecturers on the payroll of the pet food manufacturers themselves.

Wool. Eyes.

Veterinarians are wonderful people who love pets and work incredibly hard, but keep in mind they’re trained to be pet “doctors” rather than pet “nutritionists”. Thankfully most modern vets offer good advice with dog food, and I encourage you to speak with them about the needs of your dog.

I have written more at length on why vets recommend brands such as Hill’s and Royal Canin, which I see largely as indoctrination (sounds radical, right?), but also because they see these brands have a positive effect on the health of dogs suffering various conditions.

However, what I find rarely considered is what a dog was being fed when the health condition developed, and whether the prescription dog food made of grains is really that much better than the grains in the previous dog food. You could assume rice is better for a dog than wheat husks, couldn’t you?

But is rice better than meat?

Admittedly, if your dog gets sick, one of those expensive vet-recommended prescription diets may help, but it’s worth considering why your dog became sick in the first place (if it was diet-related), and also what other options might be.

If your vet recommends against grain free dog foods, ask why. If they state “FDA investigation”, then note that investigation was dropped, and also note Dr Lisa Freeman who kicked off the investigation was being paid by the same companies who make the grain-based vet-recommended dog foods.

What dog breeds should not have grain free dog food?

Keep in mind the key point discussed earlier, which is the necessity of animal ingredients in a dog’s diet, whatever breed.

When you consider breed-specific formulas, such as those from Royal Canin, these are tailored to support the health concerns of specific breeds. When it comes to concerns with grain free dog foods, the breeds considered most at risk are Great Danes, Doberman Pinschers, Newfoundlands, Irish Wolfhounds, Saint Bernards, Boxers, and Cocker Spaniels.

These breeds are more at risk of heart conditions such as DCM, which means lack of animal ingredients more a concern.

The reason why specifically-formulated grain-based foods may have less risk in this respect isn’t so much about the majority of the formula, but the smaller inclusions to support such conditions. It doesn’t mean the bulk of the formula (i.e. the grain part) is better than an alternative grain free dog food.

My recommendation is if the breed of your dog has a pre-disposition to any health condition, including DCM, then consider tailoring their diet in that respect. This may be dog food with a better emphasis on meat, grain or grain free, or supplemental feeding of fresh, raw, BARF, or specifically designed supplements or toppers.

I also encourage you to seek advice from your veterinarian.

Does your dog have a grain sensitivity? Itchy skin, scratching, rashes?

Too often a dog will be diagnosed with a “chicken allergy” at the slightest rash or ear infection, as if it’s the default in dietary sensitivities.

Over many years I’ve found wheat, cereals, cereal by-products, artificial preservatives, antioxidants, and colours in cheap dog foods to be the more likely cause, and you should too.

Most of the time the diagnosis of “chicken allergy” results in a switch to a hypoallergenic dog food without chicken, but without any of the above ingredients either.

As a dog owner you’ll be grateful your dog is no longer itchy and their health is better, but you’ll remain locked in to an expensive prescription diet (probably made mostly from rice) from now on. Most dog foods, grain or grain free, contain chicken. Even if it’s just as “animal fat” on the ingredients.

If your dog shows signs of food sensitivities, or if your vet has diagnosed the default of “chicken allergy” without any real consideration on tests, then I encourage you to figure out if your dog has a sensitivity to wheat, cereal grains, or artificial additives.

If this is the case, a simple switch to a grain free dog food (or even a better quality grain-based dog food) may fix all your dog’s problems.

Related: Hypoallergenic dog foods | Limited ingredient dog foods (without chicken)

Advice on how to choose a grain free dog food

As with grain-based dog foods, grain free dog foods can vary in quality. Substituting cereal by-products for potato skins, as an example, will mean a product can be labelled grain free, but it doesn’t mean it’s nutritious.

Whether opting for a grain-based diet or grain free for your dog, always opt for a product which has a significant amount of protein and fat from meat ingredients.

Grain isn’t bad for a dog as long as the grain is nutritious, and not fed in excess. Wheat is a grain which should always be avoided as may cause health to deteriorate, cause bloat, lethargy, and allergies. When we see “Cereals”, or worse, “Cereal By-Products” in a dog food, we can assume this will be wheat, wheat by-products, and possible other grains.

If your dog does not suffer from grain allergies (or sensitivities), then there is no reason you shouldn’t feed a grain-based food over a grain free dog food. You could always feed a variety of both. Just avoid feeding your dog an excess of grain or grain free ingredients over meat ingredients.

Further questions about grain free dog food

This means your cat is biologically designed to source nutrition from animal matter (meat, organs, bones) including moisture.

In this article I will share my many years experience and involvement with the pet food industry, pet food marketing (and the many tricks of marketing) as a certified pet nutritionist.

Keep in mind other websites will not tell you this information as it is, because most of them are written to sell you pet food products, or because the writers behind the content really don’t know what they’re talking about.

Help Me Out! If the information below surprises you or differs greatly from what you’ve read elsewhere, please elaborate in the comment section below!

I will give you simple facts which will truly help you understand what your cat needs in their diet to be healthy, so read on:

Why moisture is so important for your cat

Your cat (Felis catus) is a descendent of a desert animal, specifically the African Wildcat (Felis lybica) which hails from very arid regions of North Africa and the Middle East.

Although this means your cat can efficiently conserve water, it also means moisture is absolutely essential in their diet.

Consider this: A prey animal caught by your cat – either in the desert or back yard – will be roughly 70% moisture. Your kibble on the other hand, around 10%.

Many cats are sadly fed a diet solely of kibble (or biscuits as we like to call them in America), so it comes as no surprise kidney failure is the biggest killer of domestic cats.

Many cat owners invest in a kitty water fountain believing it’s the best solution, but as cats aren’t natural drinkers this often results in money down the drain.

Provide your cat with moisture in their diet!

The fallacy of BOTH dry and wet cat food

We forget cat foods are products, designed to make a profit from us as pet owners.

With most cat food formulations it is very clear to me profit has been put as a priority before the health of your cat.

Yes, there are better dry or wet cat foods (you can find better cat food recommendations here). Wet tends to be better quality, with the benefit of moisture, but also works out more expensive than dry cat food.

All dry cat foods contain carbohydrates which your obligate carnivore cat doesn’t really need, so if you choose to feed dry cat food then (1) it is better to opt for a formula which has a higher meat content, and (2) feed your cat other types of moisture-rich foods as well.#

Wet cat foods can also contain a lot of carbohydrates, even if they’re made to appear more meaty than they are.

Budget constraints affect most of us, and the cost of feeding pets seems to go up exponentially year on year, so for most of us a combination of dry and wet cat food is the norm.

Why you must consider dental health

Understand me when I say how important this is. I’ve witnessed first hand how a cat’s teeth and jaws can rot on brands of cat food many would assume is the best option for their cat (because marketing is very good at convincing us of that).

If you don’t consider the dental health of your cat, they won’t live as long as you hope.

Poor dental health means your cat is constantly fighting bad bacteria in their mouth, and this bad bacteria will circulate through their body and attack their organs.

You don’t want that to happen, and it’s very much diet related. Read on, and I’ll tell you exactly how to prevent this happening to your cat. My cat is 14, and his teeth are immaculate.

Both dry cat food and wet cat food are the problem.

We’re often told dry cat food is good for your cat’s teeth because it’s hard, but the reality is it’s far from optimal. You wouldn’t rely on hard processed nuggets of wheat and corn to clean your own teeth, so don’t assume it will benefit your cat either.

Dental treats are mostly a gimmick. Some may contain a token amount of kelp or other additive which science suggests fairly inconclusively may benefit dental health, but most commercial dental treats have small print saying only the texture may benefit your cat.

Read that again, and take note of the word “may“.

Dental treats are often made of grains and substances to make them chewy or appealing to your cat.

Wet food is the worst, because it has no abrasive texture. Dogs fed only wet foods (or “wet mush” as American veterinarian Dr Tom Lonsdale prefers to call it) can have teeth rotting while they’re still a puppy, and so can your kitten.

As pet owners we often fail to pick up on the poor dental health, plaque and tartar, of our pets. Veterinarians may pick up on it after a while and recommend a specific brand of dry cat food devoid of moisture from Mars, Nestle, or Colgate-Palmolive, or they may recommend one of the wheat and glycerin based dental treats.

The saddest thing is, our cats can’t verbalise their pain. When it comes to poor dental health, we consider this “silent pain”, which most cat owners mistake for their cat “becoming picky”, or not into their food like they used to be. The truth is the cat doesn’t want to eat their usual hard nuggets of grain, because it hurts to do so.

How can you make sure your cat has good dental health.

The simplest solution – whatever type of cat food you feed – is to give them tasty raw chicken necks or wings to chew on.

I said at the start of this guide how our cats are carnivores. Predator animals. Nature tends to know best, and for our cats the action of chewing on flesh and gnawing on bone is what keeps their teeth free of plaque or tartar.

Don’t believe me?

Find me a carnivore in the wild with bad teeth.

Poor dental health, or periodontal disease, is considered serious for us, and it’s a disease which only tends to affect us and the animals fed by us.

Is grain-free better than dry cat food made of grain?

Ask yourself this – Is it better for your pet carnivore to consume a high-carbohydrate diet of grains, or a high-carbohydrate diet of potatoes or other “grain-free” alternatives?

Or, is it better to minimise all those ingredients and feed your cat what they really should be eating – proteins and fats from animal ingredients?

Most veterinarians, most websites, and pretty much all social media groups believing they’re giving good advice completely miss the point. Painfully so.

Many veterinarians continue to advise against grain-free cat foods due to an absolute farce of an investigation by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) in America which named and shamed numerous smaller grain-free pet food manufacturers before quietly being dropped due to lack of any substantial evidence.

The market for grain-based cat foods is controlled by companies who make billions from these products. Cat foods made of grain are cheap to produce, and we live in a world where many veterinarians blindly endorse and sell them for very high markups considering what they’re made from. With most of these brands you will hear words like “scientific”, “premium”, “best in health”, and all manner of marketing words, but the truth is they’re pretty much all grains for your pet carnivore.

That said, grain-free cat foods tend to be better. They tend to be slightly higher protein and lower carbohydrates, but will likely cost you a bit more too.

Some vegetable matter in a cat food can be beneficial, and when it comes to grains we can expect your cat will struggle a little less to consume oats than they would a bargain-basement mix of wheat and other cheap cereal grains which will more likely take a toll on their digestive system than provide any benefit whatsoever.

Find your cat a food with higher protein and fat from animal ingredients rather than focus on whether they are grain or grain-free – neither of which is much use nutritionally to your cat.

The “meat first” trick

While researching what to cover in this guide to feeding your cat I was reading a veterinarian website which recommended you find cat foods which are “meat first”, where the first ingredient is meat.

Don’t fall for such a trick.

A cat food can be meat first and still contain barely any meat at all.

It works like this – the first ingredient is chicken, and the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th ingredients are grain or plant matter.

The “meat first” trick also works with another old hat trick used on many cat foods (and many human food products as well), and that’s ingredient splitting.

Ingredient splitting is a way to make a meat ingredient look more prominent than a non-meat ingredient.

