Recommended Dog Food Brands as of APRIL 2015

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

GRAIN-FREE FORMULAS ONLY

Orijen (our favorite grain-free food)

Formulas:  Puppy, Large Breed Puppy, Adult (chicken, turkey, fish), 6 Fish, Regional Red (boar, lamb, pork, bison), Senior (lower calorie chicken, turkey, fish) , Tundra (goat, venison, mutton, duck, rabbit, fish)
Website:  http://www.orijen.ca/orijen/products/
 

Zignature

Formulas: Duck, Lamb, Trout & Salmon, Turkey, Zssential (multi-protein)

Also has canned lines.

Website:  http://www.zignature.com/

 

GRAIN-FREE & HEALTHY GRAIN FORMULAS

Acana

Grain-free Formulas (Regionals):  Wild Prairie (chicken, whitefish), Pacifica (salmon, flounder, herring); Grasslands (lamb, duck, fish); Ranchlands (beef, lamb, herring)

Healthy Grain Formulas (Classics):  Puppy Small Breed, Puppy & Junior, Puppy Large Breed, Adult Small Breed, Adult Dog, Adult Large Breed, Sport & Agility, Light & Fit, Senior Dog (all contain chicken and flounder for protein)

Limited Ingredients Formulas (Singles):  Lamb & Apple, Duck & Pear, Pork & Butternut Squash

Website:  http://www.championpetfoods.com/acana/products.php

 

Fromm

Grain-free Formulas:  Surf & Turf (salmon, duck, chicken); Beef Frittata Veg, Salmon Tunalini, Game Bird (duck, turkey, quail pheasant), Lamb & Lentil, Pork & Peas 

Healthy Grain Formulas:  Pork & Applesauce, Duck & Sweet Potato, Chicken A La Veg, Whitefish & Potato, Salmon A La Veg (all part of the Four-Star line); Adult Gold, Large Breed Adult Gold, Puppy Gold, Large Breed Puppy Gold, Senior Gold (all Gold lines contain duck, chicken and lamb); Adult and Mature Adult Classics (both Classic lines contain chicken)

Website:  http://frommfamily.com/products 

 

Petcurean

Grain-free Formulas (Now Fresh & Go! Fit & Free lines):  Now Fresh Puppy, Adult, Small Breed, Senior, Large Breed Puppy, Large Breed Adult, Large Breed Senior (all contain turkey, salmon, duck), Go! Fit & Free Puppy, Adult and Senior (all contain chicken, turkey, salmon)

Healthy Grain Formulas (Go! Daily Defiance & Summit Holistic lines):  Go! Daily Defiance Chicken, Lamb (both all life stages), Summit 3 Meat Puppy, 3 Meat Adult, 3 Meat Reduced Calorie (3 Meats contain chicken, salmon, lamb),

Limited Ingredients Formulas (Go! Sensitivity & Shine line): Duck, Salmon, Grain Free Turkey

Website:  http://www.petcurean.com/

 

Solid Gold

Grain-free Formulas:  Barking at the Moon (fish, beef); Sun Dancer (chicken)

Healthy Grain Formulas:  Hundchen Flocken Puppy, Hund-n-Flocken Adult (both contain lamb); Wolfcub Puppy, Wolfking Adult (both contain bison), Holistique Blendz Senior (fish), MMillennia Beef & Barley Adult, Just a Wee Bit Adult (bison)

Website:  http://www.solidgoldhealth.com/products

 

Wellness

Grain-free Formulas (Core line):  Puppy, Small Breed, Original, Reduced Fat (all contain chicken, turkey), Ocean (fish)

Healthy Grain Formulas (Super5Mix line):  Chicken, Lamb, Barley & Salmon Meal, Whitefish & Sweet Potato, Healthy Weight, Just for Puppies, Just for Seniors, Adult Large Breed, Puppy Large Breed, Adult Small Breed, Small Breed Healthy Weight, Small Breed Puppy (final 8 contain chicken)

