Best Dog Food in Australia (2025)
Your dog is primarily a meat-loving carnivore. Their health depends more on animal foods than grain or grain-free starchy carbohydrates.
Keep that in mind when choosing a dog food. The pet food industry loves you to believe your dog is an omnivore – it allows them to make a much larger profit from your hard earned dollars.
This guide to the best dog food (in Australia) covers dry dog foods, wet dog foods, BARF/raw dog foods, and ~ if you want the absolute best for your dog ~ I’ll cover what I consider the best real premium dog foods you can buy in 2025.
Every dog is different – size, breed, budget, and dietary needs vary – but hopefully the recommendations below will get you on the right track, and your dog on track for better health and wellbeing.
Best Dry Dog Foods in Australia
Most Australians feed kibble – it’s convenient, affordable, and if you pick the right one, it can be a good dog food too.
We tend to consider kibble (or “biscuits”) the norm, which is why 80 to 90% of Australians feed dry dog food as whole or part of their dog’s diet.
The key, in my opinion, is variety.
Just like our own diets, mixing things up should give your dog better nutrition and keep meals interesting. I encourage variety, so feel free to feed other tasty foods to your dog as well. Don’t limit them to only one boring brand of dry dog food.
Orijen – Best Premium Dry Dog Food
Being upwards of 85% animal ingredients, it comes as no surprise the top rated dry dog food is Orijen.
The flipside is the price, but this really shows how good a dry dog food can be. It’s a true benchmark in quality, and when it comes to dry food this will offer your dog the best in health.
Not convinced?
The average dry dog food contains as little as 20% to 30% animal ingredients, and often less.
More info: Full Orijen dry dog food review
Is Orijen too expensive?
Let’s look at some cheaper options…
Petzyo – Best Australian Dry Dog Food
10% Off Petzyo Dog Food!
Petzyo is a more realistic option for most of us, being much more affordable than Orijen.
You can buy Petzyo direct from their website (you can use the link above). Direct to you allows the price to be kept to a minimum while investing more in higher quality ingredients.
Petzyo may not contain as much meat as Orijen, but you can consider it a great “base diet”. You can look at adding variety by feeding your dog other types of dog food as well, whether it be premium dog foods, BARF, raw, or homemade.
More info: Visit the Petzyo website (and get 10% off your first order) or read the full Petzyo dry dog food review.
Taste of the Wild – Best All-Rounder Dry Dog Food
Taste of the Wild dry dog food is an excellent choice for most dog owners, which is why I class it the best all-rounder. An excellent selection of ingredients chosen for the health of your dog rather than to maximise profit at the expense of your dog.
The brand is highly regarded worldwide, works very well for dogs who suffer dietary intolerances, and when you compare the ingredients to dog food brands you find in the supermarkets you will see how much better it is.
I consider Taste of the Wild an excellent dry food base diet, but encourage you to add variety to your dog’s diet.
The Taste of the Wild PREY range is the more premium option (limited ingredient), but on a budget the regular formulas are still very good.
More info: Full Taste of the Wild dry dog food review.
Instinctive Bite – Best Budget Dry Dog Food
If you’re on a tight budget (like many are), then you may have found the above dry dog foods to be too expensive.
If that’s the case, Instinctive Bite from Pet Circle is still very decent and a little cheaper.
Instinctive Bite dry dog foods are fairly similar in ingredients to the popular Australian brand Meals for Mutts, which makes this a viable alternative if that’s what your dog has been used to.
The best value for money is the 15kg bags – very well priced considering the ingredients, and you may save even more with the Pet Circle Auto Delivery option.
More info: Instinctive Bite dry dog food review.
If the above dry dog foods are still too much for your budget then don’t worry, as the guide to more affordable dog foods in Australia may help.
Best Wet Dog Food in Australia
Many pet owners choose to feed only wet food believing it’s better and healthier, but as a wet mush it can lead to poor dental health as it has no abrasive properties to keep their teeth free of plaque or tartar.
Kibble isn’t much better in this respect, neither are “dental” treats like Greenies or Schmackos – can you imagine cleaning your own teeth with treats made of wheat and humectants?
So, if you choose to feed your dog wet food, don’t make it their only food, and consider some tough meaty chews or appropriate raw meaty bones to really help keep their dental health (and overall health) in check.
There are benefits to wet dog food – it’s generally more expensive than dry dog food, tends to be better quality, more meat, and less unnecessary fillers. Moisture is a plus, but more when it comes to cats who can really suffer from dry cat food (they’re not big drinkers like our dogs are).
Below are a few recommendations for wet dog foods I consider very good.
ZIWI Peak – Best Wet Dog Food / Best Bulk Buy / Best Formula!
I have to say I was amazed at the price of ZIWI Peak wet dog food when buying in bulk. If you buy the 24 x 390g cans at Pet Circle they work out at $1.73 per 100g. Take advantage of the additional 5% auto-delivery discount and the cans work out cheaper than SavourLife below as the “best budget” option – that’s astounding!
To put the price in context, Absolute Holistic wet dog food cartons average $4.95 per 100g based on 16 * 125kg cartons, and I would say the ZIWI Peak formula is much better!
ZIWI Peak does it right it terms of formula, being mostly meat combined with all the nutritious organs we consider yucky but are fantastic for our dogs – lung, kidney, tripe, liver, and the wonderfully healthy New Zealand green-lipped mussels.
This truly is a great option for wet dog food if you’re happy to buy in bulk. If you don’t buy in bulk the cans work out more expensive, but it has to be said ZIWI Peak wet dog food formulas are fantastic.
Note: K9 Natural wet dog food narrowly missed out based on bulk price, but may be a great option if you wish to buy in a smaller quantity.
SavourLife – Best on a Budget & Australian Wet Dog Food
I picked several wet dog foods which I would happily recommend, and SavourLife came out the cheapest with 12 x 375g (plus a further 5% at Pet Circle with the auto delivery option).
SavourLife wet food (cans) are a decent formula of meat and legumes (carrots/peas/kelp), and I see New Zealand green lipped mussels as a great addition to support the joints and heart health of our dogs.
The brand is Australian, and I consider them to have a good reputation. There are better wet dog foods in terms of meat content, but they’re more expensive.
Note: The SavourLife Essentials range is much cheaper than the grain free range. This may appeal to you, but based on the grains (and type of grains) in the Essentials range it would not be a formula I would actively recommend.
More info: Read the full SavourLife dog food review.
Kiwi Kitchens – Best Budget Wet Food for Small Dogs
Kiwi Kitchens wet dog food are a bit more expensive than SavourLife, but I would say the formula is just as good as Open Farm, and the 170g cans are a much better size for a small or toy breed dog.
The ingredients in the Chicken formula include chicken, chicken broth (excellent!), and chicken liver (excellent nutritious organ) along with some pumpkin.
The 170g cans work out just shy of $3 per 100g, which is still quite a bit cheaper than Absolute Holistic as a benchmark of $4.95 per 100g.
A good wet food for your smaller dog!
Open Farm – Best All-Rounder Wet Dog Food
Open Farm wet dog food is a great choice, especially if you buy in bulk. 24 x 354g cartons works out around $2.25 per 100g. Pet Circle offer a further 10% repeat subscription discount on the brand which makes it even more affordable.
Other wet dog foods have more meat, but it has to be said the ingredients in Open Farm are still very good and more ethical than many brands.
Humanly Raised Chicken and Chicken Bone Broth are a great start to the ingredients (bone broth is fantastic for the health of your dog), combined with some vegetables (pumpkin/carrots/green beans/spinach) and rounded off with both sunflower and coconut oil. Minerals are chelated which are more absorbable, and a sign of a top quality dog food.
Open Farm wet dog foods are a very good choice, especially for the price.
More info: Read the Open Farm dog food review.
Top Dog Food Brands in Australia
I highly recommend all the below dog foods.
All these dog foods come with great feedback from many dog owners, and the ingredients in all of them speak for themselves – lots of healthy meats, organs, and superfoods, and all without the high temperature cooking which is the reality for dry dog foods.
If you’re feeding a dry dog food, I say with confidence adding in any of the below foods will give your dog a very welcome boost in health and nutrition, even if it’s only part of their diet.
If you can feed any of these foods as the majority of the diet – and they may not prove as expensive as you may think – you’re onto a winner.
In no particular order, these are what I consider the best of the best dog foods in Australia in 2025:
ZIWI Peak (Air-Dried Raw Dog Food)
ZIWI Peak takes little introduction as a brand which has an amazing reputation worldwide.
