After testing 10 different products, I found Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Dog Food to be the best low-carb formula.
Lots of dog food brands are high in carbohydrates. Just 20% of a dog’s diet should be formed of carbohydrates, though this can vary between breeds. [1] Despite this, many dog food brands are made up of between 30% and 60% carbohydrates.
Though dogs can eat carbohydrates, you should avoid giving them too much. This is because excessive carbohydrates can cause problems for a dog’s digestive system. Sadly, this can result in health problems, such as obesity.
As a proud dog lover, it was important to find high-quality but low carb dog food.
To determine which brand of dog food was the best, I contacted my close friend Chris who has a Pomeranian named Poppy. With my taste tester ready, I got to work so that I could find the best low carb dog food on the market, that pet parents can give to their dogs safely.
The reason why Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free was the best low carb dog food was that it is completely free from grains. Furthermore, it’s low in carbs but high in protein. It also contains plenty of antioxidants and fatty acids to improve a dog’s general health.
Though other dog food brands offered good nutrition, Blue Buffalo had the perfect dietary balance and meets dog needs.
Let’s get started!
At a Glance: Low Carb Dog Food Ranked
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Dog Food (Best Overall Low Carb Dog Food)
- Visionary Pet Foods Keto Low Carb Chicken Recipe (Best Low Carb Keto Dog Food)
- Yumwoof Perfect Kibble (Best Wet Low Carb Food)
- Nulo Freestyle Senior Grain-Free Trout & Sweet Potato Recipe (Best Low Carb Food for Senior Dogs)
- Victor Purpose Nutra Pro Dry Dog Food (Best Low Carb Food for Puppies)
- Orijen Fit & Trim Grain-Free Dry Dog Food (Best Premium Low Carb Food)
- Wellness Core Grain-Free Small Breed Dog Food (Best Low Carb Food for Small Breeds)
- Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dog Food (Best Low Carb Dog Food for Sensitive Dogs)
- Ketona Adult Dry Dog Food (Best Low Carb Food for Energetic Dogs)
- Solid Gold Fit & Fabulous Weight Control Dog Food (Best Low Carb Food for Weight Control)
10 Best Low Carb Dog Foods
This is our review of the best low carb dog foods in 2024. All dog food on the list meet the recommended AAFCO nutrient profile guidelines.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Pea Protein, Tapioca
- Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 34%, Crude Fat 15%, Crude Fiber 6%, Moisture 10%
- Estimated Carbohydrate: 35%
- Caloric Content: 409 kcal/cup
- Type of Product: Grain-Free, High-Protein, No Corn, No Wheat, No Soy
- Life Stage: Adult
- Best For: Overall
Our top pick is a grain-free formula from Blue Buffalo Wilderness.
Made with real chicken, this dog food is rich in protein. As a result, your dog can build lean muscle without putting on fat.
Though this dog food is low-carb, the carbohydrates that it contains are healthy. This includes non-animal ingredients like peas and sweet potato, which will help to fuel your dog. As I type this, my furry pal is currently running around my backyard. Therefore, energetic gods are sure to make good use of this extra fuel.
Another excellent feature of this dog food is that it contains formulated LifeSource Bits. These bits contain a carefully constructed blend of antioxidants, which will offer anti-inflammatory properties. LifeSource Bits are designed to improve immune system health and provide a good oxidative balance. This can boost the general health of your furry friend.
Plus, it’s a good source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which will ensure that your dog has a healthy and shiny coat. These fatty acids also contribute toward healthy skin.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness has also been formulated with natural ingredients that will enhance your dog’s health. It doesn’t feature any animal by-products, which could irritate your pet’s digestion. Not to mention, your dog will love the flavor of all these natural ingredients.
It doesn’t contain any grains, like wheat, soy, and corn, which makes the food harder to digest. This also explains why Blue Buffalo Wilderness is low-carb.