Limited Ingredients Formulas (Simple Solutions line):  Duck & Oatmeal, Salmon & Potato, Turkey & Potato, Lamb & Oatmeal

Website:  http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/dog-wellness.aspx

 

Horizon

Grain-free Formulas (Legacy line):  Puppy, Adult (both contain chicken, salmon, turkey); Also has Amicus line for small breeds (turkey, chicken, salmon); Also has Pulsar line with peas, lentils, chicken and fish

Healthy Grain Formulas (Complete line):  Large Breed Adult, Large Breed Puppy, Puppy, Adult, Senior (all contain chicken)

Website:  http://www.horizonpetnutrition.com/

 

Canidae

Grain-free Formulas (Pure):  Sky (duck, turkey), Land (bison, lamb), Element (chicken, turkey, lamb, ocean fish), Sea (salmon)

Healthy Grain Formulas:  Lamb & Rice, Chicken & Rice, Beef & Fish, ALS (chicken, turkey, lamb, fish), Platinum Senior (chicken, turkey, lamb, fish)

Limited Ingredient Formulas:  Chicken, Brown & White Rice (Single Grain Protein)

Website:  http://www.canidae.com/

 

Lotus (has a raw formula also)

Grain-free Formula:  Duck

Healthy Grain Formulas: Wholesome Chicken, Wholesome Chicken Puppies, Wholesome Chicken Seniors, Wholesome Lamb

Website:  http://lotuspetfoods.com/for-dogs.php

 

Earthborn Holistic

Grain-free Formulas:  Primitive Natural (turkey, chicken, whitefish), Coastal Catch (herring, salmon, whitefish), Great Plains Feast (bison), Meadow Feast (lamb)

Healthy Grain Formulas: Adult Vantage, Puppy Vantage and Small Breed (all contain chicken and whitefish), Ocean Fusion (whitefish and menhaden fish)

Website:  http://www.earthbornholisticpetfood.com/us/dog_formulas/

 

Eagle Holistic Select

Grain Free Formulas: Adult & Puppy Salmon, Anchovy and Sardines

Healthy Grain Formulas:  Adult, Adult Small & Mini Breed, Puppy, Puppy Small & Mini Breed (all 4 contain anchovy, sardines, salmon), Adult Chicken Meal & Rice, Adult Duck, Adult Lamb, Senior Chicken & Rice, Large & Giant Breed Chicken & Oatmeal, Large & Giant Breed Puppy Lamb Meal & Oatmeal, Weight Maintenance Chicken & Peas

Website:  http://www.holisticselect.com/

 

Holistic Blend

Grain Free Formulas: Turkey

Healthy Grain Formulas: Hollistic Blend (Lamb & Rice; Chicken, Rice & Vegetable) and The Healthy Dog (Chicken & Herring Meal)

Website: http://www.holisticblend.com/en/food-formulas/dog-formulas/holistic-blend/

 

Addiction

Grain Free Formulas: Salmon Bleu, Viva La Venison, Le Lamb

Healthy Grain Formulas: La Porchetta (Pork, Limited ingredient)

**Also has raw dehydrated formulas**

Website: http://addictionfoods.com/

 

Great Life

Grain Free Formulas: Buffalo, Chicken, Salmon; Pioneers Natural Grain Free Chicken, GF Pork, GF Venison and GF Whitefist

Healthy Grain Formulas: Buffalo, Chicken, Lamb, Salmon; Pioneers Natural Buffalo, Chicken, Pork Venison and Whitefish

Limited Ingredient Formulas (Dr. E's line): Buffalo, Duck; Grain Free Buffalo, Grain Free Duck

Website: http://doctorsfinest.com

 

Annamaet

Grain Free Formulas: Lean (chicken, duck, herring), Aqualuk (salmon, herring), Salcha (chicken, turkey, duck), Manitok (lamb, venison)

