Best grain-free dog food
As a dog owner, you want to look for foods that focus on quality ingredients that add value to your dog’s diet. Certain grains, like corn, can actually be difficult for your dog to digest, which has led to the popularization of grain-free diets for dogs who suffer from allergies.
What's the best grain-free dog food?
- Our favorite dry food
Taste of the Wild - Our favorite wet food
FreshPet Select - Our favorite affordable food
Nutro Max - Our favorite fresh food plan
NomNomNow - Our favorite treats
Canidae
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Grain-free dog food questions
- What is grain-free dog food?
- Should dogs eat grain free?
- Many dogs do well on a grain-free diet. However, it’s important to note “grain-free” does not necessarily mean “healthy.” If you think grain-free is the right choice for your dog, it’s important to find a grain-free dog food that provides complete and balanced nutrition. While many traditional dog foods use grains as fillers, grain-free dog foods may use plant-based fillers. Look for a grain-free formula that provides plenty of omega 3 fatty acids, and be sure to consult with your vet to make sure removing grains from your dog’s diet is going to be beneficial for them, as some dogs, especially less active dogs, may do better on a diet that includes grains.
Pros and cons of grain-free dog food
Grain-free dog food benefits:
- High protein content
- No fillers like cornmeal or wheat gluten
- Helps maintain healthy weight
- Easier to digest
- Reduced flatulence
- Less simple carbohydrates (good for diabetic dogs)
- May provide allergy relief (itchiness, hot spots, excessive hair loss, etc.)
Grain-free dog food disadvantages:
- Tends to be more expensive
- Not suitable for less active dogs
- Could cause weight gain
- Can be high in carbohydrates
- Lack of omega 3 fatty acids
- Not always recommended for puppies
What is the best grain-free dog food?
The best grain-free dog food dog foods will have high protein content and nutritional additives like omega-3 fatty acids to replace the nutrients typically found in grains. As with all dog food, you want to look for a protein to fat ratio of 2:1 for a balanced diet. As grain-free food becomes more popular for dogs, availability increases, but some more niche brands may still only be available at pet stores.
Compare grain-free dog food
 |  |  |  |  | |
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| Availability | Petco; select retail pet supply stores; major online retailers | Major pet store chains; major online retailers | Petsmart; many grocery chains | Petco; select retail pet supply stores; major online retailers | Online |
| Price* | $39.99/12lb bag | $29.99/15lb bag | $15.99/5lb roll | $38.99/25lb bag | Based on dog’s weight. $29.64/week for a 30lb dog. |
| Protein** | 32% | 32% | 9% | Wet: 7% Dry: 26% | 8.5% |
| Fat** | 18% | 18% | 6% | Wet: 5% Dry: 14% | 6% |
| Unique claim | Contains soy and potato | Replicates ancestral diet | 100% farm-raised meat and vegetables | Non-GMO ingredients; limited ingredient diet (LID) | Fresh, whole food ingredients exceed AAAFCO standards |
| Customer satisfaction | Read reviews | Read reviews | Read reviews | Read reviews | Read reviews |
| Availability | Price* | Protein** | Fat** | Unique claim | Customer satisfaction | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petco; select retail pet supply stores; major online retailers | $39.99/12lb bag | 32% | 18% | Contains soy and potato | Read reviews |
| Major pet store chains; major online retailers | $29.99/15lb bag | 32% | 18% | Replicates ancestral diet | Read reviews |
| Petsmart; many grocery chains | $15.99/5lb roll | 9% | 6% | 100% farm-raised meat and vegetables | Read reviews |
| Petco; select retail pet supply stores; major online retailers | $29.88/case of 12 12.5 oz cans (wet); $38.99/25lb bag (dry) | Wet: 7% Dry: 26% | Wet: 5% Dry: 14% | Non-GMO ingredients; limited ingredient diet (LID) | Read reviews |
| Online | Based on dog’s weight. $29.64/week for a 30lb dog. | 8.5% | 6% | Fresh, whole food ingredients exceed AAAFCO standards | Read reviews |
* Prices pulled from Chewy.com or brand’s website; valid as of 11/14/2018
** Because wet food is processed differently than dry kibble, protein and fat ratios will not be comparable
Our favorite dry grain-free dog food
Taste of the Wild
Taste of the Wild focuses on novel proteins and limited ingredient diets and has a quite few grain-free formulas, including High Prairie (Buffalo), Pacific Stream (Salmon), Sierra Mountain (Lamb), Wetlands (Duck), Pine Forest (Venison) and Southwest Canyon (Beef). A small breed diet is also available with their Appalachian Valley (Venison) formula. Their salmon formula is a great choice for dogs who have allergies, as well.
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Our favorite wet grain-free dog food
FreshPet Select
Wet dog foods are often fresher and more palatable for dogs. FreshPet offers a grain-free wet dog food diet made with chicken, potato and spinach for added fiber. FreshPet’s food is free of preservatives and does not include meat meals or by-product meals.
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Note: Because fresh food is less dense than processed kibble, protein and fat ratios will not be comparable.
Our favorite affordable grain-free dog food
Nutro Max
Nutro Max grain-free dog food averages $1.55/pound, while some top competitors come in closer to $2 or $3 per pound. Nutro’s grain-free recipes are available in a few different recipes, including farm-raised chicken (which contains no chicken by-product meal) and lamb.
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Our favorite fresh food plan
NomNomNow
NomNomNow creates a custom meal plan for your dog. Take their quick online quiz to get matched with the right recipe for your dog and have it delivered to your home, fresh each week. NomNomNow uses only restaurant-quality ingredients and their recipes exceeds quality requirements for dog food.
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Note: Because fresh food is less dense than processed kibble, protein and fat ratios will not be comparable.
Our favorite grain-free dog treats
Canidae
Grain-free organic dog treats are perfect for rewarding your furry friend without blowing their grain- free diet. Canidae offers grain-free chewy treats at just 26 calories apiece. And at only three calories per cookie, these treats compete with the best on the market.
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