Zignature Dog Food Reviews

Zignature dog food is not as well known as some other brands on the market, but with the number of high-quality items it has available and the amount of novel proteins in Zignature s recipes, it definitely should be.

In this dog food review, we’re going to take a close look at Zignature dog food, including the ingredients of each of its recipes and whether or not this is a good choice for your dog. Let’s start our Zignature dog food review by taking a closer look at the philosophy behind this dog food brand.

About the Brand

Zignature was started by a man named Daniel Hereford. Hereford worked in the pet food industry starting way back in 1997, gaining experience in both the manufacturing and retail side of things and making important connections. His company, Pets Global Inc, evolved and, in 2012, it created Zignature with the goal of making dog food that was safe for dogs with food sensitivities while also using low glycemic binding ingredients.

Today, Zignature is still made by Pets Global Inc. in partnership with BSM Partners. They are based out of Southern California and use a team of specialists with PhDs in Animal Nutrition and Food Science. Each recipe complies with food safety standards and delivers high quality, delicious nutrition.

Now that we know a little more about the brand and what it stands for, let’s look at the dog food recipes it offers in our Zignature dog food review.

Zignature Dog Food Review

Some dog foods break their recipes down by life stages or special diets, or they have a long list of dry dog foods that are divided into special diets or other limited ingredient options. Zignature focuses specifically on getting the most out of their Zignature recipes, so we’re going to take a look at each one individually. Since these limited ingredient recipes make a dietary program designed to provide your dog with all the nutrition it needs, we’ll consider the ingredients in each and every recipe.

Zignature Cat Fish Formula

The Zignature Cat Fish Formula uses catfish caught in the United States as its number one ingredient. It’s chicken-free, which makes it a great choice for dogs with food allergies or sensitivities. One of the things that we like about Zignature is its single animal protein recipes. Unlike the more common trout and salmon meal based fish flavors, catfish is a unique flavor for your dog to try.

The ingredients are Catfish, Catfish Meal, Peas and Chickpeas, Peas Flour, Sunflower Oil (preserved with Citric Acid), Flaxseed, Natural Flavors, Salt, Taurine, Vitamins (Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, D‐Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Tricalcium Phosphate, Minerals (Zinc, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite Calcium Iodate), Potassium Chloride, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), L-Carnitine.

This recipe and others from Zignature use no grain, chicken, eggs, gluten, potatoes, corn, soy, or tapioca.

Like most of its formulas, Zignature’s Cat Fish recipes are available in dry dog food, wet dog food, and treats.

Zignature Duck Formula

This Zignature dog food is made from duck raised in Western France. In addition to providing a single, complete protein source, this recipe is also packed with omega-3 fatty acids and the vitamins and minerals your pet needs to thrive. Like other formulas, this recipe uses no chicken, eggs, gluten, potatoes, grain, soy, corn, tapioca. The ingredients are:

Duck, Duck Meal, Peas and Chickpeas, Sunflower Oil (Preserved with Citric Acid), Flaxseed, Alfalfa Meal, Natural Flavors, Salt, Choline Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, D‐Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B 12 Supplement), DHA, Taurine, Minerals (Zinc, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Cobalt, Manganese, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), L-Carnitine.

Zignature’s Duck Formula is available in dry food, wet food, and dog treats:

Zignature Goat Formula

Goat is a lean meat, with half as much fat as need and 40 percent less saturated fat than chicken. Plus, it’s packed with essential vitamins, nutrients, and minerals. Zignature sources meat from Australia. It’s extremely healthy for your dog, and since it’s a novel protein source, it’s great for dogs with sensitivities and allergies. Again, this is a limited ingredient formula that’s made with real animal protein as the first ingredient.

The ingredients in this recipe are Goat, Goat Meal, Peas, Chickpeas, Pea Flour (Plant Protein), Sunflower Oil, Flaxseed, Natural Flavors, Alfalfa Meal, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Vitamins (Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Minerals (Zinc, Iron Proteinate, Copper, Manganese, Selenium Yeast, Calcium Iodate), Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), L-Carnitine.

Pet parents can get this recipe in multiple forms, like:

Zignature Guinea Fowl Recipe

For this Zignature dog food recipe, the brand gets the guinea fowl from western France. Guinea fowl is a great source of lean protein that’s low in saturated fat and a good source of phosphorous and iron. As with most Zignature formulas, the first ingredient is a novel protein, which means this is a great option for elimination diets or dogs with food sensitivities or allergies. This recipe has zero grains and has a low glycemic index.

The ingredients are: Guinea Fowl, Guinea Fowl Meal, Peas, Chickpeas, Peas Flour, Sunflower Oil, Flaxseed, Natural Flavors, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Vitamins (Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Alfalfa Meal, Tricalcium Phosphate, Minerals, Potassium Chloride, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), L-Carnitine.

