Stella & Chewy Dog Food Review

Stella & Chewy was founded in 2003. Wisconsin native Marie Moody is the founder. She developed the products in her New York City apartment. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the company’s base. It opened its own manufacturing plant in Oak Creek, WI. In 2013, a private equity group acquired the brand. Initially, they provided funding. A manufacturing facility was built in 2018. It produces dry dog food. It complements its existing facilities. The company expanded its main Oak Creek facility in 2021.

Stella & Chewy manufactures pet food for dogs and cats. It makes raw frozen, freeze-dried, canned and dry pet foods. The company also offers a range of products. They include bone broth and treats for dogs and cats.

For our Stella & Chewy dog food review, we’ll look at the food ingredient quality and safety of each line of food. Our dog food reviews are based on these criteria.

IS STELLA & CHEWY A GOOD DOG FOOD?

Stella & Chewy offers 20 lines of dog food. The company began as a manufacturer of raw dog food. It now offers freeze-dried, baked and canned dog foods. The raw and freeze-dried dog foods are the major sub-brands. The dry and canned foods are supplementary lines. 

Stella & Chewy began to address the health needs of the founder’s rescued dogs. It’s moved beyond that mandate. It’s worth highlighting the highest scoring foods. They are still the raw and freeze-dried offerings.

Raw Frozen is one of the original lines. It’s Stella & Chewy’s highest scoring line of dog food. It’s followed by freeze-dried and Lil Bites. They offer a total of 51 recipes. These are low risk dog foods by our criteria. 

Stella & Chewy offers five lines of canned dog food.

By our criteria, we score the remaining lines as follows:

• Two canned lines are low risk.
• Three canned lines are moderate risk.
• Four lines of baked dog foods are moderate risk.

There are 8 lines of ultra processed dry dog food. These dry dog foods have recipe variations. They include freeze-dried nuggets and freeze-dried coated kibble. The bulk of the food is ultra-processed kibble. The scores reflect this.They score as follows:

• Three lines of dry dog food are moderate risk.
• Five lines of dry dog food are high-risk.

The Raw Frozen and freeze-dried lines are minimally processed. They have a minimal loss of nutrients. Even so, all Stella & Chewy’s recipes have added vitamins and minerals. Five or more added vitamins and/or minerals indicate a lower quality food. They lack nutrients from whole foods. These 3 lines have low carbohydrates. They’re from fruits and vegetables. That’s preferable to grains and starches.

Many canned recipes have higher carbohydrate levels. These are higher than competing brands. Dry recipes are also high in carbohydrates. That’s expected in kibble. Stella & Chewy states they don’t use corn, wheat or soy. Some recipes include peas, tapioca, potatoes or legumes. These are starches that contribute to high carbohydrates. 

The 8 lines of dry dog foods have high average carbohydrates. They range from 24 to 38% as calculated. There are many lines and products. The products and labeling can be confusing. Some recipes are grain-free without potatoes or legumes. But they contain sweet potato and tapioca, or lentils and peas. Some are grain and legume-free. But they have sweet potato, potato and tapioca. Other recipes have grains front and center. Some are baked and some are ultra-processed kibble. All dry foods contain excessive amounts of starch. That leads to high carbohydrates.

Many recipes use high processed seed oils. They also use natural flavor. This is usually  made of low quality ingredients like MSG or animal digest. 

All vegetables and fruits are organic. Organic ingredients are non-GMO. They have a lower risk of  pesticide/herbicide residues. Grains and legumes are not organic. These recipes lose points for high pesticide/herbicide foods. They’re often in the top five ingredients. They include peas, chickpeas and lentils. There are GMO foods like alfalfa in some recipes.

Beef, lamb and venison is 100% grass-fed. Fish is wild-caught. This is preferable to farmed fish. It has higher nutritional value.

Elk, beef, lamb and venison is from Australia and New Zealand. Rabbit, goose, duck, fish and quail are from Europe. Beef, poultry, fish, lamb, pork are from North America. 

Stella & Chewy uses high-pressure pasteurization (HPP). It’s a kill step in its processing. They send out all batches for testing and post test results on the website. HPP doesn’t affect the score but is worth noting.

Stella & Chewy doesn’t state the omega-6:omega-3 ratio in their recipes. This is true of most companies. It’s a concern because AAFCO allows a very inflammatory ratio of 30:1. Diets rich in omega-6 fats can cause chronic inflammation.

Let’s look at each line in a little more detail.

