10 Best Potato-Free Dog Food (2020 Buying Guide)

Formulated For Growing Puppies 

Puppies need a decently high protein count, as well as a fairly high fat content in a food. Both of these are perfectly adequate in this food, and there are also some additions that are greatly beneficial for developing puppies, no matter what size or breed. 

A puppy food is not a great quality food unless it contains DHA, which this one does. This is necessary for helping a little dog’s eyes and brain to develop properly and healthily, and is an essential thing to see on a label for puppy food. Glucosamine and chondroitin is also fantastic in a puppy food, regardless of whether the pup is a small or large breed. The calcium/phosphorus ratio is also great to grow strong, sturdy bones. 

Wholesome Ingredients 

Real meat kicks off the ingredient list, followed by a few meat meals that contribute quite significantly to the protein count of 30%. Peas, chickpeas, sweet potato, blueberries and carrots bring healthy carbs, antioxidants, and plenty of vitamins and minerals to the mix. The fat sources are super, with chicken fat, flaxseed, and salmon oil. Your pup will grow happily and healthily eating this food, and you won’t be breaking the bank either. 

Single Source Protein 

Each recipe uses a single source of protein, although they may come in various forms. For example, the duck and pear flavour makes use of deboned duck, duck meal, duck liver, and duck cartilage to make up the high protein count (31%). This is great as it leaves no chance of your pup reacting badly to an ingredient that can’t really be identified. Should your dog have a bad reaction to one of the foods, there are a few other flavours they can try that will give them just as much nutritious value. 

Suitable For All Dogs, All Ages, All Sizes 

The ingredients are of fantastic quality, and being limited ingredient, minus grains, poultry, and potato means that there is little to no chance of this disrupting your pet’s digestive system. The Omega fatty acid levels, DHA and EPA, and dose of glucosamine make this a great option for your dog no matter their breed, size, age, or activity level. 

Perfect Nutrient Values For Dogs On A Low Protein Diet 

With 23% protein, this one’s on the lower end of the spectrum but is perfect for dogs who need less. The best thing about it is that the fat content is still decent, at 13%, meaning that your pooch will still be able to get a decent amount of expendable energy from burning that fat and won’t necessarily need as much protein. 

L-Carnitine and Glucosamine 

The other numbers are just as good, including the addition of L-carnitine, which is very health-promoting. Glucosamine and chondroitin are always good to see, as are high Omega fatty acid levels.

Meat Meal Benefits 

Although this food doesn’t contain real meat, there are various meat meals high on the ingredient list. Meat meal is quite easy to digest, which is advantageous, and is almost 4 times higher in protein than actual meat, which makes it easy to get a great protein count for fewer calories. 

Menhaden fish meal is also not only a great source of protein, but it adds a good bit of DHA, which is more commonly found in foods aimed at puppies but is a perfectly good thing to have in a general food aimed at any life stage. One thing to be aware of is that it also contains blood meal, which is an animal by-product. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with this, as long as it comes from a decent source, if you aren’t keen on your pup eating a biologically-appropriate type diet, then you may want to reconsider this one (although it is a great source of protein and nutrients). 

Great Quality Ingredients For Less Money 

This food comes in the biggest bag we’ve seen (50 pounds), and it will cost you just over a dollar per pound. You can also buy a 40-pound, 15-pound, or 5-pound bag, but why go small when you can go big for such a great cost? 

The ingredient list on this food is good enough to make the list of best potato-free dog food, and the superior price is what puts it in our best value for money spot. If you’re looking for something high-quality, high-protein, high-fat, and potato-free, that’s not going to cost you a fortune, this is the one to go for. 

Great Numbers For Active Little Dogs 

32% protein coming from one real meat source and a few meat meal sources is a pretty good number for healthy, average-sized small breeds. 18% fat is also a fantastic count as this will be absorbed quickly and outputted as active energy. The Omega fatty acid levels are great, which helps keep your little one’s coat and skin healthy and hydrated and also assists in digestion. 

Potato-Free Carb Sources 

This food not only avoids potato in any form, but also leaves sweet potato out of the equation. The carbs it does contain include garbanzo beans, peas, and lentils, as well as tomatoes, blueberries, and raspberries, which bring a nice splash of antioxidants. 

Other carb sources include pea flour and pea protein, which are the pea-related equivalents of potato flour and potato protein, which are lesser-quality by-product ingredients. While these have nothing to do with potatoes, they’re still considered to be of lesser quality and nutritional value than the whole food products, This isn’t necessarily a problem in this case, though, as there are great carb sources up near the top of the ingredient list.