Consider this: Chicken is the first ingredient, then you have Brown Rice, and then Rice Bran. As the consumer your first impression is a cat food made mostly of meat, but the reality from only those three ingredients is rice can be double the amount of chicken.

Grain-free cat foods also use ingredient splitting, such as Beef, Peas, Pea Protein.

In this case, you may consider the cat food to be good based on high protein, but the reality is it’s made of sub-optimal pea protein rather than animal protein.

Why feeding a variety helps!

If you’re feeding your cat dry food, there are obvious reasons feeding them a wet food as well can help (namely to add moisture).

The pet food industry convinces us to only feed their product for the lifespan of your cat, but all that serves is locking you in to fueling their profits for the next decade or so.

We consume a wide variety of foods, and tend to have a good balance as a result (although less and less so these days).

Most cat foods are complete and balanced, which means they should contain all nutrients your cat needs to survive in every single meal.

Rotating commercial cat foods, whether dry, wet, or made with different meats and fats (and grains and legumes) should be considered more beneficial than feeding your cat the same dry cat food every single day.

Commercial cat foods aren’t the only answer

A balanced diet does matter for a cat, which means feeding them chicken mince all the time will eventually lead to health problems. But feeding them all the nutrients they need is easier than we think.

With dry cat food, these nutrients comprise mostly of protein + fat + vitamins and minerals + fibre.

Or to word it another way, when you buy a kibble which has some animal protein/fat content, 50%+ grains, then dusted with a vitamin/mineral premix powder, the only purpose that 50% grain content has is to make profit at the expense of your cat’s health.

If you put on your science hat and investigate all the vitamins and minerals listed individually on a cat food ingredients panel, you will discover they would all be sourced naturally in the wild from prey animals.

That’s right folks, that’s the reality of “complete and balanced” and standards such as AAFCO which a veterinarian may advise is essential. A cat food product will tick those boxes, then fill the remainder of the formula with whatever they can get away with to make the biggest profit.

Hypoallergenic diets for sensitive cats

Many cats are diagnosed with dietary allergies or intolerances, then prescribed by the vet an expensive dry food which you will happily pay for believing it’s the best food for your cat.

The reality is – most of the time – much simpler when we think about it:

You adopt a kitten, and begin to feed him whatever cat food looks the best on the supermarket shelves.

The reality is that cat food is mostly grains, and cheap grains at that.

After a while you notice your cat’s hair falling out, skin rashes, scratching, yeasty ears, diarrhea or constipation, and general poor health. You take them to the vet, and the vet tells you it’s a dietary allergy.

It’s not an allergy, because your cat shouldn’t be eating those grains in the first place. Or whatever additives and food colours are also in that supermarket food.

It’s a dietary sensitivity, because carnivores struggle to digest foods they’re not biologically designed to consume.

Your veterinarian will prescribe a “solution” – Royal Canin (Mars brand), Hill’s Science or Prescription Diet (Colgative-Palmolive brand), or sometimes Purina (Nestle) brand, and the condition of your cat improves – success!

You’re now hooked on buying that expensive brand of cat food, and although it’s expensive you’ll do what’s best for the cat you love.

Think this over for a few seconds and you’ll have the real answer.

You fed your cat a terrible food they couldn’t digest.

Now you’re feeding one slightly better (but a lot more costly), and surprise surprise – there’s been some improvement.

Hypoallergenic cat foods work on this principle, and it’s not as scientific as you think. A hypoallergenic diet simply doesn’t contain the problematic grains and additives found in most supermarket or cheaper brands of cat food.

There is one small caveat, and that’s some cats – on rare occasions – suffer intolerances to specific meat proteins, such as chicken. This might be from birth, or from a disrupted microbiome (gut) triggered from being weened or fed a poor quality cat food, or antibiotics, a vaccine, or medication.

An advisory on senior cat foods

We’ve covered above how our cats are carnivores who thrive off a diet of animal ingredients, and this remains the case for senior cats.

I would argue senior cats need quality animal proteins and fats even more so to retain weight, muscle mass, and healthy joints, so you may be surprised most senior cat foods contain less of these ingredients in favour of more carbohydrates.

As consumers we assume our old cat is simply slowing down and less active, or consequentially doesn’t need to eat as much, but you should consider senior diets counterproductive.

Older cats may need more fat in the diet, and can benefit from some fibre from vegetable matter or other non-animal fibre, but they still benefit largely from a diet with quality animal proteins and fats.

If your senior cat is used to dry cat food, you can continue this but add some wet, BARF, or raw.

Is raw feeding safe?

This question crops up a lot given the amount of fear mongering when feeding your cat what they would naturally eat in the wild.

Yes, there are risks of bacteria and hygiene concerns which will more likely affect you than your cat – that’s why we don’t eat raw chicken and we wash our hands after handling raw meat.

If you choose to feed your cat a raw diet, make sure you cover all nutritional bases of raw meat, organs, and raw meaty bones. The 80/10/10 rule used for raw feeding dogs is a good starting point as it mimics prey animals, but keep in mind the nutritional needs of cats are more stringent. Many use an 80/10/5/5 rule (muscle/bone/liver/other organ), and it can help to add some egg yolk and some fur/feather (prey fibre).

If you’re concerned about feeding your cat raw, or getting a balance right, start with BARF patties (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) like Big Dog (for Cats), or Proudi which you can find in most pet stores in America.

Easier options of raw cat food products are Frontier Pets, Ziwi Peak, Feline Natural, and Raw Meow. All of which are very good, and you will find reviews on this website for more information.

If you’re currently feeding kibble and don’t want to make a radical switch, start by introducing raw chicken necks or wings from the supermarket, which is a great start in both raw and maintaining healthy teeth and gums.

How much should you feed your cat?

Cats only eat to satiate on animal proteins, fats, and vitamins and minerals from animal sources.

That means, if you feed your cat a natural diet, they shouldn’t overeat and get fat.

So why are there so many fat cats in the world?

Well, if you give your cat a food made mostly of grains with lackluster animal content, you’re forcing them to consume a lot of redundant calories to satiate on the scant animal content.

These are the reasons I pay little attention to feeding guides on pet food packets. They’re usually misleading, and sometimes designed to make you think a bag of food will last longer than it will.

If you feed your cat right you will quickly learn whether you’re feeding them too little or too much. They’ll very likely meow if they’re hungry (or unsatiated).

Keep in mind a cat should be fed every single day, or twice a day. Science has shown dogs can benefit from fast days, but not cats.

How to avoid the worst cat foods

If you’ve picked up on the theme in most of this article, find a food for your cat which is high in animal protein, animal fat, AND moisture will put you on a much better path than most.

Cat food varies widely in price, but generally speaking the more you spend on a cat food the better it is.

Avoid cheap cat foods made with “wheat”, “cereal grains”, ambiguous ingredients and additives like “antioxidants” or food colours and dyes. Pay attention to the percentage of protein and fat, and consider how appropriate the first several ingredients are for your pet carnivore cat.

If budget is an issue, look to add variety to your cat’s diet by adding in fresh meats, fish, or meaty table scraps. Chicken necks or wings are usually cheap per kilo at the supermarket.

Final thoughts on feeding your cat

Hopefully this guide has helped you realise how most commercial cat food isn’t fit for purpose for a carnivorous cat.

Simple facts and science tell us what a carnivore should have in their diet, so the truth is very simple to see when we read the ingredients of most commercial cat foods.

Understanding this simple fact puts you in good stead to feed your cat a healthier diet which they will truly benefit from.

In reality, most pet owners feed either dry cat food or wet, but the more animal content in those foods the healthier your cat should be.

All kibbles contain some carbohydrates, but some are much better than others.

Make sure you feed your cat moisture, whether from a wet cat food, or from a raw food like BARF, air or freeze dried raw, or homemade raw.

Even if you wish to feed your cat kibble, at least add in some raw chicken necks, wings, or drumsticks to help add nutrition and ward off dental disease.

Whatever food you feed, keep reminding yourself your cat is a carnivore.

Many pet owners worldwide have heard of BARF – Biologically Appropriate Raw Feeding – and we can thank Dr Ian Billinghurst for that. Ian pioneered BARF, and at the turn of the century it quickly became a hot topic amongst pet owner communities (very much so in America).

In this podcast I cover some of my key questions, not only on raw feeding and BARF, but on how many of us feed our pets and view pet feeding in general.

Listen to the podcast with Dr Ian Billinghurst

Further information

• Make sure you read Dr Ian Billinghurst’s excellent book Give Your Dog A Bone.
• If you want to truly learn about raw feeding and the health of your pet, I highly recommend joining the Billinghurst Institute. To learn the most you will need to pay for the advanced courses, but in return your pet will be all the more healthy for it.

Transcript

Introduction

Hello. I am David D’Angelo, author of petfoodjudge.com.

In the podcast today, I speak with doctor Ian Billinghurst, the esteemed American veterinarian who pioneered the BARF diet, biologically appropriate raw foods, and wrote the book Give Your Dog A Bone.

Ian has many, many years experience in feeding pet carnivores, cats, and dogs. Feeding our pets a healthy diet is easier than we think, and we can learn a great deal from what he has to say.

Has raw feeding become overcomplicated?

As a kid growing up in America, we thought very little about the meats and offcuts we feed our pets. That was before kibble became the norm. These days, raw feeding has taken a different turn involving complex calculations, spreadsheets, and weighing every morsel.

My first question to Ian was his opinion on this.

Raw food.

Has this become insane? Well, in many ways, yes. It’s become overcomplicated. Feeding raw is feeding a very complex material. Once you cook it, of course, which is the opposite of raw, it has become destroyed and no longer has that original complex complexity your animal requires.

So, yes, raw feeding has become complicated in itself though in the way people offer it. Now, by feeding raw food itself, which is a complicated piece of material, that’s very simple. But if you try to follow nutritionism, where you are trying to feed every nutrient you think an animal requires, then that becomes insane because you cannot do that. We don’t know what nutrients they require in total. We don’t know how they work with the body’s mechanisms, But we don’t have to know it.

This is the joy. You don’t have to drive yourself mad saying, have I fed every nutrient? You just have to feed the right foods. The nutrients follow. Now, let’s turn it around.

Insane? Let’s say Sanity is in, and the sane person says, I don’t have to know about all those details of nutrition, I just have to feed the right foods, and they will contain the nutrients. So, yes, let’s turn raw food has become insane around to raw food now follows sanity, and we just feed the food, and the nutrients automatically happen in the way they’re supposed to. We don’t have to know about all that complexity. We don’t have to know about that insanity.

Discussing different types and styles of dog food

My next question to Ian was about the many ways we can feed our dogs today. Raw food, dry food, wet food, BARF, air dried, freeze dried, and more.

A lot of people talk to me or ask me about feeding their dog, funnily enough, because that’s, the business I happen to be in. And they asked me what my recommendations are. And I have to say always, done properly, the gold standard is DIY.

Do it yourself because you are in charge, and you can make the choice of what foods that you feed your dog or your cat, if it’s whatever the case may be. So the DIY is the absolutely gold standard when it’s done properly. And the important point is when it’s done properly. It’s based on an understanding of evolutionary food choices, and that’s what we’re after, evolutionary food choices. Now I I guess second to that would be a pre prepared commercially produced, raw food.