Ingredient List For Surf & Turf Freeze-Dried Raw Recipe: Beef, whole ground salmon, beef heart, beef liver, beef bone, pumpkin seed, organic cranberries, organic spinach, organic broccoli, organic beets, organic carrots, organic squash, organic blueberries, fenugreek seed, potassium chloride, dried kelp, sodium phosphate, tocopherols (preservative), choline chloride, dried Pediococcus acidilactici fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, taurine, calcium carbonate, vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid

Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried is a low risk dog food by our criteria. It’s the company’s second highest scoring brand. There are 26 recipes. They average 41% protein and 8.9% carbohydrate as calculated. The ingredient quality score loses points for having higher carbohydrates. They also have added vitamins and minerals. There is inflammatory seed oil. The ingredient safety scores did not lose any points in these recipes. 

The line includes several recipes that can be fed as a complete meal. Others are fed as meal mixers. Some foods have been excluded from this review. They are Savory Salmon & Cod Meal Mixer, and Healthy Heart Support. They are for supplemental feeding only. They are not complete foods. 

There are 4 recipes that are significantly higher in carbs. They’re for special health issues:

• Immune
• Skin & Coat
• Digestive
• Hip & Joint 

Freeze-Dried Raw Benefits

• Made in-house
• No GMOs
• Wild caught fish
• Organic produce
• Minimal processing

Freeze-Dried Raw Concerns

• Moderately high carbs in 6 recipes
• Excessive added vitamins and minerals
• Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio

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Ingredient List For Dainty Duck Recipe: Duck with ground bone, turkey, turkey liver, goose, turkey gizzard, pumpkin seed, organic cranberries, organic spinach, organic broccoli, organic beets, organic carrots, organic squash, organic blueberries, turmeric, chia seed, fenugreek seed, potassium chloride, dried kelp, sodium phosphate, tocopherols (preservative), choline chloride, dried Pediococcus acidilactici fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product, salt, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, taurine, calcium carbonate, vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid

These foods are low risk by our criteria. This is one of the company’s highest scoring lines. There are 4 recipes. They average 40% protein and 10% carbohydrate as calculated. The ingredient quality score loses points for added vitamins and minerals. The ingredient safety scores did not lose any points in these recipes.

These are freeze-dried recipes. They’re minimally processed. There is a minimal loss of nutrients. They have a low level of carbohydrates. They come from fruits and vegetables and not grains and starches. This is what’s expected in freeze-dried dog foods. Many of the recipes are higher in fat than we like to see. Fat is a valuable macronutrient. But it’s relatively devoid of vitamins and minerals. High fat diets can lead to unwanted changes in the gut flora. 

Lil Bites Freeze-Dried Benefits

• Made in-house
• Organic produce
• No GMOs
• Minimal processing
• Minimal carbohydrates

Lil Bites Freeze-Dried Concerns

• Contains added vitamins and minerals
• Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio

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Ingredient List For Lamb Recipe: Lamb, lamb meal, lentils, peas, chickpeas, beef fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), pork meal, lamb liver, natural vegetable flavor, flaxseed, tomato pomace, sunflower oil, salt, potassium chloride, choline chloride, salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), taurine, tocopherols (preservative), dried kelp, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate, vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, rosemary extract

These foods are high risk by our criteria. There are 4 recipes. They average 29% protein and 34% carbohydrate as calculated. The line loses points for having high carbohydrates. This lowers its ingredient quality score. This is a grain-free line, yet it includes high starch ingredients. These include peas, chickpeas and lentils. They boost the carb content.  

The ingredient quality score also loses points . There are added vitamins and minerals. There is inflammatory seed oil. These foods are ultra processed. This causes nutrient loss. There are high pesticide/herbicide foods in the top five ingredients. They also contain natural flavor.

Grain Free Essentials Benefits

• Made in-house
• No GMOs

Grain Free Essentials Concerns

• High in carbohydrates
• Contains added vitamins and minerals
• Contains seed oil
• Ultra processed
• High pesticide/herbicide foods in top 5 ingredients
• Contains natural flavor
• Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio
• Uses unsubstantiated marketing terms

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Ingredient List For Wild Caught Whitefish Recipe: Whitefish, ocean fish meal, peas, lentils, sunflower oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), mackerel, natural vegetable flavor, salmon, cod, salmon oil, suncured alfalfa, flaxseed, fenugreek seed, coconut flour, pumpkin, cod liver oil, pumpkin seed, organic cranberries, organic spinach, organic broccoli, organic beets, organic carrots, organic squash, organic blueberries, inulin (from chicory root), thyme, sage, rosemary extract, tocopherols (preservative), dried kelp, choline chloride, taurine, tricalcium phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate, vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, salt, dried Pediococcus acidilactici fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product

These foods are moderate risk by our criteria. There are 11 recipes. They average 34% protein and 27% carbohydrate as calculated. This is a grain-free line. But it includes high starch ingredients. These include peas, chickpeas and lentils. They boost the carb content.  

