Top 10 Dog Foods

Best Rated Dog Foods

What are the top 10 dog foods? Such lists always tend to be somewhat subjective, and I can't rule out the possibility that there's a fantastic dog food out there that has somehow escaped my notice.

Nonetheless, based on a careful analysis of ingredients, nutritional profiles, manufacturing practices, the following are my picks for the list:

• 1. Orijen - All Formulas
• 2. ZiwiPeak - All Formulas
• 3. Honest Kitchen - Embark
• 4. Horizon - Legacy Formulas
• 5. Acana - All Formulas
• 6. EVO - All Kibbles
• 7. Party Animal - Grain Free Organic Formulas
• 8. Newman's Own Organics - Organic Beef Formulas
• 9. Natural Planet Organics - Turkey Dinner and Chicken Dinner Formulas
• 10. Wellness - CORE Formulas

Not many of them I know from practical exsperience. Placed in Sweden, many of the high quality dog foods are not possible to find here.

Top 10 Dog Foods Number 1:
Orijen - All Formulas (Dry Dog Food)

I'm a big fan of Champion Pet Foods. The Canadian company that makes Orijen and the slightly more moderately priced Acana dog foods.

Currently Orijen makes six dry dog foods. All of them are excellent: There are puppy, large breed puppy, adult, and senior formulas as well as 6 Fish, an adult dog food deriving its protein from six different wild-caught fish species, and Regional Red, an adult dog food based on red meat, predominantly wild boar and lamb.

All Orijen formulas are based on the type of diet dogs would eat in the wild. Thats why Orijen is my favorite. This means they're grain free, low in carbohydrates (18-22%) and high in animal-based protein (38-40%).

Photo courtesy of Mike Baird

Depending on the formula, Orijen foods consist of 70-75% meat and fish and 25-30% vegetables, fruits, and herbs.

While most dry dog foods contain primarily rendered meats in meal form, Orijen kibbles feature an unsurpassed 28-35% fresh, unfrozen meat.

Fresh whole eggs are also included in most formulas for even more high quality protein.

While not certified organic, Orijen uses fresh, regional ingredients approved for human consumption.

Orijen use sustainably harvested wild-caught fish that's tested for mercury and other environmental contaminants, and free-range meats raised without hormones and antibiotics.

Orijen foods feature high levels of the important omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA from fish and fish oil. Not the far less effective plant-derived omega-3 fatty acid ALA from flaxseed or canola oil that's found in most other super premium foods.

And they have an excellent omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratios (around 2.6:1 for most formulas).

Glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health are added in amounts high enough to be effective (except in the Regional Red recipe).

All formulas contain probiotics, amino acid chelated minerals, and a blend of veterinary selected botanicals.

All Orijen formulas are produced in Champion's own award-winning facility using special low temperature processing at 190 degrees Fahrenheit (90 degrees celcius) so more nutrients remain intact.

Orijen does not outsource any part of the manufacturing process.

This is why there are no Orijen canned foods: Champion doesn't have a factory to produce them, and they would rather not have a line of canned products than farm out the manufacturing process to a facility with questionable safety and quality standards.

Moreover, Orijen does not use ingredients imported from China (not even the vitamin and mineral supplements are from China) and all foods and ingredients are naturally preserved.

Finally, Orijen formulations are based on the latest canine nutrition research. I feel confident in saying that, at this time, there is no better kibble than Orijen.

All this makes Orijen my first choice for my my top 10 dog foods list. This is really top dog food and have it on my clinic.

I have made a update on Orijen as the old 70/30 (which the abover text is based on)is replaced with the new Orijen 80/20 and I have made a Rewiew of Orijen 80/20.

Top 10 Dog Foods Number 2:
ZiwiPeak - All Formulas (Air-Dried and Canned Dog Foods)

ZiwiPeak is a New Zealand company making meat-based super premium dog foods based on the diet of wild canines.

Formulas are at least 85% meat (65% muscle meat and 20% organs and tripe), mostly from a single source, with the remaining ingredients consisting of New Zealand green-lipped and blue mussel (anti-inflammatory benefits), fish oil (for omega-3 fatty acids), chicory (prebiotic), kelp, lecithin, and parsley, plus vitamins and chelated minerals.

There are no grains, fruits, or starchy vegetables in these foods, so carbohydrate levels are very low (about 8% in the air-dried foods and 1.5% in the canned products).

Since ZiwiPeak foods are based on the diet of wild carnivores, they consist of the whole prey animal: muscle meat, heart, kidney, liver, and green tripe.

