Zignature Salmon Limited Ingredient Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog Food review

At a Glance

  • Top 5 Ingredients:
    1. Salmon
    2. Salmon Meal
    3. Pea Flour
    4. Chickpeas
    5. Peas
  • Type: Dry food
  • Lifestage: Adult
  • Calories: 415 kcal/cup
  • Protein: 29%
  • Fat: 16%
  • Fiber: 5%

Zignature Salmon LID Grain-Free Food offers Chow Chows exceptional nutrition combined with great flavor to promote interest in eating and excellent health. A grain-free diet, Zignature has a limited ingredients list, making it a wise choice for Chow Chows with sensitivities to certain types of foods.

The main ingredient in this diet is salmon, a protein that is rich in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to support good skin and coat health. Vegetables have been added to increase the dietary fiber and antioxidants found in this formulation. With its emphasis on a recipe that is easily digestible, Zignature is one of the best dog foods for Chow Chows with sensitive stomachs.

This diet is free from corn, wheat, soy, and dairy; all foods which can be common allergens for dogs.

Pros

  • Dogs typically love the taste of this food. Even very picky eaters lap up every morsel in their bowl.
  • Dogs that suffer from allergies found complete relief from their symptoms when appropriately transitioned to this diet.
  • Owners like that this diet is based on a limited list of ingredients, all of which are of exceptional quality. They believe this is key to helping their dogs find relief from allergies.
  • Owners are pleased that this diet is available in several different flavors. This permits them to offer their dogs some variety in their daily diet.
  • Dogs that regularly consume this diet have coats that are soft, healthy, and shiny. Their skin is also very well hydrated and free from any flaking.

Cons

  • Owners noted that these bags of food used to be vacuum sealed, but this is no longer the case. They dislike this as it makes them question the freshness of the product.
  • A few owners wondered if this diet had recently changed formulas. Their dogs no longer did as well on it as they once had.
  • Several owners indicated they felt this diet was rather costly.
  • Some dogs disliked the taste of this food and would not eat it.
  • A few owners shared that they preferred to feed their dogs a diet that includes some whole grains in its formula. This was their only objection to this diet.

The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Turkey Recipe Dehydrated Dog Food review

At a Glance

  • Top 5 Ingredients:
    1. Dehydrated Turkey
    2. Organic Oats
    3. Dehydrated Potatoes
    4. Organic Flaxseed
    5. Dehydrated Carrots
  • Type: Dehydrated food
  • Lifestage: Adult
  • Calories: 470 kcal/cup
  • Protein: 22%
  • Fat: 15%
  • Fiber: 5%

Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Turkey is a dehydrated food that provides a powerhouse punch of nutrition to fuel the Chow Chow’s physical health and energy reserves. This diet includes whole grains as its primary source of carbohydrates to promote optimal digestion. Its protein is derived from whole, deboned turkey that is locally sourced. Vegetables have also been included to increase dietary fiber and antioxidants.

This food contains no by-products or preservatives, placing it among the best dog foods for Chow Chows.

Pros

  • This food is chock full of flavor. Dogs love the taste of it and eat their meals with hearty enthusiasm.
  • Owners love that this food contains nutritious whole grains in its recipe. They feel the addition of these ingredients ensures a good foundation for ideal digestion in the Chow Chow.
  • Dogs that struggled with gastrointestinal distress found complete relief from their ailments when fed The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Turkey on a consistent basis.
  • Owners love the convenience of this food. It is easy to serve at home or on the go and reconstitutes quickly with just the addition of a little hot water.
  • Dogs that regularly had loose stools saw a return to normal stool consistency with a steady diet of this food.

Cons

  • Some dogs found the smell and taste of this food off putting. The Honest Kitchen has many different flavors from which owners can choose. One of these diets, whether grain-free or grain-inclusive, may be a better fit for their dogs.
  • A few owners indicated they found this diet smelled very strongly of garlic. They disliked this.
  • Some owners felt this food did not stretch as far as the company claimed, increasing their costs to feed this diet to their dogs regularly.
  • Several owners indicated they didn’t like the texture of this food and worried their dogs would not eat it.
  • This diet contains potatoes, a low quality carbohydrate of only very limited nutritional value for dogs.

Now Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed Adult Recipe Dry Dog Food review

At a Glance

  • Top 5 Ingredients:
    1. De-Boned Turkey
    2. Whole Dried Egg
    3. Potatoes
    4. Peas
    5. Potato Flour
  • Type: Dry food
  • Lifestage: Adult
  • Calories: 393 kcal/cup
  • Protein: 27%
  • Fat: 13%
  • Fiber: 4%

Now Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed is an excellent food that has been designed with the needs of large breeds like the Chow Chow in mind. This diet contains a high concentration of protein from the highest quality sources. Its main ingredient is whole, deboned turkey, a meat that is rich in amino acids and that also is easy to digest.  Now also contains both duck and salmon to provide essential fatty acids to encourage excellent skin and coat health.

Now contains no grains or gluten. In addition to this, this recipe is free from by-products, wheat, corn, and soy. The food has been supplemented with prebiotics and probiotics to aid with digestion. The coconut oil added to the food promotes a strong immune system in the Chow Chow.

With so many nutritional benefits to offer, it is not hard to see why Now is rated among the best foods for Chow Chows.