The reasons you should feed ZIWI Peak to your dog (even if only part of their diet) are simple – excellent nutrition which will truly benefit the health of your dog and being air-dried is as convenient as kibble but in a form much easier for your dog to digest!
It’s expensive, but I can’t recommend ZIWI Peak enough.
Read the full ZIWI Peak review.
Frontier Pets (Freeze-Dried Raw)
Frontier Pets has become one of the most loved Australian pet foods, and continues to be one of the best dog foods money can buy.
Diana and her team in Evans Head are absolute pioneers and have set precedent in creating an absolutely wonderful dog food (and cat food).
Frontier Pets is a freeze-dried dog food. If you don’t know what that is, it’s the best way to ensure a dog food retains the maximum nutrition possible which allowing it to keep for ages. Like Eureka above, Frontier Pets is dried raw, which is what your dog will truly benefit from.
You just add water and let the freeze-dried pieces soak a while before feeding your dog. Easy!
Read the full Frontier Pets review here.
Lyka Pet Food (Slightly Cooked)
Lyka Pet Food is another Australian pet food success story. The reason – because they’re a company with ethics, and their pet food is fantastically healthy for your dog!
Lyka is like Hello Fresh, but for your dog. It’s packed with raw meats, organs, bones, and veggies, very slightly cooked, and delivered to your door wherever you are in Australia (unless you live in the sticks).
The amount of positive feedback I have for Lyka, Frontier Pets, and Eureka is ridiculous, but goes to show how good these dog foods are.
It’s not just good feedback, it’s lifechanging feedback. Far too many dogs really suffer on poor quality dog foods, suffering all manner of health conditions, and the above three foods can give your dog a complete turnaround back to health.
Read the full Lyka dog food review here.
Eureka (Air-Dried Raw)
Most pet owners have heard of ZIWI Peak, one of the most notable air-dried raw dog foods sold in Australia. As a flagship New Zealand brand it’s really good, but here in Australia we have another brand equally as good (if not better) – Eureka.
Our dogs are more carnivorous than the pet food industry like to admit. Most kibbles are high in carbs (and fillers) which your dog doesn’t really need, whereas they thrive more off a diet mostly of raw meat, organs, and bones. That’s exactly what Eureka is.
Free $50 Eureka Welcome Pack!
Eureka is essentially a raw diet combined with really beneficial superfoods, but with the convenience of being air-dried. You can feed it as easily as kibble, but it’s far more digestible, and far healthier for your dog.
Read the full Eureka review here (you’ll also find a link which gives you money off your first purchase).
The Best BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) in Australia
BARF has been a sensation worldwide as a way of feeding our dogs raw with the convenience of little meaty patties.
BARF stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Feeding and was invented by a true blue Australian veterinarian Dr Ian Billinghurst, author of Give Your Dog a Bone.
If you want to hear my interview with Dr Ian Billinghurst you can find it on most podcast channels if you search for the Pet Food Reviews Podcast.
As great as BARF is for your dog, I see it as having one flaw. It’s a flaw of most dog food in general – even some of the best dog food brands, including dry dog food, air/freeze-dried, rolls, and especially wet mushy dog food – it does very little for dental health.
I consider raw meaty bones the best in preventing poor dental health, plaque, tartar, and periodontal disease in dogs. If you’re not keen on feeding raw bones, then a good dog food routine should at least include a decent chewable dried meat treat as an alternative.
I also highly recommend the book Work Wonders : Feed Your Dog Raw Meaty Bones by Australian vet Dr Tom Lonsdale – if you read one book about dog nutrition, for the sake of your dog’s health, then let that book be it.
Back on track, here are what I consider the best BARF dog foods in Australia, in 2025, in no particular order:
Big Dog BARF
Big Dog BARF has been around almost quarter of a century – how crazy is that! As one of the original BARF patties in Australia it continues to be a brilliant option.
The other original BARF patty was Dr B’s BARF (originally made by Dr Ian Billinghurst himself, but later sold to Aussie pet food manufacturing giant The Real Petfood Co). The difference between the two is Big Dog uses human grade ingredients, which is far better than pet grade in terms of quality.
You will find Big Dog in most pet food retail stores. If you can’t find it, you’ll likely find the next option instead – Proudi.
Proudi
Like Big Dog BARF, the Proudi BARF patties also use human grade ingredients. That’s a great thing.
The small different between Big Dog and Proudi is Big Dog have a small amount of veggies included, whereas Proudi is full carnivore – meat, organs, bones.
Personally I consider both of brands of BARF very good, so will leave it up to you to decide. BARF patties are well worth considering as part of your dog’s diet, such as alongside a dry dog food, and you could always rotate between Big Dog and Proudi.
How Do Dog Food Brands Differ in Quality?
The difference in quality between some dog foods and others in Australia is astounding. Some dog foods tell you exactly what they’re made from, usually because they’re made from ingredients which are good for your dog.
But…
*Most* dog foods sold in Australia do their best not to tell you the truth.
I have a copy of the Australian standards for Manufacturing and marketing of pet food (AS 5812:20127) which is available here, but you’ll have to pay $118.76 AUD for the privilege. How’s that for transparency?
The standards, if you do read them, will give you the impression they were written by the pet food industry, for the pet food industry.
On in other words, not for the benefit of you or me as the consumer.
Seasoned Australian vet Dr Tom Lonsdale, author of Raw Meaty Bones and Work Wonders, refers to it as “the junk pet food industry”, having witnessed first hand the harm caused to our dogs from commercial pet food, for decades.
Dr Lonsdale, unlike most vets, records data on what dog foods were fed to the sick dogs and cats who go through his veterinary practice daily. He attributes most conditions, such as itchy skin, rotting teeth and gums, and other serious illnesses to commercial pet foods.
Needless to say, he has a great deal of credibility on the subject, and those two books are eye-opening.
I’ve found the marketing of many brands of dog food so skewed it’s amazing it’s legal. I find highly questionable brands benefit from 5 star ratings on various websites, simply because the owner thinks it’s good because their dog eats it.
Many of those people will readily say it’s the best dog food in Australia to any social media group who’ll listen or ask for recommendations!
How often do people recommend Supercoat as the best dog food, ever? Lot’s of cereal by-products, wheat, corn, sorghum, or barley in that food for essentially meat-eating dogs.
Just saying.
Your dog will eat a Big Mac – they’ll probably love it – but is that good for your dog? Should Big Macs be rated 5 stars as a dog food?
Alternatively, would you rate broccoli 1 star because your baby refuses to eat it?
Nope.
Hopefully my experience with dog food over many years, combined with gathering so much information and feedback from other dog owners, will help you make a better decision when choosing a dog food in Australia.
Lastly, before I get to some interesting misconceptions about dog food, I want you to take part in helping other dog lovers learn.
We’re in this together.
What dog food do you feed? What experiences have you had? What have you learned from others?
Every review has a comments section, and it’s totally free to use!
Feedback is Welcome
It’s taken me a great deal of time, and huge amounts of research to put these reviews together. I’ve spent a great deal of time finding research studies, picking through them, and doing my best to ensure they’re not biased, not influenced, and provide valuable facts.
Pet Food Reviews takes up more of my life than I care to admit, but the ultimate goal is for us to have happier, healthier pets, who have the best chance of living a long life.
I can’t do that alone. I encourage you to be involved, to add comments, discuss, get in touch, and share the knowledge you’ve learned with friends, family, and social media groups.
If your dog’s allergies clear up, they become more buoyant, more active, or show a new lease of life based on the information on these reviews, then let me know!
And let others know!
The “Best dog food in Australia” list depends on your ongoing feedback.
The links on the reviews to pet food retailers are also affiliate links, so any time you click and buy a dog food a small percentage will help keep Pet Food Reviews up, running, and up to date – thank you!
“What is the Best Dog Food in Australia?”, updated 2025.
Hi David, Have you heard of Petal run by one of the Vetalogica brothers? They have a Milo’s Kitchen single protein variety which under a subscription is $83 for 12kg …. the ingredients seem to me to be exceedingly good …..
https://petvalu.com.au/collections/dry-dog-food/products/milos-kitchen-grain-free-adult-single-protein-salmon-sweet-potato-dry-dog-food?variant=41907216416993&selling_plan=4183556321
Salmon Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Chickpeas, Fish Oil (Naturally preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Ground Flaxseed, Coconut Oil, Dried Blueberries, Dried Spinach, Dried Pumpkin, Chicory Root, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Sea Salt, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Magnesium Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Oxide, Iodine, Sodium Selenite, Zinc Propionate), Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols (a Natural preservative).