Visionary Pet Foods Keto Low Carb Chicken Recipe
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Chicken, Chicken Fat, Dried Egg, Miscanthus Grass
- Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 43%, Crude Fat 33%, Crude Fiber 7%, Moisture 10%
- Estimated Carbohydrate: 10%
- Caloric Content: 658 kcal/cup
- Type of Product: Grain-Free, Gluten Free, Sensitive Digestion, High-Protein, Low Glycemic
- Life Stage: Adult
- Best For: Keto Diet
This dog food is made with 100% real chicken, which is great because it is low in carbohydrates. Yet, this chicken contains beneficial fats that will ensure that your dog is strong.
The main reason why this brand is so brilliant is that it does not contain any added carbohydrates or fillers. Consequently, it contains minimal carbohydrates which is excellent for dogs on a low carb diets.
1 cup contains just 1 gram of net carbs. This means that Visionary Pet Food is a brand that is extremely low in carbohydrates.
Another great feature of this dog food brand is that it is high in protein, which can help give your dog all the energy it needs. Not to mention, this protein will contribute to the growth of hair, skin, and muscles. As a result, dogs can have shiny and soft coats.
Moreover, Visionary Pet Foods’ low-carb food is low in fat. Therefore, you won’t have to worry about your beloved dog putting on a few pounds!
Visionary low-carb dog food is also suitable for different breed sizes, which means that it’s a great option no matter what type of dog you have. Poppy the Pomeranian loved this brand, even though she is a small dog.
An additional fantastic feature of this keto dog food is that it is gluten-free. Thus, it can be consumed by dogs with gluten sensitivities. Though most dogs can safely eat gluten, others are sensitive to it which is never a pleasant experience.
So even if your dog does suffer from gluten sensitivity, it can try Visionary low-carb dog food. Essentially, this brand is brilliant for most dogs!
Yumwoof Perfect Kibble
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Eggs, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Coconut Glycerin, Organic Flaxseed
- Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 23%, Crude Fat 23%, Crude Fiber 4%, Moisture 16%
- Estimated Carbohydrate: 13%
- Caloric Content: 375 kcal/cup
- Type of Product: Legume-Free, Rice-Free, Potato-Free, Sensitive Digestion, Gluten Free, Soy Free, Bpa Free
- Life Stage: Adult
- Best For: Wet Dog Food
This low-carb dog food brand is designed to be small and chewy, which makes it easy for dogs to eat. Not to mention, most dogs will enjoy eating these kibbles.
The softness of these kibbles makes them great for your dog’s dental health. So if you have an old dog with bad teeth, these soft kibbles should be suitable. They’re also great for puppies and adult dogs.
Plus, they should reduce bad breath, which will benefit many dog owners. Having suffered from this problem myself, it’s brilliant to have a dog with good-smelling breath.
Yumwoof also contains 6% medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). This may sound fancy, but MCTs are a type of fatty acid. These fatty acids have proven to benefit dogs, namely in the form of increased seizure control.
It also contains 19 antioxidants, which are beneficial to the heart health of your dog. Furthermore, these antioxidants can prevent inflammatory problems.
Yumwoof’s kibbles contain 13% carbohydrates. Though this is higher than some of the other brands on this list, this is still lower than the majority of dog foods.
This low-carb content is great for dog owners who don’t want to reduce their dog’s carbohydrate intake too dramatically.
Nulo Freestyle Senior Trout & Sweet Potato Recipe Dog Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Trout, Turkey Meal, Salmon Meal, Yellow Peas, Sweet Potato
- Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 30%, Crude Fat 12%, Crude Fiber 5%, Moisture 10%
- Estimated Carbohydrate: 43%
- Caloric Content: 396 kcal/cup
- Type of Product: Grain-Free, Gluten-Free, High Protein, Low Glycemic
- Life Stage: Senior
- Best For: Seniors
If your dog isn’t as active as it used to be, or you’ve noticed your fabulous pup has gained a few pounds, it’s time to consider a different food choice.
