Honest Kitchen Dog Food (Dehydrated)

by Mike Sagman
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Rating: ★★★★☆

The Honest Kitchen Dog Food earns the Advisor’s above-average rating of 4 stars.

Not including the do-it-yourself meatless pre-mix (Preference), the Honest Kitchen product line lists 7 dehydrated raw dog foods, 4 meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance and 3 for all life stages (Thrive, Embark and Love).

  • The Honest Kitchen Force1
  • The Honest Kitchen Keen2
  • The Honest Kitchen Verve3
  • The Honest Kitchen Thrive4
  • The Honest Kitchen Embark5
  • The Honest Kitchen Zeal6 (5 stars)
  • The Honest Kitchen Love7 (5 stars)

Honest Kitchen Thrive was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

Honest Kitchen Thrive

Raw Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 28% | Fat = 21% | Carbs = 44%

Ingredients: Dehydrated free-range chicken, organic fair-trade quinoa, sweet potatoes, spinach, parsley, organic kelp, rosemary, tricalcium phosphate, choline chloride, zinc amino acid chelate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, potassium iodide, potassium chloride, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 6.8%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

The first item in this dog food is dehydrated free-range chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.8

Chicken is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.

The second ingredient is quinoa. Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is not a true cereal grain… but is prized for its gluten-free seeds.

Compared to most other grain-type ingredients, it is high in protein (about 12-18%), fiber and other healthy nutrients. This is a quality non-meat component.

The third ingredient is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a good source of complex carbohydrates in a dog food. They are naturally rich in fiber, beta carotene and other healthy nutrients.

The next three items include a series of nutrient-rich vegetables…

  • Spinach
  • Parsley
  • Kelp

We note all the products contain chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Raw Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Before we conclude, it’s worth noting The Honest Kitchen has taken the rather unusual step of applying for (and actually receiving) FDA approval to label its pet foods “human grade“.

The company only uses human-edible components and produces all its products in a human food manufacturing facility.

So, judging by its ingredients alone, the Honest Kitchen appears to be a superior dog food.

But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 28%, a fat level of 20% and estimated carbohydrates of about 44%.

Due to its apparently higher meat content, Zeal was upgraded to our 5-star category.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 29% and a mean fat level of 16%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 47% for the overall product line.

Below-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbohydrates when compared to a typical raw dog food.

Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a dehydrated raw food containing a moderate amount of meat.

Bottom line?

The Honest Kitchen is a plant-based raw dehydrated dog food using a moderate amount of assorted and named species as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.

Highly recommended.

For even more raw diet suggestions, be sure to visit the Advisor’s Recommended Raw Dog Foods summary page.

A Final Word

This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.

For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”

Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.

Have an opinion about this dog food… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.

Notes and Updates

04/17/2010 Original review
11/17/2010 Review updated
04/01/2011 Review updated (now compared with other raw dog foods)
05/05/2011 Review updated (edited to show dehydrated chicken)
07/27/2011 Review updated (updated to new percentages)
11/17/2011 Review updated (added Love)

  1. Adult maintenance, gluten-free, grain-free ↩
  2. Adult maintenance, low gluten ↩
  3. Adult maintenance, organic grains ↩
  4. All life stages, gluten-free ↩
  5. All life stages, grain-free ↩
  6. Adult maintenance, grain-free ↩
  7. All life stages, grain-free, gluten-free ↩
  8. Association of American Feed Control Officials ↩
Dog Food Advisor IconThe Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.


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  • Pinkyparr

    I’m the Frenchie owner who has been very pleased with the results we’ve achieved with HK, mainly the lower gas output on Embark. Higher-protein (over 40% in dry kibble) hasn’t worked for our Frenchie (Orijen, Evo) . She throws it up. Our toy-sized dog (half-Chihuahua & half-Frenchie) does just fine with it though. Guess protein content is breed and/or individual dependant. For now we’ll be sticking with HK with a liitle Stella & Chewy’s blended in.

  • Pinkyparr

    I’m the Frenchie owner who has been very pleased with the results we’ve achieved with HK, mainly the lower gas output on Embark. Higher-protein (over 40% in dry kibble) hasn’t worked for our Frenchie (Orijen, Evo) . She throws it up. Our toy-sized dog (half-Chihuahua & half-Frenchie) does just fine with it though. Guess protein content is breed and/or individual dependant. For now we’ll be sticking with HK with a liitle Stella & Chewy’s blended in.

