Addiction Dog Food Review (Dehydrated)

Addiction Raw Dehydrated product range is made up of six recipes which each receive the Dog Food Advisor’s rating, 4 stars.

The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Addiction Outback Kangaroo Feast Raw Dehydrated Dog Food was selected to represent the other products in the line for this review.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is kangaroo. Kangaroo is a lean meat containing less than 2% fat, which makes it a healthier red meat alternative.

It’s also rich in protein, essential B vitamins, minerals as well as omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.

In a pet food, kangaroo is considered “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered” kangaroo and associated with skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus.¹

Keep in mind, raw kangaroo contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to a fraction of its original weight.

After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.

The second ingredient is potato. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The third ingredient is carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.

The fourth ingredient is coconut oil, a natural oil rich in medium-chain fatty acids.

The fifth ingredient is tapioca, a gluten-free, starchy carbohydrate extract made from the root of the cassava plant.

The sixth ingredient is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The next three items are nutrient-rich fruits…

• Papayas
• Apples
• Cranberries

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

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Addiction product.

With four notable exceptions…

First, we note the use of taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.

Since taurine deficiency appears to be more common in pets consuming grain-free diets, we view its presence in this recipe as a positive addition.

Next, this recipe contains sodium selenite a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.

This recipe contains brewers dried yeast, which can be a controversial item. Although it’s a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient is rich in minerals and other healthy nutrients.

Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.

Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.

In addition, a vocal minority insists yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is a claim we’ve not been able to scientifically verify.

In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast can still be considered a nutritious additive.

What’s more noteworthy here is that brewers yeast contains about 48% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

And lastly, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually associated with higher quality dog foods.

Nutrient Analysis

Judging by its ingredients alone, Addiction Raw Dehydrated Dog Food looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 24.4%, a fat level of 13.3% and estimated carbohydrates of about 54.2%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 24.9% and a mean fat level of 13.6%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 53.5% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 55%.

Below-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

Addiction Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Addiction through July 2024.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

Our Rating of Addiction Dog Food

Addiction offers both grain-free and grain-inclusive dry dog foods that utilize a moderate amount of dehydrated named meats as their dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.

Those looking for a wet food from the same company may wish to visit our review of Addiction canned dog food.

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