Nulo’s philosophy is that dogs are carnivores and they thrive on a high-protein, but low-carb diet. And their recipe contains 82% of protein from animal sources. The formula is crafted for adult dogs of all breeds and the fact that it doesn’t contain chicken or egg proteins is good news for pups that don’t like the flavor or are sensitive to the ingredients.
Canines that like fish are in for a treat since the first ingredient is deboned trout. That means healthy protein (Min. 30%) and amino acids which have a crucial role in keeping your furry friend’s heart strong and building muscle, essential for senior dogs because they can lose muscle mass as they age.
The other ingredients are turkey meal, salmon meal, yellow peas, sweet potato, chickpeas, lentils, tomatoes, blueberries, and vitamins and minerals. Turkey is also a great animal protein that helps your senior dog stay fit and active.
The hearty vegetables and fruits are high in antioxidants that boost the immune system, thus keeping your pup healthy for new adventures. What’s more, this balanced formula is high in omega fatty acids that promote a shiny coat. And added L-Carnitine supports your canine’s digestive system.
Furthermore, the recipe is enriched with Glucosamine and Chondroitin which support hip and joint health and that’s especially useful for aging dogs and dogs that suffer from arthritis. Due to the low-glycemic index, this formula is especially beneficial for senior dogs because it reduces the risk of diabetes.
Lastly, this recipe has pure probiotic strains that help maintain senior dogs’ fragile gastrointestinal health.
So, Nulo’s formula can be the right choice for senior dogs that need a diet that’s low in carbs, but high in:
- healthy animal protein
- fiber
- vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids
- probiotics
- Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and L-Carnitine
You and your furry friend can spend more time outdoors if he eats the right food loaded with nutrients.
Victor Purpose Nutra Pro Dry Dog Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Blood Meal Conventionally Dried, Whole Grain Millet, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Yeast Culture
- Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 38%, Crude Fat 18%, Crude Fiber 3.5%, Moisture 9%
- Estimated Carbohydrate: 31.5%
- Caloric Content: 401 kcal/cup
- Type of Product: High-Protein, Sensitive Digestion, Gluten Free, No Corn No Wheat No Soy, Pea-Free, With Grain
- Life Stage: Adult
- Best For: Puppies
Made with exceptional ingredients, Victor’s Premium dog food is a phenomenal source of protein. Containing 38% protein, this dog food is great for energetic dogs and puppies. It’s made with high-quality beef, chicken, and fish, which means that many dogs love its taste.
Another fantastic feature of this dog food is that it supports healthy digestion, which is excellent for dogs with digestive issues. As someone who has had a dog with digestive problems, this feature can be massively beneficial!
It’s been made with selenium yeast, which is an additive that can increase your dog’s consumption of selenium. As a consequence, your dog’s immune response can become stronger. This should prevent your dog from becoming ill.
Plus, this brand is suitable for dogs of different ages. So whether your dog is just a puppy or a fully-grown adult, it can eat this tasty food.
This is ideal for dog owners as it means you won’t have to buy different brands as your dog ages. Consequently, this can save you tons of money!
Moreover, this brand is suitable for pregnant/ lactating dogs and puppies, which is great news for many dog owners. This makes it a versatile product.
Victor Purpose Nutra Pro Dry Dog Food comes in the form of kibbles. Therefore, it may not be suitable for dogs who prefer wet foods.
Orijen Fit & Trim Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Turkey Giblets (Liver, Heart, Gizzard), Turkey, Cod
- Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 42%, Crude Fat 13%, Crude Fiber 8%, Moisture 12%
- Estimated Carbohydrate: 25%
- Caloric Content: 401 kcal/cup
- Type of Product: Grain-Free, Weight Control, High-Protein, Natural, Gluten Free, Raw, No Corn No Wheat No Soy
- Life Stage: Adult
- Best For: Premium
This dog food may not be branded as low-carb. Yet, its carbohydrate levels are low, especially when compared to its protein. It’s also grain-free, which also means that it’s low in carbs.
