The 10 Best Dog Foods Without Potatoes

Reviews

Rachael Ray Nutrish Just 6 Natural Dry Dog Food

The most cost-effective dog food without potatoes is Rachael Ray’s Nurish Just 6. This limited-ingredient dish contains just six components, as its name suggests. To provide your dog with the high-quality protein required to grow and maintain lean muscle, the first ingredient is a lamb meal.

Following this are nutritious, energy-boosting carbs such as brown rice, as well as additional chelated minerals and helpful vitamins E and C. There are no maize, wheat, soy, or artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives among the six ingredients.

The meal has a black color, a chemical odor, and seems to be somewhat greasy, so picky dogs will not eat it. Several customers reported receiving moldy food; thus, you must store it in an airtight, dry container. These minor restrictions exclude Just 6 from first place.

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Six components are employed
• Lamb meal is the principal source of protein
• Composed of chelated minerals
• Included brown rice for extra nutrition and vitality
• Without soy, wheat, or corn
• No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives

Cons

• Unappetizing to finicky eaters because of its dark hue and strong odor.
• Molds quickly

 

Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Lamb Dog Food

Ziwi Peak Air-Dried The first component of lamb dog food is lamb, which provides your dog with the high-quality protein necessary for building and maintaining muscular strength.

This is followed by lamb organ meats such as heart, tripe, liver, kidney, lungs, and bone, along with green mussels, a natural source of chondroitin and glucosamine that strengthen the joints. These components are delicately air-dried to retain the food’s nutritious value and eradicate dangerous microorganisms.

This eliminates the need for toxic preservatives, tastes, and sweeteners, simulating a raw diet in a handy air-dried form and eliminating the need for harmful additives. The cuisine has no wheat, maize, soy, legumes, rice, or fillers and is comprised of 96% fresh, nutritious, free-range beef.

This diet is heavy in protein, which may cause sensitive dogs to vomit. This meal may cause diarrhea in certain dogs, most likely for the same reason.

Pros

• Made with 95% grass-fed meat
• Contains air-dried organs and bone
• Contains a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin
• Air-dried to retain the ingredients’ nutritional value
• Absent of synthetic flavors, colors, and preservatives.
• Free of maize, wheat, soy, legumes, and rice, as well as dangerous fillers

Cons

• May induce vomiting in dogs with sensitivity
• May result in loose stools

 

Life Protection Formula Dry dog food from Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo’s Life Protection Formula is formulated with genuine chicken to provide your dog with the meat-based protein they need to flourish. The food also contains brown rice, oats, and barley for added energy, as well as fishmeal and flaxseed for critical omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that will give your dog’s hair a healthy sheen.

In addition to vitamins and chelated minerals, the inclusion of blueberries and cranberries will increase the absorption of immune-enhancing antioxidants.

Made with “LifeSource Bits,” a precise combination of nutrition that has been fortified with antioxidant-rich components, you can be confident that your dog is receiving all the nutrients necessary for optimal health. In addition, the food has no maize, wheat, or soy components.

The only drawback we could discover with this dish is its odor. Some finicky eaters might turn their noses up at its unpleasant odor.

Pros

• Contains chicken as its primary component.
• Contains flaxseed and fish meals containing important fatty acids.
• LifeSource Bits are antioxidant-rich.
• Chelated minerals for maximum absorption
• Without corn, wheat, or soy

Cons

• The strong odor that finicky eaters may dislike.

 

Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Dry Dog Food for Adults

The first component of N & D Ancestral Grain dry dog food from Farmina is genuine, free-range chicken, which supports your dog’s muscular growth and development with high-quality animal protein. The cuisine contains sixty percent animal components, twenty percent organic spelt and oats, and twenty percent veggies and fruits.

The natural omega-necessary fatty acids will support a healthy coat and skin, while the pomegranate and blueberry antioxidants will help combat free radicals and boost the immune system. In addition, the cuisine is devoid of peas, lentils, grains, by-products, maize, and chemical preservatives.

Several customers complain that this food caused their dogs to vomit and defecate, and some dogs just refused to eat it. The meal may create flatulence in certain dogs, and the kibble is too large for smaller breeds, posing a choking hazard.

