Duck is a beneficial protein source for addressing various canine eating problems, whether it be food allergies or a selective appetite in your furry friend.
For individuals whose dogs have allergies to certain proteins, duck may be an ideal choice as it is not commonly included in dog foods. Furthermore, many dogs are particularly fond of duck, just like many humans.
The presence of a duck image in a pet food bag’s logo does not guarantee its nutritional value or healthfulness. Furthermore, it may not even contain actual duck meat.
We are evaluating five outstanding options and elucidating why duck is beneficial for your canine, in order to aid you in distinguishing the top choices.
5 Top Recommended Duck-Based Dog Foods: Reviews & Ratings
Outlined below are some of the finest duck-based dog foods on the market. Be sure to evaluate each one thoroughly and choose the option that is most compatible with your dog’s unique requirements.
1. Merrick Grain Free Duck & Sweet Potato
Features duck and other poultry
The top three ingredients in this Merrick recipe, which contains 70% protein, are deboned duck, turkey meal, and chicken meal, all of which are highly nutritious.
Merrick Grain Free Dog Food is an excellent choice for your furry friend as it is composed of high-quality meat that provides a nutritionally balanced meal. It is formulated to include all the essential vitamins and minerals necessary for the well-being of your dog, making it an exceptional option for your loyal companion.
Characteristics:
- 70% / 30% protein to vegetable ratio ensures every bowl provides the kind of nutrition your dog needs
- Fortified with omega fatty acids, glucosamine, chondroitin and four different probiotics
- Made in the USA, with no ingredients originating in China (the duck is sourced from France)
2. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Natural Evolutionary Diet
Duck-based grain-free formula
At the top of the ingredient list is real duck without bones, while antioxidant-packed superfoods are also included. This food does not contain corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives.
Blue Buffalo’s Wilderness, Grain-Free Duck Formula is a nourishing diet that boasts an impressive array of ingredients. The primary ingredient is duck sans bones, with additional poultry meals properly labeled and included, along with “superfoods” abundant in antioxidants, namely cranberries, blueberries, and flaxseed.
3. Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Duck
A duck-based limited ingredient diet for dogs with allergies
This dog food, which is based on duck, is free from gluten, corn, wheat, and artificial additives, making it well-suited for canines that have allergies or digestive problems.
Wellness Limited Ingredient Dog Food is an excellent option for dogs suffering from allergies to chicken, beef, or other commonly used ingredients due to its sole use of duck as a protein source.
Characteristics:
- Limited ingredient food, made without any gluten, corn, wheat or artificial additives
- Made with ground flaxseed , which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and four different probiotics
- Made in the USA and backed by Wellness Natural Pet Food’s wellness guarantee
4. American Journey Limited Ingredient Duck & Sweet Potato
LID recipe with duck as the only animal protein
The primary components of this kibble, which is absent of grain, are duck and duck meal, along with carbohydrates that are easily broken down.
American Journey LID Duck & Sweet Potato is a dog food that excludes grains and includes real, deboned duck and duck meal as its primary components to create a recipe that is rich in duck.
The recipe includes flaxseed to supply omega-3 fatty acids and sunflower oil to provide omega-6 fatty acids.
Characteristics:
- Comprised of easy-to-digest carbohydrates like peas and sweet potatoes
- Made with no corn, wheat, soy, poultry by-product meals or artificial colors, preservatives or flavors
- Meat-based recipe provides plenty of protein (25% of the calories come from protein) to keep your dog healthy
5. Solid Gold Barking at the Moon
Protein-packed with duck and made in the USA
At the forefront of this mixture of proteins is duck, turkey meal, and eggs, while peas and potatoes are utilized for carbohydrates, resulting in a grain-free formula.
Solid Gold Dog Food is a grain-free and gluten-free formula that is enriched with various protein sources, with duck as its main focus, and fiber to cater to the natural diet of canines. Along with providing superior protein, the brand also incorporates an assortment of excellent fruits and vegetables, ensuring that your pet receives optimal nutrition.
Characteristics:
- Made with anti-oxidant-rich fruits and vegetables , such as cranberries, pumpkin, blueberries and carrots
- Contains flaxseed which provides omega-3 fatty acids to help improve coat health
- F ortified with vitamins, minerals and probiotics to ensure balanced nutrition
- Made in the USA with no corn, wheat or soy – as well as no artificial colorings or preservatives
Things To Look For in a Good Duck Dog Food
Determining the best food for your puppy is not a magical process, but rather involves comparing the features and components of different available options to make an informed decision. Thankfully, there are various straightforward standards you can utilize to evaluate the quality of a specific food.
Typically, quality dog foods are distinguished by certain traits such as:
The best dog foods are made in countries with high food safety standards . Try to purchase foods made in the USA, Canada, Western Europe, New Zealand or Australia. While this doesn’t guarantee the safety of your food, it is a very helpful sieve to help filter out potentially problematic products.
When it comes to superior dog food, the primary ingredient should be a complete protein. For instance, the best dog food with duck as its foundation must have duck listed as the primary ingredient, not corn, wheat, or duck meal. Numerous food items, which feature duck meal at the top, do not contain fresh, real, whole duck at all.
