Limited Ingredient Dog Food: What Is It Exactly?

Have you ever considered a limited ingredient dog food? Not all diets are created equal when selecting dog food for your pup. While traditional kibble meets AAFCO’s guidelines for nutritional value, it often contains a long list of ingredients, many unrecognizable. It can make it hard to determine what good dog food is and what isn’t. 

This is where limited ingredient dog food comes into play. As the name suggests, this type of dog food is made with very few ingredients, all of which tend to be foods familiar to you. Limited-ingredient dog food includes one to two proteins, produce, grains, and potentially added supplements to ensure it meets all dietary requirements using as few ingredients as possible. 

Besides being a solid option for all pups, limited ingredient dog food can be great for pooches that suffer from allergies, have a sensitive stomach, or digestive issues, as it is often made with higher-quality, natural ingredients. Because it has fewer ingredients, dog parents can more easily rule out problematic ones. 

How to Choose the Best Limited Ingredient Dog Food

When introducing anything new into your dog’s diet, it’s important to take the proper steps to make the right decision for your four-legged friend.

Consult a veterinarian

Discuss any diet changes before introduction with your vet or other animal professional (e.g., pet nutritionist). Share your concerns, review your dog’s health history, discuss the various limited-ingredient options, and create a plan that works for both of you. 

Do your homework

Thoroughly read the dog food labels, understand the nutritional requirements, and ensure it meets AAFCO’s nutritional standards for complete and balanced pet foods. If you have questions, request additional information and discuss concerns with your veterinarian. 

Look for high-quality ingredients

 Because there is no standard definition for limited ingredient dog food, choose one that is limited in ingredients and free of fillers and unnecessary additives. (Because of shelf stability, additives like mixed tocopherols, a form of vitamin E, are often included.)

Understand your goals

If you are looking at limited-ingredient dog food because of health concerns – such as allergies or sensitivities – consider opting for recipes that do not include common triggers (e.g., chicken, dairy, and grains).

Top Limited Ingredient Dog Foods

With so many options on the market and a subjective definition, selecting limited-ingredient dog food can be overwhelming. We are here to help. Below is a list of some of the best limited-ingredient dog foods on the market. 

1. The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Limited Ingredient Turkey Dog Food

The Honest Kitchen is a brand that has built a reputation for its high-quality dog food – and this food is no different. Made with a single protein (it also comes in beef, chicken, fish, and duck), the recipe has only six human-grade ingredients without GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Because it is dehydrated, you simply add water. Depending on the box size you purchase, it requires rehydration to make either 16 or 40 pounds of food. 

Highlights

• Single protein source (turkey)
• Veterinarian-recommended
• Human-grade ingredients
• Free of feed-grade ingredients, artificial preservatives, fillers, or meat meals

Things To Consider

• Higher price point than traditional kibble
• Requires rehydration (wet-food consistency)
• Made with both local and imported ingredients

2. Zignature Lamb Limited Ingredient Formula Dry Dog Food

Zignature has one of the most extensive lists of protein selections. From catfish to kangaroo, dog parents can select from 11 single-protein recipes. They also have small kibble and puppy formulas. All provide low-fat protein as the first ingredient, combined with produce and probiotics for a complete and balanced diet. 

 Highlights

• A large variety of single-protein recipes
• Probiotics included for gut health
• Completed AAFCO feeding trial studies

Things to Consider 

• Added minerals 
• Many recipes use peas, lentils, or chickpeas, which may concern some dog parents due to past DCM reports
• It does not state human grade or free range on any ingredients
• Made with both local and imported ingredients

3. ACANA Singles Limited Ingredient Duck and Pear Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Acana is a premium brand known for its high-quality recipes, with all formulas consisting of at least 60% animal ingredients combined with fruits, vegetables, and additional nutrients for a well-balanced diet. Its duck and pear formula is one of the most limited ingredients for dry kibble. Considered fiber-rich due to its inclusion of pear, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes, along with added prebiotics and probiotics, the formula supports a healthy digestive system. 

Highlights

• High protein 
• Prebiotics and probiotics to support a healthy gut 
• No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
• No soy, corn, or wheat

Things to Consider

• Added minerals and vitamins
• Not human grade

4. JustFoodforDogs Balanced Remedy Fresh Dog Food

A huge advantage of fresh food is that it doesn’t have many ingredients, but this can also be an issue, as the shelf life is limited, meaning you need to use (or freeze) immediately. With JustFoodForDogs, you get high-quality ingredients delivered right to your door in an easy-to-manage subscription model. The company is one of the oldest in the fresh category, with an extensive nutritional team and research. Besides the limited-ingredient Balanced Remedy, JustFoodforDogs’ other fresh dog foods are good options, as all contain very few ingredients. 

