Innova Dog Food (Dry)

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Rating: ★★★★☆

Innova Dry Dog Food earns the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.

Currently, the Innova product line includes eleven kibbles… four designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages, two for puppies and five for adult maintenance.

  • Innova Puppy
  • Innova Senior Plus
  • Innova Senior (3 stars)
  • Innova Adult Small Bites
  • Innova Adult Large Bites
  • Innova Adult Large Breed
  • Innova Puppy Large Breed
  • Innova Senior Large Breed
  • Innova Red Meat Small Bites
  • Innova Red Meat Large Bites
  • Innova Adult Low Fat (3 stars)

Innova Adult Large Bites Dog Food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

Innova Adult Large Bites

Dry Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 27% | Fat = 16% | Carbs = 50%

Ingredients: Turkey, chicken, chicken meal, barley, brown rice, potatoes, rice, chicken fat, flaxseed, herring, natural flavors, apples, carrots, pumpkin, egg, sunflower oil, sea salt, potassium chloride, herring oil, cottage cheese, alfalfa sprouts, direct-fed microbials, lecithin, rosemary extract, ascorbic acid, beta carotene, biotin, calcium carbonate, calcium iodate, choline chloride, cobalt carbonate, cobalt proteinate, copper proteinate, d-calcium pantothenate, dicalcium pantothenate, dl-methionine, folic acid, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, niacin, potassium chloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin C supplement (sodium ascorbate), vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement (alpha tocopherol), zinc proteinate

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 2.8%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

The first two ingredients in this dog food are turkey and chicken. Though a quality item, raw poultry contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just 20% of its original weight.

To reflect their lighter mass, these items should more accurately occupy a lower position on the list.

Which brings us to chicken meal… the third and (probably) the dominant meat ingredient in this dog food.

Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The fourth ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. Unlike grains with a higher glycemic index (like rice), barley can help support stable blood sugar levels in dogs.

The fifth item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.

The sixth ingredient is potato. Assuming they’re whole, potatoes are a good source of digestible carbohydrates and other healthy nutrients.

The seventh ingredient is listed as simply rice. Since the word rice doesn’t tell us much, it’s difficult to judge the quality of this particular item.

The eight ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.

The ninth ingredient is flaxseed… one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Flax seeds are rich in soluble fiber.

However, we find it unusual to see flaxseed here in its whole seed form. Whole flax seeds are almost impossible to digest (at least for us humans) unless they are first ground to a usable powder before they are consumed.

The tenth ingredient includes herring. Herring is a fatty marine fish naturally high in protein as well as omega 3 fatty acids… essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other healthy items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to have much of an effect on the overall quality of this product.

The manufacturer appears to have added back some of the “good” bacteria lost during the cooking process. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.

This dog food also contains chelated mineralsminerals that have been chemically attached to amino acids. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are generally found in better dog foods.

Innova Dry Dog Food… the Bottom Line

Based upon its ingredients alone, Innova Dry Dog Food looks like a very nice kibble.

Yet ingredient quality alone cannot tell the complete story. We still must estimate the product’s meat content before we establish a final rating.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 27%, a fat level of 16% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 50%.

Due to their notably lower protein and fat content, we’ve assumed the Senior and Adult Low Fat recipes to be unusually light on meat content… and thus downgraded these foods to three stars.

If you omit the Senior and Low Fat products, the brand features an average protein content of 28% and an average fat level of 15%.

Together, these figures suggest an overall carbohydrate content of 49% for the full product line.

Moderate protein. Average fat. And average carbohydrates… when compared to a typical dry dog food.

With no sign of any plant-based protein concentrates, this is the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.

It is also necessary to acknowledge the complete absence of any Red Flag items.

Bottom line?

Innova Dry Dog Food is a grain-based kibble using a reasonable amount of named meats and meals as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.

Highly recommended.

Those looking for a comparable wet food from the same company may wish to check out our review of Innova Canned Dog Food.

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 brand… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.

Other spellings: Inova

Notes and Updates

11/22/2009 Original review
06/22/2010 Review updated

Dog Food Advisor IconThe Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.


  • sharron

    can anyone suggest a dog food appropriate for a 3 yr old yorkie/chihuahua – been feeding acana pacifica but was told it’s not a balanced dog food and she doesn’t need the high protein and it will make her put on extra weight which she doesn’t need – she isn’t an active dog
    thanks sharron

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com/ Mike Sagman

    Hi Addie,

    Thanks for the “heads up”. I’ll get to posting a review on Innova Prime just as soon as I can.

