zignature dog food allergies
Best Grain-Free Dog Food for Skin Allergies
When we see a dog itching furiously at their skin, fleas are often the first thing that comes to mind. However, if your pup is on a monthly flea preventative, and there are no bugs in sight, they may have skin allergies. Skin allergies can be incredibly uncomfortable and cause your dog to experience painful rashes, loss of fur and uncontrollable itching. A simple change in diet can quickly eliminate their discomfort. With so many dog food brands on the market, which is the best grain-free dog food for skin allergies?
Diagnosing Skin Allergies
Before switching your dogs diet, you will want to ensure that it is a skin allergy and not another medical cause. Take your dog to a licensed vet to get an accurate diagnosis. With a few tests, they can help rule out other causes like mange, mites or chronic skin disease.
Start an Elimination Diet
Just like humans, some dogs may have allergies or sensitivities to particular foods. When you begin to search for the best grain-free dog food for skin allergies, try to stick to a single protein source at first. You may see that your dog is more sensitive to one type of protein versus another. This is why Zignature focuses on a meat first, limited ingredient philosophy. You can clearly identify what works (and doesnt) for your dog.
Look at the Label
The popularity of grain-free dog food has made it a widely-available choice for pet owners. However, with the growing demand, some brands have come on the market that arent exactly the type of quality you would expect. When choosing the best grain-free dog food for skin allergies, read the label carefully. Avoid ingredients that dont sound like whole-food. If you start seeing food colorings or artificial additives, steer clear.Even if a dog food is listed as grain-free, it may still use plant-based ingredients as its main source of nutrition, like lentils or peas. High-quality food will contain meat as a first ingredient.
Choose Low Inflammation Dog FoodThe underlying cause of many skin allergies comes from inflammation. By choosing a grain-free dog food, you are eliminating the most common sources of dietary inflammation, like corn, wheat and soy. Zignature Pet Food is Physiologically Tuned with limited ingredients to lower inflammation and promote a healthy immune system. OurTrout and Salmon Meal Formulais an excellent choice for those looking for the best grain-free dog food for skin allergies. The omega-3 fatty acids help lubricate and calm the skin and coat to decrease itching and irritation.
Zignature Dog Food Review 2024: Recalls, Pros & Cons
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Zignature Dog Food Review 2024: Recalls, Pros & Cons
Written by: Keri-Beth ClurReview Summary
Our Final Verdict
We give Zignature dog food a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Inspired by their own dog, Ziggy, Zignature, was founded to feed dogs with food sensitivities to reduce itchiness and digestive issues and provide them with a more comfortable and safe life. The brand continues to focus on animal welfare with the help of animal nutritionists and food scientists. Together, they create limited ingredient formulas that contain novelty meat protein as the main ingredient and use low glycemic carbohydrates, removing common food allergens while giving your dogs the nutrients they need.
Produced by a family-owned business in the United States, Zignature is widely accessible and trusted by many customers that are looking for high-quality, premium dog food for their pets. However, this food comes at a high price and may fall beyond your budget. Continue reading to discover Zignature for yourself, and you can decide if this food is worth its pricewe think it is.
At a Glance: The Best Zignature Dog Food Recipes
Zignature Dog Food Reviewed
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Who Makes Zignature and Where Is It Produced?
Zignature is made by Global Pets, Inc., which is based in California and is also the manufacturer of Fussie Cat, Inception Pet Foods, and Essence Pet Foods. They make dry cat and dog food as well as canned food. They are a family-owned business and play a huge part in the manufacturing, sourcing, and processing surrounding their brands with the help of nutritionists and food scientists. They care about animal welfare and claim to place quality over profit.
Zignature is a relatively new brand, having only been founded in2010. Their products are made in the United States in Brainerd and Perham, Minnesota, as well as Mitchell, South Dakota. They source some of their high-quality ingredients from France, New Zealand, and Australia, but their pork, turkey, salmon, trout, whitefish, and catfish are sourced locally. You can find their products locally at most retailer specialty stores and online on Chewy and Amazon.
Which Type of Dog Is Zignature Best Suited For?
