6 Best Low-Carb Dog Foods – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks (Vet Reviewed)

There are several reasons why a dog should go on a low-carb diet. From being concerned about their overall health to trying to match an ancestral diet approach, to simply, let’s face it, accepting that way too many dog foods in the market have more carbohydrates than really needed. A low-carb diet may be the best option for some pooches with specific medical conditions. Of course, it’s best to get advice from your vet before jumping into any specialized diet for your dog.

In these reviews, we’ll help you navigate the increasingly large market of low-carb dog foods.

This post has been fact-checked by a licensed veterinarian; however, this is in no way a product endorsement. Before changing your dog food, please consult with your dog’s veterinarian. Pets that are on a prescription diet or suffer from certain ailments may need to avoid certain food ingredients.

A Quick Look at the Winners of 2024:

The 6 Best Low-Carb Dog Foods:

1. The Farmer’s Dog Chicken Fresh Dog Food – Best Overall

Our very favorite low-carb dog food is The Farmer’s Dog Chicken recipe. The first six ingredients are Chicken, Brussels sprouts, chicken liver, bok choy, and broccoli, none of which are carb-heavy foods, and you won’t find any carb-filled grains or starches lurking further down the list, either.

We love this dog food company because it makes serving your dog fresh human-grade food so easy! Once you sign up for a subscription, they’ll send you pre-portioned packages of frozen dog food customized to your dog’s dietary needs. Thaw a package or two at a time, squeeze it into a bowl, and your dog is ready for dinner.

The downside is that you have to sign up for a subscription, and it can be a little pricier than regular kibble options. But this AAFCO-approved food is packed with all the protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals your dog needs — and none of those carb-loaded fillers. That’s why The Farmer’s Dog Chicken is our pick for the best low-carb dog food currently available.

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2. ORIJEN Original Amazing Grains – Budget Buy

This product is amazing and makes it to our list because it contains only 18% dietary starch and a maximum of 1% sugar. With a minimum of 38% protein and 90% derived from diverse animal sources, including chicken, turkey, herring, egg, and mackerel, this recipe is one of the best choices for your pooch.

With all those fatty fish, this product has natural sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Pumpkin, apple, butternut squash, pear, collard greens, and even cranberry add in natural sources of vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants for complete and well-rounded nutrition. With a lot of good proteins and healthy fats and very few carbs, this product is well deserving of being included in this list.

The only downside is that with such a diverse variety of animal proteins, this product is more likely to be unsuitable to those dogs suffering from food allergies. Some pet parents dislike the fishy smell but will deal with it for their pet’s health.

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3. Visionary Pet Foods Keto Low Carb Dry Dog Food

The Visionary Pet Foods Keto Low Carb Dry Dog Food is packed with 43% protein and free from grain and gluten. It is suitable for low-carb and high-protein diets and is used for dogs with very sensitive digestion. Its primary ingredients are listed as chicken meal, pork fat, and dried whole egg.

This is a high-fat and calorie-dense dog food that might be a great alternative for some dog but not great for those looking to lose some weight.It is a pricey alternative to other low-carb dog foods, but it also has a higher fat and fiber content of approximately 33% and 7% respectively, which means that it will leave your dog feeling fuller after feeding them less of it. If you’re looking for high-quality and low-carb food, then this is a premium choice that gives a lot of protein, is high in fiber, and has proven popular with most dogs.

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4. ORIJEN Tundra Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Orijen has something for everyone, and if you have a dog with chicken, turkey, beef, or egg allergies, this is an amazing alternative product. Of course, it made it to our list because it contains only 15% dietary starch and a maximum of 1% sugar. The protein sources come from lamb, venison, duck, arctic char, rainbow trout, pollock, sardine, herring, mackerel, and pork. A whopping minimum of 40% protein of which 85% is derived from diverse animal sources, making it a species-appropriate formula rich in natural sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

In addition, butternut squash, pumpkin, collard greens, apple, and pear provide fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. We love that Orijen has great formulas that are convenient while providing the nutrition that a canine needs, all while being heavy on animal proteins, containing healthy fats, and having very minimal on carbs.

The only downside is that it has some fishy smell, but hey, it is well worth it. Also, with so many ingredients in their formula, this is something parents of allergy sufferers will have to pay close attention to if their pet is showing any negative signs.

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5. Ketona Chicken Dry Dog Food

If you are looking for low carbs, then this just might be the end of your search. Ketona boasts a dog food that has 85% less carbohydrates than other grain-free brands.

This is another instance where we could talk about what is and what isn’t in the pet food. This product is made with less than 6% starch and .5% sugar. All the protein used in the Ketona recipe was raised by ranchers in the United States, so you don’t have to worry about odd chemicals.

