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- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
There’s a reason a high percentage of dog foods are made with chicken. It’s a lean source of animal protein, loaded with healthy nutrients, and relatively inexpensive.
The problem is that chicken is one of the most common food allergens for dogs. If your dog has been showing signs of food allergies or sensitivities, however, the first step is determining what’s causing their issues. If you find that chicken is the culprit, the next step is introducing a chicken-free dog food.
Luckily, despite how prevalent chicken ingredients are in the dog food market, there are plenty of options available. Whether your dog is allergic or just turns their nose up to chicken in their bowl, we’ve put together a list of some of the best chicken-free dog food products available.
All of these options were selected based on their chicken-free ingredients and alignment with the recommended nutrition standards set forth by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Plus, to help you compare a variety of foods of different types, we’ve recalculated the nutrition facts on a dry-matter basis. This process adjusts for the moisture content of the meal, ensuring that you’re looking at the real value of the food rather than the water in it.
Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain-Free Recipe
This grain-free recipe is packed with fresh and smoked salmon along with probiotics to promote good digestion.
Our picks
Best Grain-Free: Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain-Free Recipe
Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain-Free Recipe
This grain-free recipe is packed with fresh and smoked salmon along with probiotics to promote good digestion.
Taste of the Wild specializes in dog food made from unique protein sources like wild salmon, boar, and bison. Most recipes contain no chicken products—though things like chicken fat show up on occasion, so you’ll always want to check the label.
Pacific Stream is a particularly good choice for chicken-free pups, and it’s grain free too. The recipe is made without any kind of fowl or eggs. Instead, it’s packed with fresh and smoked salmon along with probiotics to promote good digestion. Plus, at 28% protein and 17% fat, the seafood-based food is well within the AAFCO nutrition recommendations for the average adult dog.
Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain-Free Recipe Nutrition Information:
- Calories: 408 kcal/cup
- Protein: 28% min
- Fat: 17% min
- Fiber: 4.4% max
- Zinc: 150 mg/kg min
- Selenium: .35 mg/kg min
- Vitamin E: 150 IU/kg min
- Taurine: .13% min
- Omega-6 Fatty Acids: 2.7% min
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: .33% min
- Total Microorganisms: Not Less Than 80,000,000 CFU/lb min
Salmon, Ocean Fish Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Pea Flour, Lentils, Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Salmon Meal, Smoke-Flavored Salmon, Natural Flavor, Tomato Pomace, Salt, Dl-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Dried Chicory Root, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Raspberries, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate, Manganese Proteinate, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid. Contains A Source Of Live (Viable), Naturally Occurring Microorganisms.
Best High-Protein: Nature’s Variety Instinct Original Grain-Free Rabbit Recipe
Nature’s Variety Instinct Original Grain-Free Rabbit Recipe
This high-protein, high fat performance kibble is grain free and boasts rabbit as its first ingredient.
This high-protein kibble is comprised of 71% meat, with rabbit as the first ingredient and a freeze-dried raw rabbit coating. Free of grains and artificial ingredients, the remaining 29% of the recipe is filled with wholesome fruits, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals.
At 41% protein and 23% fat content on a dry matter basis, the Nature’s Variety Instinct Rabbit Recipe is considered both high protein and high fat. That makes it a performance food for active and working dogs or others on a specialized diet as approved by a veterinarian. For a dog that’s more of a couch potato than a trusted coworker, those levels may be higher than necessary.