  • Jan_Mom2Cavs

    I don’t know much about the technicalities of the food (other than it’s a good one lol!), but they do have an herbal supplement that’s supposed to be of help to a dog with IBD (don’t know how close that is to IBS).  It’s called Perfect Form.  I’m sure someone will help you out on the food.

  • Sarge995

    Good Afternoon,
    I am trying to find a food that would help with my 3 yr old Great Pyr with IBS,he, along with our 3 other dogs have always been on a “high quality” dog food, roating through every now and then, Knut has been on a novel source of protein for quite a while now, but doesn’t show much if any improvement. Would HK be good? Thanks!!
    Bob

  • LMD

    I totally agree Toxed2loss. The article never stated that the dogs were not eating meat based proteins. In fact, supermarket brands typically have meat…not very much, but they do have it. You have to go searching for a vegan diet if you choose that for your dog. I just think the article was stating that foods that have vegetable and fruit included that have been selected for their nutrient profile and antioxidant properties were used. Most high quality kibbles already have those that were listed in the article as being beneficial. Vegan diets are NOT appropriate for dogs or cats. Period.

  • Toxed2loss

    Herbivoraciously Yous,

    The article didn’t say that at all! It said that anti-oxidents and animal based fatty acids and a nutrient prolonged life and improved mental acuity!!! Here’s the quote:

    “Two of these groups were fed ordinary supermarket dog food while the other two were fed an identical-looking blend that contained antioxidants (fruits and vegetables, vitamins C and E, the fatty acids DHA and EPA, carnitine and alpha lipoic acid).”

    DHA is only from animal fats. ALA is another fatty acid, primarily from animal sources, and carnitine is an animal protein based nutrient….

  • Herbivoraciously yours

    BEFORE you do that, keep in mind that the world’s oldest living dog is
    28 and vegan.  Google it.  And, here is a study that was done on beagles
    who were fed less animal protein, more fruits and veggies – and it was
    discovered that they became actually smarter and lived longer:

    http://dogsinthenews.com/issue...

    You can google for the site to get the entire study printed out, I have it here on my desk

  • Herbivoraciously yours

    BEFORE you do that, keep in mind that the world’s oldest living dog is 28 and vegan.  Google it.  And, here is a study that was done on beagles who were fed less animal protein, more fruits and veggies – and it was discovered that they became actually smarter and lived longer:

    http://dogsinthenews.com/issues/0202/articles/020224a.htm

    You can google for the site to get the entire study printed out, I have it here on my desk

  • Anonymous

    THANK YOU Melissa, Sandy, Mike and Shawna for your thoughtful reply to my post. Your comments have helped me in feeling comfortable with the higher animal protein foods.  I will most certainly check out the links you posted to help me get more educated on this subject, and for my desire to give my Sadie the best diet possible.

  • Shawna

    Oops, not sure why but I swear I read something in your comment about HK being raw..  Now after re-reading I see nothing like that…  Sorry about that..!!

  • Shawna

    Katy_B ~~ I think the sales gal wasn’t as informed as you might think.. :(

    Honest Kitchen (although made from excellent ingredinets AND human grade) is NOT raw — well, at least the protein is not raw.  When they dehydrate the proteins used in the foods they use heat above a temperature that technically cooks the meat.  The veggies are dehydrated without heat and are technically raw.

    Additionally, kibble in and of itself (many believe) contributes to kidney disease due to the chronic dehydration that a dry diet causes. 

    “High quality” proteins do not contribute to kd either however many (including veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker) feel that low quality proteins (like plant based proteins and some by-products) do contribute.  I can explain why if you are interested but long and complex so will not unless someone is interested.

    Even when the kidneys are damaged protein is not bad.  Protein restriction will help with the “symptoms” of kidney disease but will do nothing to prevent further kidney destruction.  Protein only needs to be restricted in the late stages of kidney disease or when their is protein in the urine (until the cause is determined and stopped).  My dog Audrey was born with kidney disease and diagnosed at age one.  She is now 5 and 1/2 years old and has been on a high protein raw diet since weaning.  She is doing EXTREMELY well — never sick, few and mild symptoms, not on any prescription medications etc.. 

    Bottom line — “high quality” (especially raw) protein does not cause nor contribute to kidney disease.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Katy B,

    It seems not everyone would agree with the clerk at your pet store.

    To learn more about this controversial subject, please visit our FAQ page and look for the topic, “Dog Food Protein”. Be sure to follow the links you’ll find there, too.

    Hope this helps.

  • sandy

    This site ranks the foods against the “ancestral diet”. 

    http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/frequently-asked-questions/rate-dog-food/

    http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/choosing-dog-food/dog-food-reviews-problems/

    I keep my foods over 30% and grain free.  I use kibble, canned and raw.