Pros

• Free-range chicken is the primary component.
• 60% animal ingredients
• Contains naturally occurring omega fatty acids
• Contains antioxidants derived from blueberries and pomegranates.
• Devoid of by-products, maize, and synthetic preservatives.

Cons

• Possible causes of diarrhea and vomiting
• Possible gas and bloating
• Large kibble is unsuitable for little breeds.

 

Nutro Ultra Adult Dry Dog Food for Large Breeds

This Nutro dry dog food for large breeds has the ideal combination of three distinct lean proteins derived from farm-raised chicken, pasture-raised lamb, and salmon to supply the amino acids necessary for the growth and maintenance of muscular tissue.

The natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin contribute to the health of the hips and joints since they are the building blocks of healthy cartilage. This diet is also abundant in antioxidants for optimal immune function and sunflower oil rich in linoleic acid for healthy skin and coat.

In addition to being supplemented with critical vitamins and minerals, it also includes taurine, which promotes good eyesight and hearing. In addition, no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives are added to the meal.

Even though the meal is designed for big adult dogs, the kibble is tiny and may cause choking in dogs with a voracious appetite. Multiple people claimed that the food they got was moldy, so make sure to keep it in an airtight container.

Pros

• Contains three distinct sources of protein
• Contains natural glucosamine and chondroitin sources
• Brimming with antioxidants
• Linoleic acid-rich for a healthy coat
• Contains taurine
• Absent of synthetic flavors, colors, and preservatives.

Cons

• Small-sized kibble bits
• Molds quickly

 

All Life Stages Kinesis Formula Dry Dog Food by Dr. Tim’s

Dr. Tim’s All Life Stages dry dog food contains 79% animal proteins for continuous energy and muscle maintenance, and fish oil to provide omega-3 and omega-6 needed fatty acids for a healthy, lustrous coat.

The incorporated EPA and DHA serve to improve cognitive function, while the proprietary BC30 probiotic promotes digestive and immunological health in your dog.

The meal is slow-cooked to perfection to preserve the important vitamins and minerals and contains natural antioxidants for enhanced immune support. In addition, this food contains no fillers like as corn, wheat, or soy.

This diet produces flatulence and gas in some canines, diarrhea, and loose stools in others. The meal smells strongly like chemicals, which may deter finicky diners.

Pros

• Containing 79% animal protein
• Includes omega-3 and omega-6
• Contains EPA and DHA
• BC30 probiotic for gastrointestinal health
• Slow-cooked
• Without wheat, corn, or soy

Cons

• Possible gas and bloating
• Possible causes of loose stools and diarrhea
• Pungent scent

 

Iams ProActive Health Dry Dog Food for Adults

The first ingredient of Iams ProActive Health dry dog food is genuine, farm-raised chicken, a natural source of lean, muscle-building protein.

In addition, antioxidants and omega-6 fatty acids are provided for a lustrous coat and healthy skin. Iams is appropriate for dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes, and it has no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives as well as no hazardous fillers.

Multiple buyers have reported that this meal gave their dog gas and bloating. Some finicky eaters dislike the flavor, and some dogs also experienced loose stools. This food contains ground maize, which may lead to stomach problems in certain dogs.

Pros

• Made with chicken bred on a farm
• Containing antioxidants
• Appropriate for dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes
• No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.

Cons

• Possible gas and bloating
• This may result in loose stools
• Contains corn

 

American Natural Original Recipe Premium Dry Dog Food

American Natural Premium dry dog food has three meat-based protein sources, including chicken, pig, and fish, as well as whole eggs for a protein boost. Egg protein is easily digestible and rich in the amino acids necessary for building and maintaining a healthy muscular mass.

In the form of brown rice, oat flour, and barley, the extra carbs will provide your dog with a prolonged, slow-release energy boost. The meal is prepared in tiny quantities at a low temperature to preserve natural vitamins and minerals, and probiotics are added for optimal digestive and immunological health. Additionally, it has no maize, wheat, or soy.

This cuisine is not a specialty diet food, but it is priced similarly, making it quite costly for what you receive. The meal has a strong stench that causes some dogs to turn up their noses, and according to some customers, dogs with skin allergies will have a worsening of their symptoms as a result of the chicken and high protein content.

