Best Dog Food for Vizslas

These dog foods were carefully reviewed for ingredient quality, nutrition, and standards.
Karan French Howard Calvert

By

Karan French
Karan French

Karan French

Senior Researcher

Karan is a senior researcher at the Dog Food Advisor, working closely with our in-house pet nutritionist, Laura Ward, to give pet parents all the information they need to find the best food for their dog.

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&
Howard Calvert
Howard Calvert

Howard Calvert

Content Writer

Aside from Dog Food Advisor, Howard has written for a range of newspapers, magazines, and websites on topics including how to pole vault, what it’s like to leap around a giant human pinball machine, and the experience of running 100 miles round Mont Blanc.

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Updated: September 12, 2025

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We've been reviewing food since 2008 with a proprietary formula in partnership with experts and user feedback. All reviews are verified by our in-house animal nutritionist. Why trust us

Laura Ward

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Laura Ward
Laura Ward

Laura Ward

Pet Nutritionist

Laura studied BSc (Hons) Animal Science with an accreditation in Nutrition at the University of Nottingham, before working for eight years in the pet food and nutrition industry.

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What’s the best dog food for Vizslas?

Vizslas (meaning pointer) are a medium sized breed of dog originating from Hungary. They are easily recognised by their sleek-golden rust coat and long silky ears that frame their face.

They were historically used for hunting by the Magyar people, who settled in Hungary more than 1,000 years ago. Vizslas were used by nobles and warlords to hunt game birds and hares. Eventually, the dogs were developed to both point and retrieve.

According to figures from the American Kennel Club, Vizslas are ranked as the 33rd most popular dog in the US.

Vizslas are prone to skeletal issues such as hip dysplasia. It’s, therefore, crucial to choose a dog food that has appropriate and balanced levels of calcium and phosphorus to support healthy bone growth. Look for recipes which contain glucosamine and chondroitin.

Healthy fats provide a concentrated source of energy and are essential for maintaining a healthy coat and skin. Look for foods with moderate levels of healthy fats, such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

They benefit from a diet rich in high-quality animal protein sources such as chickenbeef, or fish, so look for a dog food with named meat protein sources at the top of the ingredient list.

Below, you can see our recommendations of the best foods for Vizslas to help you choose the right food for your pet. For more information about this breed, see this page.

The Dog Food Advisor - Editor's choice

Best Dog Food for Vizslas February 2026

Here are The Dog Food Advisor's best dog food brands for Vizslas for February 2026.

  • Merrick Grain-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato

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    Merrick Grain-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato derives the majority of its meat protein from chicken, a high-quality protein that helps build and maintain healthy muscle tissue.

    It also features 81% of its protein from animal sources, omega fatty acids support healthy skin and coat, and is packed with glucosamine and chondroitin to foster joint health.

    Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 36% protein, 18% fat and 38.1% estimated carbs, resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 50%.

    Whole foods like apples and blueberries are full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, plus easily digestible carbohydrates like potatoes and sweet potatoes, offer the benefit of sustained energy to keep your Vizsla energized all day long.

    Merrick Grain-Free Small Breed Chicken & Sweet Potato is one of 11 dry recipes included in our review of the Merrick Grain-Free dry product line.

    Read our review of the full Merrick Dog Food range here

    Main Ingredients Deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes
    Texture Dry
    Type Grain-Free
    Protein Percentage 36%
    AAFCO Standards Maintenance
    Best For Adult Vizsla

    Sample buyer review...

    "After trying Merrick’s Grain Free Chicken + Sweet Potato dog food, Bella now loves it more than the wet food she was previously eating with a mix of her old dog food. She seems to have no desire to go back to her old food. Her new favorite!"

    Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com
  • Nom Nom Beef Mash

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    Nom Nom Beef Mash is one of four fresh recipes included in our review of this fresh product line.

    This food derives the bulk of its meat protein from beef. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 34.8% protein, 17.4% fat and 39.8% estimated carbs, resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 50%.

    Made with fresh, whole ingredients, every meat and vegetable is gently cooked individually, then mixed in batches to seal in vital nutrients and maximize digestibility. Grain-free, it’s ideal for dogs with allergies and can be utilized as a main meal or as a topper.

    Read our review of the full Nom Nom Dog Food (Fresh) range here

    Main Ingredients Ground beef, russet potatoes, eggs, carrots, peas
    Texture Wet
    Type Grain-Free
    Protein Percentage 34.8%
    AAFCO Standards All Life Stages
    Best For All adult and puppy Vizslas

    Sample buyer review...

    "Tula gets so excited when it’s mealtime. She no longer has skin issues, her coat looks wonderful and her stools are the best they’ve ever been. I can’t imagine ever feeding her anything but Nom Nom!"

    Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com
  • Ollie Turkey Dish with Blueberries

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    Ollie Turkey Dish with Blueberries is our recommended all-natural food for Vizslas, perfectly portioned to provide them with the nutrients they need, resulting in shiny coats, bucket-loads of energy, and better digestion.

    This food is one of five fresh recipes included in our review of the Ollie Fresh product line.

    It derives the majority of its meat protein from turkey. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 35.7% protein, 25% fat and 31.3% estimated carbs, resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of around 70%.

    It’s also packed with moisture, as well as superfoods including blueberries for fiber, vitamins C and K, and antioxidant boost, and spinach for iron and beta-carotene.

    Read our review of the full Ollie Dog Food (Fresh) range here

    Main Ingredients Turkey, butternut squash, turkey livers, oats, lentils
    Texture Wet
    Type Grain-Free
    Protein Percentage 35.7%
    AAFCO Standards All Life Stages
    Best For All Vizslas

    Sample buyer review...

    "Lily has food sensitivities and needed to lose 2 pounds. Ollie’s fresh turkey recipe, with Lily’s calories counted and portions predetermined, are just what we needed."

    Read more buyer reviews at myollie.com
  • Instinct Raw Boost With Real Beef

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    Instinct Raw Boost with Real Beef is our recommended choice for Vizsla puppies and is one of 11 dry recipes included in our review of the Instinct Raw Boost product line.

    This recipe sources most of its meat protein from beef. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 38.5% protein, 23.1% fat and 30.5% estimated carbs, providing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 60%.

    Grain-free, high-protein kibble and freeze-dried raw, Instinct Raw Boost With Real Beef is packed with animal protein to help your Vizsla puppy develop strong, lean muscles. It also provides a probiotic boost, has high omegas and plenty of antioxidants for digestive health, healthy skin and coat, and immune health.

    Read our review of the full Instinct Dog Food range here

    Main Ingredients Beef, white fish meal, herring meal, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), peas
    Texture Dry
    Type Grain-Free
    Protein Percentage 38.5%
    AAFCO Standards All Life Stages
    Best For All Vizslas

    Sample buyer review...

    "We have been feeding our dog instinct for since she was a puppy over a year and a half ago. We rotate flavors every other bag, but I’ve stayed with this brand from our old dog who lived to be 16. This flavor, however, is without question our pooches favorite. From the first time we dropped it in her bowl, she gobbled the entire bowl without thinking about it. She has always enjoyed her other instinct flavors, but for some reason this one gets eaten immediately while the others getting over a 20 or 30 minutes."

    Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com
  • Taste of the Wild Ancient Wetlands with Roasted Fowl

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    Taste of the Wild Ancient Wetlands with Roasted Fowl is our pick for the Best Affordable Dog Food for Vizslas, and it sources most of its meat protein from duck.

    Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 35.6% protein, 20% fat and 36.4% estimated carbs, resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 56%.

    Ancient grains provide an additional source of protein, fiber and other essential nutrients. We like the fact the recipe also features omega fatty acids to aid skin and coat health and species-specific K9 Strain Proprietary Probiotics, plus antioxidants and prebiotics to support your Vizsla’s digestion and immune system health.

    Taste of the Wild Ancient Wetlands with Roasted Fowl is one of four dry recipes included in our review of the Taste of the Wild Ancient Grains product line.

    Read our review of the full Taste of the Wild Ancient Grains Dog Food (Dry) range here

    Main Ingredients Duck, duck meal, chicken meal, grain sorghum, millet
    Texture Dry
    Type Grain-Inclusive
    Protein Percentage 35.6%
    AAFCO Standards All Life Stages
    Best For All Vizslas

    Sample buyer review...

    "Variety of flavors, probiotics, my pet loves the taste, grain-inclusive, unique protein sources, trusted brand, affordability"

    Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com
  • Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato

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    Limited Ingredient Grain Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe  provides complete and balanced nutrition for adult Vizslas with allergies.

    With omega-rich salmon as the first ingredient and sweet potatoes for fiber, this grain-free formula is made with easily digestible ingredients and supports full-body health.

    Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 26.7% protein, 11.1% fat and 54.2% estimated carbs, resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 42%.

    Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato is one of 21 recipes included in our review of the this dry product line.

    Read our review of the full Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Dog Food (Dry) range here

    Main Ingredients Salmon, menhaden fish meal, sweet potatoes, tapioca starch, potatoes
    Texture Dry
    Type Grain-Free
    Protein Percentage 26.7%
    AAFCO Standards Adult Maintenance
    Best For Adult Vizslas

    Sample buyer review...

