The Rundown
Best Overall: Orijen High-Protein Dry Dog Food
“Orijen High-Protein Dry Dog Food has great protein count and is ideal for active dogs. It comes in three flavors all made with superior quality ingredients.”
Best For Dogs with Allergies: Acana Singles Recipe Range
“Acana Singles Recipe Range is a fantastic limited ingredient dog food with low carb content. It is ideal for puppies, adults, and seniors alike.”
Best Budget Option: Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Formula
“Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Formula has added supplements to give your dog all that it needs. It also has fruits, vegetables and superfoods rich in antioxidants.”
Low-carb dog food is a new idea, but it can really work well for some dogs.
Dogs are omnivores, which means they need a combination of meat, carbohydrates, and fats to be getting optimal nutrition.
Many dog foods out there avoid low-quality fillers but double up on carbs, so your pup still isn’t getting the best.
We’ll be reviewing the best low-carb but high-protein dog food formulas.




Table of Contents
- The Rundown
- Low Carb Dog Food With High-Protein Formulas
- 1. Orijen High-Protein Dry Dog Food
- 2. Acana Singles Recipe Range
- 3. Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Formula
- 4. Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties
- 5. American Journey Grain-Free Puppy Food
- 6. Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipes
- 7. Canidae Pure Limited Ingredient Wet Dog Food
- 8. TruDog Feed Me Freeze Dried Raw Superfood
- 9. Wysong Epigen 90 Starch-Free Recipe
- 10. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Senior Dog Food
- 1. Orijen High-Protein Dry Dog Food
- Testing Protocol & Criteria Used For Evaluation
- Questions & Answers
Low Carb Dog Food With High-Protein Formulas
1. Orijen High-Protein Dry Dog Food
Premium Option
PROS
- Low carb content (28%)
- Great protein count for active dogs
- Contains supplements for adults, seniors, and puppies
- Available in 3 flavours, making it easier to avoid problem foods
CONS
- Pricey option
- May not be great for dogs who can’t tolerate legumes
Orijen High-Protein Dry Dog Food is our first choice for a low-carb, high-protein, well-rounded dog food.
It’s got a nice protein number (38%), an even better carb number (around 28%), and is packed with some really awesome quality ingredients.
This kibble would work well for active dogs who can get the best use out of all that protein! It’s also suitable for still-bouncy seniors and puppies.
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2. Acana Singles Recipe Range
Best Low-Carb Limited Ingredient Food
PROS
- High protein and fat in all formulas
- Limited ingredient to reduce chances of allergies
- Various flavours available
- Low-carb and healthy
CONS
- Can be a little pricey
Dogs who need to be on a limited ingredient diet to reduce food allergies or intolerances will thrive on Acana Singles Recipe Range. It’s made with only great ingredients, contains amazing supplements to promote health, and has a variety of flavours so your pup can avoid those problem ingredients.
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3. Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Formula
Best Value For Money
PROS
- Very high fat count to give your dog energy
- Fairly low in carbs (29%)
- Great added supplements
- Most affordable high-quality food on the market
CONS
- Contains grains (although they’re the good kind)
- Only one flavour, so may not be suitable for dogs sensitive to chicken
Pet parents who are looking for a premium quality, low-carb dog food that won’t cost an arm and leg, Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Formula is for you (and your pup!).
It’s got a carb count of around 29%, which is 1 below the range of 30% to 70% that counts as low-carb. This kibble is also packed with fantastic quality fruits and vegetables that elevate the levels of vitamins and minerals in each bite.
Dogs of all health states, ages, sizes, and lifestyles will benefit from chomping on this food.
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4. Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties
Best For Active Dogs
PROS
- Packed with protein and fats
- Low-carb, but containing organic veggies
- Various flavours with a range of nutritional values
- Minimally processed to retain natural wholesomeness
CONS
- Raw food requires careful handling to ensure it stays healthy
- Not suitable for dogs who are not active enough to work off the fat content!
A raw diet is probably the best way to ensure that your dog is eating a low-carb meal.
Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties would be a fantastic low-carb choice for dogs who are quite active. Inactive pups may not be able to use up the high fat content and end up suffering health conditions as a result.
If your dog is a working dog, hunting dog, or just loves a good exercise, we’d highly recommend these dinner patties. If you’re keen to try raw but your pup is a couch potato, we suggest putting them on a workout program before feeding them these patties!
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5. American Journey Grain-Free Puppy Food
Best Low-Carb Dog Food For Puppies
PROS
- Comes in a few different flavours, each with slightly different nutrients
- Contains all a puppy needs to grow up strong and healthy
- Lower calorie than some
- More affordable than many on the market
CONS
- Fat count may be slightly too low for bouncy puppies
A puppy food has certain parameters it needs to hit to be the healthiest option, and this one hits them all.
American Journey Grain-Free Puppy Food has a few different flavours, each low-carb, high-protein, and loaded with everything a puppy needs to grow up the strongest and healthiest they can.
It’s also one of the more affordable options out there, and doesn’t sacrifice quality.
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6. Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipes
Best Raw Mix
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PROS
- Mix of kibble and freeze-dried raw pieces
- High in both protein and fat
- Has recipes for seniors, puppies, and healthy weight in addition to their normal range
- Contains superfood ingredients
CONS
- No joint supplements added
- Some non-chicken flavours contain chicken
- Somewhat expensive (not unusual for raw food)
If you’re thinking of transitioning your dog over to a raw diet, Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipes is the perfect in-between dog food to get them used to the taste and texture before going all in.
The varying recipes allow pups to avoid problem ingredients while getting a great fat count to keep them energetic and a high dose of protein to maintain their muscles.
