Choosing a grain-free dog food can be a smart choice for many reasons, and there are certainly many health-related benefits associated with grain-free dog food in general.
Fortunately, there are several top brands of grain-free dog food available on the market these days – so in this guide, we are going to show you a selection of the best ones to choose. In this guide, we aim to include high-quality products that fit the bill no matter which you choose, and any truly inferior products have been kept out of the guide completely.
Ultimately, this means you can’t go too far wrong with any of the options listed here, but spending more money will usually net you a better quality product. However, we’ve tried to include several affordable formulas, along with the costlier high-end brands that use better quality ingredients.
With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at the top grain-free dog food options.
Last update on 2023-05-24 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Our first suggestion for you is this excellent grain-free formula from Wellness Natural Pet Food. The formula is completely free of grains, but it also focuses on providing high-quality protein in the form of quality turkey and chicken, as well as real vegetables, along with added vitamins and minerals.
It’s also nice to know that there’s no artificial additives or preservatives either, so there’s very little that could upset your dog’s digestive system.There are a few different flavor options available if you don’t want the original turkey and chicken version, and these include a wild game version with duck, turkey, boar, and rabbit along with a seafood version that uses whitefish, herring, and salmon.
It’s also worth noting that there’s also an excellent wet food version of the formula, and both products work hand in hand to give your dog a well-balanced, grain-free diet.
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Next, we have a somewhat surprising entry in the form of the ‘Rachael Ray Nutrish formula’. While Rachael Ray is more commonly known as a celebrity chef, there’s no denying that this product is worth a closer look.
The protein used in the formula is impeccable in terms of quality, as it’s mostly comprised of real turkey raised on US farms. Some of the highlights of this product include the zero use of grains, fillers, and gluten – along with no cheap meat by-products or artificial flavorings and preservatives.
However, there are a few accounts of sensitive dogs having allergic reactions with older versions of the formula. But the recent reviews haven’t had such problems. Overall, this food is a well-respected grain-free formula that’s a top choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs, too.
Last update on 2023-05-31 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This highly rated grain free ‘pure’ formula from Canidae is another top option that should serve you and your dog well. There’s a broad range of different flavors available including lamb, duck, salmon, bison, and more. Of course, each option is grain-free and uses limited ingredients, which is perfect for dogs with digestion issues.
In fact, the formula uses only 10 key ingredients in an effort to keep it simple – with the primary ingredient always focusing on a quality source of protein. Finally, the food is available in three different size options – including 4 pound, 12 pound, and 24-pound bags, making it an affordable and convenient choice regardless of the breed you have.
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Blue Buffalo is certainly a famous name in the pet food world, and this particular option receives great feedback in general. There are a few variations of the recipe, with several of them being entirely free of grain – although it’s worth checking carefully before you place your order.
Additionally, the food comes with plenty of added vitamins and minerals in the form of Blue Buffalo’s ‘LifeSource Bits’, which go a long way towards boosting the nutritional benefits of your dog’s food. Of course, the blend is made entirely in the USA as well for some added peace of mind.
Several buyers comment on how much their dogs seem to enjoy this formula, even if they’re usually considered a picky eater. Ultimately, it’s clear to see that Blue Buffalo is a top brand, and this grain-free formula won’t let you down.
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If you’re looking for a canned wet food formula that’s entirely free of grain, yet highly nutritious and ticks all of the right boxes, then you can’t go wrong with this excellent product from Taste of the Wild. It comes in a convenient 12 pack and uses both duck and chicken as the primary ingredients, which gives your dog a fantastic level of tasty meat protein to enjoy.
Of course, it also comes with added fruits and vegetables to cover all of your dog’s key nutritional bases, as well as providing a broad range of natural antioxidants to keep your dog’s immune system in tip-top shape. Many people agree that this is one of the top wet canned foods on the market, and the lack of grain is also another great selling point.
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The Holistic Select brand make a couple of excellent grain free formulas, which come in either turkey or salmon & anchovy blends. Both options are entirely grain-free, and the whole blend is full of quality ingredients without any use of meat by-products, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
But there are some digestive enzymes that will go a long way towards helping your dog to digest proteins and starches, which should help to alleviate any stomach issues you’re having with a sensitive dog. What’s more, the product is proudly made in the USA for further reassurance. Interestingly, this blend is also highly rated by many popular review sites, which gives even further peace of mind when you’re choosing this formula.
