Kirkland Dog Food Review
When purchasing dog food every pet owner wants to know that the food they have chosen is both healthy and safe for their pets to eat. In this Kirkland dog food review, we will be taking a closer look at their ingredient quality, recall history, and where this dog food is made.
In addition to this, we will also be providing you with some information about the Kirkland Signature pet food brand along with its history. Here you can also find out where to buy Kirkland pet products and some alternatives to Kirkland dog food.
In this Kirkland dog food review, we will also be listing and describing all of the dog food that Kirkland Signature has in their product line.
Let’s jump right into it!
About Kirkland Signature Dog Food
Kirkland Signature pet food is a brand that is owned by Costco, which is a wholesale retail and grocery store. Kirkland is advertised as being a healthy dog food brand, and many of its bestselling products are those that are organic and grain free. However, they have a wide variety of dog foods and dog treats available.
In addition to pet products, Kirkland Signature also produces many other products for Costco. These products include but are not limited to food products for humans, health and beauty products, and products for babies. Like with their dog food, Kirkland advertises these products as being quality buys for a low price.
Costco is known for its large big box retail stores that require a membership to shop. Many of their items are sold at whole sale, which is usually sold at a reduced price when compared to other large stores like Walmart or Target. Costco was founded in 1983 and they currently have around 804 warehouses world wide.
Even though Kirkland Signature is a Costco brand, this dog food is actually manufactured in the same plants that produce Diamond pet foods. Diamond pet foods is another dog food brand that is commonly sold in pet stores.
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Kirkland Dog Food History
The Kirkland Signature brand was created by Costco in 1995. However, over time the Kirkland Signature products have improved in quality while still remaining affordable. This is mainly thanks to the brand being popular among consumers and gaining reputability over the years.
Thanks to this improvement in quality, Kirkland dog food is actually made by diamond pet foods. This is generally regarded as a high quality dog food brand that can be high in price depending on where you purchase their products from. Diamond pet foods were created in 1970.
Considering that Diamond produces Kirkland pet food, they are of generally the same quality. However, Kirkland dog food is usually cheaper in price than Diamond pet food is.
Where Is Kirkland Dog Food Made?
Kirkland dog food is made from the same plants that Diamond dog food is made from. Currently Diamond produces their dog food in five different plants that are located in four different states within the United States. These locations include Missouri, California, South Carolina, and Arkansas. Of course, Kirkland dog food is made in these locations alongside Diamond dog food.
Many dog owners are put at ease when they find out that Kirkland dog food is made within the United States. This is because most of the time pet foods made within the United States are of a higher quality than those that are not, which is mainly thanks to food production laws within the United States.
Kirkland Dog Food Ingredient Quality
In all of Kirkland’s dog foods, the first ingredient is either fresh meat or a meat meal. For example, in the adult formulas, the first ingredient is either fresh chicken or fresh lamb. However, in Kirkland’s Nature domain line the first ingredient is a meat meal. Meat meals are essentially ground up meat that includes a wide variety of cuts. Meat meal types that are included in Kirkland dog food include:
- turkey meal
- salmon meal and other kinds of fish meal
- beef meal
- chicken meal
The next ingredient in Kirkland dry dog food is either sweet potato or whole grain brown rice. These are both widely considered to be healthy and high quality dog food fillers. The only difference is that sweet potato is used it replace whole grain brown rice in Kirkland’s grain free dog food products.
There are some other ingredients that are commonly used in Kirkland dog food besides things like chicken meal and whole grain brown rice. Some of these other ingredients include:
- peas
- potatoes
- organic canola oil
- salmon oil
- tomato pomace
- flaxseed
- tomatoes
- blueberries
- raspberries
- dried chicory root
- dried egg product
- carrots
- cracked pearl barley
- chicken fat
- dried beet pulp
- brewers dried yeast
- dried kelp
- apples
- cranberries
- natural flavor
- yucca schidegira extract
- salt
- rosemary extract
- parsley flakes
- millet
Even though every one of these ingredients may not be included in every one of Kirkland’s dog foods, they are frequently included in their products. Generally speaking, the only potentially controversial ingredients that are included in Kirkland dog food is organic canola oil, tomato pomace, dried beet pulp, and brewers’ dried yeast.
These ingredients are mainly considered to be controversial because they are cheap dog food fillers with little nutritional value to dogs. In some cases, an ingredient may be considered to be controversial simply because there is a healthier alternative to it. A good example of this is canola oil, and this is because other oils are considered to be healthier sources of omega 3 fatty acids.
