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Only Natural Pet Dog Food Review 2023: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Admin July 17, 2024 Dogs

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Review Summary

Our Final Verdict

We give Only Natural Pet dog food a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

If you’re interested in grain-free dog foods that come in multiple recipes and varieties, then dog food from Only Natural Pet may be exactly what you’re looking for. Whether you prefer to feed your dog an ancestral diet or a grain-free kibble, there’s a food from Only Natural Pet to meet your dog’s needs.

This company stands for dog food made with transparent production processes and packed with high-quality ingredients. They support sustainability as well, making your purchases from Only Natural Pet more eco-friendly than purchases from many other brands. Here’s everything you need to know about this brand.

At a Glance: The Best Only Natural Pet Dog Food Recipes:

Only Natural Pet Dog Food Reviewed

Who Makes Only Natural Pet and Where Is It Produced?

Only Natural Pet was founded in 2002 in Boulder, Colorado. The recipes are formulated by a holistic veterinarian, and the foods are made within the US using sustainable practices and ingredients. They are a certified B-corp, and they were the first pet food and treat company in North America to become a certified B-corp for sustainability. They primarily use wind power for their manufacturing processes and carbon-neutral shipping for individual orders and company shipments.

Which Type of Dogs Is Only Natural Pet Best Suited For?

All of the foods from Only Natural Pet are grain-free, as well as being free of starches and artificial ingredients. Their recipes are high in protein, making them suitable for active dogs. Protein can help build and maintain muscle mass, as well as supporting muscle recovery after activity, making these foods suitable for working dogs.

Which Type of Dog Might Do Better With a Different Brand?

All of the Only Natural Pet recipes are grain-free foods, and most of them contain legumes. Grain-free diets containing legumes are not recommended for many dogs, so make sure to discuss this with your vet before transitioning your dog. Also, due to the high protein content in these foods, they are generally not recommended for older dogs and those requiring less protein, like dogs with kidney disease.

Our top pick for older dogs is Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind Adult 7+:

For dogs requiring lower protein food, we like the JustFoodForDogs Veterinary Diet Renal Support Low Protein formula:

Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

Deboned Lamb; Lamb is a nice source of protein for dogs to help support healthy muscle mass. It’s also a good source of multiple vitamins and minerals, including iron, which is essential for cardiovascular and respiratory function, zinc, which supports immunity and nerve function, and vitamin B12, which supports red blood cell production and brain function.
Lamb Meal: Lamb meal differs from deboned lamb in that it contains muscle meat, as well as organ meat and ground bones. On top of being a good source of the same vitamins and minerals that deboned lamb is, it’s higher in iron than deboned lamb. It’s also a great source of glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint health, as well as calcium and vitamin D.
Black Soldier Fly Larvae: Black soldier fly larvae may sound like an unusual ingredient in dog food, but some companies are using insect proteins because they are sustainable, nutrient dense, and a novel protein, which makes them suitable for dogs with food sensitivities. This insect in particular has a nutritional profile that has an amino acid profile that’s comparable to fish meal. It’s a great source of healthy fats, along with calcium and potassium.
Pumpkin: Pumpkin is a fruit that is often considered a superfood for its nutritional profile and digestive benefits. It’s a great source of fiber, so it can help regulate stools and support healthy digestion. It’s also a good source of vitamin A, copper, vitamin C, manganese, and folate. It’s high in antioxidants to support immune system function.
Field Peas: Field peas, also called cowpeas, are a good source of plant protein in dog food. They’re also high in fiber to support digestive health and low in fat and calories. The issue with field peas, along with other legumes, is that legumes in dog food have shown a potential connection to causing heart disease, so many vets recommend avoiding legumes.

High-Protein Foods

All of the Only Natural Pet dog food recipes are an excellent source of protein. Protein is essential for supporting muscle function, growth, and development. It’s also important for repairing tissues after activity or injury. High-protein foods can support healthy muscle mass and body weight in active dogs, as well as supporting healing after illness or injury.

Large Variety of Recipes

As long as you’re looking for a grain-free diet for your dog, Only Natural Pet has a recipe for your dog. They offer freeze-dried raw, ancestral-based jerky food, kibble, kibble with raw nibs, and freeze-dried foods that are intended to be rehydrated and fed as a wet food. They have small breed foods and puppy foods as well. All of their recipes are available in multiple proteins, so there are foods appropriate for dogs with different nutritional needs.

Sustainable Practices

Sustainability is more than a buzzword for Only Natural Pet. This company is a certified B-corp and works to implement practices that support a healthier planet. Sustainable farming, animal rearing, and manufacturing processes, along with carbon neutral shipping, are all important ways that this company works to support the planet and function as a responsible company.

Grain-Free Foods Containing Legumes

The primary downside to foods from Only Natural Pet is that almost all of their recipes are grain-free diets. Most of them contain legumes. Grain-free diets containing legumes and potatoes have shown a link to heart disease in dogs, and my vets recommend avoiding these foods until more long-term studies on the effects of feeding these things to dogs are performed. It’s important that you discuss the risks and benefits of switching your dog to food from Only Natural Pet with your vet before you transition your dog.

