Kirkland (Costco) Dog Food Review 2021

 Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Turkey Meal and Sweet Potato Dog Food

Check price

WHY YOU SHOULD BUY

A grain-free formula with a turkey-first recipe that includes veggies, herbs, probiotics, and much more. Provides a complete and balanced meal that will energize, nourish, and support your dog throughout all of its life stages.

Kirkland Signature Nature's Domain Grain-Free Turkey Meal & Sweet Potato Formula offers great variety for a grain-free diet. According to reviews we read on Amazon, some dogs are partial to certain dog foods. So, Kirkland did the right thing by coming up with recipes that are nearly identical in nutrition but vary in taste and ingredients.

This blend of turkey, vegetables, and fruits provides everything your dog needs for all life stages. Your dog will jump for joy when you pop open the bag of kibble, and the inclusion of probiotics will keep you put your mind at ease, so you don’t have to worry about digestive issues. When switching dog foods, digestive issues may arise regardless of the ingredients. That’s why it’s important to transition your dog over to the new food gradually.

We weren’t able to find a Kirkland dog food feeding guide online, but you can find recommendations on the back of every bag of Kirkland dog food.

KEY FEATURES:

    First 5 ingredients: Turkey meal, sweet potatoes, peas, potatoes, canola oil

    Includes: Zinc, Selenium, Vitamin E, Omega-6 Fatty Acids, Omega-3 Fatty Acids

    336 kcal/cup

SPECIFICATIONS:

    Type: Dry food

    Breed size: All breeds

    Life Stage: Senior

    Weight: 35-pound bags

WHAT WE LOVED:

    Grain-free recipe

    Contains vegetable sources of protein like peas

    Balanced and complete nutrition that includes meat, vegetables, and fruits

WHAT WE DIDN’T LIKE:

    Although the choice of Turkey Meal over Turkey is understandable (price matters), we feel that for a few dollars extra, most people wouldn’t mind the upgrade.

Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Salmon Meal & Sweet Potato Dog Food

Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Salmon Meal & Sweet Potato Dog Food

Check price

WHY YOU SHOULD BUY

Nature’s Domain Salmon Meal & Sweet Potato Formula is a fishy feast with plenty of veggies and fruits to provide balanced nutrition. The grain-free recipe is ideal for all stages of life, from puppy to mature dog. Includes a blend of Omega 3 &6 Fatty Acids for a healthy nervous system and fat metabolism.

Kirkland Salmon dog food is formulated for all stages of life. It might sound fishy, but trust us, dogs love fish just as much as cats. Plus, considering that other ingredients have healthy fats, like canola oil and fish oils, it will taste amazing, and you’ll be surprised how fast your dog wolfs it down.

Grain-free isn’t considered to be better than grain-inclusive. However, for dogs with grain sensitivity or allergies. If you’re worried your dog might be allergic to grains, check out PetMD for food allergy symptoms. Also, make sure to consult with your vet before switching to different dog food.

The Salmon Meal recipe has a similar concentration of fatty acids, probiotics, and antioxidants as the rest of Nature’s Domain line. Coming in at a slightly higher price point ($43.99) than the Turkey Meal recipe ($41.99).

KEY FEATURES:

    First 5 ingredients: Salmon meal, sweet potatoes, peas, potatoes, canola oil

    Includes: Zinc, Selenium, Vitamin E, Omega-6 Fatty Acids, Omega-3 Fatty Acids

    336 kcal/cup

SPECIFICATIONS:

    Type: Dry food

    Breed size: All breeds

    Life Stage: All life stages

    Weight: 35-pound bags

WHAT WE LOVED:

    Grain-free for dogs with allergies or sensitivities

    Well-balanced and nutritious

    Includes a variety of vegetables and fruits in addition to salmon and ocean fish meal

WHAT WE DIDN’T LIKE:

    Although the choice of Salmon Meal over Salmon is understandable (price matters), we feel that for a few dollars extra, most people wouldn’t mind the upgrade.

Kirkland Canned Dog Food

Kirkland Canned Dog Food

As we discussed in the section on Who Makes Kirkland Signature, the canned dog food is likely produced by Diamond Pet Foods, making the dry food.

But we found it odd that there’s only one choice for canned food currently available:

    Kirkland Signature Nature's Domain Canned Dog Food, Turkey & Pea

It comes in a 24-count pack of 13.2 oz cans. The first five ingredients are Turkey, turkey broth, vegetable broth, natural flavor, and dried egg product. Beyond it being suitable for all life stages (including pregnant/nursing moms and puppies), having 356 kcal/can, and being grain-free, there’s not much information about it.

Kirkland canned dog food was also available in Organic Chicken, Chicken, and Lamb recipes in the past.

Kirkland Dog Food Ingredient List

We’ll go over some of Kirkland dog food ingredients that you may not have seen before. To see a full glossary of ingredients, check out Costco’s website.

Active9 probiotics are a complex of “canine-specific probiotics” developed for Kirkland Signature. The special formulation includes bacteria that are vital for a dog’s digestive health. They include Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium animalis, Lactobacillus reuteri.