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If you’re searching for a limited ingredient formula that won’t upset your dog’s stomach, then you can’t go wrong by choosing the Natural Balance Limited Ingredient formula. It comes in a few different flavor options, with the duck & potato being one of the most popular. Additionally, there’s a ‘small bite’ version as well, which as the name suggests, is better suited to smaller breeds.
Of course, the food is free of grain and the ‘limited ingredient’ focus means there’s very little in here that might upset your dog’s digestive system even if they tend to be on the more sensitive side. While there’s no artificial preservatives, flavorings, or colorings, it still comes with some added vitamins and minerals which focus on supporting your dog’s coat and skin.
Several reviewers comment that their dog’s digestive issues quickly cleared up after switching to this product, which means it’s a good option if you’re looking for something that’ll accommodate a sensitive dog.
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Blue Buffalo has a few different grain-free options, and this particular ‘Freedom’ formula has to be one of the best on offer. It comes with no use of chicken or poultry by-products, nor will you find any corn, wheat, or soy – meaning there’s very little that could upset your dog.
Instead, it focuses on deboned chicken and chicken meal, along with some useful vitamins and minerals, as well as flaxseed, for the added benefit of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids that’ll support your dog’s skin and coat health.
You’ll also find Blue Buffalo’s unique ‘Life Source Bits’, which are a convenient way of adding this useful nutrition to your dog’s diet. Most buyers are thrilled with the quality of the product but it’s important to note that the formula is only free of gluten-based formulas, as it still contains whole grains.
In some cases, this won’t be a problem – but if you need a strict grain-free option, this won’t be the best solution. Yet despite this, it’s certainly a great formula that most dogs greatly enjoy.
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This grain-free food from Merrick promises to be the most naturally nutritious food available, and it’s certainly a very good option for many dogs. The brand is surprisingly affordable, and it also boasts the fact that the ingredients are sourced entirely from the USA, with no ingredients outsourced from China or anywhere else that may have had quality issues in the past.
In general, this brand is highly prized for being one of the more affordable options when it comes to grain-free food – so if you’re on a tight budget but you don’t want to sacrifice too much in the way of quality, then choosing this grain-free formula from Merrick is definitely a great decision.
A few dog owners note that this product managed to clear up their dog’s serious skin allergies, which is always nice to see. What’s more, most owners find their dogs are thrilled by the taste, too.
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Here’s another excellent grain-free option that’s designed to accommodate dogs from all life stages. In addition to being entirely free of grain, it also benefits from an exclusively natural formula that’s a good choice for any dog that sufferers with digestive sensitivity.
Many people find it comforting to know that this food doesn’t use any imported ingredients, so the formula is made using ingredients sourced only in the United States. What’s more, there’s a variety of different flavor options available if you’re looking for an alternative to the beef, with the vast majority of different blends receiving the same kind of positive feedback from buyers.
Ultimately, this is another dependable grain-free formula that may not be quite as popular as some of the bigger and better-known brands, but it still receives great feedback from buyers and it’s worth a closer look.
Last update on 2023-06-02 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Here’s a quality grain-free dog food that you may not have heard about, but it receives great reviews from both dog owners and professional reviewers alike, so it’s certainly worth a closer examination.
It comes with either lamb, chicken, or whitefish as the primary protein ingredients – along with plenty of farm fresh vegetables and fruits to round out the formula and provide a broad range of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
There’s no use of grain or low-quality chicken by-products, and you won’t find any soy, corn, or wheat either. There’s also no use of starchy vegetables like potatoes, and this can further help to relieve the digestion issues of a sensitive dog.
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This food from AvoDerm uses omega-rich avocados, which give your dog plenty of omega fatty acids which go a long way towards supporting healthy skin and coat. Additionally, it’s free of soy and animal byproducts, as well as coming with additional antioxidants and nutrients which help to support and boost your dog’s immune system.
Flavor wise, you have the choice of two different options – either red meat meal and potato, or salmon meal and potato. In terms of user reviews, the product scores a wealth of excellent feedback, and over 80% of users give the product a full five-star rating.
In particular, some reviews mention how this product managed to ease a variety of skin conditions and allergies, which is great news when a dog is currently plagued by a condition like this.
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The Orijen blend is a very highly regarded formula, and while it isn’t one of the cheapest products on the market, it’s definitely amongst the best in quality you’ll ever find – so it makes for an excellent treat if you want to spoil your dog.
