
Just Food for Dogs at Costco is a popular choice among pet owners, but what's behind its growing popularity? According to the Just Food for Dogs website, their food is made with fresh, human-grade ingredients.
Their menu is designed to mimic the diet of wild canines, with options like Beef Stew and Chicken Fajita. Just Food for Dogs is also committed to sustainability, with a goal of reducing food waste and using eco-friendly packaging.
One of the most significant advantages of Just Food for Dogs is its flexibility. They offer a range of recipes that cater to different life stages, lifestyles, and dietary needs. This makes it easy for pet owners to find a food that suits their furry friend's unique requirements.
Costco Pet Food Options
Just Food For Dogs is a great option for pet owners who want the best for their furry friends. They sell fresh dog food made from whole food ingredients, similar to what you'd find in a restaurant or grocery store.

Their recipes are developed by vets and backed by research, making them a top choice for many pet owners. Just Food For Dogs is the number one vet-recommended fresh dog food brand, after all.
You can choose from a wide variety of recipes, including options for dogs with specific dietary needs or preferences. For example, they have a Tofu and Quinoa recipe for vegan dogs.
Their food is freshly cooked to maximize nutrient absorption, and you can even see it being made at one of their open-to-the-public storefront kitchens in California if you're local.
Explore further: Homemade Dog Food Recipe for Small Dogs
Nutritional Comparison
Just Food for Dogs at Costco offers a unique nutritional profile compared to traditional dog foods.
Their recipes are made with fresh, human-grade ingredients, which are often higher in protein and lower in carbs than traditional dog foods.
One key difference is the use of sweet potatoes, which provide sustained energy for dogs.
The Just Food for Dogs recipes also contain a blend of fruits and vegetables, adding fiber, vitamins, and minerals to the diet.
Recommended read: Foods for Dogs with Diabetes
Crude Protein Comparison
Dogs require twenty-two amino acids to sustain life, with twelve of these amino acids synthesized naturally and the remaining ten consumed through their diet.
Kirkland Signature wet dog foods clearly provide more protein than JustFoodForDogs, with a significant difference of roughly 12.84% in protein content.
This difference in protein content is substantial, making Kirkland Signature a more protein-rich option for dogs compared to JustFoodForDogs.
Broaden your view: Is High Protein Dog Food Good for Dogs
Pet Food Ingredients Comparison
White rice is a nutritionally empty ingredient, lacking the bran and germ of the rice grain. This means it doesn't provide the same level of nutrients as brown rice.
JustFoodForDogs uses white rice in their pet food, while Kirkland Signature uses canola oil, a plant-derived oil that's made from canola seeds. Canola oil is a fat source that's essential for any diet, but it's also a bit of a controversy in pet food.
Proponents of canola oil claim it has a better fat profile than other plant-based oils, but opponents argue that it's often produced with genetically modified rapeseed, which can have adverse health effects. Tomato pomace, on the other hand, is a by-product of tomato manufacturing that's rich in dietary fiber, B vitamins, Lycopene, and vitamin A.
Organic canola oil is essentially the same as regular canola oil, made from canola seeds, but it's labeled as "organic."
Research and Expert Opinion
Just Food For Dogs exceeds AAFCO standards by testing their recipes in 30 dogs over the course of a year, whereas AAFCO only requires four blood parameters for testing in six dogs over six months.
Their research has shown the benefits of their recipes in long-term feeding and promoting healthy functioning of the immune system.
Just Food For Dogs also conducted the largest-scale humane feeding trial ever conducted by a pet food company at an independent university, rather than using caged laboratory animals in their feeding trials.
Expand your knowledge: Homemade Dog Food Recipes Vet Approved for Large Dogs
Type of Research
Just Food For Dogs conducts extensive research to ensure the quality and safety of their recipes. Their approach is unique in that they exceed AAFCO standards by testing their recipes over a year in 30 dogs.
They don't use caged laboratory animals in their feeding trials, instead partnering with two major universities to conduct robust and humane studies.
Their research has shown the benefits of long-term feeding with their recipes, promoting healthy immune system function.
In a significant milestone, they conducted the largest-scale humane feeding trial ever conducted by a pet food company at an independent university.
Their digestibility studies at a major university found that their six daily diets are up to 40% more digestible than kibbles in similar studies.
What Do Vets Think?
Vets have a nuanced view of Just Food For Dogs, with some acknowledging its potential benefits while others express concerns about exaggerated claims. Dr. Zonram Liao DVM of Wellnergy Pets believes that a well-balanced, veterinary nutritionist-developed home-made diet can yield palpable benefits for pets.
Dr. Liao thinks that Just Food For Dogs' claims about commercial kibble being a terrible alternative are exaggerated, as a well-formulated veterinary nutritionist-developed kibble can also be beneficial for pets. He emphasizes the importance of choosing pet food companies that have put in research and consulted with board-certified veterinary nutritionists.
Just Food For Dogs' ingredients meet the nutrients required for good health in dogs, according to Dr. Liao. They have a full board-certified veterinary specialist team and have worked with two major universities to create trials that yielded research and data on their recipes' benefits for long-term feeding and immune system health.
Dogs Before Dollars
Dogs Before Dollars is more than just a slogan for PantryFresh. They genuinely care about making high-quality pet food affordable for every pet parent. Their prices are lower than other brands, making it possible for more people to give their pets the best nutrition available.

PantryFresh is committed to improving the length and quality of life for as many pets as possible. They invest in the things that matter, which is a refreshing approach in the pet food industry.
Their partnership with Costco will make PantryFresh 6-packs available to a wider audience. The 18 southern California Costco locations listed below will carry PantryFresh 6-packs for $34.99:
- Los Feliz
- Burbank
- Pacoima
- Oxnard
- Fontana
- Victorville
- Fountain Valley 411
- La Habra
- Torrance
- Alhambra
- Hawthorne
- Lakewood
- Culver City
- San Dimas
- Woodland Hills
- San Bernardino
- Lancaster
- Monterey Park
Making an Informed Decision
The Just Food For Dogs at Costco is a convenient option, with a wide selection of recipes to choose from, including grain-free and limited ingredient diets.
Costco's partnership with Just Food For Dogs allows for bulk purchasing, which can be a cost-effective option for pet owners.
Each recipe is formulated with high-quality protein sources such as chicken, salmon, and beef, and contains no artificial preservatives or flavors.
By choosing Just Food For Dogs, pet owners can ensure their dogs are getting a balanced and nutritious diet, with options to suit different lifestyles and dietary needs.
The company's commitment to using only the freshest ingredients and minimizing waste makes it a great choice for environmentally conscious pet owners.
Sources
- https://www.justfoodfordogs.com/blog/fresh-frozen-dog-food-costco.html
- https://www.justfoodfordogs.com/blog/costco.html
- https://www.pawdiet.com/compare/justfoodfordogs-vs-kirkland-signature-pet-food-brand-comparison/
- https://www.freshpet.com/deli-fresh
- https://reviewed.usatoday.com/pets/content/just-food-for-dogs-review
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