The ingredient quality score loses points for added vitamins, minerals and amino acids. There is also plant protein and inflammatory seed oil. On the ingredient safety side, these foods have high pesticide/herbicide foods. They’re in the top five ingredients. They contain GMO foods and natural flavor.

This is a line of baked kibble that’s been coated with freeze-dried raw proteins. They aren’t a main constituent of the food. In theory you’d expect this to boost the nutrients. The Guaranteed Analysis reflects moderate protein. 

Grain Free Raw Coated Baked Dry Benefits

• Made in-house
• Organic produce
• Guaranteed probiotics in 4 recipes
• Contains wild caught fish
• Moderate processing

Grain Free Raw Coated Baked Dry Concerns

• High in carbohydrates
• Contains added vitamins and minerals
• Added amino acids
• Contains seed oil
• Contains plant protein
• Contains GMOs alfalfa
• Contains natural flavor
• Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio
• Uses unsubstantiated marketing terms cage free

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Ingredient List For Small Breed Red Meat Raw Blend Recipe: Beef, pork meal, peas, lentils, salmon meal, chickpeas, pea protein, beef fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), lamb, beef liver, beef kidneys, venison, natural vegetable flavor, sunflower oil, salmon oil, flaxseed, suncured alfalfa, beef heart, beef tripe, beef bone, fenugreek seed, pumpkin, coconut flour, pumpkin seed, organic cranberries, organic spinach, organic broccoli, organic beets, organic carrots, organic squash, organic blueberries, inulin (from chicory root), thyme, sage, rosemary extract, taurine, tocopherols (preservative), dried kelp, choline chloride, calcium carbonate, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate, vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, salt, dried Pediococcus acidilactici fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product 

These foods are moderate risk by our criteria. There are 7 recipes. They average 34% protein and 27% carbohydrate as calculated. This is a high level of carbohydrates and costs points. This is a grain-free line. But it includes high starch ingredients. They include peas, chickpeas and lentils. They boost the carb content.  

Added vitamins, minerals and amino acids cost points. There is also plant protein and inflammatory seed oil. On the ingredient safety side, these foods are moderately processed. There is less nutrient loss. They have high pesticide/herbicide foods. They’re in the top five ingredients. They also contain GMO foods and natural flavor.

This is a line of baked kibble. It includes freeze-dried raw pieces. They aren’t a main constituent of the food. In theory you’d expect this to boost the nutrients. The Guaranteed Analysis reflects moderate protein.

Grain Free Raw Blend Baked Dry Benefits

• Made in-house
• Probiotics (guaranteed in 2 recipes)
• Organic produce
• Wild-caught fish
• Moderate processing

Grain Free Raw Blend Baked Dry Concerns

• High in carbohydrates
• Contains added vitamins and minerals
• Added amino acids in some recipes
• Contains seed oil
• Contains plant protein
• High pesticide/herbicide foods in top 5 ingredients
• Contains GMOs
• Contains natural flavor
• Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio

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Ingredient List For Tantalizing Turkey Recipe: Turkey with ground bone, turkey liver, turkey gizzard, pumpkin seed, organic cranberries, organic spinach, organic broccoli, organic beets, organic carrots, organic squash, organic blueberries, fenugreek seed, potassium chloride, dried kelp, sodium phosphate, tocopherols (preservative), choline chloride, dried Pediococcus acidilactici fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, taurine, calcium carbonate, vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid

These foods are low risk by our criteria. This is Stella & Chewy’s highest scoring line of dog food. There are 13 recipes. They average 48% protein and 4% carbohydrate as calculated on a dry matter basis.

These are frozen raw recipes. They are minimally processed. This minimizes a loss of nutrients. They have a low level of carbohydrates. They’re from fruits and vegetables. This is instead of grains and starches. It’s what we expect to see in frozen raw dog foods. But several of the recipes in this line are higher in fat than we’d like. Fat is a valuable macronutrient. But it’s relatively devoid of vitamins and minerals. High fat diets can lead to unwanted changes in gut flora.

These recipes lose ingredient quality points for added vitamins and minerals. The ingredient safety score was 10/10 for these recipes. 