A Quick Look at Only Natural Pet Dog Food

Sustainability
High in protein
Multiple recipes, textures, and proteins available
Many suitable diets for dogs with food sensitivities
Nutrient-dense ingredients
Good foods to support growth, muscle mass, and healthy body weight

Most recipes are grain free
Many recipes contain legumes

Recall History

To date, Only Natural Pet has not experienced any dog food recalls.

Reviews of the 3 Best Only Natural Pet Dog Food Recipes

1. Only Natural Pet PowerFood Red Meat Feast

Only Natural Pet Dry Dog Food Canine PowerFood Formula

The Only Natural Pet PowerFood Red Meat Feast is a kibble that is packed with a variety of red meats, including lamb and pork. It has 460 calories per cup of food, and it has a protein content of 33% with moderate fat content at 17%.

This food is a good source of glucosamine and chondroitin, so it will support your dog’s joint health. It’s also a good source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which can support skin, coat, brain, heart, and joint health. It contains probiotics to support digest health as well.

This is a grain-free food that contains peas, lentils, and garbanzo beans.

Multiple protein recipe
460 kcal/cup
33% protein content and 17% fat content
Supports joint health
Good source of omega fatty acids
Contains probiotics for digestive health

Grain-free food that contains legumes

2. Only Natural Pet Mindful Meals Black Soldier Fly Larvae Feast

Only Natural Pet MindfulMeals Feast Dog Food

The Only Natural Pet Mindful Meals Black Soldier Fly Larvae Feast is a unique food that contains a novel protein, making this food suitable for dogs with food sensitivities. It contains 425 calories per cup, and its protein content is 28%. This food has a good fat content at 14%.

Unlike most Only Natural Pet recipes, this recipe contains healthy grains, as well as added taurine for cardiac health. Each kibble is dusted with a PowerBoost Blend that provides extra essential nutrients and increases the palatability of the food. It’s a good source of probiotics for digestive health as well.

This food does retail for a premium price, and some people may be squeamish about feeding an insect-based food to their dog.

Novel protein recipe
Highly sustainable protein
425 kcal/cup
28% protein content and 14% fat content
Contains healthy grains and added taurine
Highly palatable

Premium price
May cause some people to be squeamish due to insect protein

3. Only Natural Pet MaxMeat Beef with Pumpkin

Only Natural Pet MaxMeat Holistic Grain-Free Air Dried Dry Dog Food

The Only Natural Pet MaxMeat Beef with Pumpkin food is a suitable option for multiple uses. This is a paleo-based food for dogs that has a pleasant jerky texture. It can be fed as a primary food, a food topper, or a training treat. It contains multiple sources of beef protein, including muscle and organ meats.

This food is a pleasant jerky texture that is easy to chew and tear. It contains 320 calories per cup, and it provides 30% protein and 27% fat, making it suitable for active dogs and those needing to gain weight or build muscle.

This is a grain-free food that contains peas, so it may not be suitable for all dogs. It also retails for a very premium price.

Paleo-based diet
Easy to chew and tear
Can be fed as primary food, food topper, or training treat
320 kcal/cup
30% protein content and 27% fat content
Suitable for weight gain and muscle building

Grain-free food that contains legumes
Premium price

What Other Users Are Saying

As much as we think that dog food from Only Natural Pet is a great option for many dogs, you don’t just have to take our word for it. We looked to see what other customers were saying about the foods from this company.

PetSmart: “My little guy is fairly picky about his He was raised on chicken but got tired of that so we tried a lot of different brands and settled on the only natural beef with pumpkin. He likes it and the chicken with pumpkin as well so we are sticking with only natural. Try it and I promise your pups will love it.”
Influenster: “My…dogs LOVE only natural pet. The price is a little expensive but the value is beyond worth the money. The animals are in great shape. The food is all natural and uses high quality ingredients.”
Amazon: “I know this product is a little more expensive than the grocery store type of dog food, but this is such a well balanced dog food that you don’t have to worry about loose stool or constipation. My dog is a healthy and happy dog and loves this dog food.”

If you’re interested in reading more reviews from Amazon customers, check out the Only Natural Pet products here.

Conclusion

Foods from Only Natural Pet are nutrient-dense foods that can be suitable for a variety of dogs. Due to the high protein content, they may not be suitable for senior dogs and those requiring moderate protein diets, but these foods are a great option for active dogs, working dogs, young dogs that are still growing, and dogs that need to gain weight or muscle mass.

Most of the foods from this brand are free of grains, and many of them contain legumes, so it’s important to talk to your vet before switching your dog due to the concerns around grain-free foods that contain legumes. The ingredients in these foods are exceptionally high in quality, though, and Only Natural Pet is a certified B-corp that focuses heavily on creating sustainable products.