Best Grain Free Dog Foods

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Grain free dog foods have become a favorite for those wishing to more closely mimic a dog’s natural ancestral diet… and to lessen the risk of food allergies.

Grains for Dog FoodAnd it’s easy to see why…

Compared to the typical kibble or canned food, the best grain free recipes contain more meat based protein as well as easy-to-digest animal fats.

And usually fewer carbohydrates, too.

Not only are grains like corn and wheat a frequent cause of canine allergies1 they can also be more difficult for a dog to digest.

Why Grains Can Be
More Difficult to Digest

That’s because many plant-eating animals (known as herbivores) possess one powerful weapon many carnivores (like dogs) usually lack…

Salivary amylase.

Amylase is a special enzyme most herbivores and omnivores (like us humans) produce in their saliva. It’s needed to begin the break down of starchy carbohydrates into simple sugars…

Before they enter the stomach.

Now, dogs also produce amylase. But the enzyme is added further down the digestive tract… in the small intestine.

Because a carnivore’s saliva is mostly amylase-free, carbohydrates can be more difficult for a dog to digest.

What actually does make corn and other grains more digestible for a dog is the cooking process itself.

Why Kibbles Can Be Grain Free
But Never Carbohydrate Free

Compared to canned dog foods, kibbles cannot be made with just meat. That’s because the process used for making kibble requires a notable amount of carbohydrates to create a dough-like binder to hold everything together.

Since there can be no corn, wheat, barley, rice (or any other cereal grains, for that matter), novel carbohydrates must be used in their place to make grain-free kibbles possible.

And vegetables (like potatoes) appear to be the most common source of carbohydrates found in non-grain recipes.

The Bottom Line

Supporters of grain-free dog foods claim these products provide at least two important benefits…

So, how can you find a quality grain-free dog food?

How We Selected the Best

If you’re looking for a quality grain free dog food, we’ve prepared two lists… one for dry dog foods and the other for wet.

To be selected, these products must meet two basic requirements.

First, they must have been rated at least four stars or five stars by the Advisor.

And lastly, the recipes (of course) must be grain free.

Best Grain Free Dog Foods

Choose a link below to access our lists of the best grain free dog foods…

Footnotes

  1. White, S., Update on food allergy in the dog and cat, World Small Animal Veterinary Association, Vancouver, 2001 ↩
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  • Spammers

    Look into wellness simple s olutions or the wellness core fish one, he also may do good on soils god holiaticblendz it does have oatmeal though but it’s low in fat and fish based hope this helps.

  • Jackson_Jones

    Hi Daisy,

    If your Cocker really has a fat and veggie intolerance then It is a little difficult in finding a dryfood he will tolerate. He might have not done well on the raw because he wasn’t used to a raw diet.

    I would try Ziwi Peak Venison and Fish dehydrated food. It is 94% meat but the dehydration process kills all the bacteria without much affecting the enzymes and nutrients naturally contained in the food. If your Cockers problem with the raw was the bacteria and not the fat then this food should not be a problem. It is very low in carbs, after all it is 94% meat so if your Cocker has problems with grains or starches then this food would also be of benefit.

    Dehydrated pet foods like Ziwi Peak or NRG contain no rendered fats or rendered and powdered proteins from meat meals. Dehydrated foods like the ones above are not extruded under high pressure, steam and sometimes high temperatures.

    By the time a kibble is made it is so far removed from natural that it must be replenished with Vitamins, Minerals, Enzymes  etc that are destroyed during the kibble making process.

    Grandma Lucy’s and NRG make dehydrated foods that are lower in fat and meat content than Ziwi Peak and they contain a little more vegetables. I hope you find a food that helps.

    Jack Jones

  • Toxed2loss

    Hi daisy,
    I’ll cut to the chase… Brother’s Complete Allergy formula. Hop over to the Brother’s thread. You can post a question to Richard Darlington, or click on his name and go direct to the website with phone numbers. He or his son’s will be glad to talk to you and answer your questions, wether blogged, emailed or called. :-)

  • Kariec

    I used to use the Evanger’s 100% meat cans as a nice topper for my dogs and cats (they were perfect size to split between the 5 of them, and i loved that it was just two ingredients) but since they changed the ingredients to include guar gum, i just am unhappy with it. i still have 3 cans of the 100%s at home (two chicken and a duck) but am looking for a new topper. the dogs are fed Acana, and the cats blue buffalo wilderness (both a rotation of protein sources). often i will add in some beef/chicken broth, yogurt, raw egg, lightly cooked venison, beef stew, etc. but want more canned options. thanks!
    also, my parents have a 10 yo golden who has recently been losing weight, and they’re looking for a high protein topper to bulk him up. they feed Taste of the Wild Ocean Fish.
    Thanks!