Zignature has a variety of recipes that are nutritionally complete and balanced. They all contain meat, poultry, or fish as the main ingredient in each of their tasty recipes. Each recipe has a different animal protein which can change up their diet and keep even picky eaters eager for their next meal. Some of the animal proteins used are turkey, trout and salmon, pork, duck, whitefish, lamb, catfish, venison, and kangaroo.
Due to their limited ingredients, this brand is excellent for dogs that suffer from sensitive stomachs and food allergies. Dog food with limited ingredients helps sensitive dogs by cutting out potential food allergens and aids in gentler digestion. Most of their recipes are free from beef, chicken, and potato. These high-quality recipes fuel your dog with all the nutritional goodness they need and leave out all the fillers. Zignature provides both grain-free and grain-inclusive options within their lines of dog food and is suitable for most types of dogs.
Which Type of Dog Might Do Better with a Different Brand?
Zignature is a premium dog food, which naturally comes at a high price. Unfortunately, Zignature may not be the best option for pet owners on a budget. The good news is that there are many great dog foods that are suitable for dogs with allergies on the market that can be purchased at a more affordable price. Some great options are:
Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)
The Zignature recipes all boast a decent amount of named animal protein that make up the first two ingredients, the first natural and the second a high-quality meat meal. Most of the meats used are lean and low in fat but high in nutrients, providing your dog with good protein and essential amino acids. They also contain vitamins, minerals, and omega-fatty acids.
The next two ingredients are generally types of legumes, typically chickpeas and peas. Legumes are high in protein and contribute to the overall protein content in each recipe. They are high in fiber, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals but should be avoided in large quantities. Unfortunately, large quantities of legumes in dog food have a potential link to heart disease in dogs and are under investigation by theFDA.
Another ingredient that makes it on the primary ingredient list is sunflower oil. Although not as good of an option as canola or flaxseed oil, it is high in omega-6 fatty acids and vitamins and minerals that keep your dogs skin and coat hydrated and looking its best.
Limited Ingredients
A recipe with only a few ingredients doesnt necessarily classify it as a limited-ingredient dog food. It needs to be free of certain ingredients that cause problems to allergic dogs and high-quality novel proteins and carbohydrates. Dogs cant be allergic to ingredients theyve nevereaten before, and, therefore, Zignature uses less common meats in most of their recipes that are easy to digest.
Most dog foods use chicken and potatoes in their recipes, so Zignature stays away from both ingredients and offers a variety of different ingredients instead, like kangaroo and venison, while still providing your pup with all the nutrients and flavor they need.
They also stay away from wheat, corn, eggs, soy, and gluten which also tend to cause upset stomachs in allergy-prone dogs.
Few Fruits and Vegetables
A wider range of fruits and vegetables could be a nice addition to the Zignature recipes as theyre quite limited, but that goes in line with Zignatures brand objectiveto keep the ingredients limited. However, a few whole fruits and vegetables will provide more nutrients than a few supplements. But it does contain chelated minerals that are easier to absorb.
Variety
Zignature has a good variety of dog food products and flavors. They have their limited ingredient line, as well as their Select Cuts and Small Bites lines. Their limited ingredients line has similar nutrient profiles, which allows you to swap between flavors without a long transition period, which will keep your dog interested and excited for mealtime.
Price
Of course, like many high-quality dog foods, Zignature isnt cheap. Your dog will receive nutritionally complete and balanced premium food, but you should be aware of the cost before getting too excited. However, many dog owners are willing to pay the price for a healthy dog, free from uncomfortable triggers due to the allergens in their food. Also, Zignature has so much faith in their product that they offer a100% satisfaction guarantee, allowing you to return the food for a refund if your dog doesnt eat it.
A Quick Look at Zignature Dog Food
Pros
- Family-owned business
- Animal protein is the main ingredient in all their recipes
- High-quality ingredients
- Large variety of novel proteins
- Various dog food lines
- Limited ingredients that are ideal for dogs with food sensitivities
- You can send it back for a refund if your dog wont eat it
Cons
- Pricey
- Contains a large number of legumes
- Could do with more fruits and vegetables
Recall History
All of Zignatures loyal customersand potential new onescan feel safe knowing that their products have never been recalled. Although the brand is still relatively new, a clear recall history is an indication of good research, well-balanced nutrients, and tight food safety measures within the business.