It uses a high protein, low carb formula that’s centered on fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables – and of course – it’s entirely grain free, too. Even though the product is costlier than some others, this accounts for the exceptional ingredient quality you’ll find here, so if you want nothing but the best then you simply can’t go wrong with this blend.
The buyer reviews are generally very positive, with several owners finding that the product has given their dog a noticeable boost in health and fitness, as well as a reduction of allergies.
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Hill’s Science Diet is a very well-respected dog food brand, and it also benefits from the recommendation of many skilled veterinarians from around the world. This particular option comes with probiotics to boost your dog’s nutrient absorption ability, and it can also help with their overall digestive health, too.
Of course, the formula is highly nutritious in general and comes entirely grain-free, as well as free of artificial colors, preservatives, and flavorings.
However, the brand itself is certainly highly respected, with the majority of their products scoring great feedback from dog owners, professional reviewers, and veterinarians – so you generally can’t go wrong with Hill’s Science Diet products.
Last update on 2023-06-02 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Iams Grain Free Naturals dry dog food is another well-loved brand that receives impeccable reviews and offers an excellent overall nutritional profile for your dog to enjoy.
It comes in two flavors, either chicken and garden pea or salmon and red lentils, and it’s prized for its quality number one ingredient of farm-raised chicken (when you pick the chicken version, of course).
What’s more, you will find a complex blend of additional antioxidants and vitamins which help to support your dog’s immune system, and most importantly, it’s entirely free of grains, soy, corn, or cheap byproducts. While it doesn’t quite rival some of the costlier alternatives, there’s no denying that this covers the bases at a generous price.
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This air-dried dog cuisine is another product that offers exceptional quality, with a few different meat options to choose from including beef, venison, lamb, and fish. The lamb version uses free-range, grass-fed meat that comes directly from approved New Zealand farms, and there’s also no added hormones, grain, filler ingredients or antibiotics that could cause your dog any problems.
In fact, the ingredients are primarily protein-based with plenty of lamb meat, liver, lung, tripe, heart, and kidney – which helps to give your dog an approximation of the diet they would originally have.
The preparation of this food couldn’t be simpler, as there’s no need to thaw or rehydrate the product – so it’s a great solution for a quick, tasty, and highly nutritious meal. The product is also suitable for any breed at any life stage.
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The Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural Range comes in a few different flavors such as chicken and whitefish, or turkey meal and whitefish – and it’s formulated without any use of grain or gluten at all.
The product comes in a number of different sizes for added convenience, and it’s also nice to know that it’s 100% guaranteed by the manufacturer. While the brand is not quite as well-known as some of the other leading options on the market, it doesn’t disappoint in terms of quality, and many people have been thrilled with what this brand has to offer.
Interestingly, many owners claim that their dog finds this option to be one of their favorites out of everything they’ve tried.
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Acana may not be the cheapest formula on the market, but it’s definitely one of the best available in terms of quality. The formula is entirely grain-free and uses a limited ingredient nutritional profile that relies primarily on a single source of protein, with no use of unwanted additives that could cause stomach sensitivity.
It does come with ‘infusions of freeze-dried lamb liver’ which increases the appeal of the formula to a fussy eater, and most buyers will certainly agree that virtually any dog will quickly take to the blend when it’s offered to them.
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This formula from Tuffy’s doesn’t use any cheap animal by-products, corn, or wheat – and it’s entirely grain-free – while relying on a quality source of chicken as the main ingredient. Of course, there are also a few different flavors, with the lamb being equally popular. There’s also additional nutrient supplementation used to give a well-balanced blend overall.
Even though it costs a little bit more than some of the alternatives, it’s generally a very good quality product that shouldn’t let you down. A number of user reviews mention how they’ve researched multiple brands before ultimately settling on this one, and it seems very few people have been disappointed – so you can’t go wrong with the brand if you can afford it.
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The Hills Ideal Balance grain-free option is a reasonably affordable option which comes in two main flavors of either chicken and potato or salmon and potato. The product uses omega 3 and 6 fatty acids which give your dog’s coat an extra shine, and it primarily uses high-quality fresh chicken that provides a worthy source of lean protein for your dog.
