Merrick Backcountry Grain Free Dry Dog Food
Searching for a safe and healthy and balanced completely dry pet dog food can be a difficulty! Pet food labels are confusing and also leave crucial information out. So we did the legwork for you as well as compiled our list of Best Dry Dog Foods For 2022.
PET DOG FOOD REVIEW CRITERIA
Each food in this checklist has been examined based on the component quality as well as component safety and security by DogFoodReviews.com. It’s great to check out how much protein and fat is in a food, but at the end of the day, the food requires to be safe for your pet to eat (and numerous foods include components that are rather dangerous). So each food’s score is approximately the ingredient quality and also the ingredient safety and security.
Below are some of the standards we try to find:
PET DOG FOOD INGREDIENT QUALITY
- Does the food include too much carb?
- Are plant sources utilized to increase protein web content?
- Does it consist of unnamed animal healthy protein?
- Are there extreme nutrients included?
- Are totally free amino acids added to stabilize poor quality proteins?
- Does it have refined or seed oils?
CANINE FOOD INGREDIENT SAFETY
- Just how much handling is associated with making the food?
- Does the food consist of rice?
- Does the food consist of known genetically modified foods?
- Does the food include foods known to be high in pesticides?
- Does the food consist of all-natural taste?
Each food is objectively assessed using these criteria. You can watch the complete Evaluation Criteria made use of to assess the dog foods.
This is NOT a paid list and also there are no associate links. We’ve partnered with Dog Food Reviews to ensure pet proprietors have impartial, objective criteria to help them pick the very best completely dry pet food on the market.
Now that you know just how we review the foods, let’s discover the best dry dog food for 2022. The foods assessed consist of air-dried, baked and cold-pressed foods, in addition to even more traditional kibbles.
# 1: THE NEW ZEALAND NATURAL PET FOOD CO.
The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. uses 3 air-dried dog food recipes with an typical score of 9/10. Each food loses an ingredient security factor for moderate handling, however this applies to all air-dried foods. On the whole, air-dried and baked foods might be much less refined than kibble, which is considered an ultra-processed food.
Much better Bones is naturally air dried bones from grass-fed Australian livestock. It’s the secure and all-natural method to stabilize your pet’s raw or house cooked dishes.
The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. Air-Dried food line standards 47% protein as well as 11% carbohydrate, as determined.
When it comes to ingredient quality, the source of carb comes from foods like bok choy and carrots, which are reduced in starch as well as are not high-pesticide or GMO plants. The food also includes a selection of meats as well as body organ meats, which provide normally happening minerals and vitamins . There are some added minerals, yet they are high top quality and also there are less than 5 added, giving this food a excellent rating for component top quality.
Although there are no lost points for this, coconut oil is added to this food. It’s worth noting that coconut oil has been linked to enhanced intestine leaks in the structure and also inflammation in pet dogs in some studies.
The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. is a tiny company that makes use of components that are locally sourced from New Zealand. The business likewise provides freeze-dried foods and also treats .
At the time of writing, The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. has actually not been remembered.
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# 2: ZIWI PEAK ORIGINAL AIR-DRIED
ziwipeak pet food review HEN RECIPE INGREDIENTS: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Chicken Heart, New Zealand Green Mussel, Chicken Bone, Lecithin, Inulin from Chicory, Dried Kelp, Minerals (Dipotassium Phosphate, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Selenium Yeast), Salt, Parsley, Preservative (Citric Acid, Mixed Tocopherols), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid).
Ziwi Peak uses 6 air-dried dog food dishes in their Original line, with an ordinary score of 9/10. Each food loses an component safety and security factor for moderate processing, but this puts on all air-dried foods. On the whole, air-dried and baked foods may be less processed than kibble, which is thought about an ultra-processed food
. Ziwi Peak’s Provenance Air-Dried food line standards 33% protein as well as 4% carb, as determined. Foods which contain less than 15% carbohydrate will certainly not lose points for too much carbohydrate material as well as this food absolutely is reduced in carbs. However, the Original line is fairly high in fat with an average of 24%, and it’s a bit lower in healthy protein than some completing brand names.