 

Pros

  • A diet renowned for its exceptional flavor; even very picky eaters love this diet and look forward to their every meal.
  • Owners were pleased to report their dogs’ energy levels were greatly improved when fed Now Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed on an ongoing basis.
  • Owners love the size of the kibble pieces in this food. They feel they are the perfect size for dogs like the Chow Chow, encouraging them to chew each piece carefully.
  • Dogs with gastrointestinal distress on an ongoing basis saw a return to normal digestion and stool quality when fed this diet regularly.
  • Dogs suffering from foul smelling breath saw an end to this problem when fed a steady diet of Now Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed.

Cons

  • Some dogs suffered from excessive gas when fed Now Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed as their regular diet. This is most likely the result of a sensitivity to one of the diet’s ingredients; however, it could also be from too quick a dietary change.
  • A few owners commented that they felt this diet was rather expensive.
  • Some dogs were disinterested in this food and ate it only with reluctance.
  • Some owners felt the kibble pieces in this diet were too large. They preferred using them for training treats as opposed to feeling them for a meal.
  • Some owners were discouraged that the price of this food underwent regular price fluctuations. This made it difficult for them to make this food their dog’s regular diet as they could not consistently plan for what it would cost them each month.

CANIDAE All Life Stages Turkey Meal & Rice Formula Large Breed Dry Dog Food review

At a Glance

  • Top 5 Ingredients:
    1. Turkey Meal
    2. Brown Rice
    3. Peas
    4. Oatmeal
    5. Millet
  • Type: Dry food
  • Lifestage: All life stages
  • Calories: 376 kcal/cup
  • Protein: 23%
  • Fat: 13%
  • Fiber: 5%

CANIDAE All Life Stages Large Breed offers exceptional nutrition at a price point that is highly affordable. This diet has been specifically formulated to address nutritional challenges faced by large breeds like the Chow Chow. It is rich in protein, listing turkey meal as its primary ingredient.

CANIDAE, considered to be one of the best dog foods for Chow Chows,  includes a blend of supplements known as HealthPLUS Solutions which includes such ingredients as probiotics, antioxidants, and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.

This diet is free from corn, wheat, and soy.

Pros

  • Owners love that this diet contains glucosamine and chondroitin to boost joint health in large breeds like the Chow Chow.
  • Dogs find this diet to be highly flavorful. They lap up every piece of kibble in their bowl with hearty enthusiasm.
  • Owners are pleased to share their dogs’ digestion improved greatly with a switch to CANIDAE All Life Stages Large Breed. Their bowel movements were smaller and less frequent.
  • Several owners shared that they love that this diet is available in several flavors, allowing them to provide their Chow Chows with variety to keep them interested in their diet.
  • This food is calorie-dense, meaning owners need to feed less of it for their dogs to reach full eating satisfaction. This increases the value of the food.

Cons

  • A few dogs struggled with poor digestion when first transitioned to this diet. These dogs likely need a longer adjustment period, and in time, this problem should resolve itself.
  • Some owners felt this diet was too expensive.
  • Several owners indicated this dog food was difficult to find in their local stores. CANIDAE All Life Stages Large Breed can be purchased online and delivered.
  • Some owners shared that on occasion their bags of food contained a lot of crumbled kibble pieces.
  • In rare instances, some dogs became itchy after a steady diet of this food. This is most likely the result of a sensitivity to one of the food’s ingredients.

Merrick Backcountry Freeze-Dried Raw Large Breed Recipe Dry Dog Food review

At a Glance

  • Top 5 Ingredients:
    1. Deboned Chicken
    2. Chicken Meal
    3. Turkey Meal
    4. Sweet Potatoes
    5. Potatoes
  • Type: Freeze-dried raw and dry food
  • Lifestage: Adult
  • Calories: 386 kcal/cup
  • Protein: 38%
  • Fat: 17%
  • Fiber: 3.5%

Merrick Backcountry Freeze-Dried Large Breed is a top-quality food that features all of the nutrients the Chow Chow needs to support its health and wellness. A high protein formulation, the basis of this diet is whole, deboned chicken as well as both chicken and turkey meals to provide a powerhouse punch of amino acids. This food is comprised of freeze-dried raw meat pieces as well as dry kibble to increase flavor and eating satisfaction.

Merrick Backcountry, a diet considered to be among the best dog foods for Chow Chows, contains no grains. Glucosamine and chondroitin have been included in this formulation to build strong joints. This food is also rich in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to assist with skin and coat health.

Pros

  • Most dogs love the taste of this food. They look forward to their every meal and lick their bowls clean.
  • Dogs regularly fed this diet saw an increase in energy levels.
  • Owners love that this diet contains both kibble and freeze-dried raw meat pieces. This helps to whet the appetite of even the most reluctant eaters.
  • Dogs that consume this diet on a steady basis display coats that are shiny, healthy, and soft.
  • Owners expressed that dogs with sensitive stomachs did very well on this diet, finding relief from their ailments.

Cons

  • Some dogs disliked the taste of this food and would not eat it. Another Merrick offering with a different protein base may be a better choice.
  • Several owners commented that they found this diet to be very expensive.
  • In rare cases, some dogs developed itchy skin and poor stool quality when fed this diet regularly. This is likely due to a sensitivity to one of the ingredients in the food.
  • Owners shared that the product is somewhat inconsistent with some bags containing a large amount of dehydrated raw pieces and others very few.
  • Some dogs will only eat the freeze-dried meat pieces. They pick out the meat and refuse the kibble. To resolve this problem, owners can reserve the meat to be fed as a treat at the end of the meal.