Lyka is way over rated. Dog literally did not like any of the bags, plus it takes up too much freezer space. Eureka and Frontier pets are well loved
How well do you rate “Stockman and Paddock” Working Dog formula for a Domestic, but extremely active 4yo Kelpie?
Hi,
I wasn’t sure on your current views on Lifewise? We are currently on the Puppy stage 2. The nutritionist recommended we just use this kibble due to it being complete and any addition changing the gut bacteria.
I switched from hypro premium to lifewise (as she was an itchy pup) and have been topping my 7 month Cavoodle up with a good quality loaf from the pet butcher (turkey, salmon and veg).
The vet however found some crystals in her urine (unsure if is was also because she had just finished antibiotics) so wants to put her on Royal Canin wet food as they know the sodium levels are .2. It is very expensive and from what I have read I am unsure.
I have used Lyka in the past but don’t think I could sustain this.
I also wasn’t sure when puppies should transition to adult food.
It would be great to hear your thoughts given all the conflicting advice we have recieved.
Hi, thanks for the very detailed info!
What are your thoughts on Scratch?
I find Scratch very similar to Petzyo, and it’s not a brand I hear anything negative about. I have to say their new range of raw looks really good.
Hi, thanks for sharing all you knowledge!
I have been feeding my two small dogs lyka as a topper on top of the lifewise pebble. Lyka has sky rocketed in prices so I thought maybe it is time to make a switch. Do you think i should try out eureka or frontier pets instead of this current combo? or should i swap lyka out with wolfit? Thanks in advance!
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Your website is fabulous. Thank you for all of the detailed information. I am feeding my 2 year old Golden Retriever the Taste of the Wild Pacific stream, however I’d like to change him to an Australian brand. The vet wants him to go on Royal Canine allergy food which I am against for many reasons!
I am keen on the Petzyo salmon based on your review here, but note that it doesn’t make it into your recommendations for large dog breeds. Is it OK for a large dog breed or would you recommend something else, eg. Savour Life given the additional glucosamine etc.
Hi Catherine, thank you for the great feedback!
Petzyo should be absolutely fine for your Golden Retriever. It’s a good well-priced option, and I know many of the top brands I recommend get very costly for larger breeds (and my own Border Collie for that matter!).
I always see variety as a good thing, and the Petzyo raw patties are worth looking into as well.
Hi David,
What’s your thoughts on Black Hawk dry dog food, specifically fish and potatoe? The reason I ask is I have adopted a 2 yr American staffy, for dinner he gets raw kangaroo mince ( human grade)steamed pumpkin, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots, 27gms of wellbeing essentials complete 22, plus top of greek yogurt however he often dodges that and vegetables which are eaten last..sometimes not at all..he’s a bit picky, if I squirt 4CYTE Epiitalis Forte ( joint supplement) over his whole dinner he’s more likely to eat it all however I am trying to avoid using joint supplements ect cos he is young plus not that sure they do work or are of benefit. I had left over from my other dog who I lost to Lymphoma, I didn’t think it did much for his sore leg that came up a yr before diagnosis however he liked it so continued with it. He was also 9 yrs Not sure Sampson my current dog actually needs it.
I do also give him 6 x1000 capsules of fish oil, these aren’t always eaten cos if he finds one he takes it out of the bowl..averages more like 4 or 5 in his tummy and 1 x 250IU vitamin e capsule.
The vitamins seem to help with his skin, and coat, when they are not there he gets quite dry skin and coat becomes coarse.
There is one ongoing issue tho on his chest between front legs and along the rib cage his skin can appear a bit red, sometimes a bit around his nose, mores his chest area, it’s not itchy or dry just looks redder. I am yet to isolate why that’s happening
Has anyone else had any thing similar occur when feeding blackhawk? He only gets that in the morning.
I have tried to find an online dog nutrionist, that will tailor a diet specifically for Sampson and that doesn’t sell their own product part as part of the consult but yet to be successful. I also live in a small country town in the middle of nowhere so a face to face consult is near impossible. I over vet my dog like crazy cos I know how quick cancer can move, in saying that I over vetted Tyke, and cancer still took him, when I say over vet I mean my dogs go in for check ups every two months or straight away if anything new pops up..
Devastatingly for Tyke his was a rare form of where the tumour was located and of course Inoperable and T Cell on top, I do think changing his diet helped him at very least offset the chemo side effects. He was literally eating til his last moments here and he never lost any weight he whole time, he actually put it on. I glad he didn’t go through the whole not wanting to eat or looking like a bad of bone cos he loved his food. He loved life but cancer is not selective. I too have my suspicions about round up, plus a could be coincidental use of a new yearly vaccine he had received a month before this tumour appeared and took him. That’s unfounded and could be coincidental as he has always had yearly vaccines without any probs,
I don’t and won’t ever know what caused it, however having a dig with cancer made me really look at what food I am putting in my dog, in which dog nutrition, more so balancing their diet is not the easiest thing for me to calculate.
If you know anyone or could do an online nutrion consult that would be awesome I don’t care what it costs, it’s money well spent to know I have got Sampson’s diet right, one step less towards evil things like cancer..
Re Blackhawk, just not sure about that as a whole, while it came well recommended the words Ocean fish and salmon MEAL don’t thrill me meal to me says processed crap, followed by potatoe, rice and oats…I didn’t think dogs really needed carbs? Yet the meal plus the other 4 things are the first 4 ingredients…
If I could cut out feeding kibble entirely I would however I am unsure what to replace it with so his diet is balanced.. in dire need of personalised pet nutrionist .
Anyhow your thoughts on Black hawk would be appreciated at I notice its not mentioned on your blog
Hi Skye, there have been numerous studies showing a link between Round Up (glyphosate) and lymphoma, but any given case we’ll never know what the cause was. With my dog I really felt glyphosate was the cause, and only once he had lymphoma did I notice how often the shire would spray the dog park with barely a temporary pegged in warning sign which they would remove immediately after spraying. Often I would see dogs running around a park while it was being sprayed, and easy for a tennis ball to roll through glyphosate soaked grass only to sit in a dogs mouth for however long. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
Your dog’s skin issues could well be diet-related or a reaction to something in the food. Often grains, although a mild protein intolerance is possible (i.e. to chicken), or reaction to some additive or other. Finding the true cause is tricky, and an elimination diet may help. With kibble I would often recommended a limited ingredient food like Taste of the Wild PREY or Canidae PURE for a few weeks, and if feeding meat as well then stick to one novel protein and avoid chicken, beef, lamb etc.
Some dogs do seem to react to Black Hawk for whatever reason, and that has been the case for many years. Have a read of the comments on the Black Hawk review and you’ll see some report gastro issues or itchiness, although I hear from many who feed Black Hawk without any issues whatsoever.
Can you please review 5 Hounds by Dr. Will?
I have just started using it and am finding it the best I have tried.
Been raw feeding for nearly 10 years and the consistency of this one is spot on, single proteins, developed by a Vet and my dogs love it.
Been feeding a smaller breed “Stay Loyal” brand food but he passed and we now have a Golden Retriever and a Labrador. Both around 1 year old and close to 30kgs. Stay Loyal for these 2 is just too expensive so we went to “Black Dog” but that is still too expensive. So 2 questions, none of the 2 brands i listed come up in your recommendations so i was wondering why?
Was thinking maybe switching to Hypro, do you think that maybe ok?
Thanks
Hi Daryl, Stay Loyal has been on the recommended list at times and a good choice. I tend to keep the best rated list short with options based on availability and price as well as formula etc.
Hypro Premium can be a good affordable option, but also have a read of the affordable dog food page, which although aren’t the cheapest are probably a good starting point for quality vs affordability.
Hi David – my small Jack Russell (who is trim and fit) was recently diagnosed – as my vet described it – with a ‘rumbling’ pancreatitis – ie – it’s not severe but can just be in the background causing a lack of apetite for a few days, then she’ll eat and it kicks in again. – Treatment painkillers and an antibiotic and change to a low fat diet. She’s been on Stay Loyal for years with either Lyka or a Black Hawke grain free tin portion to add a bit of variety.
So my issue was finding a low fat dry food to feed her without using Hills or Royal Canin.
At this stage I have transferred her to Lifewise Lamb Lean and Trim (I tried sample packs and she wasn’t keen on the Biotic low fat).