Frozen Raw Benefits

• Made in house
• Added probiotics (but CFU not guaranteed)
• Organic produce
• Low carbohydrates

Frozen Raw Concerns

• Contains added vitamins and minerals
• Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio

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Ingredient List For Grain and Legume Free Prairie Recipe: Chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, sweet potato, potato, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), natural chicken flavor, ground flaxseed, tapioca, tomato pomace, duck, turkey, chicken liver, dicalcium phosphate, salt, potassium chloride, taurine, calcium carbonate, salmon oil, chicken cartilage, dried kelp, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, tocopherols (preservative), rosemary

These foods are high risk by our criteria. There are 2 recipes. They average 28% protein and 30% carbohydrate as calculated.

This is a high carbohydrate content, even though it’s a grain-free line. However, it has high starch ingredients. These are sweet potatoes and potatoes. They boost the carb content.  

There are added vitamins and minerals. This lowers the ingredient quality score. There is highly processed seed oil. It can be inflammatory. These foods are ultra processed. This causes nutrient loss. They have high pesticide/herbicide foods. They’re in the top five ingredients. They also have natural flavor. 

Grain Free Wild Red Classic Dry Benefits

• Made in house
• Organic produce

Grain Free Wild Red Classic Dry Concerns

• High in carbohydrates
• Contains added vitamins and minerals
• Added amino acids
• Contains seed oil
• Ultra processed
• High pesticide/herbicide foods in top 5 ingredients
• GMOs
• Contains natural flavor
• Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio

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These foods are moderate risk by our criteria. There are 4 recipes. They average 34% protein and 26% carbohydrate as calculated. There is highly processed seed oil which costs points. It can be inflammatory. There is also unnamed animal protein. On the ingredient safety side, these foods are ultra processed. This causes nutrient loss. They also contain natural flavor.

This is a line of baked kibble. It’s been coated with freeze-dried raw proteins. This isn’t a main constituent of the food. In theory you’d expect this to boost the nutrients. The Guaranteed Analysis reflects moderate protein. 

Grain Free Wild Red Raw Coated Dry Benefits

• Made in house
• Probiotics with CFU guaranteed
• Organic produce
• No GMOs
• Wild caught fish

Grain Free Wild Red Raw Coated Dry Concerns

• High in carbohydrates
• Contains added vitamins and minerals
• Contains added amino acids
• Contains seed oil
• High pesticide/herbicide ingredient
• Contains unnamed animal protein
• Ultra processed
• Contains natural flavor
• Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio

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Ingredient List For Red Meat Recipe: Beef, pork, pork meal, sweet potato, tapioca, beef liver, natural pork flavor, pork fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), lamb meal, ground flaxseed, tomato pomace, lamb, bison, venison, goat, beef kidney, beef tripe, pumpkin, organic broccoli, organic beets, organic carrots, organic squash, organic cranberries, organic spinach, organic blueberries, ground pumpkin seeds, chia seed, beef bone, potassium chloride, salt, choline chloride, salmon oil, taurine, beef cartilage, dried kelp, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, L-Threonine, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, magnesium proteinate, tocopherols (preservative), dried Pediococcus acidilactici fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product, rosemary

These foods are moderate risk by our criteria. There are 2 recipes. They average 36% protein and 24% carbohydrate as calculated. This line has high carbohydrate content. This is a grain-free line. It includes high starch ingredients. These include sweet potatoes and tapioca. They boost the carb content.

These foods lose points for highly processed seed oil. It can be inflammatory. There is also unnamed animal protein. On the ingredient safety side, these foods are ultra processed. This causes nutrient loss. They also contain natural flavor.

These recipes are kibble. They’ve been coated with freeze-dried raw proteins. They include freeze-dried chunks. But they aren’t the main constituents of the food. It’s being scored based on the kibble content. In theory you’d expect this to boost the nutrients. The Guaranteed Analysis reflects moderate protein.

Grain Free Wild Red Raw Blend Dry Benefits

• Made in-house
• Probiotics with guaranteed CFU
• Organic produce
• No GMOs

Grain Free Wild Red Raw Blend Dry Concerns

• High in carbohydrates
• Contains added vitamins and minerals
• Contains added amino acids
• Ultra processed
• High pesticide/herbicide ingredient
• Contains natural flavor
• Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio

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These foods are high risk by our criteria. There are 6 recipes. They average 24% protein and 38% carbohydrate as calculated. 

These recipes are made without corn, wheat or soy. This line includes barley, oatmeal, millet, rice and quinoa. They contribute to a high carbohydrate content. This loses quality points. The Wild Caught Whitefish, Ancient Grains & Salmon Recipe is especially high. It has 43% carbs.

There are added vitamins, minerals and amino acids. One recipe has inflammatory seed oil and unnamed animal protein. These foods are ultra processed. This causes a loss of nutrients. They also contain high pesticide and GMO ingredients. There is natural flavor.  Some recipes also include rice. It has the potential for arsenic contamination.

