Holistic pet food might seem like a new trend, but it’s been around for decades, and it all started with Solid Gold. With a product line for just about every type of dog, there’s a lot to love about Solid Gold dog food. Pet care is daunting, so we’re going to break down its extensive product line in our Solid Gold dog food reviews to help you see what makes this company so special and whether it’s the right choice for your pet. We’ll include the brand’s entire product line and look at any recalls it may have faced.
Contents
About the Brand
This pet food company was first introduced in 1974 by Sissy Harrington, an animal lover who noticed that European Great Danes lived longer than their American cousins and believed that diet was the reason why. McGill set out to develop natural, nutritious food. The first recipe, Hund-N-Flocken, used real meat, superfoods, and whole grains. This formula is often credited with launching the idea of holistic pet food.
Today, Solid Gold has expanded into dog and cat foods product lines with every recipe and ingredient focusing on overall wellness and complete GI support. The brand’s mission stays true to what McGill started more than 45 years ago: that nutrition can be transformative and support long life and vitality.
Currently, Solid Gold only oversees the production of its recipes. Most of their products are made by Crosswinds Pet Foods in Kansas. Some products and also made by Diamond Pet Food and Simmons Pet Foods.
Wet vs Dry Dog Food
While we know there are many benefits to wet dog food, for the sake of this Solid Gold dog food review, we’re going to focus more on its dry dog food recipes. Don’t worry, we’ll still include some information about the wet recipes they have to offer at the end. Generally, though, wet food doesn’t have the same amount of protein and fat as dry food and it’s not as affordable. For these reasons, we’re focusing more on dry recipes. Now, onto our Solid Gold dog food reviews.
Dog Food Reviews
Solid Gold foods are available in a wide range of wet and dry recipes. Let’s take a closer look at what makes this dog food so special.
Dry Solid Gold Dog Foods
One of the best things about Solid Gold dog food is that their dry dog food recipes are tailored for specific dietary needs. There’s a Solid Gold dry dog food for almost every dog.
Everyday Nutrition
Everyday Nutrition from Solid Gold features recipes that are great for healthy, moderately active dogs. There are both grain-free and grain-inclusive options to choose from and four delicious flavors.
Hund-N-Flocken with lamb, brown rice, and pearled barley
Hund-N-Flocken is the formula that started it all. It features pasture-raised lamb and whole grains as well as Solid Gold’s proprietary blend of probiotics and omegas to support immunity and gut health. This brown rice recipe contains 22 percent protein content, 10 percent fat, and 355 kcal/cup.
The primary ingredients are Lamb, Lamb Meal, Brown Rice, Pearled Barley, Oatmeal, Chickpeas, Rice Bran, Ocean Fish Meal, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Eggs, Ground Flaxseed, Dried Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavor, Carrots, Salmon Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), and Pumpkin. It also contains chicory root, vitamin C, and more.
Star Chaser with chicken and brown rice
This brown rice recipe uses cage-free poultry and nutritious whole grains as well as a blend of superfoods, omega fatty acids, and probiotics for GI health. It’s made up of 26 percent protein, 15 percent fat, and delivers 380 kcal/cup.
The first ten ingredients on the ingredient list are as follows: Chicken, Poultry Meal, Brown Rice, Pearled Barley, Peas, Poultry Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Fish (Ocean) Meal, Dried Eggs, and Pea Fiber.
Sunday Sunrise with lamb, sweet potato, and pea
If you prefer well-balanced nutrition that’s grain-free and gluten-free, take a look at Solid Gold Sunday Sunrise. This formula uses pasture-raised lamb and egg to deliver protein and a blend of superfoods, probiotics, and omegas to support your dog’s overall health. It contains 22 percent protein, 12 percent fat, and has 360 kcal/cup.
The dog food ingredients include Lamb, Lamb Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Chickpeas, Lentils, Peas, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Fish (Ocean) Meal, Dried Eggs, and Pea Fiber.