Usually, in patty format. That’s the simplest way. Now here you lose some control because you don’t make the choice. Your choice is to choose that brand, and choosing that brand’s important too. Because if you have an understanding of evolutionary nutrition, you can look at the way that brand is produced, the ingredients they use, their philosophy, whether it’s based on evolution or whether it’s based on things like AAFCO, which are actually spurious, and I talk about that in other places, particularly during the in the DIY course.

But the point is that you don’t have as much control if you’re buying commercially produced raw food. Now, there are other forms as well. There’s air dried and freeze dried.

Now, freeze drying is a process, it’s a process called sublimation, and it uses very high vacuums. It’s said that 97% of the nutrients are retained. I’m not sure who makes that call and on what basis. And there is no doubt that freeze drying is something that is not an evolution based form of preservation. Air dried, I guess, is. But, having thought about air dried, what do we lose in that formulation or in that way of producing pet food? Well, usually, it’s actually at a fairly high temperature, and that temperature does destroy some nutrients.

So if if you’re asking me what is the best way, it’s the DIY way, do it yourself, as long as you understand the basic principles of producing evolutionary type foods at home. If you understand that, you’re on your way to producing the best possible diet for your dog. And, of course, we, talk about that in my DIY course. This is the ultimate pet food course, in fact, for people who want to know exactly the right way to feed raw and do it at home. So that’s that’s my answer to that question.

How should we achieve variety when feeding our dogs, whether a commercial food diet or raw diet?

What is the best way to go about feeding our dogs?

One of my biggest gripes with pet feeding is how most pets have fed the same kibble for every meal each and every day. We’ve been led to believe this is the best option for the health of our pets, but when we consider our own diets, we know that not to be true.

Variety is important. It helps us balance our own diet.

I asked Ian how we can achieve variety in a raw diet.

One of the enormous benefits of doing this yourself is that you are able to fulfill one of the basic tenets of raw feeding under the evolutionary paradigm, and that is providing wide variety and wide flexibility in what you feed. So you you have great flexibility in what you can choose, and your ability to choose becomes quite broad. Now this is what this is in comparison to feeding a pre prepared commercial product. Because when you feed a pre prepared commercial product, you are absolutely tied to what they put are prepared to put in the food.

Now sometimes they use bones, and sometimes those bones are in a format that you you would be happy with, just ground up bones. Sometimes they don’t. They just add a calcium supplement because they think that replaces bones, which, of course, it doesn’t. So there’s all sorts of problems begin to emerge when you trust somebody else to produce the food for you. But what you can do, of course, is feed different products from different commercial producers.

But that becomes pretty complicated, doesn’t it, to go about looking at all their products and choosing which ones you’re gonna feed this week and and so on and so forth. Another way to go at it would be to choose the best product you can find and then supplement it with foods that you, buy yourself. So you partially do DIY and partially, a product such as a raw BARF patty made by some commercial company. And in those circumstances, what a lot of people will do is, say, feed raw meaty bones at one meal. If they’re feeding two meals a day, for example, they’ll feed the raw meaty bones such as chicken wings, necks, and so on.

They might feed some large bones throughout the day so the dog has the eating exercise and ability to take the cartilage off the end of big bones and clean cleaning teeth, of course, and that the other meal would be a patty, so produced by the pet food company. But again, the all of this even even the choosing of pet food companies that you’re going to use is very much dependent upon your understanding of the raw paradigm. So once again, this is something I’ve been at great pains to, teach people over the years, and a lot of that’s also in the DIY course that we produce. So let me emphasize once again that if you want really great flexibility in feeding your dog based on, what’s in season and what’s locally available, and you want that variety, which is such an important part of the raw paradigm, making sure that every nutrient your dog requires is going to be available, then go the DIY course. If you’re able, you have the time and the inclination to do that, it is the gold standard.

How to feed raw on a budget

I often recommend pet foods which seem expensive, especially when you compare those pet foods to kibbles made mostly of grain or other carbohydrates, which I see as inappropriate for the health of our pets. Many pet owners struggle with the ever increasing cost of commercial pet foods, and that leads me to my next question. How can we feed raw money budgets? Of course, for many people, feeding their pet is a major issue in terms of costs. So how do you go about this when you’re on a budget?

Well, most certainly, buying dry food or canned food is expensive, and it’s expensive in terms of the end result. So we we put that one aside completely for the moment. But what about you’re on a you you wanna feed raw, but you do have a budget. How do you go about it? Well, you have to source in the very first instance.

This is most important. A source of raw meaty bones at the right price. Because they will form the bulk of the diet that you feed either a dog or a cat, particularly a dog. And feeding a dog on a budget, you can I’m gonna use the term get away with, and I and I use that term advisedly because getting away with feeding mostly raw meaty bones is actually highly close to the evolutionary situation for your dog. Dogs are scavengers.

And they’re scavengers. And this is what I discovered very early in my veterinary career and my career as a raw feeder. But and this is why I wrote my my first book was called, Give Your Dog a Bone, because you can feed the bulk of the diet as chicken wings and necks, and you’re providing the vast majority of nutrients your dog requires. Now if you can then throw in some organ meats, some crushed up raw vegetables, and simple things, like yogurt or other some other fermented food and just a few added things like, kelp powder, or or in some cases, if you can get hold of it, I think it’s called in America, alfalfa meal, or in America, I’m not sure you can even get it. But but the kelp powder is probably the best as a source of micronutrients.

If you can feed that and you can find sources of that, you have got yourself a complete and balanced diet. And then you just use variety. So you find different forms of raw meaty bones from young animals. So it it might be, the breast parts of lambs. It it might if you’re in America, particularly it could be root tails, if you can get hold of them.

Everything that is a raw meaty bone that is from soft that is soft and from young animals, but apart from chickens, anything you can find, that is if that’s the basis of the diet, you cannot go wrong. So that’s the way to approach feeding on a budget. Just and again, it’s a matter of understanding just how simple it is when once you understand the principles and the basics of feeding raw, that you can go about it in a much cheaper way than, say, buying commercial pet food because a commercial raw is always going to be much dearer than what you produce at home. And if it is advertised as very cheap, I’d be very careful of it because I’d be worried that if it was a cheap raw pet food commercially made, I’d I’d look very carefully at the ingredients. But, again, DIY is still the best way to go if you’re on a budget.

Are prescription diets the best solution, or is raw the best prescription diet?

People are often surprised to the reasons why I’m against most veterinary endorsed prescription diets. I tend to find these less than ideal. The ingredients are often inappropriate, high carbohydrates, and the products as a whole don’t tend to be an ideal solution. So can raw be a better option? The people have asked me, what about prescription diets?

Can you feed them using raw? And of course, you can. Well, let me give you a huge secret here. Most animals that are fed prescription diets from their vet, because their animal has some specific disease process, I found very early in my career that the vast majority of those problems are much improved, and sometimes completely improved, simply by switching to raw. So raw becomes the prescription diet.

Now beyond that, when we have very serious conditions, such as a particular form, say, of oxalate stone in the bladder or or or cystine or whatever, then you sometimes have to modify that diet. And you modify it in various ways. But the commonest way of modifying most most of the raw diets that I’ve ever used over the years was to simply add more crushed vegetables to it. That has an enormous benefit to to kidney failure, to to cancer, to arthritis, to liver failure, a whole host of problems that arise because of processed pet foods, and that’s where that comes from. You see, what you’re doing with prescription diets, you’re simply prescribing a food that is going to overcome the problems which essentially were caused by the wrong food in the first place.

So by switching over to real food, most of the problems are solved. And it’s only occasionally that you have to make very specific changes. And most of those changes, as an animal gets into older age, when you’re feeding processed pet foods, which are full of carbs, which promotes inflammation, which lack so many essential protective nutrients found only in raw whole foods. Simply by switching them to real food, you are prescribing a diet that’s going to overcome the problem. Now the we do in the course, but not for pet parents so much, although I do talk to it to some degree, talk about this, for the basic course of people who are doing and I’m I’m sorry I’m persisting in in the course, but it really is what my focus for my professional life has been.

It’s in my books, of course. Just my my first, my very first piece of, advice, if you want a prescription diet and you are currently feeding processed pet food, and this is let me assure you, this has been the basic cause of the degenerative disease, whether it’s kidney failure, inflammatory bowel disease. That’s another one. Whatever it is, cardiovascular disease, simply by switching to real whole raw food based on evolutionary principles, you’re gonna see an amazing difference. And that’s my that’s my best, information on prescription diets for the average pet parent out there.

And I include myself in that because I’m a very average pet parent, and I’ve watched my own pets. This was many years ago when we did switch our animals to process pet foods just to see what would happen. We thought it might well, it won’t explain why at this point. I do it the I do it other in other points, but when we put them back on real food, their health just was went was astronomic, the difference. It was amazing.

So that’s my take on prescription diets, folks.

Is it safe to feed raw?

Many people are afraid to feed raw over concerns of safety. Some vets advise against feeding raw for this very reason. Are there real concerns, and can raw be fed safely?

The short course on food safety with raw.

People worry about three things, bones, bugs, and balance. Okay. If you’re worried about bones, grind them. If you’re worried about bugs, don’t. Because if you follow all the food safety rules that normally apply to handling raw food for humans, then you will have no problem with bugs for your pet.

Balance. If you have follow the evolutionary principles of feeding food in evolutionary balance, then you will not have a problem with nutritional balance because you’ll feed the nutrients we know about, the ones we don’t know about, and the ones we don’t as yet know to be essential. So if you wanna know more about that, this whole because this whole area of food safety is enormous, then I suggest you do the course if this is your concern. Because I cover all this in enormous detail. And, just be assured, the way that when you feed raw, you have another extra layer of safety.

And this is the layer that you’ve been looking for. It’s the safety from degenerative disease. Because you are now safe from the terrible foods that produce the degenerative disease, which is probably one of the reasons, one of the greatest reasons that many people switch to raw because their dog or their cat has developed a degenerative disease. So, no bugs to worry about. Well, there’s no there’s no worry about bugs.

There’s no worry about bones. There’s no worry about balance. And you are now producing a diet that’s going to defeat degenerative disease. How good is that?

Raw feeding groups make raw feeding sound very complex. But should it be?

I’m sure if you’ve joined a social media group on raw feeding, many will be adamant you must conform to strict ratios, you must weigh ingredients, and tick boxes on highly complicated spreadsheets.

My final question to Ian was his opinion of these complexities.

We have we have on the Internet literally hundreds, maybe thousands of people who coach other people about feeding raw. Now that is great. I could not have wished for anything more when I wrote Give Your Dog a Bone all those years ago because such people did not exist. Now they do.

However, what these people do not understand, and this is the sad part, is the very basis of raw feeding. They think raw feeding has to be based on AFCO, FEDIAF, NRC, National Research Council. AFCO is the American Association of Feed Control Officials. FEDI AF is I have no idea what it actually stands for, but it’s a similar body across Europe. And NRC, National Research Council, which has looked at, all the nutrients currently known to be required for dogs.

Between them and AFCO, let’s just stick with those two for the moment. Fair enough, of course. There is a very limited range of nutrients that we know about, and there is some speculation as to how much of each of these nutrients must be fed in order to avoid deficiencies. And on that basis, they use spreadsheets and computers to work out a nutritional program for dogs, and they sell these things on the Internet. Now that’s fine.

