If you’re looking for the best organic dog food, you’re not alone. With so many pet owners becoming more conscious of what goes into their dog’s meals, finding high-quality, organic options is more important than ever. From avoiding harmful pesticides to ensuring your pup gets the most nutrient-dense ingredients, organic dog food can be a great choice for pet parents who want to prioritize their dog’s health and well-being.
But what is organic – and which products are genuine? The broad definition of organic is food that’s grown & processed without the use of synthetic chemicals or GMOs, some of which are thought to be linked to health issues like cancer & depression.
If you’re in a rush, though, here’s a peek at our top 5 picks:
Delicious, nutritious, sustainably sourced food and treats where ButcherBox meat is the #1 ingredient.
- Free from antibiotics & added hormones
- Never using added colors, fillers, or artificial preservatives
- Companion-grade, made with high-quality ButcherBox meat
A home-cooked meal you don’t have to cook. Made with the same human grade, whole food ingredients as fresh pet foods, just gently dehydrated for more convenience.
This sustainably sourced kibble features certified wild-caught salmon as the first ingredient. The limited-ingredient recipe contains no poultry, wheat, corn or soy and no artificial preservatives, colors or flavors. Tender & True Pet Nutrition believes in crafting only the very best recipes for your best friend!
Purina Beyond Organic Chicken Recipes use real recognizable ingredients you trust in every bite, with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Choose from Chicken & Sweet Potato and Chicken & Carrot recipes. Both start with organic free-range chicken raised with no antibiotics or growth hormones as the #1 ingredient. Best of all, each premium dog food selection bears the USDA Certified Organic Seal, which means it contains no prohibited synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
This recipe is a great option for dogs who are sensitive to animal proteins and thrive on a plant-based diet. It’s crafted with carefully selected certified organic ingredients and has a perfect blend of 100% plant-based protein from certified organic peas and other natural ingredients.
FYI, this post includes affiliate links. If you buy anything through our links, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
What Exactly is Organic Dog Food?
The problem is, when it comes to the marketing world, organic labels can be misleading. It’s become a pretty profitable buzzword, so it’s good to be informed about what’s actually organic in order to avoid wasting money on brands that aren’t fully transparent about their ingredients.
In truth, when it comes to pet food, there aren’t that many truly organic products around. So, to make things easier, we’ve made a list of the best certified organic dog foods on the market, versus those that are just partially organic.
Before we get into the list, let’s take a quick dive into the different labels and what they mean, so you’ll know what to look out for in the future. If you’re into holistic living, check out our favorite Dr. Fossum’s Pet Care supplements, too!
“Organic” vs Certified Organic & Partially Organic
Did you know that, legally, anyone can label a product as organic? That’s why it’s important to know what you’re looking at when shopping for organic products. Being labeled “certified organic” is different – this means a product has been certified by the USDA as being in line with the official standards of organic food, according to the US governing body.
What this means:
Fresh produce or ingredients can be “certified organic” if they’ve been grown in soil without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Certified organic meats must come from livestock raised in living conditions that accommodate their natural behaviors, like eating grass, without antibiotics or hormones.
Processed or multi-ingredient organic foods, such as dairy products or pet foods, can contain only organic ingredients, with few exceptions, such as added enzymes in yogurt, and no artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors. Any synthetic materials that need to be used in any of these processes must be certified as safe for humans & the environment.
Partially organic labels, or labels claiming a product is “made with organic ingredients”, must contain at least 70% organic ingredients that meet the criteria mentioned above. All that being said, products with self-proclaimed “organic” labels without USDA certification aren’t necessarily inorganic, but they lack official verification, so there is no guarantee that they meet official standards without checking the ingredients for yourself. Now that we know what the labels mean, let’s get into our top 5 certified organic foods for dogs!
Top Picks
- Top Pick – ButcherBox For Pets
- Best Dehydrated Food – The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Dog Food
- Best Food For Allergies – Tender & True Limited Ingredient Salmon & Sweet Potato
- Best Canned Food – Purina Beyond Organic Variety Pack
- Best Vegan Food – Gather Endless Valley Vegan Dry Dog Food
Top Pick: ButcherBox For Pets
ButcherBox For Pets sells not only certified organic, but sustainably sourced dog food, as well as toppers, supplements, and treats for all-natural, all-around goodness! They’re a subscription service, offering customized meal plans that meet your dog’s needs.
They also make toys and clothes and offer awesome bundles, so be sure to check them out. For this review, we’ll be focusing on their premium nutrition dog food, but they also sell a puppy version for optimal growth & development.