MMillennia with beef and rice
MMillennia uses beef sourced in the USA, brown and white rice, and a superfood blend rich in omega fatty acids and probiotics for gut and immune health. It’s 22 percent protein, 12 percent fat, and 360 kcal/cup.
The top ingredients in this recipe are Beef, Fish (Ocean) Meal, Pearled Barley, Rice, Peas, White Rice, Poultry Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Eggs, Dried Tomato Pomace, and Ground Flaxseed.
Sensitive Stomach
These sensitive stomach products are grain-free, gluten-free, and use novel proteins that are less likely to irritate your dog’s tummy.
Buck Wild with venison, potato, and pumpkin
Buck Wild uses pasture-raised venison, pumpkin, and a blend of superfoods, probiotics, and more to promote gut health and immunity. It is 23 percent protein, 12 percent fat, and contains 370 kcal/cup.
The ingredient list includes Venison, Turkey Meal, Potatoes, Chickpeas, Lentils, Sweet Potatoes, Poultry Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Eggs, Pumpkin, Fish (Ocean) Meal, Natural Flavor, Dicalcium Phosphate, Pea Fiber, Carrots, Salmon Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Salt, Blueberries, and Cranberries.
Leaping Waters with cold water salmon and vegetables
With cold water salmon as the single-source protein, this Solid Gold recipe is ideal for dogs with sensitive stomachs. It uses simple, wholesome ingredients and a blend of superfoods to support your dog’s overall wellness and healthy digestion. This recipe is 26 percent protein, 15 percent fat, and has 388 kcal/cup.
Top ingredients listed on the ingredient list include Salmon, Fish (Ocean) Meal, Chickpeas, Lentils, Poultry Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Tapioca, Pea Fiber, Salmon Meal, and Dried Eggs.
Wild Heart with quail, chickpea, and pumpkin
Wild Heart features quail, a lean protein that’s great for dogs with sensitivities to more common proteins. It also uses the company’s superfood blend and fiber-rich chickpeas to support optimal GI function. Wild Heart has a meat content of 27 percent protein, plus 15 percent fat, and it contains 377 kcal/cup.
The top ten ingredients are Quail, Chickpeas, Potatoes, Turkey Meal, Pork Meal, Tapioca, Poultry Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Pumpkin, and Pea Proteins.
Weight Control
The Solid Gold brand also has a few products for dogs that need to lose a few pounds. These weight control formulas help you get your pup back to its ideal weight, safely and effectively.
Fit and Fabulous with Alaskan pollock
Alaskan pollock is loaded with healthy omega fatty acids and keeps your dog satisfied on its weight loss journey. Just like all Solid Gold dog foods, this recipe contains functional superfoods and probiotics to improve gut health. This Fit and Fabulous recipe is low fat and lower calorie, with 26 percent protein, 6.5 percent fat, and 330 kcal/cup.
The main ingredients on the ingredient list are Pollock, Pollock Meal, Pea Fiber, Pearled Barley, Rice, Oatmeal, Fish (Ocean) Meal, Poultry Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Natural Flavor, Dried Eggs, Carrots, Salt, Pumpkin, Ground Flaxseed, DL-Methionine, Potassium Chloride, Blueberries, and Cranberries.
Fit and Fabulous with chicken, sweet potato, and green beans
Another tasty option to keep your dog happy while helping it lose weight is this recipe, featuring cage-free poultry, superfoods, and probiotics. This low-fat, low-calorie recipe is 26 percent protein, 6.5 percent fat, and only 320 kcal/cup.
The top ingredients are Chicken, Poultry Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Pea Fiber, Potatoes, Peas, Pea Protein, Green Beans, Fish (Ocean) Meal, and Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols).
Complete Health
Complete Health is Solid Gold’s premium recipe, featuring the quality ingredients it’s known for and formulated to deliver controlled levels of necessary nutrients, like sodium, calcium, and phosphorus.
