Merrick Grain-Free Real Chicken + Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food 25 Lb
Searching for a risk-free and healthy dry pet food can be a challenge! Pet food labels are confusing and also leave vital details out. So we did the research for you and also assembled our checklist of Best Dry Dog Foods For 2022.
PET FOOD REVIEW CRITERIA
Each food in this list has been examined based on the ingredient top quality and also ingredient safety and security by DogFoodReviews.com. It’s great to check out just how much healthy protein as well as fat is in a food, but at the end of the day, the food requires to be secure for your pet to consume ( as well as several foods have components that are fairly hazardous). So each food’s rating is approximately the component top quality as well as the active ingredient safety.
Below are a few of the criteria we try to find:
DOG FOOD INGREDIENT QUALITY
- Does the food contain way too much carbohydrate?
- Are plant sources utilized to increase healthy protein material?
- Does it contain unrevealed animal healthy protein?
- Are there extreme minerals and vitamins added?
- Are complimentary amino acids added to balance poor quality healthy proteins?
- Does it contain refined or seed oils?
PET FOOD INGREDIENT SAFETY
- Just how much processing is involved in making the food?
- Does the food contain rice?
- Does the food consist of recognized genetically customized foods?
- Does the food consist of foods recognized to be high in pesticides?
- Does the food contain all-natural taste?
Each food is objectively evaluated using these criteria. You can watch the full Evaluation Criteria used to examine the canine foods.
This is NOT a paid checklist as well as there are no associate links. We’ve partnered with Dog Food Reviews to make sure pet dog owners have impartial, objective requirements to help them pick the best dry canine food on the marketplace.
Now that you know how we review the foods, allow’s discover the very best dry canine food for 2022. The foods evaluated include air-dried, baked and also cold-pressed foods, in addition to even more conventional kibbles.
# 1: THE NEW ZEALAND NATURAL PET FOOD CO.
WOOF AIR-DRIED best dry pet dog
food WILD VENISON RECIPE INGREDIENTS: Venison, Lamb, Lamb Green Tripe, Lamb Heart, Lamb Liver, Lamb Kidney, Ground Lamb Bone, Bok Choy, Carrot, Blueberries, Cranberries, Kelp, New Zealand Green Mussel, Honey, Rosemary, Coconut Oil, Hoki Oil, Vitamin D3, Salt, Choline Chloride, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Amino Acid Complex The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. supplies 3 air-dried canine food recipes with an ordinary score of 9/10. The Wild Venison and Beef score 9.5/ 10, while the Chicken weighs in at 9/10. Each food sheds an active ingredient safety factor for moderate processing, but this relates to all air-dried foods. Overall, air-dried and also baked foods may be less processed than kibble, which is taken into consideration an ultra-processed food.
Much better Bones HOMEMADE DIETS MADE EASY Much better Bones is naturally air dried out bones from grass-fed Australian cattle. It’s the natural and also safe way to stabilize your canine’s raw or residence cooked meals.
The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. Air-Dried food line averages 47% protein and 11% carbohydrate, as calculated. Foods that contain less than 15% carbohydrate will certainly not lose factors for extreme carbohydrate web content. Most kibbles include a minimum of 30% starchy carbohydrate. The Air-Dried line standards 25% fat, which is fairly high for a food of this type.
When it comes to component high quality, the resource of carbohydrate comes from foods like bok choy as well as carrots, which are reduced in starch and are not high-pesticide or GMO crops. The food also includes a range of meats as well as body organ meats, which offer normally happening vitamins and minerals . There are some included minerals, yet they are high quality and also there are less than 5 included, providing this food a excellent rating for active ingredient quality.
There are no lost points for this, coconut oil is added to this food. It’s worth keeping in mind that coconut oil has actually been connected to increased intestine permeability and also swelling in canines in some research studies.
The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. is a small firm that uses components that are locally sourced from New Zealand. The company likewise provides freeze-dried foods as well as treats .
At the time of creating, The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. has actually not been remembered.