Orijen prides itself on its natural ingredients. This includes free-range chicken and turkey and fish caught from the wild. This means that Orijen is a great choice for dog owners who are concerned about ethical farming practices.
The dog food is made with 85% animal ingredients, thus ensuring that your dog gets all the nutrients it naturally needs. This whole prey diet is made with ingredients like turkey, cod, and chicken liver, which your dog is bound to appreciate.
This food is made predominantly with fish and poultry. This means that dogs get all the nutrients it needs, primarily protein.
It’s also super simple to transition from your current dog food to Orijen. So if you are worried about giving your dog a new type of food, Orijen can be easily implemented into your dog’s diet.
Wellness Core Grain-Free Small Breed Dry Dog Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal (source of Glucosamine), Chicken Meal (source of Chondroitin Sulfate), Lentils, Peas
- Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 36%, Crude Fat 16%, Crude Fiber 5%, Moisture 10%
- Estimated Carbohydrate: 33%
- Caloric Content: 412 kcal/cup
- Type of Product: Grain-Free, Gluten Free, No Corn No Wheat No Soy, High-Protein, Natural
- Life Stage: Adult
- Best For: Small Breeds
Wellness Core’s Grain-Free dog food is specifically designed for smaller breeds. As a result, it features little kibbles that are convenient for small dogs to consume.
This dog food is grain-free, meaning that it is lower in carbs than many other dog food brands.
To boost your dog’s health, this food has been fortified with a range of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, omega fatty acids, and probiotics. As a result, this food is bursting with nutrients that will make your dog healthier. This is thanks to ingredients like apples and blueberries.
These probiotics are designed to improve your dog’s digestive health. Meanwhile, the food also contains high levels of glucosamine, which will strengthen your dog’s joints. As a result, your furry friend can run to its heart’s content.
The Wellness Core dog food was also designed to meet the high-energy needs of your dog. As a result, this fantastic feature is particularly great for energetic dog breeds.
Plus, Wellness Core’s unique dog food mixture is free from artificial preservatives, fillers, and meat by-products. Therefore, you can rest assured that your dog is eating only the finest ingredients.
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dog Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Water Buffalo, Lamb Meal, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas
- Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 32%, Crude Fat 18%, Crude Fiber 4%, Moisture 10%
- Estimated Carbohydrate: 36%
- Caloric Content: 422 kcal/cup
- Type of Product: Grain-Free, Gluten Free, High-Protein
- Life Stage: Adult
- Best For: Sensitive Dogs
Lastly, Taste of the Wild has a grain-free dog food that’s low in carbohydrates. Additionally, the carbs that it contains are healthy and come from good sources, such as potatoes, blueberries, and legumes.
As a result, Taste of the Wild is best suited to people who want to reduce the levels of carbohydrates in their dog’s diet without almost entirely removing them.
This dog food is also a source of fatty acids, which form a necessary part of a balanced diet. This includes omega-3 fatty acids that are sourced from the marine. As a result, this dog food uses natural ingredients, which is an important consideration for many dog owners.
Meanwhile, omega-6, which comes from plant sources, will give your dog healthy skin and a shiny coat.
Another fabulous feature of Taste of the Wild is that it contains K9 Strain Probiotics, which have been included to improve your dog’s gut health. Namely, these probiotics support the immune system and boost metabolism. This feature is great for dogs with digestive issues.
This High Prairie blend has been made with roasted venison and bison, which is a unique flavor combination. If you are searching for unique flavors, this brand is a great place to look.
These flavors tend to feel quite luxurious, meaning that they are great ways to treat your dog. Most dogs seem to love the flavor of this brand. Overall, Taste of the Wild is a good option for dog owners that are looking for something special.