Key features:
- Customized meal plans
- Certified organic
- Sustainably sourced
- Developed & tested by vets
- Adult & puppy formulas
- Premium-quality dry food
- Free-range chicken
- Hormone & antibiotic free meat
- Ancient grains & superfoods like quinoa
- No artificial additives or fillers
What we like:
ButcherBox for Pets is committed to delivering premium nutrition, with human-grade ingredients including upcycled, bioavailable meat. Their formula has been carefully crafted, developed, and tested by board-certified veterinary nutritionists, so you know you can trust it.
Organic, free-range GAP-3 chicken is the first listed ingredient, with wholesome ancient grains, and superfoods like high-fiber sweet potato and quinoa for healthy metabolism, blood sugar, and brain function.
It’s free from antibiotics, hormones, artificial additives, and fillers, and it comes backed by tons of five-star reviews which budding buyers can browse on their website, in which several customers remark on the improvements the food has made to their dog’s health and well-being!
What to consider:
Subscription services aren’t for everyone, but their products are fantastic value for money and they also offer regular deals & discounts for new & loyal customers.
Full Review: Check out our full review here.
ButcherBox for Pets Premium Dog Food Subscription
Delicious, nutritious, sustainably sourced food and treats where ButcherBox meat is the #1 ingredient.
- Free from antibiotics & added hormones
- Never using added colors, fillers, or artificial preservatives
- Companion-grade, made with high-quality ButcherBox meat
Best Dehydrated Food: The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Food
The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Dog Foods are like home-cooked meals for dogs, without the cooking! With a huge variety of flavors and recipes to choose from, including wholegrain chicken and grain-free beef, you’re sure to find something for even the fussiest of eaters! They also cater to all breeds & offer options for all life stages and grain preferences.
Key features:
- Certified organic
- Gently dehydrated formula
- Variety of flavors
- Wholegrain & grain-free options
- Caters to all breeds & life stages
- Human-grade ingredients
- Cage-free & free-roaming meat
- Wholesome grains, fruits & veggies
- Strict quality control
- Long shelf life
- Just add water
What we like:
The all-natural formulas contain certified-organic ingredients like cage-free and free roaming meats, wholesome oats, and yummy fruits & vegetables like pumpkin and carrot for essential fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
All of the recipes are made with the same human grade ingredients as fresh pet foods, with uncompromising quality control. Then, they’re gently dehydrated to give them a longer shelf life, whilst maintaining their delicious taste and nutritional value. Just add water and serve!
What to consider:
While there are options for all life stages, not every food caters to every age group. Some cater to puppies and adults, whilst others cater to adults and seniors, so double check the life stage recommendation for each product before buying it for your dog.
Honest Kitchen Turkey & Autumn Veggie
his gourmet wet food made with cage free turkey and autumn veggies like carrots and apples can be served as a complete meal or healthy mix-in that helps you boost your pup’s health and happiness from the inside out.
Best Food For Allergies: Tender & True Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato
Tender & True Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food is ideal for dogs who suffer from food allergies. It’s limited-ingredient, grain-free, and free from all common food allergens like poultry, gluten, and soy.
Key features:
- Dry kibble
- Certified organic & sustainable
- Limited ingredient recipe
- Free from grains & common allergens
- Contains wild-caught salmon
- Flaxseed & coconut oil
- Enriched with vitamins & minerals
- For all life stages
- Small/medium breeds
- Made in the USA
What we like:
It contains not only certified organic but certified sustainable seafood (certified by the Marine Stewardship Council), including wild-caught salmon, the first listed ingredient, and whitefish meal. It also contains highly digestible skin and coat nourishers like flaxseed and coconut oil and is enriched with important vitamins and minerals like taurine for 100% complete and balanced nutrition for small & medium dogs of all ages.
What to consider:
Although it’s fairly versatile, it’s not recommended for large-breed dogs.
Tender & True Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food
This sustainably sourced kibble features certified wild-caught salmon as the first ingredient. The limited-ingredient recipe contains no poultry, wheat, corn or soy and no artificial preservatives, colors or flavors. Tender & True Pet Nutrition believes in crafting only the very best recipes for your best friend!
Best Canned Food: Purina Beyond Organic Variety Pack
If your dog prefers moist food, try this delicious organic pate! The Purina Beyond Organic Variety Pack contains two flavors; organic certified chicken with sweet potato and organic certified chicken with carrots. You can also buy them separately, but we love the fun of a variety pack!
