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There are so many dog food choices and so much conflicting information about them, as a dog owner it’s difficult to make a decision on what to buy. I hope this article helps you make the best choice for your dog. I have included Amazon and Chewy links when available. This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links, and we would really appreciate the support. Thank you.) The price of dog food changes frequently, so the prices I’ve listed are based on what I found on that specific day. Most offer free samples or a very small bag for purchase if you contact them or ask the retailer that carries them. When you find a brand you like, be sure to follow them on social media as they often post specials that can save you money. (If you are an Amazon Prime member and have or apply for an Amazon Prime credit card you can get 5% cash back on all Amazon purchases.)
There has been a lot of discussion about DCM, grain free and grain inclusive or legume free which are complicated issues that I plan to cover in a later article. However, I will touch on the subject a little in this article.
Grain free kibble when it was first introduced was touted to be a better option because in the past, a lot of dog food companies would use government subsidized grain ingredients to raise the protein percentage and calorie without having to use meat and still comply with the AAFCO standard. After the public caught on to this fact, companies began making changes to their formulations. A lot of them increased the animal protein content while the majority just substituted grain with legumes which have their own issues. Grain is not “bad”, certain types of grains when used in moderation are a great source of vitamins and minerals that you cannot get in sufficient amounts from animal proteins. In this article I will be focusing solely on legume free formulations. I will pick one recipe in each brand’s line that has the highest protein percentage and include the macros, calories and price per pound. How much carbs, fat or protein depends on your dog’s age, activity level, GI health and metabolism. Some dogs thrive on high protein, some thrive on high carbs. Higher protein doesn’t mean it’s better. Higher fat doesn’t mean it’s inferior. It just depends on what your individual dog thrives on and you might have to try various foods to find out. If you have a multi dog household, each dog may have different needs.
It is common for dogs to have loose stools and or diarrhea when you switch food, so don’t worry. Transition over gradually to the new food by mixing in the new food with the old food over a period of 2 weeks.
Pay attention to the K/cup (calories per cup) as well, some brands are more calorie dense so you will need to feed less. There is a formula for calculating the dog’s caloric requirement but it also depends on the individual dog. Use the formula as a guideline and adjust the calorie by using body score. (Here’s a video to help guide you.) Try to keep your dog very lean. Studies have shown that lean dogs live longer.
You can calculate your dog’s caloric needs by first determining the Resting Energy Requirements (RER), which can be calculated by multiplying the animal’s body weight in kilograms raised to the ¾ power by 70. The RER is then multiplied by factors to estimate the pet’s total daily energy needs; Neutered adult =1.6 x RER, Intact adult =1.8 x RER, Inactive/obese prone =1.2-1.4 x RER, Weight loss =1.0 x RER for ideal weight, Weight gain =1.2-1.8 x RER for ideal weight, Active, working dogs =2.0-5.0 x RER, Puppy 0-4 months =3.0 x RER, Puppy 4 months to adult = 2.0 x RER.
For example, a 10kg (22lb) adult neutered dog of healthy weight that gets about 90minute of walk a day needs RER = 70(10kg)3/4 ≈ 400 Calories/day, and from the energy needs numbers for neutered male it is 1.6. 400x = 640. Note: Active for a dog means a lot of running and or obstacle training. Unless you are walking more than 3 hours a day do not use the number for active. Leisure walk under 60 minutes a day is considered inactive for a dog.
The following list of companies take into consideration overall health and nutrition, focus on ethical sourcing, believe in sustainability and transparency, use high quality ingredients, value pets as family members and contribute to the community. Those are the types of companies I personally like to support. (Legume free specialized prescription diet options are at the end.)
They focus on quality ingredients and transparent sourcing with a holistic approach to nutrition. They have legume and non legume line of food as well as feline, senior, weight management, and small breeds recipes and high protein. You can also request free samples from their website.
The legume free line, “H.I.T” is “Heat Isolate Technology is our cutting-edge cooking process that ensures essential food ingredients like fats, probiotics, and vitamins are properly infused and retained in every one of your pet’s kibbles.
Many pet food companies claim to use the best ingredients, only to shortcut the preparation process by simply spraying fat over the food surface and exposing kibbles to high cooking temperatures. These methods create harmful oxidation and overheating which reduce the food’s nutritional value. Every Artemis kibble is prepared inside a heat-controlled, vacuum-sealed infusion chamber that densely coats your pet’s food with essential fats, probiotics, and vitamins. Pressurized air then gently pushes these key ingredients past the kibble’s surface and deeper down into its micropores, locking in the kibble’s nutritional bio-availability and extending its shelf life.