  • daisy1999

    Im looking for some help in selecting a dry grain free food.  It is for my cocker.  He is approx. 6yrs old.  He has a super sensitive tummy and allergies.  He seems to do best on fish based.  I have kept him to the no wheat, soy, corn foods but at this point the itching is worsening and his skin is more flakey so the vet thinks its best to go grain free.  I did try raw with him in the past and no matter what he had terrible diarrhea.  I think he would probably get sick from anything too high in fat plus he isnt the thinnest as is but not obese.  He also seems to not tolerate veggies so probably a food without too many.  Also, any canned food seems to give him diarrhea so that is why I am looking for dry suggestions.  Thank you for any help.  I really value the advise of this site and have used it often.  But this time I cant come up with an answer on my own.

  • Bill

    I use Blue Buffalo Wilderness – Salmon

  • Jef

    Orijen red meat

  • Imgja

    what do you do if you need a “healthy weight” (diet) dog food that is NO CHICKEN & NO GRAIN….doesn’t exist that I can find

  • john_boy07

    What are the benefits exactly of adding steamed veggies to their diets? I can’t remember and am unable to find it in any of the comments I skimmed through….

  • sandy

    Look at Epigen Fish and Epigen 90.

    http://www.wysongepigen.net/ingredients.php

    Canine Caviar says they are non-GMO.

  • Maddie

    wysong epigen isn’t grain free. i’m definitely avoiding wheat and rice. i didn’t realize there were non-genetically modified foods available, thanks! i will look into that more. I think you have it right that i have to make the transition to raw food. i’ve been hesitant because of the bacteria risk and because i realize you have to know what you’re doing, but it seems there are some good brands out there and i think i will pursue that option. thanks!

  • sandy

    High quality raw foods have lower carbs than kibble and some use organic ingredients.  I have yet to see a low carb and organic and non-GMO kibble.  Also Wysong Epigen is very low carb and starch free. 

  • Maddie

    i am doing a grain-free diet to attempt to ‘starve’ my dogs cancer, as i know cancer most easily feeds on glucose. Is it important that i also look for the lowest carbohydrate content? or is it ok if the carbs are from veggies? Also, i can’t seem to find a good Organic grain-free with low carb content. How important is organic after the dog has already been diagnosed with cancer? (my dog has hemangiosarcoma, no large tumors as of now, mostly just the blood is metastasized)

  • sandy
  • Bill

    Good to know, thanks for that link. 

  • Bill

    Good to know, thanks for that link. 

  • sandy
  • Bill

    Link did not work. I posted this issue on 1/18/2012 in this thread.
    http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/best-dog-foods/best-grain-free-dog-foods/#comment-414300888

  • Bill

    Update to an earlier post of mine in this thread. Looks like the the NV Instinct duck turkey formula was the cause of his loose stools. Even when I fed him NV mixed with a tablespoon of yogurt it made no difference. So far he’s doing great on BG chicken so I guess something in the NV formula made him a little too loose. I’m thinking it was either the tapioca or the salmon. http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/best-dog-foods/best-grain-free-dog-foods/#comment-414300888

  • melissa

    All-

    Glad to hear about the Zymox. I am placing an order Monday and had both the one with HC and the one w/out on the order list to try!

  • Dave’s Hounds

    Sucker4Rescues – I also use Zymox – great product when my coonhounds have any ear problems

  • Sucker4Rescues

    Shawna, one more thing on Zymoz OTIC. The manufacturer states that you shouldn’t clean the ears first or use it along with any other ear treatment.  It could intefere the the action of the enzymes.  We used it as directed and applied to her “dirty” ears. When you are done treating your dog, then and only then should you rinse the ears out. 