This product line is available in three options:

Zignature Kangaroo Formula

Kangaroo is an exotic lean animal protein that’s high in omega-3 fatty acids and has double the vitamin b12 of some other proteins. Zignature sources its kangaroo from Australia, and uses it to create this grain-free limited ingredient recipe that’s great for dogs with food sensitivities. It’s also packed with other healthy ingredients, like:

Kangaroo, Kangaroo Meal, Chickpeas, Peas, Sunflower Oil (preserved with Citric Acid), Alfalfa Meal, Natural Flavors, Flaxseed, Dicalcium Phosphate, Salt, Choline Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin A, Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, D‐Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Taurine, Minerals, DHA, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Calcium Carbonate, L-Carnitine.

If you’re interested in this product line, it’s available in three forms:

Zignature Lamb Formula

Using real lamb sourced from New Zealand, the Zignature lamb recipe is a clean, grain-free, limited ingredient option that helps your dog build lean muscle while maintaining a healthy weight. If you haven’t already noticed from the formulas we already covered in our Zignature dog food review, a lot of the dog food from this brand features novel proteins, and this is no exception. The lamb recipe is another great choice for any pet parent looking for a formula for a dog with sensitivities or food allergies.

This recipe is packed with other nutritious ingredients, like Lamb, Lamb Meal, Chickpeas, Peas, Sunflower Oil (Preserved with Citric Acid), Flaxseed, Natural Flavors, Alfalfa Meal, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Minerals (Zinc, Iron Proteinate, Copper, Cobalt, Manganese, Sodium Selenite), Choline Chloride, Taurine, Vitamins (Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Lactic Acid, DL-Methionine, Calcium Iodate, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), L-Carnitine.

Zignature Pork Formula

This recipe uses pork sourced from the United States. Pork is the first ingredient, which is excellent as it’s an ideal source of protein and amino acids. This grain-free formula features low glycemic carbohydrates and is yet another one of Zignature’s formulas that’s great for food sensitivities and allergies.

The ingredients are as follows: Pork, Pork Meal, Peas, Peas Flour, Chickpeas, Pork Fat, Natural Flavors, Flaxseed, Choline Chloride, Salt, Taurine, Vitamins (Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, D‐Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Minerals Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), L-Carnitine.

Zignature Salmon Formula

Like all dogs foods Zignature has to offer, the salmon recipe uses real protein as the first ingredient. The salmon is caught of the west coast of the US. It’s loaded with lean protein and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. One thing that Zignature does best is create recipes with novel proteins that are both nutritionally sound and feature novel proteins, and this recipe is no different. It’s a good choice for dogs with sensitivities, much like most of the other formulas on this list.

Ingredients are Salmon, Salmon Meal, Peas Flour, Chickpeas, Peas, Sunflower Oil (preserved with Citric Acid), Flaxseed, Natural Flavors, Alfalfa Meal, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Choline Chloride, Minerals (Zinc, Iron Proteinate, Copper, Manganese, Cobalt), Potassium Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, D‐Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Lactic Acid, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Taurine, L-Carnitine.

You can get this recipe as Zignature dry dog food, and it comes in a wet recipe and treats as well:

Zignature Trout and Salmon Meal Formula

The Zignature trout and salmon meal formula uses trout and salmon caught off the coast of Alaska, Washington, and Oregon. These two fish are some of the healthiest protein sources in the world, delivering heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and minerals like selenium, phosphorus, and potassium.

This dog food includes many other healthy ingredients, including:

Trout, Salmon Meal, Chickpeas, Peas, Sunflower Oil (preserved with Citric Acid), Alfalfa Meal, Salmon Oil, Flaxseed, Natural Flavors, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Tricalcium Phosphate, Salt, Vitamins (Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 supplement), Calcium Carbonate, Taurine, Minerals, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), L-Carnitine.

This trout salmon Zignature recipe is available in three forms:

Zignature Turkey Formula

Turkey is a lean protein that’s also packed with vitamins and minerals and low in fat. Zignature turkey is sourced from the American midwest. Like many of the dog foods Zignature makes, the recipe ideal for dogs with food sensitivities or allergies.

Ingredients include: Turkey, Turkey Meal, Chickpeas, Peas, Sunflower Oil (preserved with Citric Acid), Flaxseed, Natural Flavors, Salt, Vitamins (Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Minerals (Zinc, Iron Proteinate, Copper, Cobalt, Manganese, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Choline Chloride, L-Carnitine

This turkey recipe comes in three different forms:

Zignature Venison Formula

This recipe uses venison sourced from New Zealand. Venison has a higher protein content than any other red meat, and is also low in fat and packed with vitamins and iron. This recipe uses venison as the number one ingredient and is loaded with other nutritious ingredients, including:

Venison, Venison Meal, Chickpeas, Peas, Chickpeas Flour, Sunflower Oil (Preserved with Citric Acid), Flaxseed, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Natural Flavors, Salt, Choline Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin Bl2 Supplement), DL Methionine, Dicalcium Phosphate, Taurine, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Cobalt Proteinate, Manganese, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), DHA, Potassium Chloride, L-Carnitine.

