Top 10 Best Lamb Dog Food

Top 10 Best Lamb Dog Food

You’ve seen all the usual meat suspects on the dog food aisle: chicken, beef, turkey, and maybe even bison. But have you ever considered feeding your dog lamb?

Lamb is an excellent protein source, yet it’s often overlooked by consumers and manufacturers alike. It’s easier to tolerate than many other protein sources as well, making it an excellent choice for pups with food allergies.

If you want to give your dog something new, a lamb recipe may be just what the doctor ordered — but unfortunately, the quality of lamb dog foods can be all over the map.

In the reviews below, we showcase our favorite recipes, so you can be certain to give your dog something that’s both good and good for them.

The 10 Best Lamb Dog Foods

Diamond Naturals Adult Dry Dog Food — Best Value

Diamond Naturals Adult Dry Dog Food
Main ingredients: Lamb meal, white rice, cracked pearled barley
Protein content: 23%
Fat content: 14%
Calories: 403 kcal/cup

The best lamb dog food for the money is Diamond Naturals Adult Dry Dog Food. It’s made in the U.S. by a family-owned company, which uses pasture-raised lamb as the main ingredient. The recipe contains the right kind of vitamins and minerals that support joints, bones, and strong muscles. There are omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat and probiotics, prebiotics, and antioxidants to support the immune system, healthy digestion, and overall health. It doesn’t contain wheat, corn, artificial colors, or flavors.

The problem with this food is that it contains chicken fat, so it is not particularly helpful for dogs allergic to chicken.

Cons
  • Contains chicken fat
Pros
  • Well-priced
  • Made in the U.S. and family owned
  • Pasture-raised lamb is the main ingredient
  • Contains probiotics, prebiotics, and antioxidants for overall health
  • Doesn’t contain artificial flavors or colors

Ollie Fresh Lamb Recipe — Best Overall

Ollie Fresh Lamb Recipe

Main ingredients: Lamb, butternut squash, lamb liver, kale, rice
Protein content: Min 11%
Fat content: Min 9%
Calories: 1804 kcal ME/kg

Lamb is lean meat that makes for a great protein option. It is not only rich in essential amino acids but has a lower fat content. So, if you are needing lamb-based dog food, nothing beats Ollie’s Fresh Lamb recipe, which is why it sits at the top spot as best overall.

Ollie’s focus is on offering high-quality all-natural food that is portioned specifically for the individual.  Fresh lamb is the first ingredient on the list and the recipe is packed full of other fresh ingredients like butternut squash, lamb liver, kale, and rice. Ollie doesn’t use any fillers like corn, wheat, or soy and all their recipes are free of artificial flavors, preservatives, and by-products.

Ollie is a subscription-only service that will deliver right to your door. The unopened frozen vacuum-sealed pack can last up to 6 months, so you’ll want to make some extra room in the fridge and freezer for storage. Since it is fresh food, it can be expensive in comparison to dry and canned food competitors.

Ollie Fresh Lamb is great for dogs that have sensitive stomachs or suffer from any food allergies or sensitivities. Owners rave about how energetic and vibrant their dogs became when making the switch. There were also lots of shinier, healthier coats. Ollie does test every batch of food for safety and nutritional quality, which is very reassuring. Overall, we think Ollie Fresh Lamb Recipe is the best lamb dog food you can find this year!

Cons
  • Expensive
  • Requires space in refrigerator/freezer
  • Subscription-only services are not for everyone
Pros
  • Fresh lamb is the first ingredient
  • Tailored to each dog’s specific needs
  • No artificial flavors, preservatives, or by-products
  • Each batch is tested for safety and quality
  • Great for food allergy sufferers

Purina Pro Plan High Protein Dry Puppy Food — Best for Puppies

Purina Pro Plan High Protein Dry Puppy Food
Main ingredients: Lamb, rice, chicken by-product meal
Protein content: 28%
Fat content: 18%
Calories: 447 kcal/cup

Purina Pro Plan High Protein Dry Puppy Food is a great choice for puppies under the age of 1 because it has DHA, which aids in vision and brain development. This is a dog food that contains real lamb and rice as the main ingredients, for high-quality protein for those developing muscles. It includes live probiotics for immune and digestive health. It’s highly digestible and formulated for delivering the optimal nutrition for a growing puppy.