The result is healthier pet food that lasts longer. And because Artemis kibble is made with sustainably-sourced Atlantic Herring and pure-filtered water at our human-rated food production facility, you can be sure your best friend is always getting the best meal.
The lamb and pork formula costs $3.36/lb, it contains 536K/Cup 38% protein, 20% fat.
It’s an affordable brand and they have a variety of formulations that includes grain free and legume free and large breed puppy food. They support rescues and offer a free “rescue pack” that includes a small bag of food, treats, food scoop and coupons when you adopt a new dog from rescues or shelters. They procure as many ingredients from local farms as possible and the food is made in small batches at low temperature to ensure freshness.
They have a variety of formulations and the highest protein percentage is their Endurance Plus $1.58 /lb which is chicken and pork and contains 388K/Cup, 30% protein and 20% fat. You can find it at Chewy.
Below are mostly excerpts from their “about us.”
The founder Rob Downy came from a family of animal lovers and was an avid dog sledder back when little is known on how to properly fuel endurance athletes which drove him to learn more that led him to University of Pennsylvania where he worked as a field researcher and graduate student with the late Dr. David Kronfeld who was the Paul Mellon Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Agriculture and former professor of veterinary medicine at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Prior to his career at Virginia Tech, Dr. Kronfeld was the Elizabeth and William Whitney Clark Professor Emeritus of Nutrition at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to Rob’s expertise, Annamaet Petfoods has a board certified Veterinary Nutritionist on staff as well. Having two nutritionists provides better checks and balances on creating great formulas.
In addition to focusing on nutrition they also have a strong focus on sustainability “ Our commitment to sustainability includes not only our new packaging, but what’s inside the bag as well. Annamaet now uses sustainable packaging, made with Bio-Flex™ materials that are specifically engineered to biodegrade in landfills. During this process, green, renewable and sustainable energy is created. Annamaet’s sustainable philosophy shows through our partnership with the Marine Stewardship Council, the Gold Standard for marine sustainability, to guarantee the use of certified sustainable fish sources in our formulas that are traceable back to the boat they were caught on. Annamaet utilizes other sustainable ingredients as well, including solver carp and line caught Alaskan cod.These beliefs have led us to utilize marine microalgae in our formulas as a sustainable form of Omega Three Fatty Acids to offset the amount of fish oil necessary for canine and feline health”.
Because of the founder’s background of canine athletes they have a small line of supplements that include post exercise supplement which is great after a long arduous hike, or after any strenuous activity that is not the normal routine. You can find it at Chewy and Amazon.
The original formula is legume free and they also have a grain free formula, feline, adult, senior, lean (for those dogs needing to lose weight or can’t tolerate a higher fat food), puppy, small breed puppy and active formula. They also have a line of treats.
The Ultra which has the highest protein content cost 2.42/lb and has 32% protein, 20% fat 480K/Cup You can find it on Chewy and Amazon.
They focus on quality ingredients, transparency and sustainability detail in their “Love your planet” program; excerpts from their site “part to protect the Earth. Environmental protection is a personal concern for us. Like you, we want to breathe clean air, drink safe water, and enjoy the beauty of our forests. Acting responsibly on behalf of the environment is factored into everything we do. We don’t claim to be experts in the field of sustainability, but we are doing our part in every way possible to help take care of our planet.” As well as alternative clean energy, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, reduce, reuse and recycle, printing on soy ink and lots of other ways to reduce their impact on pollution and waste. They have partnered up with Terracycle to recycle dog food bags as 95% of dog food bags are not recyclable. All you have to do is sign up for an account and ship them back your used bags or find a drop off site.
Their products include kibble for adult, puppy, small breed, weight control, canned food as well as stews and treats . When you sign up for their subscription, coupons are sent out on the 10th of every month. There is a frequent buyers program where if you buy 12 bags, you get the 13th bag free. Please check with your store for details. All Earthborn Holistic products are 100% guaranteed for taste and nutrition. If you are unsatisfied for any reason, simply return any unused food along with the bag and receipt to the authorized retailer where it was purchased for a full refund or exchange. Ask your retailer for details.
Their non legume line is called the Unrefined and there is one novelty protein; Rabbit. You can find it at Chewy and Amazon.
their Venture Line with the exception of Squid and Chickpea are legume free. We will use the venture duck meal and pumpkin for our example as it has the highest protein content. K/Cup 335 Protein 27% Fat 13% carb 32% $2.80/lb. You can find it at Chewy and Amazon.
