SquarePet Dog Food Review 2023: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Dog owners will find a lot to love about this brand and its ingredient transparency, but it lacks specific puppy, senior, and canned food options.  We give SquarePet dog food a high rating and we’ll tell you why in this review, including details about some of our favorite recipes they produce.

At a Glance: The Best SquarePet Dog Food Recipes

Squarepet Dog Food Reviewed

Who makes SquarePet Dog Food and where is it produced?

SquarePet dog food is made by SquarePet. It’s a family-owned business started by Peter Atkins, who enjoyed a long career working for Purina and other pet brands before starting his own company. Atkin’s sons also help run the company: one of which is a licensed veterinarian.

All SquarePet food is produced at a plant in Minnesota, which maintains food safety certifications. The company states that they do not source ingredients from China.

Which type of dog is SquarePet Dog Food best suited for?

SquarePet dog food is best suited for adult dogs with special dietary needs, whether food sensitivities or digestive concerns.

Which type of dog might do better with a different brand?

SquarePet doesn’t produce a puppy or senior diet, and owners of these age groups will need to look elsewhere for food choices. Possible recipes to consider are Purina ProPlan Puppy Food and Purina ProPlan 7+ Dry Food.

While dogs with special diet needs can thrive on SquarePet foods, the company’s recipes are still not as carefully researched, tested, and quality-controlled as prescription foods, particularly the limited ingredient diets. If your dog has a chronic disease, talk to your vet before switching to SquarePet food to make sure it meets all your pup’s needs.

Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

Hydrolyzed Pork

Hydrolyzed pork is the protein source in SquarePet’s Skin and Digestive Support diet. The company labels pork as a “novel” protein. True novel proteins are those that a dog has never ingested before. While pork is an uncommon primary protein source, some brands use pork liver and other pork products, and it may not be new to all dogs like rabbit or duck would be.

However, the pork is hydrolyzed¹, meaning it has been broken down into smaller particles. In theory, the proteins are too small to be recognized as allergens by the dog’s immune system and won’t trigger a reaction.

Turkey and Chicken

Many SquarePet recipes use turkey and chicken as primary proteins. When you see poultry ingredients listed like this, it refers to the actual muscle meat of the birds: not organ meat or other by-products. Both the meats are considered high-quality protein. SquarePet specifies that they use cage-free poultry, which won’t matter to a dog but might to many owners.

Cod and Ocean Whitefish

Cod and ocean whitefish are used in SquarePet’s low-fat recipes. Fish is considered safe and healthy for dogs as long as species known to be high in mercury are avoided. Cod and whitefish are both low in mercury², and fish are an excellent source of lean protein and fatty acids.

Lamb and Turkey Meal

Two SquarePet recipes use meal meat as their first protein source. Meals are produced by removing the water from the meat, cooking it, and grinding it into a powder. The resulting product is higher in protein than the equivalent amount of actual meat. Meat meals are a cost-effective way to get protein into dog food.

Rice, Brown and White

For their grain-inclusive diets, SquarePet uses a lot of rice. Rice³ tends to be gentle on the stomach and also provides plant-based protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and other nutrients.

Whole Egg

SquarePet uses whole eggs in many of its recipes, including the primary protein source in its vegetarian food. Eggs are healthy for dogs and provide protein and essential amino acids.

Sunflower Oil

In dog food, oils like sunflower are used to add fat, fatty acids, and flavor. Fat provides energy and calories and is necessary for the digestion of certain vitamins.

A Quick Look at SquarePet Dog Food

Recall History

SquarePet has not issued any recalls during its history. They have only one manufacturing plant and claim to maintain safety certifications there. According to their website, SquarePet tests all packaged food for nutrition and safety before sending it out for sale.

Reviews of the 3 Best SquarePet Dog Food Recipes

Here’s a look at three popular SquarePet dog food recipes in a little more detail:

It’s made with only a few ingredients, including hydrolyzed pork, and is enhanced with antioxidants for immune health and fatty acids for skin and coat support. With 22% protein and 10% fat, this recipe is simple and nutritionally balanced, with nothing artificial.

Dogs with severe allergies may still need prescription diets with documented quality control to avoid cross-contamination.

Featuring lamb, rice, and sunflower oil as the main ingredients, the formula is 22% protein and 12% fat. Besides omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, added antioxidants help boost immune health. Squarely Natural Lamb Meal and Brown Rice may not be high enough in protein for working, active dogs.

At 41% protein, SquarePet Grain-free Turkey and Chicken Formula is packed with fuel and muscle-building power. Check with your vet to determine if a low-carb, grain-free diet is appropriate for your dog.

What Other Users Are Saying

Here’s a quick look at some opinions on SquarePet dog food from other users on Chewy:

Amazon – Double-checking Amazon reviews before you buy dog food can provide valuable insights. You can read these by clicking here.

Conclusion

SquarePets is a newer dog food brand aiming to fill a niche by offering over-the-counter versions of prescription diets formulated for specific needs. Its recipes are simple, with easily recognized ingredients. We like that SquarePet is a small business that seems to value quality and transparency. However, we hope in the future they expand their product line to include canned options, as well as life-stage-specific diets for the youngest and oldest dogs.

Featured Image Credit: SquarePet