The issues with this food are that it is pricey and that it contains chicken products, it’s not suitable for puppies with chicken allergies.

Cons
  • Pricey
  • Contains chicken
Pros
  • Contains DHA for vision and brain development
  • Real lamb and rice are the main ingredients
  • Live probiotics for digestive and immune health
  • Highly digestible

Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Dry Dog Food

Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Dry Dog Food
Main ingredients: Lamb, sweet potatoes, egg
Protein content: 25%
Fat content: 15%
Calories: 410 kcal/cup

The Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Dry Dog Food includes whole lamb as the main ingredient and contains enough protein to support lean muscles, joints, and bones. It has a bunch of vitamins and minerals derived from real fruit and veggies, like sweet potatoes and blueberries, to keep your pup’s energy and overall health going. It includes antioxidants, probiotics, and prebiotics for immune and digestive system support, and it is from a family-owned company in the U.S. It doesn’t contain wheat, corn, grains, artificial colors, or flavors.

One of the obvious disadvantages is that it’s expensive, and some dogs have experienced digestive upset and skin reactions.

Cons
  • Expensive
  • Some dogs might have stomach upset or skin reactions
Pros
  • Whole lamb is the main ingredient
  • Vitamins and minerals derived from real veggies and fruit
  • Antioxidants, prebiotics, and probiotics for overall health
  • Family-owned company in the U.S.
  • No artificial colors or flavors

Nutro Natural Choice Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food — Vet’s Choice

Nutro Natural Choice Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food
Main ingredients: Deboned lamb, chicken meal, whole-grain barley
Protein content: 24%
Fat content: 7%
Calories: 240 kcal/cup

Nutro Natural Choice Healthy Weight Lamb & Brown Rice is our vet’s choice. It has deboned lamb as the main ingredient, making for high-quality protein. There are no GMO ingredients and no by-products, wheat, corn, or soy. It was made to promote weight loss and is quite effective for this purpose. It contains essential antioxidants for a healthy immune system and natural fiber for digestion.

However, this is a dog food that also contains chicken, and it’s relatively expensive.

Cons
  • Contains chicken
  • Relatively expensive
Pros
  • Deboned lamb for high-quality protein
  • Antioxidants for a healthy immune system
  • Natural fiber source for digestion
  • Aids in weight loss

Purina ONE Natural SmartBlend Dry Dog Food

Purina ONE Natural SmartBlend Dry Dog Food
Main ingredients: Lamb, rice flour, whole-grain corn
Protein content: 26%
Fat content: 16%
Calories: 380 kcal/cup

A great choice for lamb-based dog food is Purina ONE Natural SmartBlend Dry Dog Food. It’s well-priced and features real lamb as the first and main ingredient. It has omega-6 for a healthy coat and skin and natural sources of glucosamine and protein for strong muscles and joints and a healthy heart. It contains antioxidants, such as vitamins E and A, and selenium and zinc for a robust immune system. It’s also highly digestible, so your dog should benefit from the combined nutrition.

The main issues with this food are that it contains chicken (the fifth ingredient) and that it has artificial color.

Cons
  • Contains chicken
  • Includes artificial color
Pros
  • Well-priced
  • Real lamb is the main ingredient
  • Glucosamine and high protein for heart, joint, and muscle health
  • Antioxidants, zinc, and selenium for a healthy immune system
  • Highly digestible

Nature’s Recipe Mature Lamb & Rice Dry Dog Food

Nature’s Recipe Mature Lamb & Rice Dry Dog Food
Main ingredients: Lamb, chicken meal, brown rice
Protein content: 22%
Fat content: 10%
Calories: 338 kcal/cup

Nature’s Recipe Mature Lamb & Rice Dry Dog Food is an excellent choice for senior dogs over 7 years of age. It contains nutrients in the form of oatmeal, barley, and rice as natural fiber for healthy digestion. It is formulated to support senior dogs’ immune systems and joint health with added vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. It doesn’t include wheat, soy, corn, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

The problems here are that it contains chicken and that the kibble is quite large, so it might be too big for small dogs.