    I hope this helps. :)  

  • Sucker4Rescues

    Shawna, I used the Zymox OTIC with hydrocortisone.  Although for ongoing preventative use I think I am going to order the one without.  If the ears are really inflamed, I think the hydrocortisone helps nock the inflammation down quickly.  For preventative use, I don’t like the idea of Sophie being exposed to hydrocortisone on an ongoing basis.  It is after all a steroid.  I thought from here on out we will use it (without hydrocortisone) maybe three times a month (along with probiotics) so the yeast doesn’t get a chance to grow again. 

     This product is great!  I was really impressed with how quickly it attacked the yeast, without having to use antibiotics (yuck).  I would definitely use it again.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com/ Mike Sagman

    I agree, Shawna.

    Probiotics can be an important consideration where an overgrowth of Candida has caused an imbalance in an animal’s normal intestinal flora.

    Good call.

  • http://BrothersComplete.com/ Richard Darlington

    Dr Mike

    I totally understand and completely agree with your perspective – I would most certainly do the same in your position – it is the only responsible way to approach it.

    However, if you will be kind enough to indulge me, in an effort to make sure we leave a small opening for more and more accumulated information that might eventually lead us to a new perspective I’d like to just clarify a point or two.

    You said, “However, is your conclusion that Candida and sugar alone are the true cause of your improved wellbeing?” and “Would you have gotten the same results with or without a Candida infection?”
     
    I did want to clarify that the “results” I’m referring to from the diet of no grain, potato, or sugar, were NOT about losing weight or improved wellbeing – which was a side benefit no doubt – but I was describing the effect of a diet as it specifically related to riding my body of systemic Candida – that there were ancillary benefits was a bonus, but not really the issue. 

    I didn’t go into the physical problems that systemic Candida caused in me but they were very similar to what we see in our dogs. So the absence of Systemic Candida in my body had a huge beneficial effect on me well in excess of lost weight or improved wellbeing (although there was certainly a good dose of that as well).

    I was referring specifically to the EXISTING presence of “Systemic Candida” in my body, confirmed by a stool analysis, and 6 months later the ABSENCE of Candida overgrowth in my body (brought about by the specialized diet) – also confirmed by stool analysis. The other benefits were incidental to my point which was basically that regardless of how Candida overgrowth “happens” there is sound empirical evidence that diet can help reverse it – and since that diet has NO ill effects it’s a win/win.

    I’ll leave the discussion as to what causes Candida overgrowth and what specific problems Candida overgrowth can cause, for another time. I just wanted to note that I felt there was a difference between the two scenarios; the first being that Potato causes Candida and the second being the effect Potato has once there is an existing case of Candida overgrowth.

    I just didn’t want anyone thinking that even if we eventually find that potato doesn’t contribute to Candida overgrowth, it doesn’t mean that potato doesn’t feed Candida overgrowth once it exists because I believe there is ample evidence that it does.

    I also wanted to make the point that once Candida overgrowth is present and the fungus is doing it’s dirty work – that one way to address this problem is to stop feeding your dog the foods that feed and encourage Candida overgrowth. There are certainly other things to do to help (give probiotics, etc) but it’s probably best not to feed the grubby little buggers.

  • Shawna

    Yes Mike, of course it is not limited to sweet potato and potatoe.  Any higher glycemic carbohydrate will have the same affect I completely agree. 

    Potatoes in specific (white potatoes that is) when cooked and cooled have a “resistant starch” in them that is a prebiotic — will feed the good as well as the bad bacteria.  If no or little bacteria are present (due to antibiotics etc) the yeast get all the food.  Barley has inulin, also a prebiotic.  From my understanding when the infection is localized to the digestive tract these, and other, prebiotic foods will feed the yeast/fungi.  When the infection is systemic it will be any dietary sugar.

    The other thing to consider, and in my opinion the ultimate factor in the speed of healing, is the presense of probiotics in the diet.  IMO diets like Brother’s Complete are more anti-candida due to the added probiotics — but that’s just my opinion :) .

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com/ Mike Sagman

    Hi Shawna,

    I don’t doubt sugar (carbs) feeds most all organisms. My problem is pinning the blame specifically on certain carbs (potatoes or grains).

    Frankly, there are very few dry dog foods that don’t contain a significant amount of carbs (both simple and complex sugars) in the finished product.

    Even Brothers Grain Free is estimated to contain almost one third of its weight from carbs (tapioca, sweet potato and peas.