Holistique Blendz with oatmeal, pearled barley, and ocean fish meal
Holistique Blendz from Solid Gold is a nutrient-rich recipe that has a unique balance of ocean fish meal, whole grains, and superfoods to keep your pooch happy and thriving. It contains 18 percent protein, 6 percent fat, and 340 kcal/cup.
The top ingredients on the Holistique Blendz ingredient list are Oatmeal, Pearled Barley, Peas, Ocean Fish Meal, Dried Eggs, Poultry Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Natural Flavor, Dried Tomato Pomace, Tricalcium Phosphate, Carrots, Pumpkin, Potassium Chloride, DL-Methionine, Salmon Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Blueberries, and Cranberries plus zinc proteinate and manganese proteinate.
Sun Dancer with chicken, tapioca, and turmeric
Sun Dancer is another nutrient-rich option that features turmeric and a bit of extra protein to enhance your dog’s healthy lifestyle. This recipe is 28 percent protein, 16 percent fat, and 405 kcal/cup.
The main ingredients are Feeding Instructions Chicken, Chicken Meal, Tapioca, Peas, Ocean Fish Meal, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Tomato Pomace, Quinoa, Ground Flaxseed, and Natural Flavor.
High Protein
Barking at the Moon is Solid Gold’s high-protein line with more meat content than the other options. There are two products, each grain and gluten-free and naturally packed with the nutrients your active dog needs.
Barking at the Moon with duck, pea, and egg
Duck is rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, which makes it an ideal choice for your dog. It has adequate levels of iron to support red blood cell production, which helps your dog play longer and supports organ and muscle health. it contains multiple meat meals for concentrated energy. This recipe is 41 percent protein, 28 percent fat, and has 440 kcal/cup.
The ingredient list includes Duck, Turkey Meal, Pea Proteins Dried Eggs, Potatoes, Peas, Ocean Fish Meal, Poultry Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Ground Flaxseed, Dried Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavor, Carrots, Salt, Pumpkin, Blueberries, Cranberries, and Salmon Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols). It also includes folic acid.
Barking at the Moon with beef, egg, and pea
This Solid Gold beef recipe is also a great option for high-energy dogs. It’s gluten and grain-free and balanced with Solid Gold’s superfood blend to add nutrient-rich support to overall wellness and GI and immune health. It contains 41 percent protein, 18 percent fat, and 415 kcal/cup.
The main ingredients are Beef, Ocean Fish Meal, Pea Proteins, Potatoes, Dried Eggs, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Peas, Dried Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavor, and Carrots.
Puppy
Solid Gold knows how important it is to give your puppy the right food, which is why it has puppy products for any size breed.
Love at First Bark with chicken, potato, and apple
This nutrient-dense recipe is packed with flavor and all the good things your puppy needs to grow up healthy and strong. It contains lean animal protein and three strains of probiotics for easy digestion, DHA for brain and eye development, omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, and Solid Gold’s superfood blend. This recipe is 28 percent protein, 16 percent fat, and has 400 kcal/cup.
Ingredients include Chicken, Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Peas, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Pea Proteins, Ocean Fish Meal, Chickpeas, Pea Fiber, Dried Eggs, Apples, Ground Flaxseed, and Natural Flavor.
Large Breed Puppy Wolf Cub with bison, oatmeal, and barley
If you have a large breed puppy, Wolf Cub is for you. It contains high-quality, pasture-raised bison, superfoods, and probiotics for your big pup’s healthy growth. This recipe contains 26 percent protein, 12 percent fat, and 350 kcal/cup.
Ingredients include Bison, Ocean Fish Meal, Rice, Oatmeal, Peas, Pearled Barley, Pea Proteins, Dried Eggs, Ground Flaxseed.
Toy and Small Breed
Toy and small breeds have special dietary needs, and Solid Gold dog food has a range of recipes that deliver the right balance of nutrients to keep little dogs healthy and happy. With small kibble size and tasty flavors, these pet food recipes are worth a closer look.