  • melissa

    Katy B-

    It used to be said that high protein can cause kidney issues, but as of late, it appears that has been reversed and high protein only causes issues if your dog has kidney issues to begin with. I personally stay under 34% or so and I feed dogs from 6mths to 15 yrs old-all seem to do fine with this protein level.

    Since I am not one that subscribes to the “higher the protein the better” mantra, I feed levels that I personally am comfortable with and use the reviews to judge if there are any red flags, and how others dogs have done on the food. One thing I have noticed with this food is people saying their dogs need to defecate 5 or more times a day and that I am not comfortable with-seems excessive.

  • Anonymous

    I visited the pet store today with the sole purpose of purchasing one of the 5 star dry dog food, recommended from this site, for my 6 year old Colton de Tulear/Sadie.  The well informed sales gal and I started a conversation on what the best food is, and she recommended the raw food brand, Honest Kitchen Dog Food, stating that she felt most of the dry kibble foods contained too much protein, which may be the cause of kidney problems later in a dogs life.  I took her advise and settled on the HK Embark.  I then came home and returned to your site to see how it was rated. It was rated 4 stars because of its lower protein content.  Now I’m a bit confused.  It seems the higher the percent of protein contained in a food, the more stars it gets here at Dog Food Advisor.  Can you give me your thoughts or advice on this.  Is there any truth to her claim of too much protein being harmful?

  • Pinkyparr

    I just had to report that we’re trying out HK Embark and Love right now and our Frenchie’s gas output has decreased dramatically!  We have fed/tried Orijen, Acana, Great Life, Blue Buffalo Wilderness, EVO, Taste of the Wild and Wellness Core kibbles and she had had major gas on all of them.  We didn’t think things would ever change since we tried so many different brands and figured we just had to live with our smelly girl.  We are keeping our fingers crossed that the results don’t change — if they don’t we’ll keep paying more for HK — worth it to be able to breathe around her! LOL  (P.S. We are not associated with HK in any way!)

  • Scott

    My dog Ricky loves Love!! his skin looks so much better and lovely!! thankk you HK

  • Blizzard7803

    If no one else responded… I wanted to let you know…You should definitely refrigerate it after hydration for over night soaking… otherwise it could get bacteria (cause it’s “raw”).

  • Mjs_lls

    What a service is this site to dog owners. I wish I had found it years ago. I’m in the process of switching our senior lab from The Honest Kitchen Force brand, to Orijen Senior. That’s because it took me a couple of years to get wise to the role of flaxseed — it’s the second ingredient in Force — in the dog’s copious and soft stool output. He’s halfway switched to Orijen now, and already the urgency of pooping is down and the quality up. In making this switch, I’ve conducted also a taste experiment. I give him fresh beef or chicken with the Force. Days two and three, he actually left off eating the fresh meat to go back to Orijen and to finish it. Lastly, he turns to Force. Whoa. But btw, Honest Kitchen is a fine food. I got to it because Canidae (spelling?) switched their formula and our dog got very sick, two years ago. anyway, my deep appreciation to this website.

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  • Jb2dogs

    Hi, Linda. My two Greys (females, 3 and 5) are on Keen right now and I’m thinking of switching to Thrive for no other reason than to give them something different.  I mix one cup of Keen with 1 cup of Blue Buffalo Wilderness dry each feeding.  Their coats are shiny, they’re staying fit, and there’s virtually no gas.  Like others have commented, though, they poop frequently (3-4 times/day), but the poops are firm.  I love THK, even for the price, and will continue to feed it to my girls.

  • Barb

    Mike –
    I have been using Thrive for my diabetic dog. She is doing wonderful on this food, and thought I would share my experience. I searched long and hard to find a good quality food that would work well with her insulin requirements. She is doing absolutely great on Thrive. I noticed that others mentioned that lack of protein, but I add some raw meat (about 1 oz) to the mix. Her food allergies are gone, and she has a great blood glucose curve.

    I noticed that what is listed is 44 in Carbs, however, I believe that Honest Kitchen states that Thrive only as 37% carbs (which they consider low). One of the few companies that will actually tell you the carbs that are in their food.

    Well, to say the least, I am thrilled, Abby is thrilled (she licks her bowl clean, and actually will sing for her supper).

    Also, wanted you to know that this is my first stop when searching for a new dog food. Thanks for your reviews.

  • jessica

    Mike-
    As of late September/October a new product, Love, was released. It is beef with a protein level of 31%…will you review it when you have a chance? Thank you.

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