Zignature Dog Food - Limited Ingredient Formula (2020 Review)
About The Company
Zignature dog food is made by US Company Pets Global Inc., with headquarters in North Hollywood, California. They produce a holistic, low glycemic diet for dogs and source ingredients from all over the world.
Their website claims that they are not a pet food company but a Pet health company. Their mission is to produce the highest quality pet food and they boast that they will not compromise their standards for profit. These are very noble objectives and I am going to set about trying to find out if they succeed.
Dry Food
Canned Food
Rating
Zignature Dog Food Reviews
Of all the dog food brands whose ingredients I have analysed, Zignature is the one that comes closest to a raw, natural diet for dogs.
Each formula is made with limited ingredients and uses a high-quality protein as the main ingredient. They include ingredients like pea flour, chickpeas, sunflower oil, and pea protein in addition to a complete animal protein.
They also add minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants such as a vitamin E supplement to provide a well-balanced diet overall for your dog. Fresh blueberries, cranberries, and carrots are blended in as well even in the dry dog food formulas!
The fact that is is a grain-free dog food and is not made with chicken or chicken meal also means it is the best dog food brand on the market for dogs with allergies or a sensitive stomach. I have therefore awarded Zignature Dog Food the following rating:
Is Zignature A Good Food For Dogs?
Zignature claims to provide complete holistic nutrition for every pet, they follow the natural blueprint of what dogs would have fed on in the wild, with high-quality protein as a first ingredient.
Instead of high-glycemic carbohydrates such as wheat, corn or potatoes they use low-glycemic carbs, such as chickpeas. The omission of unneeded carbs will result in a softer and glossier coat, and be easier on their gastro-intestinal tract.
This food also uses limited ingredients which are good for dogs with allergies. The most common allergen to a dog is chicken, which is why Zignature has absolutely no chicken products in its food including eggs and chicken meal.
They also add to their food the beneficial ingredients your dog might not have found in the wild like essential omega fatty acids, antioxidants, and a complete spectrum of vitamins and minerals. They boast that they use ingredients from all over the world like Kangeroo meat, but where is Zignature dog food made?
They prepare their foods in USDA regulated plants with partners including Tuffy’s in Perham, Minnesota and Performance Pet in Mitchell, South Dakota. In 2015 Tuffy's opened a new $70 million facility, built to provide state of the art production standards, designed to meet the highest quality standards expected by the pet food industry.
Pros
- Use of holistic nutrition free from wheat, soy and corn which are considered to have little nutritional value for the dog and use of low-glycemic carbs instead to make a balanced grain-free dog food.
- The closest food I have found on the market to a natural “raw” diet for the dogs.
- Use of real animal protein enhances the taste for your dog and is nutritionally beneficial.
- The inclusion of chelated minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, cobalt proteinate), normally included in better dog foods, which make the food easier to absorb.
- A faultless record with their production and no recalls.
- Use of unusual meat sources such as kangaroo meat, which is good for dogs that are allergic to more regular protein sources such as chicken. All ingredients can be traced to the source and come from trusted suppliers from around the world. Great for a dog with a sensitive stomach because the ingredients are easy on their gastro-intestinal tract.
- Their foods are for all life-stages which might benefit you if you have dogs of different ages.
Cons
- The inclusion of high complete protein sources in the ingredient list could mean that the meat or fish content is not as high as you would expect.
- Zignature is one of the most expensive brands I have found on the market. The Trout and salmon meal formula retail at $78.02 for a 27lb bag compared to a bag of Nutro Grain Free Chicken Recipe retailing at $37.99 for 25lb bag.
- Some pet owners have reported that some of the foods such as the Kangaroo recipe are not being easily absorbed by their pets. They are seeing their dog needing to poop more frequently and becoming gassy.
- There are no probiotics in their food which follows their philosophy of a natural diet but which are used in other dog foods to aid digestion.