Key features:
- Pate
- 12 pack (6 of each)
- Certified organic
- Free-range chicken
- Contains bone broth & livers
- Nutritious vegetables
- High-protein & low fat
- Enriched with essential nutrients
- No grains, soy, or by products
- Good value for money
What we like:
Free-range hormone-free chicken, chicken bone broth, and chicken livers are the first three listed ingredients in both formulas, followed by their titular vegetable. Sweet potato is a digestive superfood for dogs and carrots are rich in antioxidants and Vitamin A, an essential vitamin for healthy eyes, skin, and more.
They’re all-natural, high-protein, and enriched with other essential nutrients for dogs, without the use of grains, soy, or by-products. They’re also excellent value for money and pretty low in fat for soft food.
What to consider:
Purina are yet to make a certified-organic canned food with other another meat source, so if your dog has a poultry allergy, it won’t be the one for you. However, they do have other all-natural foods you can check out, but they’re not certified organic.
Purina Beyond Organic Chicken Recipes
Purina Beyond Organic Chicken Recipes use real recognizable ingredients you trust in every bite, with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Choose from Chicken & Sweet Potato and Chicken & Carrot recipes. Both start with organic free-range chicken raised with no antibiotics or growth hormones as the #1 ingredient. Best of all, each premium dog food selection bears the USDA Certified Organic Seal, which means it contains no prohibited synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
Best Vegan Food: Gather Endless Valley Vegan Dry Dog Food
The Gather Endless Valley Vegan Dry Dog Food is our top plant-based pick for vegan lifestyles and allergies to animal proteins. All of the ingredients are certified organic and sustainably grown, and the formula is crafted by expert pet nutritionists to be complete & balanced for adult dogs.
Key features:
- Dry kibble
- Certified organic & plant-based
- Crafted by pet nutritionists
- Protein-packed peas
- Fiber-rich quinoa
- Blueberrues & cranberries
- Wholesome grains
- Omegas & Amino acids
- Added taurine
- No wheat, corn, soy, or dairy
- Sustainably grown
- 20% plant-based bag
What we like:
Just because it’s plant-based, doesn’t mean it has to compromise on nutrition or flavor! With protein-packed peas, fiber-rich quinoa, and antioxidant-rich blueberries and cranberries, it’s great for whole body health and immunity. It also contains taurine for eye & heart health, as well as delicious oats, barley, and lentils, plus flaxseed and sunflower oil for essential amino and omega fatty acids.
Of course, there are no GMOs or artificial additives, and there is also no wheat, corn, soy, or dairy. The brand promises that the ingredients are sourced from some of the best suppliers in the world who practice responsible, sustainable farming, and to reduce the use of petroleum-based resources, the bag itself contains plant-based materials, lowering their carbon footprint.
What to consider:
It’s pretty expensive and comes in fairly small bags, but if you need a high quality plant-based dog food, it may be with the money. The kibble peices are also pretty small, which is good for smaller mouths, but can be hazardous for big dogs and cause them to chew less, making it harder to digest.
Gather Endless Valley Vegan Dry Dog Food
This recipe is a great option for dogs who are sensitive to animal proteins and thrive on a plant-based diet. It’s crafted with carefully selected certified organic ingredients and has a perfect blend of 100% plant-based protein from certified organic peas and other natural ingredients.
FAQs
Is organic food better for dogs?
Organic dog food is better for dogs than the average dog food, which often contains cheap filler ingredients and artificial additives that are low in quality, unhealthy, and hard to digest. That said, there are plenty of great natural and filler-free dog foods which aren’t certified organic, but if you want your dog’s diet to be garuanteed chemical-free, go organic!
Is organic food better than raw food?
Organic diets and raw diets both have their benefits; both are natural and free from synthetics, and raw food is minimally processed to boot. However, there are risks associated with raw diets, most notably the increased risk of consuming harmful bacteria, which dogs with compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable to. It also puts owners at risk.
Is organic dog food worth it?
As mentioned above, there are plenty of benefits to dogs eating organic pet food. The only drawback is that it tends to be more expensive, but most healthy options for dogs are, so it’s up to you!
Final Thoughts
A good diet is the best investment you can make for your dog. Are you interested in trying organic dog foods? We highly recommend ButcherBox For Pets, but all of our top picks are certified organic to ensure that your dog gets the best – and that you won’t get ripped off!
Remember, if you’re making a drastic change to your dog’s diet, do it gradually over a few days or weeks to avoid upsetting their stomach, and if you’re interested in getting healthy with your dog’s treats too, check out some of our homemade dog treat recipes!
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