Healthy Grain Formulas: Adult (chicken, 23% protein), Encore (chicken, 25% protein), Extra (chicken, 26% protein), Option (salmon and venison, 24% protein), Ultra (chicken, 32% protein), Small Breed ALS (lamb, venison, coming soon)

Website: http://annamaet.com/

 

Nature's Variety (has a raw line also)

Grain Free Formulas: Instinct Raw Boost (5 formulas: chicken, beef & lamb, lamb & salmon, duck & turkey, venison & lamb); Instinct Originals (5 formulas: chicken, beef & lamb, duck & turkey, rabbit, salmon)

Healthy Grain Formulas: Prairie Dogs (6 formulas: chicken, beef, lamb, duck, venison, salmon); Puppy and Large Breed Puppy (chicken and brown rice)

Limited Ingredient Formulas (Instinct Grain Free line): Turkey, Lamb, Duck, Rabbitt

Website: http://www.naturesvariety.com/

 

Farmina 

Grain Free Formulas (N&D line): Chicken, Large Breed Chicken, Small Breed Chicken, Wild Lamb, Wild Boar, Wild Herring

Healthy Grain Formulas (20% Ancestral High Protein line): Chicken, Lamb, Wild Cod

Website: http://usa.farmina.com/

HEALTHY GRAIN FORMULAS ONLY

 

Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers Soul

Healthy Grain Formulas: Adult, Large Breed Adult, Senior, Adult Light, Puppy, Large Breed Puppy, Overweight (all contain chicken, turkey).

Website:  http://www.chickensoupforthepetloverssoul.com/products/dogs/

  

 

RAW FORMULAS ONLY

Darwin's:  http://www.darwinspet.com

Honest Kitchen:  http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/

Primal:  http://www.primalpetfoods.com/

Ziwi Peak:  http://www.ziwipeak.com/

Stella & Chewy’s:  http://www.stellaandchewys.com/

Sojos:  http://www.sojos.com/

Tucker's Raw:  http://www.tuckersbones.com/

I and love and you (also has kibble):  http://www.iandloveandyou.com/products/dog/raw/dehydrated.aspx

Addiction (also has kibble):  http://www.addictionfoods.com/

 

RX/PRESCRIPTION FORMULAS ONLY

Rayne Clinical Nutrition: http://www.raynenutrition.com/

 

** Brands that look good but have had recent recalls or buyouts; still better than Iams, Nutro, Hills, and grocery store junk…..

 

Taste of the Wild (grain-free): http://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/products

EVO (grain-free): http://www.evopet.com

Innova (healthy grains):  http://www.innovapet.com

California Natural (recommended for dogs with sensitivities):  http://www.californianaturalpet.com

Merrick (Before Grain is grain-free; 5-Star is healthy grains; Castor & Pollux is also owned by Merrick):  http://www.merrickpetcare.com/ | http://www.castorpolluxpet.com

Evanger’s:  http://www.evangersdogfood.com/

Natural Balance (known for limited ingredient diets; merged with DelMonte 6/15/13): http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/

Bravo (raw; more than one recall in last year):  http://www.bravorawdiet.com/

Blue Buffalo (may have byproducts in their ingredients):   http://www.bluebuffalo.com/dry-dog-food

[Lynda Kamrath]

Yep, and I can totally understand.  Actually the "crap" they put in dog food these days is probably the culprit.  Our dogs (farm) lived to ripe old ages and they ate our leftovers all the time.  I don't remember ever buying a can or bag of dog food.  But everything was pure and mostly raised by us (garden and animals).  These days, there is all kinds of stuff in the dog food and also in the human food that none of us should be eating.  The hormones they give to all types of animals are very detrimental to many of us (human and canine).  It makes the animals fatter and a greater production of meat and dairy, but IT IS NOT GOOD.  Take a look at the milk carton and you will see that all milk now had sugar added.  Sugar in the milk (and everything else), hormones in the meat and eggs?  It's no wonder that our dogs (and we) have problems with the food supply these days.  Oh, and antibiotics?  Animals are given them prophalatically (sp?).  Can you see any problems there?  It goes right into the meat and we eat it.