Nature’s Variety Instinct Original Grain-Free Rabbit Recipe Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 524 kcal/cup
- Protein: 41% min
- Fat: 23% min
- Fiber: 4% max
- Vitamin E: 100 IU/kg min
- Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C): 85 mg/kg min
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 1.7% min
- Omega-6 Fatty Acids: 3.8% min
- Bacillus Coagulants: 60,000,000 CFU/lb min
- Taurine: .1% min
Rabbit, Salmon Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal, Chickpeas, Canola Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Tapioca, Rabbit Meal, White Fish Meal, Dried Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavor, Peas, Vitamins (Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin), Carrots, Apples, Cranberries, Montmorillonite Clay, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide), Potassium Chloride, Salt, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Freeze Dried Rabbit (including Freeze Dried Ground Rabbit Bone), Pumpkinseeds, Dried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation Product, Freeze Dried Rabbit Liver, Freeze Dried Rabbit Lung, Freeze Dried Rabbit Kidney, Rosemary Extract
Best Freeze-Dried Raw: Stella and Chewy’s Duck Duck Goose Freeze-Dried Raw Food
Stella and Chewy’s Duck Duck Goose Freeze-Dried Raw Food
These freeze-dried and grain-free patties contain a combination of duck, turkey, and goose protein.
These freeze-dried patties are a combination of duck, turkey, and goose. They offer the nutritional benefits of raw food with the convenience of dry food. They’re not poultry-free, but they are chicken-free, grain-free, gluten-free, and made without added hormones or antibiotics. Your pup can eat the patties as they come, or you can rehydrate them with water.
The Duck Duck Goose patties are high in protein (40% on a dry matter basis). They also have one of the highest fat contents we’ve seen on the market (40% on a dry matter basis). AAFCO guidelines are not clear on how much fat is too much, but a quick conversation with your vet can help determine if these top-rated poultry patties are right for your pup.
Stella and Chewy’s Duck Duck Goose Freeze-Dried Dinner Patties Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 60 kcal/patty
- Protein: 40% min
- Fat: 40% min
- Fiber: 5.3% max
- Microorganisms: 50,000,000 CFU/oz min
Duck With Ground Bone, Turkey, Turkey Liver, Turkey Heart, Goose, Turkey Gizzard, Pumpkin Seed, Organic Cranberries, Organic Spinach, Organic Broccoli, Organic Beets, Organic Carrots, Organic Squash, Organic Blueberries, Fenugreek Seed, Potassium Chloride, Dried Kelp, Sodium Phosphate, Tocopherols (Preservative), Choline Chloride, Salt, Dried Pediococcus Acidilactici Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Longum Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid. Contains a source of live (viable) naturally occurring microorganisms.
Best Dehydrated: The Honest Kitchen Whole-Grain Turkey Dog Food
The Honest Kitchen Whole-Grain Turkey Dog Food
This dehydrated dog food recipe contains cage-free turkey and healthy whole-grains.
Dehydrated rather than cooked to preserve nutritional integrity, this formula features cage-free turkey as its lean source of animal protein. Cabbage, apples, and whole grain oats help to round out the human-grade recipe.
The dry food, which should be rehydrated before serving, contains 24% protein and 16% fat on a dry matter basis. This is well within AAFCO’s recommendations.
The Honest Kitchen Whole-Grain Turkey Dog Food Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 207 kc/1.75-oz cup
- Protein: 24% min
- Fat: 16% min
- Fiber: 5.5% max
- Taurine: .16% min
Dehydrated Turkey, Organic Oats, Dehydrated Potatoes, Organic Flaxseed, Dehydrated Carrots, Dehydrated Cabbage, Dried Apples, Dehydrated Honey, Dehydrated Organic Kelp, Dried Garlic, Minerals [Tricalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Potassium Iodide, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite], Taurine, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), D- Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitamin D3 Supplement].
Best Canned: Ziwi Peak New Zealand Lamb Recipe
Ziwi Peak New Zealand Lamb Recipe Canned Food
Available in both dry and canned options, this dog food formula contains free-range lamb along with New Zealand green-lipped mussels and other nutrients.
This New Zealand lamb recipe is available both canned and as an air-dried food. It features 92% single-sourced, free-range lamb free from antibiotics and growth hormones along with New Zealand green-lipped mussels for a dose of glucosamine and chondroitin.