The addition of potatoes helps to fill out the formula and keeps your dog’s digestive system nice and healthy by supplying a balanced blend of carbs to fuel them throughout the day. There are also extra vitamins, minerals, and amino acids in the blend. Most reviewers are very happy with the product, although a few people consider the formula to be more of a ‘middle of the road’ option. Either way, it’s a decent formula that many dogs enjoy.
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Another great pick is this grain-free option from Pinnacle. It uses Salmon as the primary ingredient (unless you pick the duck, trout, turkey, or chicken option of course), as well as Quinoa seed for the benefit of the amino acids, which will go a long way towards supporting healthy muscular development in your dog.
There are also pumpkin seeds in the formula, which provide plenty of important antioxidants to support your dog’s immune system. The kibble size is often favored by small dogs due to the small size of the pieces, making it a versatile option for small to medium-sized breeds in particular – although it’s certainly suitable for larger breeds as well.
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This option is easily one of the most expensive options on our list, but it’s also one of the best quality options that any dog is sure to enjoy. The food is completely free of grains and uses free-range chicken to provide a good source of protein for your dog. The portion sizes are fairly moderate, which helps to maintain a healthy weight if your dog has been piling on a few excess pounds lately.
Additionally, the food is 100% human grade and is processed as little as possible before being dehydrated in its whole food form – so there’s no denying that it offers some of the best quality in the business. To serve this food, you simply add water, and your dog can enjoy a warm, tasty meal that they will definitely enjoy, and it will most likely become their favorite in no time at all.
Last update on 2023-05-27 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Here’s another highly-rated grain free formula that’s often recommended by dog food review sites. The formula is available in a few different flavors, including game bird, beef, or pork – with the game bird version, in particular, being a great choice.
It’s noted for its small kibble size that makes it suitable for those smaller breeds, and the tasty blend is well-loved by most dogs – even the picky kind! Additionally, many people are pleased with the overall quality of ingredients used in the formula, and the fact that the product is exclusively made in the USA gives you some added peace of mind in this regard.
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If you’re looking for a high-quality brand of grain-free dog food that focuses on using entirely natural ingredients, free of any artificial colorings, flavorings or preservatives, then this is a top choice. The food is very rich in protein, with most of the ingredients being made from animal protein, and there’s no corn, wheat, or fillers at all.
What’s more, the food comes with additional probiotics as well as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids which help to support a healthy coat and skin. It’s also worth noting that the food is freeze-dried raw to preserve the high-quality nutrition inside.
Ultimately, this choice is a little bit more expensive, but it represents a fantastic option for any dog. It also comes in a variety of flavors, such as chicken, salmon, rabbit, beef and lamb, and more, so it’s easy to find a flavor your dog will love.
Tips & Advice Regarding Grain Free Dog Food
There’s no denying that grain-free dog food is becoming more and more popular nowadays, simply because it has a number of benefits to offer a dog – particularly in regards to weight control and allergies. With this in mind, let’s cover a few key tips and advice that are worth understanding if you’re thinking of making the switch to a grain-free formula for your dog.
- Reducing allergies is a big reason behind the popularity of grain-free food, and once you’ve ruled out any medical issues by talking to your vet, choosing grain-free is often a good step to take if allergies keep occurring. In many cases, grain-free food will reduce or completely eradicate skin allergies, flatulence, diarrhea, ear infections, and possibly repetitive behavior like licking or chewing, too.
- Easier digestion is another key benefit of grain-free food. These formulas tend to have higher protein and fat content and a lower quantity of carbohydrates, which will usually allow for easier digestion – which is certainly useful for those sensitive dogs who may be prone to stomach upsets.
- Weight control is another reason why many dog owners favor grain-free food, as the lower carbohydrate volume helps to reduce the calories in their daily diet, allowing for easier weight loss and weight maintenance.
- Less filler quantity is yet another perk of grain-free blends, and there’s no denying that some cheaper, grain-packed blends tend to hide their ‘filler’ in the form of excess grain-based ingredients.
- Healthier carbohydrates are often used in grain-free formulas, so you’ll see ingredients like carrots, peas, sweet potatoes and the like, which will usually have more nutrition to offer than mere grains alone.
- However, grain-based dog food isn’t a problem for every dog. In most cases, owners can happily provide grain-based dog food without any negative consequences. But if your dog starts to develop regularly stomach upsets, skin irritations, or other common side effects associated with grain – then it’s well worth finding an alternative that could alleviate these symptoms.