The only thing we can fault them for is the lack of glucosamine in their food, but this can be fixed by simply buying a separate supplement.
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7. Canidae Pure Limited Ingredient Wet Dog Food
Best Wet/Canned Food
PROS
- High in moisture, low in carbohydrates
- Limited ingredient, 7 or fewer
- No wheat, soy, or carrageenan
- Probiotics added after cooking to preserve their potency
CONS
- Slightly more pricey than some other wet foods
It’s always a good idea to have a stash of canned dog food in the cupboard. Some dogs might be fussy eaters and prefer a wet component mixed with their crunchy kibble. Others may need to move to a wet food diet for a period of time due to mouth injuries or surgery on teeth.
Whatever the reason your dog may need a canned food, Canidae Pure Limited Ingredient Wet Dog Food is our choice.
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8. TruDog Feed Me Freeze Dried Raw Superfood
Best Freeze-Dried Low-Carb Dog Food
PROS
- High in quality protein – 41%
- Muscle and organ meat
- Free from corn, wheat, and soy
- Low calorie (238 per cup)
CONS
- May be too high in fat for some dogs
- No added glucosamine or other supplements
For dogs who need a good bit of fat to see them through their day, the TruDog Feed Me Freeze Dried Raw Superfood offers just that, plus a good high protein count. It’s definitely not the best choice for dogs who are inactive or less active. Your pup will need at least a decent walk every day to make the most of the fat count!
The packaging states that it’s formulated for dogs of all life stages. Because of its high protein and fat counts, though, we don’t really recommend it for seniors. Older dogs tend to slow down a bit as they age, and the fat count may be too high for them to use it all, which could lead to weight gain.
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9. Wysong Epigen 90 Starch-Free Recipe
Highest Protein Formula
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PROS
- Extremely high in protein
- One of the lowest carb options on the market
- Added vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and prebiotics
- Starch-free to ensure lowest chance of allergies
CONS
- No added joint or skin supplements
- Somewhat expensive
- “Meat protein isolate” is a vague description
For dogs who thrive on a super high protein content, Wysong Epigen 90 Starch-Free Recipe is the highest we can find. It would be great for highly active dogs, working dogs, hunting dogs, and the like.
If your dog has kidney, liver, or digestion problems, we recommend choosing something a little lower in protein.
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10. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Senior Dog Food
Best Low-Carb Dog Food For Seniors
PROS
- High protein count for a senior food
- Includes supplements for joint-strengthening
- L-carnitine is a super addition
- Great Omegas, including DHA and EPA
CONS
- Only comes in one flavour
- The fat count may be a little too low for active seniors
It can be hard to find a senior dog food that retains a high protein count, but this one packs 30% protein into its kibble to maintain older dogs’ muscle mass. If your senior is slowing down a little, Blue Buffalo Wilderness Senior Dog Food would be a great food for them.
If you have an aging pooch who is still very active, you may need to add a couple of high-fat treats to their daily intake to make sure they have enough energy to stay lively.
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Testing Protocol & Criteria Used For Evaluation
Criteria 1- Protein Count
Low carb dog food definitely needs to be filled out by adding great quality protein.
Working dogs, hunting dogs, and sporting dogs need protein to keep their muscles tough, but did you know that your dog needs a certain amount of the nutrient even if they aren’t extremely active?
Protein is the building block for a healthy body, so your dog needs 25% and upwards in their dog food.
We’ve reviewed foods that use whole meat or meat meal as their protein sources, and stay away from meat by-products or vaguely named meat ingredients.
Criteria 2- Carbohydrate Count & Sources
Obviously, when talking about a low-carb dog food we’re going to need to need to look at what carbs are in them.
AAFCO doesn’t require manufacturers to state the carb content on their dog food labels, so it can be tough to figure out the exact numbers. If you want to do the math on your own, add the protein, fat, moisture, and fibre numbers, subtract that total from 100, and you’ll get a pretty accurate idea of the carb percentage of the dog food.
The main carbohydrate sources used in dog foods are grains and fruits and vegetables.
Grains can push that carb total a little high, so we’ve tried to stick to reviewing foods that use fruits and veggies as their carb sources. We’ve also made sure the foods on this list have only a few carb sources on their ingredient list, even if they are vegetables or fruits.
Criteria 3 – Fat Count
Many dog parents assume that carbs are necessary for our pets to give them energy as the day goes on. Well, this may be true for humans, but dogs get most of their energy from fats.
That’s why it’s extra important to have a high-quality source of fats in a low-carb dog food.
We’ve chosen foods that contain premium fat sources and a fat count in the high teens if possible. Although they perform a slightly different function, we’ve also made sure they contain great Omega fatty acid levels.
Criteria 4 – Added Supplements
If you’re going to be feeding your pup the best, the kibble will most likely come with some added supplements.
Things that are becoming the norm in a great quality dog food include glucosamine and chondroitin, Omega fatty acids, and vitamins A and E. L-carnitine is super for assisting in energy metabolism.
Most dog foods will include added vitamins and minerals, as well as chelated minerals for easier digestion.
We’ve had a look at the supplements in each food on this list and explained which kinds of dogs they would work well for.
Criteria 5 – Affordability
We aim to make the lives of both dogs and their parents easier and happier. If the above criteria are what will make a dog happy, then this one is what will help the pet parents.
Some of the dog food on this list is fairly pricey, although it’s the top of the range and your dog will be eating the best and healthiest food there is.
For those who need something a bit more affordable, though, we have the Best Value for Money option.
Don’t think you’ll be getting a food with compromised quality, though – after our review we can assure you it’s on-par with the higher-priced foods and just as healthy.
Your pooch can eat luxury without breaking the bank account!