Ketona Adult Dry Dog Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Pea Protein, Ground Green Peas, Oat Hulls, Chicken Fat
- Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 46%, Crude Fat 16%, Crude Fiber 11%, Moisture 10%
- Estimated Carbohydrate: 5%
- Caloric Content: 452 kcal/cup
- Type of Product: No Wheat, No Corn, No Rice, No Potato, Grain-Free, Gluten Free, High-Protein
- Life Stage: Adult
- Best For: Energetic Dogs
Next, Ketona Adult Dry Dog Food contains just 5% carbohydrates. This is ideal for dog owners looking to reduce their pet’s carbohydrate consumption.
Made without grains, this dog food contains 85% fewer carbs than the average dog food brand. This will seriously limit the number of carbs that your dog is eating.
Furthermore, Ketona’s dog food has just 0.5% sugar, which is great for reducing blood sugar levels. This brand is made to reduce body fat. Instead, it encourages a lean body type, which will allow your dog to stay as healthy as possible.
Perhaps the main advantage of this dog food is that it is high in protein. As most dog owners will know, it’s incredibly important for dogs to receive plenty of protein!
Therefore, the fact that Ketona Adult Dog Food is made with 46% protein is sure to please you. Increased protein intake will help dogs to develop strong yet lean muscles. This is ideal for energetic dogs who love to run, such as Poppy.
Unlike other dog food brands, Ketona’s dog food is made entirely from natural ingredients.
It doesn’t feature any rice, corn, vegetables, or potatoes, which is great for people who want their dog to have a natural diet. After all, the ancestors of dogs would have followed a keto diet.
Solid Gold Fit & Fabulous Weight Control Dry Dog Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Pea Fiber, Potatoes
- Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 26%, Crude Fat 6.5%, Crude Fiber 10%, Moisture 10%
- Estimated Carbohydrate: 47.5%
- Caloric Content: 320 kcal/cup
- Type of Product: Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Weight Control, No Corn, No Wheat, No Soy, High-Protein
- Life Stage: Adult
- Best For: Weight Control
This brand’s holistic approach to food helps adult dogs of all breeds maintain a healthy gut and immune system.
The formula is specifically designed for weight control, which means it is low in fat (6.5 %) and has 320 calories per serving. Pups that need to lose weight in order to stay healthy should also have a diet lower in carbs but high in protein and fiber.
Natural chicken which gives your dog protein to stay strong and active is the #1 ingredient in the Solid Gold Fit & Fabulous recipe.
Next, ingredients like pumpkin, carrots, and blueberries which are high in antioxidants, fiber, and phytonutrients provide support for a healthy immune system. In addition, superfoods like sweet potatoes and green beans are natural and easy to digest, which makes them beneficial for dogs with digestive problems.
The formula is grain-free and gluten-free and it doesn’t contain artificial preservatives, so it should be safe for dogs with sensitivities. Plus, the combination of patented, living probiotics and omega fatty acids boosts your canine’s gut health and makes his skin and coat shiny.
Dogs usually like chicken flavor, so it’s no surprise that our taste tester devoured this kibble!
Solid Gold Fit & Fabulous’s recipe is a fantastic choice for adult dogs that need a nutrient-dense formula for healthy weight control that cleanses, balances, and fuels.
Bear in mind that grain-free recipes might lack certain nutrients.
Low Carbohydrate Dog Food Buying Guide
To ensure that you’ve found the ideal low-carb dog food for your fantastic furry friend, here are the most prominent factors that you must consider.
Carbohydrate Levels
Given that this guide is dedicated to identifying the best low-carb dog food, it’s important to consider the carbohydrate levels.
Though carbohydrates can be beneficial for dogs, it’s important for them not to consume carbs in excessive quantities. If your dog’s diet contains too many carbs, your canine could become obese and suffer from digestive issues.
Luckily, all of the brands on the list are low in carbs. Yet, some will contain more carbs than others.
