10 Best Dog Food Without Chicken: 2020 Review & Buying Guide

Botanical Inclusions 

In addition to fruits and vegetables, these ingredients are sometimes seen in dog foods and they have great healthy and immune-boosting properties. What sets this dry food apart from others, though, is the fact that they separate these ingredients from others as specific botanical inclusions, giving emphasis to their importance within the make-up of the food. 

These inclusions would be things your pup would be chowing down if he or she was eating in the wild, so they’re natural and very good for your dog’s body. They’re also super for flavoring food naturally, and many have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties too, which will help a food allergy.

Six Chicken-Free Flavours  

Your fussy pup can choose from six tasty recipes – duck, pollock, pork, rabbit, squid, and turkey. All of them are chicken free, which is super. They all contain great fruits and vegetables for fiber and long-term energy, and you won’t find any grains on an ingredient list. 

Varying Nutrient Values 

The nutrient values do vary based on which flavor you choose, but they’re all high protein (26% – 34%), have great fat contents for active pups, and are among the highest Omega fatty acids on the market (4% Omega-6 fatty acids and 1 – 1,5% Omega-3 fatty acids). 

The only thing that could possibly be considered a downside is that none of the flavors contain glucosamine, so if your pet needs it, you’ll have to buy supplements separate from their dog food.

Premium Ingredient Quality 

Both chicken free dog food recipes begin with real meat and a meat meal (beef & fish meal), which gives this dog food a decent protein count. 24% may be too low for some, but it’s right within the range it should be for most dogs. Carbs include fruits and vegetables for immune boosting. Veggies include sweet potatoes, peas, and lentils, which are great energy providers as well as adding to the fiber content. Blueberries and raspberries add a nice dash of antioxidants. You won’t find any by-products, artificial stuff, or low-quality fillers in this affordable dog food. 

Good Nutrient Levels For All Dogs 

With 24% protein and 14% fat for both the beef and the whitefish flavors, these two are suitable for most dogs of most breeds. If your dog is highly active, they may require more protein, but in general, these are great numbers for moderately active dogs. 

Both of the flavors contain DHA, which is found in fish meal and helps boost brain function. However, neither of them contains glucosamine or chondroitin, so if you have a large breed, or a puppy or senior, you may want to look at supplementing with these.

Low Calorie, But Low Protein 

There are 189 calories per cup of the beef flavor (other flavors vary, but are also low in calories). Obviously it depends on the size of your pup as to how many cups he or she eats, but it’s generally lower in protein and fat than most kibble. Apart from that, it’s loaded with nutrients that your pup’s body will devour, and you should see an improvement in energy levels and general wellness.

Nice Flavour Variety 

One of the super things about these treats is that there are 13 flavors in total, of which 11 are chicken-free. Of these 11, you won’t find a jot of chicken in any one of them. They contain a single source animal protein, so whatever flavor they are, that’s what they contain. Some of them use mixed tocopherols to preserve the treats naturally, but these are wonderfully limited in terms of what ingredients go into them.

Freeze-Dried, Raw & Fresh 

These treats are freeze-dried, which locks in the nutrients quite nicely. This makes them high in protein and vitamins, which is great for a treat your pooch will be getting between meals. 

They’re limited ingredient, contain no fillers, no by-products, no hormones or antibiotics, and no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. These are pretty much the healthiest treats you can get without chicken, and the variety makes them even better.

Great Protein From Turkey 

Turkey is an animal protein that is quite similar to chicken but doesn’t aggravate food allergies or cause food sensitivities. It’s a lean white-meat animal protein and is super healthy and easy on your older pup’s stomach. The carbs include brown rice and oatmeal, and vegetables high in fiber such as peas, pumpkin, and potatoes. Canola oil, fish oil, and flaxseed provide a nice fat content. 

Low Protein & Fat For Less Active Pups 

The numbers on this dog food are somewhat lower than normal, making it a great option for those seniors who are slowing down and expending less energy during their day. 10% fat is a little less immediately expendable energy, so if your fluff is still fairly active, they may need a nice high-fat treat between meals to keep their energy levels up. 

Limited Ingredient 

A limited ingredient wet food is also a great idea to limit the amount of foods your pet is exposed to, thereby reducing the chances of food sensitivities. 

If you are serious about limiting your pet’s exposure to ingredients, it’s a good idea to try and match the flavor of their wet food to the flavor of their dry dog food. This wet dog food comes in six flavors, five of which are safe for those intolerant to chicken – Lamb & Brown Rice, Buffalo & Sweet Potato, Venison & Sweet Potato, Duck & Potato, and Sweet Potato & Fish. 

Everything A Growing Puppy Needs 

Not only are the ingredients all super quality (and avoid chicken completely), but the nutrients on the guaranteed analysis list are great for a pup who is growing up. DHA is a necessity, as is a suitable calcium/phosphorus ratio. These two help your little one develop at the right pace. Glucosamine and chondroitin are always great, whether your pooch is a small breed or a large breed, or an adult or puppy.

Transition To Raw To Limit Allergies 

If your pup has been eating normal dry food, you’ll need to mix some Stella & Chewy’s into their food in increasing amounts for about a week to a week and a half, until you can remove the old food completely. 

Raw diets can eliminate a lot of food allergies due to the unprocessed, pure nature of the ingredients. They’re packed with single source animal protein in the form of raw meat, cartilage, organ, and bone, which makes an extremely well-rounded nutritious food. Also present are fresh fruits and vegetables, just as your pet might chew on were they a wild animal. 

Different Flavours Available 

There are a multitude of chicken flavors here, but there are also a good few others. Be careful, though – some of them contain sneak chicken ingredients. Salmon, bison, lamb, goat and venison, and wild boar flavors are great animal protein that’s safe for chicken-sensitive fluffs, while the duck and lamb flavors contain some chicken ingredients.