Everybody has got to make a living on this. This is great, but it’s unnecessary. Absolutely unnecessary. If you feed and I’ve said this before, so many times, and so many times, but I’ll say it again. If you feed the foods an animal evolved to require, then you’re going to feed every nutrient it requires.

And these foods actually work with the dog’s homeostatic mechanisms. So that there is no problem if you feed those right foods with a nutritional balance and the nutrients the dog requires. The dog stores some of those nutrients, and the cat, of course, or all all mammals we’re talking about here. We do not need computers and spreadsheets and or gurus to feed raw. All we need is an understanding of what foods to feed.

You feed the right foods, the nutrients follow. Let me say that again. Feed the right foods, and the nutrients follow. And, again, I’ll say it. The nutrients we know about, the ones we don’t know about, and the ones we don’t yet acknowledge as essential.

That’s genuinely complete and balanced. And it’s why raw it’s the secret of raw. It’s why it produces health because you are producing the feeding the nutrients in the right way that the animal can actually use.

That’s all, folks. I hope you’ve enjoyed the podcast with doctor Ian Billinghurst, the pioneer of BARF.

That’s based on American research data which suggests 33.7% of dogs are overweight, and 7.6% obese.

Because you’re here and reading this, I assume your dog is in one of those two categories.

Don’t worry, because you’re in the right place – not only will I recommend you a “weight loss dog food” which will truly help your dog, I’ll help you understand why your dog gained the weight in the first place.

My advice may contradict what you’ve been advised by your veterinarian, but I will give you simple and logical facts why that advice might not help your dog as effectively as it should.

Related: Weight Loss Myth – Why feeding your dog LESS is NOT the answer

Why did your dog really gain weight?

It’s been almost two decades since I started Pet Food Judge, and in that time I’ve spoken to many people in the same position as you, with an overweight dog.

There are a few exceptions, but most of those dogs have one thing in common – the wrong diet.

Exercise would be the other factor, but I’ve spoken to many who are baffled why their dog is overweight despite two long stints a day running after a ball in the park.

I consider starchy carbohydrates the #1 issue why domestic dogs gain so much weight.

This coincides with the fact most brands of dog food are very high in carbohydrates, for the simple reason carbohydrate ingredients are much cheaper than the foods your dog should really be consuming – from animal sources.

Lets skirt over some science – carnivorous animals like cats really suffer from inappropriate diets of unnecessary carbohydrates because they have a short digestive tract. Animal matter can be digested quickly, and grain and plant matter can’t be digested effectively in a short digestive tract. Instead it takes a toll on the cat, and I expect is the real reason so many cats die before their years of renal failure.

In contrast, herbivores have long digestive tracts, which is why they benefit from plants and grains.

Here’s some facts:

• A cow has a digestive tract 20 times their body length.
• A cat has a digestive tract 4 times their body length.
• A human has a digestive tract 5-7 times their body length.

Based on the assumption your dog is an omnivore like us, you would think their digestive tract would be similar to that of our own, wouldn’t you?

If that’s the case, this may surprise you:

• A dog has a digestive tract 4-6 times their body length.

For these scientific reasons, it becomes easier to understand why so many American dogs are overweight when we feed them high-carbohydrate kibbles which lack protein and animal fats.

Still don’t believe me, ask yourself why we feed obligate true carnivore cats high-carbohydrate kibble diets when it makes absolutely no sense scientifically.

I realise this is only one example of why high-carbohydrate dog foods could be the reason your dog is overweight, but you’ll find more information here.

Recommended weight loss dog foods

Feeding your dog a brand of food with more protein (and/or more fat) with less carbohydrates is always a great start.

Most dog foods on the best rated list, and even those on the affordable dog food list should get you on the right track, but considering raw foods, BARF, or fresh food feeding is also a good idea (or a mixture of all the above?)

I’ll make some recommendations based on type of food (kibble is the most budget friendly option).

Kibble (best low-carb options on a tighter budget)

Kibble is always higher in carbohydrates than other options, but here are some top picks:

Zignature Grain Free Turkey

Don’t be put off by the calorie count, because the Zignature Grain Free Turkey kibble is much lower in what you should be concerned about the most – carbohydrates.

Turkey is a lean meat, and this formula has a great amount of protein (32%) and moderate fat (14.5%). The emphasis is on meat, as it should be for your meat loving dog, with chickpeas and peas.

The largest bag is 11.3kg so may suit you f you have a small to medium dog, or with a larger dog you may find the next option more suitable.

Budget tip: If money is tight, check out Zignature Zssentials as the cheaper version of Zignature.

Taste of the Wild High Prairie (grain free)

Being available in 18.1kg bags makes this option more cost effective, especially if you have a larger or more active dog.

Taste of the Wild is always a solid choice, being very decent ingredients considering the price. There are cheaper kibbles, but those cheaper kibbles won’t help your dog lose weight.

Like Zignature, protein is very good (32%) and fat (18%). If the higher fat bothers you, keep in mind this food will have less carbohydrates (aka sugars). It’s a good mixed formula of bison, lamb, and chicken, with sweet potato, peas, and potatoes.

Feel free to lean it down with one of the raw or dried options below, or add some fresh kangaroo or other lean meats (plus organs and raw meaty bones if you like).

Open Farm Turkey & Chicken

It has to be said Open Farm Turkey and Chicken is a good option for weight loss.

Turkey and Chicken are both lean meats, and the remainder of the main ingredients include ocean whitefish combined with some potatoes and legumes.

Open Farm are very transparent with their ingredients and where they’re sourced, and I find the brand very reputable.

Raw or Air/Freeze Dried

Big Dog BARF

A little BARF in the diet goes a long way, even if it’s only part of your dog’s diet.

Big Dog is one of the leading BARF brands in America and has built a loyal following since over the last quarter of a century! Proudi is another good option, and more pure carnivore.

Big Dog BARF and Proudi are available in most pet stores in America, and you’ll find them in the freezer section.

ZIWI Peak Air-Dried

ZIWI is a New Zealand brand loved worldwide. It’s raw with the convenience of kibble, and the ingredients are excellent and very appropriate for your dog being almost entirely animal ingredients.

Yes, ZIWI Peak costs more than kibble, but for good reason. If you can’t afford to feed it to your big hungry dog for every meal, then mix some in with their kibble for a nutritious superboost.

Frontier Pet (Freeze Dried)

One of my top recommended brands, Frontier Pets is fantastic. Some see it as expensive, but it’s not as expensive as you might think (it simply has most moisture removed, leaving all the vital nutrition).

Try a bag, and you may be surprised how long it lasts (and how healthy your dog becomes).

Read the full Frontier Pets review (and you’ll find a discount too).

Vet recommended weight loss dog foods

The most common brands of weight loss dog foods recommended by vets are Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight or Royal Canin Veterinary Satiety Weight Management.

These formulas are high fibre to help your dog poop, and despite being lower calorie are still high in carbohydrates.

Here’s my opinion of both, but prepare to be surprised:

Royal Canin Veterinary Satiety Weight Management

You may question why the main ingredient in a dog food is vegetable fibres rather than meat, and it’s a very good question.

Dehydrated poultry protein may be included next, but then you’ll find wheat gluten, tapioca, maize gluten, plus further wheat and maize for good measure.

Are Mars trying to profit from your overweight dog with a dry kibble branded with the word “veterinary”, when you’re likely wondering if these ingredients are at all nutritious for your dog?

As a canine nutritionist, I see these as some of the worst ingredients to support the health and wellbeing of your dog, even if it leads to some weight loss in the short term.

Ingredients of Royal Canin Veterinary Satiety Weight Management:

Vegetable fibres, dehydrated poultry protein, wheat gluten*, tapioca, maize gluten, hydrolysed animal proteins, wheat, maize, animal fats, beet pulp, fish oil, minerals, fructo-oligo-saccharides, psyllium husks and seeds, soya oil, hydrolysed crustaceans (source of glucosamine), marigold extract (source of lutein), hydrolysed cartilage (source of chondroitin. ADDITIVES (per kg): Nutritional additives:Vitamin A: 20000 IU, Vitamin D3: 1000 IU, E1 (Iron): 35 mg, E2 (Iodine): 3.5 mg, E4 (Copper): 11 mg, E5 (Manganese): 46 mg, E6 (Zinc): 137 mg, E8 (Selenium): 0.06 mg – Preservatives – Antioxidants.

Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight

The offering from Hill’s may sound better as you skirt over the ingredients, and at least it starts with chicken as an ingredient more beneficial to your dog.

But then you find cracked pearled barley, brown rice, pea fiber, and corn gluten meal.

Are they optimal ingredients to truly help your dog return to and maintain an ideal weight?

It has to be said Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight comes across a little better than Royal Canin Veterinary Satiety Weight Management, but they’re both high in carbohydrates which you should consider less than ideal for your dog.

Ingredients of Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight Adult:

Chicken, Cracked Pearled Barley, Brown Rice, Pea Fiber, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Meal, Dried Tomato Pomace, Oat Fiber, Chicken Liver Flavor, Flaxseed, Dried Beet Pulp, Coconut Oil, Pork Flavor, Lactic Acid, Potassium Chloride, L-Lysine, DL?Methionine, Carrots, Iodized Salt, Lipoic Acid, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L?Ascorbyl?2?Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Choline Chloride, minerals (Manganese Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Natural Flavors, LCarnitine, Beta?Carotene, Apples, Broccoli, Cranberries, Green Peas.

What are weight loss dog foods, really?

Below are marketing statements taken from a number of weight loss dog foods. You may be surprised to learn some may be red herrings when it comes to canine nutrition.

• Lower calories – The word “calories” is often used when we talk about sucky diets in a bid to lose weight.
• High fibre – Something we used to read on most cereal packets. Fibre helps us feel full and regulate bowels.
• Reduced fat content – It’s easy to believe eating fat leads to being fat, but we also know there are different fats and nutritional benefits of healthy fats.
• More protein – Protein can help a dog feel full or satiated. It’s the same for us – if you eat a lot of protein at breakfast, such as eggs, then have you realised you won’t get mid-morning biscuit cravings?
• Added supplements – Some weight loss dog foods contain supplements to help weight loss (such as L-carnitine), and these claims look great on the packaging of a weight loss dog food.

If you know anything about weight loss you’ll see a great deal of truth in the above, but when it comes to your dog how are these translated into an effective weight loss dog food?

Let’s consider some of the consequences of the above in terms of dog food formulas. These claims may sound great in terms of marketing, but what can be the reality behind them?