    Can anyone show scientific proof that Candida only survives (or thrives) on grains and potatoes?

    What about tapioca, beans, peas or sweet potatoes? These are all predominantly carbohydrate based ingredients.

    Why would Candida not also thrive on these items, too?

  • Shawna

    Sucker4Rescues ~~ AWESOME tip!!!!  THANKS!!!

    Do you have the Zymox with or without hydrocortisone?  The one without had good reviews but not quite as good as the one with.  I’d prefer to use without personally but if not as effective I could be swayed to use the one with short term..  Still better then prescription in my opinion :)

    Thanks again!!!

  • Shawna

    Dr. Mike ~~ I have had a difficult time finding much info on candida in canines at all let alone any with dietary information addressed.

    However, studies do show that candida albicans grow when fed sugar (glucose).  Since the fungi in humans, mice and dogs is the same, it stands to reason that they would grow on the same diet in each species. 

    “The data provide an experimental rationale for clinical trials to decrease the intake of glucose or its utilization by C. albicans in immunocompromised patients.”  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8423091

    More importantly for me, many clinicians successfully treat a candida albicans infection with a low carbohydrate diet.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com/ Mike Sagman

    Hi Richard,

    I can certainly understand your point. And I don’t doubt the veracity of these reports about yeast.

    However, although observations and case reports can certainly be valuable, they cannot (in and of themselves) negate the need for scientific proof.

    For example, you said “A strict diet of no grain, potato, or sugar for 6 months put my body back in balance and my lifelong sugar craving disappeared as well – seems it’s the Candida itself that craves the sugar.”

    This is obviously your personal history. And I don’t doubt your experience in any way.

    However, is your conclusion that Candida and sugar alone are the true cause of your improved wellbeing?

    Please remember, your story also exemplifies the body’s known physiologic relationship amongst carbohydrates, insulin and the deposition of body fat.

    The diet you describe is also what’s more typically known today as the paleolithic diet, the Atkins Diet, South Beach Diet and by many other names.

    This mechanism is described in scientific detail in study after study in Gary Taub’s two recent and acclaimed books, “Why We Get Fat” and “Good Carbs, Bad Carbs”.

    It would be inappropriate (and unscientific) to draw the conclusion here that Candida and carbs alone are the primary mechanism to explain your weight loss and improved health.

    You certainly have the right to believe that the carbohydrate link to yeast is the cause of your condition. That’s fully understandable.

    And please be assured, I have no problem recognizing the possibility of this etiologic link.

    However, I cannot personally endorse such a sweeping yet still unproven hypothesis in my “official” response to a questioning reader until I am scientifically convinced.

    That does not mean your theory is invalid – only that there’s still need for further proof.

  • Alexandra

    Sorry Dr. Mike,

    I was just basing my comment from personal experience. Dante never showed improvement from a barrage of antibiotics and steroids, while eating Orijen, which I am not disputing the quality of that food, but everything that I moved to was using potato as its binder. Hence, Dantes GI tract never settled it was constant diarrhea. Once I contacted Richard and tried his kibble which has no potato. Dante had marked improvements within two weeks.

  • http://BrothersComplete.com/ Richard Darlington

    Dr Mike

    I think Alexandra is referring more to a situation where Candida overgrowth already exists (regardless of how it got there).

    Once Candida overgrowth is present then the sugar in white or sweet potatoes very likely will feed the Candida and further encourage it’s overgrowth as a fungus. Of course ANY sugar will feed Candida.

    i also would like to see studies linking ANYTHING to Candida overgrowth but if my personal experience with the AMA in this country for over 20 years during which I had systemic Candida is any indication then we’d better not hold our breath.

    Not only was my Candida overgrowth never diagnosed for over 2 decades by any of the 2 dozen physicians I saw but I was continually given antibiotics which only made the problem worse.

    Finally I was fortunate enough to be referred to a Dr of Chinese medicine who diagnosed my Systemic Candida on the first visit, which was later confirmed with a stool analysis. How often have you ever heard of a doctor in the US asking for a stool analysis?

    A strict diet of no grain, potato, or sugar for 6 months put my body back in balance and my lifelong sugar craving disappeared as well – seems it’s the Candida itself that craves the sugar.