But was wondering if you have any other quality low fat dry food suggestions. She is still getting small amounts of Lyka/Black Hawke wet or even some Big Dog Raw. She does get stale on the same food over and over.
Thanks
Hi Liz, there are quite a few options for low fat dog foods which should help, and reducing kibble in favour of wet/raw/dried should generally help. Low fat kibble can often be higher in carbohydrates which is arguably worse, which is why an emphasis on feeding high quality protein and fat can have better results.
Lifewise and Lyka are good options, and it may be worth looking at something like Prime100 SPD low fat, or even Eureka or Ziwi Peak formulas which although not low fat per-se can still be a good addition as part of the diet as they’re species appropriate. Or you can look at supplementing a commercial food with fresh food, such as low fat meats, some organs, raw meaty bones etc.
In terms of kibble you could also look at Wellness CORE reduced fat or Canidae PURE healthy weight formulas amongst others.
Just wanted to leave a note to say thank you so much for the excellent information on this site.
I’ve had my 2 year old rescue for a bit over 12 months and I spent the first 6 months quite stressed with trying to feed her a perfect raw diet. I tried Raw n Fresh and a few other places offering ‘complete’ mixes but I found I was wasting alot of it as she didn’t love it and especially in summer I couldn’t just leave it out waiting for her to get hungry enough to eat it. There’s only so many times you can put those mixes in and out of the fridge.
Based on your helpful advice about just going for a varied diet I’ve switched to a feeding plan that is based around feeding a half serve of kibble each day and a half serve of the equivalent raw/fresh amount she needs.
I use different dry foods, at the moment Vetalogica Biologically Appropriate (I have a bag of each flavour).
For the fresh/raw option I mix it up depending on whats on sale when I’m at the shop or market, or what appropriate meals of mine I can share.
Raw red meats, eggs, cooked meats, organs, giblets, fish, dried and tin sardines, various raw meaty bones are all staples.
I bake chicken for her with some water and the lid on and then use the fatty broth as base for adding grated veggies and chia seeds.
Big cuts like a lamb shoulder or blade roast are often found for half price.
Whole chickens are often on sale and are a cheap way to get meat and bone.
To make sure she’s also getting some really good quality meats I get offcuts, bones and green tripe from the grass fed vendors at the farmers market.
It’s working out as a really afforable and easy way to feed well and she usually licks her bowl clean.
I keep an eye out for whats on sale at the pet food shops online too – 50% off short dated bags of high end brands like Ziwi Peak come up on occasion, and often you can get air dried high quality treats which are heavily discounted too.
She’s super healthy, happy and shiny. She does excellent poos and very rarely has any kind of upset tummy. Her coat is so glossy you need sunnies to look at her 🙂
So I just wanted to say thanks for giving me the confidence and information to feed like this, and I hope my ideas above help inspire someone else with how easy it can be to feed a fussy dog cheaply and really well.
It sounds to me like your dog has a fabulous diet, and others should be encouraged by this! Feeding a dog better isn’t as difficult (or as costly) as we often think, and the variety you feed your dog is fantastic!
Thanks for taking the time to write this, and also thank you for the positive feedback 🙂
Hello 🙂 Do you think it’s okay to just feed Raw foods and not dry foods? Like I am thinking frontier pets + big dog barf? Plus maybe prime 100 as treats, as my dog loves them and they are pricey. Thanks heaps 🙂
Hi Darija, generally I see raw foods far better and more natural for a dog.
The big caveat though is dental health, which no commercial pet foods truly address. You’ve prompted me to write a guide on dental health and what we can do about it – https://www.petfoodreviews.com.au/dental-health/
Ok, so you’re saying that none of these foods on the list are good for dental health and to improve that we should give them the treats that are good for dental health listed in the article?
Hi Darija, I would be skeptical of any claims of a pet food product being beneficial for dental health. We don’t clean our teeth with food.
However, for dogs (and many wild animals) the action of chewing and gnawing helps keep their teeth clean. In nature, for carnivores (of which you should classify your dog in this respect), that would be chewing on flesh and bone. If raw meaty bones such as chicken necks aren’t your thing, then tough chewy meat-based treats are a good option as long as they really are meat or similar rather than sugar and additives.
Hi David, I just found your site and it’s a goldmine of information. Just wondered if you have any experience of Sunday Pets? They look good to me, but would love your expert opinion! Thanks very much.
Hi Georgina, sorry for the delay in responding. Sunday Pets were actually one of the first brands I reviewed, and having went away for a while are now back – it’s a good thing, as it’s a pretty good brand.
Here’s a review – https://www.petfoodreviews.com.au/sunday-pets-dog-food-review/
I do worry about Orijen and Taste of the Wild. There are a lot of wide spread contamination worries from products made in the US and sick dogs.
You tend to find this with all US brands. Whether those allegations come from competitors or edge case consumers is hard to know, but the US seems to have a culture of taking legal action by default.
You also find the bigger the brand the more inevitable it is these things crop up on social media, whereas smaller brands often sail under the radar – it doesn’t mean those brands are free of issues, and I suspect in most cases they’re not.
Hi what are your views with Black Hawk kibble for cats and dogs please
Hi Connie, here’s a review of Black Hawk for dogs, and here for cats.
I recently updated the Black Hawk dog food review so that will give you the most current information.
Hi there, fantastic article and recommendations. Thank you! I’m doing my research before I adopt my puppy in a few weeks and trying to decide on best feeding options. The pup will have been fed Lyka all its life so they recommend that at first. Is the meat in Lyka cooked or just the veggies? I was planning on eventually switching to an alternate raw food provider that does BARF meals (e.g. Rogue Raw). But I keep reading and hearing views that raw meat can be harmful to dogs. I understand there is bacteria present in raw meat but I thought dogs were able to digest it without harm?! Would love your thoughts on this. Trying to filter out the bad info from the good. Much appreciated!!!
Hi Nikki, dogs instinctively eat raw meat/organ/bones and nature is almost always correct. Nature’s a good guide.
The slurs on raw feeding likely stem from pet food companies, but also veterinarians with genuine concerns – usually around the risks of feeding inappropriate sized bones or cooked bones which splinter or cause blockages. As for bacteria… well that’s more a risk to us, which is why we wash our chopping boards, wash our hands, and never eat raw chicken, pork etc. A dogs gut is much more resilient to bacteria, and it’s unlikely a healthy dog will get sick from raw meat.
Brands such as Lyka give you as the consumer piece of mind as the meat and veg are all slightly cooked. It also takes away the need to chop up yucky organs.
One thing I will add though, is raw (including raw meaty bones) will help your dog keep their teeth clean from plaque and tartar. Most commercial pet foods, BARF, or pre-made raw don’t really do much in this respect. Tough dried meat chews can be a good alternative.
Very good & great comments – healthier pets for life
I too have read our Customs radiate overseas coming in, I think ziwi peak have excluded theirs from this from memory years ago & I too have read about product recalls in US for Orijen (not sure if I spelt this correct ) & Taste of the Wild
Hi, I have a small Papillon 2yrs old. I’ve been feeding him Stay Loyal & Scratch alternately, they are both dry kibble. I also give him a raw chicken neck which he absolutely loves.
I find it really difficult to buy a wet food or raw dog food in small quantities and I’m not sure about freezing it. He weighs only 3:5kg so as you can imagine his meals are not very big. Also, it’s hard to find very small bones, most are beef bones and I know the butchers are willing to cut them smaller they generally cut them length wise.
Would it be ok to give him small portions of sheep’s heart ?
Thanks for any advice.
Hi Sarah, yes little bits of beef heart make a great treat, or kidney, or on occasion a little bit of liver.
If you’re looking to feed a little bit of raw with the kibble then have a look at Proudi or Big Dog. Most pet stores will sell one or the other and they come as small patties (BARF) which you can freeze, then feed for two or three meals per week.
Hi David, given Orijen is so expensive at $25-30/kg, wouldn’t it be cheaper just to feed raw meat or fish? Why do dogs need kibble? Is it for the other 15% of ingredients considered “fillers”?
Hi again Li (I just replied to your other comment).
Simply put, before kibble dogs survived for over 30,000 years. Kibble is a convenience product which makes our lives easier, but dogs definitely don’t need kibble. They do, however, need a balance of nutrients to help them stay healthy and live longer, and most of those nutrients come from animal sources.
Hi David, very glad I came across your website. Thank you for the time and effort you put in to producing this very worthwhile information. Certainly given me a lot to think about and look at changing the diet of my 3 rescue dogs.