  • Addie

    Heads up, Innova Prime is officially out, grain free and potato free I think. 
    http://www.naturapet.com/products/1742

  • Coffeeandshoes

    I have a two year old Cockapoo who I thought was a picky eater. would leave food in the bowl all day and just take bites every now and then. I switched to the Innova Turkey a month ago and he loves it, scaarfs it up and does a happy dance when he sees  its time to eat. He has more energy and  is doing great.

  • Jan_Mom2Cavs

    Well…what are you feeding?  I’m assuming Innova puppy.  If so, and your puppy is doing fine on it (good stool, good growth, shiny coat, etc.) then stay with it.  Innova is an okay food, if it’s working.  If not, then by all means, try another 4-5 star puppy food.

  • Rellyoungboss

    should i change my puppy food or just stick with the one im useing

  • Vtcarma

    Wow in a way it’s good to read that others are having the same issues I have been with our dog “Jenna”.  Our German Shepard is having a problem since just before New Years.  She is a fussy eater and so Innova red meat diet “was” a good choice two years ago but this last bag and one about 6 mo. ago seem to be the culprit.  I buy the large bag and so it last a long time. She has been having loose watery stools.  She gets back to normal if I take her off the Innova and make the rice/chicken bland diet for a few days and as soon as I start into the Innova dry we have a problem again, we are on the third week and I am convinced it is the Innova.   It could be “Jenna” our German Shepard has figured out what she needs to do to get real chicken and rice for meals everyday or beef and rice, both these bland diets saved her from having a major problem.  Now I have to find something that will work for her again, sorry Innova but it is definitly in your ballpark.   :/

  • wolfcat

    I feed it to my 2 danes and irish wolfhound because the easiest to buy decent foods around here are Innova Large Breed Puppy and Blue Buffalo Wilderness Duck and Chicken. The BB smells a little burnt and the dogs prefer the Innova over it, I’m guessing for that reason? They do love the more expensive foods from online like Evo Red meat and Taste of the Wild, but those are hard to get in a pinch so I settled on this.

  • http://mtnweekly.com Mike Hardaker

    Shocked at the negative reviews? Just switched over to Innova for my German Shorthaired Pointer (14 Months) after reading through all the ingredients at the local pet store. Figured I want my dog eating more of what she would find in the wild.

    So far her stool is more solid then before, aside from when she is eating dead animals :) .. which happens very often or drinking dirty water even more common.

  • Shelly

    I bought Innova for my senior mini Schnauzer because she had many allergies and I thought it would be good for her. She passed away (heart failure) so I stopped buying it and I’m very glad I did…I would never knowingly support a company associated with P&G.

    I tried Newman’s Own because I really liked the idea of organic ingredients, but my dogs don’t like it as much as other foods & one is allergic to chicken. Now they eat Nature’s Domain from Costco, which I believe is the same as Taste of the Wild. They all really like the flavor & hopefully will all do well on it.

    @Sandi, thanks for posting the info about the settlement. I had not heard about that and I bought Innova during this period.

  • Tim Carpenter

    I would like to throw in my experience with this dog food. I have beagles and used to feed them Innova Adult Dry Food. About a year ago, I began noticing anal gland issues and skin related issues. Took them to vet and he told me about similar issues that he saw and heard about related to this dog food. After switching their food to Purina Pro Plan, I haven’t noticed any problems.

  • Kathy

    It is interesting to see the posts about problems with Innova beginning around March of this year. I have fed Innova for several years and tried to stick it out after the P & G sale to see what would happen. The dogs have always done great on it and we had outstanding coats. Around March of this year, I started to notice dry dull coats and itchy bumpy skin. And the very loose stools started around then as well. Some of the dogs had runny eyes. About a month ago, a few of my dogs stopped wanting to eat or picked at their food and ate very slowly. Our dogs never turn down food. I have raised litters of puppies on Innova puppy food and they did great. My current litter was weaned onto Innova puppy food and they had horrible liquid stinky stools. I was able to get Acana and Orijen and I started the puppies on Orijen puppy food. Within two meals, their stools were solid and their bellies were no longer bloated. I have switched all my other dogs to Acana and Orijen and they are doing great. Their coats are starting to recover. No one will ever convince me that Natura did not change the Innova food. Something had to have been done to it. And it sounds like the problems others had began all about the same time. Shame, shame, shame on P & G!

  • Shawna

    PS — forgot the whole denaturants thing melissa discusses from NV in the above post…. ??????

    I also know that Scott left NV and started Nature’s Logic. Jacqueline left NV and started Answer’s Raw. I’ve personally talked to both these people — and heard of a few more but can not confirm for sure… Why are their high ranking employees leaving?

