Crave Dog Food Review – Crave dog food is a relatively new pet brand on the market that provides high protein dry and wet dog food formulas. This is an all-natural, grain-free brand that relies heavily on lean, meat-based protein to provide your pet with energy and overall well-being.
Like all pet foods, however, there’s more to the story than meets the eye. In the case of Crave dog food, there are many advantages for your pet, however, there are also some disadvantages that you should be aware of.
In the article below, we’ll go over all the important stats to help you make an informed decision about this brand.
We’ll go over their ingredients, formulas, nutritional value, recalls, and where the products are made and purchased.
Crave Dog Food Review
We give Crave dog food a 4.1 out of 5-star rating:
Crave dog food provides your pet with a protein-rich, grain-free meal available in the dry or wet formula. They have several different recipes available, however, they are limited in their choice of recipes. That being said, Crave uses real meat as its first ingredient, and all of its products are made according to AAFCO guidelines.
History Of The Crave
Crave pet food is made by the Mars Petcare company which also owns many other well-known and respected pet brands. Crave is a relatively new brand that launched in 2017 to provide dogs and cats with a formula as close to their natural diet as possible. That’s why all of their recipes are rich in lean meat protein and other essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
All of this brand’s formulas are cooked and packaged in the United States. Their ingredients are sourced from around the world and they are chosen for their natural, lean proteins. Unfortunately, there is no indication of which country or region their ingredients come from, however, based on their natural formula, the ingredients appear to be nutritious.
What types of dogs is Crave best suited for?
Since protein is an important nutrient for all dogs, it is essential in any pet food formula you are considering. That being said, recipes that focus on this nutritional value and lack others (like grains) may be better suited to active dogs like working dogs and other high-activity puppies.
As mentioned, Crave offers both wet and dry dog food, and all of its recipes are grain-free. While good for any pets with a wheat or corn allergy, healthy grains can be very beneficial to a dog’s diet; which we will discuss in more detail below.
It’s also worth noting that this brand offers more canned food formulas than dry ones. Their recipe is divided into two categories; the first is a pâté dish with shredded chicken added. The second is the basic meat formulas. Also, keep in mind that all of their canned meals are prepared in standard pate form.
Crave Dog Food Formula
wet meal Formula:
- Beef pie with chicken shreds
- Chicken pie with chicken shreds
- Turkey and lamb pâté with chicken shreds
- Turkey pie with chicken shreds
- Beef
- Chicken
- Turkey
Dry meal Formula :
- Beef
- Chicken
- Lamb and game
- Salmon and sea fish
Specaility of Crave Dog Food brand
A significant aspect of the Crave pet food brand is its lack of formulas designed to target the specific dietary needs of dogs. For example, they don’t offer puppy formula, senior formula, weight management, or any other options besides a basic adult meal.
Depending on your pooch’s life stage, he may need different diet meals to support his overall health.
For example, senior formulas are usually made with ingredients such as glucosamine which helps relieve joint pain and swelling. Not only that but this supplement is also added as a preventative against arthritis and other ailments in your young dog.
If you have an aging dog that needs a good joint support formula, we recommend Blue Buffalo Life Protection Dry Dog Formula.
Another example is puppies. Growing dogs need different nutrients and supplements to support their growth and overall health. They need more fat, fiber, and other nutrients for the brain, bones, teeth, and eyes that will help them grow into strong, energetic dogs. If you have a puppy, try Taste Of The Wild Grain Free High Protein Dry Puppy Food.
Besides these two life stages, there are also other instances where specific formulas are beneficial. Items such as weight management, ingredient-restricted diets, and meals for large or small breeds all contain specific ingredients based on their nutritional needs.
Finally, all dogs on a budget should know that this brand is a bit more expensive. Not that it’s the most astronomically priced formula, but it’s more expensive than the average store-bought pet food.
Ingredients
Just as the formulas and recipes available within a brand are important, so are the nutritional value and ingredients. As promised, we wanted to touch on the basis of the protein-rich, grain-free ingredients that are used in this brand. Also, we will give you an idea of the nutritional content of the dry and wet formula.