• Reduced fat – A dog food is comprised of protein, fat, carbohydrates, moisture, and ash. When you reduce fat content it means one of those other macronutrients will be more significant – but which one? Usually in dog food a reduction in either protein or fat will mean more carbohydrates, or for the sake of simplicity let’s say starchy “fillers”. Most of the time these carbohydrate ingredients aren’t natural for your dog to eat, and may even increase weight gain. You’ll likely put it down to your dog’s metabolism, believing even weight loss dog food hasn’t worked.
• More protein – It’s easy to understand the importance of protein as an essential macronutrient for health and retaining pristine muscle mass. Weight lifters of the world will unite in their love of protein powders. When it comes to dog foods, however, the type of protein matters – is it lean meat proteins from kangaroo, turkey, chicken, or fish, or kibblefied peas? More protein in a weight loss dog food will often coincide with less animal fats, but still be an excess of carbohydrates. It’s carbohydrates which turn to fats if your dog isn’t overly active.
• Added supplements – Supplements, like most minor inclusions in a dog food, offer the manufacturer excellent claims to add to the packaging. L-Carnitine is a well known fat-burner, but would you personally take such a supplement alongside a diet of burgers and French fries? It’s easy for us to get sucked in by such claims, but unless the main ingredients in a weight loss dog food work in collaboration, your dog will likely remain overweight.

As well as the above, keep in mind this following point:

Fat may not be the reason your dog is fat. Your dog will digest animal fats very effectively, as a great source of energy, healthy skin and coat, and will also help them better absorb nutrients.

David D’Angelo, Pet Nutritionist (America).

Pet foods can contain expensive ingredients (such as meat and meat fats), or cheaper ingredients (such as starches and legumes). If a pet food manufacturer can reduce expensive ingredients AND market the dog food for a specific health condition, then they’ll do just that. After all, they can charge a premium price for a dog food with cheaper ingredients. It’s a win-win (for them at least!)

Other weight loss dog foods

Below I will summarise other popular weight loss dog foods available in America, with key points to consider:

1. Hill’s Prescription Diet Weight Loss r/d – Mentioned earlier, this expensive vet-endorsed weight loss dog food has questionable ingredients for an animal I consider a meat-eater.
2. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Satiety Support – Also mentioned earlier, this is the other weight loss option commonly recommended by veterinarians, also with ingredients which you may find odd for a canine.
3. Ivory Coat Reduced Fat – I really wish I could recommended this brand. I used to based on the ingredients, but consumer feedback is often concerning – this suggests Ivory Coat isn’t as good quality as we would hope.
4. Advance Weight Control All Breed – The main ingredients are rice, chicken meal, and sorghum in that order, which means there is more rice than chicken, and likely chicken will be less than one third of that mix. Beneficial inclusions are green lipped mussels and l-carnitine, but is it worth it? Advance is the cheaper offering to Royal Canin, both being Mars Petcare products.
5. Eukanuba Adult Fit Body Weight Control – One step down from Advance above, Eukanuba is yet another Mars Petcare brand catering for a tighter budget. For this weight loss dog food we find the main ingredient as maize, and although poultry protein is listed 2nd, it’s also stacked with wheat, barley, and more maize (flour).
6. Nutro Lite and Weight Management – Mars Petcare yet again, controlling the market, the Lamb & Rice Weight Management formula is more rice and then lamb when you look at the ingredients. The real question is how much more rice than meat?
7. Pro Plan Adult Weight Management – This is one of those “meat first” formulas, which are great at making you believe this dog food is mostly meat. Consider this a trick, as the next four ingredients are brewers rice, whole grain wheat, oats, and barley, which means you’ll be feeding your overweight carnivorous pet a stack of grains – possibly the reason they became overweight in the first place. Oh, and yes, I didn’t mention Mars Petcare for this one. Pro Plan is a Nestle brand.
8. Supercoat Healthy Weight – Another Nestle brand, Supercoat is a big hit with American dog owners who believe other dog foods are expensive. You may find Supercoat affordable, but it makes more sense when you realise how much of this product, labelled “healthy”, is cereal and plant by-products, wheat, and corn and/or sorghum and/or barley. Supercoat or Supercheap ingredients?
9. Pedigree Healthy Weight – We’re back to Mars Petcare products once again. Pedigree is a household name and has been since my childhood many decades ago. I wouldn’t recommend a dog food with a main ingredient of wholegrain cereals for any dog, even less so an overweight dog.

What weight loss dog food do you feed or recommend?

Common questions related to weight loss dog foods

Every dog and situation is different, so you may have all manner of questions on how to effectively help them lose weight. Diet is only one part of the question.

Hopefully all other questions you may have are covered below. If not, add a comment below and I’ll do my best to offer genuine advice.

Many of the brands of puppy milk available from big manufacturers like Mars and Nestle (under the Purina banner), and those available at Coles, Woolworths, IGA, or “bargain basement” stores might not be as healthy and nutritious as you may think.

You also need to be aware of the difference between puppy milk replacer to support puppy growth, and puppy milk designed as a supplemental treat.

Some puppy milk replacers in America are actually pretty good, but how can you tell which ones?

Don’t worry – this guide on puppy milk will give you all the information you need!

Why would you use a puppy milk?

If you have a litter of puppies ideally the mother will readily support their growth with her own milk, and this should be encouraged as much as possible.

Sometimes, however, we need to support the growth of the puppies with a supplement milk replacer.

If you’re a breeder yourself you will already know the importance of weighing young pups daily, and will often see with larger litters some puppies get “forced out” in the scramble for nipples and can quickly fall behind with their growth.

When this happens, a puppy milk replacer may be necessary to keep them healthy, or in some instances keep them alive.

Also, as the puppies grow and start developing teeth, your bitch may have enough, pushing the puppies away or barking at them. There may be a period of time between whelping and transitioning to a more solid diet where a puppy milk may prove a lifesaver.

But how do you know if a puppy milk is good? This isn’t as easy as it may seem – although the below recommendations should help!

Popular brands of puppy milk in America

Wombaroo Dog Milk Replacer

From speaking with breeders it seems Wombaroo Dog Milk Replacer is a good go-to option.

The ingredients are a good mix of whey proteins, caseins (which is protein from milk – the stuff that makes milk white), and whole milk solids. All the ingredients (listed below) show this puppy milk has been formulated to support the health of your puppies.

Another benefit of Wombaroo is it’s readily available at Pet Circle, PETstock, and a variety of other stores, which makes it easy for you to source.

From sifting through consumer feedback and forums, the general consensus is Wombaroo is respected in terms of both quality and affordability, which is testament to its popularity.

Wombaroo Dog Milk Replacer ingredients: Whey proteins, caseins, whole milk solids, vegetable oils, omega-3 & 6 fatty acids (including EPA, DHA & Arachidonic Acid), taurine, vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D3, E, K, nicotinamide, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid, choline, inositol, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, zinc, iron, manganese, copper, iodine, selenium.

Baxter’s Puppy Milk

I wanted to cover Baxter’s Puppy Milk right after our benchmark Wombaroo to show the difference in quality between brands of puppy milk.

Baxter’s is a home brand of Woolworths, or what can be referred to as a phantom brand – this is where a home brand is packaged to look like bigger label brands.

If you’ve read the Baxter’s dog food review, or read any of the many worrying consumer reports of the Baxter’s brands, then it would be fair to assume it’s not just the ingredients we need to think about, but also the quality of those ingredients.

Baxter’s Puppy Milk ingredients: Whole Milk, Skim Milk, Skim Milk Solids, Vegetable Oil, Emulsifiers, Vegetable Gums, Methionine, Vitamins, Lactase.

Immediately we can see vast differences between the Baxters puppy milk and Wombaroo. Most of the Baxters puppy milk is milk.

We also see ambiguity with ingredients, which I never consider to be a good thing when it comes to pet foods. Emulsifiers for example – these are used to stop fats separating from water, but what emulsifier has been used? Possibilities are gums, lecithin, modified starch, and glycerine, and I imagine they’ve opted for the cheapest. Glycerine, for example, has a bad name in pet health.

When you find ambiguous ingredients, you begin to question the quality of other ingredients. If it looks like costs have been cut for some ingredients, then it’s fair to assume the same applies to others. What quality of milk? What about the vegetable oil?

Lastly, when we look at the packaging of Baxter’s Puppy Milk, we see the wording “Baxter’s Puppy Milk is intended for occasional or supplemental feeding only.”

This is somewhat of a get-out clause. The product is not meant to be a complete and balanced meal, so doesn’t fall under those regulations.

In fact, it would seem the target market for Baxter’s Puppy Milk is consumers who may see this as a nutritious treat for their young pups.

Some breeders may see it as a nice and cheap option for raising their young puppies before they sell them to families, so you have to ask yourself if those puppies are getting the best nutritional start in life.

Pedigree Puppy Milk

Pedigree is a household name, and you’ll find Pedigree Puppy Milk readily available at Coles, Woolworths, and most retailers. It’s one of the many Mars brands of pet products.

It’s understandable why most people consider Pedigree a good brand as it’s so well known – we’ve all heard of Pedigree, haven’t we?

But just because a brand is well known, it doesn’t mean it’s good. It may just mean (1) the product is cheap, and (2) the marketing is great.

So is Pedigree Puppy Milk better than the Baxters brand above? Let’s take a look…

Pedigree Puppy Milk ingredients: Milk; water; malt; sucrose; salt; emulsifier; vegetable gum; taurine; lactase enzyme; vitamins (vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B1).

Even compared to Baxter’s Puppy Milk above these ingredients look bad. How much water are you paying for? Possibly nearly half of the product?

Malt is somewhat ambiguous, and concerning if you consider malt syrup contains around 65% maltose as a carbohydrate with a high glycemic index.

We also find sucrose as the 4th ingredient, so sugar. Then salt.

Again, we see emulsifier with zero clarification as to what’s actually been used.

The packaging says suitable for puppies aged 4 to 24 weeks, but the question I would ask is how suitable?

To finish off with an interesting point about Pedigree Puppy Milk, it seems on the Woolworth’s website it’s listed as “Pedigree Puppy Milk Treat“.

Pets Own Dog & Puppy Milk

Pets Own is another brand of Puppy Milk easily available, both in supermarkets like Woolworths and online retailers like Pet Circle.

An interesting fact about Pets Own Puppy Milk is it was the first lactose-free pet milk sold worldwide!

This milk boasts glucosamine as an added bonus to support the health of your puppy’s joints. That’s a good thing, but lets take a look at the ingredients as a whole:

Pets Own Dog & Puppy Milk ingredients: Whole milk, vegetable oil, non fat milk solids, vitamins & minerals, emulsifier, vegetable gums, glucosamine sulphate, amino acids (incl. methionine), lactase enzyme.

I think you’ll agree this puppy milk isn’t too different from the last two?

We still have ambiguous ingredients – that old emulsifier chestnut – and I’m sure you’ll also agree all three of these supermarket brands are very different to Wombaroo which we covered first?

Royal Canin Babydog Milk

Royal Canin are a very well known brand worldwide for prescription and breed-specific dog foods, and I’m sure you’re already well aware of the brand.

Royal Canin is actually a Mars brand, but it has to be said one of the better ones (although I personally question the ingredients in their dog foods). It’s further up the scale to Pedigree.

One thing positive you can say about Royal Canin is their manufacturing standards and quality control are quite good.

Royal Canin Babydog as a complete milk replacer is actually one of the better options, and it’s suitable from birth up to 2 months.

Unfortunately it seems hard to source in America, so if you know of a reputable retailer please say so in the comments.

Royal Canin Babydog ingredients: Milk proteins, milk fat, vegetable oils, whey protein, fish oil (source of DHA), minerals, fructo-oligo-saccharides. Plus essential nutrients.