    "Our puppy had been having allergic reactions to the previous dog food that we had given her. Chicken, beef, lamb, it all made her sick. We had to go to the vet regularly because her foods caused infections and required surgical procedures. This was our last attempt at a food before the doctor was going to put her on specialized gastrointestinal food which is much more expensive. Our puppy has been on this diet for 2 months now and has not had any further problems. Plus, she LOVES it! A win win for everyone."

    Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com

How we review dog foods

We read the label.

This may sound simple, but there are thousands of dog foods on the market, and the label is the only source of reliable, standardized and government-regulated data available on every one of them. This includes the AAFCO nutrient profile, the Guaranteed Analysis and the ingredients.

We use our algorithm.

We take the data and enter it into our unique algorithm to produce a different set of figures, including the Dry Matter Analysis (the nutrient levels after water has been removed). This algorithm gives us a base score range on our five-star rating system.

We refine the score.

We take into account other factors, such as the quality of ingredients and the nature of the first few ingredients on the list (and therefore the most prevalent in the food), and narrow the score. The key ingredients are explained in-depth in the review.

Our expert nutritionist takes over.

At this point, our expert pet nutritionist, Laura Ward, goes through the review to check and approve it. She has the authority to make small discretionary changes to the star-rating based on her judgment of a food. We now have our final star-rating.

What other information do we include for dog parents?

Each dog food review includes sample consumer reviews and links to other reviews. It also includes the brand’s recall history. Our Best Dog Food pages also include consumer reviews.

Why we don’t just feed foods to our dogs.

Despite what other dog food review sites claim, simply giving a food to a dog and seeing if they eat it is completely unscientific and has little value as a review method. If you give a kid candy, they’ll happily eat it, but it doesn’t mean it’s good for them. And no one food suits every dog.

It’s also dangerous for dogs. We rate every dog food, good and bad. Why would we deliberately feed a dog bad dog food?

That said, we understand that personal experience of a food is important to dog parents and include consumer reviews on our pages.

What about lab-testing dog food?

Lab-testing dog food can provide useful, in-depth information, but as mentioned, there are thousands of dog foods on the market. We’d love to test them all, but there isn’t a facility in the country that could. Therefore, it’s impossible to have a fair universal rating system using lab tests.

It’s worth noting that dog food brands carry out their own testing. This ensures compliance with AAFCO and FDA pet food standards, as well as checking for pathogens.


Why you should trust our dog food reviews


Dog Food Advisor has been impartially reviewing dog food since 2008. We are the most trusted dog food review site in the United States, with a 4.9-star TrustPilot rating.

Here's why:

We do not accept money, gifts, samples or any other incentives in exchange for special consideration in writing our reviews.

We rate every dog food in the same way, using the only information we believe is equally available for all foods, reliable and therefore fair: what’s on the label. It’s the only way for any review site to rate every dog food on the market.

We focus on ingredients, nutrient profiles and recipes. We look at the ingredients used, including their quality, and review the nutritional analysis and macronutrient balance. We take into account any controversial or harmful ingredients.

Every review is expertly checked and approved by our highly qualified in-house animal nutritionist, Laura Ward.

We report all dog food and dog treat recalls through our Dog Food Recall Alert service, no matter the brand.

For more information, read our How We Rate Dog Food and Disclaimer and Disclosure pages.

Here are the most frequently asked questions we get about feeding Vizslas:

Frequently Asked Questions

How big are Vizslas?

Vizslas are lightly built, medium-size dogs, with males standing 22 to 24 inches (55 to 61 cm), females 21 to 23 inches (53 to 58 cm). The weight range for the breed is 45 to 65 pounds (20 to 29 kg), with females being smaller.

What is the temperament of Vizslas Dogs?

The Vizsla is described as lively, gentle, and affectionate, they have a strong desire to be with people building tight bonds with their owner. Because of their playful nature, they get along really well with older children they can play with.

How much exercise do Vizslas Dogs need?

Vizslas were bred to be active hunting dogs, they need both mental and physical exercise. Individual dog’s needs vary but in general they need a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise a day.

In addition to walks and games of fetch, most Vizslas need opportunities to run hard off-leash on a regular basis.

Mental exercise is as important as physical activity, so training should be part of their routine. Vizslas can be excellent running or jogging companions.

What health conditions can affect Vizslas Dogs?

Vizslas are generally a healthy breed. A typical lifespan is about 12 to 15 years. A responsible breeder would have the following screen checks done: hip, ophthalmologist and thyroid evaluation.

Regular veterinary check-ups and a balanced diet are important for maintaining their health and well-being.

Final word

The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.

However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.

For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.

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