The Top 10 Worst Dog Food Brands Of 2021
All pet foods are not created equal but most of the low-quality dog food brands have a few things in common. Some of the worst brands on the market load up their products with inexpensive fillers like corn and wheat products their products also tend to be carb-heavy instead of meat-based.
Low-quality pet formulas make heavy use of by-products and plant proteins, plus they often use artificial colors and flavors to make their products more palatable for pets and the people who care for them.
Something else many of these foods have in common is a history of product recalls by their manufacturing company.
Below is an overview of the Top 10 worst dog foods of 2021. We started our list with recipes that contain dubious and low-quality ingredients and worked our way down to the worst offenders with recent recalls under their belt.
Crave High Protein White Fish & Salmon
First 5 Ingredients: White fish, Chicken meal, Lentils, Split peas, Chicken fat
Crave High Protein White Fish & Salmon Adult is a grain-free dry dog food formulated to meet the nutritional needs of adult dogs. Packed with the rich flavors of white fish, canine fish fans are sure to love the high protein kibbles of this recipe.
This high protein meal gets its rich fish flavors from real white fish, fish meal, and salmon meal. Like all dry food recipes from Crave, this formula is 34% protein to help your pup build and maintain lean muscles. This recipe is free from by-products or unnamed animal ingredients. You can rest assured that your pup is getting only high-quality protein.
Highly digestible carbohydrates and fiber come from lentils, split peas, pea starch, and dehydrated alfalfa meal. Healthy fat is provided by chicken fat, which also gives this recipe a boost of flavor.
This white fish and salmon recipe is free from artificial enhancers such as colors, flavors, or preservatives. It contains none of the common allergy triggers like corn, wheat, or soy.Reviews for Crave High Protein White Fish & Salmon have been mostly positive.
According to pet parents of dogs who were previously suffering from skin allergies, this grain-free recipe has helped their dogs skin clear up. Their coats are also shinier and healthier.
Blue Buffalo Freedom Grain Free Dry Dog Food
This big bag of dry dog food is a great choice for anyone that wants to go for a high-protein approach for their huskies. The grain free formula is full of great ingredients including de-boned chicken, fish meal, tapioca, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and other helpful vitamins and minerals.
There is also the added bonus here that there are great reports from dog owners whose pets have sensitive stomachs. This option seems to go down well with lots of canines, which means that fussier huskies may appreciate it too. Therefore, it is easy to see why many view this as the best dry food for huskies.
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Cricket Crave Dog Food
10% with Auto-Delivery
Jiminys Cricket Crave is an eco-friendly dog food delivering holistic health for dogs of all life stages. Cricket protein powder combined with oats, quinoa, sweet potato and other plant-based ingredients creates a nutrient dense and delicious dog food.
Our kibble is oven baked in small batches. Unlike other kibbles that are extruded our baking process ensures a less processed food. Digestible, nutrient dense and it tastes great!
- Oven baked in the USA with pride. Minimally processed, all natural, complete and balanced. Veterinarian formulated. Designed to exceed AAFCO standards for all life stages.
- Essential, high-quality cricket protein for healthy muscle development, and complex carbohydrates for enhanced gut health and to provide energy for an active life. Cricket protein provides great nutrition a complete protein, high in omegas, fiber, iron and vitamins. Crickets are a natural source of taurine and pre-biotic.
- Hypoallergenic. Supports better health for your pet with improved appetite and digestion, relief from allergies, and vibrant skin and coat.
- Sustainable and humane. Switching a dog from a chicken diet to Cricket Crave saves 480,000 gallons of water per year .
- Crafted without the use of corn, wheat, soy or chicken .
Crave Dog Food Review: Summary
Meat may be the first ingredient, and it may be grain free, but its hard to find anything positive about this product. It has to be said the protein and fat is very respectable, but its not something I would feed my dog. Would you?
If our Crave Dog Food Review has helped you, please take the time to comment or share the review with others. Thank you
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Pro Pac Performance Puppy
This recipe is designed for puppies from weaning until the 12th month. Its also billed as an excellent feed for pregnant or nursing canines.
We dont find anything wrong with the ingredients because it starts with chicken meal, an animal protein. Ground yellow corn as the second ingredient may be a little bit off, but still not bad. Whats more concerning is the recent recall of this product.
The maker of this recipe is Midwestern Pet Foods, the same manufacturer of Sportsmix, Nunn Better, and Splash Fat Cat.
The company is currently embroiled in one of the worst pet food recalls to date concerning aflatoxin, a possibly fatal type of toxin that was found in Midwestern Pet Foods Sportsmix products.
Included in the recall are two Pro Pac recipes. This particular formulation and the Pro Pac Adult Mini Chunk.
Recall Info: On January 11, 2021, and FDA alert was issued on the Pro Pac Adult Mini Chunk, 40 lb. bags and Pro Pac Performance Puppy, 40 lb. bags manufactured in Midwestern Pet Foodss Oklahoma plant with expiration dates of July 9, 2022 or earlier.
