The best healthiest dog food is Halo Natural Dog Food.
As dog parents, we want the very best for our beloved pooches.
We want them to be happy and satisfied, and we want them to live long, happy lives. We want them to look good, and most importantly, to feel good.
That’s why we want them to eat healthy food. But what is it exactly that makes food healthy for dogs? What is the best healthiest dog food?
It’s a question that many dog owners struggle with, and understandably so.
Here’s the list of the best healthiest dog food (brands + ingredients) that will help you to make an informed decision!
Ollie is a fresh dog food subscription brand that stands out as our top pick mainly for the customizable nature of the dog meal plans. For a limited time, you can try Ollie with a 50% discount!
This all life stage dog food is based on a variety of factors including the dog’s age, breed, and special health needs.
There are 4 options for you to choose from including lamb, beef, turkey, and chicken so you can always switch things up.
Ollie also beats the competition with its use of human-grade ingredients.
With Ollie, your dog will be eating food that is good enough for humans. It really does not get any better than that when it comes to healthy diet alternatives for dogs.
Another awesome fact is the fresh food model that Ollie uses.
The dog food is prepared under low temperatures to maintain flavor and nutritional value while getting rid of bacteria. It is then frozen to maintain the freshness until you are ready to use it.
Pros
There is truly no better way to start your dog on their healthy diet journey than with our top pick. Whether your dog has weight issues or is allergic to some foods, you will find awesome options that do not compromise on quality thus guaranteeing full value for your investment.
These dog food may be budget-friendly but this does not mean that the experts at The Farmer’s Dog skimped out on quality. For a limited time only, you can get your 1st order with The Farmer's Dog at 50% OFF!
First off, each recipe and meal plan is signed off by vets with experience in pet nutrition. You are guaranteed that your dog truly is getting food that is ideal for them and their specific needs.
The meals are made fresh using high-quality, human-grade ingredients.
What makes their packages stand out the most is the fact that they are delivered within days of being prepared. That way, they are not deep-frozen for too long which would lead to them losing their quality and natural flavors.
Furthermore, the meals are prepared in USDA kitchens.
This optimizes high-quality control both in terms of nutritional value and safety to the pets that will be consuming the dog food.
With the use of fresh ingredients in these dog foods, this is certainly a concern you will be glad is addressed.
Pros
If you are on the hunt for bargain buys as you switch your doggy over to fresh, healthy meals then this is definitely a worthy brand. Every step of the process from sourcing the ingredients to preparation and packaging is done with your dog’s health and general wellbeing in mind.
Pet Plate uses kettle cooking to prepare all their doggy meals.
This is fantastic as it preserves more nutrients than most other methods while offering the safety of cooked foods.
It is truly the best of both worlds.
This also gives the food desirable wetness but textured consistency that is perfect for dogs of all ages.
Another aspect worth celebrating with this healthy dog food is the fact that they include fruits and vegetables in their dog food recipes. These include peas, carrots, apples, and even broccoli.
That way, your pooch gets to enjoy additional micronutrients as well as fiber for a healthy gut.
Pros
If you are trying the grain-free route whether for weight control or for a gluten-sensitive pooch then Pet Plate is worth taking a closer look at for a seamless transition.
[FULL REVIEW] Want to know more about Pet Plate and its in and outs? Check out our full review on Pet Plate right here!
NomNomNow offers 4 different recipes to choose from. These include beef, turkey, chicken, and pork options. They also switch things up with their starches with alternatives like rice, potatoes, and sweet potatoes.
If you have a picky eater, there is plenty for you to choose from while keeping the doggy healthy.
The best part about these meal plans is the fact that they are specially formulated for weight maintenance. The pre-packaging is done with specific caloric needs in mind. This is based on the information you provide on your dog’s breed, age, and current weight.
Pros
NomNomNow is popular among dog owners trying to get their dogs to eat healthier for weight loss if overweight. They also help with weight management in breeds prone to obesity.
You do not have to always go with fresh, wet food to give your pooch something healthy. There is no better example here than that of Heed Foods.
Their dry food kibbles are packed with natural ingredients including fresh salmon, fiber-rich quinoa, and spinach. They also include blueberry for flavor, vitamins, and antioxidant benefits.
In addition to all the nutrients, the dry kibble offers the benefit of improved dental health by mechanically cleaning the dog’s teeth.
Heed Foods also stands out with its probiotic-rich recipe.
These boost the number of healthy bacteria in your dog’s intestinal tract for a healthier and better-functioning digestive system.
Pros
You should consider looking into Heed Foods if you want to switch your dog over to healthier alternatives to traditional kibble brands while still enjoying the benefits of dry food.