Cons
  • Contains chicken
  • Kibble might be too large for small dogs
Pros
  • Great for dogs 7+
  • Natural fibers for healthy digestion
  • Formulated to support joints and immune system of senior dogs
  • Doesn’t contain artificial ingredients

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Dry Dog Food

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Dry Dog Food
Main ingredients: Deboned lamb, fish meal, brown rice
Protein content: 22%
Fat content: 14%
Calories: 381 kcal/cup

Blue Buffalo’s Life Protection Formula Dry Dog Food starts with deboned lamb and contains veggies, fruit, and whole grains. It has essential vitamins, calcium, and phosphorus for strong teeth and bones, and the included LifeSource Bits provide important nutrients and antioxidants. It also has glucosamine, which aids in mobility and joint health, and omega-3 and -6 for coat and skin. There are no wheat, corn, soy, or by-products.

The issues here are that this is lamb dog food that contains chicken and that it might cause stomach upset in some dogs.

Cons
  • Contains chicken
  • Might cause stomach upset
Pros
  • Contains deboned lamb, fruit, veggies, and whole grains
  • Essential vitamins, calcium, and phosphorus for strong teeth and bones
  • LifeSource Bits provide essential nutrients and antioxidants
  • Includes glucosamine for mobility and joint health
  • Has omega-3 and -6 fatty acids for skin and coat health

Iams ProActive Health Canned Dog Food

Iams ProActive Health Canned Dog Food
Main ingredients: Chicken, lamb, brown rice
Protein content: 8%
Fat content: 6%
Calories: 390 kcal/can

Iams ProActive Health Canned Dog Food is a pâté that has been slow cooked in real broth. It has added minerals and vitamins, which include vitamin E, to support a healthy immune system. It contains omega fatty acids for a healthy coat and skin and is made in the U.S. It’s also decently priced.

There are a couple of issues here, however. First, the main ingredient is actually chicken; lamb is the fourth ingredient. Second, some dogs might experience stomach upset.

Cons
  • First ingredient is chicken
  • Some dogs might experience stomach upset
  • Lamb is the fourth ingredient
Pros
  • Pâté slow cooked in broth
  • Added vitamin E for immune system support
  • Omega fatty acids for skin and coat
  • Decent price

Purina ONE SmartBlend Tender Cuts in Gravy Canned Dog Food

Purina ONE SmartBlend Tender Cuts in Gravy Canned Dog Food
Main ingredients: Lamb and chicken broth, liver, lamb
Protein content: 10%
Fat content: 3%
Calories: 350 kcal/can

Purina ONE SmartBlend Tender Cuts in Gravy Canned Dog Food contains real lamb and brown rice in cuts, all in a delicious gravy. It includes rich sources of antioxidants with selenium, zinc, and vitamins A and E. It’s a nutritionally complete food for adult dogs and includes spinach and carrots.

The issue here is that it contains chicken and artificial color.

Cons
  • Contains chicken
  • Has artificial color
Pros
  • Cuts of lamb in gravy with brown rice
  • High sources of antioxidants with selenium and zinc
  • Nutritionally complete and includes spinach and carrots

Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Canned Dog Food

Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Canned Dog Food
Main ingredients: Lamb, lamb broth, lamb liver, carrots
Protein content: 8.5%
Fat content: 7.5%
Calories: 522 kcal/can

Blue Buffalo’s Homestyle Recipe Canned Dog Food only uses lamb as its protein source and comes in a tasty pâté. Besides the lamb, it contains veggies like carrots, sweet potatoes, and peas and fruit like cranberries and blueberries. It’s also enhanced with minerals and vitamins to support lean muscles, and it doesn’t have corn, soy, wheat, artificial flavors, or preservatives.

