Rating: 
ZiwiPeak Daily Dog dehydrated raw dog food gets the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.
The ZiwiPeak Daily Dog product line includes 3 dehydrated raw dog foods… each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
- ZiwiPeak Lamb
- ZiwiPeak Venison
- ZiwiPeak Venison and Fish
ZiwiPeak Venison dry dog food was chosen to represent the others in the line for this review.
ZiwiPeak Venison
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Venison meat, liver, tripe, heart and kidney, chicory inulin, green-lipped mussel, fish oil, lecithin, kelp, vitamins and minerals, parsley, naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols, additives: vitamin D3, vitamin E, copper (copper proteinate)
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.9%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this food is venison. Venison is considered “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered” venison and associated with skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus.1
Venison is naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The next four ingredients are all organ meats…
- Liver
- Tripe
- Heart
- Kidney
Organ meats have a high biological value and are especially rich in natural vitamins and minerals. Although these items are probably sourced from venison, we would prefer to have seen their origin confirmed on the label.
In any case, organ meat can be considered a beneficial ingredient.
The sixth ingredient includes chicory inulin. Inulin is a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in the root of the chicory plant. Chicory inulin is a natural source of soluble dietary fiber.
Chicory inulin supports digestive function and helps promote the absorption of other nutrients.
The seventh ingredient lists green-lipped mussel. Mussels are a clam-like animal notably rich in glucosamine and omega-3 fatty acids… compounds with the proven ability to support long-term joint health.
The eighth ingredient is fish oil. Fish oil is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids… and (depending on the level of its purity) should be considered a healthy addition.
Lecithin is a waxy substance obtained from soybeans. Although it is commonly used to make fats more blendable, lecithin is believed to improve a dog’s skin and coat.
The vitamins and minerals added to this product are not detailed sufficiently here to permit us to judge their quality.
Yet we do note this food contains at least some 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.
ZiwiPeak Daily Dog Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, ZiwiPeak Daily Dog appears to be a quality air dried 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 40%, a fat level of 31% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 21%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 40% and an average fat level of 31%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate portion size of 21% for the full product line.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And very low carbs… as compared to a typical dry dog food.
Containing no plant-based protein concentrates, this appears to be the profile of a dry dog food containing a significant amount of meat.
Bottom line?
ZiwiPeak Daily Dog is a grain-free dehydrated raw product using an abundance of lamb, venison or fish as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand five stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Those looking for a wet product from the same company may wish to check out our review of ZiwiPeak 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 a specific health benefit 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
07/28/2010 Original review
07/09/2011 Updated to include AAFCO info
- Adapted by the Dog Food Advisor and based upon the official definition for beef published by the Association of American Feed Control Officials, 2008 Edition ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.