A family-owned company based on New Zealand’s North Island, Ziwi Peak sources all of its ingredients locally and air dries, rather than bakes, its dry foods as a natural preservation method. Both the dry and wet foods contain more than 90% meat. The canned option contains 43% protein and 27% fat on a dry matter basis, making this a high-protein and high-fat performance canned food.
Ziwi Peak New Zealand Lamb Recipe Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 517 kcal/13.75-oz can
- Protein: 43% min
- Fat: 27% min
- Fiber: .9% max
- Ash: 14% max
Lamb, Water Sufficient for Processing, Lamb Lung, Lamb Kidney, Chickpeas, Lamb Liver, Lamb Tripe, Lamb Heart, New Zealand Green Mussel, Lamb Bone, Lecithin, Minerals (Dipotassium Phosphate, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Selenium Yeast, Manganese Amino Acid Complex), Dried Kelp, Salt, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B5 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid)
Best Kibble: I and Love and You Nude Super Food Simply Sea Dry Dog Food
I and Love and You Nude Super Food Simply Sea Dry Dog Food
This seafood kibble is made with sustainably-sourced whitefish and other high-quality, grain-free ingredients.
We love the sweet sentiment of the brand name, but it’s the high-quality ingredients in this chicken-free and grain-free dog food that matter most. The kibble is seafood-heavy, featuring whitefish, herring meal, and menhaden fish meal as the primary proteins. Plus, it delivers a hefty dose of omega fatty acids along with other added nutrients.
The punch of seafood in this dry dog food contributes to its high-protein content, with 38% protein and 17% fat on a dry matter basis. That may be higher than necessary for some dogs, but pet parents should discuss it with their vet as an option—especially if their pup is particularly active.
I and Love and You Nude Super Food Simply Sea Dry Dog Food Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 394 kcal/cup
- Protein: 38% min
- Fat: 17% min
- Fiber: 3% max
- Vitamin E: 300 IU/kg min
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: .83% min
- Omega-6 Fatty Acids: 3.1% min
- Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA): .09%
- Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA): .06%
- Total Microorganisms: 10,000,000 CFU/lb
Whitefish, Menhaden Fish Meal, Salmon Meal, Dried Peas, Garbanzo Beans, Pea Protein, Tapioca Starch, Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Salmon, Dried Sweet Potatoes, Dried Lentils, Natural Flavor, Sunflower Oil, Flaxseeds, Choline Chloride, Dried Carrots, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Ground Miscanthus Grass, Coconut Oil, Dried Chicory Root, Dried Cranberries, Dried Pumpkin, Turmeric, Dried Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus Niger Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product, Citric Acid (Preservative), Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Yucca Schidigera Extract, I-Threonine, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, Rosemary Extract
Best Budget: American Journey Limited Ingredient Venison and Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food
American Journey Limited Ingredient Venison and Sweet Potato Recipe
This limited-ingredient recipe features fresh venison as the single source of animal protein.
American Journey is Chewy’s house brand, offering good quality foods at budget prices. This limited-ingredient, grain-free recipe features fresh venison as the single source of novel animal protein and sweet potatoes as a high-fiber and nutrient-filled secondary ingredient.
At 24% protein, the food’s protein content is well within the AAFCO recommendations for those nutrients. The 13% fat content does classify this food as low fat, so be aware of that and be sure to discuss with your vet. Other levels to note are the 1.3% calcium minimum and the 1.1% phosphorous minimum, both on a dry matter basis. Too much calcium (above 1.5%) isn’t ideal for large breed puppies, and many dogs with liver or kidney disease need a lower phosphorous diet to support their health.
