Earthborn Holistic Dog Food Review (2024)
Table of Contents
About Earthborn Holistic
Originating from the USA, starting as a family-owned business in 1926, the company is now in its fourth generation. That is a lot of dedication to pet food. In 2012 they claimed to not produce pet food for any other company in their facilities located in Illinois, Oklahoma and New York.
Midwestern Pet Foods is the parent company of Earthborn Holistic. They own all their state-of-the-art production facilities and ensure the quality of their pet food. Their limited lines of dog food make it easier for this humble family-owned company to exert control over sourcing and production.
About Earthborn Holistic Dog Food
Research shows that Earthborn Holistic sources their ingredients from Canada, the U.S., New Zealand, and Australia. The company places an extremely high value on the quality and safety of their products.
This brand promotes a holistic approach to your dog’s health and well-being starting with their high-quality ingredients. They thoroughly inspect the ingredients upon delivery and toxins, peroxide value, and salmonella are screened very strictly. If anything suspicious turns up in the tests, the samples are sent to independent labs for further inspection.
The manufacturers and suppliers participate in the safety procedures by conducting their own tests, including ones for melamine. On top of that, their facilities are HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) and FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved and inspected.
Each of the recipes has its own AAFCO (The Association of American Feed Control Officials) nutrient profile. Please refer to the information on their website for more details.
The rankings are G – Growth, M-Maintenance, A-All Life Stages, S-Supplemental, U-Unspecified.
The rankings are more for consideration. For a more accurate diagnosis on which is best for your pet, consult your trusted veterinarian.
Earthborn Holistic Dog Food Lines
Earthborn Holistic
Focusing on the holistic approach, the company tries to find advanced alternative nutrition for your pup. The wolves caught their prey by hunting and relying on their superb senses and instincts. Earthborn aims to do just that and careful selection goes into each of the recipes. It conditions your pooch with the highest quality protein from animals and with no fillers and unnecessary ingredients, you are putting premium nutrition into his or her system.
Adult Vantage
This is a recipe under the standard Earthborn Holistic line. Made for adult dogs to maintain their health and weight with well-balanced nutrition and delicious taste. Aside from the holistic ingredients with chicken as the first ingredient, essential vitamins and minerals are also added for bonus nutrients. Antioxidants and beta-carotene are taken from blueberries and carrots to help with eye and immune system health.
Ocean Fusion
Perhaps your fur baby much prefers the taste of seafood. The whitefish and potato ingredients give your pup less protein and carbs for pups that don’t need that much. Be aware that the standard Earthborn Holistic line is not a grain-free line, which means they do include whole grains. The omega 3 and 6 fatty acid content in the Ocean Fusion recipe will give your pet healthy skin and a glossy coat.
Grain-Free Holistic Formulas
Earthborn actually includes more recipes in their grain-free formula line. There is a total of 7 recipes with four of them tailored for breed specific needs. The grain-free blends are made without any grain or gluten, perfect for the more sensitive pups.
Coastal Catch
Ensure your dog gets enough protein with whitefish as the main ingredient. Fibers derived from vegetables and fruits round out the recipe and antioxidants help with everyday maintenance. Fish formulas always come with a good amount of Omega-3 and 6 essential fatty acids to help with skin and coat health as well as cognitive development. Grain-free means easier digestibility, which reduces bloating, and the L-Carnitine levels help burn fat and control your fur baby’s weight.
Large Breed
As the first breed specific dog food in this line, the large breed recipe is perfect for dogs weighing over 20 kg. Glucosamine and chondroitin are the two key ingredients when it comes to joint and bone protection for larger fur babies. This formula is able to maintain overall health without adding any artificial preservatives. The grain-free means blend easier digestibility, which reduces bloating.
Meadow Feast
This recipe focuses on bones, skin, and coats. To fortify the recipe, healthy fruits and vegetables that have powerful vitamins, fiber and antioxidants are chosen. The L-Carnitine will burn fat and create lean muscle mass to fuel your pup. No grains, only healthy and balanced amounts of Omega-3 and 6 essential fatty acids are added to help support your dog.
