Which dog food is best for your dog? We consulted experts to help you navigate your many options, from raw and natural to organic, canned and grain-free.
1. Taste of the Wild Ancient Prairie
They’ve revamped their formula to include ancient grains like sorghum and millet, but the first two ingredients are buffalo and pork to pack in protein.
Taste of the Wild Ancient Prairie
2. Instinct RawBoost Mixers
If you feed your dog dry food, Morgan recommended adding a topper to expand the range of nutrients you’re feeding them. You can do this at home by adding a cooked egg, canned sardines in water, sautéed dark leafy greens, blueberries or pumpkin, as a few examples. You can also purchase freeze-dried raw “topper,” which are pieces of traditional and organ meats that you mix in with their kibble, like this one from Instinct.
Instinct Raw Boost Mixers
3. Orijen Original Dry Dog Food
The company says that 85 percent of the ingredients within are animal-based (the remainder is fruits and veggies). In their original formula, you’ll find fresh chicken and turkey meat, and cage-free eggs as the first three ingredients, followed by organ meats and fish.
ORIJEN Dry Dog Food
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4. Organix Chicken & Oatmeal Dry Dog Food
In Organix, organic chicken is the first ingredient, along with oats and barley for whole grains and flaxseed and coconut oil for a healthier fat.
Organix Chicken & Oatmeal Dry Dog Food
5. Zignature Lamb Limited Ingredient Canned Dog Food
This wet canned food features lamb as the first ingredient, along with chickpeas, flax and sunflower oil.
Zignature Lamb Limited Ingredient Canned Dog Food
6. Freshpet Fresh From the Kitchen
You’ll find chicken listed as the first ingredient. Considering you can see the different foods within — like cranberries and carrots — you can feel good that your dog’s getting a meal full of the good stuff.
Freshpet Fresh From the Kitchen
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7. The Farmer’s Dog
There are several subscription home delivery services, like The Farmer’s Dog. “I call these TV dinners for dogs,” said Judy Morgan, DVM, a veterinarian who specializes in integrative care. These companies regularly send bags of fresh, human-grade food designed especially for your dog’s needs to your door. If you are on a budget and have a large dog, this might not be a cost-effective option for you, but it may be more doable for owners of smaller dogs, she said.
The Farmer’s Dog
8. Only Natural Pet MaxMeat Air Dried Dog Food
Made with air-dried meat, the lamb and cod formula can be used as a meal or a topper to kibble to up the protein and add variety to your dog’s dish. The company uses free-range and pasture-raised New Zealand lamb. (Your dog deserves it, right?) This one is grain- and legume-free.
Only Natural Pet MaxMeat Air Dried Dog Food
9. Rachael Ray Nutrish Supermedleys
A newcomer to the dog food space, this dry food features beef as the first ingredient, along with a bevy of fruits and veggies like pumpkin, blueberries, spinach and carrots.