American Journey Limited Ingredient Venison and Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 325 kcal/cup
- Protein: 24% min
- Fat: 13% min
- Fiber: 6.7% max
- Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA): .06% min
- Calcium: 1.3% min
- Phosphorus: 1.1% min
- Zinc: 100 mg/kg min
- Selenium: .35 mg/kg min
- Vitamin E: 100 IU/kg min
- Omega-6 Fatty Acids: 2.4% min
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 1.1% min
Deboned Venison, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Chickpeas, Venison Meal, Natural Flavor, Potato Protein, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Canola Meal, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Flaxseed, Tapioca Starch, Pea Starch, Pea Protein, Sunflower Oil, Fish Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), DL-Methionine, L-Threonine, Taurine, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate), Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), L-Tryptophan, Rosemary Extract
Best Novel Protein: Zignature Kangaroo Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Formula
Zignature Kangaroo Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Formula
This is one of a few dog foods you’ll find with kangaroo as a protein source. It’s also grain-, soy-, and corn-free.
As far as dog food without chicken goes, this may be the most dramatic departure yet. This food from Zignature uses kangaroo as a protein source. Peas, chickpeas, lentils, and more round out the protein-rich, limited-ingredient (this is grain-, soy-, and corn-free) recipe, which is fortified with probiotics and other vitamins and minerals. There’s even a Small Bites version of the formula that’s well-suited to small breeds.
Kangaroo meat is naturally high protein and low fat, and this kibble follows that pattern, with 30% protein and 13% fat content on a dry matter basis. That classifies this food as on the edge of high protein (30%+) and just under the threshold for low fat (15%). While neither is extreme, it’s worth a conversation with your vet before you start your pup on this food.
Zignature Kangaroo Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Formula Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 395 kcal ME/cup
- Protein: 30% min
- Fat: 14% min
- Fiber: 5% max
- Omega-6 Fatty Acids: 6.1% min
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 1.0% min
- Taurine: .22% min
- L-Carnitine: 40 mg/kg min
Kangaroo, kangaroo meal, peas, pea flour, chickpeas, sunflower oil, flaxseed, dehydrated alfalfa meal, lentils, natural flavor, pea protein, calcium carbonate, salt, choline chloride, vitamins (vitamin e supplement, vitamin a supplement, niacinamide, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, vitamin d3 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin b12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, biotin), taurine, minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, potassium chloride, copper proteinate, sodium selenite, manganese proteinate, calcium iodate), mixed tocopherols (preservative), l-carnitine, rosemary extract, dried bacillus coagulans fermentation product, dried bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried bifidobacterium bifidum fermentation product
Best for Puppies: Nulo Puppy & Adult Freestyle Limited+ Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Nulo Puppy & Adult Freestyle Limited+ Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
This puppy-friendly recipe is made with a singular protein source of salmon and without many common dog food ingredients.
While it’s not hard to find a chicken-free food for adult dogs, chicken-free puppies are a bit more challenging. The best option we’ve found is a food that’s formulated for all ages and stages: Nulo Puppy & Adult Freestyle Limited+. This dry food is made without chicken, corn, wheat, soy, eggs, peas, and white potato. It uses a single protein source (salmon) and includes probiotics to support a healthy gut.
The recommended maximum calcium content for large breed puppies is 1.5% on a dry matter basis. This food stands at 1.3%, so pet parents with a large breed puppy will want to discuss their options with their vet. Beyond that, it’s on target for puppies with 33% protein and 20% fat content on a dry matter basis. Plus, the abundance vitamins and minerals (DHA, calcium, vitamin E , omega-6 fatty acids, and omega-3 fatty acids) to support your dog’s development make this food a worthy option for chicken-free puppies.
Nulo Puppy & Adult Freestyle Limited Plus Grain-Free Dry Dog Food Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 438 kcal/cup
- Protein: 33% min
- Fat: 20% min
- Fiber: 6.1% max
- Docosahexaenoic Acid* (DHA): 8.9% min
- Calcium: 1.3% min
- Phosphorus: 1.2% min
- Vitamin E: 300 IU/kg min
- Omega-6 Fatty Acids: 3.7% min
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 2.8% min
- Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C): 65 mg/kg min
- Bacillus coagulans: 80,000,000 CFU/lb min
Deboned Salmon, Salmon Meal, Chickpeas, Chickpea Flour, Canola Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols & Citric Acid), Sweet Potatoes, Miscanthus Grass, Natural Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Dried Chicory Root, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Methionine, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Manganous Oxide, Biotin, Dried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation Product, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Rosemary Extract
Best for Large Breeds: Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Sensitive Support with Real Lamb & Sweet Potato
Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Sensitive Support with Real Lamb & Sweet Potato
Made with 10 ingredients or less, this chicken-free dog food for large breed pups features lamb and sweet potatoes.