    You have repeatedly pointed out the limitations of “peer reviewed” studies that are funded by large companies for their own reasons or studies that ask the wrong questions. Someone has to pay for these studies and they usually have an agenda. The problem is even further clouded if the medical community at large doesn’t even recognize Candida overgrowth as a problem – which I honestly believe is the case.

    I know that you cannot be guided by opinions alone but there is certainly more to Candida than has been addressed by the existing medical community for PEOPLE, much less dogs – or has been addressed in peer reviewed studies.

    Right now there is an epidemic of Lyme disease in this country. There are probably no peer reviewed studies on the morphology of Lyme because for the last 15 years the insurance companies have kept a tight reign  on the potential costs and dictated the solution – which they say is 30 days of anti-biotics. 

    Having survived ten years of Chronic Lyme that nearly killed me (the AMA’s recommendations for antibiotics and more antibiotics are detrimental because it encapsulates the Lyme spirochete and only escalates the infection over time and destroys most of your immune system in the process) I can only hope that no one we know will get Lyme because it will be misdiagnosed as a dozen other things, and even if it’s accurately diagnosed – they have NO idea what to do to help you. 

  • Sucker4Rescues

    Our rescue Cavalier(?) mix developed a raging ear infection.  We treated her ears with Zymox OTIC.  We noticed a rapid improvment after just a couple of days.  You can get it on Amazon for about $14.  We are so happy with it, we are going to keep some on hand and treat her a couple of times a month as a preventative measure.  It contains natural enzymes so it can be used long term without any issues. 

    We’ve also been adding a probiotic to her food with each meal.  We recently switched her food, but it’s too soon to tell what effect that will have. 

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com/ Mike Sagman

    Hi Kountrymare,

    Unfortunately, aside from informal discussions posted throughout the Internet, I’m not personally aware of any peer-reviewed scientific studies linking yeast infections in dogs with diets containing sweet or white potatoes.

    If you come across such a study, feel free to share a link to that research with our forum.

    Wish I could be more help.

  • Alexandra

    Kountrymare,

    Having a German Shepherd that had all of those issues and more. I feed Brothers Complete. I would start with the allergy formula.

    http://www.brotherscomplete.com

    I had a marked improvement with my dog within two weeks. His ears and eyes have been clear, he stopped losing fur, and loose stools went away.

    Also look up leaky gut and Candida. These conditions mimick those of allergies and often missed by vets. Potato exasperates this condition. My vet STILL disagrees with Candida, even though I have him in better shape then she did. In process of finding a vet I like as a result.

    Good Luck

  • Gloriasanders50

    Ziwi Peak Very pricey though

  • Kountrymare

    I have a cocker spaniel with a yeast infection in his ears and impacting his whole body (runny eyes, skin issues etc) After spending alot at the vet and getting nowhere, I decide to take the matter into my own hands. Changed to a grain free diet and still nothing.The food contains sweet potatoes and I give him sweet potato treats. Thru my research I have found that sweet potatoes and yams should not be feed to dogs with yeast infections. Do you know of a dog food that would not contain sweet potatoes or yams? So far the sites that I have gone to that indicate no potatoes their ingred shows yams.
    Your input would be greatly appreciated!

  • Anonymous

    Melissa,
    That’s good to know. Thanks :) I’ll keep an eye out

  • melissa

    john_boy07-

    Keep an eye out for sales-that might help. Last night I went to Petco(I usually shop at a small local store) and they had some good sales-10% off through the 20th of this month- I had another 10 percent off coupon,so bought Wilderness for sale price of $45.50, Blue(puppy chicken and rice(or oatmeal, do not remember) for $45, and then got another 10 percent off the top of that! 5 bags with a savings of $10 per bag : )

    Back to Basics does have a frequent buyer program if that helps you, and the small bags have(at least last month they did) coupons inside for $8,$5 and $5 off your next purchases

  • Anonymous

    I just bought a bag of the Wetlands actually. Should be time to start it soon cuz my bag of the Prairie formula is almost gone. I like TOTW, I jus t wish that it was potato n canola oil free. I had read some on Instinct prior to choosing TOTW and it seemed like a lot of people were complaining of stool issues and their dogs having diarrhea, so that’s why I chose not to go with it at the time. As for Back to Basics, I was interested in them as well but if I recall correctly, it was a little more pricey than what I can do right now. So far from my research, I like Brothers the best but just can’t afford it :( I wish they were able to come down on the prices!

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