We’ve had them now for 10 years, all of them were under 12 months old when we adopted them.
Our previous pair of dogs were fed Eukenuba for most of their lives and we changed to Blackhawk grain free after having some issues with eukenuba.
Our 3 rescue dogs were fed Blackhawk until our vet told me grain free was a fad and a waste of money. I asked him what he fed his dog and he said Advanced.
We changed to Advanced about 5 years ago and feed them steamed vegetables every morning with the Advanced and include sardines and raw chicken drum sticks (with the occasional chicken carcass) weekly.
The dogs seem to have been handling this diet relatively well except for the occasional bout of sloppy stools. I’m also giving them the recommended dose of Rosehip powder daily to help with some joint problems with one of my dogs, which fortunately seems to be helping.
Have you done an assessment on Advanced?
Based on your advice it seems I should go back to grain free, which actually makes sense and supports my original thought in the first place. I wonder why my vet of many years thinks grain free is a waste of money.
Do you have any thoughts on the rosehip powder?
Other than my failure to give them a varied diet what are your thoughts the way I have been feeding them so far?
Cheers
Hi Wayne, many vets are still under the illusion grain free dog foods are bad based on an utter farce of an investigation instigated by a notable veterinarian under the employment of numerous pet food companies. Even though the investigation was subsequently dropped due to no conclusive evidence, there are few people (including vets) who took the time to read anything except the headlines.
You can read my thoughts here – https://www.petfoodreviews.com.au/grain-free-dog-foods-heart-problems/
My view is neither grains or grain-free alternatives are ideal for a dog as an animal I would consider carnivorous or a facultative carnivore which should have animal ingredients making up the majority of their diet.
I expect your vet isn’t aware Advance, a Mars brand, has actually been one of the most problematic brands of the last decade, which led to an investigation by the Senate back in 2017 into the safety of pet food. You can read more about that on ABC here – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-30/popular-dog-food-suspected-of-making-dogs-sick-advance-dermocare/9699866
That said, the Dermocare issues were unfortunate, and I expect most of the time Advance dog foods are safe. My question would be – if you read the ingredients, do they suit your dog as a carnivorous animal?
If they don’t, then one option could be keep feeding Advance as say 80% of the diet, then supplement with meats, organs, raw meaty bones, eggs, or other dog-appropriate fresh foods as the other 20%.
Hi, thank you for your research and recommendations!! I adopted a greyhound a year ago and she is not particularly food orientated. I am now worried that I am not feeding her a healthy, nutritious and varied diet. I initially continued with GAP’s recommendation of Likewise kibble but stopped the raw mince (for personal reasons but now would like to resume) and have also tried Black Hawk, Meals for Mutts, Savour Life and recently purchased Taste of the Wild as it was on your list. It is yet to arrive. I’ve recently bought Prime 100 dog rolls for variety (very expensive) – are they any good? I also feed her sardines every other day – is this ok? She has 4cyte supplementation because she was retired from racing with an injury to a leg joint. I also add some turmeric and ginger – is this ok?. Do you recommend raw or cooked mince – what do you do and what kind of mince is preferred? She doesn’t like raw vegetables or apples so I want to cook them and add to either raw/cooked mince – are there any vegetables I shouldn’t give her? What shaped bones would you recommend for her for her long jaw? Thank you, I look forward to your answers.
It seems Australians have high quality dog food. In general these options tend to have higher quality ingredients than most of the brands we have in the US and Mexico. Of course we have some premium high-quality options too but I can’t think of this many. The air-dried raw dog foods are a great option to try over kibble. Thanks for the info, can’t wait to visit Australia one day 🙂
Have you heard anything or have info about the growing number of dogs in the US getting sick for dry food? No official recall as yet. Some US dog nutritionists are naming Orijen and Taste of the Wild as possible brands as well.
Hi Amanda, did you ever receive a response to your enquiry? I am curious myself.
From what I’ve read there were mostly reports of all Purina products.
Hi everyone,
great reading and I must say… still very abstract and overwhelming. What diet would you recommend for an adult (just) Australian Shepherd? I am not much of a detective so please keep it very plain and simple, recipe style (quantity and ingredients). Thank you all.
I see you have kibble as some of the best dog foods. Kibble can never be a healthy form of nutrition for dogs, cats or any animal. Because of the way it’s processed (it sustains very high heat in its manufacture), acyrlamides form naturally and these are known carcinogens. Fresh is best, whether raw or lightly cooked and balanced with fruit, vegetables and all the vitamins and minerals (chelated) that an animal needs for optimal health. As an aside, I am sorry you lost Archie. We just need to keep emailing our local Councils to stop spraying glyphosate at our parks. I have done this and urge others to do the same. If enough people complain and do so repeatedly, Councils will have to start listening.
Hi Gloria, I do agree with you, and in an ideal world I would prefer to see kibble non-existent and the supermarket pet food shelves replaced with freezers full of whole prey and real foods for dogs.
A lot of the recommendations on this website are designed to offer people better alternatives, so better kibbles, or better dog foods, and in many reviews I try and push people in the direction of fresh/raw feeding. I also pay a lot of consideration to the intricacies of raw feeding, and the numerous nutritional requirements, and many pet owners are still of the belief you buy a pet and feed it an off-the-shelf pet food.
Thank you for contacting your council and raising awareness about glyphosate. No council should spray dog parks which such a horrible chemical, and I suspect many dogs develop cancer such as lymphoma as a result. Personally I’d rather have weeds in a dog park than chemicals, but I’m sure for local councils it’s more about cost cutting.
I’m about to purchase a toy cavoodle and the breeder has recommended Hypro puppy, chicken & brown rice.
Any thoughts or reviews?
Thanks
Hi Nina, there’s a Hypro review. It’s for the Adult formula but you’ll get a good idea from the review – https://www.petfoodreviews.com.au/hypro-premium-dog-food-review/
Thanks for all the info on your website. I note that this article was written awhile ago- are these still your current recommendations for best dog food ?
Hi Belinda, yes the list is still very current even if the article hasn’t been updated. I occasionally change the list, and there are also other brands worthy of being listed on this page, but I try and keep it limited to about 10 brands.
What are your thoughts on the FDA research suggesting that grain free foods are a link to issues regarding dogs being at higher risk of heart diseases?
https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/questions-answers-fdas-work-potential-causes-non-hereditary-dcm-dogs
Hi Samuel, these are my thoughts. Let me know what you think!
If I’m feeding my dog 50% raw meat, am I better off getting a cheaper kibble just to balance out the additional fibres / amino acids that kibble can provide (rather than going for higher meat content)?
Hi Li, dogs need a balance of nutrients which are covered in a raw diet by muscle meat, organs, fat, and raw meaty bones. A common ratio is 80% muscle meat + fat, 10% organs (of which liver should be in moderation), and 10% raw meaty bones.
Kibbles tend to replicate these nutrients with vitamin and mineral packs (premixes) combined with some meat, fat, and whatever else they want to fill it with.
So if 50% of your dog’s diet is nothing more than mince beef then you should probably look at adding some organs and raw meaty bones as well, or eggs as a great option. Often this can work out cheaper than feeding 100% kibble, and potentially far healthier.
Is wet food easier for dogs to digest than the dried ones? I’m beginning to wonder if that is why my dog vomits every now and then. I’ve switched him off the dry Ziwi Peak venison to the canned chicken. Canned venison doesn’t seem to be available. I am getting to the point where I’m stressed about him and having a dog should be a pleasure.
I’ve tried the dry meals for mutts and the Prime100 kangaroo rolls and he was just doing the same thing. Okay for about a week or 2 and then vomiting first thing in the morning. The vets have no clue to it. Blood tests are fine.
Just an added question. Would the Billy & Margot Kangaroo be a good one to try?
I’ve used your reviews to make a choice about which foods to feed my dog and cat. However, just reading through your website again, I decided I’d have a look at the Mars website to see which pet food brands they own. One of their brands is in the top 10 dog food list, so at least Mars isn’t all bad. I don’t mean to discredit your work, but in all fairness, it might be worth adding that information to your website, if only as a disclaimer against Mars’ legal action.
Hi Wayne, it has to be said they’re very good and catering for all market demographics, which I expect is why they recently acquired Orijen and ACANA which have a reputation for being very high end.