When it comes to active ingredient top quality, the carb resource comes from high and also low-starch high quality ingredients like inulin from chicory and kelp. The food additionally consists of a range of meats as well as organ meats, which supplies naturally happening minerals as well as vitamins . With that stated, there are a handful of included vitamins and a number of added minerals, which costs the food an ingredient top quality point.
Ziwi Peak stemmed as a smaller sized brand name however has been acquired by FountainVest Partners, a big private equity company based in China. Although this is not straight pertaining to product high quality, bigger business often tend to have even more of an obligation to their financiers and also product top quality has a tendency to decline in bigger companies.
Ziwi Peak has not been remembered at the time of writing.
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# 3: ZIWI PEAK PROVENANCE AIR-DRIED.
best dry pet food.
CHICKEN RECIPE INGREDIENTS: Chicken, Whole Kahawai, Duck, Chicken Heart, Turkey, Chicken Necks, Chicken Liver, Whole Eggs, New Zealand Green Mussel, Chicken Bone, Lecithin, Duck Bone, Inulin from Chicory, Dried Kelp, Dried Apple Pomace, Minerals (Dipotassium Phosphate, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Selenium Yeast), Turkey Gizzard, Turkey Liver, Turkey Bone, Salt, Parsley, Preservative (Citric Acid, Mixed Tocopherols), Turkey heart, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid).
Ziwi Peak provides 3 air-dried canine food recipes in their Provenance line, with an ordinary rating of 8/10. The Provenance line averages 38% healthy protein and also 1% carb, as calculated. The fat web content standards 32%, which is on the luxury. Ideally, there ought to be twice as much healthy protein as fat however there are no points lost right here.
When it comes to active ingredient quality, Provenance sheds points for a lot of included minerals and vitamins , which are inferior to food-based trace elements as well as can suggest reduced high quality active ingredients. With that said said, the added minerals are are natural and also high top quality.
When it involves ingredient safety, air-dried foods are reasonably processed, so there will certainly be a little charge there. Some recognized high-pesticide plant components like apples likewise make an look, however even more down the component panel so they’re less of a worry.
Generally, this is a high fat/low carbohydrate food with good quality ingredients.
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# 4: ZEAL CANADA AIR-DRIED.
best completely dry pet food.
CHICKEN RECIPE INGREDIENTS: Chicken, Chicken tender, Chicken liver, Bamboo fiber, Dicalcium phosphate, Pumpkin Powder, Salt, Coconut oil, Yeast remove, Yucca Schidigera extract, Parsley, Calcium Carbonate, Green lipped mussel, Magnesium Sulphate, Rosemary extract, Choline, Zinc proteinate, Riboflavin, Selenium yeast, Manganese Proteinate, Copper proteinate, Potassium chloride, Vitamin E, Vitamin D, Vitamin A, Thiamine, Pantothenic acid, Niacin, Folic acid, Vitamin B12, Pyridoxine, Calcium iodate.
Zeal Canada provides 5 air-dried pet dog food dishes, with an average rating of 7.8/ 10. Like all air-dried foods, each food sheds an ingredient safety and security point for moderate handling. While air-dried as well as baked foods may be much less processed than kibble, which is considered an ultra-processed food, there is still refining and also a possible subsequent loss of phytonutrients.
Zeal Canada’s Air-Dried food line averages 38% healthy protein as well as 12% carb, as computed. Foods which contain less than 15% carbohydrate will certainly not shed factors for too much carbohydrate content. Both the Salmon and Turkey dishes have a little bit extra than 15% carb, which will bring their scores down a little bit. This is still far better than a lot of kibbles, which balance more than double this amount.