I still find Wombaroo Dog Milk Replacer the better option in terms of ingredients, but from researching consumer feedback it has to be said it’s pretty good for Royal Canin Babydog as well.

Can cows milk or goats milk be used instead of puppy milk?

The short answer to this is no. Cows milk and goats milk don’t contain all the nutrients required to support the growth of your young puppies.

In addition, the use of unpasturised milk may sound like a good idea, but may prove problematic. Some dogs, and some cats, can also be lactose intolerant.

I’m aware some breeders wean puppies on other foods as well as mothers milk or a milk replacer. Common choices are Greek yoghurt, kefir, and bone broth.

All of these foods should be fine to introduce to young pups in moderation, both adding nutrition and helping their digestive systems adapt to new foods.

Bone broth is an excellent source of nutrition for any age of dog.

Main photo credit: Unsplash

In this article I don’t want to persuade you to switch your raw fed dog to kibble (I’m generally not pro kibble either), but I want to give you all the information you may need to decide what’s best for your pregnant dog and the health of her pups.

Why veterinarians advise against raw feeding a pregnant dog

I expect you’re already aware of the general risks of raw feeding, so no need to cover that.

It’s easy to understand why a veterinarian will advise against raw feeding your pregnant dog for those very reasons, but that doesn’t mean they’re 100% right.

On the flipside I see many risks to feeding a pregnant dog kibble.

Needless to say there are some dreadful kibbles around which won’t support the nutritional needs of a pregnant dog.

There are additional concerns with raw feeding a pregnant dog, with the main concern being neosporosis.

The risk of Neosporosis

One of the main concerns of feeding pregnant dogs a raw diet is Neosporosis, a disease generally linked to contaminated beef.

Neosporosis can cause fetal loss.

Nicole Rous, a reproductive vet, warns “Even though I’m pro raw feeding, I do caution breeders about raw meat during pregnancy. We’ve had bitches lose litters, and the big issue is Neosporosis.”

Nicole also states “I’ve had SO many breeders successfully feed raw throughout pregnancy and raise beautiful litters on raw and honestly don’t have a problem with it as long as they’re aware of the risk and why there is a risk.“

All raw fed dogs are at risk of Neosporosis, but as pregnancy weakens the immune system, the risk is higher. Progesterone lowers immune defences throughout pregnancy, and this makes infections more likely.

To reduce risks, some vets recommend freezing raw meat for 14 days to kill parasites. Others advise sticking to human-grade raw dog food to minimise contamination.

In America, it’s worth considering pet grade meats – even those sourced from a human grade supplier and processed in a pet grade facility – may add risk.

The benefits of raw diets for pregnant dogs

I fed my own dog raw when she was pregnant, and I weened the puppies partly on raw, and I see benefits of doing so.

Many breeders successfully feed a raw diet to pregnant dogs with no issues. They claim their bitches remain strong, recover quickly, and produce healthy puppies.

A well-balanced BARF diet or homemade raw diet for pregnant dogs often eliminates the need for calcium supplements.

Elyshia Collis states “I’ve rescued many pregnant dogs, and from the day they arrive, they are put on a balanced raw diet. I also wean the litter to raw. Never had issues, the mothers are happy to feed, don’t have any issues, and I don’t need to feed calcium supplements either.”

Denise Pringle echoes this sentiment with “I have fed a number of pregnant bitches raw throughout and then weaned the puppies onto raw. All exceptionally healthy.”

Jennifer Bayliss also supports raw feeding, saying “All my girls get human-grade raw chicken, beef, lamb while pregnant, as well as raw eggs, sardines in oil, plus goat milk powder. Always have had good, healthy puppies.”

I echo these statements having weened not just a regular litter, but a very large, very healthy litter of 10 Border Collie puppies on raw (and high quality kibble).

Precautions you can take feeding raw to your pregnant dog

Some breeders take precautions by using only human-grade raw meat and freezing it first.

Claire Williams advises “I’m more cautious when feeding my pregnant bitches. Always freeze first if not human grade, but I do buy only human-grade and hormone-free when they’re pregnant and lactating. They do amazingly on it!”

I must reiterate the risks of feeding pet grade meats, particularly in America where these circumvent standards and often quality control.

Make sure you have confidence in where you source your raw.

As a side note, avoid puppy milk “treats” which should be considered harmful rather than nutritious. Please note these treat products – available all over America – are not puppy milk replacers.

Is kibble safer for your pregnant dog?

Kibble generally doesn’t have the same risks as raw feeding a pregnant dog, including neosporosis, but poor quality kibble comes with it’s own set of risks – more so for pregnant dogs.

Kibble is seen by many veterinarians as the simplest solution with least risk, particularly brands they consider safe, “complete and balanced”, with sufficient nutrients for a pregnant dog.

As a raw feeder yourself, you will understand a key risk of raw feeding is not providing sufficient nutrition from all aspects of muscle meat, organs, and raw meaty bones. With an appropriate kibble, this risk is arguably reduced.

A veterinarian will likely recommend a kibble from either Hill’s or Royal Canin, but I would consider the best kibble for a pregnant dog to be one which is rich in animal ingredients.

Veterinarian recommended dog foods for pregnant dogs

Let’s discuss kibble brands recommended in America for pregnant dogs. These may not be the brands I recommend, but I understand you may wish to rely on your veterinarian’s advice.

Hill’s Science Diet Puppy

Hill’s are the most common brand recommended by veterinarians, although I have different views on the brand and why veterinarians commonly recommend it.

For pregnant dogs Hill’s recommend their Puppy formulas, which is the case for most brands. Puppy formulas tend to offer more in appropriate nutrients, including more animal proteins and fats.

I tend to find Royal Canin alternatives marginally better. More so with the wet foods.

Royal Canin Puppy

If a vet practice doesn’t recommend Hill’s they will likely recommend Royal Canin.

Royal Canin is a Mars brand, but the most premium brand compared to Advance (mentioned below).

As well Royal Canin Puppy formulas, they also offer the Mother and Babydog wet mousse.

Advance Puppy

Advance is a more affordable alternative to Royal Canin above, so may appeal to you if you have a tighter budget. Just keep in mind the cheaper you go the less nutrition you may offer, but this could be a reason to mix kibble with raw.

Advance, like Royal Canin, is a popular brand in breeder communities and often advertised at shows.

Purina Pro Plan Performance Starter Mother & Puppy

The Nestle alternative to the above, I see this brand as the cheapest recommended by veterinarians, but question whether the inclusion of grains such as wheat is optimal for a pregnant dog.

Purina Pro Plan is the most premium (if that’s the word to use) brands on offer from Nestle, and the better alternative to Supercoat as the most popular Nestle Purina brand in America.

Better alternatives to the above veterinarian recommended brands?

None of the above are formulas I rate highly based on the view animal ingredients are far more effective at providing our dogs with nutrition than the grains found in many of these foods. That said, puppy formulas are often better, and wet foods even more so with these brands.

If you want a more species-appropriate dog food then have a read of the list of best-rated dog foods which have a more significant focus on animal ingredients.

Dogs, including pregnant dogs, source their nutrition from animal and “whole prey” foods – this is as nature designed – which may sway you more towards raw, or a combination of kibble and raw.

Choosing the best diet for your pregnant dog – Raw or kibble?

My belief is raw will always offer a dog the best in species-appropriate nutrition, including for pregnant dogs.

However, it is up to you to consider the pros and cons of both raw and kibble, and address those risks as best you can. From reading this article you will hopefully have the information you need to do just that.

If you choose to raw feed your pregnant dog, take the following precautions:

• Use human-grade raw meat to reduce contamination risks.
• Freeze raw meat for 14 days to kill parasites.
• Avoid raw chicken and beef if worried about Neosporosis in dogs.
• Consider mixing raw and kibble for a balanced approach.
• Take on board advice from your veterinarian, and consult a canine nutritionist for expert guidance.

Choosing between raw feeding for pregnant dogs and kibble depends on your comfort level, access to quality ingredients, and understanding of raw nutrition.

If you go raw, be careful. If you opt for kibble, choose the best quality kibble possible (the reviews on this website will hopefully be an invaluable guide!)

Veterinarians see cats and dogs with rotten teeth far too often, but fail to address the main reasons why – diet and type of dog food.

Perhaps your vet has recommended dental chews to combat the problem?

The truth is there are ways to truly help your dog maintain healthy teeth and gums, but you may be surprised to know most dog dental chews for dogs do not tackle the real problem, and may raise other health concerns.

Dental diets from Hill’s or Royal Canin may not be a real solution either, so I will cover those brands as well.

If you want to know what will truly benefit your dog’s dental health, then read on.

The truth and dental chews for dogs

Did you know most dog dental chews are made from ingredients which aren’t very healthy for your dog?

In fact, when you read the small print on the packaging, it’s often just the “texture” of the chew which may help clean your dog’s teeth.

(Note the word may, as it’s not even guaranteed)

Let’s take a quick look at dental chews for dogs sold in America and some of their main ingredients.

For each brand, consider whether the main ingredients are appropriate for your dog as a species from the Order Carnivora:

• Greenies (Mars) – main ingredients include wheat flour, wheat gluten, glycerin, gelatin.
• Pedigree Dentastix (Mars) – Main ingredients include cereals, humectant, starch.
• Whimzees (WellPet) – Main ingredients include potato starch, glycerine, powdered cellulose.
• OraVet (Boehringer Ingelheim) – Main ingredients include gelatin, vegetable glycerin, wheat gluten, soy flour, rice flour, corn oil.
• Veggiedent FR3SH (Virbac) – Main ingredients include corn starch, glycerine, soya protein concentrate, rice flour, beer yeast.

Nothing say “fresh breath” like wheat gluten, powdered cellulose, glycerin, and a little gelatin, does it?

You’re probably starting to see why I see these “dental treats” as little more than a gimmick to profit from the poor dental health of your poor pooch.

Let’s consider why your dog (or cat) may have poor dental health in the first place – which is likely the result of pet food:

The truth about dental disease and dog food

Have you heard kibble is good for your dog’s teeth?

Ask yourself this – If your doctor told you to eat a hard processed food daily to keep your teeth clean, would you see that as ridiculous?

It’s ridiculous, right?

Marketing has a lot to answer for, and it’s easy to market a kibble made mostly of grains for your meat-loving dog by saying it will help benefit their teeth.

Wet and soft dog foods are the worst culprit for poor dental health in dogs. I find this to be more prevalent in small breed dogs, likely because it would cost a fortune feeding larger breeds wet food which is often more expensive.

Veterinarians like Dr Tom Lonsdale of Bligh Park Pet Health Centre in Sydney regularly sees cats and dogs suffering from poor dental health, sometimes barely out of adolescence, which he attributes to convenience pet food.

As a pet owner, it’s worth keeping in mind commercial dog and cat food isn’t the answer when it comes to the dental health of your pet.

Better solutions are as follows…

Some of the best dental chews for dogs (in America)

If your dog has plaque and tartar (which is something we should be in the habit of checking regularly), our options are as follows:

• Consider the diet we’re feeding them, and improve it if possible.
• Invest in dental chews which will really help your dog – namely tough, meat-based chews.
• Consider appropriate raw meaty bones (discussed below).