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# 2: ZIWI PEAK ORIGINAL AIR-DRIED
ziwipeak pet dog food testimonial CHICKEN 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 offers 6 air-dried dog food dishes in their Original line, with an ordinary rating of 9/10. Each food sheds an active ingredient security factor for modest handling, yet this applies to all air-dried foods. On the whole, baked and air-dried foods might be less processed than kibble, which is considered an ultra-processed food
.
When it pertains to ingredient quality, the carb resource comes from low-starch and high quality components like inulin from chicory and kelp. Both are reduced in starch and also are low pesticide or GMO crops. Both are healthy and balanced additions. The food also has a range of meats and organ meats, which provides naturally occurring minerals and vitamins . With that said said, there are a handful of added vitamins and also several added minerals, which costs the food an component high quality point. Nonetheless, the included minerals are high quality and also natural.
Ziwi Peak came from as a smaller sized brand yet has been gotten by FountainVest Partners, a big private equity company based in China. Although this is not directly related to item quality, larger companies often tend to have more of an obligation to their investors as well as product quality tends to decline in bigger firms.
Ziwi Peak has actually not been recalled at the time of creating.
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# 3: ZIWI PEAK PROVENANCE AIR-DRIED.
best dry pet dog food.
HEN 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 supplies 3 air-dried canine food dishes in their Provenance line, with an ordinary rating of 8/10. The Provenance line averages 38% protein as well as 1% carb, as computed. The fat web content standards 32%, which is on the high end. Preferably, there must be two times as much healthy protein as fat however there are no factors shed right here.
When it comes to component quality, Provenance loses factors for a lot of included minerals and vitamins , which are substandard to food-based micronutrients as well as might suggest lower top quality active ingredients. With that claimed, the included minerals are are organic as well as high top quality.
When it concerns ingredient safety and security, air-dried foods are moderately processed, so there will certainly be a small charge there. Some well-known high-pesticide plant ingredients like apples likewise make an appearance, however additionally down the ingredient panel so they’re less of a problem.
Generally, this is a high fat/low carb food with top quality ingredients.
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# 4: ZEAL CANADA AIR-DRIED.
best completely dry dog food.
CHICKEN RECIPE INGREDIENTS: Chicken, Chicken tender, Chicken liver, Bamboo fiber, Dicalcium phosphate, Pumpkin Powder, Salt, Coconut oil, Yeast essence, Yucca Schidigera essence, Parsley, Calcium Carbonate, Green lipped mussel, Magnesium Sulphate, Rosemary essence, 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.
Passion Canada uses 5 air-dried pet food recipes, with an ordinary score of 7.8/ 10. Like all air-dried foods, each food loses an component security point for moderate handling. While baked and air-dried foods might be less processed than kibble, which is thought about an ultra-processed food, there is still refining and a probable subsequent loss of phytonutrients.
Passion Canada’s Air-Dried food line standards 38% healthy protein as well as 12% carbohydrate, as calculated. Foods that contain less than 15% carb will certainly not lose factors for too much carbohydrate web content. Both the Salmon and also Turkey recipes have a bit much more than 15% carb, which will certainly bring their ratings down a little bit. This is still much better than many kibbles, which average more than double this amount.
The foods additionally contain lecithin from sunflower, which is a high-pesticide crop– yet with that claimed, it amounts to a tiny percent of the food. Some foods additionally have a selection of body organ meats, which offers naturally taking place vitamins and minerals . With that claimed, there are a number of added vitamins and minerals , which sets you back the food active ingredient quality points.
Zeal is a relative beginner to the pet grocery store and also asserts their foods are locally sourced. The food is produced in Canada.
Zeal has not been remembered at the time of creating.
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# 5: SUNDAYS FOR DOGS.
best dry pet dog food.
POULTRY 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 uses 2 air-dried pet dog food recipes: poultry and also beef. The brand name uses an typical rating of 7.5/ 10. The Sundays foods ordinary 36% protein and 22% carb, as calculated. Foods which contain more than 15% carbohydrate however less than 30% are considered moderately high in carbohydrate content and will certainly lose a factor. The food averages 17% fat, that makes it lower in fat compared to various other air-dried foods.
