If you're looking for Canadian dog food brands that prioritize fresh ingredients, you'll want to check out Orijen. This brand sources its ingredients from local farms to ensure the highest quality for your furry friend.
Their fresh meat content is around 85-90% of the total recipe, which is significantly higher than many other brands on the market. This means your dog is getting the nutrients they need to thrive.
In contrast, Acana, another popular Canadian brand, uses a similar approach to sourcing ingredients. They focus on using locally sourced meats, fruits, and vegetables to create a balanced diet for your dog.
By choosing a Canadian dog food brand that uses fresh ingredients, you can have peace of mind knowing your dog is getting the best possible nutrition.
Check this out: What Brand of Dog Treats Are Killing Dogs
Canadian Dog Food Brands
Canadian dog food brands are giving their human counterparts a run for their money. Petcurean offers a wide range of dog food options, including grain-free, limited ingredient, and high-protein formulas.
Go! Solutions by Petcurean provides solutions-based dog foods tailored to address specific dietary needs and health concerns. Canadian Naturals offers a range of dog foods made with natural ingredients sourced from Canadian suppliers.
Open Farm is a family-owned, Toronto-based pet food company that's making waves in the industry. They offer a full-encompassing product line, including kibbles, gently cooked food, wet food, bone broth, freeze-dried, supplements, and treats.
Acana & Orijen
Acana is a brand of the Canadian pet food company Champion Pet Foods, renowned for its biologically appropriate dog foods made from fresh, regional ingredients sourced from Canadian farmers and fishermen.
Their recipes are rich in protein and free from artificial preservatives, providing dogs with a diet that closely mimics what they would eat in the wild.
Acana is manufactured by Champion Pet Foods in Edmonton, A.B., and their ingredients are regionally sourced.
The first 5 ingredients of their food are: Fresh chicken meat, chicken meal, turkey meal, red lentils, and whole green peas.
Suggestion: Turkey Meal
The price for a large (30LB) bag of Acana is $85 – $98.
Acana doesn't have as high of a meat content as Orijen, but they offer many dietary options and flavors.
In 2023, Champion Pet Foods was purchased by Mars INC, an American company that also produces Iam, Pedigree, and several other pet food brands, which may lead to changes in their formulations and ingredient sourcing.
Canadian Naturals
Canadian Naturals is a family-owned Canadian company based out of Abbotsford, B.C. Most of their ingredients are locally and regionally sourced.
Canadian Naturals offers a range of dog foods made with natural ingredients sourced from Canadian suppliers. Their recipes are free from artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors, providing dogs with a wholesome diet that nourishes their bodies from the inside out.
The first 5 ingredients of their food are: Fresh turkey, turkey meal, brown rice, dehulled barley, and oatmeal. The percentage of filler is 40.35%.
For your interest: Turkey Food for Dogs
Canadian Naturals is a great option for supporting a Canadian business and local farmers, right here in B.C. too! Although they have the highest filler content of our top 5, there is far less filler than popular “budget” brands of dog food.
The price for a large (30LB) bag of Canadian Naturals is $45 – $72.
Natural Balance
Natural Balance is a Canadian dog food brand that focuses on providing balanced nutrition using wholesome ingredients. They cater to pets' unique dietary needs, which is especially important for our furry friends.
Their approach is centered around using high-quality ingredients that are easily digestible, making it a great option for pets with sensitive stomachs.
Other Canadian Options
If you're looking for more Canadian options for your furry friend, you have a few more brands to consider. Ollie, for example, offers personalized meal plans tailored to your dog's specific needs, using human-grade ingredients.
One thing that sets Ollie apart is its use of human-grade ingredients. This means that the food is not only healthy for your dog but also safe for you to eat.
For another approach, see: Human Food Bad for Dogs
Spot & Tango is another Canadian brand that's worth checking out. They focus on farm-to-bowl practices, using fresh, locally sourced produce to create healthy meals for your dog.
Their flexible subscription service ensures that your dog's meals are as convenient as they are nutritious. This can be a big plus for busy pet owners who want to make sure their dog is eating well.
Here are some more Canadian dog food brands to consider:
- Kabo, which delivers lab-tested recipes right to your door
- Other brands that may offer similar services and benefits
These brands are all worth exploring to see which one is the best fit for you and your dog.
Canadian-Made and Fresh Focus
Canadian-made dog food brands are gaining popularity, and for good reason. They offer a range of benefits, including supporting local businesses and getting a quality product you can rely on.
First Mate, a Canadian-made dog food brand, is a great example of this. Their head office is based in Deep Cove, North Vancouver, and all their food is made within a few short hours drive of there. They offer a range of recipes, including chicken, turkey, salmon, tuna, and even an insect-based alternative.