ZiwiPeak formulas feature grass-fed venison and lamb, ranch-raised without antibiotics and growth hormones.

A few formulas also contain wild-caught fish.

All ingredients are human-grade, and there's nothing artificial in these foods except for the standard vitamin and mineral supplements.

Note that the dry food is not a kibble, but a highly digestible dehydrated raw food.

I have no practical experience, but many claim they have found these minimally processed limited ingredient formulas to be very effective for dogs with allergies, food sensitivities, and gastrointestinal conditions.

Given the quality of the meat sources that make up almost the entire food, it probably won't come as a surprise that ZiwiPeak is very expensive.

Unfortunately most people with medium and large breed dogs will find these superb foods cost prohibitive. However, if you have a dog with severe allergies, food sensitivities or digestive problems you may want to give these foods a try despite the high price tag.

So, still it should be on the top 10 dog foods list. despite the price tag.

Top 10 Dog Foods Number 3:
Honest Kitchen - Embark (Dehydrated Dog Food)

The Honest Kitchen makes dehydrated raw dog foods. Note that the meat portion of the foods is lightly cooked to kill bacteria; only the plant portion is truly raw.

And not only they use 100% human-grade ingredients, but the foods are actually produced in a human food processing plant, not a pet food factory.

Human food products such as bakery mixes are produced right beside The Honest Kitchen's dog foods.

Ingredient quality goes well beyond ordinary human grade: vegetables and fruits are certified non-GMO (i.e., not genetically modified), oats, rye, flaxseed, kelp and coconut are certified organic, and poultry meats are free-range and drug-free.

Moreover, all ingredients are certified free of salmonella, E. coli, coliform, lead, arsenic, mercury, melamine, yeast and mold, and pesticide residues.

Embark is The Honest Kitchen's most popular formula, and the only one I would recommend. All the others are plant-based, consisting of 50-60% carbohydrate.

Embark is grain-free and contains 30% protein, 16% fat, and 35% carbohydrate.

Cage-free turkey is the main ingredient in this top 10 dog food, followed by an antioxidant-rich blend of fresh vegetables and fruits, plus organic flaxseed, coconut, and kelp.

There are some chelated minerals but very few synthetic vitamins, because the premium raw ingredients provide all the vitamins your dog or puppy needs (Embark meets the AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages, including active adult maintenance, growth, and reproduction).

My only real objection is that the omega-3 fatty acids are all in the form of ALA (from flaxseed).

However, the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio is 1.6:1, which is exceptional.

At around $10 per pound, Embark is certainly expensive. But keep in mind that this food is designed to be rehydrated prior to feeding. After adding water, one pound of dehydrated food makes just over four pounds of rehydrated food, and $2.50/lb is no more expensive than most super premium canned foods.

Top 10 Dog Food number 4:
Horizon - Legacy Formulas (Dry Dog Food)

Horizon Pet Nutrition is another Canadian company utilizing the highest quality human-grade ingredients and environmentally conscious production methods to make superior dog foods.

The Legacy line (Adult and Puppy formulas are available) is grain-free, combining premium meats and fish (fresh chicken plus chicken, turkey, and salmon meals) with fresh vegetables and fruits.

Horizon Legacy formulas are high in species-appropriate proteins with a moderate amount of quality fat and low levels of carbohydrates.

While most grain-free dog foods use potatoes as a starchy carbohydrate source, Horizon uses peas, making these kibbles a good choice for dogs who can't tolerate grains or potatoes.

Horizon Legacy formulas top 10 dog foods are fortified with probiotics, prebiotics, digestive enzymes, glucosamine and chondroitin (however, amounts are too low to do much good), plus vitamins and chelated minerals.

Salmon meal, salmon oil, and flaxseed supply omega-3 fatty acids for an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of 3:1.

Like Orijen (another top 10 dog food), Horizon prides itself on manufacturing all products in their own factory, sourcing ingredients from local farmers, and only using meats from ethically raised animals.

Note that both Horizon Legacy kibbles were recently reformulated, acording to my source in USA. They used to contain 80% meat for 40% total protein, and they were fortified with an impressive supplement blend that included many natural antioxidants and botanicals.

Recently, meat and protein levels were reduced and the botanical blend was removed, reportedly in order to better market these products in the US.

While the old formulas were clearly superior according to the list of ingredients, I still feel that Horizon Legacy Adult and Puppy foods are excellent kibbles.

Top 10 Dog Foods number 5:
Acana - All Formulas (Dry Dog Foods)

Acana is made by Champion Pet Foods, the Canadian company that makes Orijen, and uses the same high quality, locally sourced, human-grade ingredients as Orijen.