Primitive Natural
This recipe blends protein from land and sea animals as the first ingredients. Chicken and whitefish meal will give the ideal amount of protein and energy to your pup to maintain muscle mass. The L-Carnitine decreases fat storage by converting it into energy and fuel for your fur baby’s active body. To offset the protein, fruits and vegetables such as carrots, blueberries apples, and peas balance out the recipe.
Puppy Vantage
Here we have the perfect holistic recipe for developing puppies. The key in this recipe is DHA levels which help with cognitive health. The mix of proteins, carbs, and calcium, will help your fur baby grow to be big and strong. Puppies are also prone to bloating, and for extra sensitive puppies, the grain-free recipe will greatly reduce chances of allergies and digestion issues.
Small Breed
As our old saying goes, “small breeds have big needs”. Small breed dogs have a longer lifespan and require even more nutritional support. If your pooch is less than 10 kg when fully grown, you can opt for this recipe. Earthborn uses only what is necessary, with chicken and whitefish meal as the premium source of protein. This grain-free diet includes the standard L-Carnitine, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants that make up the other recipes. See more small breed dog foods here.
Weight Control
Digestion is of great importance when it comes to regulating weight. The grain-free recipe with L-carnitine is low in fat and calorie dog food to keep your fur baby’s weight at a healthy level. The low fat and calorie blend does not sacrifice necessary nutrition. You will still find the likes of premium vegetables and fruits that provide fiber and antioxidants along with glucosamine, chondroitin, and essential fatty acids.
Earthborn Holistic Food Recall History
Earthborn Holistic has never had a single recall until this year, May 2021. According to FDA, Midwestern Pet Foods issued a voluntary recall of several of their cat food and dog food brands with a code EXP AUG/02/22/M1/L#.
The recall was issued in fear of the health risk of Salmonella poisoning. Other than Earthborn Holistic, the other pet food brands recalled included Sportmix, Sportmix Wholesomes, Pro Pac, Pro Pac Ultimates, Meridian, Venture, Unrefined, Wholesomes, and Sportsrail.
Salmonella poses a huge health risk for the pets who could have ingested it, and humans can also be affected upon handling the product. Keep an eye out for some of the symptoms of Salmonella contamination in your pets: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever.
If you want the full list of the products manufactured by Midwestern Pet Foods involved in the recall, you can see the full list here.
Ingredient Analysis of Earthborn Holistic Dog Foods
Here we will analyze the common ingredients used in all the Earthborn Holistic Dog Foods and determine which are the high-quality ingredients and the low-quality ingredients. This gives you an overview of the type of ingredients included in their dog foods and see for yourself how healthy or unhealthy they are. Is Earthborn is one of the best dog food brands for your doggo?
High-Quality Protein Sources
Earthborn Holistic has a variety of protein sources that they use in their dog foods. Although they are meat meals they can still be considered as a high-quality protein source. Some of the meat meals they used are the following:
- Menhaden Fish Meal
- Lamb Meal
- Bison Meal
- Turkey Meal
- Whitefish Meal
- Pacific Whiting Meal
- Alaska Pollock Meal
- Beef Meal
These high-quality proteins are rich in amino acids which are essential for your dog’s whole body function. Basically, these proteins play a significant role in helping your dog achieve optimal health. Some of the benefits of protein and amino acids are boosts the immune system, promotes lean muscle development, repairs and maintains body tissues, promotes healthy skin, and more.
Superfoods
One of Earthborn Holistic’s signature ingredients are superfoods that are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support your dog’s whole body and keep them in optimal health. The most famous superfoods in Earthborn Holistic products are:
- Pumpkins
- Blueberries
- Cranberries
- Apples
- Carrots
- Spinach
These superfoods are great sources of different vitamins that are beneficial for the body. Vitamin A is good for the eyesight, Vitamin C and Antioxidants for boosting the body’s immune system, Vitamin E for protecting the skin and making them healthier, and so much more.
Blueberries and cranberries are also great sources of fiber which aids with digestion. Fiber also lowers risk of developing severe health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and gastrointestinal diseases.
Whole Grains
Usually, grains in dog food get a bad rep because they are considered fillers or low-quality ingredients. Some grains that fur parents especially don’t like are corn and wheat because they add little to no nutritional value to dog foods.