This is an expanded recall that was issued out of caution since the Pro Pac recipes were produced in the same plant as the Sportsmix foods that have caused the deaths of more than 70 dogs and the illness of around 80 at least.
Problem Ingredients: none
What How We Learned About Feeding The Best Husky Dog Food To Our Pets
There is a lot to consider when we look for the best dog food for Siberian Huskies. There are some clear similarities within the products mentioned here most notably the amount of protein and helpful additional ingredients. These high-protein foods will provide a good calorie content in just the right portion for these lean dogs. Additional elements like the omega oils and vitamins only add to the health benefits. Meanwhile, the lack of grains and additives should help to prevent against illnesses.
Take your time to understand precisely what your dog needs to create the best husky diet possible. This means a better idea of calorie needs, nutrient deficiencies and other health implications. Also consider their eating habits and genetic traits, especially if you like the idea of raw food diets. It may take some time to find the best match for these picky eaters. But, these tog husky dog food products should prove to be a great starting point.
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Crave Beef And Lamb Dry Dog Food
With 36%* protein, CRAVE Adult Dry Dog Food is inspired by a dog’s natural diet. Real Meat is the first ingredient and these protein-rich recipes provide dogs with energy and support lean bodies. *Based on guaranteed analysis.
- 4.5 from
- Home Tested with free product
- Home Tested with free product
- Home Tested with free product
- Home Tested with free product
- Home Tested with free product
- Home Tested with free product
- Home Tested with free product
- Home Tested with free product
- Home Tested with free product
- Home Tested with free product
- Home Tested with free product
- Home Tested with free product
- Home Tested with free product
- Home Tested with free product
- Home Tested with free product
What Makes Crave Different
High-protein and high-quality ingredients. Real meat is the #1 ingredient. Crave cooks their dog food in their own U.S. based facilities to ensure the highest quality standards are met.
Crave, being one of the largest dog food manufacturers, has products available in most groceries and retail stores. Their website does not support direct purchase but buyers can find Crave in many pet shops, grocery stores and always available online with online retailers like Chewy. Crave has products for both dogs and cats and concentrates on adult foods only.
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Discussion Of The Primary Ingredients
Just as the formulas and recipes available within a brand are important, the nutritional value and ingredients are just as much so. As promised, we wanted to touch base on the high protein, grain-free ingredients that are used in this brand. Also, we will give you an idea of the dry and wet formulas nutritional content.
Are There Any Drawbacks
Crave is seeking to revolutionize the way owners approach feeding their canines by tapping into their ancestral diet. This is an approach that wont suit every pooch but does have some potential benefits.
Although there is paté available for wet food fans, there are currently no jelly or gravy recipes available. Picky eaters may turn their noses up, particularly if theyre more familiar with a moister type of food.
The lack of variety may be a problem for other dogs who have specific dietary needs. This includes puppies and senior dogs, neither of which are catered for in the range.
Crave also doesnt differentiate for active or large dogs, and offers a one-size-fits-all approach which will be unpalatable to some.
The other problem relates to allergies. Although Crave is grain-free, chicken is another common allergen that dogs struggle with.
Out of the eight available wet food products, six contain chicken. One dry food product also contains chicken. This seriously limits the options available for any dog who has a chicken allergy.
Recommended: We found the perfect food for dogs who have allergies or sensitive digestive systems. Read our review of Naturo here!
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Crave Turkeypate With Shreds Of Real Chicken Grain
This wet food from Crave is made with real turkey as the first ingredient, which provides your pooch the nutrients they need to thrive. Most of the protein in this Crave dog food is from animals too.
The recipe is enriched with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids. All of these are vital to ensure your dogs nutritional needs are being met.
The pate texture of the food makes it soft and easy for your dog to consume. To add more flavor, real shredded chicken is mixed into the pate to help it appeal to picky eaters. This wet food can be used as a complete food or to complement your furry friends dry food.
The food comes in handy single-portion trays so you dont have to worry about overfeeding or underfeeding your dog. This wet food is suitable for dogs of all sizes and doesnt contain grains, wheat, soy, corn, chicken by-product meal, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
One of the best features of this wet dog food is its great taste, which a lot of dogs appear to love! Additionally, other reviews state that this wet food is effective for dogs with digestive issues or a sensitive stomach, especially if these problems were caused by a different dog food brand.
The majority of picky eaters seem to do very well on this food, but especially finicky pups still might be reluctant to eat it. This could be due to its pate texture. If your pooch isnt a fan of soft, gelatinous dog foods, then this one by Crave might not be the best option.
Pros
Cons
Crave High Protein Chicken
First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken meal, Split peas, Lentils, Pork meal.
Crave High Protein Chicken Adult is a tasty dry dog food that provides complete and balanced nutrition in every serving. With 34% protein, these kibbles help support healthy muscle development in dogs.
Unlike the first two dry food recipes, this Crave recipe has only two animal ingredient sources: chicken and pork. If your pup is sensitive to protein sources other chicken and pork, this recipe may be the one for him.