People get the Zignature venison recipe from an Amazon services LLC associates program site like ours, and it has great dog food reviews. It’s available in three types:

Zignature Whitefish Formula

Another one of Zignature’s dog food formulas is its whitefish recipe. The fish is caught off the Oregon, Washington, and Alaska and contains impressive levels of Omega-3 fatty acids as well as the vitamins and minerals your dog needs to thrive. Ingredients are as follows:

Whitefish, Whitefish Meal, Peas, Chickpeas, Peas Flour, Sunflower Oil (preserved with Citric Acid), Flaxseed, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Natural Flavors, Salt, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper, Manganese Proteinate, Cobalt Proteinate), Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Vitamins (Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, D‐Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Lactic Acid, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), L-Carnitine.

Dog owners can get this recipe in the following forms from any program or affiliate advertising partner:

Zignature Zssential Formula

This multi-protein formula stands out from the other Zignature s recipes. It uses a combination of protein sources, bringing red meat, fish, and poultry together in one delicious meal. Plus, it uses a nutritionally balanced ratio of vegetables and fruits to add powerful antioxidants and low glycemic carbohydrates.

The ingredients include Turkey, Turkey Meal, Salmon, Lamb Meal, Duck Meal, Chickpeas, Peas, Chickpeas Flour, Pea Flour, Sunflower Oil (Preserved With Citric Acid), Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Flaxseed, Natural Flavors, Salmon Oil, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper, Cobalt Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), L-Carnitine.

You can get this product from many sites to earn advertising revenues or an associates program an affiliate:

Zignature Small Bites

Small dogs have special nutritional needs, and Zignature makes a series of formulas just for them. These recipes use the same limited ingredient meat first philosophy that Zignature’s other formulas, all in nice small bites to for your small dog breed. They’re free of chicken, wheat, soy, and corn, and the low-glycemic formulas are wholesome and nutritious.

Small Bites is available in the following formulas:

What Dogs Should Eat Zignature Dog Food?

As you can see from our Zignature Dog Food review, these recipes are high quality and they’re good for most dogs. Let’s take a closer look at the dog this dog food brand is best for.

Allergies and Sensitivities

As you can probably tell from our review of Zignature dog foods, this brand has a lot of great options for dogs with sensitivities. While most dog owners think grains are responsible for most allergies in dogs, that’s not actually true. Dogs are much more likely to develop an allergy to a protein they have long exposure to. For example, most dog foods use chicken as the main protein, which is one reason why it’s such a common cause of food allergies.

Because Zignature uses novel proteins like salmon, whitefish, kangaroo, and goat in its dog foods, they are much less likely to cause a reaction. If you’re doing an elimination diet with your dog to determine what food is causing allergies, these Zignature recipes might be worth considering when it comes time to add things back in. Zignature is not one of the brands that have prescription food for allergies, but talk to your vet to see if it’s worth a try.

Picky Eaters

If your dog is a picky eater, it might like some of the interesting proteins that Zignature uses in its food. Whether you’re going for dry food, wet food, or a treat, there are many options to choose from to satisfy your picky pet.

Small Breeds

Zignature Small Bites take the brand’s recipes and scale them to small breeds. As you can see from our review, these dog food recipes have the amount of essential fatty acids and protein content that dogs need to stay fit and healthy. This product line ensures that even little dogs can get the nutrients they need.

What Dogs Should Not Eat Zignature Dog Food?

There are some areas where we feel this brand falls a little short.

Grain Free

Some pet parents prefer grain-free brands for their dogs, but it’s important to do your research. There is some research that shows there may be a link between some cardiac problems and a diet with a sub-par amount of grains. As you can see from our review, Zignature dog food is high quality and loaded with nutritious ingredients, but since all of the recipes are grain-free, it’s a good idea to talk to your vet if you have any questions or concerns.

Life Stages

Although there are plenty of options for adult dogs, Zignature doesn’t have any recipes that are specifically designed for puppies or senior dogs.

Large Breeds

While there are plenty of dog food options in the Zignature line that are suitable for larger dogs, we were a little disappointed that there wasn’t a recipe designed especially for large or giant breeds.

Overweight Dogs

Although some of the protein sources are lower in fat and calories than others, Zignature doesn’t have a recipe that is especially for overweight dogs. This shouldn’t be a problem if you pay attention to how much your dog is eating, but we would have liked to have seen an option for healthy weight.

How Does Zignature Dog Food Measure Up?

We think this is great dog food. Each recipe uses quality proteins and protein meals combined with other healthy ingredients to give your dog the nutrition it needs to stay healthy. The use of novel proteins is exciting, and makes it a good choice for any dog with a common protein sensitivity.

Mary Nielsen

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.

Zignature Dog Food Reviews

About the Brand