Essence focuses on creating food that is higher in protein percentage in comparison with most dog food. Their food comes in dry and canned, ingredients are sourced from responsible and clean sources and when you click on each recipe, it shows where the proteins are sourced. Their formulation is low in starches and the limited ingredient recipe is their legume free line that is great for dogs with food sensitivities. All of their Limited ingredients have the same protein percentage.
They do offer a frequent buyer program with the local retailers and you can find it on Amazon.
The Ranch recipe K/Cup 408, Protein 35%, Fat 18% $3.7/lb.
Farmina is an Italian company focusing on scientific validated food. Utilizing ingredients sourced in Europe, Australia and New Zealand and fish from the North sea which has a much higher standard compared to the USA. They “only use meat from the animal, never any meals or by-products. All of our protein sources consume GMO-free diets and are raised without antibiotics and hormones.” and “All Farmina Vet Life and Natural & Delicious products are preserved using only natural antioxidants (tocopherol rich extracts). Preservatives and antioxidants, in particular, are compounds that have the ability to delay, prevent, reduce or eliminate oxidative damage in food. Dietary antioxidants can also provide beneficial health effects by reducing damages caused by free radicals and by creating Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) that counteract cellular aging. ROS can reduce the onset of chronic and degenerative diseases caused by oxidative stress.”
They have an Ancestral line that is completely Legume free. The N&D Light -Chicken, spelt, oats and pomegranate has the highest protein but is lower in fat. It’s 338 Kcal/cup, Protein, 34.00%; Fat:11.00%; $2.70/lb. You can find at Chewy and Amazon.
HOWEVER in their ocean line they do have a grain inclusive recipe if your dog likes fish called N&D Cod, spelt, oats and orange recipe. You can find it at Chewy and Amazon.
Horizon Pet is a Canadian company with its own manufacturing plant, focusing on sourcing local quality ingredients, ingredient transparency and holistic formulations. They also give back to all in the wild which buys land to preserve it so it can never be developed.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Pulsar and Taiga go towards acquiring natural habitat and preserving its original splendor – forever. No development, no disruption. They have legume and legume free kibbles, feline, adult, large breed puppy, large breed adult and senior/weight management formulas. They have non-legume options in their Pulsar and Tiaga lines, they are under whole grain and the entire line of Complete is legume free.
The Complete line has the highest protein content. We will be looking at the “Complete all life stage” chicken formula, 415K/Cup Protein 26% Fat 14% $1.68/lb You can find it at Chewy and Amazon.
They are a Nebraska based company with a heavy focus on sustainability and charitable contribution. They do not use synthetic vitamins and minerals, GMO products, they buy 1kw of renewable energy with every pound of food purchased and recently they have achieved 100% Natural energy at their HQ and uses 100% post consumer recycled content. They have an ancient grain inclusive line and a grain free, potato free line all formulated free of common allergens . For the price they have one of the highest protein percentages in their formulation. They have a cat line, canned line, raw frozen line as well as a supplement line and treats . Their food has a variety of protein including novelty protein like rabbit and venison. All of their ingredients are sourced with the highest standard and they are very transparent with their sourcing.
The highest protein content in their legume free line is the pork and Duck and Salmon. The duck and Salmon have the most calories between the two so I will be using the D&S as an example. K/Cup 417, Protein 38% Fat 15% $3.04/lb ITs available at Chewy and Amazon.
The grain free is the chicken recipe 483K/cup Protein 36% fat 15% $2.85/lb It is available at Chewy and Amazon.
Nutrisource is a Minnesota based company with its own manufacturing factory with a company culture based in supporting local and family owned businesses, giving back to help children and animals in need, quality sourcing, ingredients tracing and strong focus on gut and bioavailability. They are also transparent on their ingredients and have detailed nutritional breakdown. They carry both dry and canned food, and their Nutrisource line dry food has the following: puppy food for large and small/medium breeds, adult small bite, senior, weight management, performance (high protein/calorie). Their limited ingredients are the PureVita and the choice line is entirely legume free. The turkey and rice recipe has 438K/Cup, 28% Protein, Fat 17% $1.93/lb. You can find it at Amazon.
A Canadian company heavily focuses on Animal welfare and sustainability and transparency. In fact they are so transparent that you can enter the code on the bag on their website and get a list of where all the ingredients originated.
They did something that no pet food has ever done and thus setting the standard. They are manufactured in Minnesota by Petfood Innovations and the 40% of the produce used are grown by them. They are the first pet food that is certified humane. All of their red meat is pastured raised and grass fed NEVER from the feedlot. The pork are 100% certified humane and raised crate free on family farms with strict animal welfare standards. “Open Farm is committed to support the health of the ocean and the fish are sourced from fisheries that use sustainable practices and they specifically support fisheries that use environmentally sustainable fishing practices They have a catch-of-the-season style fish selection based on seasonal abundance and availability, their wild-caught fish is sourced in accordance to the most up-to-date sustainability standards by Ocean Wise®, They employ fishing methods that minimize bycatch, protect the marine environment and ocean floor.”