When it concerns active ingredient top quality, the carbohydrate resource is reduced in starches like potatoes, grains as well as vegetables , which is desirable. This food does consist of bamboo fiber, which is likely a lower quality source of fiber. The foods likewise have lecithin from sunflower, which is a high-pesticide plant– however keeping that claimed, it amounts to a tiny percent of the food. Some foods also consist of a variety of body organ meats, which provides naturally taking place minerals and vitamins . Keeping that claimed, there are several included nutrients , which costs the food active ingredient high quality factors. Nonetheless, the included minerals are premium quality and natural.
Zeal is a relative newbie to the pet food market as well as claims their foods are in your area sourced. The food is manufactured in Canada.
Zeal has not been recalled at the time of creating.
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# 5: SUNDAYS FOR DOGS.
best completely dry pet food.
CHICKEN RECIPE INGREDIENTS: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Eggs, Millet, Oat, Pumpkin, Kale, Ground Bone, Fish Oil, Sea Salt, Flaxseed, Parsley, Turmeric, Chicory Root, Kelp, Mixed Tocopherols, Ginger, Blueberries, Carrots, Apples, Tomatoes, Shiitake Mushrooms, Broccoli, Oranges, Cranberries, Spinach, Beets, Tart Cherries, Strawberries.
Sundays supplies 2 air-dried dog food recipes: hen and also beef. The food standards 17% fat, which makes it reduced in fat compared to various other air-dried foods.
When it pertains to ingredient quality, the carb resource for the Beef Recipe is quinoa. This is not a high pesticide plant, although it is high in starch and also protein. Nonetheless, the Chicken Recipe features 2 known high-pesticide foods in the leading 5 ingredients: millet and oats. Both of these plants are generally spray-dried with Roundup right prior to harvest, that makes the chemical material of the food possibly extremely high. Substantial active ingredient safety and security points will certainly be shed for the leading 5 ingredients in the Chicken Recipe.
Completing ingredient top quality, the Beef Recipe consists of fish oil but the kind and also species of fish is not called– and this will set you back a point. Healthy protein sources need to always be called and not generic, or else it can be presumed the component is lower high quality. And when it comes to fish oil, quality is necessary since it conveniently oxidizes. The Chicken Recipe includes sunflower oil, which is a highly processed oil that is high in omega-6 fats as well as can trigger gut swelling.
What we do like is that the food contains no included vitamins or minerals , which suggests the active ingredients are otherwise top quality.
In addition to the high-pesticide foods in the Chicken Recipe, there are no added factors lost, besides the modest quantity of handling for air-dried foods.
There are no shed factors for this, it ought to be kept in mind that Sundays has glam active ingredients. While it’s preferable to have actually added foods like blueberries, broccoli and mushrooms, these ingredients all show up after salt on the tag, that makes it likely that they are only existing in trace amounts.
Sundays is a little, store brand name that’s owned and also developed by veterinarian Tory Waxman. The food is made in a USDA checked kitchen area in Ohio.
Sundays has not been remembered at the time of writing.
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# 6: CARNA4 BAKED AIR-DRIED.
best dry pet dog food.
Carna4 offers 6 foods in their Baked Air-Dried line. The line provides an typical score of 7.3/ 10.
Carna4 averages 28% healthy protein and also 35% carbohydrate, which is taken into consideration rather high in carbohydrate web content and sets you back the food some component quality points. The food averages 15% fat.
Sprouted grains are additionally extra absorbable for pets and probably a higher top quality active ingredient. Non-organic, high-pesticide apples likewise appear in some of the foods. Both of these foods are further down the ingredient checklist and also there are no genetically modified or high-pesticide foods in the leading 5 active ingredients.
Carna4 is among a handful of completely dry foods that does not include any included minerals or vitamins , which shows higher quality ingredients as well as less handling.
There are no additional points lost, except for the modest quantity of processing for air-dried foods.
Carna4 is an additional small, shop brand and also it’s the 2nd Canadian business on our list. Carna4 is produced in an EU accredited human bakery in Quebec.
Carna4 has not been recalled at the time of creating.
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# 7: NATURE’S LOGIC DISTINCTION GRAIN-FREE.
best dry pet food.