The good news is that Kirkland dog food lacks many other controversial ingredients that are commonly included in other dog foods. Things like pea protein, high fructose corn syrup, and corn meal. Rather, Kirkland mainly includes ingredients that will provide dogs with healthy nutrients.
In addition to whole ingredients, Kirkland also enriches their dog foods with vitamins and minerals that are essential to a dog’s diet. Here is a list of all the healthy vitamins and minerals that are included in Kirkland dog food formulas.
- vitamin e supplement
- choline chloride
- iron proteinate
- zinc proteinate
- copper proteinate
- ferrous sulfate
- zinc sulfate
- copper sulfate
- potassium iodide
- Vitamin B1
- manganese proteinate
- ascorbic acid
- vitamin A supplement
- biotin
- niacin
- calcium pantothenate
- manganese sulfate
- sodium selenite
- vitamin B6
- vitamin B12 supplement
- vitamin B2
- vitamin D supplement
- folic acid
The only potentially controversial item on this list is sodium selenite. This is because sodium selenite is not considered to be as nutritious to dogs as selenium yeast. Not only is selenium yeast a better source of selenium than sodium selenite, but it is more natural as well.
Additionally, Kirkland also includes several different types of probiotics in their dog foods. Many high quality pet food brands will include probiotics in their products because it aids in the digestion of the food. Some of the exact probiotics that are commonly included in Kirkland dog food include:
- dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product
- dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product
- dried Lactobacillus reuteri fermentation product
When looking at these ingredients and comparing them to those that are included in some other dog food brands out there, you come to realize that this dog food is actually of pretty good quality. As a result, many Kirkland dog food reviews are positive, and dogs can receive a healthy diet when eating Kirkland dog food.
In addition to this, Kirkland Signature dog food is also reported to be easy dog food for dogs to digest. This is mainly thanks to the fiber and probiotics that are included in Kirkland’s dog food recipes.
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Kirkland Dog Food Product Line
Kirkland includes a wide variety of pet foods in its product line. These dog foods include their basic adult formula, their puppy formulas, their healthy weight formula, and their grain free Nature’s domain line. Although most of the dog food offered by Kirkland is dry foods, there is wet canned dog food available as well. Here are all of the main dog foods on Kirkland’s product line.
Kirkland Signature Super Premium Lamb, Rice, and Vegetable
Kirkland signature super premium lamb, rice, and vegetables is made for the average adult dog. This formula does include grains, and these grains mainly consist of whole grain carbohydrates like brown rice. As for protein, fresh lamb and lamb meals are the main ingredients. Of course, this dog food also contains many of the ingredients included in our previous ingredients list, and it contains all of the vitamin and mineral supplements that we have listed as well.
Kirkland Signature Adult Formula Chicken, Rice, and Vegetable
This dog food is yet another formula that is made for adult dogs and includes grains. The main ingredients in Kirkland Signature Adult Formula Chicken, Rice, and Vegetable is fresh chicken and chicken meal. Like the previous dog food, Kirkland’s adult chicken, rice, and vegetable formula contain whole grain brown rice and other carbohydrates. This super premium pet food contains nutrients along with vitamin and mineral supplements to ensure that your dog gets plenty of healthy nutrients in their diet. This includes ingredients like dried chicory root, omega fatty acids, and vitamin e supplements.
Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain
All of the products included in Kirkland’s Nature Domain line are completely grain free. These foods replace grains such as brown rice with other carbohydrates like lentils, sweet potatoes, and potatoes. Here is a list of all Kirkland’s Nature’s Domain dog food products.
- Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Salmon Meal and Sweet Potato
- Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Beef Meal and Sweet Potato
- Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Turkey Meal and Sweet Potato
- Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Organic Chicken and Pea
- Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Puppy Formula Chicken and Pea
- Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Turkey and Pea Stew
When it comes to the first three dog foods on this list the main ingredients are a meat meal and sweet potatoes. Although Kirkland does not have a chicken meal grain free food, there are turkey meal, beef meal, and salmon meal options available. Like Kirkland Signature Super Premium, these products are dry dog food.
Moving on down the list, Kirkland’s Organic Chicken and pea dog food is grain free, organic, and has fresh chicken as its number one ingredient. This is yet another dry dog food that is high in quality and low in price. This product replaces grains like brown rice with peas and other healthy carbohydrates. This formula is intended for an adult dog.