Mighty Mini with turkey and hearty vegetables
Like all Might Mini products, this turkey and hearty vegetable formula is balanced especially for small dogs, with 30 percent protein, 18 percent fat, and 405 kcal/cup.
Other Mighty Mini pet food recipes include:
Mighty Mini with beef, sweet potato, and apple
Mighty Mini with lamb, sweet potato, and carrot
Mighty Mini with salmon, lentil, green bean
Mighty Mini with chicken, chickpea, and pumpkin
Wee Bit with bison, brown rice, and pearled barley
Large Breed
Solid Gold has one pet food recipe for large breed dogs, Wolf King with bison, rice, and sweet potato. It uses pasture-raised bison, whole grains, functional superfoods, and probiotics to help maintain your big dog’s muscle help while supporting immune and GI function. This recipe is 22 percent protein, 9 percent fat, and has 304 kcal/cup.
The main ingredients in this pet food include Bison, Ocean Fish Meal, Rice, Oatmeal, Pearled Barley, Chickpeas, Peas, Potatoes, Dried Eggs, Sweet Potatoes, Ground Flaxseed, Dried Tomato Pomace, and Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols).
Senior
Young at Heart with sweet potato and spinach is Solid Gold’s senior formula. It has the right balance of protein and fat to support your aging dog’s needs along with superfoods, omega fatty acids, and probiotics to support overall health. This recipe is 27 percent protein, 10 percent fat, and 340 kcal/cup.
The main ingredients are Chicken, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Chickpeas, Peas, Lentils, Pea Fiber, Pea Proteins, Ocean Fish Meal, Spinach, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), and Ground Flaxseed.
Wet Solid Gold Dog Foods
Next up on our dog food review, we’ll give you a quick rundown of the wet pet food products that Solid Gold has to offer your dog. Solid Gold dog food has just as many options when it comes to wet dog food. Options include:
Everyday Nutrition
These pet food recipes are great for healthy, moderately active, healthy adult dogs. They make a great addition to the Everyday Nutrition dry recipes or can be enjoyed on their own.
Star Chaser with chicken and brown rice
Sunday Sunrise with lamb, sweet potato, and pea
Hund-N-Flocken with lamb, brown rice, and barely
Bone Broth
Solid Gold has two bone broth products. Bone Broth Stews are grain-free, gluten-free, made with limited ingredients, and are 100 percent human-grade. The company also offers bone broth meal toppers, again, limited ingredient and human-grade. Options include:
Bone Broth Stew Beef and hearty vegetables
Bone Broth Stew Chicken and hearty vegetables
Bone Broth Stew Lamb and hearty vegetables
Chicken with lavender and chamomile
Turkey with pumpkin and ginger
Beef with Tumeric
Sensitive Stomach
Leaping Waters with chicken, salmon, and vegetables
Green Cow with green beef tripe (with canola oil)
Weight Control
Fit and Fabulous with chicken, sweet potato, and green beans
High Protein
Barking at the Moon with beef
Puppy
Love at First Bark with chicken, potato, and apple
Love at First Bark with beef, potato, and apples
Toy and Small Breed
Mighty Mini with chicken, salmon, and vegetables in gravy
Mightly Mini with chicken, chickpea, and pumping in gravy
Mighty Mini with lamb, sweet potato, and cranberries in gravy
Mighty Mini with turkey and hearty vegetables in gravy
What Dogs Should Eat Solid Gold?
As you can see from our Solid Gold dog food review, one of the best things about Solid Gold is that the company has a product for just about every dog. Let’s take a look:
Life Stages
Solid Gold checks all the boxes here. It offers recipes for puppies, adults, and seniors, though puppy and senior options are somewhat limited.
Allergies
We were impressed by the Solid Gold’s Sensitive Stomach options, particularly the unique novel proteins used in each recipe. With ingredients from animals like venison, cold-water salmon, and quail, you have plenty of options to choose from if your dog can’t tolerate common proteins.