Thankyou, my dog from 2 months old has been fed, chicken legs, (raw), chicken necks, chicken frames beef, roo, raw bones as classed as soup bones, also dog biscuits (Supercoat) Never ever tin food. She is 11 years old now, still a pain as in behaviour, full of life but age is creeping up on her. I sometimes wonder if I have done the right thing, but we do not find biscuits in the wild, mainly red raw meat.I trust Nature, hence most of her meat is raw. Love your articles but mostly the common sense that you use. (common sense seems to be dying) Thankyou once again for your time you put into this Beryl
Thank you so very much for all your research. I have read many of your reviews and tried a few of the different brands. My Cavoodle seems to be very sensitive to some foods as after a few months of eating them he starts vomiting. I’ve tried Venison, Kangaroo, Salmon and chicken. Is there a brand that is good for dogs with sensitive stomachs?
Have had blood tests etc, but nothing shows up.
Hi Ann, what brands have you fed so far which didn’t work? Have you tried any of the brands on this page? The best way forward is always to understand what hasn’t worked up until this point.
So far I have tried Ziwi Peak Vension, Meals for Mutts various ones and the Prime100 rolls of Kangaroo.
Hi all. I’ve recently discovered this website and I’m finding it so wonderful and helpful, if not a bit overwhelming!
We recently adopted a 5 year old greyhound and since we got her we have been feeding her what was recommended – Ivory Coat kibble, white rice and cooked human mince (chicken or beef) twice a day. She eats it happily enough but I’ve noticed her poops are inconsistent (sometimes fine, sometimes sloppy) and I’m getting a bit over cooking rice and mince all the time! I’m wondering if any wonderful people on here have some suggestions for better alternatives, both for her health and to save me time so I don’t have to cook for the dog as well as the rest of the family!
Unfortunately a lot of the good brands I’ve looked at so far are just too expensive considering her size and how much she eats. So any help would be greatly appreciated as I feel a bit out of my depth! Thanks in advance.
Why do we not feed dogs as carnivores if that is their natural biology?
Carnivores eat meat – yes?
Pet foods are more expensive than human grade foods.
And as with all packaged and processed / ultraprocessed foods are made with the least costly ingredients etc., for maximising profits.
Australia has no pet food regulatory authority.
As pet foods are essentially scraps and waste, let’s feed our pets from the human table.
Meal and meal by products are unhealthy. Dogs don’t naturally eat the majority of ingredients in commercial, manufactured pet foods. All added vitamins, minerals, biotics, (chelated or not) cause a dis-balance of normal homeostasis and so on begins a cascading effect.
Hi Bri, try not to feel overwhelmed! It can be a learning curve but you’re on the right track because you’re thinking about it!
There’s a list of affordable dog foods here – at least more affordable than some. You may decide to try a few different brands, or rotate between them. Take advantage of what’s on sale whenever you stock up! I get a lot of negative feedback about Ivory Coat these days, which is why I wouldn’t personally recommend it. You’ll see this reading the comments on the Ivory Coat reviews.
For now start with dry food as most of the diet, and the rice/meat as up to a quarter of the diet. Once you become more confident you’ll likely change how you feed your dog. It’s important for a dog to have balance in their diet, which in terms of homecooked or raw means a balance of nutrients from organ meats, fat, raw meaty bones etc.
You may be happy to start feeding the mince raw, and keep an eye out for organ meats too. The only caveat is liver shouldn’t be fed in excess.
Go with the flow!
Thanks so much for the reply – very helpful! I’ve decided on a combination of Raw & Fresh and kibble, but I haven’t decided on which kibble yet. I finished our bag of Ivory Coat yesterday and bought Applaws as a stop-gap as it’s on special at Coles and she seems to love it!
Would love to see a review of a range I’ve just seen called Joy that’s stocked exclusively at PetO (eg. The grain free chicken and coconut oil). Seems good (and cheap and it’s Aussie) but I’m no expert!
Hi, just wondering why Open Farm isn’t on your list of best dog foods?
Hi Natasha, good spot – it is now. This list does change from time to time, and I try and keep it short as before I had a lot of people left confused with too many recommendations!
I’ve also just updated the Open Farm dog food review as it was getting a little neglected, and I’ve also covered the wet foods which are 100% human grade.
We were using open farm since it’s inception into the Aussie market, excellent ingredients and its Prices were good at $109 10kg but the last 6-9 months it has skyrocketed on pet circle,up to $149!?
The kibble is rather small and our gsp inhales it , have since moved onto Phoenix, bigger kibble,13kg $129-142.
Hi! Do you have any experience with Animals Like Us? They are available in Woolworths and are quite expensive too, wondering how their quality is! Thank you. I have a really picky 13weeks dachshund and have always fed Raw and Fresh(he inhales it) because he would rather starve than eat his dry kibbles 🙁
Hi Vinly, yes Animals Like Us looks good and I’ll be writing a full review shortly. For Woolworths it seems a really good option, with the price being a reflection of quality. New Zealand brands always tend to be good.
Oh, and I find many dogs once introduced to more meat-based or “raw” foods then become picky with kibble! Once you offer them the good stuff, they don’t want to go back.
Hi, my friend put me on to this website and I can say it has been an eye opener and very informative. Great break down on why you rate certain products and how you come to your conclusions. Thank you very much for the information.
Can you help me with advice on mixing different dog food products together for better flavor and nutrition? Specifically, I have switched to Taste of the Wild High Prairie Bison Venison and Puppy kibble for my adult dogs and puppies (Cavaliers), but one of my adult dogs is a picky eater and prefers wet canned food (currently Advanced) and Prime 100 rolls. I shave down the rolls and mix them in with the kibble and a bit of wet food to help it all stick together, which seems to work well for all the dogs. I am considering switching to a better quality wet food and adding Taste of the Wild PREY to the mix. What is your advice on mixing different dog food products for optimal results?
Hi Mitch, personally I’m all for variety. Otherwise you’re putting complete faith in a single product to meet the complex nutritional requirements of your dog!
If a dog refuses to eat dry food it’s worth considering if they’re suffering any dental pain – it’s a reason older pets start avoiding hard food in favour of soft food.
When a dog only eats soft food (and this also applies to dry foods), it does very little for fighting plaque and keeping teeth keen. Personally I feed my dog (and cat) raw meaty bones as well as other foods, as the gnawing action is perfect at fighting plaque.
Mixing wet and dry, or adding some kind of broth (like bone broth) to dry, is a good way of getting a picky dog to eat a dry food, so that may help. Even adding some sardines or mince to dry food can help in that respect. Plenty of other options though, so it’s a case of finding what works. Some dogs get really picky.
I am very surprised not to see Blackhawk on the list of great foods, seeing as how expensive it is and its supposed to be holistic.
Hi Debra, Black Hawk isn’t on the list?
Not regarding the price though, but from years of consumer feedback which hasn’t been overly positive.
Hiya
I have a 20 month old Jackchi who refuses all other dry food apart from Royal Canine mini puppy food – full of fat I would think. At 5.6 kg, he is not overweight but I have tried many methods and brands to get him onto adult Kibble- mixing new with old, heating new in microwave, persisting for 3-4 days with new food….
I make fresh meatballs with grated carrot, potato, rice, egg etc as wet food which he loves. He also loves a big Chunk of carrot each day.
Should I be worried about his addiction to puppy food? Ive tried the adult version of Royale Canine and Hills small paws, which he spits out when mixed…….
Hi Paul, I think he’s trying to tell you he prefers meats (and animal fats) over the grains in the adult versions of Royal Canin 😉 Puppy food almost always has more animal ingredients than the corresponding adult formulas, which is a shame because dogs need proteins and fats rather than carbohydrates.
I have used Vetalogica, which states is biologically appropriate. Has various choices. Have you heard of it?
My dog has allergies, and the more I research foods etc, the more confusing it is.
Hi Erin, here are the Vetalogica reviews. This guide to hypoallergenic diets may also help.
Hi,
I’ve been reading your reviews for the past 7 years since adopting my dog. Thanks so much for all the research that goes into this, it’s undeniably helped so many pets and owners. I alternate between meals for mutts and lifewise as I’ve found them a good balance of economical and high quality. As his diet is purely dry kibble and with all the hype now around raw/BARF I’m worried he’s missing a complete diet with dry only. I’ve looked into a few wet food suggestions here but for practical and economical reasons want to stay predominately on kibble.
Can you please suggest what I can supplement my dog’s kibble diet with to help with teeth, skin, joint and gut health? I’m hoping that there’s a few raw bones/tripe I could add on to help but any suggestions are appreciated
Hi Grace, firstly thanks for the positive feedback – very much appreciated.