The founders Jacqueline Prehogan and Isaac Langleben spent almost 2 years putting together a supply chain and never wavered from their ethos, literally knocking on the doors of small farms.
They offer free sample bags so just ask the retailer or contact them to send you some. They also have a 15 days satisfaction guarantee. If you are unhappy with their product, you can return it to them for a full refund on the item. For the kibble, They have a puppy, senior and adult recipe and grain free and grain inclusive line. They also have treats, bone broth, raw grass fed kefir with turmeric, freeze dried raw, gently cooked (you can buy it in store but they do ship it frozen) and rustic stew which is shelf stable packaged in tetra pak which are cartons that lock in nutrition, taste and lock out air and light.
One of their programs that I love is the dog food bag/container recycle program. 95% of dog food bags are considered unrecyclable. So they partner up with Terracycle that has the capability to recycle it. You sign up for an account and ship the used empty bags or containers back to them by printing out a label.
All of their Grain inclusive has the same protein and fat content. The turkey and pork is the cheapest at $3.46/lb. I will use the turkey recipe for the nutritional information. 425k/Cup Protein 26% Fat 15%. You can find it at Amazon.
Sports dog food is a family owned business and focuses on supporting other family owned and local businesses. They focus on sourcing high quality ingredients and ingredient transparency as well as transparency on their breakdown of nutrients . They support sports dog events and are a supporter of Project K-9 hero which is a program where “Retired Military Working Dogs and Police K-9 Heroes accepted into Project K-9 Hero will have up to $3,000.00 per year in medical costs covered for them. Project K-9 Hero will also cover the K-9’s food costs and have food shipped directly to the owner’s residence. Project K-9 Hero additionally provides $500.00 to the owner when the K-9 is deceased for cremation or burial service.” They do not use Poultry in any of their formulation and have a grain inclusive and grain free line. They do offer samples and smaller bags if you contact them and if you like their food they have a loyalty points program that helps you save even more. Their formulation has a sport or activity name but you don’t need to do those activities to buy those specific recipes, it depends on what your dog does best with.
The highest protein in their grain free line is a herding dog formulation using buffalo and catfish as protein source 460K/Cup, Protein 30% Fat 15% $2.63/lb. It’s available at Chewy and Amazon.
The highest protein in their grain inclusive line is their dock dog formulation 460K/Cup Protein 30% Fat 15% 2.53/lb It’s available at Chewy and Amazon.
A company that focuses on ingredient transparency, humane sourcing and sustainability. They are certified USDA organic, Global Animal Partnership certified humanely raised, non GMO, and all of their seafood carries the Marine Stewardship council which means they are responsibly caught by certified sustainable fisheries. They have small bites that are great for small dogs, canned food and treats as well as bundle kits if you want to try a variety of their products. They have 2 legume free formulas; chicken and brown rice and Turkey and brown rice. 350K/Cup, Protein 26%, Fat 16% $1.82/lb. You can find it at Amazon and Chewy.
Zignature is a company that focuses on low glycemic, no artificial preservatives and “free of the most common canine allergens: corn, potato, wheat, soy, dairy, chicken and eggs. Our limited-ingredient, nutritionally complete diets feature quality meats and high-grade animal meal as the first and second ingredients, with no cheap fillers.” They have ingredient transparency, high standard of quality control and source high quality ingredients. They are also a big supporter of various animal charities and give back to communities.
The select cuts is their legume free formula and the turkey and trout both have the highest protein and the turkey has a higher calorie than the trout so we will use the turkey as the example 396K/Cup Protein 28% Fat 17% $2.42/lb. It’s available at Chewy and Amazon.
Prescription/specialized Diet
You can find most of their products on Amazon and Chewy
This is a company that is in my opinion one of the best out there combining research, sourcing and production. They choose Iceland to manufacture and source most of the ingredients because it has one of THE most strictest regulations in the world with a national ban of hormones, food additives and antibiotics and one of the highest standards in animal husbandry, farming and sustainability. They have a dog and cat line as well as treats. All of their formulation includes links to the studies. They have formulations for behavioral, ears, digestion, kidney, skin, weight loss, tear stain etc.
I will list just a few of their specialized diet as they have a long list.