All formulas are packed with premium meats, fresh whole eggs, antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, a carefully selected blend of herbs and botanicals, glucosamine and chondroitin from natural chicken cartilage, probiotics, and chelated minerals.

The main difference between the Acana and Orijen is the amount of meat and the level of protein and carbohydrate in the foods.

Most Acana kibbles do contain grains (whole grain steamed oats and brown rice, to be exact), but there are also three grain-free formulas available.

However, even most of the grain-containing kibbles are high in protein (33-35%) and low in carbohydrate (22-30%).

As for Acana's grain-free foods, here's how they compare to Orijen: Less meat (55-60% compared to Orijen's 70-75%), less protein (33% vs. 40% for most Orijen foods), more carbohydrates (28-29% vs. 18-22% in Orijen foods) as well as less meat variety (3 fresh meats compared to Orijen's 5 or 6, and 2 or 3 meat meals compared to Orijen's 4), and less fresh meat overall (10-15% compared to Orijen's 28-35%).

All this translates into a lower price, making biologically appropriate canine nutrition more affordable.

While Acana foods may not be quite as good as Orijen top 10 dog foods, they are clearly superior to many of dog foods on the market.

Moreover, dogs are individuals, and no one diet works perfectly for all dogs.

Some dogs will actually do better on Acana than Orijen, so don't discount this brand.

I recommend all three grain-free varieties as top 10 dog foods: Grasslands (featuring lamb, salmon, and herring as the main protein sources), Pacifica (a fish formula featuring salmon, herring, and whitefish as the main protein sources), and Wild Prairie (a chicken & fish formula featuring chicken, walleye, and whitefish as the main protein sources).

Currently I only have Orijen for sale on my clinic, but maybe I will beging to sell this brand as well.

Top 10 Dog Foods number 6:
EVO - All Kibbles (Dry Dog Foods)

Natura's EVO brand has the distinction of making the highest protein (42-52%) and lowest carbohydrate (11-18%) dry dog foods on the market.

All kibbles are grain-free and based on the canine ancestral diet.

Currently there are four formulas to choose from: Turkey & Chicken (featuring fresh turkey and chicken plus turkey, chicken, and herring meals; available in regular and small bite kibble sizes), Red Meat (featuring fresh beef, buffalo, lamb, and venison plus lamb meal; available in regular and small bite kibble sizes), Herring & Salmon (featuring fresh herring and salmon as well as herring and salmon meals), and Weight Management (featuring the same meats and meals as EVO Turkey & Chicken minus the herring meal but with 30% less fat and 20% more protein).

The latter is particularly interesting of the top 10 dog foods, since most canine weight management diets are high in carbohydrates and fiber and low in protein and fat.

However, clinical research as well as my own experience show that diets with high levels of protein, a moderate amount of fat, and low carbohydrate levels are far more effective for canine weight loss and maintenance.

EVO Weight Management contains an unparalleled 52% protein (from quality meats, eggs, and cottage cheese), a moderate 15% fat, and no more than 11% carbohydrates.

This kibble would be an exceptional choice for slimming down overweight dogs or maintaining weight on dogs who have a tendency to pile on the pounds.

Unfortunately I can't buy this one in Sweden, but it would clearly be my first choice for obese dogs. Currently you can get it in Canada and USA so a clear choice for the top 10 dog foods list in these countries.

EVO ingredients are human-grade, and the company strives to use hormone and antibiotic free meats as much as possible. All formulas contain fresh vegetables, fruits, and sprouts, whole eggs, cottage cheese, and probiotics in addition to high quality meats and fish.

Note that the Turkey and Chicken and the Red Meat formulas are high in fat (42% protein and 22% fat), making them most suitable for active adult dogs.

Please note that I do NOT recommend any of the EVO formulas for Very large and giant breed puppies under 16 months, because the calcium levels are much too high for growing large breeds.

And while EVO also makes canned foods, only the dry foods are produced in Natura's own award-winning factory. Last I had this checked the production of the wet foods was outsourced to a company with a history of recalls so I'm not comfortable recommending EVO canned foods.

EVO canned foods are not on mu top 10 dog foods list

Top 10 Dog Foods Number 7:
Party Animal - Grain Free Organic Formulas (Canned Dog Foods)

Party Animal is a California company making eight certified organic grain free canned dog foods and two that contain basmati rice. These are single meat source formulas, ideal for dogs with allergies and digestive problems.

