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

[Donna, Emma, Bender & Busby]

Hi, Lori,  I switched from BB two years ago because our foster turned adoptee, Busby, couldn't tolerate ANYTHING containing chicken.  All three of mine of mine switched to Acana Pacifica and are doing fabulously well.  I get the 28lb bag delivered every two - three weeks from Chewy.com and it usually runs about $79.  None of my guys have had any negative reactions at all.  Best of all, they LOVE it!  Good luck with Quincy.

[Stella]

FYI - Petcurean Go! Limited ingredient line now includes a venison variety.

[Roni & Roxy]

Roxy (age 2 ½) started having diarrhea almost a month ago, and has had very loose stools since then. The vet checked for giardia (negative) and just called it colitis and sent us home with antibiotics. I gave her just chicken and rice for three days...didn't help. She's been on Orijen since she was 10 months old, rotating flavors, with no problem. Yesterday, on the advice of a friend, I switched her to Canine Caviar (lamb with pearl millet). She got one cup of that yesterday, along with a half can of Hills I/D (I know what you say about Hills...I figured one can couldn't hurt). She got the other half of the can this morning. Then we went for a walk, and voila!!! A normal, lovely, solid bowel movement!!!!!! So my question is, what do you think of Canine Caviar, and should we switch permanently? I hate to take her off of Orijen. Thanks for any advice!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think that the improvement you're seeing in her stool is due to the metronidazole (I'm assuming that's the antibiotic the vet gave you) and not the food switch. It's a big, big mistake to introduce a new food in the middle of a bout of colitis, or any digestive upset. between two new foods, and the meds, there's no way to know what is helping and what isn't.

I personally would not switch foods at this point. I'd stay with a bland diet and wait until she's off the meds to make any further changes. But as long as you've started with the r/x food and the canine caviar, I guess it won't hurt to continue and see what happens. The C.C. is an okay food, and the lamb/millet formula is a good choice, but if you feel the Orijen is causing the digestive issues, I'd rather see you go with one of the LID Acana Singles lines. 

Dogs who are on grain-free diets as yours is should not be given rice, lol. Rice is a grain. :) My guy never did well with rice, one of the reasons I switched him to a grain-free food. A grain-free version of the homemade 'bland diet" is chicken and sweet potatoes. Use a 50/50 mixture and double the amount you feed, as it contains half the calories of most grain free kibbles. (same is true for the chicken and rice diet). 

She's going to need probiotics or the diarrhea will come raging back as soon as you discontinue the metro. order a bottle of Proviable DC capsules and use plain unflavored nonfat yogurt in the meantime. The yogurt and/or probiotics need to be given at least 2 hrs apart from the meds, and longer is better.

[Roni & Roxy]

Thanks so much for the answer, Karen! She's been off the antibiotic for a couple of weeks already. It didn't help, which is why I'm trying the food switch. I really have no idea if the Orijen is causing it. She's never had problems with it before. We usually do add some pre-cooked packaged chicken strips to her food...maybe that's the problem. But yeah, since she IS off the meds, I guess we'll continue with the C.C. and see how she does. Why do you think Acana is better? And I'll definitely get the probiotics. How much yogurt do you think? Just a couple of spoonfuls?

Thanks again!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I just trust Champion a lot based on their past track record. I've looked at the Canine Caviar and it looks fine, but I need to learn more about their manufacturing and sourcing. haven't had much experience with the company and haven't had members here who have either, so not much info. 

2-3 tablespoons of yogurt a couple of times a day.

[Roni & Roxy]

If you can believe what you read on their website http://www.caninecaviar.com/our-story/, I think C.C. looks really good, especially for a pooch with a sensitive stomach! I wrote them to ask where their products are made, and they answered:

All of our Canine Canine products are made in the USA. We do get our Buffalo from India. All the buffalo passes an inspection from the FDA and USDA prior to coming into the USA and the governing agencies for all other countries we ship to. The buffalo are free range, grass fed, GMO free, with no added hormones and antibiotics. Our Venison is from New Zealand and our Kelp is from Norway.

Thanks again, Karen!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think we'll add it to our list. There's another brand being introduced here in the US that I'm probably going to add as well. Thanks for verifying the sourcing!

[Roni & Roxy]

Yay! I CAN tell you that Roxy sure loves it! She's eating it like a typical dog that's all about food, not like the finicky thing she's always been up until now!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I hope that continues, but be aware that most finicky, picky eaters do seem to become "all about the food" when you give them something new...for awhile. They almost always revert back to their finicky ways once the novelty of the new food wears off. And as you may know from reading some of our discussions here, it's best not to be too concerned about whether or not a dog loves their food. :)

[BG and Gavin]

http://petkind.com/  I see this company made the recommended treat list, how about the food list?  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

All of the products from this company are recommended, but they haven't made a dry kibble until very recently. We'll add them to the food list soon; there are a couple of others that will be added as well.  I'm waiting for another brand to become available in America, so I don't have to bother busy bee Allyson more than once, lol. She's the only one who can edit the list.