Cereals
Grain-free dog food recipes have become increasingly popular in recent years. Pet owners have found that they are gentler on their pet’s stomach and eliminate any gluten allergies your pet may have. That being said, many experts have found that this type of dog food is not necessarily the healthiest choice for your dog.
Some grains, like white rice, can indeed be more difficult to digest, however, healthier options like brown rice and whole wheat add great nutritional value to your pet’s food. Additionally, less than 1% of dogs suffer from gluten sensitivity.
Protein
Protein is extremely important for all dogs. This allows them to be healthy and energetic, in addition to providing many other important functions such as building strong muscles and supplying amino acids.
Lean protein is the best source for your pup; However, many brands add additional ingredients to their dog food to increase protein levels. For example, chicken products contain a lot of moisture, which adds to the total weight of the first ingredient. With the elimination of water, the chicken would drop to a lower concentration in the meal, while ingredients such as flaxseed would increase the protein content.
We are happy to say that Crave does not use any by-products in its formulas. You should also note that the meal used in any given formula is only as good as its source.
The Nutritional Value
When determining whether or not a formula contains an appropriate amount of protein and other values such as fat and fiber, you need to take a look at the labeling. The FDA requires all pet foods to label their products with not only the ingredients but also the daily nutritional content.
The AAFCO provides guidelines on what is healthy for your pet in this category. Below we have provided you with the average nutritional value of wet and dry foods.
| Wet | Wet with shreds | Dry | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 12% | 13.5% | 40% |
| Fat | 5% | 6% | 16% |
| Fiber | 1% | 1% | 6% |
| calories | 376 calories | 112 calories | 379 calories |
An Overview of Crave Dog Food
Advantages
- All natural formula
- Rich in protein
- grain free
- No artificial ingredients
- No wheat, corn or soy
- Made with AAFCO guidelines
Dis-Advantages
- Last Life Stage Formulas
- More expensive
- Lack of nutrients from green vegetables
Ingredient analysis
Crave with Protein from Chicken was selected to represent an average distribution of brand products
At this point, we wanted to dig a little deeper into the specific ingredients of the wet and dry formulas. As mentioned, the Crave brand was inspired by your dog’s natural diet and is free of artificial ingredients, soy, corn, wheat, and meat by-products.
Beyond that, this pet food brand offers great nutritional value in addition to protein. These meals contain vitamins and nutrients such as biotin, omega 3 and 6, vitamins B and D, as well as probiotics which support a healthy digestive and immune system.
To save this article from being hopelessly long, we will focus our efforts on some of the more questionable ingredients and what they mean.
- Carrageenan: This ingredient is typically used as a cooler and likely replaces grain ingredients. Carrageenan is difficult to digest and has little or no nutritional value.
- Flaxseed: Flaxseed is an anti-inflammatory that can help the kidneys and even arthritis. Although not a bad product, it can also be used to increase the level of protein in your pet’s food.
- Beet pulp: Dried beet pulp is a controversial ingredient that has been found in the formula of Crave cans. Many experts believe there is a lot of fiber and protein in this item, however, others believe that in concentrated doses it may be unhealthy for your pet. We mention it because it is at the top of the ingredient list.
- Dried Brewer’s Yeast: This is another somewhat controversial ingredient that may have many nutritional benefits for your dog, but in large amounts it is also known to cause bloating which is a disease of cigarette smoking that can be deadly.
- Pea Protein: Pea protein is used more as a filler than anything else. While peas may have their benefits, things like protein or pea powder are of little value.
- Alfalfa Meal: This is an ingredient that is pretty high on the dry recipe ingredient list. Alfalfa can have many benefits, but it can also prevent the absorption of vitamins and nutrients into your pet’s system.
- Salt: When it comes to sodium, you want to keep the levels in your pet food as low as possible. In this case, this salt appears at more than half of the list, it is lower than other typical dry dog foods.