Wholesome Grains Essentials Benefits

• Made in house

Wholesome Grains Essentials Concerns

• High in carbohydrates
• Contains added vitamins and minerals
• Contains added amino acids
• Contains seed oil (1 recipe)
• Contains unnamed protein (1 recipe)
• Ultra processed
• High pesticide/herbicide foods in top 5 ingredients
• Contains GMOs
• Contains rice
• Contains natural flavor
• Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio
• Glam ingredients
• Uses unsubstantiated marketing terms

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Ingredient List For Beef With Pumpkin And Quinoa Recipe: Beef, lamb meal, oatmeal, pearled barley, pork meal, beef liver, beef fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), pumpkin, quinoa, natural vegetable flavor, chia seed, beef kidney, beef tripe, beef bone, sunflower oil, flaxseed, salmon oil, coconut flour, ginger, salt, pumpkin seed, organic cranberries, organic spinach, organic beets, organic carrots, organic squash, organic blueberries, inulin (from chicory root), thyme, sage, rosemary extract, tocopherols (preservative), dried kelp, choline chloride, potassium chloride, taurine, calcium carbonate, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate, vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, dried Pediococcus acidilactici fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product

These foods are moderate risk by our criteria. There are 9 recipes. They average 29% protein and 31% carbohydrate as calculated. These recipes don’t have corn, wheat, soy, peas, potatoes or legumes. But this line includes barley, oatmeal and quinoa. They contribute to a high carbohydrate content. This loses quality points.

There are added vitamins and minerals. These recipes contain inflammatory seed oil and unnamed animal protein. They also have high pesticide ingredients. There is natural flavor. 

This is a line of baked kibble. It’s coated in freeze-dried raw protein. But this isn’t a main constituent of the food. In theory you’d expect this to boost the nutrients. The Guaranteed Analysis reflects moderate protein.

Wholesome Grains Raw Coated Baked Dry Benefits

• Made in house
• Guaranteed probiotics in some recipes
• Wild caught fish
• Organic produce
• Moderate processing

Wholesome Grains Raw Coated Baked Dry Concerns

• High in carbohydrates
• Contains added vitamins and minerals
• Contains seed oil
• Contains unnamed protein
• High pesticide/herbicide foods in top 5 ingredients
• Contains natural flavor
• Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio
• Glam ingredients

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Ingredient List For Beef With Pumpkin And Quinoa Recipe: Beef, lamb meal, oatmeal, pearled barley, pork meal, beef liver, beef fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), pumpkin, quinoa, natural vegetable flavor, chia seed, beef kidney, beef tripe, beef bone, sunflower oil, flaxseed, salmon oil, coconut flour, ginger, salt, pumpkin seed, organic cranberries, organic spinach, organic beets, organic carrots, organic squash, organic blueberries, inulin (from chicory root), thyme, sage, rosemary extract, tocopherols (preservative), dried kelp, choline chloride, potassium chloride, taurine, calcium carbonate, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate, vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, dried Pediococcus acidilactici fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product

These foods are moderate risk by our criteria. There are 4 recipes. They average 33% protein and 27% carbohydrate as calculated. These recipes don’t have corn, wheat, soy, peas, potatoes or legumes. But this line includes barley, oatmeal and quinoa. They contribute to a high carbohydrate content. This loses quality points.

There are added vitamins and minerals. One recipe has inflammatory seed oil. They also have high pesticide ingredients. There is natural flavor. 

This is a line of baked kibble. It’s coated in freeze-dried raw protein. It includes freeze dried chunks. But these aren’t the main constituents of the food. In theory you’d expect this to boost the nutrients. The Guaranteed Analysis reflects moderate protein.

Wholesome Grain Raw Blend Baked Dry Benefits

• Made in house
• Guaranteed probiotics in 2 recipes
• Wild caught fish
• Organic produce
• Moderate processing

Wholesome Grain Raw Blend Baked Dry Concerns

• High in carbohydrates
• Contains seed oil
• High pesticide/herbicide foods in top 5 ingredients barley oatmeal
• Contains natural flavor
• Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio
• Glam ingredients

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Ingredient List For Prairie Recipe: Chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, barley, oatmeal, millet, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), natural chicken flavor, ground flaxseed, tomato pomace, duck, turkey, chicken liver, potassium chloride, dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, salt, taurine, salmon oil, chicken cartilage, dried kelp, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, tocopherols (preservative), rosemary

These foods are high risk by our criteria. There are 2 recipes. They average 29% protein and 33% carbohydrate as calculated. These recipes don’t have corn, wheat, soy, peas, potatoes or legumes. But this line includes barley, oatmeal and quinoa. They contribute to a high carbohydrate content. This loses quality points.