This limited-ingredient kibble from Nutro is specially crafted to meet the needs of a big dog without corn, wheat, soy, dairy protein, beef, or chicken. The lamb-based formula promises a full meal with 10 ingredients or less (just don’t start counting the vitamins and minerals).
With lamb as the number one ingredient and protein source, this dry dog food offers 24% protein content on a dry matter basis, putting it in the moderate protein category. It also has a moderate 14% fat content on a dry matter basis.
Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Sensitive Support with Real Lamb & Sweet Potato Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 428 kcal ME/cup
- Protein: 24% min
- Fat: 14% min
- Fiber: 4% max
- Linoleic Acid: 4% min
- Zinc: 250 mg/kg
- Niacin: 250 mg/kg
- Biotin: 2.5 mg/kg
Deboned Lamb, Lamb Meal, Chickpeas, Dried Potatoes, Dried Sweet Potatoes, Lentils, Potato Starch, Sunflower Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Canola Oil, Potassium Chloride, Natural Flavors, Potato Protein, Whole Flaxseed, Salt, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, Citric Acid (preservative), Mixed Tocopherols (preservative), Taurine, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Sodium Selenite, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate, (Vitamin B1), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Manganous Oxide, Folic Acid, Rosemary Extract
Best for Small Breeds: Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Small Breed Salmon & Potato Formula
Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Small Breed Salmon & Potato Formula
Salmon makes up the single source of protein in this chicken-free, limited ingredient dog food for small breeds.
This dry dog food for small breeds is specially crafted with salmon as a single source of protein. Peas, potatoes, and flaxseed round out the limited-ingredient recipe. It’s also fortified with glucosamine and chrondroitin for joint health as well as probiotics, antioxidants, and omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.
For high energy pups, the high-protein formula (with 32% protein content on a dry matter basis) may be right on target with vet approval. Otherwise, the fat and carbohydrate content are right on target to achieve AAFCO’s recommendations.
Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Small Breed Salmon & Potato Formula Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 450 kcal ME/cup
- Protein: 32% min
- Fat: 16% min
- Fiber: 5.6% max
- Omega-6 Fatty Acids: 2.8% min
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 1.4% min
- Glucosamine: 300 mg/kg min
- Chondroitin Sulfate: 250 mg/kg min
- Total Lactic Acid Microorganisms: 20,000,000 CFU/lb min
Salmon, Salmon Meal, Peas, Potatoes, Canola Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Ground Potatoes, Tomato Pomace, Ground Flaxseed, Natural Fish Flavor, Chicory Root Extract, Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols added to preserve freshness, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Beta-Carotene, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Chondroitin Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract, Spearmint Extract
Most Transparent Ingredient Sourcing: Orijen Amazing Grains Regional Red Dry Dog Food
Orijen Regional Red Dry Dog Food
Made with 90% meat and fish ingredients, all of the protein sources in this dry dog food are regionally sourced.
You won’t find a lot of chicken in Orijen’s recipes, and all of the proteins are regionally sourced. Regional Red is a dry food formula featuring 90% meat and fish. The recipe includes Angus beef, wild boar, plains bison, Romney lamb, Yorkshire pork, and wild-caught Pacific pilchard.