With chicken as the most abundant ingredient, Crave High Protein Chicken Adult is highly digestible and rich in protein. Split peas, lentils, pea starch, beet pulp, flaxseed, and dehydrated alfalfa meal provide carbohydrates and fiber needed by dogs for energy and healthy digestion.
This recipe is fortified with vitamins and minerals to ensure complete and balanced nutrition. Omega fatty acids are included to support skin and coat health.
Chicken has always been a popular choice among doggies, and Crave High Protein Chicken is no exception. According to reviews for this product, pups are always excited for mealtimes and enjoy eating the flavorful kibbles.
It has also helped numerous dogs with allergies. According to their owners, the dogs skin have significantly improved, and their coats are shiny and healthy. This recipe from crave is free from common allergy triggers such as corn, wheat, or soy.
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Crave Dog Food Reviews 2021
September 17, 2021 By Albert James
Crave dog food was introduced in the market in 2017 by Mars pet care. You will not be surprised by knowing that Mars is running many other popular dog food brands including Royal Canin, and Whiskas, etc. Crave dog food claims to sell the food made with real meat as a first ingredient and grain-free product ranges. Here we will give you a detailed review of Crave dog food.
Crave food is preparing premium food products by using premium quality ingredients. But as described above this company is owned by Mars pet care and their other food ranges are manufacture with cheap ingredients and mostly with fillers. And have relatively less cost than crave foods. As Crave is recently launched so they dont offer several variants. But the few they are offering are of premium quality and at a high cost.
Here in this article, you will get all the authentic food reviews of different pet owners who have experienced Crave food for their canines. The launch of such premium-quality dog food products showcases the pet owners are now more concerned about the nutrition and calorie intakes of their pets.
Crave Dog Food Vs Blue Buffalo Dog Food
| Dry Dog Food |
| 7.4% |
Crude Protein Comparison For Dog Food
Protein is an extremely important part of your dog’s diet. Without sufficient protein, dogs can develop a wide-range of serious health problems.
When you look at the average percentages of crude protein for dry dog food, it’s clear that Crave provides significantly more protein. On average, Crave guarantees about 8.27% more protein than Blue Buffalo. Similarly, Crave wet dog foods provide significantly more protein than Blue Buffalo wet foods.
Crude Fat Comparison For Dog Food
Fats are an absolutely vital component of a balanced canine diet. Not only do fats provide energy, but they also serve important roles in the normal development and function of your dog’s body. For example, fats help dogs produce prostaglandins, which reduce inflammation among many other significant functions.
According to our data, Crave guarantees 3.55% more fat than Blue Buffalo. Although this difference is relatively small, it’s still a notable difference. For wet dog foods, Crave and Blue Buffalo provide roughly the same amount of fat.
There is a small difference between the fiber content of Blue Buffalo and Crave. We can see that Blue Buffalo guarantees about 2.76% more fiber than Crave. In addition, Blue Buffalo wet dog foods also provide more fiber than Crave wet foods.
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What Do People Like And Dislike About Crave Food
The taste was a critical reason for high reviews from many happy customers. They expressed joy that their dogs tended to like the taste and actually look forward to eating their kibble. They also liked that the food contained none of the usual cheap fillers and seemed to help their dogs maintain energy and stamina all day long.
The lack of grains is a huge plus for those dogs with sensitive systems. If your dog is itchy and has constant bowel issues, getting rid of gluten and grains could help settle those problems. Check with your veterinarian before switching foods and be sure to transition your dog slowly.
Most of the complaints centered around kibble bag sizes. The largest size currently available is a 22-pound bag, which could be fine for a single dog household, but multiple dog households may find that inconvenient. Also, people noted that the kibble size seems significantly smaller than standard kibble, which could make it difficult for larger dogs to consume.
One complaint is the use of peas and legumes to take the place of grains. If your dog is a breed already susceptible to an enlarged heart, the extra taurine from these ingredients could hasten the condition. Talk to your vet first before you begin the transition.
Crave With Protein From Chicken Adult Grain
This dry dog food from Crave is made with real, farm-raised chicken as the first ingredient. It contains 34% protein, which makes it the perfect meal for dogs who require a lot of protein in their diets.
The recipe is packed with nutrients from meat, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals to ensure your dogs dietary requirements are met. The high-quality and nutritious ingredients in this dog food help fuel your dogs energy levels and keep their immune system healthy.
The recipe is grain-free and doesnt contain any chicken by-product meal, corn, soy, wheat, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
This dry dog food is suitable for dogs of all breeds. All of Craves dog food is made and processed in US facilities.
Reviews for this Crave dog food are very positive, with owners praising the good-quality ingredients used in the recipe. Most dogs seem to really enjoy the flavor of the recipe too!
However, some picky eaters might be a bit reluctant to eat this dog food or grow a bit fussy with it after some time. Additionally, this dog food might cause digestive issues when first switched to it. Make sure you change your dogs diet gradually to try and prevent this from happening.
Pros
- Might not be best for picky eaters
- Could cause digestive issues at first
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