The Chicken Recipe includes 2 well-known high-pesticide foods in the leading 5 ingredients: millet and also oats. Both of these crops are commonly spray-dried with Roundup right prior to harvest, which makes the chemical web content of the food possibly really high.
Completing active ingredient high quality, the Beef Recipe has fish oil but the type as well as types of fish is not called– and also this will certainly set you back a point. Protein sources need to constantly be called and also not common, otherwise it can be thought the component is reduced quality. As well as when it concerns fish oil, high quality is essential since it quickly oxidizes. The Chicken Recipe includes sunflower oil, which is a highly refined oil that is high in omega-6 fats and also can create gut inflammation.
What we simulate is that the food includes no included minerals or vitamins , which suggests the active ingredients are or else excellent quality.
Besides the high-pesticide foods in the Chicken Recipe, there are no added factors shed, with the exception of the moderate amount of processing for air-dried foods.
There are no lost factors for this, it should be kept in mind that Sundays contains glam active ingredients. While it’s desirable to have actually added foods like blueberries, broccoli and also mushrooms, these ingredients all show up after salt on the tag, which makes it most likely that they are only existing in trace quantities.
Sundays is a small, shop brand that’s had as well as formulated by vet Tory Waxman. The food is made in a USDA kept track of cooking area in Ohio.
Sundays has not been remembered at the time of writing.
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# 6: CARNA4 BAKED AIR-DRIED.
best dry dog food.
Carna4 provides 6 foods in their Baked Air-Dried line. The line supplies an average rating of 7.3/ 10.
Carna4 standards 28% protein and 35% carb, which is considered rather high in carbohydrate material and also costs the food some component top quality points. The food averages 15% fat.
The carbohydrate resource for Carna4 comes from organic grown barley seed. While barley is a high chemical crop, the barley is sprouted as well as natural so it will not be spray-dried with Roundup like most barley plants are. Sprouted grains are likewise extra digestible for dogs and arguably a higher quality component. Several of the dishes do consist of natural rice, which can be high in arsenic. Non-organic potatoes additionally make an appearance and also are a high-pesticide, genetically changed plant. Non-organic, high-pesticide apples likewise appear in some of the foods. Both of these foods are additionally down the ingredient listing as well as there are no genetically customized or high-pesticide foods in the top 5 active ingredients.
Carna4 is one of a handful of completely dry foods that does not contain any added vitamins or minerals , which indicates higher quality ingredients as well as much less handling.
There are no additional factors lost, except for the moderate quantity of processing for air-dried foods.
Carna4 is another tiny, shop brand name and it’s the 2nd Canadian business on our listing. Carna4 is made in an EU certified human bakeshop in Quebec.
Carna4 has not been remembered at the time of creating.
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# 7: NATURE’S LOGIC DISTINCTION GRAIN-FREE.
best completely dry dog food.
BEEF RECIPE INGREDIENTS: Beef, Beef Meal, Millet, Pork Fat ( protected 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 listing. Their Distinction Grain-Free line supplies 3 foods with an typical score of 7.3/ 10.
Nature’s Logic Distinction Grain-Free averages 32% healthy protein as well as 29% carb, which is taken into consideration greater in carbohydrate web content and also costs the food an component quality factor. The food standards 15% fat.
When it pertains to component high quality, the carb resource is tapioca root, which is not a high-pesticide plant. Nature’s Logic is special for a kibble because it contains no included minerals or vitamins , which maintains its ingredient quality rating quite high. Nonetheless, it ought to also be kept in mind that it is formulated using feeding tests and also not developed to fulfill AAFCO minimum demands.
When it involves ingredient security, this is a kibble and contains dishes, making it an ultra-processed food. Extruded foods are warmed 4 separate times during production, which will cause significant losses in some energetic enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and also phytonutrients. Studies also show that ultra-processed foods are linked to a higher price of all-cause death in humans, so the food does lose some safety factors below.
There are additionally some high-pesticide active ingredients in the food (kale and spinach), however they show up better down the tag and also are not in the top 5 ingredients.
Overall, this is our greatest ranking kibble and also the just absolutely ultra-processed kibble that’s free of added minerals and vitamins .