Chicory root- A prebiotic. Think of it like this: a prebiotic is the optimal environment for good bacteria, and probiotics are the good bacteria themselves. Both are required for optimal digestion.

Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine hydrochloride - Support joint health by repairing and protecting cartilage.

L-Carnitine - A vital nutrient for fat metabolism. It helps the body burn fat and maintain muscle mass.

Kirkland Guaranteed Analysis

Adult Chicken

Adult Lamb

Healthy Weight

Mature

Nature’s Domain Organic Chicken

Nature’s Domain Turkey

Nature’s Domain Salmon

Crude Protein

26.0%

23.0%

27.0%

27.0%

22.0%

24.0%

24.0%

Crude Fat

16.0%

14.0%

16.0%

12.0%

12.0%

14.0%

14.0%

Crude Fiber

3.0%

4.0%

4.0%

4.0%

5.5%

4.0%

4.0%

Moisture

10.0%

10.0%

10.0%

10.0%

10.0%

10.0%

10.0%

Docosahexaenoic Acid

(DHA*)

0.05%

0.05%

Calcium

1.0%

0.9%

Phosphorus

0.8%

0.7%

Sodium

0.25%

Zinc

200 mg/kg

200 mg/kg

150 mg/kg

225 mg/kg

200 mg/kg

150 mg/kg

150 mg/kg

Selenium

0.35 mg/kg

0.35 mg/kg

0.35 mg/kg

0.35 mg/kg

0.35 mg/kg

0.35 mg/kg

0.35 mg/kg

Vitamin E

150 IU/kg

150 IU/kg

150 IU/kg

150 IU/kg

150 IU/kg

150 IU/kg

150 IU/kg

L-Carnitine*

30 mg/kg

30 mg/kg

Omega-6 Fatty Acids*

2.50%

2.20%

1.70%2

2.20%

2.5%

2.4%

2.4%

Omega-3 Fatty Acids*

0.4%

0.4%

0.3%

0.4%

0.4%

0.3%

0.3%

Glucosamine*

300 mg/kg

300 mg/kg

750 mg/kg

750 mg/kg

Chondroitin Sulfate*

100 mg/kg

100 mg/kg

250 mg/kg

250 mg/kg

*Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.

Kirkland senior dog food (as do other dog foods for mature dogs) contains less fat.

There’s no Kirkland large breed dog food, but the Kirkland small dog food interestingly has some unique qualities. Small-breed dog food contains Taurine and L-Carnitine. Dogs produce their own Taurine. However, sometimes they require supplementation. Just to be clear, the amount in the small-breed dog food is not significant.

The addition of L-Carnitine is interesting, and we can only guess that it’s because some people tend to overfeed or overestimate how much small dogs need to eat.

Kirkland Brand Dog Food Recalls

Kirkland dog food quality is comparable to any of the big-name brands. Considering it’s produced by Diamond Pet Foods, a company with many years of experience, this doesn’t come as a surprise.

Be that as it may, everyone slips up now and then. In the last 20 years, there have been two recalls:

    2012 - A potential Salmonella contamination spurred a recall by the FDA. It was only in 2016 when a class-action lawsuit was settled (without a direct admission of guilt from Kirkland/Diamond). Of course, Salmonella is no joke, and according to the lawsuit, some cases were fatal.

    2007 - A potential melamine contamination in Kirkland Signature 2-Flavor canned dog food and many other pet foods caused a massive recall issued by the FDA.

Conclusion

Looking past the “Super Premium'' labels and marketing buzzwords, we feel the most important lesson you can learn about Kirkland Signature is the Costco CEO’s attitude. He aims to make higher-end products cheaper for the average consumer.

And Costco has managed to do this with Kirkland adult dog food and the other life-stage specific formulas. Unlike lower-shelf brands that spend tons of money on marketing and hype, Kirkland Signature spends its money on improving the formula and including only the best ingredients.

Yes, admittedly, there have been a few recalls, but the last one was nearly a decade ago. Plus, if you look at the reviews, you’ll see that every recipe has a rating higher than 4 out of 5 stars.

We give Kirkland dog food two big paws up!

FAQs

Is Kirkland Dog Food Good?

Kirkland super premium dog food has high-quality ingredients. Animal products are always the #1 ingredient, and there have only been two recalls for Kirkland Signature dog food. The dog food line comes in grain-inclusive and grain-free recipes, including canned food.

Where Is Kirkland Dog Food Made?

According to Costco’s FAQ, Kirkland Signature dog food is produced by Diamond Pet Foods in the USA. The company has five facilities, mostly in southern US states.

Where to Buy Kirkland Dog Food?

You can buy Costco Kirkland dog food in Costco and on Amazon. However, the dog food on Amazon is almost twice as expensive as Costco. You’d be better off buying a yearly Costco membership to save money. Plus, Costco has many other products you can buy in bulk to save even more money.

How Is Kirkland Dog Food Rated?

Pet owners highly praise Kirkland Signature. In our opinion, it’s a great choice as it’s relatively inexpensive and has ingredients you don’t find in high-end pet fo