If you still want your dog to have some carbs in their diet (for weight loss or other purposes), you should aim for an option that has a higher percentage of carbs. Meanwhile, if you want to ensure that your dog is eating as few carbs as possible, you should opt for an extremely low-carb brand.
Protein Levels
Protein is essential for dogs. The majority of a dog’s diet should consist of protein. Between 18% and 25% of an adult dog’s diet should be made up of protein, while puppies will require even more!
This protein will be essential for your dog to grow healthy coats of fur, muscles, and nails. As a consequence, it’s a good idea to feed your furry pal food that is high in protein.
Since many of the brands on this list have been made with natural ingredients, they tend to be high in protein. For instance, Ketona Adult Dry Dog Food is a low-carb brand that consists of 46% protein.
Wet Food or Dry Food
If you’re a dog owner, you likely know whether your dog prefers wet or dry food. My friend Chris told me straight away that Poppy prefers wet food.
There are benefits to both wet and dry dog food. Many dog owners even combine these two types of food to create a win-win situation.
Though most dogs will be willing to eat both wet and dry food, most dogs will have a clear preference.
Therefore, you should consider whether your dog will prefer a low-carb food that is wet or dry. If you buy the wrong type of food, your dog may refuse to eat it.
Fortunately, this list contains both wet and dry foods, so you are sure to find something appropriate for your dog. Also, this list contains some of the freeze-dried dog foods (this is a more effective way to dehydrate food instead of using heat because foods retain quality ingredients).
Healthy Fats
Healthy fats, also known as good fats, pose fewer health risks than standard fats. As a result, having a small amount of these healthy fats in your dog’s food can help them to lead a balanced diet.
Many dog foods contain healthy fats in the form of fish oil. Not to mention, the fat of chicken and pork tends to be high in omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids can improve your dog’s vision and allow them to conduct brain functions.
Ultimately, it’s recommended that you find a low-carb dog food that is also a good source of healthy fats.
Flavor
Is your dog a picky eater? Poppy certainly can be!
The good news is that low-carb dog food comes in a range of different flavors. So even if your dog doesn’t, like chicken, beef, or pork, you are bound to find something that they can enjoy.
However, some low-carb brands may be quite limited in the number of flavors that they offer. Therefore, it’s worth finding a flavor that your dog will enjoy. This may take a little trial and error. This is an especially important consideration if your dog tends to be fussy with its food.
Price
Buying dog foods with specific dietary requirements can become expensive. This is because this food is often of higher quality than the cheap dog food found in your local store.
Yet, if you want to ensure that your dog is eating food made from high-quality ingredients, you should be willing to spend a little extra. This is because high-quality ingredients are often more expensive for manufacturers to use.
This doesn’t mean that you have to spend a fortune on dog food. After all, you shouldn’t buy low-carb dog food that is outside of your budget. Instead, you should take the price into consideration to ensure that you get the best bargain.
Breed Size
Some products on the market are suitable for dogs of different sizes. Meanwhile, other brands are targeted at specific sizes.
For instance, Wellness Core is targeted at small breeds. As a result, the kibble size is much smaller than other brands.
It’s best to tailor the food that you buy to the size of your dog. After all, Poppy would likely struggle to eat some of the brands aimed at large dogs. The kibble size would be too big.
Likewise, certain products are catered to different age groups. Some are made for puppies, while other brands are designed for old dogs. This will impact how easy it is for your dog to consume.
It’s best to opt for a brand that’s targeted at the correct dog age and size. Fortunately, many brands are made for different breeds and age groups.
Conclusion
It’s difficult to find a dog food brand that’s tasty yet low in carbs. Yet, it’s important to find a low-carb brand, especially if your dog already suffers from digestive issues.
From my taste-testing experience with Poppy, the low-carb dog food from Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Dog Food was the best option. It’s low in carbs and fat yet high in protein. Not to mention, Poppy seemed to love eating it.