These foods are ultra processed. This causes a loss of nutrients. There are added vitamins and minerals. One recipe has inflammatory seed oil. They also have high pesticide ingredients. There is natural flavor. 

Wholesome Grain Wild Red Classic Dry Benefits

• Made in house

Wholesome Grain Wild Red Classic Dry Concerns

• High in carbohydrates
• Contains added vitamins and minerals
• Ultra processed
• High pesticide/herbicide foods in top 5 ingredients
• Contains natural flavor
• Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio

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Ingredient List For Ocean Recipe: Whitefish, salmon, whitefish meal, barley, oatmeal, trout, ground flaxseed, natural fish flavor, sunflower oil, salmon meal, tomato pomace, cod, mackerel, herring, pumpkin, ground pumpkin seeds, chia seed, organic cranberries, organic spinach, organic broccoli, organic beets, organic carrots, organic squash, organic blueberries, dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, salt, cod liver oil, salmon oil, choline chloride, gelatin, taurine, dried kelp, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, tocopherols (preservative), dried Pediococcus acidilactici fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product, rosemary

These foods are high risk by our criteria. There are 3 recipes. They average 34% protein and 27% carbohydrate as calculated. These recipes don’t have corn, wheat, soy, peas, potatoes or legumes. But this line includes barley and oatmeal. They contribute to a high carbohydrate content. This loses quality points. 

The ingredient quality score loses points for having high carbohydrates. There are added vitamins and minerals. One recipe contains inflammatory seed oil. On the ingredient safety side, these foods lose points for ultra processing. This causes a loss of nutrients. They also contain high pesticide ingredients and natural flavor.

Wholesome Grains Wild Raw Coated is a kibble. It’s coated in freeze-dried raw protein. But it isn’t a main constituent of the food. In theory you’d expect this to boost the nutrients. The Guaranteed Analysis reflects moderate protein.

Wholesome Grain Wild Red Raw Coated Dry Benefits

• Made in house
• Organic produce
• Wild caught fish
• Guaranteed probiotics

Wholesome Grain Wild Red Raw Coated Dry Concerns

• High in carbohydrates
• Contains added vitamins and minerals
• Contain seed oil (1 recipe)
• Ultra processed
• High pesticide/herbicide foods in top 5 ingredients
• Contains natural flavor
• Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio

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Ingredient List For Red Meat Recipe: Beef, pork, pork meal, barley, oatmeal, ground flaxseed, natural pork flavor, beef liver, pork fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), tomato pomace, beef kidney, lamb, bison, venison, goat, beef tripe, pumpkin, chia seed, organic broccoli, organic beets, organic carrots, organic squash, organic spinach, organic blueberries, ground pumpkin seeds, beef bone, potassium chloride, salt, choline chloride, taurine, salmon oil, beef cartilage, calcium carbonate, dried kelp, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, tocopherols (preservative), dried Pediococcus acidilactici fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product, rosemary

These foods are moderate risk by our criteria. There are 2 recipes that average 36% protein and 25% carbohydrate as calculated. 

The ingredient quality score loses points for having high carbohydrates. These recipes are made without corn, wheat, soy, peas, potatoes or legumes. But this line includes sweet potato, tapioca, barley and oatmeal. They contribute to a high carbohydrate content. This loses quality points.

There are added vitamins and minerals, plus added amino acids in 1 recipe. On the ingredient safety side, these foods are ultra processed. This causes a loss of nutrients. They also contain high pesticide ingredients and natural flavor.

This is a line of kibble that is coated in freeze-dried raw protein. There is added freeze-dried chunks. They aren’t a main constituent of the food.In theory you’d expect this to boost the nutrients. The Guaranteed Analysis reflects moderate protein.

Wholesome Grains Wild Red Raw Blend Dry Benefits

• Made in house
• Guaranteed probiotics
• Organic produce
• No GMOs

Wholesome Grains Wild Red Raw Blend Dry Concerns

• High in carbohydrates
• Contains added vitamins and minerals
• Added amino acids in 1 recipe
• Ultra processed
• High pesticide/herbicide foods in top 5 ingredients (1 recipe)
• Contains natural flavor
• Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio

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Ingredient List For Chicken And Duck Recipe: Chicken, chicken broth, duck, tapioca, sunflower oil, salt, tricalcium phosphate, potassium chloride, choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, taurine, zinc oxide, magnesium sulfate, reduced iron, sodium selenite, vitamin B12 supplement, manganese sulfate, copper amino acid complex, niacin supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, biotin, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, potassium iodide, beta-carotene, folic acid

These are cooked foods packaged in pouches. These cooked foods are low risk by our criteria. This is 1 of 2  of Stella & Chewy’s highest scoring lines of cooked dog food. There are 6 recipes. They average 59% protein and 9% carbohydrate as calculated on a dry matter basis. These are exceptional levels. 