BEEF RECIPE INGREDIENTS: Beef, Beef Meal, Millet, Pork Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Menhaden Fish Meal, Spray Dried Pork Liver, Pumpkin Seeds, Yeast Culture, Montmorillonite Clay, Dried Kale, Dried Kelp, Spray Dried Porcine Plasma, Dried Tomato, Dried Chicory Root, Dried Apple, Dried Carrot, Dried Pumpkin, Dried Blueberry, Dried Apricot, Dried Spinach, Dried Broccoli, Dried Parsley, Dried Cranberry, Dried Artichoke, Dried Mushrooms, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium bifidum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation Product, Dried Pineapple Extract, Dried Aspergillus niger Fermentation Extract, Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract, Dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract.
Nature’s Logic is the highest ranked kibble n our Top Dry Dog Food list. Their Distinction Grain-Free line offers 3 foods with an ordinary score of 7.3/ 10.
Nature’s Logic Distinction Grain-Free standards 32% protein and 29% carb, which is thought about higher in carbohydrate material as well as costs the food an ingredient high quality point. The food standards 15% fat.
When it involves ingredient quality, the carbohydrate resource is tapioca origin, which is not a high-pesticide crop. Nature’s Logic is unique for a kibble because it consists of no included vitamins or minerals , which maintains its ingredient top quality rating fairly high. It must also be kept in mind that it is formulated making use of feeding tests as well as not formulated to meet AAFCO minimum requirements.
When it involves active ingredient safety and security, this is a kibble and also includes dishes, making it an ultra-processed food. Extruded foods are warmed four separate times throughout manufacturing, which will create major losses in some energetic enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and also phytonutrients. Studies likewise show that ultra-processed foods are connected to a greater price of all-cause mortality in human beings, so the food does lose some safety factors here.
There are likewise some high-pesticide active ingredients in the food (kale and spinach), yet they show up better down the label and are not in the leading 5 ingredients.
Generally, this is our greatest ranking kibble and also the just genuinely ultra-processed kibble that’s without included minerals and vitamins .
Nature’s Logic began as a little company win Lincoln, Nebraska as well as was acquired in 2021 by Mid America Pet Food, which produces Victor, Wayne Feeds and also Eagle Mountain. MAPF makes their item in Mt. Pleasant, Texas and it’s presumed Nature’s Logic is currently produced in that plant.
Nature’s Logic has not been recalled at the time of writing.
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# 8: NATURE’S LOGIC DISTINCTION.
best dry pet dog food.
BEEF RECIPE INGREDIENTS: Beef, Beef Meal, Millet, Pork Fat ( maintained with Mixed Tocopherols), Menhaden Fish Meal, Spray Dried Pork Liver, Pumpkin Seeds, Yeast Culture, Montmorillonite Clay, Dried Kale, Dried Kelp, Spray Dried Porcine Plasma, Dried Tomato, Dried Chicory Root, Dried Apple, Dried Carrot, Dried Pumpkin, Dried Blueberry, Dried Apricot, Dried Spinach, Dried Broccoli, Dried Parsley, Dried Cranberry, Dried Artichoke, Dried Mushrooms, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium bifidum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation Product, Dried Pineapple Extract, Dried Aspergillus niger Fermentation Extract, Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract, Dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract.
With 4 dry foods, Nature’s Logic’s Distinction line has an typical rating of 6.9. The foods in this line are similar to the Distinction Grain-Free line, with approximately 32% healthy protein, 30% carb and 13% fat.
The food is greater in carbohydrate than we want to see, however still lower than lots of equivalent kibbles. Like all Nature’s Logic foods, this line sports entire food nourishment with no added vitamins or minerals .
Like the Distinction Grain-Free Line, Distinction is a kibble as well as is ultra-processed. It’s additionally worth noting that it includes meal as its 2nd ingredient, which is an additional ultra-processed component. But also for kibble consumers that can not pay for air-dried, Nature’s Logic goes to the top of our listing.