    What’s going on NV?

  • Shawna

    I like your response melissa :) ..

    PS — for those not aware, Nature’s Variety was purchased by an investment group named Catterton Partners end of 2010/begining of 2011. On another forum we’ve been watching this since it happened. They haven’t seemed to make any ingredient changes but small (and not so small) things are cropping up. Like the decision (about 2 months-ish before the by out) to high pressure pasteurize their raw line. Because of a possible contamination. Proactive on their part but it seems fishy – to me at least..

    Then they introduced the raw venison and bison — two very low fat meats that are somehow high in fat in their product? The two seem to be excessive in calcium/phos too. aimee or you other mathmeticians that see this — PLEASE feel free to give your input :) .

    Although many of you aren’t as bothered by grains as I am — I have to ask myself — why would they introduce lower protein (then the Instinct line) puppy foods when their diets (all) are suitable for all life stages. I can possibly see the large breed puppy food but not the regular puppy food?? Puppies and seniors need MORE protein then adult dogs so why introduce a product with the same amount of protein as their regular Prairie line – at 26% – (which is lower in protein then their Instinct line – at )?

    And last but not least – their two new limited ingredient diets (in the grain free Instinct line) are considerably lower in protein then their other products in the Instinct line. The meat is already in the food so why the need to lower it?

    Granted they’ve had a full year, but I’ve seen far more shinanigans from NV then from Natura and P&G to date..

    Food for thought :)

  • melissa

    Jan-

    It is confusing. I am in the process of looking for my next rotational food and had it narrowed down to Nature’s Variety Prairie (and Instinct), Innova or Fromm, and quite frankly, I am hesitant over P&G owning Innova now, and someone reported denaturants being used in the Nature’s Variety Raw(which then makes me wonder about the kibble) I think in the end, you have to pick the best you can(or home cook or do home made raw) to truly know what you are feeding. Since that is not practical for us, its back to the drawing board. ugh

  • Donnie

    I recently switched dog food after feeding Innova for many years. The moment I learned it was now owned by Proctor and Gamble I knew I could no longer use their food. I purchase no product by that company due to the fact that in the year 2011 they still do despicable testing on animals in their labs. Am now using Wellness.

  • Jan

    Andrew..What brand did you switch from? I am a couple of months away from getting a new Bernese Mtn Dog and have been researching foods. What a confusing process! As of this day I was leaning more toward Innova. Now I am having second thoughts based on the reviews here.

  • Andrew

    Odd to hear all these complaints. I recently switched (UP) to this food because my dog always had runny stool. He seems to be responding well to this food.

  • Mary Ann

    We “rescued” two 3 month old lab litter mates from a neighbor that were malnourished, dehydrated and much smaller than normal. After two months of regular feeding/watering, they had grown close to normal size. But the rapid growth caused OCD (osteochondrosis dessicans) of the shoulder to Thelma which required surgery ($2300) to correct. Our vet said we should change to a no corn/wheat and low protein diet to keep any future growth to a manageable level. We chose Innova Large Breed Puppy as it met the vet’s requirements. There were no problems with the first 3 bags. However, two days of eating from the 4th bag and both puppies developed very watery loose stools. I started feeding them the plain chicken/rice diet. Lab analysis of their stools showed no parasites or abnormal bacteria. After a week of the bland diet and, finally, firm stools, I started to add back in a small amount of the Innova. The next day both had the watery, loose stools again! If just one puppy had the problem, I might think it was an allergy. But for both to have diarrhea at the same time meant the food was suspect.

    In agreement with our vet, we have switched them to Royal Canin low fat digestive, at least for the next few months until their systems stabilize.

    I did contact Innova and said what had happened. I was told to send a product sample for analysis but felt that I wouldn’t get an impartial answer, so chose not to.

    I had read the concerns of others that the P & G buyout of Natura might affect the quality of Innova products, but was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. I cannot do that anymore and will never purchase another Innova product again based upon our puppies’ experience. I never want to put them through that again.

  • melissa

    Jose-

    Dogs with no teeth can eat dry food : ) Make sure the kibble is small and you might want to soak it for a few minutes with warm water if she/he seems to have difficulty or choking-

  • http://BrothersComplete.com Richard Darlington

    Jose

    I just stumbled on your post. If your dog has almost no teeth left you can moisten the dry kibble with water or chicken soup to soften it before your dog eats it.

    Dogs are designed to swallow things whole (they don’t have the flat teeth we have for grinding food and mashing it up) so chewing is not really that important for them. They were designed to just rip and swallow in the wild. As long as your poodle swallows the food he’ll be fine.