Most of the animal ingredients here, as in most of Orijen’s dog food, are fresh or raw. The dry food comes in at 43% protein and 20% fat content on a dry matter basis. That makes it a high-protein, high-fat option for active and working dogs or others on a high-protein diet as approved by a veterinarian. Additionally, while the food is indicated as appropriate for all life stages, the calcium content is higher than the recommended maximum of 1.5% for large breed puppies. Pups with health concerns related to their liver and kidneys should also be aware of the 1.4% phosphorous content.
Orijen Amazing Grains Regional Red Dry Dog Food Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 483 kcal/8 oz cup
- Protein: 43% min
- Fat: 20% min
- Fiber: 4.5% max
- Dietary Starch: 20% max
- Sugars: 1.1% max
- DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid): 0.3% min
- EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid): 0.3% min
- Calcium: 2.1% min
- Phosphorus: 1.4% min
- Vitamin E 750 IU/kg min
- Omega-6 Fatty Acids: 1.9% min
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 1.5% min
- Taurine: 0.1% min
- Glucosamine: 500 mg/kg min
- Total Microorganisms: 1 Million CFU/lb
Beef, Wild Boar, Lamb, Beef Liver, Pork, Beef Meal, Mackerel Meal, Herring Meal, Oat Groats, Millet, Mutton, Whole Mackerel, Beef Fat, Natural Pork Flavor, Lamb Meal, Whole Oats, Ground Whole Flaxseed, Pollock Oil, Quinoa Seed, Chia Seed, Pork Liver, Beef Kidney, Lamb Liver, Wild Boar Liver, Lamb Tripe, Pork Heart, Pork Kidney, Inulin, Vitamin E Supplement, Dried Kelp, Whole Pumpkin, Whole Butternut Squash, Collard Greens, Whole Apples, Whole Pears, Whole Cranberries, Zinc Proteinate, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Turmeric, Sarsaparilla Root, Althea Root, Rosehips, Juniper Berries, Citric Acid (Preservative), Rosemary Extract, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product
Best for Picky Eaters: Merrick Grain-Free Real Texas Beef Dinner Canned Dog Food
Merrick Grain-Free Real Texas Beef Dinner Canned Dog Food
This high-protein canned food contains no chicken, grain, soy, or corn. It can be used as a full meal or a topper over kibble to entice picky eaters.
Beef is the primary ingredient in this high-protein, chicken-free dog food from Merrick. In fact, the first three ingredients are beef, beef liver, and beef broth. Plus, you won’t find grain, corn, wheat, or soy anywhere in the recipe.
Containing 41% protein content on a dry matter basis, this canned food offers more protein than most dogs may need. Even active pups should confirm their diet with their vets. Even so, the Real Texas Beef Dinner is highly rated among picky eaters. It can be used as a standalone meal or in smaller portions to complement dry food—and make it more enticing.
Merrick Grain-Free Real Texas Beef Dinner Canned Dog Food Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 393 kcal/13.2 oz can
- Protein: 41%
- Fat: 23% min
- Fiber: 6% max
Deboned Beef, Beef Liver, Beef Broth, Dried Egg Product, Natural Flavor, Salmon Oil, Salt, Locust Bean Gum, Potassium Chloride, Guar Gum, Calcium Carbonate, Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite), Choline Chloride, Taurine, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin)
Talk to Your Vet Before Choosing Any New Food for Your Dog
Before introducing any new foods into your dog’s diet, we suggest consulting with your vet. Your veterinarian can help you understand any health issues your dog may be experiencing and can recommend a dog food that’s going to best support their specific health needs.
Once you have veterinarian approval, always take your time in transitioning to the new food. By slowly swapping your pup’s food out over several days, you can help to ensure a smooth transition—without adding tummy upset into the mix.
How We Chose
This list contains some great chicken free dog foods, but it’s not exclusive to all the options available. One of the easiest ways to research chicken-free dog foods is to read the label carefully, looking for chicken meat, by-products, fat, and broth.
The products we chose to feature were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, conversations with veterinary experts, and, of course, how well they meet AAFCO standards. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets (who are never stingy with their feedback).