In addition to the processing, the food safety score is significantly influenced by the addition of millet as the carb source. Like most grains, millet is commonly spray-dried with Roundup before harvest, making this a really high pesticide (herbicide) food. Organic millet would considerably increase ball game of this food.
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# 9: ORIJEN ORIGINAL DRY DOG FOOD.
best completely dry dog food.
REGIONAL RED INGREDIENTS: Beef, Wild Boar, Goat, Lamb, Lamb Liver, Beef Liver, Beef Tripe, Wild Boar Liver, Mutton, Whole Mackerel, Pork, Goat Meal, Beef Meal, Lamb Meal, Mackerel Meal, Whole Red Lentils, Whole Pinto Beans, Beef Kidney, Pork Liver, Herring Meal, Mutton Meal, Whole Green Peas, Whole Green Lentils, Whole Navy Beans, Whole Chickpeas, Natural Pork Flavor, Beef Fat, Pollock Oil, Pork Kidney, Lentil Fiber, Pea Starch, Whole Yellow Peas, Lamb Tripe, Wild Boar Heart, Dried Kelp, Whole Pumpkin, Whole Butternut Squash, Collard Greens, Whole Apples, Whole Pears, Zinc Proteinate, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Dried Chicory Root, Turmeric, Sarsaparilla Root, Althea Root, Rosehips, Juniper Berries, Citric Acid (Preservative), Rosemary Extract, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product.
Orijen offers 9 completely dry foods in their original line. The line has an typical rating of 6.9 as well as averages 38% protein, 20% carbohydrate and also 17% fat.
This food scores reasonably high since of its lower carb web content when it comes to ingredient quality. There are a SMALL number of included nutrients , but the minerals are high quality as well as natural. The food likewise features a wonderful selection of healthy proteins and also liver.
Like every kibble, Orijen is ultra-processed. Extruded kibbles are heated four separate times during production, which will create significant losses in some active enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and phytonutrients. Research studies also reveal that ultra-processed foods are connected to a higher price of all-cause mortality in human beings, so the food does shed some safety factors below.
There are numerous high-pesticide active ingredients in the food, including lentils, apples, chickpeas and peas and also this decreases the component safety and security rating. The food likewise contains all-natural taste, which is typically animal digest or MSG. Natural flavor is a poor quality component with limited security researches.
Although Orijen has the same average rating as Nature’s Logic Distinction, it’s run across 9th place because of the all-natural taste. This is unfortunate because the food is reduced in carbohydrate and higher in protein. Nevertheless both are reasonable options for a kibble.
Orijen is made by Canadian business, Champion Petfoods. It’s produced in-house in both Canada as well as the United States. It offers mainly ultra-processed kibble, but additionally has a canned and freeze-dried line.
To date, Orijen dog food has actually not been remembered in Canada or the United States.
It is worth nothing that their parent company, Champion Petfoods had 2 suits submitted versus it.
In 2020, Animal Equality doubted Champion’s claim that the trout in the ACANA line was wild captured when it was determined by the AE organization as farmed fish. The match was fixed with Champion Petfoods altering their advertising and marketing claims as well as encouraging much better transparency in its fish sourcing.
Also in 2020, the Organic Consumers Association sued Champion Petfoods for deceitful advertising under both the ACANA and also Orijen trademark name. The organization alleged that statements such as “free-run” poultry were deceptive. This situation has actually likewise been resolved with Champion Petfoods making changes to their product packaging and advertising.
It’s great to look at how much protein and also fat is in a food, yet at the end of the day, the food requires to be safe for your dog to eat ( and also lots of foods consist of ingredients that are quite risky). Like all air-dried foods, each food loses an ingredient safety and security factor for moderate handling. The foods additionally include lecithin from sunflower, which is a high-pesticide plant– yet with that claimed, it amounts to a tiny portion of the food. Research studies likewise show that ultra-processed foods are connected to a higher price of all-cause death in people, so the food does lose some safety and security points here.
Studies additionally show that ultra-processed foods are connected to a greater rate of all-cause mortality in people, so the food does shed some safety and security points here.