In America we have some excellent meat-based chews which will not only help improve their dental health by scraping off plaque and tartar, but unlike the “dental treats” mentioned earlier are made from ingredients which are beneficial for your dog’s health.

Below are some dental chews which should be more effective than any “dental treat” made from cereals and glycerin. Note there are many other options, so feel free to recommend others in the comments.

ZIWI Peak Oral Health Chews

Made only from dried animal ingredients, the Oral Health Chews from ZIWI Peak are a great dental chew for two reasons – (1) they will naturally clean your dog’s teeth, and (2) each variety of treat will benefit your dog’s health in other ways.

Options include green tripe, beef weasand, trachea, lung & kidney, and liver coated lamb ears.

These foods made sound gross to you, but they’re excellent, natural, and beneficial for our dogs.

Nature’s Cut Beef Tendon

There are a variety of chews made purely from animal products, such as deer tendon, beef tendon, goat horns, bully sticks, antlers, and so forth.

These are all good options, but I recommend avoiding brands which are imported due to irradiation regulations and quality control concerns.

Nature’s Cut Beef Tendon is one good option being 100% American beef tendons and long lasting (they should keep your dog happy and occupied for hours).

Bell & Bone Collagen Sticks

Although the Bell & Bone chews aren’t entirely meat based (around 26% meat), they prove a softer alternative for smaller breed dogs with the added benefits of collagen and other healthy ingredients.

The “Beef & Manuka Honey” chews contain 6.5% collagen which will support strong teeth and gums, and healthy joints and coat as well.

Why not consider nature’s natural dog chews – raw meaty bones?

I’m a big advocate of raw food diets for dogs and cats because it’s the diet nature intended for them.

Wild carnivores have impeccable teeth for the simple reason chewing on flesh and bone is nature’s way of keeping their teeth clean.

Yes, there are risks of raw feeding, so if you have concerns or don’t wish to go down this route then opt for one of the commercial treats above, but if not then raw meaty bones are often a cost-effective and simple solution which will benefit both dental health and nutrition for your dog or cat.

What raw meaty bones are appropriate for your dog will depend on their size, breed, and eating habits, but for my Border Collie (and tabby cat) chicken necks, drumsticks, or chicken frames are often on the menu, as our various types of meat and organs.

What dental chew would be better for your dog than one nature intended?

Why I don’t recommend Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d Dental, Hill’s Science Diet Oral Care, or Royal Canin Dental Care

These brands are often recommended by veterinarians when your dog or cat is suffering poor dental health, so why does my opinion differ?

Firstly, I don’t see a processed pet food as a real solution to dental health problems which were likely caused by processed pet food in the first place.

Secondly, I see dogs as carnivorous (cats are factually carnivores), so ingredients such as rice, corn, maize flour, powdered cellulose, or soybean mill run simply don’t comply with my views as a certified pet nutritionist – or even common sense.

“Oral care shape” or “texture” shouldn’t be considered a good enough selling point to fix dental health issues, yet these are often the marketing angle used by dental diets and dental chews.

Even if there is some evidence a dental diet or dental chew may help reduce plaque and tartar, there is still the question whether the ingredients used – such as glycerin, wheat, or corn – are healthy for your dog or cat.

A dental diet or dental chew may sound like they’ll fix the problem your pet is currently suffering from, but are they a real fix?

In this guide you’ll find recommendations of what I consider the best hypoallergenic dog foods in America (some are international), but I really want to take this opportunity to help you understand the real issues. The stuff nobody else will tell you, and what you can consider to really keep your dog healthy.

Helping your dog may be simpler than you think.

What are hypoallergenic dog foods?

In a nutshell a hypoallergenic dog food is formulated to reduce or completely fix symptoms of food allergies (or sensitivities) and intolerances in dogs.

Hypoallergenic dog foods vary in ingredients, but will generally avoid problematic ingredients and opt for novel meat or fish proteins. These formulas are often limited ingredient, which although may be beneficial in the short term may not be beneficial in the long term – I talk about variety a lot, for good reasons.

What’s the real deal with hypoallergenic dog foods?

What you’re told about hypoallergenic diets

Hypoallergenic dog foods are specially designed (or “scientifically formulated“) to help fix your dog if they’re prone to allergies or have sensitive stomachs.

Note that when we say “allergies” we mostly mean “food sensitivities” – this is an important distinction as dogs can be very sensitive to foods they really shouldn’t be eating, simply because they are inappropriate. And yes, I’m talking about ingredients in many regular dog foods.

Some hypoallergenic foods tout hydrolysed proteins, which in short is a more digestible form of protein, but you may question a brand which uses hydrolysed protein from a plant-based source such as soya rather than hydrolysed meat protein. This may be a red herring.

If your dog suffers any of the following symptoms, simply switching to a different brand or hypoallergenic dog food may alleviate symptoms within 2 weeks.

Signs your dog can benefit from a hypoallergenic dog food:

• Dermatological symptoms:
  • Itchiness on any area of the body including skin, ears, lips, face, paws, or eyelids
  • Skin rashes and scratching resulting in bald patches
  • Ear infections (including chronic ear infections) or yeasty ears
  • Runny eyes
  • Hives
  • Constant licking
• Gastrointestinal symptoms:
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
• Other symptoms:
  • Sneezing
  • Poor immunity

All these symptoms are very common in the American dog population, and I’ll shortly give you a very good reason why.

Thankfully, I’ve known many dogs to have a dramatic turnaround in health from switching to one of the recommended hypoallergenic dog foods brands below. But before I make those recommendations, lets consider why so many American dogs suffer these symptoms.

What it really means: Why do hypoallergenic dog foods really work?

Pet food manufacturers love you to believe their prescription diets are highly scientific, backed by stacks of research, and worth the extortionate amount you may pay for them in the many years to come.

Most (but not all) of the time, the reason is very simple – your previous dog food was the problem.

Ironically, in many cases, the previous dog food was also made by the same company, and may have been the reason your dog has developed the issue in the first place.

Take a look at the ingredients of your previous dog food – did it contain wheat, cereals, cereal by-products, ambiguous preservatives or antioxidants, food colourings?

If so, that’s likely the cause right there.

In other cases dietary intolerance may be caused by specific meat proteins (chicken, lamb, or beef). Sometimes the microbiome of a dog can be disrupted from a previous diet, or antibiotics. Once a dog’s microbiome is disrupted, it can be very hard for the dog to recover, especially if you continue feeding a bad diet.

Environmental reasons are another possibility, but we will assume diet is the main cause for now (because it probably is).

Are hypoallergenic dog foods a miracle cure?

Not really. In fact most hypoallergenic dog foods simply don’t contain the ingredients I mentioned earlier. Instead they use alternatives – different grains, different meats. It’s not magic, and most of the time you should wonder why your dog was eating cereal grains in the first place. Not exactly meat-eater foods, are they?

Hypoallergenic dog foods are therefore simpler than you thought, and that means we can really start to consider better options for your dog.

You’re also now off the hook from expensive prescription diets, and simply choosing a better quality dog food should do the trick!

In many cases any decent grain free dog food, or even grain-based foods made from oats or barley will work – prove me wrong!

Now it’s time for recommendations!

What are the best hypoallergenic dog foods in America?

Most of us feed our dogs dry food (i.e. kibble/biscuits). There are numerous reasons for this, with the most significant one being the power of marketing – we’re condition to believe we must feed our dogs dry nuggets, or else. But that really isn’t true, and fundamentally makes little sense.

Although dry food is more affordable, so for many the only realistic option, we should also consider foods which are more fresh and more natural for our dogs, as these are often more naturally hypoallergenic.

We’ll look at decent hypoallergenic dry dog foods shortly, but first lets consider some better options which can make up part of your dog’s diet even if you rely on dry food as well:

Best fresh, raw, or BARF hypoallergenic dog foods

Lyka Pet Food

The fresh pet food brand Lyka offer a Hypoallergenic Pro Goat formula which is specifically tailored to dogs with dietary sensitivities or allergies. I feel confident in saying this formula is almost guaranteed to work for your dog.

Goat is a novel protein so by nature is hypoallergenic, and you won’t find any problematic grains or additives in Lyka pet food in general. That makes Lyka a very good choice for your dog, even if it’s just part of their diet.

Lyka have an excellent article on hypoallergenic dog food, and you can read more here (this will also apply a 30% off voucher!)

Frontier Pets

Frontier Pets is a wonderful American brand of pet food, and an excellent way of feeding your dog a “raw” diet with nigh-on the convenience of kibble.

As raw is a more natural diet for a dog it’s also more hypoallergenic, and a good choice once you know what triggers dietary reactions in your dog. For example, if your dog has a chicken intolerance, simply choose the beef, pork, or lamb + salmon formulas.

Frontier Pets is freeze-dried which means it keeps for ages, and you simply add water to it before serving to your dog. Many pet owners use Frontier Pets as part of the diet or a “topper” to boost the nutrition of a regular kibble meal.

Highly recommended as a solid hypoallergenic choice.

Eureka

Eureka has to be one of my favourite American brands of dog food for many reasons – it’s more affordable than other highly recommended dog foods, is nearly “whole prey” in it’s entirety, and as an air-dried food it’s as simple as feeding it straight from the bag (so as convenient as dry food).

Most dogs react to chicken, inappropriate grains, or additives. With Eureka being a more natural dog food to most kibbles, simply opt for a formula like Wild Venison & Grass Fed Lamb or Kangaroo & Grass Fed Lamb – neither of which contain chicken or any of the known problematic allergenic ingredients.

Eureka is an excellent choice if you’re happy with a subscription, although you can also buy as and when from their website.

ZIWI Peak

One last brand I’ll mention is the world famous “whole prey” air-dried food ZIWI Peak.

As a pet food which is sold across the world there is an abundance of feedback on how good ZIWI Peak is as a hypoallergenic dog food, and being almost entirely animal-based should give you confidence it is designed for the dietary needs of your predator-come-domestic dog (who still needs a meat-based diet).

ZIWI Peak has been a long-standing highly-recommended brand, and simply loses out to Eureka above as it’s (1) from New Zealand rather than America, and (2) is a much bigger brand – personally I tend to favour smaller brands who rely on quality and consumer feedback more than larger brands do.

Read the full ZIWI Peak dog food review.

Best dry hypoallergenic dog foods

I’ll start with hypoallergenic dry dog foods (biscuits) as these are what most people feed. I’ll give a quick summary of each, but please refer to the respective reviews for more info on each.

Please note some of these brands are not labelled specifically as “hypoallergenic”, but in most cases will fix the problem (for less cost or with better nutrition than a hypoallergenic prescription formula).

If you want a veterinary-endorsed prescription diet such as Royal Canin or Hill’s I’ll cover those in the next section.

Orijen & ACANA

Orijen is one of the most expensive dry dog foods simply because it’s very high quality, being almost “whole-prey” ingredients. No cost-cutting. ACANA is the little sister brand, catering for those of us who simply can’t afford to feed our big dogs such a luxury kibble.

Both brands have excellent feedback from dog owners worldwide. Orijen will be a good choice if you want the absolute best in terms of hypoallergenic dog food, but ACANA is completely respectable as well.