Pros

• Three meat-based protein sources
• Added whole-grain carbs
• Cooked slowly in tiny amounts
• Extra probiotics
• Without wheat, corn, or soy

Cons

• Expensive
• Pungent odor
• May induce flatulence
• Not recommended for allergic dogs

Buyer's Guide

Rice and potatoes are prominent sources of carbohydrates in commercial dog diets due to their low cost, high digestibility, and nutritional content. Potatoes include potassium, which is essential for your dog’s cardiovascular health, and are a strong supply of complex carbohydrates, which are an excellent source of energy.

In addition, they include vitamin C, iron, and protein, are low in sugar, and have a respectable quantity of dietary fiber. Dogs are opportunistic carnivores, not carnivores like their wolf forebears, and have adapted to eat carbs and grains with little problems.

However, some dogs do far better on a low-carbohydrate and starch diet, and just because most dogs can eat potatoes does not indicate that they all should. All of the potential health advantages of potatoes, including vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein, are readily available in other foods.

Lean animal meats and organ meats are only one source of the vast majority of the possible health benefits of potatoes. There are also a few health problems associated with potatoes.

Why you should not feed your dog potato-based food

Potatoes that have been cooked are not particularly harmful to your dog, and in moderation, they are safe and certainly not lethal. Solanine is the biggest reason to avoid feeding potatoes to your dog. Solanine is a toxin present in plants belonging to the nightshade family, such as potatoes, eggplant, and tomatoes, and is used as a natural pesticide by the plant.

The good news is that boiling potatoes significantly decreases the quantity of solanine; the bad news is that heating also reduces the number of vitamins and minerals present, but not by a significant amount. Obviously, you should never feed a raw potato to your dog.

Typically, potatoes are cooked at high degrees, resulting in the development of acrylamide, which is believed to raise cancer risk. There is apparently a connection between grain-free diets containing potatoes and dilated cardiomyopathy, however, this is currently mainly unproven and requires further investigation.

Carbohydrate overload is another reason to avoid potatoes in your dog’s diet. Small quantities of healthful carbohydrates are normally OK, although dogs have no nutritional necessity for carbohydrates. This causes many owners to convert to grain-free meals in the belief that they would avoid carbohydrates.

However, grain-free foods can include substantial levels of carbohydrates, primarily in the form of potatoes! Grain-free meals are beneficial for some dogs, but others cannot tolerate the high levels of carbs and starches frequently included in these foods.

Because potatoes contain complex carbs, they are absorbed more slowly than simple carbohydrates such as fruits. The starch in potatoes must be further broken down before your dog’s body can absorb the nutrients. Whole grains are a superior source of carbs and are far simpler to digest.

Consequently, if carbs are not a nutritional necessity for dogs, why are they so prevalent in pet food? In certain situations, it is true that the addition of grains and other carbs such as potatoes is utilized to bulk out your dog’s meal, as is commonly believed.

The majority of dogs can efficiently digest carbs and derive nutritional value from them. Since domestication, people have fed their dogs a broad variety of foods, as meats were scarce and reserved for humans. The majority of dogs thrive on a diet rich in animal-based proteins, yet this is costly and frequently impracticable.

In essence, grain-free diets are beneficial for dogs with grain intolerances, but it is the inclusion of high-quality components, not the absence of grains, that contributes to the success of these diets.

Potatoes are listed in a variety of formats.

The majority of dog owners will examine the ingredient list to ensure that potatoes are not there, although potatoes are frequently contained under alternative names. They are typically labeled as potato starch or potato protein, which leads consumers to feel that separated nutrients are acceptable.

However, the amino acid profile of potato-based proteins is far inferior to that of meat. This protein is more difficult to digest and absorb, and it lacks the entire amino acid profile required for your dog’s health. Potato starch is frequently used as a binder or thickener in dry dog food, however, it has little to no nutritional benefit.

Conclusion

The most cost-effective dog food without potatoes is Rachael Ray’s Nurish Just 6. The six-ingredient snack contains lamb meals for high-quality protein, carbs such as brown rice for sustained energy, chelated minerals, and essential vitamins E and C. Additionally, it has no maize, wheat, soy, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

There are several potato-free dog meals on the market, making it difficult to select the best one. BestForPets (bestforpets.org) hope that our in-depth evaluations have cleared up some of the uncertainty so that you can select the best dog foods without potatoes for your cherished pet.