Kirkland Dog Food Reviews

 Chicken

    Chicken meal

    Whole grain brown rice

    Cracked pearled barley

    Chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and vitamin e)

Artificial Ingredients No

Contains By-products No

Price Range $$

*Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Formula was selected as the recipe for this ingredient list

What's good about this pet food

    animal proteins

    brown rice

    fruits

    vegetables

What's not so good about this pet food

    brewers rice

Our Analysis

Kirkland is Costco’s signature brand of dog food. This is a shame because you cannot buy this excellent product anywhere else. Kirkland Dog Food receives a high grade for its quality ingredients at a price that every one can afford.

All of the Kirkland dog food formulas are appropriate nutrition for dogs of all life stages and with various maintenance needs. The formulas each have a number of components in common, including animal protein. The chief source of protein in these formulas is meat, either in the form of fresh meat or meat and poultry meal, which contains much more heavily concentrated protein.

Another prominent ingredient is brown rice, which is an easily digested complex carbohydrate and an appropriate ingredient for most dogs, although it can sometimes prove problematic in dogs with digestive issues. Barley is also included as a complex carbohydrate and is a good addition for blood glucose stability in dogs with trouble maintaining their own insulin levels.

Kirkland does not include probiotics in their formulas, but they do include brewer’s yeast, which is good for immune support in dogs that are not allergic to it. Overall this food is a higher-than-average quality premium food that is appropriate for most dogs, but may not be appropriate for dogs with sensitive digestive systems because of the inclusion of rice, barley and yeast.

Kirkland is a higher quality dog food than most of the supermarket brands and can definitely hold its own against some of the “higher-end” foods. This is an excellent choice for dog owners — even if you are not on a fixed budget.

The Word on the Street...

Customer reviews of Kirkland Dog Food are extremely positive. People feel as though they are getting a quality product for a reasonable price.

Customers tend to recommend Kirkland dog food and its many formulas, both wet and dry, for puppies and adult maintenance. Most formulas contain a number of quality ingredients, the first few including meat or poultry, poultry meal and whole grain brown rice, which provide protein and complex carbohydrates respectively. These ingredients are easy for most canines to digest. The foods also include barley as another source of complex carbohydrates and starch.

Some dogs with sensitivities may have trouble digesting rice and barley, but the majority will do well on these formulas. Customers also appreciate the addition of chelated minerals that ensure that their dogs are absorbing these minerals more effectively. They believe that the quality is above average for premium dog foods, and again, customers consider the inexpensive price point to be particularly attractive.

Overall this is a food that will cater to the majority of dogs and is recommended by customers with dogs of all ages and life stages. Although some people think that Kirkland is not up to the standards of the high-end dog foods, but for people who can not (or do not want to) spend a lot of money on dog food, Kirkland receives accolades.

More Information

Kirkland dog food is the signature brand of Costco, a big-box store with a big reputation for low prices. However, is low price really all that matters in a dog food formula? How nutritious is Kirkland dog food, and is it a good choice for your dog’s nutrition? What do other dog owners say about Kirkland dog food? Learn more about Kirkland dog food in our review!

Who makes Kirkland Dog Food?

Kirkland Dog Food is sold and marketed by Costco Wholesale Corporation and is manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods. The Kirkland brand in general is Costco’s “store brand”, which is used on many different products, from canned food to vitamins. Most all of Costco’s stores around the country offer Kirkland dog food formulas for consumers to purchase.

Kirkland Dog Food Recall

As of right now, one Kirkland dog food formula is listed on the FDA’s pet food recall website. This recall was initiated in 2007, so will not affect recent Kirkland dog food formulas. The product that was recalled was a canned formula variety pack. Kirkland recalled approximately 6.5 million cans.

Update 5/5/12 Diamond Pet Foods is expanding their recall to include some Kirkland dry dog food formulas. Please check out our blog post dealing with this issue

Kirkland Ingredients

Kirkland dog food formulas are generally viewed by nutritional experts as being a “mid-grade” dog food brand. For example, there are no corn, wheat or soy ingredients in the top five ingredients, which is unique among other “store-brand” dog food formulas. Animal digest and -poultry by-products are also not included in Kirkland dog food. The first ingredient in most formulas is a meat, followed by a meat meal. Barley and rice are two ingredients that offer most of the carbohydrate content of Kirkland dog food formulas.

Kirkland Allergies

There are no significant ingredients in Kirkland dog food that are known to commonly cause allergic reactions in dogs. However, it’s always best to exercise caution, especially if you have a dog with severe allergies. When feeding your dog Kirkland dog food, it’s always best if you thoroughly read the ingredients list, especially if your dog has special dietary requirements.

Have you fed your dog any of the Kirkland dog food dry or canned formulas? Do you have feedback that could help other pet owners? Please share your review of Kirkland dog food!

Ingredient List*

Kirkland Dog Food Ingredient List

Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain brown rice, cracked pearled barley, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and vitamin E), egg product, dried beet pulp, potatoes, fish meal, flaxseed, natural flavor, brewers dried yeast, millet, potassium chloride, salt, choline chloride, carrots, peas, kelp, apples, dried skim milk, cranberry powder, rosemary extract, parsley flake, dried chicory root, glucosamine hydrochloride, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, chondroitin sulfate, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D supplement, folic acid

*for Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Formula

Dog Food Coupons

Dog Food Coupons