However, whole grains are a whole different kind of grains. These are grains that we can consider healthy and offers many health benefits for dogs. The following are some of the whole grains included in some Earthborn Holistic pet foods:
- Brown Rice
- Buckwheat
- Pearled Barley
- Oatmeal
- Flaxseed
Whole grains are actually excellent sources of nutrients and fiber. For one, it’s filled with different vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and even has protein. Fiber is also good for your dog’s overall gut health. A good fiber source can aid your dog with their digestion and improve the quality of their stool.
Low-Quality/Controversial Ingredients
Here’s a list of some of the controversial ingredients in some Earthborn Holistic foods.
- Peas
- Pea Protein
- Pea Starch
- Pea Fiber
Peas, pea protein, pea starch, and pea fiber are probably the most known controversial ingredients in dog foods. This is probably because they are speculated to be ingredients that don’t offer your dog much nutrition and are considered low-quality ingredients.
According to American Kennel Club, a recently published study claims that peas are linked to a diet that contributes to canine heart disease, Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). Four diet ingredients were tested: peas, chicken, legumes, and rice. Among these four, peas showed the highest concentration of a compound linked to canine heart disease.
Best Earthborn Holistic Dog Foods
1. Earthborn Holistic Great Plains Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Earthborn Holistic Great Plains Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is filled with healthy ingredients that promote overall health for your pooch. First off, it has an above-average protein content from lean, red meats Bison and Beef. These proteins are highly digestible and rich in amino acids, which possess health benefits for the whole body, including digestion, mood, memory, and more.
This Earthborn dog food contains balanced levels of healthy fats, Omega-3 and 6 that help maintain healthy skin and coat. With this grain-free food, your precious pup is getting a nutritious blend of superfoods, including flaxseed, blueberries, cranberries, apples, carrots, and spinach. Our final verdict? This Earthborn Holistic dog food has everything your dog needs to thrive!
Why We Like It – Based on the Earthborn dog food reviews from Amazon, this dog food is one of the top-rated dog foods. Even Dog Food Advisor rated this Earthborn dog food a 5 out of 5 because of the nutritional value it offers. Its high protein content is perfect for active dogs. Plus the benefits of other vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, such as Taurine for heart health.
Nutrition Information:
| Caloric Content | 3,780 kcal/kg, 400 kcal/cup |
| Crude Protein | 32.0% min |
| Crude Fat | 18.0% min |
| Crude Fiber | 4.00% max |
| Moisture | 10.0% max |
| Calcium | 1.20% min |
| Omega-3 Fatty Acids | 1.90% min |
| Omega-6 Fatty Acids | 3.00% min |
Pros:
+ With bison as the primary animal protein
+ Balanced levels of essential fatty acids Omega-3 and Omega-6
+ Antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables for immune health
+ Taurine for brain and heart health
+ Nutritious superfood blend for optimal health
+ Free from grains, gluten, and potatoes
Cons:
– Not recommended for dogs with beef and egg allergies
2. Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural Dry Dog Food
Earthborn Holistic has made another premium dog food with Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural Dry Dog Food. This Earthborn Holistic dog food has a high amount of protein from quality, meat meals including Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, and Pacific Whiting Meal. These quality animal protein sources are great for sustaining energy and improving muscle function.
This Primitive Natural formula is also filled with antioxidants from blueberries, cranberries, apples, carrots, and spinach. It’s good dog food for dogs with food sensitivities as it’s free from grains and glutens. Ensure that your dog’s skin and coat are healthy and beautiful with the balanced levels of Omega-3 and 6 included in this food.
Why We Like It – This Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural Dog Food has added vitamins, minerals, and amino acids suitable for overall nutrition. You can satisfy your dog’s nutritional needs with this Earthborn holistic dog food. It’s packed with high-quality protein sources, essential fatty acids, fruits, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates, everything needed to achieve optimal health.