Of the grain free varieties, the Blazin' Beef, Chillin' Chicken, Kickin' Chicken, and Turn Up Da' Turkey recipes are entirely organic (except for the vitamin and mineral supplements, of course), bearing the USDA Organic seal, while the Heavenly Venison, Luscious Lamb, Ducked Up, and Jammin' Salmon recipes feature a meat source that's free-range or wild-caught, but not certified organic (the included vegetables, fruits, and oils are, however, certified organic).

The organic certification process guarantees that only the highest quality ingredients go into Party Animal foods.

Contains only ingredients grown and packaged without pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewer sludge, genetic modification, irradiation, or artificial additives.

Certified organic meats are guaranteed to be free-range and raised on organic feed without antibiotics and growth hormones.

And since all organic claims are independently verified by a government-accredited organic certifying agency. Party Animal canned foods meet the same standards as certified organic human foods.

You can be certain that these formulas really are everything they claim to be: Certified organic dog foods guarantee an unprecedented level of quality assurance and food safety.

Another top rated dog food not possible to bye here in Sweden. What a pithy.

Top 10 Dog Food Number 8:
Newman's Own Organics - Organic Beef Formulas (Canned Dog Foods)

Dogs have no nutritional requirement for carbohydrates, so Newman's Own Organics new certified organic beef formulas don't contain any.

Choose from Organic Beef, Organic Beef Liver, and Organic Beef and Liver.

All three formulas feature the USDA Organic seal and consist of organic beef (and/or organic beef liver), organic beef broth, plus the vitamin and mineral supplements needed to make them a complete and balanced diet.

And that's it. No thickeners, binders, preservatives, or other additives and fillers are included.I like this and this makes them natural members of the top 10 dog foods.

These foods are very high in protein but low in fat (particularly the Beef Liver and Beef & Liver recipes). And because the beef is certified organic, you know for certain that it comes from free-range cattle raised on species-appropriate organic feed without antibiotics and growth hormones.

Moreover, meat from naturally raised cattle is lower in saturated fat, but higher in valuable unsaturated fatty acids.

Newman's Own Organic Beef Formulas can be fed as a complete diet, but they're also great for adding high quality protein to your dog's kibble or homemade diet.

Top 10 Dog Foods number 9:
Natural Planet Organics - Turkey Dinner and Chicken Dinner Formulas (Canned Dog Foods)

Natural Planet Organics brings you more certified organic canned dog foods, but these meat-based formulas consist of chicken and turkey rather than beef.

Chicken Dinner consists of organic chicken, organic chicken broth, organic chicken liver, organic flaxseed oil, and organic sunflower oil, plus vitamins and chelated minerals.

The Turkey Dinner formula is identical except that it contain organic turkey, organic turkey broth, and organic turkey liver instead of chicken.

Both formulas feature the USDA Organic seal, so you know that at least 95% of the ingredients are certified organic, and that the organic claims have been independently verified.

Natural Planet Organics' Turkey and Chicken Dinners meet the AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages and can be fed as a complete diet, but they can also be added to your dog's dry dog food to boost the meat and protein content.

Interesting member of the top 10 dog food list.

Top Dog Foods Number 10:
Wellness - CORE Formulas (Dry Dog Foods)

Wellness has the distinction of making the only grain-free low-fat kibble.

The CORE line of this top 10 dog food, features three grain-free formulas: Original Recipe (uses chicken and turkey as the main protein sources), Ocean Recipe (contains whitefish, salmon, and menhaden fish with an excellent omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio of 2.5:1), and Reduced Fat Recipe (contains chicken, turkey, and whitefish with 33% protein and only 9% fat).

Even the Original and Ocean Recipes are lower in fat than most grain-free kibbles with 14% fat, 34% protein, and 32% carbohydrate, but the Reduced Fat Recipe is particularly well suited for dogs who need to eat a low-fat diet but can't tolerate grains.

Wellness CORE formulas are made from human-grade ingredients and hormone-free meats.

In addition to premium poultry and fish meats and meals, these naturally preserved formulas contain plenty of vegetables and fruits.

They're also fortified with probiotics, prebiotics, glucosamine and chondroitin (though amounts are too low to do much good), vitamins, and chelated minerals.

As with EVO, these formulas are not recommended for large and giant breed puppies because calcium levels are too high, but they're great for adult dogs.

Of course there are other excellent top dog foods, but these are my current picks for the top ten dog foods. All of the above are outstanding choices, but remember that no food is ideal for all dogs.

Your dog may not approve my top 10 dog food list.