For dogs they have a Behavioral formula developed to help all dogs suffering from chronic or recurrent anxiety problems which don’t satisfactorily respond to behavioral therapy or medication. Behavioral has proven to be able to reverse, in over 70% of cases, the most common dog anxiety problems.
And is recommended in all cases where food intolerances affect behavior inducing: Unpredictability, excitability (eg. dog constantly barking), nervousness, attention deficit disorders, fear aggression, separation anxiety, fear of storms and fireworks, the obsessive licking of paws, the environment and people, obsessive or phobic attitudes and inappropriate marking (domestic defecation and urination). Behavioral’s effectiveness was demonstrated by two important research projects conducted in collaboration with the University of Sassari and published in prestigious international scientific journals. The first research showed how Forza10 Behavioral is able to reduce anxiety and improve dog attention after just a few days, furthermore normalizing the main neurotransmitters’ values (serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline, cortisol).
The second study showed how, in just a few days, the time devoted to rest increased and the chronic organic signs of intolerance also decreased, including dandruff, pruritus, seborrhea, hair opacity, vomiting, flatulence and diarrhea.
Colon developed to help all dogs suffering from chronic enterocolitis problems which don’t respond to traditional treatment or medicine. It is recommended where food intolerances affect the colon and induce: colitis, enteritis, chronic enterocolitis, severe chronic or hemorrhagic diarrhea, chronic constipation, colic, flatulence, intestinal absorption problems, vomiting and Lymphocytic Plasmacytic Enteritis.
Colon Diet Phase 1 was developed in collaboration with Dr. Graziano Pengo, an Italian Veterinarian specialized in gastroenterology; its effectiveness has been evaluated in a multicentric study, which demonstrated how Colon Diet Phase 1 is able to induce the remission of almost all the enteric symptoms within just a few days of feeding.
Depura (Depura means an agent or means used to effect purification which is the liver.)
It offers nutritional support for pets with chronic or recurrent liver problems as well as convalescent or elderly pets. It is recommended in the presence of chronic or recurrent liver problems or those that generally don’t respond satisfactorily to therapy (liver disease, skinniness, lack of appetite, incontinence, weak limbs (especially rear)), as well as convalescence and post-operative periods and the most common inflammatory process.
Depura Diet’s effectiveness was demonstrated by an important research project conducted in collaboration with the University of Sassari and published in the Journal of Veterinary Medicine: after a few days the nerve cells’ antioxidant and protective effects have sharpened, and older dogs’ cognitive faculties have improved.
Is developed to help all dogs whose intolerance symptoms are focused to the skin and don’t respond satisfactorily to conventional therapy.
Dermo Active is recommended in all cases where food intolerances affect the skin and coat, inducing: constant neck and back itching, crusts, redness, dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, pyoderma, dandruff, dry and dull fur, hot spots, constant fur loss, flea dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis and unpleasant skin odors.
Dermo Active’s effectiveness has been evaluated by a multicentric study, which demonstrated the remission of symptoms within a few days in more than 50% of the dogs being evaluated.
Farmina is my all time favorite brand for prescription AND regular dog food.
They offer 16 different formulations covering Allergies to kidney issues. You can buy directly from them and include either a scanned copy of the prescription or you can have your vet send it directly to them. You can also ask your vet to order it for you if they offer that.
“All Farmina Vet Life and Natural & Delicious products are preserved using only natural antioxidants (tocopherol rich extracts). Preservatives and antioxidants, in particular, are compounds that have the ability to delay, prevent, reduce or eliminate oxidative damage in food.”
They are an Italian Company and have “a long working relationship with the Chair of Animal Nutrition at the University of Naples Federico II. Through this relationship, we have developed several lines of research that were published by certified high bibliometric international journals. All clinical findings were set up and led by impartial public entities, who confirmed our scientific validity and testified to the effectiveness of our food products.” The Farmina Vet Research is a “Team of professionals that serve the welfare of pets. The collaboration between Farmina and the University of Naples Federico II gave life to Farmina Vet Research. Farmina Vet Research is a team of first class professionals of Nutrition, Veterinary Medicine, and food formulation. While working with the Chair of Animal Nutrition at the University of Naples Federico II, we conducted several types of research to develop the proper nutritional systems suitable for the physiology of cats and dogs.” They adopt the practice of cruelty free research “Respect is the basis of our scientific research One of the unique characteristics of the clinical trials set up by Farmina Vet Research (FVR) is our full respect to the animal’s welfare. We collaborate with dozens of independent veterinarians in Italy to offer nutritional solutions for cats and dogs that are affected by a disease. These pets have the chance to improve their health while remaining with their families throughout the trial period. The only change made to their lifestyle is their diet.”