Nutrition Information:
| Caloric Content | 3,800 kcal/kg, 400 kcal/cup |
| Crude Protein | 32.0% min |
| Crude Fat | 18.0% min |
| Crude Fiber | 3.50% max |
| Moisture | 10.0% max |
| Calcium | 1.20% min |
| Omega-3 Fatty Acids | 1.00% min |
| Omega-6 Fatty Acids | 3.00% min |
Pros:
+ High-quality animal protein sources
+ Antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables
+ Balanced levels of Omega fatty acids for skin and coat health
+ With L-Carnitine for burning fat and maintaining lean muscles
+ Taurine and Methionine to support heart health
+ Grain and gluten-free
Cons:
– Some dog owners and their dogs didn’t like the change in recipe, especially the added sweet potatoes and peas
– Protein content changed from 38% to 32% due to formula change
3. Earthborn Holistic Large Breed Dry Dog Food
The Earthborn Holistic Large Breed Dry Dog Food is formulated specifically for large and giant adult dogs. It contains Glucosamine and Chondroitin to support your large furry friend’s joints and prevent mobility issues. It’s enriched with Taurine and Methionine to benefit your dog’s heart. Additionally, it’s also rich in antioxidants from the superfood blend of fruits and veggies.
This is one of the Earthborn dog food formulas changed to a pea-free, legume-free, and lentil-free formula. Peas are a controversial ingredient in dog foods linked to canine heart disease, and Earthborn did an excellent job of taking it out in their dog foods. Thankfully, it has Taurine and Methionine, which are good for your dog’s heart.
Why We Like It – This Earthborn dog food specially formulated for large breeds is the perfect food for your pooch! It contains all the necessary nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that a large doggo needs to thrive. Aside from the L-Carnitine for muscle health and Taurine for heart health, it also has the added benefits of Glucosamine and Chondroitin to promote joint health.
Nutrition Information:
| Caloric Content | 3,655 kcal/kg, 360 kcal/cup |
| Crude Protein | 26.0% min |
| Crude Fat | 13.0% min |
| Crude Fiber | 3.00% max |
| Moisture | 10.0% max |
| Calcium | 1.00% min |
| Omega-3 Fatty Acids | 1.00% min |
| Omega-6 Fatty Acids | 2.30% min |
Pros:
+ Formulated to support the needs of large and giant adult dogs
+ With Glucosamine and Chondroitin for joint health
+ #1 ingredient is chicken meal
+ L-Carnitine to help burn fat and maintain lean muscle mass
+ 100% free from peas, lentils, and legumes.
+ Added Taurine and Methionine to support heart health
Cons:
– Most pet parents prefer the old formula without the grains
– Packaging and content information is not updated on the Amazon website; check the updated information in the chewy link here
4. Earthborn Holistic Puppy Vantage Dry Dog Food
Dogs thrive on a well-balanced food like Earthborn Holistic Puppy Vantage. This Earthborn Holistic dog food has chicken as the #1 ingredient, which is a protein-rich source, helpful in developing strong muscles. It’s fortified with DHA, which supports a puppy’s cognitive and retinal development.
It’s also packed with superfoods such as pumpkin, flaxseed, blueberries, cranberries, apples, carrots, and spinach. These fruits and veggies are rich in antioxidants that support the body’s immune system for your growing puppy. Fuel your puppy’s energy with whole grains included in this food that’s also easy on the stomach for easy digestion.
Why We Like It – Based on an Earthborn Holistic dog food review, they loved that it’s suitable for all breeds, small or large breed puppies. More than that, you can get all the nutrients a thriving puppy needs in this dry kibble. It has vitamins, minerals, a good source of protein, and fruits and vegetables.
You might also enjoy: 10 Best Grain-Free Puppy Foods in 2022
Nutrition Information:
| Caloric Content | 3,810 kcal/kg, 405 kcal/cup |
| Crude Protein | 27.0% min |
| Crude Fat | 15.0% min |
| Crude Fiber | 5.00% max |
| Moisture | 10.0% max |
| Calcium | 1.20% min |
| Omega-3 Fatty Acids | 1.00% min |
| Omega-6 Fatty Acids | 2.70% min |
Pros:
+ Features chicken meal and pacific whiting meal as top protein sources
+ Rich sources of DHA for brain and eye health
+ Includes whole grains to promote heart health
+ With superfood blend for easy digestion and nutrient absorption
+ Completely free from peas, lentils, and legumes
+ Suitable for small and large breed puppies
Cons:
– Not for dogs with grain allergies
5. Earthborn Holistic Small Breed Dry Dog Food
Formulated for the small and toy breeds, this Earthborn Holistic Small Breed Dry Dog Food uses high-quality protein sources rich in amino acids to promote lean muscle development. Like other, Earthborn Holistic dog food recipes, it’s also rich in essential fatty acids for skin and coat nutrition and antioxidants from superfoods.