High-quality pet foods can contain meat meals or byproducts, but it’s important to ensure that the ingredients are specific about the species used in the product. For instance, “duck meal” is an acceptable ingredient, while “animal meal” or “poultry meal” is too ambiguous. Being aware of what your dog consumes is crucial, and unclear ingredient labeling should be a reason for concern.
Artificial colors, flavors, and additives are typically absent from high-quality dog foods as they are not essential and may cause food allergies or other issues. The inclusion of real duck is ample for flavor, and dogs are more concerned about the smell, taste, and texture of their food rather than the color.
Ingredients that are abundant in omega-fatty acids and antioxidants are commonly found in high-quality dog foods. Such components aid in fostering a healthy coat and immune function, respectively. In addition, certain foods are equipped with helpful bacteria (probiotics) or the nourishment required by these bacteria (prebiotics), which can maintain your dog’s digestive system functioning properly.
BONUS: Should You Feed a Homemade Diet?
As the updates on recalls and details regarding commercial dog foods are continuously changing, an increasing number of dog owners are choosing to cook their own dog food. While dogs relish home-cooked meals, it is imperative to note that preparing homemade dog food is different from cooking for yourself or your human family. To ensure the well-being of your dog, certain crucial guidelines must be followed.
Due to the ability to regulate ingredients and avoid potential dog food recalls, homemade diets have become increasingly popular. Moreover, pet owners are becoming health-conscious and look for the same nourishment for their dogs. Therefore, certain individuals prefer homemade diets for their canines, as they generally contain whole foods that are deemed healthier than manufactured pet food.
Before transitioning your dog to a homemade diet, certain considerations should be taken into account as making home-cooked dog food is not suitable for all.
- Be sure to find a dog food recipe that is complete and balanced. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to feed an incomplete or imbalanced diet to your dog.
- It takes time to measure ingredients and prepare the food correctly. Be sure you have a schedule that allows enough time to properly make your dog’s food on a regular basis.
- Make sure you can afford the ingredients to make your own dog food. Homemade food is typically less expensive than commercially prepared fresh or raw dog food, but it usually costs a little more than kibble.
- If you have a picky dog, you may need to source multiple recipes so you can change the diet periodically and keep your dog interested.
Proper Nutrition for Dogs
In order for dogs to thrive, their nutritional requirements need to be fulfilled, just like humans. It’s important to note that dogs have unique nutritional needs that differ from our own, which means sharing human food with them isn’t a sufficient option. If their diet is incomplete or imbalanced, dogs may suffer from insufficient levels of vitamins and nutrients.
To satisfy their energy needs, dogs require an adequate amount of calories, with the number of daily calories varying according to individual factors such as life stage and level of activity. Consulting with your vet can assist in determining the appropriate amount of calories for your dog.
To ensure a complete and balanced homemade dog diet, it is necessary to incorporate an adequate mix of protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and fat, along with an inclusion of vitamins and minerals.
- At least 10% protein , such as chicken, turkey, fish, lean beef
- Up to 50% carbohydrates, such as rice, pasta , and potatoes (also provides some fiber)
- About 2.5-4.5% fiber , which can come from vegetables like peas, green beans, and carrots
- At least 5.5% fat , usually in the form of vegetable oil
- Vitamin and mineral supplements (dog-specific; can be purchased from a reputable company like BalanceIT.com )
To begin cooking for your dog, it’s essential to consult your veterinarian first. Your vet can provide you with recipes to experiment with. Alternatively, you might require a recommendation for a veterinary nutritionist or a veterinarian who specializes in canine nutrition.
What to Watch for When Feeding Homemade Dog Food
When transitioning to homemade dog food, it is essential to keep a close eye on your dog’s behavior. Stay in touch with your vet and inform them of any changes, positive or negative. To achieve optimal results, maintain a log of your dog’s weight and physical condition over time. Weigh your pet at least once a week and notify your veterinarian if you see any inadvertent weight changes. Pay attention to potential vomiting or diarrhea if your dog is susceptible to certain components. Write down and notify your veterinarian of any indications of illness or discomfort.
How to Prepare Homemade Food for Dogs
It is crucial to use a complete and balanced recipe when making your dog’s meals at home. After selecting an appropriate recipe in consultation with your veterinarian, the preparation process can begin.
- Before you begin, it’s best if you have ready a food scale, food processor, pots and pans, and containers or bags for portioning the food.
- Purchase fresh, high-quality ingredients that are not canned, seasoned, or heavily processed.
- Set yourself up in a clean area of the kitchen that is free of foods that may be harmful to your dog .
- Measure out the ingredients. Use a food scale if possible for accuracy.
- Cook ingredients as directed on the recipe
- Mix food and supplements together well (ideally, use a food processor to blend ingredients).
- Place food in containers and store in the refrigerator or freezer.
- In general, refrigerated food will stay fresh for three to four days. Frozen dog food is best within about two months. Avoid feeding homemade dog food that has been in the freezer for more than six months.
Although bulk food preparation and storing in pre-portioned containers can be a great way to save time and money, it may be wise to start off by creating smaller quantities in order to observe how well your dog adjusts to the diet.
Please seek advice from your holistic veterinarian before altering your dog’s diet, as it needs to be in line with their present health status. Take note of your dog’s weight prior to making any changes to their diet, as this will provide a benchmark for adjusting quantities in case they gain or lose too much. The quantity of food to be fed to a dog will differ depending on factors such as age, overall health and activity levels.