To answer your question with my personal opinion, I tend to feed a base diet of decent kibbles (which I vary), combined with some raw/barf foods (also “complete and balanced”), plus raw meats, offal, eggs, and scraps which I consider healthy. Green tripe is good if you can find it. I also feed raw meaty bones for tooth and gum health, nutritional health, and because it’s the best “toy” I can offer my dog.
I realise many raw feeding groups and forums are very stringent on balance and ratios, but I tend not to overthink it.
Hi My Goldie has been diagnosed with pancreatitis. At the moment he is eating expensive hills prescription id (as per vet instructions) but I am keen to get him off this $ and boring diet … but unsure what to feed him – low fat, gentle on stomach, easy to digest etc etc. Can you point me to some good, affordable options please? Happy to go with some kibble/dry, some raw etc – but I need easy prep and not overly $
Cheers
Hi Angela, an alternative brand to Hills is Lifewise (Australian brand), but try to add wet into the diet if this isn’t currently the case. Generally the Royal Canin and Hills wet foods are a better standard, and I find feeding dry a bit counterproductive when a dog has a condition such as this. Fresh brands like Lyka, or Frontier Pets may also help, and don’t need to be the full diet.
Would anyone be able to tell me about the fat content in MYDog canned food? My dog has elevated cholesterol levels and needs to be on a reduced fat content of no more than 10%. I have mixed this with Royal Canine low-fat food but the latter is very expensive so he gets 90 grams of Royal Canine and 60 grams of MyDog, My vet is not too happy about this mix and said it has to be less than 10% fat. My boy seems to be doing OK on that but he hasn’t had his cholesterol levels checked in a little while, the test is expensive as well as the RC food and being a pensioner I can’t afford the expense of just RC.
If a dog is itching, they might benefit from a food trial. Talk to your vet.
Thank you Pet Food reviews for this site and the time and effort. I’ve been using it for 10 years now and my 12 year old lab collie is in perfect condition after a recent vet check.
I feel him the Prime100 meat loaf at night and Canidae or Lifewise dry food in the AM – with raw eggs or meat cutoffs. Raw broccoli heads / carrots for treats, the occasional bone.
Any recommendations for arthritis which is starting to bother him?
My number #1 rule is don’t buy any animal foods from Coles or Woolworths. It’s the McDonalds for dogs food.
Hi Mellissa, thank you very much for the positive feedback – it’s appreciated.
With arthritis you could always look at supplements, but adding anything like sardines, salmon, fish oils, chewy bones like chicken necks, wings, or feet, some turmeric etc. I’m sure eggs help too – a wonderful food for dogs.
Thanks so much for this info.
I am wondering if there is any way to find low sodium dry food for a dog with Congenital Heart Disease, a lot of the mfgers don’t list this on their nutrition breakdown.
My dog won’t eat raw bones they have to be cooked does like raw meat
Cooked bones can be very harmful to a dog as they splinter and get stuck. You can, however, scrape the meat off and feed it to your dog – tasty treat.
Hi everyone,
I work in an Australian pet store and the majority of food that we sell is in fact not good for your pup.
Some ones I do recommend are Meals for Mutts (made in Melbourne and is great quality) My two dogs have been on it for about 10 months and the difference I have noticed in them is astounding! Have a look at their website I would really recommend. Another factor is their ingredients, on the packaging it stated exactly what is in the food along with the percentage of fat and protein.
I would also recommend Ziwi peak, while the price is up there you can use it as a topper or treats; that wont upset you pups stomach like most do. If you can afford the $50 something per 500g then I would highly suggest trying it. Otherwise the Meals for Mutts is far cheaper and still high up there in quality.
Hi, how good is Hypro dry dog food? It is made in Sydney and seems more focused on protein and not grains. Thanks.
Hi Michelle, there’s a review of Hypro Premium here.
START SHOUTING AS LOUD AS YOU CAN…
TELL PEOPLE REAL MEAT REAL MEAT REAL MEAT .. IT IS NOT !! ROCKET SCIENCE .
Why does the list not include Balanced Life, with a rating of 9.3? Can that food also be fed to puppies?
Hi Jennifer, yes Balanced Life is very good, can be fed to puppies, and at times does feature on this list (which varies from time to time).
Hello,
Great page, thank you.
Is there any other brands you consider to be great, that is not on this list? Just curious, as one tends to treat a list like this – well researched etc – as gospel…and may not consider other brands.
I am interested in the concept of mixing up the dry food. It makes sense and appeals, but have been careful to do so as one has always been fed the wisdom that changing between different brands can cause stomach upset. Is the truth rather that when you mix between quality brands, there will not be stomach upset?
Lastly, does giving dogs raw meaty bones not cause blunting and premature wearing of teeth?
Cheers
Will
Hi Will, thanks for the positive feedback, and these are good questions too.
The list of dog foods on this page is kept to a minimum but there are other good dog foods which are also decent. There used to be more recommendations on this page but so many people were saying it left them confused on what to feed, so I narrowed it down to what I consider some really good ones.
I’ve always fed my pets a variety, and I see it as a very good thing. Most of the time when I hear a dog has had digestive upset on a new food, it always turns out they were fed a single brand of dog food for a long time. Just like us dogs develop intolerances when fed the same thing every single day – intolerances to foods which become unusual for them to eat, and sometimes even the diet they’re being fed all the time.
I’m pretty sure the belief a dog must be fed one brand of food to be healthy, or else, comes from product marketing. Being locked into a product is exactly what a company wants.
I’ve fed all my pets a variety (not just dry, but other feeding styles as well – wet, BARF, raw, fresh) for years, and guess what – no digestive issues.
As for bones, yes there are risks, but there are also risks of feeding a dog rock hard nuggets of baked wheat for years. Most risks with bones are from feeding inappropriate bones. Cooked bones cause the most issues and should never be fed. Dogs who gulp or at fast are at risk of knuckle bones or anything which could cause an obstruction. Weight bearing bones can be too hard, so more a risk of breaking teeth, and generally cut bones (length wise) aren’t idea.
On the other hand, bones are (in my honest opinion) the absolute best way of keeping a dog’s teeth clean, free of plaque and tartar, and free from periodontal disease. So in that way, bones will keep a dog’s teeth strong and free from disease.
hi all, i’d love some guidance for my Bull Arab x Staffy. 2.5yo. since we had him as a pup he has had really bad itchy skin. changing to grain free and gut supportive dry kibble as suggested by the vet has done nothing for him. he doesnt have red patches, or loss of fur. his overall condition is great but the poor fellow is so itchy all the time. i am considering trying ‘golden paste’ (turmeric) as an alternative to the Apoquel medication he has been on for a year; i find if we are even a bit late medicating him daily his itch becomes more pronounced. is there a dry food out there that can help? ive tried so many so far with limited success. i looked in to Lyka suggested on this site but it would cost $19 per day – out of our ability at this stage.. thank you for taking the time to read, i look forward to anyones suggestions x
Hi Helen
We had a Wolfhound x who always had itchy skin. We tried everything recommended by the vets. Nothing worked!! She had an episode of pancreatitis when she was 10 and spent three nights at the vet. When we picked her up the vet said she would have to go on a very strict diet of these biscuits he sold. Nearly $150 a bag!! The receptionist said ‘but it will last you a week!’
We talked to a guy who sold pet food in Bomaderry NSW and he suggested trying her on kangaroo meat. Worked almost immediately. She never had a pancreas issue again,stopped scratching, could sleep calmly and we were no longer stressed about her situation. No more pills, creams,expensive vet visits. She lived till 14 which is brilliant for a dog of her size.
Hi we had a bull arab that had such bad itch he was almost bald in the back half of his body. We tried every diet and vet recommended shampoo but nothing worked. One day we read about bathing in diluted copper Sulphate, we did it once cause he cried abit and we thought it was too irritating for him….. but he completely healed from that day on his coat grew out and we never had a problem again. Might be worth a try?
Consider trying a food without chicken or chicken by-product. I’ve had 2 dogs (Irish Setter and Border Collie mix) now where this diet change solved the issue. They came from different geographic areas and the Border Collie was fed a mix of kibble and fresh meat. The diet change and a few ocean salt water baths cleared up his itching and he barely sheds and is quite fluffy.
I have been feeding Ivory Coat grain free to my dogs since they were puppies. Last year I changed to the grain variety. Within weeks, both dogs were losing massive amounts of hair. My male also had a skin allergy, with red, flushed and itchy skin. Hundreds of dollars spent at the vet to get them both well. Now I have to source a healthier alternative that I can afford. Very sad to see what was a great product go down hill.
