Last Updated on January 21, 2023
Whether you’re looking for a healthier source of carbohydrates for your dog or your dog has an allergy to potatoes, you might be looking for a dog food recipe that doesn’t contain these common tubers.
This guide will help you find the best food that doesn’t contain potatoes for your dog.
Table of Contents
Top 5 Picks for Best Dog Food Without Potatoes
| Dog Food Recipes | Our Rating | |
| Best Overall Potato-Free Dog Food | Orijen Original Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
|
5 |
| Best Budget Potato-Free Dog Food | Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult Real Meat Recipe
|
4.5 |
| Best Puppy Food Without Potatoes | American Journey Grain-Free Puppy Dry Dog Food
|
5 |
| Best Adult Dog Food Without Potatoes | Canidae Pure Grain-Free Real Chicken, Lentil, and Pea Recipe
|
4.5 |
| Best Senior Dog Food Without Potatoes | Blue Buffalo Freedom Senior
|
4.5 |
The Best Potato-Free Dog Foods by Life Stage
Dogs have different nutritional needs depending on their stage in life. The right food can help them have the energy they need and improve their health.
We’ve broken down the best foods without potatoes by puppy, adult, and senior foods.
Best Puppy Food Without Potatoes
Puppies are growing fast, and they have a ton of energy. That means they need food with the right balance to support their bodies. These foods are all made for pups to keep them healthy and happy without any potatoes.
1. American Journey Grain-Free Puppy Dry Dog Food
Our rating: 5
Top Ingredients: Deboned Lamb, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Peas, Chickpeas, Sweet Potatoes
Type: Dry
The American Journey Grain-Free Puppy Formula is packed with nutrition to help your pup grow big, strong, and healthy. It has real lamb, sweet potatoes, chickpeas, fruits, and veggies for healthy skin and coat.
Pros:
- Good for sensitive stomachs
- Reviewers report that their dog’s skin and coat improved when eating this food
- Grain-free, potato-free, and soy-free for dogs with sensitivities
Cons:
- Includes fillers like tapioca starch and beet pulp, which is essentially sugar
- Some reviewers say their dogs didn’t like the flavor
2. Purina Pro Plan Shredded Blend Chicken and Rice Puppy Food
Our rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Chicken, Rice, Poultry By-Product Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Beef Fat Preserved With Mixed-Tocopherols
Type: Wet
Made especially for growing puppies with no chicken by-products, corn, soy, or wheat, the Purina Pro Plan Shredded Blend Chicken and Rice Puppy Recipe features non-GMO ingredients and real meat, so it’s ideal for dogs on grain-free diets.
You can use it as a topper for kibble or as a complete meal in itself.
Pros:
- Buyers say their dogs love the taste
- No by-products, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- Individual packs make feeding simple and easy
Cons:
- As with all wet foods, this food costs more per pound because most of it is water
- Contains xanthan gum, which is a filler that can cause diarrhea
Best Adult Dog Food Without Potatoes
Adult dogs are in the prime of their lives. They are ready to learn, play, work, and be a part of your life, but they need the right nutrition to keep them going. These foods are all formulated with healthy ingredients and no potatoes.
3. Orijen Original Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Our rating: 5
Top Ingredients: Chicken, Turkey, Flounder, Whole Mackerel, Chicken Liver
Type: Dry
The first 13 ingredients in the Orijen Original Grain-Free Dog Food are animal protein-based, including chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, and giblets.
It also contains peas, pumpkin, squash, collard greens, and whole fruits like cranberries, apples, and pears. It’s high in protein and low in fiber.
Pros:
- Ingredients are frozen or refrigerated to retain freshness
- 85 percent meat
- Reviewers rave that dogs love the taste
Cons:
- Expensive
- Contains pea starch, which isn’t nutritious
4. Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley Dry Dog Food
Our rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Venison, Lamb Meal, Garbanzo Beans, Peas, Lentils
Type: Dry
Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley Dog Food is packed with novel proteins, including venison, fruits, veggies, and probiotics to boost your pup’s digestive system.
It doesn’t contain grains, wheat, artificial flavors, or artificial colors perfect for dogs with sensitivities.
Pros:
- Reviewers say that their dogs thrive on this food
- Contains whole ingredients and lots of vitamins
- Fatty acids for healthy skin and coat
Cons:
- With fillers of tomato pomace and pea flour
5. Victor Classic Hi-Pro Plus Dry Dog Food
Our rating: 4
Top Ingredients: Beef Meal, Grain Sorghum, Chicken Fat, Pork Meal, Chicken Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal
Type: Dry
With beef, pork, chicken, and fish meal, the Victor Classic Hi-Pro Plus Recipe has a good amount of premium meat-based protein, including real beef, chicken, fish, and pork meals, providing sustained energy for high-performance dogs.
It also doesn’t contain gluten, corn, wheat, soy, and pea which are common allergens.
Pros:
- Sourced and made in the USA
- Gluten-free
- Reviewers report that their dog’s digestion seems better on this recipe
Cons:
- Contains a lot of protein meals
- Grain sorghum is the second ingredient
- Contains tomato pomace
6. Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult Real Meat Recipe
Our rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Grain Brown Rice, Cracked Pearled Barley
Type: Dry
With healthy meats like chicken and grains such as brown rice and cracked pearled barley, the Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult Real Meat Recipe is made to support your large breed adult dog.
It also has healthy additions like glucosamine, probiotics, vitamins, minerals, and superfoods like yucca, quinoa, and blueberries.