Reviews of the 3 Best Zignature Dog Food Recipes
Weve mentioned Zignatures wide variety throughout this review, but now is the time to discuss a few of their popular options to help you decide which option would best suit your furry friend.
1. Zignature Turkey Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Dog Food
Free of corn, wheat, soy, chicken, and dairy, theZignature Turkey Limited Ingredient Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog Foodis a healthy choice for dogs that suffer from common food allergies. This recipes main ingredient is turkey, which is farm-raised in America. Its low in fat but provides your dog with Riboflavin and Phosphorus, which help with digestion and organ function. This recipe has a high crude protein content of 32% and a crude fat content of 15%.
Turkey meal, chickpeas, peas, and sunflower oil are listed next. These ingredients provide your dog with the protein they need as well as the omega fatty acids, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Other than these limited ingredients, you wont find any other fruits and vegetables in this recipe.
Pros
- High in protein
- Free from common allergens
- High-quality turkey and turkey meal
- Nutritionally balanced and complete
Cons
- Peas are the only vegetable
2. Zignature Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Trout & Salmon
For a fishier flavor, consider theZignature Limited Ingredient Formula Grain-Free Trout & Salmon Meal Dry Dog Food, with boasts trout as its main ingredient and salmon meal as its second. Both fish proteins are from the USA and are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Most dogs love the strong odor this food emits, but it may not suit pickier eaters. This recipe contains a crude protein content of 31% and a crude fat content of 14%.
It also contains Alfalfa meal which is excellent for reducing gas in dogs, aiding in digestion and is a natural anti-inflammatory. Once again, this limited ingredient recipes sole vegetable is peas. However, legumes do provide your dog with antioxidants, fiber, and carbohydrates to fuel their bodies.
Pros
- High in omega-3 fatty acids for a healthy coat and skin
- High in protein
- Uses wild, fresh fish
- High-quality ingredients
- Limited ingredients
Cons
- The fishy odor may be overwhelming for picky eaters
- Peas are the only vegetable
3. Zignature Zssential Multi-Protein Grain-Free Dog Food
If one source of protein isnt enough for your pooch, considerZignatures multi-protein recipe, which includes turkey, turkey meal, salmon, lamb meal, duck meal, and dehydrated alfalfa meal. This variety is impressive, to say the least, and tops the range of many competing dog food brands.
With so many high-quality protein sources, its no surprise that the recipes crude protein content is high at 32%. It also has a fairly high crude fat and fiber content, making it a great option for active dogs but not overweight dogs needing to lose a few pounds. This dog food is nutritionally balanced and packed with omega fatty acids, vitamins, and nutrients such as riboflavin, thiamin, niacin, and phosphorus. And, of course, this premium option comes at a high price.
Pros
- Contains a variety of proteins
- High-quality ingredients
- High in protein
- Good for active dogs
- Nutritionally balanced
Cons
- Not a great option for overweight dogs
- Expensive
What Other Users Are Saying
You cant go wrong with hearing the informative thoughts and opinions of others on the product youre considering buying. Weve listed some of the most helpful sites with reviews discussing Zignature and how the product impacted their dogs.
- HerePup Zignature is rated highly on Herepup, with customers describing the product as the best dog food because of its high quality and large variety that is easily switchable between variants.
- Chewy Customers on Chewy have described Zignature as a lifesaver for converting their once highly ill dogs to happy and healthy ones with plenty of energy. Many customers claim that once they tried Zignature, their hunt for the perfect food was over, and they have kept their dogs on the brand for many years, switching between flavors for variety.
- Amazon As pet owners ourselves, we love to read through Amazon reviews from customers who have already purchased the dog food were reviewing. You can read them for yourself by clicking here.
Wrapping Up
If youve got an allergic dog that seems to react to just about all dog foods, consider transitioning them onto Zignatures limited ingredient line. Many customers have been pleased to observe their once sick dogs become healthy with improved digestion and no more itchiness since changing to this dog food brand. Zignature has many flavors to switch between, and the ingredients are of high quality. Made in the United States, this wholesome brand is family-owned and has strict food safety measures, which has resulted in no product recalls.
However, with the limited fruit and vegetables, high quantity of legumes, and price point, its not ideal for every type of dog and budget. But, in contrast to all the goodness packed inside, its hard to go wrong with Zignature.