Highlight

• Low fat with moderate protein inclusion
• Very digestible
• Humane-grade ingredients
• No GMOs, artificial preservatives, or additives

Things to Consider

• It needs space in the freezer
• Can be messy
• Expensive
• Rice-based

5. Instinct Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Real Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food

What is great about Instinct dog food is that it has limited ingredients and is affordable. Instinct, a dog food company with over 20 years of experience, offers dry dog food coated in freeze-dried raw, combining nutrient density with shelf stability. Available in salmon, lamb, and turkey, each limited-ingredient dog food is made with one protein, one vegetable, and added nutrients. The formulas do not contain grain, dairy, eggs, and proteins often connected to allergies, like chicken. 

Highlights

• Single protein and vegetable
• No dairy, egg, or grain
• Raw dog food-coated kibble
• More affordable than other brands

Things to Consider

• Contains peas, which may be a concern for some dog parents, which may concern some dog parents due to past DCM reports
• Additional nutrients
• It uses local and imported ingredients
• Higher ingredient count than others on the list

6. Jiminy’s Good Grub Dog Food

A new take on novel, limited ingredients is the brand Jiminy’s. It started using grasshopper protein but has since expanded, including its Good Grub recipe, which offers a nutrient-dense dog food using sustainably sourced ingredients. Its main protein is dried black soldier fly; the dog food also has sweet potato, oats, and brown rice. 

Highlights

• Novel and sustainable black soldier fly protein
• Nutrient-dense
• Sustainable, using less land and water than other proteins
• More affordable than other brands

Things to Consider

• Protein is relatively new and has not been studied as much as other protein
• Contains grains

7. Earthborn Holistic Venture Limited Ingredient Alaska Pollock Meal and Pumpkin Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Family-owned and operated since 1926, Earthborn’s mission is to make well-balanced dog food while caring for the planet. (It has planted over one million trees in partnership with Trees for the Future.) The Venture Limited Ingredient formula is made with Alaska Pollock from the Bering Sea and pumpkins from California. It is also available in turkey and rabbit. 

Highlights

• Grain-free and gluten-free
• Digestive and heart health
• Sustainable source
• Eco-conscious initiatives

Things to Consider

• Higher ingredient count than others on the list
• They use local and imported ingredients
• Kibble form may not be as nutrient-dense as other forms

8. Sundays Air-Dried All-Natural Turkey Dog Food

A protein-rich diet, Sunday’s air-dried turkey dog food is made almost completely of protein (86%), followed by fruits, vegetables, and grains. It currently has three recipes – turkey, beef, and chicken – and its air-drying process means it maintains the nutrients of fresh food without the mess or hassle. 

Highlights

• Clean ingredients you recognize
• Human-grade formulation
• Founded by a vet
• No fillers or synthetic preservatives

Things to Consider

• Pricing is opaque and not revealed until after you take a quiz
• Only available on the Sundays’ website
• It is very high in protein, which could be of concern for some dog parents
• Pricey

How We Chose Our Top Limited-Ingredient Dog Food List

Now that you have a shopping list from which to choose, it’s probably obvious that there are several things to consider before giving your dog one of the choices above. Namely:

• Transparency of Ingredients: Brands on our list are transparent about the ingredients in each recipe and showcase them clearly on the packaging.
• Brand Reputation: We trust the experts, and sometimes, that includes you. To find the best pet dog food with limited ingredients, we looked at expert reviews and customer feedback for feedback from established brands with consistently high ratings.
• Quality of Ingredients: We looked for human-grade, USA-sourced, and whole-food ingredients. 
• Variety and Accessibility: We list dog foods with limited ingredients readily available to ship or access in person. Variety is important because your dog should eat foods they find palatable. 
• Price Point: There is something for every budget on our list. 

Limited-ingredient diets can be a game-changer for dogs – not only those with allergies or digestive issues but for all pups. By only including ingredients you recognize are biologically appropriate for dogs and focused on quality, dogs may experience increased energy, shinier coats, more supple skin, and overall improved health. 

But when switching to a limited-ingredient diet, do so slowly. Gradually introduce the dog food into your pup’s diet in 7-10 days – and after you have consulted with a vet. 

Feature Image by Adriana Morales from Pixabay

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