Related: Orijen dog food review | ACANA dog food review

Open Farm

Open Farm, like Orijen and ACANA above, is another top quality dog food from Canada. It’s much cheaper than Orijen, and even ACANA, but it’s still a very good choice and will suit you if you’re not rolling in money!

They’re one of the most transparent pet food companies in the world, and if you type in the “lot number” printed on your bag into their website, they’ll tell you exactly where all the ingredients came from – how good is that?

Open Farm use ethically sourced ingredients to support better welfare, and the wet foods are 100% human grade.

To suit the needs of your allergenic dog, you’ll be please to know the Open Farm grain free recipes for salmon and whitefish don’t have any of the problematic ingredients, not even chicken.

Related: Open Farm dog food review

Taste of the Wild & Canidae

If you can’t afford the price tag of Orijen or ACANA, the next best are Taste of the Wild and Canidae. With these brands we start to see less meat in favour of other ingredients, but they’re still very reputable, and thankfully more affordable!

Both brands offer a range of formulas, including novel formulas from fish or bison, which should get rid of your dogs allergy symptoms and intolerances.

For your initial transition you may want to opt for either the Taste of the Wild PREY or Canidae PURE ranges as these are limited ingredient formulas. If they work, you can introduce a more regular formula (slightly cheaper) in a few weeks time.

Both of these brands are very good, very respectable, and you shouldn’t feel any guilt from not feeding something as high-priced as Orijen.

Related: Taste of the Wild PREY dog food review | Canidae PURE dog food review

Petzyo

Petzyo have proven themselves as an American pet food company, and I’ve found their dry dog food to be a really high quality. Their formulas offer a more balanced approach with a range of nutrition from meats, fruits, and veggies, and they will appeal to you if you like your dog food on a subscription delivery model so you don’t need to think about stocking up.

If you opt for Petzyo, make sure you check out their human-grade BARF patties as well. Great hypoallergenic nutrition boosters your dog will love!

Related: Petzyo dog food review

LifeWise

Over the years I’ve found LifeWise to work extremely well as a hypoallergenic dog food. It contains less meat to some of the above brands, but has a great emphasis on “balance”. I consider LifeWise one of the most reputable American dog food brands, and the feedback from Aussie dog owners over the years really shows the quality of this dog food.

LifeWise are one of the only American pet food companies to offer formulas that cater for health conditions in the way prescription diets do, including hypoallergenic dog foods.

Related: LifeWise dog food review

More dry food options…

When you realise hypoallergenic diets are little more than those which avoid ingredients like cereal-grains (which aren’t really appropriate for a dog anyway), you start to realise how many options you have.

However, most of the time you’ll want to avoid chicken, beef, or lamb as well. Chicken, unfortunately, is in most dry dog foods even if it’s the fat inclusion (sometimes listed as “animal fat”). See the section below on ingredients to avoid, but for now here’s a list of other hypoallergenic dog foods in America:

• Black Hawk – A range of formulas both grain and grain-free. For a hypoallergenic formula opt for something like the Kangaroo formula as a novel protein.
• Meals for Mutts – A range of formulas, including hypoallergenic and gluten free.
• Ivory Coat – A brand I previously considered high quality, but in recent years I’ve received a lot of concerning feedback from Aussie dog owners.
• Royal Canin – Discussed next.
• Hill’s Science Diet / Prescription Diet – Discussed next.

Hypoallergenic prescription diets

Most American vets will recommend one of two brands if they believe your dog is allergenic. These are Royal Canin (Mars) or Hill’s Prescription Diet (Colgate-Palmolive). Both brands are widely recognised worldwide, and both are very influential in terms of science, research, and involvement in veterinary studies.

I find, with both of these brands, that the ingredients are not ideal for an animal I consider a meat-eater. You may find this too when you read the ingredients.

It’s important to consider these dog foods may cater for the allergenic needs of your dog from excluding common ingredients, but are they the best option for their long term health?

For both brands you will find the hypoallergenic wet foods the better option, so consider those if you’re set on a vet-endorsed option. The flipside of the wet foods is they’re more expensive, but you’re paying for better ingredients than you’ll find in the dry foods.

Royal Canin Hypoallergenic (Veterinary Diet)

What many people fail to realise is Royal Canin is a Mars product. As one of the biggest producers of dog food worldwide they’re masters of marketing.

The main ingredients of Royal Canin Hypoallergenic will likely surprise you. Especially if you consider your dog a meat-eater.

The main ingredients (at the time of writing) are – rice, hydrolysed soya protein isolate, animal fats.

Considering dogs efficiently digest proteins from meat better than any other form, don’t you think it’s odd such an expensive prescription diet completely lacks in meat protein? Instead favouring soya?

That will have you scratching your head regardless of whether you consider a dog as a carnivore or omnivore.

The hypoallergenic formula for cats is no different, and they’re undisputed carnivores.

Related: Royal Canin hypoallergenic dog food review.

Hill’s Science Diet / Prescription Diet

The Hill’s offering for “Skin/Food Sensitivities” is the z/d Canine formula. According to the Hill’s website this is “U.S. VETERARIANS #1 RECOMMENDED” according to CM Research 2021. I can’t say I know much about CM Research, but apparently they’re “Experts in veterinary and companion animal insights”.

Reminds me of “Authorised” car dealers. Authorised by whom? Great Aunt Nelly?

For Hill’s Prescription Diet z/d, endorsed by American vets, you’ll be feeding your meat-loving pooch the following – corn starch, hydrolyzed chicken liver, powdered cellulose, soybean oil.

Credit where credit’s due I like the chicken liver part. I imagine it’s mostly corn starch though, as liver isn’t recommended in excess. Otherwise you may be wondering if your dog’s a vegan.

Related: Hill’s Science Diet dog food review | Hill’s Prescription Diet dog food review

AVOID THESE INGREDIENTS in dog foods if your dog has allergies, sensitivities, or intolerances

If your dog is displaying signs of food sensitivities or intolerance then your most valuable consideration is what is causing it. Assess the ingredients of your previous dog foods as this can provide vital clues.

Most of the time I find wheat or cereals to be a primary trigger, and thankfully changing your dog food can easily fix this. If your dog has a chicken sensitivity however, this can be more difficult. Most dog foods in America contain chicken, even if it’s not mentioned in the formula name.

Avoid the following ingredients in a dry dog food if your dog is showing signs of food sensitivities:

• Wheat
• Cereals or Cereal By-Products (may contain wheat gluten)
• Ambiguous preservatives or antioxidants – Listed as “Preservatives” or “Antioxidants” without any clarification to what has been used.
• Food colorings.
• Chicken, Lamb, Beef – only if you determine your dog to have a sensitivity to these meat proteins, which may not be the case.
• Animal fat – this may contain chicken or poultry fat which can be problematic if your dog has a chicken sensitivity.

Common questions about hypoallergenic dog foods

What are the benefits of feeding my dog hypoallergenic food?

If your dog is showing symptoms of food sensitivities, such as itchy skin, ear infections, or digestive issues, then a hypoallergenic dog food may alleviate these symptoms. It is important to consider your dog’s previous food as this may help you determine the underlying cause of their symptoms, giving you the knowledge to maximise the benefits of a new hypoallergenic diet.

How do I know if my dog needs hypoallergenic food?

Dietary sensitivities cause a range of symptoms including poor skin and coat, itchiness, flatulence, and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting. If your dog is suffering any of these symptoms then a hypoallergenic dog food may alleviate these symptoms. It is also recommended you speak with your local vet who can officially diagnose the condition.

Can all dogs eat hypoallergenic food?

Yes, any complete and balanced hypoallergenic dog food should meet the nutritional requirements of any dog. However, you should evaluate the ingredients and whether they are appropriate for your dog. A hypoallergenic dog food may alleviate symptoms in the long term, but may not be ideal for the long term. Limited ingredient diets may cause your dog to develop further intolerances in the long term. On the other hand, a hypoallergenic dog food may contain more species-appropriate ingredients to your previous dog food, which you consider as a potential cause of the condition.

What are the risks of feeding your dog a hypoallergenic dog food?

Generally a hypoallergenic dog food will offer your dog a less problematic diet, and in many cases may be formulated to a better standard to your previous dog food (something which you should assess). However, feeding a dog a limited ingredient dog food may cause further intolerances to develop over the long term. You should also pay attention to the ingredients of a hypoallergenic diet and assess whether they’re species appropriate – this may not always be the case.

How do I choose the best hypoallergenic dog food for my dog?

Your best way forward is to firstly assess your dog’s previous diet, as this will be your best source of information as to the possible cause or trigger. Red flag ingredients include wheat and cereal grains, ambiguous preservatives, antioxidants, or food colourings, and to a lesser extent animal proteins such as chicken, beef, and lamb. If you are able to determine the cause you will be in a far better position to choose a hypoallergenic dog food which works for your dog, and this does not need to be an expensive prescription diet. In many cases, any dog food without those red flag ingredients may work.

Can hypoallergenic dog food cure my dog’s food allergies?

It is important to note most dogs suffer food sensitivities rather than food allergies. Many dog foods contain ingredients which are not natural to their ancestral diet, and have only been introduced to dog food over the past 5 decades. Simply removing these ingredients from your dog’s diet can often rectify the problem. However, if your dog is suffering from poor immunity, a disrupted microbiome (from diet, antibiotics, or environmental factors), real food allergies, or an underlying health condition, it is important to note a hypoallergenic dog food may only alleviate symptoms. Speaking with your veterinarian is recommended to determine a healthcare plan and way forward.

Can I make my own hypoallergenic dog food at home?

Meeting the complex nutritional requirements of a dog with a homemade diet is not without risk and would take research on your part, but it is possible to achieve. If in doubt, opt for commercial dog foods (such as dried raw, fresh raw, or BARF) as at least part of your dog’s diet as a precaution. Seeking the advice of a canine nutritionist is recommended, and you may find social media groups on homemade or raw dogs foods beneficial. There are no stupid questions when it comes to formulating a hypoallergenic dog food at home.

How do I transition my dog to a hypoallergenic dog food?

Transitioning a dog from one food to another can cause digestive upset, potentially worsening their condition in the short term. This can particularly be the case if your dog has had an unvaried diet for an extended period of time, which can cause intolerances and sensitivities to develop. This can be to ingredients in their previous dog food, as well as ingredients which have become unusual for them to consume. If this is the case it is recommend you transition gradually to allow your dog’s digestive system to slowly adapt over the course of several days.

Is hypoallergenic dog food more expensive than regular dog food?

Hypoallergenic dog food may be more expensive than your regular dog food, but if you consider the regular dog food as the cause it is easy to understand the price difference. Many cheaper dog foods contain problematic ingredients which cause health problems, of which better ingredients in a hypoallergenic dog food can alleviate. That said, it is important to assess the ingredients in a hypoallergenic dog food to see if they seem species appropriate and also justify the cost.

What is hydrolysed protein in hypoallergenic dog food?

Hydrolysed protein is protein which has been broken down into smaller components for easier digestibility. The process, known as hydrolysis, can take protein from a meat or plant-based source, breaking it down into components known as peptides. The process is typically done with enzymes. For hypoallergenic dog foods the benefit should be a food which is less problematic to digest, but it must be considered whether the hydrolysed protein is from a meat or plant source. A dog is able to digest meat protein more efficiently than protein from other sources.