What is in the food, then? To start, there’s 46% protein, which is considerably more than in other dog food brands. This food is packed with so much protein, you can expect lean, energetic muscles in your pup. This is not a raw diet food, but rather, as the company name implies, a low-carbohydrate dog food.

One thing to keep in mind is that this dog food is suitable for dogs of all life stages with the exception of growing puppies or teens of large dog breeds. There have been few reports of dogs having adverse reactions to this food, so if you are thinking of switching your dog over to it, you should contact your vet first. We also do not like seeing peas as the third ingredient listed by content and then listed again further down the list as pea protein. For the most part, though, buyers absolutely love it, and their dogs do too! You can see why we think that this is the best low-carb dog food for the money.

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6. Nulo Adult Grain-Free Dog Food

Nulo understands that the best recipes are simple recipes. This product clearly reflects that, as it has all-natural ingredients with no fillers or preservatives. Nulo also knows that many dogs have specific protein allergies, so it left out eggs and chicken and used salmon, fish, and turkey meats. While some companies will try to sell you on what isn’t in their food, Nulo knows that the trick is what is in the dog food. Let’s take a look.

This recipe is loaded with all sorts of good stuff to keep your dog at the top of its game. This is a grain-free, clean-ingredient product that is meant to keep your dog healthy, happy, and full of energy. The energy comes from all the protein, which, by the way, is 80% of animal origin. It also contains probiotics, which are wonderful for your dog’s digestive health.

Omega-3-rich salmon is on top of the list of healthy ingredients, ensuring that your dog will have healthy skin and a healthy fluff of fur. removed last words. The fatty acids also help promote good brain function. It may seem hard to believe that all those healthy things could be in something so delicious, but dogs are reported to absolutely love it.

Most buyers we’ve heard from have stuck with Nulo since switching to it, saying that their search for the right dog food is over. Some dogs have a bad reaction to this pet food, but they are few and far between.

While the total carbohydrate content is lower than in many other kibble options at around 32%, it is worth noting that rather than being low-carb, this is a low glycemic index food. This means that it does not spike the dogs’ glucose levels because it contains healthy complex carb sources.

Related Read: 10 Best Dog Foods of the Year

Buyer’s Guide – Finding the Best Low-Carb Dog Food

So, you have talked to your vet, and now your dog needs to be on a low-carb diet. Such diets can be useful in a pup maintaining their overall health, and certain studies have shown that dogs who have a proper weight can live up to two years longer than dogs who don’t.

What are things to look for when shopping for a low-carb meal for your dog? Let’s take a peek.

High-Quality Meat

Since a low-carb diet is normally protein-heavy, you’ll want to make sure that you are only getting the best for your furry friend. By doing research, you can learn what farms the meat comes from and how they are raised. Certain proteins are better for dogs than others, but that is specific from dog to dog.

While fruits and veggies are wonderful, you want to seek out food that is loaded with meat. You also want to avoid additional starch and carbohydrate sources.

Omegas

There is a list of health benefits that your dog can get from a low-carb diet and includes all the wonderful proteins, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and supplements that can come with it. Omega-3 fatty acids are great for skin and fur, while L-carnitine and probiotics can be crucial for gut health and aid in maintaining a healthy weight.

Why Go Low Carb?

The main reason is to watch what goes into your dog’s plate that will impact their health. A little secret of the dog food industry is that most dogs don’t actually need a lot of carbs, but they are easy to get and cheap to use, so many manufacturers like to load up their food with them. We call this filler. Additionally, carbohydrates are what help to bind the kibble pellets together.

A low-carb diet, therefore, has plenty of benefits. Lean muscle growth can be one, as can good skin, fur, and brain health.

Talk to your vet!

We always recommend talking with your vet before changing your pet’s diet, unless it is an emergency. While we are happy to make this guide for you, it does not replace the knowledge of a professional veterinarian.

Conclusion

With low-carb dog food, your dog will be a lean, mean, ball-chasin’ machine in no time. If they already are, then they’ll be able to stay that way! These reviews were meant to help you navigate the large world of low-carb and lower-glycemic dog food to make life a little simpler. Did you find the food that you will be serving up for your dog’s dinner? Maybe you are interested in The Farmer’s Dog, our pick of the best low-carb dog food overall, which is completely packed with good stuff. Of course, you can’t go wrong with the offering from Orijen, our choice of best low-carb dog food for the money, which also packs a healthy wallop.

Whatever you choose, it is sure to make your dog’s tail wag!

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Featured Image Credit: Gryllus M, Shutterstock