For more insights, see: Cesar Dog Food Made
If you're looking for a brand that's both affordable and made in Canada, First Mate is a great choice. Their price point is more affordable than many other brands, and their canned food is a best-seller.
Here are some top Canadian-made and fresh focus dog food brands:
- Ollie: Personalized plans, human-grade ingredients
- NomNomNow: Veterinarian-designed, pre-portioned meals
- Spot & Tango: Local ingredients, subscription flexibility
- Kabo: Lab-tested, Canadian-made
- Canada Fresh: 95% fresh meat content, Green Tripe ingredient
These brands are leading the way in Canadian-made and fresh focus dog food, offering a range of benefits for your furry friend.
Go! Solutions/Now Fresh/Gather
Go! Solutions/Now Fresh/Gather is a Canadian-made dog food option that's worth considering. Petcurean, the company behind these brands, was created in the Fraser Valley but is now based in Ontario.
Their ingredients are primarily sourced in North America, which is a plus for those looking for a more local and sustainable option.
The first 5 ingredients in the Go! Solutions line are chicken meal, turkey meal, salmon meal, de-boned chicken, and de-boned turkey.
The percentage of filler in this food is 30.7%, which is relatively high compared to other options.
A large bag of Go! Solutions dog food can cost between $59 and $78, depending on the size.
Canadian-Made
First Mate, a family-owned business based in Deep Cove, North Vancouver, is a great example of Canadian-made dog food. Their head office is located in an unlikely place, but they're proud to make their food within a few short hours' drive of their headquarters.
Their price point is more affordable than many other brands, making quality Canadian-made food accessible to pet owners on a budget. First Mate's canned food is a best-seller, and they offer a range of flavors, including chicken, turkey, salmon, tuna, and an insect-based alternative.
If you're a multi-species family with both a dog and a cat, you can take advantage of First Mate's 2-in-1 feeding option. Their canned foods are an identical recipe for both species, making it easy to feed both your furry friends with one product.
The benefits of Canadian-made food go beyond just First Mate. Canadian-made fresh dog food products are often formulated with locally sourced ingredients, which resonates with consumers looking to support national businesses.
Take a look at this: Purina Pro Plan Dog Food Making Dogs Sick
Here are some key benefits of Canadian-made fresh dog food:
- Locally sourced ingredients
- Supports national businesses
- Often formulated with recognizable ingredients
These factors contribute to the growing trend of fresh dog food in Canada, with many pet owners opting for meals that mirror their dietary preferences – fresh, less processed, and with recognizable ingredients.
Benefits of Fresh
Fresh dog food in Canada is a game-changer for your furry friend's health and wellbeing. Fresh foods have high digestibility, which means your dog's body can more easily absorb nutrients, leading to smaller, firmer stools and better overall gut health.
Dogs with sensitive stomachs or food allergies may respond well to fresh diets as they contain fewer processed ingredients and potential allergens. This can lead to a marked improvement in their coat texture and overall energy.
A fresh diet can also help keep your dog well-hydrated, supporting kidney and urinary tract health. With a higher moisture content than kibble, fresh food is the perfect solution for dogs who need a little extra hydration.
Nutrient-rich, fresh foods can boost your pet's energy, making them ideal for dogs at all life stages, from playful puppies to ageing adults. Fresh dog food is not just a trend, it's a lifestyle change for many pet parents who are committed to their dog's health and wellbeing.
Here are some of the key benefits of fresh dog food in Canada:
- Optimal Digestion
- Allergy Management
- Enhanced Hydration
- Improved Energy Levels
By choosing fresh dog food, you're giving your dog the gift of optimal nutrition, and a longer, healthier life.
Sources
- Acana & Orijen (championpetfoods.com)
- Champion Pet Foods (championpetfoods.com)
- Acana (acana.com)
- Orijen (orijenpetfoods.com)
- Petcurean (petcurean.com)
- Now Fresh (nowfresh.com)
- Horizon Pet Food (horizonpetfood.com)
- Nutram (nutram.com)
- Red Dog Blue Kat (reddogbluekat.com)
- FirstMate (firstmate.com)
- Canadian Naturals (canadiannaturals.com)
- Wholesome Blend (lifetimepetfood.ca)
- Boréal (borealpetfood.com)
- Performatrin (performatrin.com)
- PureVita (nutrisourcepetfoods.com)
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- Top Canadian-Made Dog Food Brands (nupetfooddelivery.com)
- Top Fresh Dog Food Brands in Canada for Healthy Pets (cricketandcompany.ca)
- Puppy Gang (puppygangfreshfoods.com)
- Pawdcast (puppygangfreshfoods.com)
- Canada Fresh (petkind.ca)
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