Picky Eaters
There are so many options to choose from, you have a pretty. good chance of finding something your dog will like, even if it’s a picky eater. Not only are there so many dry dog food recipes to choose from, but there are wet foods and bone broth stews and toppers. Mixing wet food or a delicious bone broth topper with your dog’s dry kibble is often enough to entice it to eat, and Solid Gold has multiple options of each to choose from.
Small Breeds
Solid Gold has a handful of dog food options for small breeds, which is important because these little dogs have special nutritional needs that have to be met to keep them healthy and thriving. We wish there was a small breed puppy formula, though.
Large Breeds
Although the options are limited, we were happy to see that Solid Gold has recipes for large breed puppies and adults. These dogs also have special needs, and a suitable recipe is important to keep them healthy.
Overweight Dogs
Solid Gold has two dry and one wet dog food recipes for overweight dogs. What we really like about these options is that, for the dry recipes, you have protein options. So, if you have a dog that loves chicken-based recipes and doesn’t have a sensitive stomach, you can give either recipe a go. If you have an overweight dog who needs a novel protein, go with the Alaskan pollock.
Product Lines
With a dog food brand like this that has so many different product lines, it’s hard to give an overall assessment. Some of the lines may be better than others, which is why it is so important to take the time to look at the dog food label and read the ingredients. One of the reasons that we included complete or partial ingredient lists for Solid Gold dry dog food is so that you can see that it uses a lot of healthy, real food in its recipes. But, some of them do not have meat as the number one ingredient and cooking methods may change some of the nutritional value.
Dog Food Recalls
As for recalls, the company has one in 2012. One batch of Wolf Cub large breed puppy food and one batch of Wolfking large breed food faced recalls for possible salmonella. Both of these were made by Diamond Pet Food.
How Does Solid Gold Dog Food Measure Up?
There are a few things to pay attention to when considering this dog food. As we mentioned, because there are so many recipes in the Solid Gold product line, it’s hard to give an overall judgment of the brand. Some of these recipes are amazing, while others are not-so-great. For example, Holistique Blendz uses oatmeal, barley, and peas as the first three ingredients instead of a protein. Remember to always read the label so you know exactly what you’re getting.
We’re also a little put off by the fact that Solid Gold does not produce its own dog food products – even Hund-N-Flocken- instead of relying on Diamond Pet Food, Simmons Pet Foods, and Crosswinds Pet Foods to manufacture it for them. It’s not that these companies aren’t capable of producing high-quality dog food, we just wish the Solid Gold brand was a little more hands-on with its product.
Generally, Solid Gold dog food is an impressive brand. We love that there are so many options for the customer to choose from in the product line and it has a dog food recipe for just about any type of dog. As you can see from the ingredient lists we included in our reviews, the brand uses a lot of real ingredients in its recipes, and we love the idea of using superfoods to help your dog stay as healthy as possible. (For animal lovers who have other furry friends, the brand makes cat food, too. The cat food options are just as extensive, too.)
I grew up in a household that was filled with animals. I believe that my fate as a dog-loving person was sealed in early childhood since my parents owned several dogs of varying sizes and breeds. There was no choice but to take care of and learn about dog habits and the best animal care practices — otherwise, I’d be clueless about how to go about the creatures I was surrounded by day and night.
As a life-long puppy lover, I know a thing or two about dogs and how to go about caring for them in the best way possible. Although I’m not a professionally trained dog behaviorist, trainer, or veterinarian, all of my knowledge and experience with canines comes from a place of love and a deep-rooted passion for dogs and animals in general.
Seeing as dogs kept me company throughout every stage of my life, I decided to follow a different path in my academic life and obtained a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Marketing Management and Digital Advertising, which ultimately allowed me to combine my professional training and personal experience by creating the ultimate dog lover’s resource website! Along with my husband, Dave, I run MySweetPuppy for like-minded dog lovers who want to have a single, clear, and reliable information source about anything and everything related to dogs and their well-being.
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