Hi Ceebee, could you please report this here – https://www.apog.com.au/recall-issue-log/ivory-coat/
You can do so anonymously. It’s worth doing as APOG are collating all the issues with Ivory Coat.
My dog is ten months old and was fed black hawk until a week ago. His coat has been shiney, he was very active with firm stools.
I was unable to get black hawk and purchased a bag of OPTIMUM.
Within a week his hair started to fall out and his stools are runny. He refused to eat any more after a week and I have gone back to Black Hawk today. I hope that his health improves over the next week as he is my assistance dog.
Very disappointed that big company’s promote their product as good for dogs but in reality this is not true.
Shame on Dr Chris Brown for promoting a product which is obviously not up to its hype.
Hello.
My dog has developed reflux and upon research I’m reading he needs “less fat and less protein ” in his foods and some sites just saying “less fat” but no one has mentioned the specific % of fats or protein to stay within that is safe/tolerable for dog with digestion/reflux issues.
I feel I can’t ask vets because they’ll just throw Hill’s or Royal Canin at me.
(Currently just changed to big dog right now, I figured soft would be easier to digest, he is improving but stilll doing the elongated neck thing after eating but not as frequently compared to the pet food australia crud he was on)
So, What are the best foods for this? or what % of fat & protein is okay?
If you could; I’d absolutely love if you could do an review/article thing for those of us whom have dogs with reflux/digestion issues. Would help greatly!
So for any acidity issues I’ve noticed and noted what worked for others/me and my dogs.
Spirulina was a god send when I could take it, reducing my GERD symptoms to zero. Logic suggests it should provide the same aid to dogs. Source of Iron as well.
Slippery elm and psyllium husk, didn’t work for me, but works for my dogs and it is mentioned often. Can and does impede absorption of medications and supposedly vitamins and minerals. Long term usage is not advised.
Pumpkin stomach soother.
Colostrum helps with acid and provides over 250 beneficial substances including enzymes. Cures colds and flu’s in 3 days. Usage of only free range bovine and 100% no fillers like milk and sugar.
Linseed meal coats the stomach reducing acid wear and tear.
Barley grass and wheat grass both also being green like spirulina may provide extra aid when they are all together in one. 2 of them contain extra enzymes.
There’s very possibly other things, including herbs, but I just don’t know those. These I’ve had experience with.
Hi Court, from what you said it would seem the Pet Food Australia food has caused the issue, especially if the condition is improving on Big Dog. My recommendation would be to stop feeding the Pet Food Australia and notify them of the issue, and continue with the Big Dog, perhaps any of the foods listed above, or even fresh/raw/meaty bones etc.
Have you seen the reports of links to grain free foods and heart issues?
What are your thoughts? Is this a myth or?
I am a bit concerned and I’m considering of changing to grains again?
it’s hard to find foods that aren’t grain free these days, i’m little unsure but if i did change, what are the best non- grain free food but not too expensive?
Hi Courtney, since the DCM (heart issue) scare began I strongly suspected this to be a marketing slur from corporate grain-based pet food manufacturers to their smaller grain-free “boutique” competitors. Unfortunately the nature of social media has meant this “theory” has become widely believed, yet the FDA subsequently withdrew the investigation due to insufficient evidence. To quote the FDA website, “FDA has received reports of non-hereditary DCM associated with both grain-free and grain-containing diets”. My opinion from the outset was a lack of taurine in commercial pet foods as it was previous understood dog’s didn’t need taurine in the diet. Taurine comes from animal sources, which are sadly lacking in both grain and grain-free diets. Ironically taurine has now become a requirement by AAFCO in dog foods. In any case, the condition DCM is extremely rare.
Lifewise puppy starter recommended feeding rate seems very low? Although a simplistic comparison it recommends less that half the daily energy intake For example a 10kg puppy is recommended 120g/day at 16.8MJ or 4025kcal per kg. This equates to 2 MJ/day whereas other brands Glow and Eukanuba equate to around 5.5MJ/day. These higher rates seem to match our puppies needs (still always hungry and very slim looking). Can you comment on why the vast difference or if it’s likely a mistake?
On Aussie dog and cat foods Facebook page, people using Lifewise have said the feeding guides are about right for their dogs anyways.
The adult foods are all incredibly low as well, with the 50kg dog one being only 280g per day. If the number is close to reality than this food is the best go to for Great Danes lol. No more 6+ cups per day.
To be honest I feel most foods are too high for dogs beyond 50kg. One food mentioned that you’d need a kilo of food per day to feed a 50kg dog. I mean that’s just crazy, I’d rather buy Lifewise and drop that number down as far as possible.
No doubt there’s worse ones than even that.
I free feed so I don’t use guidelines at all. I simply fill all 3 tray parts and they eat their fill of whatever their in the mood for that day. But if you have a gobble guts who doesn’t know when to stop, obviously don’t try this.
Hi Leigh, I’ve always found feeding guidelines vary from brand to brand and I tend to ignore them. There are many factors involved such as types of ingredient and digestibility, so MJ isn’t always the best factor. Manufacturers also tend to skew feeding guidelines to make a product appear to last longer than it actually will. Then when you take the many factors involved with dog breeds, age, energy levels, lifestyle etc you really can’t rely on feeding guidelines.
Is science diet dog food any good
Hi Gary, there’s a review of Science Diet here – https://www.petfoodreviews.com.au/hills-science-diet-dog-food-review/
There’s also some more information on the following page if you want to go a little further down the “rabbit hole” on why vets recommend brands like Hill’s and Royal Canin – https://www.petfoodreviews.com.au/why-vets-recommend-hills-science-prescription-diet/
This has me crying for my beautiful labrador that we lost age 9 a few months ago to aggressive cancer. We only fed him Royal Canin believing it was a full balanced diet. If only I could turn back the clock.
We’ve a new dog, a golden retriever and he came with his Royal Canin propoganda and a bag of food. I just stepped outside while he went to the toilet and the smell was acrid. That vile acidic smell brought back painful memories.
I’ll be absorbing all your advice and not letting this gorgeous pup be poisoned, like I believe our beautiful Chester was.
If you’ve any specific advice for retrievers I’d be grateful x
My 2 albeit Chihuahuas have eaten air dried as their main meal with a side of Cherish kibble their entire lives. I’ve found this combo to be their favourite and the best for them. I like Cherish I think it’s a very well thought out food.
For treats I give single ingredient beef jerky for dogs. Single ingredient treats are the best. But for a tastier high value training treat you can use the likes of Providore air dried or Yours Droolly New Zealand range only. Their other treats are trash and from China. I will try to upload a pic of the treats.
If you can rotate foods, flavours etc and do it with treats too that’s better. Feed real food alongside the other foods to provide real nutrients. We’re talking small amounts of fruits and veggies, meats, organs, if you feed kibble don’t feed any grains or other starches as kibble has enough of those. Dogs also don’t need them.
Aussie Dog and Cat food is a good Facebook group for food recommendations. Fresh food feeding groups are good to ask questions about raw, if your interested.
Look into preventatives for joint issues as well like Antinol or bone broth powder or liquid. Glucosamine and chondroitin, green lipped mussels etc. Joint issues cost a lot once your dog gets issues, better to try to prevent the issues from every coming time fruition.
If your breeds predisposed to like heart disease feed meat rich and organ foods first and foremost. But organs are highly nutrient dense so don’t overdo them either or you’ll get an overdose of vitamins. The important nutrients are taurine and CoQ10. Hawthorn is mentioned as a preventative too.
Gut issues you’ve got Canine Ceuticals, My Doggie Boosters, Cen Nutrition, EAC Animal Care, Green Pet etc.
We really honestly have everything for every issue under the sun nowadays. So dogs needn’t suffer any easy to treat ailments.
For cancer there is plenty of things to try as well. Keto diet, immunity boosting mushrooms, colostrum, turmeric etc. Turkey tail mushrooms are the most mentioned to possibly cure even the most aggressive cancers.
If giving oils give the best quality ones like Salpet salmon oil, K9 Natural oil and Pet Drs Mega Oil. There’s a few others that aren’t too bad, but try to stick to animal oils, dogs digest them better and make use of them better than plant oils. Coconut and mct oil’s are good plant oils though, study says it reduces seizures. Flaxseed isn’t too bad.
So yeah I hope I gave you some good information =)