Nature’s Logic started as a small business win Lincoln, Nebraska as well as was obtained in 2021 by Mid America Pet Food, which manufactures Victor, Wayne Feeds and also Eagle Mountain. MAPF produces their product in Mt. Pleasant, Texas and also it’s thought Nature’s Logic is presently produced because plant.
Nature’s Logic has actually not been remembered at the time of writing.
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# 8: NATURE’S LOGIC DISTINCTION.
best dry dog 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.
With 4 dry foods, Nature’s Logic’s Distinction line has an ordinary rating of 6.9. The foods in this line resemble the Distinction Grain-Free line, with approximately 32% healthy protein, 30% carbohydrate as well as 13% fat.
The food is greater in carbohydrate than we would like to see, but still lower than numerous comparable kibbles. Like all Nature’s Logic foods, this line sporting activities whole food nourishment with no included minerals or vitamins .
Like the Distinction Grain-Free Line, Distinction is a kibble as well as is ultra-processed. It’s likewise worth noting that it contains meal as its second active ingredient, which is an additional ultra-processed component. But also for kibble customers that can not manage air-dried, Nature’s Logic is at the top of our listing.
Apart from the handling, the food security score is dramatically impacted by the addition of millet as the carbohydrate resource. Like many grains, millet is typically spray-dried with Roundup before harvest, making this a extremely high pesticide (herbicide) food. Organic millet would considerably boost 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 deals 9 completely dry foods in their original line. The line has an ordinary rating of 6.9 and also standards 38% protein, 20% carbohydrate and also 17% fat.
When it pertains to active ingredient high quality, this food ratings moderately high because of its lower carb content. There are a SMALL number of added vitamins and minerals , yet the minerals are top quality as well as organic. The food likewise includes a great selection of proteins and also liver.
Like every kibble, Orijen is ultra-processed. Extruded kibbles are warmed four different times throughout manufacturing, which will certainly cause significant losses in some energetic enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and phytonutrients. Studies also reveal that ultra-processed foods are linked to a greater rate of all-cause mortality in human beings, so the food does lose some security factors right here.
There are several high-pesticide components in the food, including lentils, apples, peas and chickpeas and this decreases the component safety score. The food also includes natural taste, which is often animal absorb or MSG. All-natural taste is a poor quality component with minimal safety and security researches.
Orijen has the same ordinary rating as Nature’s Logic Distinction, it’s bumped into 9th place due to the natural taste. This is unfavorable since the food is lower in carb and greater in protein. However both are reasonable choices for a kibble.
Orijen is manufactured by Canadian company, Champion Petfoods. It’s produced in-house in both Canada and also the United States. It offers mostly ultra-processed kibble, yet additionally has a canned as well as freeze-dried line.
To day, Orijen pet food has actually not been recalled in Canada or the United States.
It is worth nothing that their moms and dad business, Champion Petfoods had 2 claims filed versus it.
In 2020, Animal Equality wondered about Champion’s insurance claim that the trout in the ACANA line was wild caught when it was identified by the AE organization as farmed fish. The fit was solved with Champion Petfoods changing their advertising and marketing claims and also promising better transparency in its fish sourcing.
In 2020, the Organic Consumers Association sued Champion Petfoods for deceitful marketing under both the ACANA and Orijen brand names. The association declared that declarations such as “free-run” chicken were deceptive. This situation has actually additionally been solved with Champion Petfoods making changes to their product packaging and advertising and marketing.
It’s great to look at how much healthy protein and fat is in a food, however at the end of the day, the food requires to be risk-free for your canine to eat (and several foods contain ingredients that are fairly harmful). Like all air-dried foods, each food sheds an active ingredient safety and security point for modest processing. The foods also include lecithin from sunflower, which is a high-pesticide plant– however with that claimed, it amounts to a little percent of the food. Studies likewise show that ultra-processed foods are linked to a higher rate of all-cause mortality in humans, so the food does lose some safety points below.
Studies also reveal that ultra-processed foods are linked to a higher rate of all-cause mortality in humans, so the food does shed some safety factors below.