Recall history
As of this writing, the Crave pet food line has not been subject to any recalls. However, you should keep in mind that when reviewing recalls, you should consider the company that manufactures and produces the food, as they are responsible for the outcome of the end product. They are also the ones who will carry out the reminders.
That being said, Mars Petcare has had its fair share of recalls in the past. More recently, they voluntarily recalled Cesar filet mignon wet dog food after pieces of plastic were found in the containers.
Reviews of the 2 Best Crave Dog Food Recipes
1. Crave High Protein Adult Dry Dog Food
Reasons to suggest–
- Beef and Chicken Dry Formula is one of the most popular recipes in the Crave dog food line.
- It is made with all-natural ingredients that are high in nutritious lean protein.
- It’s also a grain-free kid that has no wheat, corn, soy, or meat byproducts. Plus, there are no artificial ingredients either.
- This meal contains many added vitamins and minerals to support your pup’s overall well-being.
- They use a blend of Omegas, vitamins, and their patented probiotics to support your dog’s digestive, immune, cardiovascular, and muscle health.
- That being said, be aware that this meal is harder to digest than others. Also, it is not recommended for puppies or older dogs.
2. Crave High Protein Grain-Free
Reasons to suggest–
- This Lamb & Game Dry Dog Meal is another all-natural, grain-free formula from Crave Pet Foods.
- It is designed to resemble your dog and his natural diet as closely as possible. That being said, it contains plenty of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, including omegas, patented probiotics, and other supplements to keep your dog happy and healthy.
- Keep in mind, however, that this formula may be more difficult to digest, especially with higher protein levels.
- Lamb and venison crave is a favorite among the canine crowd. List of Tasty Chow contains no artificial ingredients, corn, wheat, soy, or meat by-products.
- It’s made in an AAFCO-regulated facility based in the USA with responsibly sourced ingredients that benefit your dog.
- The only other downside to this option is the essential Adele Black nutrients the grains would provide to young dogs.
3.CRAVE High Protein Grain Free
Reasons to suggest–
- CRAVE respects animals for who they really are – descendants of African wolves and wild cats.
- CRAVE adult dog kibbles are made without grains and are composed of at least 60% of ingredients of animal origin. The croquettes are inspired by the primitive natural food of the dog, descended from the wolf.
- CRAVE™ adult dog kibbles are made with high-quality protein. They exist in several flavors: Lamb & Beef, Beef, Chicken, Salmon & Sea Fish.
What other users say
If you’re like the millions of other shoppers who rely on other people’s recommendations, you’ll benefit from the reviews below. We’ve pulled out some of our favorites Crave pet food brand reviews and added them for your convenience.
I have a bull terrier who is allergic to so many things. I had a hard time finding the right food for him. He will get test infections in his ears and hives if not well. This food made her skin look fantastic. It is pink and not red! It also doesn’t itch like it used to.
My family has a female cane Corso and a male rottweiler. The Corso is very small while our Rottie is huge. We changed her diet from dry food to Crave wet food, and she finishes it in a minute and can’t wait to eat!
If you want to dive deep into the world of pet food reviews, there’s no better place than Amazon. Not only will they provide detailed reviews of all the different recipes, but they will also give you honest and clear expectations of what that food will deliver. If you want to take a closer look, check out the reviews here.
Read This Also:-
- WholeHearted Dog Food Review 2022:
- Acana Dog Food Review 2022:
- Taste of the Wild Dog Food Review 2022:
- Blue Buffalo dog food reviews 2022:
Conclusion
Overall, Crave dog food is an all-natural, grain-free, high-protein meal that your pup will enjoy. It is made up of many different vitamins, supplements, and nutrients. The various Crave recipes are enjoyed by most dogs, however, they lack specific diet formulas.
As we mentioned, this brand is a bit more expensive than the average pet food. You can find it on the shelves of pet stores such as PetSmart and Chewy.com. You can also find it in some big box stores such as Wal-Mart and of course Amazon. We hope you enjoyed the above review and that it gave you something to think about about this pet brand.