The ingredient quality score loses points for having added vitamins and minerals. These recipes also contain inflammatory seed oil. The ingredient safety score loses a point because of moderate processing. There’s some nutrient loss from cooking. 

Shredrs Benefits

• Made in house
• Low carbohydrates
• High protein 
• Moderate processing

Shredrs Concerns

• Contains added vitamins and minerals
• Contains seed oil
• Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio

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Ingredient List For Lamb Stew Recipe: Lamb, lamb bone broth, organic carrots, tapioca starch, organic kale, tricalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, potato starch, salt, potassium chloride, choline chloride, dried kelp, minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, magnesium proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, selenium yeast), vitamins (vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid)

These are cooked foods packaged in boxes. They are low risk by our criteria. There are 6 recipes. They average 52% protein and 19% carbohydrate as calculated on a dry matter basis. This is a good protein level for a cooked dog food.

However, the carbohydrate level is higher than we like to see in a cooked dog food. This is a limited ingredient dog food. Plus it doesn’t contain corn, wheat, soy, peas or lentils. But it does have potato and tapioca starch. They contribute to the higher carb level.

The ingredient quality score loses points for added vitamins and minerals. These recipes also contain inflammatory seed oil. These foods are moderately processed. There’s some nutrient loss from cooking so it loses points. There’s a GMO ingredient in all the recipes.

Stella Stew Benefits

• Made in house
• Moderate carbohydrate
• Organic produce
• Moderate processing

Stella Stew Concerns

• Contains added vitamins and minerals
• Contains seed oil (1 recipe)
• Contains GMO ingredient
• Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio
• Unsubstantiated marketing terms

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Ingredient List For Beef With Pumpkin And Quinoa Recipe: Beef, lamb meal, oatmeal, pearled barley, pork meal, beef liver, beef fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), pumpkin, quinoa, natural vegetable flavor, chia seed, beef kidney, beef tripe, beef bone, sunflower oil, flaxseed, salmon oil, coconut flour, ginger, salt, pumpkin seed, organic cranberries, organic spinach, organic beets, organic carrots, organic squash, organic blueberries, inulin (from chicory root), thyme, sage, rosemary extract, tocopherols (preservative), dried kelp, choline chloride, potassium chloride, taurine, calcium carbonate, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate, vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, dried Pediococcus acidilactici fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product

These foods are moderate risk by our criteria. There are 9 recipes. They average 29% protein and 31% carbohydrate as calculated. These recipes don’t have corn, wheat, soy, peas, potatoes or legumes. But this line includes barley, oatmeal and quinoa. They contribute to a high carbohydrate content. This loses quality points.

There are added vitamins and minerals. These recipes contain inflammatory seed oil and unnamed animal protein. They also have high pesticide ingredients. There is natural flavor. 

This is a line of baked kibble. It’s coated in freeze-dried raw protein. But this isn’t a main constituent of the food. In theory you’d expect this to boost the nutrients. The Guaranteed Analysis reflects moderate protein.

Wholesome Grains Raw Coated Baked Dry Benefits

• Made in house
• Guaranteed probiotics in some recipes
• Wild caught fish
• Organic produce
• Moderate processing

Wholesome Grains Raw Coated Baked Dry Concerns

• High in carbohydrates
• Contains added vitamins and minerals
• Contains seed oil
• Contains unnamed protein
• High pesticide/herbicide foods in top 5 ingredients
• Contains natural flavor
• Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio
• Glam ingredients

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Ingredient List For Beef & Chicken Recipe: Beef, chicken, beef broth, chicken broth, tapioca, sunflower oil, salt, potassium chloride, choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, magnesium sulfate, taurine, turmeric, salmon oil, zinc oxide, reduced iron, sodium selenite, vitamin B12 supplement, manganese sulfate, niacin supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, copper amino acid complex, biotin, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, potassium iodide, beta-carotene, folic acid

These are cooked foods packaged in cups. They are low risk by our criteria. This is Stella & Chewy’s other high scoring line of cooked dog food. There are 6 recipes. They average 59% protein and 9% carbohydrate as calculated on a dry matter basis. These are exceptional levels to see in a cooked dog food.

These recipes don’t contain corn, wheat, soy, peas or lentils. They do have tapioca that contributes to the carb level. It’s a low level. But it’s better to see carbohydrates from fruits and vegetables. They have better nutritional value than starches.