Great Numbers for Active Dogs 

The Original flavour contains a whopping 38% protein, which is fantastic for active dogs who will be getting plenty of exercise. That protein comes from a variety of sources – chicken, turkey, flounder, and mackerel in this particular recipe. Orijen is a biologically appropriate food that uses muscle meat, fat, organ meat, and bone in their recipes, so don’t be alarmed if you spot a meaty ingredient that sounds like it shouldn’t be there. Heart meat, liver, and cartilage are all normal and high-protein ingredients that are great for energetic, hungry pets. 

18% fat is also a great count as it will be metabolized into energy to fuel your pup’s activity. This comes from premium sources and, in addition to the carbs on the list, is greatly beneficial to your pet’s diet. 

Healthy Carbohydrates 

This is a potato-free dog food and, unlike many others, also avoids sweet potato as a carb source. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, though, as the list of carbohydrates present in this food is quite something. Lentils (red and green), peas, chickpeas, a variety of beans, pumpkin, butternut squash, and various other vegetables and fruits make this a super nutrient-dense food that your dog will only benefit from. 

High-Quality Ingredient List 

As with all premium dog foods, this one features real meat first on the ingredient list. It also contains a few different meat meals, which account for the high protein content (30%). Another super thing about this food is that grains aren’t the only carbohydrates on the list – carrots, apples, and blueberries find their way onto it too, and add vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The fat content sits around 15%, and is made up of chicken fat (pork fat in the case of the beef flavour), and flaxseed oil. 

Extra Benefits 

The chicken recipe features some of the highest Omega-3 and -6 fatty acid levels we’ve seen, which would be super for dogs suffering from any kind of skin or fur allergy. The beef recipe contains about half of what the chicken does, but the numbers are still great. 

There’s also a significant amount of glucosamine and chondroitin, which makes this a fantastic food for all types of dogs – large or giant breeds who need extra joint support, small breeds who are susceptible to joint dislocation, seniors who need a bit of a strength boost, or puppies who are still growing (although, we would recommend something containing DHA for puppies).

Nutrient Counts Great For Seniors 

While some senior foods may keep the protein count up above 30, this one comes in at 26%. 30 and upwards is not a problem for older pooches who are still highly active, but for those who are slowing down a little, this number is much more satisfactory. 

11% fat is also great, as seniors who have reduced activity levels will be burning fewer calories and therefore need less fat to convert to energy. These numbers are pretty great for the average senior dog, and if you do feel that he needs more protein, a high-protein snack a couple of times a day would be a great supplement. 

Additions To Keep Seniors Strong 

DHA is always a welcome addition to a senior food, as it helps keep your older guy or girl’s brain sharp. Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids assist in keeping your senior’s coat and skin smooth and hydrated as they age, and glucosamine and chondroitin keep their joints as strong as possible as they get older. 

Various High-Quality Flavours 

One of the great things about this canned food is that it’s available in quite a few different flavours – beef, chicken, lamb, turkey meatloaf, and fish & sweet potato. While this isn’t unusual in itself, the awesome thing about it is that not one of the formulas contains potato. This is a good thing, as often various recipes of the same food contain different ingredients and pet parents can be deceived into thinking each one is the same. In the case of this wet food, though, you can be assured that whichever flavour you choose, you’ll be getting the same quality, and no potato products. 

Great Supplement To A High-Protein Kibble 

One of the disadvantages of wet dog food is that it’s high calorie but low protein, which means that it’s not usually recommended to be used as your pup’s only food. Dogs need kibble, not only for the high protein and fat content, but also because it’s good for their dental health. 

A good quality canned food can be super helpful to add calories without adding too much protein. This food contains 421 calories per can, with 8% protein and 6% fat, so it’s really not optimal levels for a full meal. It can be used as a kibble topper, to entice fussy pups to eat their kibble, or as a treat. Be aware though, that too much wet food in a pet’s diet can contribute to bad breath! 

Pay Attention to the Labels 

Even though all of the flavours in this range are limited ingredient, some of them do contain potatoes. The recipe we’re reviewing here, chicken, has no potato, and neither do the wild boar and the lamb, goat & venison recipes. The others, though (salmon, lamb, duck, and chicken for seniors, puppies, and healthy weight management) DO contain potatoes – so be careful not to inadvertently choose one that contains it and be unpleasantly surprised later. 

Quality Ingredients 

Every Canidae recipe begins with real meat, which is a good sign of a high-quality food. None of them contain grains, and the carbohydrate sources are mostly legumes, although some recipes contain sweet potatoes. This particular recipe, though, has neither potato nor sweet potato in it. Chicken fat and flaxseed provide great fat for your pet to ingest and use as energy, and there are plenty of added vitamins and minerals that make this a great option for pets who need a limited ingredient diet. 

There are no grains at all, no artificial or chemical ingredients, and nothing that could be questionable. Probiotics are added after the cooking process, which is great as this means they retain all of their potency and don’t get cooked away. With 32% protein and 16% fat, these numbers are great considering the fewer ingredients, so you can be sure your fluff will be getting a great meal out of this.