Of course, it has Taurine to support your small pupper’s heart. Small dogs tend to be energetic and active at most times. That’s why this recipe uses whole grains to keep your dog fueled. Your pooch will enjoy nibbling on this tasty and chewy kibble as it’s tailor-made to fit small mouths.
Why We Like It – Earthborn dog food reviews on Chewy show how much dog owners and their small fur babies enjoy this Earthborn Holistic Small Breed Dog Food. Even picky eaters are loving the flavor! Pet parents especially like that it’s pea-free, legume-free, and lentil-free. They’ve also seen significant improvements on their dog’s skin and coat, it’s much healthier and shinier.
Nutrition Information:
| Caloric Content | 3,800 kcal/kg, 400 kcal/cup |
| Crude Protein | 28.0% min |
| Crude Fat | 17.0% min |
| Crude Fiber | 3.00% max |
| Moisture | 10.0% max |
| Calcium | 1.20% min |
| Omega-3 Fatty Acids | 1.60% |
| Omega-6 Fatty Acids | 3.20% |
Pros:
+ With L-Carnitine to promote lean muscle mass
+ Includes 3 high-quality protein sources
+ Balanced levels of Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids
+ Antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies
+ Enriched with Taurine for heart health
+ Small and easy to chew kibbles for small mouths
Cons:
– Not recommended for dogs with grain allergies
6. Earthborn Holistic Grain-Free Weight Control Dry Dog Food
Losing weight is a tough process for everyone–humans and dogs–, and as much as we would like to have quick results, it’s never that easy. Thanks to Earthborn Holistic Weight Control, your dog will have food that aids them through their weight loss journey. This dog food has a low-fat formula to help your dog manage weight without losing the optimal nutrients needed for overall health.
More than that, it’s not only your dog’s weight that’s getting support because this Earthborn Holistic food comes with Glucosamine and Chondroitin to promote healthy joints. Plus, Taurine and Methionine to make sure your dog’s heart is functioning well. It’s also packed with superfoods like pumpkins, blueberries, cranberries, apples, and carrots to support the digestive system.
Why We Like It – Starting your dog on a weight loss diet? This Earthborn Holistic Weight Control is a good choice for your pupper! It’s suitable for all breeds of all sizes. It has the necessary nutrients to start their journey on healthy weight management. The low-fat formula is perfect for dogs looking to lose weight and achieve their best version yet.
Nutrition Information:
| Caloric Content | 3,200 kcal/kg, 315 kcal/cup |
| Crude Protein | 25.0% min |
| Crude Fat | 7.00% min |
| Crude Fiber | 7.00% max |
| Moisture | 10.0% max |
| Calcium | 1.20% min |
| Omega-3 Fatty Acids | 0.6% min |
| Omega-6 Fatty Acids | 1.3% min |
Pros:
+ Low-fat formula for healthy weight management
+ Balanced healthy fatty acids for skin and coat health
+ With joint support from Glucosamine and Chondroitin
+ Superfoods for improved digestion and nutrient absorption
+ Taurine and Methionine for heart health
+ Made without peas, legumes, and lentils
Cons:
– Many pet parents didn’t like the formula change
– Not suitable for dogs with grain allergies
Earthborn Holistic Discount Coupons & Promo Deals
You can clip coupons the old-fashioned way or click around online and browse coupon websites such as Coupons.com, retailmenot.com, groupon.com, and even off of their website. Sometimes Amazon will also offer some buy one get one free deals or large discounts. Make sure you type in the month and year as keywords if you search through Google. Shopping around on Amazon and other websites could reveal some amazing hidden deals. Happy shopping!
Conclusion
Not many dog food companies can earn a 4.5 and 5-star rating. We would say that Earthborn Holistic is a premium dog food that’s very worth its price. Not only do they take a holistic approach and use high-quality and wholesome ingredients, but they also take your pet’s health and nutrition very seriously.
They also have breed-specific recipes and include all the necessary vitamins and minerals with no artificial additives. We also love that they have changed some of the formulas to pea-free, legume-free, and lentil-free as these ingredients are controversial. For all these reasons, we give Earthborn Holistic a 5-star review.
