DogFoodAdvisor is reader supported See how
All reviews are 100% impartial but if you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee.
The best organic dog foods listed below must meet strict guidelines established by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Unfortunately…
Due to the tightly regulated way in which they’re produced, organic recpipes tend to be hard to find in stores.
In general…
Organic dog foods can be grouped into 2 categories…
- Certified organic
- Partially organic
By law…
Certified organic dog foods must contain at least 95% organic ingredients. They’re easy to spot… because they’re the only recipes permitted to display the official “USDA Organic” seal on their packaging.
Certified organic foods are rare.
Truth is…
Most organic dog foods sold in the U.S. are partially organic… which means they contain varying amounts of organic ingredients… specified on the label.
On this page…
We’ll share our most recommended organic dog food brands… and we’ll answer the 5 most frequently asked questions we get about organic dog food.
Best Organic Dog Foods November 2024
-
Best Wet Organic Dog Food
Tender & True Organic Chicken & Liver
Tender & True Organic Chicken and Liver Recipe is one of five wet dog foods included in our review of this product line.
The formula derives the bulk of its meat protein from fresh chicken and based on our dry matter label analysis contains 39% protein, 23% fat and 31% estimated carbs, which results in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 59%.
Tender & True Organic Chicken and Liver Recipe provides 100% complete and balanced nutrition with added vitamins, minerals and other trace nutrients in a smooth, finely-chopped pate consistency.
It’s also fully organic, contains no grain, GMOs, corn, wheat or soy, and is also free of artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. We applaud this for a quality wet diet. Recommended with confidence.
Read our review of the full Tender and True Dog Food (Canned) range here
Things we like
- Organic, humanely raised chicken
- No grain, GMOs, corn, wheat or soy
- No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
Main Ingredients Organic chicken, organic chicken broth, organic chicken liver, organic pea flour, organic sunflower oil Texture Wet Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 39% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"I am always searching for organic canned food my dogs will like and this is it. They are beyond stoked with this product. I will be buying again."
-
Best Organic Food For Dogs With A Sensitive Stomach
Gather Free Acres Organic Free-Run Chicken
Gather Free Acres is one of two dry recipes included in our review of this dry product line.
The formula gets the lion’s share of its meat protein from fresh chicken and dehydrated chicken. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 33% protein, 17% fat and 42% estimated carbs, creating a fat-to-protein ratio of about 50%.
In addition to Gather’s certified organic ingredients, each recipe also contains a balanced blend of healthy omega-3 and omega-6 fats. A top choice. We love the fact that organic, free-run chicken is the main ingredient and the only source of meat protein, making it a good option for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Read our review of the full Gather Dog Food (Dry) range here
Things we like
- Organic, free-run chicken is the first ingredient
- Organic, non-GMO fruit and veg
- Omega fatty acids
Main Ingredients Organic chicken, organic dehydrated chicken, organic peas, lentils, chicken fat Texture Dry Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 33% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My cocker spaniel loves this food! I love that it is organic. I looked for another brand when the brand we were using became unavailable."
-
Best Organic Food For Puppies
Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Chicken Recipe
Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Chicken Recipe is one of eight dehydrated recipes included in our review of this product line.
The formula derives the bulk of its meat protein from dehydrated chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 27% protein, 15% fat and 50% estimated carbs, resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%.
In addition to its multiple organic ingredients, each recipe is processed in a human-grade food processing facility. Our in-house pet nutritionist Laura Ward also likes the fact that each component is non-genetically modified (non-GMO) and free of any chemicals or preservatives, making it ideal for rapidly developing puppies. All meat ingredients are hormone and antibiotic-free, too.
Read our review of the full The Honest Kitchen Grain Inclusive Dog Food (Dehydrated) range here
Things we like
- Made with free-range chicken, organic oats, carrots and bananas
- 100% human-grade ingredients
- Gently dehydrated to boost nutrient retention
Main Ingredients Dehydrated chicken, organic barley, dehydrated potatoes, organic flaxseed, organic oats Texture Dry Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 27% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at TheHonestKitchen.com"I couldn’t believe how much my dog loved this food. He’s usually so picky. I highly recommend this product. "
-
Best Organic Dog Food For Picky Eaters
Stella & Chewy’s Venison Blend Dinner Patties
Stella & Chewy’s Venison Blend is one of 13 recipes included in our review of this freeze-dried raw product line.
This recipe derives the largest share of its animal protein from both venison and lamb. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 44.2% protein, 31.6% fat and 16.2% estimated carbs, resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 71%.
Stella & Chewy’s promises all its frozen and freeze-dried raw recipes include vitamins and minerals sourced from 100% certified organic fruits and vegetables. The meat in this recipe comprises grass-fed venison and lamb raised without hormones or antibiotics, making it ideal for picky pups.
Recommended with confidence as a top-rated, freeze-dried dog food for those not requiring organic meat.