[F, Calla & Luca]

The milk carton in my fridge has nothing but fat free milk wit vitamins A and D added.. It specifically notes no hormones or antibiotics. so not all milk has sugar added : )

[Brittney & Cally]

Same here... Although it states in the ingredients in bold that it contains milk... As if the title organic 1% Milk does not give that away, lol!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Lily Grace's mom Sue contacted Champion (makers of Orijen and Acana) with a question about cross-contamination during processing of different formulas. Here is the response she got:

Comment by Sue & Lily Grace 2 minutes agoDelete Comment

Hi everyone, Karen and I have been discussing cross contamination of different proteins when you have a dog with IBD and you are feeding LI kibble. I worried about the different proteins being manufactured with the same equipment. I contacted Champion as I was thinking of feeding LI Pork and squash. I was very happy to receive the following response to my question. Karen, they surprised us both. Sad to know the Pork is not available yet.

Hello Sue,

Thank you for contacting us with your inquiry. I apologize for the delay in my response.

Our ACANA Singles foods are a wonderful option for a dog with IBD!

To minimize the possibility of cross contamination between brands and diets, ORIJEN and ACANA diets are produced in separate areas of our plant. In addition, our Quality Assurance Department ensures that after every run of food the equipment is cleaned with food grade cleaners and flush material is run at the start of every new formula.

I do want to make you aware that the information that is available on our website is for the new ACANA Singles formulations. ACANA Pork & Butternut Squash is not yet available and the ACANA Duck & Bartlett Pear and Lamb & Okanangan Apple foods that are currently available at retailers will vary somewhat in formulation. You can expect to see the new ACANA Singles foods on store shelves this summer.

I hope that this information is helpful. Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions or concerns.

Kind Regards,

Megan
Customer Care
Champion Petfoods LP

Read more here: http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup?commentId=2065244%3A...

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Updated to correct Zignature formulas.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, Ally! 

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I moved Bravo raw to "watch" category. Karen & JD informed me that it has been recalled again - last year it was for salmonella.

 

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you, Allyson.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Just picked my dogs up from being groomed and weighed them as we left.  Ned weighs his usual 28 pounds but both Gordie and Clancy have lost weight - Gordie, 7 pounds and Clancy, 4 pounds.  I could joke about how much hair was trimmed off, but Gordie has really short hair. :-}  We have changed nothing about their food so I guess they need a larger serving of Orijen - Yikes! The large bag only lasts 3 weeks now! Cha-ching

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Nancy, didn't you want Clancy to trim down a little? :)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Clancy's ideal weight is such an 'unknown' because of his build - his is so short, yet has a powerful build.  He is a big dog on short legs.  We do the 'feel the ribs' test, but, as you know, that is hard with a fluffball that sheds.  When we got him he was 55 pounds and immediately gained weight, which I am sure was a good thing. But he gains so easily that we really watch him like a hawk and carefully measure his portions.   We thought we had gotten a bit lax but, when we weighed him at the groomer's he was under 60 pounds so perhaps, we have been underfeeding him a bit.  As for Gordie, he is definitely underweight now, his anxiety just burns the calories and we have increased his meal size - he and Clancy used to get the same amount, but now Gordie is getting the active dog servings rather than the couch potato dog servings. :-]  Ned just keeps trucking on, but since he LOVES his Orijen, we measure his servings as opposed to other brands where we just put food in the bowl and he ate some.  Ned still prefers to eat alone, but now, he barely waits until the others are done and for me to leave the immediate area.

[Hazel & Chester Wayte]

Hello

 I know you recently reviewed PetKind Tripe treats. I just learned that they have a food line out now- Wondering what your thoughts are?

http://petkind.com/