Raw food dog diets are a bit controversial especially when it comes to safety matters.
That is something you do not have to worry too much about with Raw Wild. They use high-quality handling and packaging techniques to minimize the risk of contamination as much as possible.
In addition to being safe, this raw food option is unique in that the main ingredient is wild game, specifically elk and venison. A pure meat meal would indicate a grain-free healthy diet that can do wonders to weight control and the gut health of your dog.
These wild beauties are as organic and unmodified as it gets when it comes to meat sources for your furry best friend and are therefore worth trying out.
Pros
Raw Wild is awesome for dogs on a raw food diet regimen whether it is for weight loss or to minimize exposure to chemicals and hormones used in livestock meat sources.
Another controversial appearance on our list is Wild Earth with its vegetarian dog food formula. This may seem odd as a pet parent to one of the most prolific carnivores but it truly is one of the best healthy dog food brands there is.
Instead of meat, they use high protein vegetable ingredients like yeast which give it its 31% protein content. This is much higher than many meat-based dog foods. The kibbles are also rich in fiber, essential fatty acids, and DHA.
These promote not only growth and development but also overall health and functioning in different systems from the gut to the skin.
Pros
Meat allergies in dogs may be rare but they are enough of a concern to make vegan options like Wild Earth worth trying. Even if your dog has no meat allergies, the clean protein source is definitely a healthy choice.
If you want to help your dog shed some extra pounds, Ketonatural Pet Food would be a fantastic place to start. This pet food brand is based on the keto diet that seeks to reduce the number of carbs your doggy consumes.
Their recipes have less than 5% in carbohydrates and instead focuses more on proteins, fibers, essential oils, and micronutrients like minerals and vitamins.
That way, your dog is still getting all the important essential nutrients without too much of the fattening carbs. These proportions also mean that you are not investing in filler-filled dog food with little nutritional value.
Pros
Keto is the way to go if your dog has been gaining too much weight and you want to get them back to healthy numbers without compromising on their overall health.
Buyers Guide
There are a lot of dog food options out there for pet parents seeking a healthier route. However, not all healthy dog foods are created equal.
To help you out, here is a detailed shopping guide with all the factors you need to consider in order to make the best decision for your canine companion.
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Therefore, if you choose to go with a raw food diet, you have to find a company that is known for its high quality and safe practices. You also have to take great care of how you store and handle the food to avoid contaminating it at home.
There is this connotation that healthy food can only be wet food as dry food has undergone too much processing.
For the most part, these opinions are not entirely unfounded. Fresh food is as good as it gets when it comes to feeding your dog something healthy especially if the ingredients are of high quality.
However, not all dry food is as bad as their reputation as being over-processed may have you thinking. There are several healthy dry kibble brands out there that use natural, high-quality ingredients and avoid chemical additives.
The best thing to do is to give your dog a healthy mix of both so they can get the best of both worlds.
Related: Best Wet Dog Food
While shopping for healthy dog foods, it is also important that you consider your pet’s specific health needs. This is because different dog foods are designed to suit different needs.
You could get a low-carb option like keto or grain-free foods for dogs with weight issues. If it is digestive problems, find a high fiber option and preferably something with probiotics.
In the same way, take your time to find the perfect fit whether your dog is pregnant, geriatric, in their weaning season, has food allergies or simply just has a picky palate.
There is definitely enough variety to cover most major needs.
Every good healthy dog food brand should offer you an option to customize your meal plans.
This should be based on things like your dog’s personal preferences in terms of taste and texture. It could also be based on special needs factors as we have discussed previously.
With this customization, you are going to be in a better position to offer your dog the best quality and reap the best benefits in terms of their improved health.
It is not enough to just have high-quality ingredients. They have to be in the right proportions to ensure that your dog is getting exactly what they need to not only survive but also thrive.
Proteins, for example, should make up about 18% to 25% of the dog’s diet or as high as 29% to 31% in growing puppies.
Carbs on the other hand should be about 20% to 25% but it is not uncommon to find brands with as much as 60%. Fiber should be up to 5% with the rest going to micronutrients like essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.
For this information, just go through the nutritional breakdown in every brand’s labeling.
Finally, consider the price of any healthy food option you are considering. The last thing you want to do is to go too far above your budget and end up having to switch your pooch’s diet down the line.
In addition to the purchase price or subscription fees, it is also important to consider shipping costs.
Fortunately, a lot of top healthy dog food brands offer free delivery services on recurring monthly subscriptions which should save you a lot.
Pete Decker is the Lead Editor at The Goody Pet. He is a passionate wildlife educator and loves to share his experiences on pets. During his free time, you can find him cozying around his 2 adorable Labradors (Tobi & Kobi).
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