Dog owners can be reassured that there is food for their dogs during all of their life stages. This means that there is a grain free puppy food option for pet owners. This formula is incredibly similar to the adult organic Chicken and Pea formula, but it is created with growing puppies in mind. This means that there is a bit of a difference when it comes to the nutritional value and caloric content between puppy food and adult dog food. This is completely normal, though.
Last on our list is Kirkland Signature’s Turkey and Pea Stew. This is a canned dog food that is grain free, and it is the only wet dog food that Kirkland has to offer. This canned food also has high quality ingredients and is designed to keep your pet healthy and happy. This dog food contains beef broth in addition to some of the other ingredients that we have mentioned previously.
Kirkland Signature Puppy Formula Chicken, Rice, and Vegetable
This is a dry puppy food that has chicken, brown rice, and vegetables as its main ingredients. Unlike the Chicken and Pea puppy food option, Puppy chicken, rice, and the vegetable formula contain whole grain carbohydrates. However, this formula is still created with puppies in mind, and this means that this dry food contains all of the vitamins, minerals, and calories that a growing puppy needs to be healthy. Puppy food is recommended for puppies because it helps them to grow and develop properly.
Kirkland Signature Healthy Weight Formula Chicken and Vegetable
If the vet has told you that your dog needs to lose a few pounds, don’t threat. Kirkland Signature has the dog food for you! Kirkland’s healthy weight formulais low in calories while still containing all of the nutrients that are essential in a dog’s diet. The mean ingredients in this dog food are chicken meal, brown rice, and peas. This dog food is great for getting your dog back to a healthy weight while still keeping them healthy and happy throughout the process.
Kirkland Signature Mature Formula Chicken, Rice, and Egg
Remember when we said that Kirkland has dog food for dogs in every stage of life? Well, this includes our senior pets as well. Kirkland Signature Mature Formula is designed for mature dogs. The main ingredients in this food are chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, and egg product. In addition to all of the essential nutrients, this dog food also includes ingredients that contain antioxidants and nutrients that support healthy joints.
Kirkland Signature Small Breed Formulas
In addition to having formulas for a variety of life stages and dietary needs, Kirkland also has a food that is specifically made for small dog breeds. Currently, Kirkland has two dog foods that are designed for small dogs: Kirkland Signature Small Formula Chicken and Vegetable and Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Small Breed Salmon and Lentil.
Kirkland Signature Small Formula Chicken and Vegetables have real chicken as their first ingredient, and it also contains things like brown rice, chicken fat, egg product, and chicken meal. This is a great option for those with small dogs that are looking for food that includes grains and ingredients that are of good quality.
Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Small Breed Salmon and Lentil is a part of nature’s domain line. This food is designed to be a quality, grain free food for small dogs. The main ingredients in this product are salmon, salmon meal, lentils, and chickpeas. This food is a great option for owners of small dogs that are looking for quality, grain free dog food.
Where to Buy Kirkland Dog Food
There are several different places where you can purchase Kirkland dog food. If you are looking to buy Kirkland products in store, then Costco is the only place where you can do so. This is because Kirkland is Costco’s brand and is exclusively sold in Costco stores. In fact, some people refer to Kirkland dog foods as Costco dog food or Costco Kirkland dog food.
You can also purchase Costco’s pet products on their website in addition to in their stores. Here the prices are the same as in store, and you have the added convenience of the products being shipped directly to your home.
If you are looking to order Kirkland’s pet products online, Costco’s online store is not the only option, though. You can also purchase many of these dog foods on large online shopping sites like Amazon and eBay. However, the prices of these products may differ from the Costco prices when purchased from these sites.
Kirkland Dog Food Recalls
Unfortunately, there have been some recalls for Kirkland dog food. There was a voluntary recall in 2012 due to possible salmonella contamination in a variety of Kirkland dog foods. This voluntary recall lasted from December 9, 2012, through January 31, 2013. The following Kirkland products were affected by this recall.
- Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Lamb, Rice, and Vegetable Formula
- Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Chicken, Rice, and Vegetable Formula
- Kirkland Signature Super Premium Mature Dog Chicken, Rice, and Egg Formula
- Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Dog Formulated With Chicken and Vegetables
- Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Salmon Meal and Sweet Potato Formula for Dogs
A voluntary recall means that those who have purchased these products can take the pet food back to the store to get a refund. Most stores will also remove these items from the shelves to prevent others from purchasing them as well. Voluntary recalls are issues either by the company itself or by the manufacturer creating that product.