Things we like
- 100% certified organic fruit and vegetables
- Grass-fed venison and lamb
- Made without grains, gluten, fillers, artificial preservatives or colors
Main Ingredients Venison, lamb, lamb liver, venison liver, venison lung Texture Raw Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 47% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My pretty pittie is allergic to everything, beef, chicken, lamb, tomato (which is in most dog food) grain, etc. It was also recommended that we go with raw food. We have tried many brands of venison, duck, bison and wild boar. This by far is her favorite food. It is easy to store because most of the other brands were frozen. We feed her 2 1/2 "pucks" broken up and mixed with grain free dry food 2x a day. We typically add water to the pucks but she also enjoys them dry right out of the bag."
-
Best Affordable Organic Dog Food
Evanger's Organics Turkey with Potato & Carrots
Evanger’s Organics Turkey with Potato & Carrots is one of two wet recipes included in our review of this organic dog food.
This formula derives most of its animal protein from turkey. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 36.4% protein, 18.2% fat and 37.5% estimated carbs, producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 50%.
The recipe features a number of organic ingredients including turkey, organic vegetables and organic egg. It’s also grain- and gluten-free, and free from GMOs, preservatives, fillers, hormones and antibiotics. We recommend this for pet parents looking for organic dog food on a budget.
Read our review of the full Evanger’s Organics Dog Food (Canned) range here
Things we like
- Organic turkey and veg
- Grain-free and gluten-free
- No GMOs, preservatives, fillers, hormones or antibiotics
Main Ingredients Organic turkey, water sufficient for processing, organic potatoes, organic carrots, organic egg Texture Wet Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 36.4% AAFCO Standards All life stages Best For All dogs Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"I was nervous about switching my dog's canned food from Organix to another organic brand since the former is no longer available but to my astonishment, he LOVES the EVANGERS canned food and it actually assisted his gut greatly which was a bit out of sorts before. He looks so forward to his breakfast when I serve it to him along with his raw patties."
-
Best Organic Food For Dogs With Allergies
ender & True Chicken and Liver Recipe
Tender & True Chicken and Liver Recipe is one of eight dry recipes included in our review of this dry product line.
The recipe derives the majority of its animal protein from both chicken meal and fresh chicken. Our dry matter label analysis reveals it contains 29% protein, 18% fat and 45% estimated carbs, producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 62%.
Tender & True is USDA-certified organic, which makes each recipe a rare find for discerning dog owners. The first ingredient is organic, humanely raised chicken and the grain-free recipe makes it easy for us to recommend as an organic option for dogs with allergies.
Read our review of the full Tender and True Dog Food (Dry) range here
Things we like
- Organic, humanely raised chicken as the first ingredient
- Grain-free
- No artificial preservatives, colors or flavors
Main Ingredients Organic chicken, organic chicken meal, organic dried peas, organic chickpeas, organic flaxseed meal Texture Dry Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 29% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My dog had eczema and allergies. Since switching to the pesticide free dog food, chicken and liver flavor, her eczema is gone. I highly recommend going organic. I really like that the chickens were humanely raised as well."
More Top Picks
To view more top dog foods by category… click the link below that best meets your personal feeding needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is organic dog food?
Organic dog food is made from ingredients grown without pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), or ionizing radiation.
Animals used to produce meat, poultry, eggs, or dairy products must not have been fed antibiotics or growth hormones.
What are the 3 types of organic dog food?
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) recognizes 3 categories of organic products:
- 100% Organic: Made with 100% organic ingredients
- Organic: Made with at least 95% organic ingredients
- Made with Organic Ingredients: Made with a minimum of 70% organic ingredients with strict restrictions on the remaining 30% (including no GMOs)
Dog foods containing less than 70% organic ingredients may list these items on the side panel… but they may not make organic claims on the front of the package.
How much more does organic dog food cost?
Based on a 2019 study conducted by The Dog Food Advisor…
The average organic dog food is priced about 23% higher than a comparable size package of regular dog food.
But…
This highly specialized category of dog foods can sometimes be found selling for as much as 40% more than their conventional counterparts.
That’s because…
- Organic farmers don’t receive federal subsidies as some conventional farmers
- Organic farming is more costly than regular farming
- Organic farms are typically smaller… so they’re not able to benefit from the economies of scale enjoyed by larger growers
Is organic dog food better than regular dog food?
That depends on what’s important to you.
Truth is…
Based on 3 large studies, the nutrient differences between regular and organic dog foods appear to be only minimal.1
However, according to USDA data…
Organic foods do tend to contain fewer pesticide residues than conventionally grown produce.2
Which could be an important advantage to demanding dog owners.
What ingredients should I avoid when buying dog food?
Here are some of the most controversial ingredients found in many popular dog foods… and the health danger to which each may be linked:
| Ingredient | Type | Linked To |
|---|---|---|
| BHA | Preservative | Cancer |
| BHT | Preservative | Cancer |
| TBHQ | Preservative | Cancer |
| Ethoxyquin | Preservative | Liver pigmentation |
| Menadione | Synthetic vitamin | Hemolytic anemia |
| Artificial dyes | Colorant | Cancer |
| Propylene glycol | Moisturizer | Heinz body anemia |
| Generic “meat” | Unknown source | Food allergies |
To be sure you never unknowingly feed YOUR dog a food that contains any of these high-risk ingredients… be sure to favor recipes rated 4 stars or higher by The Dog Food Advisor.
Final word
The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.
However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.
For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.