Zignature Dog Food Reviews of Ingredients
Based On Zignature Whitefish Dry Dog Food
This is a limited ingredient dry food recipe, which are normally chosen by dog owners who have a dog with an allergy or food sensitivity. However, if your dog has no allergy, there is no reason why you cannot feed them this product. Indeed, many dog nutrition experts would consider a food with fewer ingredients more resembles the evolutionary diet of a canine.
Ingredients Check
Whitefish and Whitefish Meal Zignature guarantee that all the fish they use are ethoxyquin-free. Whitefish includes a range of fish including cod and haddock as well as others. It is widely used in human food and in some dog food, but if your dog has an allergy it is worth a try as it should be a novel ingredient.
It provides 61% protein and is an excellent source of vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids. Whitefish and Whitefish meal are listed as the top 2 ingredients so you can be confident that this food contains a high % of both ingredients.
Peas Peas provide around 22% protein, 76 percent carbs, and 2 percent fat. They are a good source of Vitamins including C and K and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Thiamin and Manganese. They are often used in grain free dog foods in place of grains.
Other nutritionists, on dog food review websites, question this ingredient because their high source of protein could be contributing to the 29% crude protein level in the food, rather than the fish or meat. Dogs can also have a problem digesting legumes in large amounts.
Chickpeas These have the same issues as peas, with skeptics suggesting that they are used in dog foods to boost the protein levels without using meat or fish. They are certainly not bad for your dog and may be considered to be a better ingredient than the alternatives as they are low-glycemic and gluten free.
Pea Flour Or pea-meal is produced using green peas and again can be used to boost protein levels as a substitute for meat.
Antioxidants Antioxidants are included in the foods in the form of fruit and vegetables and in vitamin E supplement. They reverse the process of oxidization within the body which is responsible for aging and other health problems and help if the dog is exposed to pollution and other chemicals. A lot of dogs do not eat enough fruit or vegetables to provide enough anti-oxidants so they are added to the Zignature range in other forms.
Kangaroo Formula
This is the first brand I have reviewed which has a Kangaroo meat recipe, which is a fantastic source of complete protein, with virtually no saturated fat. It contains nearly twice the Vitamin B12 as other meats and is rich in Iron, essential Omega-3 Fatty Acids, other B Vitamins.
Their website also claims that kangaroo meat is one of the most environmentally sensitive forms of meat proteins with the lowest impact to the environment.
Zignature Dog Food Recall History
There is no record of any Zignature Dog Food recalls on the FDA website.
Final Thoughts
Is Zignature A Good Dog Food?
As a nutritionist, who is passionate about the quality of ingredients, I do applaud Zignature for their mission statement and for the way they source good quality ingredients from around the world. Their single source protein policy is a commendable one, with each of their recipes containing a main ingredient of duck, lamb, kangaroo, salmon, turkey or whitefish.
One of the main considerations as a dog owner of course is whether your furry friend enjoys eating their food? Check out this Youtube clip, posted by an owner, which shows Zignature passing a doggy taste test!
Many people wonder why it is so important to find a dog food that does not contain corns, grains, wheat and dairy. Well you would not feed your kids a diet of junk food would you?
It is the same principle for your dog, the bottom line is these are the same ingredients you see doctors telling people not to eat. They are also the ingredients most likely to lead to canine allergies and health problems. If your dog has a food sensitivity, this is definitely a brand to consider.
If you have the budget to buy a more expensive dog food like Zignature, then you are likely to see it pay off with a more healthy dog. I would highly recommend this brand to anyone who has a vested interest in the appearance of their dogs, like breeders, or if you compete in dog shows. The investment is sure to pay off in healthy bones, teeth and a gleaming coat.
Conclusion
The overall quality of ingredients appears to be above average and with my ingredient analysis. I have found nothing in the dog foods which would sound any alarm bells. My only warning would be the use of high protein ingredients, may be contributing to the high protein levels, rather than the fish. I believe that as whitefish and whitefish meal are listed as the first 2 ingredients, consumers can be confident that they are the main ingredients.
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