The foods have added vitamins and minerals. This affects the quality score. These recipes also contain inflammatory seed oil. On the ingredient safety side, these cooked foods are moderately processed. This causes some loss of nutrients.  

Lil Bites Savoury Stew Benefits

• Made in house
• Low carbohydrate
• Moderate processing

Lil Bites Savoury Stew Concerns

• Contains added vitamins and minerals
• Contains seed oil
• Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio

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Ingredient List For Beef & Lamb Recipe: Beef, Beef Broth, Beef Heart, Lamb, Tapioca, Beef Liver, Dried Egg, Sunflower Oil, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Beta-Carotene, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid), Sodium Phosphate, Minerals (Zinc Oxide, Reduced Iron, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Potassium Iodide), Choline Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Celery Powder.

These canned foods are moderate risk by our criteria. There are 7 recipes. They average 45% protein and 15% carbohydrate as calculated on a dry matter basis. This is a good protein level for a canned dog food.

However, this is a higher level of carbohydrate than expected in a canned dog food. In fact the carbohydrates range from 13 to 24%. The Gourmet Beef, Green Bean & Sweet Potato Stew recipe si the highest at 24%. The recipe includes sweet potatoes and tapioca. They contribute to the high carb level. It’s preferable to see carbohydrates come from fruits and vegetables. They have better nutritional value than starches.

The ingredient quality score loses points for having added vitamins and minerals. These recipes also contain inflammatory seed oil. On the ingredient safety side, these foods are highly processed. This causes a loss of nutrients from heating. One recipe has a high pesticide/herbicide ingredient.

Gourmet Stews & Pate Canned Benefits

• Made in-house
• Wild caught fish

Gourmet Stews & Pate Canned Concerns

• Moderate carbohydrates
• Contains added vitamins and minerals
• High pesticide/herbicide ingredient (1 recipe)
• Contains seed oil
• Highly processed
• Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio

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Ingredient List For Chicken & Lamb Recipe: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Beef Broth, Pumpkin, Carrots, Lamb, Tapioca, Salt, Sunflower Oil, Flaxseed Oil, Guar Gum, Calcium Sulfate, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Reduced Iron, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Biotin, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Potassium Iodide, Beta-carotene, Folic Acid

These canned foods are moderate risk by our criteria. There are 3 recipes. They average 47% protein and 17% carbohydrate as calculated on a dry matter basis. This is a good protein level for a canned dog food.

However, this is a higher level of carbohydrate than expected in a canned dog food. These recipes don’t contain corn, wheat, soy, peas or lentils. They do have tapioca starch, and potatoes in one recipe. They contribute to the higher carb level. It’s preferable to see carbohydrates come from fruits and vegetables. They have better nutritional value than starches.

The ingredient quality score loses points for having added vitamins and minerals. These recipes also contain inflammatory seed oil. On the ingredient safety side, these foods are highly processed. This causes a loss of nutrients from heating. One recipe has a GMO ingredient.

Wild Red Stew Canned Benefits

• Made in house

Wild Red Stew Canned Concerns

• Moderate carbohydrates
• Contains added vitamins and minerals
• Contains seed oil
• Highly processed
• GMO ingredient in 1 recipe
• Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio

View The Entire Review on Dog Food Reviews

STELLA & CHEWY DOG FOOD RECALLS

12/11/2015 – Chicken Freeze-Dried Dinner Patties for Dogs. Listeria contamination.

Evaluation Criteria

We evaluate and score dog foods based on two criteria:

Are the Ingredients High Quality?

Here are some common low-quality ingredients or markers we look for:

• Is there excessive carbohydrate content, which can cause gut imbalances?
• Does the food contain unnamed proteins, which are low quality?
• Does the food use cellulose (wood pulp) as a source of fiber instead of real food?
• Are there excessive vitamins and minerals added in place of real food nutrition?
• Are there excessive added amino acids or plant proteins instead of expensive meat protein?
• Does the food contain inflammatory processed seed oils?

How Safe Are the Ingredients?

Many ingredients come from unhealthy, inflammatory sources or are full of pesticides so we look for:

• How processed is the food?
• Does the food contain known genetically modified foods?
• Does the food contain ingredients known to be high in pesticides?
• Does the food contain natural flavor, which are often MSG or animal digest?
• Does the food contain rice, which is high in arsenic?

Each food is objectively evaluated by these criteria and a score is assigned using the average of ingredient quality and safety. This is NOT a paid list and there are no affiliate links. Dogs Naturally has partnered with DogFoodReviews.com to make sure dog owners have unbiased, objective criteria to help them choose the best dog food on the market. You can view the full Evaluation Criteria at DogFoodReviews.com.