Questions & Answers

What makes a kibble low-carb?
Although this info is hard to find, dog foods contain between 30% and 70% carbohydrates. A low-carb kibble would obviously be one that is closer to 30%.
It can be hard to figure this out if there’s no number on the label, but you can get a pretty good idea based on the actual carbs included on the ingredient list.
You’ll want to see vegetables and fruits, which are super healthy, packed with antioxidants, and fairly low carb.
Avoid anything with grains, wheat, soy, or corn. Although some of these seem healthy, they’re generally high-carb but offer little nutritional value.

What else should I be looking for in a low-carb dog food?
There’s no use choosing a low-carb dog food if the rest of the stuff in the food is low-quality!
You should be looking for a super quality protein (single source or multiple sources). These should be easy to identify and include no meat by-products.
You’ll also want your main source to be an animal protein. Plant protein is helpful to add a bit extra, but animal protein provides essential amino acids that plants don’t.
Some premium fat sources are also necessary. Animal fat is best, the most common being chicken fat, pork fat, and salmon oil. You may also find flaxseed oil or sunflower oil, which are also decent.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are always welcome, as is L-carnitine. Chelated minerals help with digestion, and added vitamins, minerals, and probiotics are always nice additions.

Can I feed my dog a kibble with grains?
While there’s nothing inherently wrong with grains if your pup can tolerate them, they tend to be higher carb than vegetables and contain less nutritional value.
If you would prefer grains over veggies for some reason, go for something like rice, oats, millet, buckwheat, or quinoa. Avoid wheat, corn, and soy at all costs, as they’re low-quality and commonly cause allergies and intolerances.
When looking for a low-carb dog food, though, we would highly recommend going grain-free for the best nutritional value.

Why choose a low-carb diet for my dog?
Although dogs are omnivores, meaning they eat just about anything, technically they don’t need carbs to thrive.
Many dogs do just fine on a diet of protein and fat with very few carbs. However, the addition of some carbs can provide extra fibre, vitamins, and minerals that they wouldn’t get in other food.
Low-carb is a good plan for dogs who suffer from hypothyroidism, diabetes, and other health conditions.
It can also be super helpful for those who struggle with food intolerances and allergies, as it provides fibre that helps with digestion. Eliminating excessive carbs also allows for fewer food interactions and less chance of bad reactions.

Which dogs would benefit most from a low-carb diet?
Dogs with food allergies and intolerances would most likely benefit from a low-carb diet.
It can also be helpful for pups suffering from health conditions such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, cancer, and anything affecting the digestion and absorption of nutrients.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that perfectly healthy pooches can’t benefit from a low-carb diet! You’ll most likely notice that their pooping habits improve, they have a little more energy, and they aren’t as fussy about eating as they may have been before.

Is raw feeding a good idea if I want my dog to go low-carb?
Raw feeding would work well for dogs on a low-carb diet.
You can buy a raw food or start off with a raw-kibble mix. Once your pet is used to the taste and texture of raw you can make your own, but make sure to include vegetables and fruits in there for their (low) carb intake.