However, it is a little pricey, and picky dogs might not like this food.

Cons
  • Pricey
  • Picky dogs might not like it
Pros
  • No chicken — only lamb protein
  • Contains fresh veggies and fruit
  • Vitamins and minerals maintain lean muscles
  • No artificial flavors or preservatives

Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Best Lamb Dog Food

If you don’t know anything about feeding your dog lamb, it can be difficult to find one that’s suitable for feeding your pup. You may not even know why you should feed your dog lamb at all. In the guide below, we’ll tell you everything that you need to know about feeding your pup a lamb-based food.

Are There Any Downsides to Feeding Your Dog Lamb?

  • Yes. For one thing, it’s not as popular as other meat sources, so your options will be more limited. It can be much harder to find a great lamb-based food than one made with chicken, for example.
  • Also, lamb is high in saturated fat. That’s not a huge deal if your dog is extremely active, but if you have an overweight pup, you may want to give them something less fattening.
  • Finally, lamb has little taurine in it. Taurine is essential for heart health, so you want to make sure your dog gets all that they need. If you’re switching to a lamb-based food, check to make sure it has enough taurine for your pup.

Is Lamb Dog Food Good For Dogs?

  • Lamb is a meat that’s high in protein and healthy fats yet gentle on sensitive stomachs. As a result, it tends to be a good choice for just about any pooch. Not only that, but dogs also usually love the taste. It makes for a nice respite from all the chicken and beef recipes out there, and many picky mutts will eat lamb after turning their noses up at other foods.
  • Despite all those advantages, it’s not as expensive as many other exotic meats. Most lamb-based foods are well within the average owner’s price range.

What Else Should You Look for in a Lamb-Based Food?

  • Lamb-based dog food is the same as any other dog food, for all intents and purposes. That means you should look for the same things on the label as you would a food that’s made with chicken or beef.
  • We recommend avoiding foods with cheap fillers like corn, wheat, and soy. These are packed with empty calories and bring nothing to the table in terms of nutrition; plus, many dogs have trouble digesting them.
  • Animal by-products are another big no-no. While they add protein to the recipe, they’re made with meat that belongs in the trash, not your dog.
  • Beyond that, check to make sure there’s enough protein, fat, and fiber for your pup. We also like to check the levels of important nutrients like omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
  • The ingredients label should be full of actual foods — preferably ones that you recognize as healthy. As a general rule, if it’s healthy for you, it should be good for your dog too. Look for high-quality fruits and veggies, and avoid anything that seems like it was put in merely to save the manufacturer a few bucks.

Final Thoughts

Our overall favorite is Lamb recipe dog food is Ollie’s Fresh Lamb recipe; its lean meat makes for a great protein option. It is not only rich in essential amino acids but has a lower fat content, which is why it sits at the top spot as best overall.

The Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Dry Dog Food contains antioxidants, probiotics, and prebiotics for immune and digestive system support. Best for puppies is Purina Pro Plan High Protein Dry Puppy because it is highly digestible and formulated to deliver optimal nutrition for a growing puppy. Finally, Nutro Natural Choice Healthy Weight Lamb & Brown Rice is our vet’s choice for its effectiveness in weight loss and the use of natural fiber for digestion.

We hope that these reviews of lamb-based dog food have helped you pick out the perfect one for your dog’s needs. Our dog’s health and happiness are paramount, after all!

Edward Hollon is an avid dog lover and writer, knowing all there is to know about our furry friends. Edward has been writing for petdii for three years now, wanting to use her knowledge for good and share everything she can with new dog owners. Edward has two dogs herself - a German shepherd called Banjo and a chocolate labrador called Buttons. Edward knows more than anyone how adjusting to new life with a puppy can turn your life upside down, and she wants to ease some of the burdens through her articles.