This recall was made by Diamond Pet Foods. Considering that this company makes Kirkland pet foods along side Diamond pet foods, their products were affected by this recall as well. In addition to dog foods, some of Kirkland’s cat foods were affected by this recall as well. The cat food products affected by this salmonella outbreak include:
- Kirkland Signature Super Premium Maintenance Cat Chicken and Rice Formula
- Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Cat Formula
This recall applied to those purchasing Kirkland pet food products in a variety of different countries. These countries include the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The following states within the United States were potentially affected by this voluntary Kirkland Signature pet food recall.
- Alabama
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Virginia
This means that the above states and countries had locations that were selling the pet food that was recalled for potential salmonella contamination.
Alternatives to Kirkland
If you do not live near a Costco or do not want to shop at Costco for pet food then there are some good alternatives out there. The following dog food products are of similar quality to that of Kirkland Signature dog food.
Diamond Dog Food
Diamond dog food is actually made by the same manufacturer that makes Kirkland dog food. As a result, these two products are very similar when it comes to the included nutrients and quality ingredients in their formulas.
Diamond pet foods have many different types of dog foods on the market. This includes dog food formulas made for puppies, adult dogs, and senior dogs. In addition to this, Diamond also offers grain free, high protein, and a variety of other options for dogs with special dietary needs.
Diamond dog food is sold at a wide variety of pet stores and online sites like Chewy and Amazon. This means that Diamond is available to pretty much anyone within the United States.
Kindfull Dog Food
Kindfull is a pet food brand that is sold by Target, and it is also of a similar quality to Kirkland dog food. Kindfull has both wet and dry dog foods available, and they have both puppy and adult dog food formulas. This brand has a dry food formula for small dog breeds as well.
Although Kindfull does not offer a grain free dry dog food, there are a variety of Kindfull wet, canned dog foods available. In addition to this, there are also many different types of Kindfull dog food toppers to add some extra nutrition and flavor to your dog’s meal as well.
The main dry dog food flavors that Kindfull offers are Chicken and Salmon, Chicken and Brown Rice, Lamb, and Brown Rice, and Beef and Vegetable. When it comes to their wet food Kindfull offers flavors like Turkey, Chicken, Beef, Turkey and White Fish, and Chicken and White Fish.
Taste of the Wild
Taste of the Wild is yet another dog food brand that is of similar quality to Kirkland. In addition to this, this pet food is also sold in a wide variety of pet food stores and online companies. Taste of the Wild offers a very wide variety of unique flavors for their dog food, and their products mainly consist of dry dog foods.
Taste if the wild has dog food options for puppies and adult dogs. There are also many high protein and grain free options from Taste of the Wild as well. In addition to this, Taste of the Wild has multiple recipes that have limited ingredients, which can be a good option for dogs with food allergies and digestion issues.
Purina Pro Plan
Purina Pro Plan is yet another dog food brand that has a wide variety of products, is sold in many pet stores, and is available online. Plus, Purina Pro Plan is of a similar quality to that of Kirkland dog food due to similar ingredients being used.
Purina Pro Plan offers a wide variety of flavors and formulas tailored to a variety of different dietary needs that a dog may have. In addition to their basic adult dog food formulas, Purina Pro Plan also offers a puppy formula, sensitive skin and stomach formulas, sports formulas, and performance formulas. Purina Pro Plan offers a variety of both wet and dry dog foods.
Considering the large variety that Purina Pro Plan offers, you are sure to find a type of dog food that will agree with your furry friend. Plus, most of these products are of just as good of quality as Kirkland Signature dog foods.
Blue Buffalo dog food is also a good alternative, read our in depth article covering the Blue Buffalo vs Kirkland Dog Food Comparison.
Conclusion
In summary, Kirkland dog food is actually of very high quality when compared to other types of commercially produced dog food. This is because the ingredients are of good quality, and they always have animal protein as the number one ingredient. Animal protein includes things like fresh meat and meat meals.
In addition to this, Kirkland also includes things like fiber and probiotics in their dog food. This makes the food easy for dogs to digest. Another great benefit to Kirkland is that their dog food is very high in nutritional value. This is thanks to both quality whole ingredients and nutritional supplements that they include in their formulas.
This all means that Kirkland Signature dog food is an excellent choice for those who are looking for dog food that is of high quality. This includes all of their formulas including their grain free, puppy, senior, healthy weight, and basic adult formulas. Of course, Kirkland’s canned Turkey and Pea Stew is a good option if we dog food as well.