Pros:
- Made with cage-free chicken
- No corn, wheat, or artificial additives
- Made in the USA
Cons:
- Contains ground white rice and dried beet pulp
7. Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Adult Dry Dog Food
Our rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Barley, Turkey Meal, Oatmeal
Type: Dry
Merrick makes this adult dog food without potatoes and with healthy grains like brown rice and oatmeal instead. The first ingredient is chicken and it includes a healthy protein content for adult dogs of any size.
It also contains omega fatty acids, flaxseed, and taurine and is legume-free for dogs with food allergies to legumes.
Pros:
- Contains flaxseed, quinoa, chia, and brown rice
- Probiotics for a healthy digestive system
- Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin
Cons:
- Higher level of carbs than some foods
- Some reviewers report that their dogs didn’t like the taste
8. Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Wet Dog Food
Our rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Carrots, Peas
Type: Wet
With real chicken, veggies such as carrots and peas, as well as blueberries and cranberries, the Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe wet dog food is packed with nutritious goodness.
It has chicken liver for flavor and nutrition and vitamins and minerals.
Pros:
- Real meat protein from chicken
- No pro-products or meals
- No artificial flavors or preservatives
Cons:
- Contains guar gum and cassia gum
- As with all wet foods, you pay more per calorie than dry food
9. Canidae Pure Grain-Free Real Chicken, Lentil, and Pea Recipe
Our rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Lentils, Peas, Chicken Fat
Type: Dry
Canidae uses only real chicken and chicken meal as the main ingredients for healthy meat protein. Added to that are garbanzo beans, lentils, flaxseed, probiotics, and plenty of vitamins and minerals.
It has a high level of protein, antioxidants, and is low in fiber.
Pros:
- Made with just eight ingredients for dogs with sensitivities
- Healthy carbohydrate sources
- No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- No low-nutrition fillers
Cons:
- Contains chicken meal
10. American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe
Our rating: 4
Top Ingredients: Deboned Salmon, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Peas, Sweet Potatoes
Type: Dry
The American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe contains both plant protein and meat protein, as well as sweet potatoes, chickpeas, blueberries, and salmon oil.
It’s made for small breed dogs, giant breed dogs, and anything in between. It’s particularly formulated for pups that have food sensitivities.
Pros:
- No corn, soy, or wheat
- Contains chondroitin and DHA
Cons:
- Includes chicken, fish, and turkey meal
- With beet pulp and pea protein
Best Senior Dog Food Without Potatoes
Senior dogs need the right food to help ease them into their golden years. Glucosamine and chondroitin can alleviate some of those difficult symptoms of aging, like arthritis and joint issues.
These foods all have what your older dog needs.
11. Nutro Ultra Senior Dry Dog Food
Our rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Grain Sorghum, Whole Grain Oats, Whole Grain Brown Rice
Type: Dry
Nutro Ultra Senior Dry Dog Food is made for your aging pup to give them the right mix of vitamins and minerals to keep them healthy.
It contains chicken as the main protein source, with salmon and pea protein, as well. It has tons of dried veggies and fruits, as well as fish oil and sunflower oil.
Pros:
- Whole flaxseed, oatmeal, and chicken
- Glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy bones
- No artificial additives
Cons:
- Rice, including rice bran, makes up three of the top five ingredients
- Contains beet pulp and tomato pomace
- Added flavor
12. Blue Buffalo Freedom Senior Chicken Recipe
Our rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Carrots, Peas
Type: Wet
Blue Buffalo made this food for older pups as either a treat, a topper for their kibble, or the bulk of their diet.
It’s made to keep your senior dog feeling good, and dog owners report that their pups enjoy it and seem to be healthy on this diet.
Pros:
- Limited ingredients for sensitive stomachs
- No artificial additives or by-product meals
- Complex carbohydrates for energy
Cons:
- Includes pea flour, carrageenan, cassia, and guar gum
Do Dogs Need Dog Food Without Potatoes?
As pet food manufacturers move away from grains and ingredients that contain gluten, they’ve turned to other affordable ingredients to provide carbohydrates.
White potatoes have become a more common sight in dog food recipes.
But potatoes aren’t always good for dogs. Some dogs can’t digest them, and they’re only a medium-quality source of nutrition. That’s why more people are turning to a potato-free diet for their best friend.
Are potatoes bad for dogs?
Potatoes in dog food aren’t necessarily bad for dogs, as long as they are cooked. They provide fiber, carbohydrates, and some vitamins and minerals.
Raw potatoes can be dangerous, however, and you should never feed them to your dog. They also contain solanine, which can be toxic. Cooking raw potatoes reduces this compound.
On top of that, while a small number of real potatoes in their food can be fine, some manufacturers refine white potatoes or use by-products such as potato protein or potato starch.
These are cheap fillers and don’t offer any real nutrition to your dog.
There is also some concern out there that potatoes, with or without a high protein diet, might contribute to canine dilated cardiomyopathy, which is a heart disease that can cause dogs to have an enlarged and/or weakened heart.
This can cause heart failure and death.
It isn’t clear what causes DCM in dogs yet, but scientists have found that it appears to be more common in dogs eating grain-free diets. The FDA is currently researching the link, but there haven’t been any definitive answers yet.
That doesn’t mean that the lack of grains is the problem, but it could indicate that some of the ingredients used instead of grains – such as potatoes – could contribute to the problem.
There is also some suggestion that taurine could play a role in DCM.
To learn more about this awful disease, you can read Washington State University’s report. If you’re confused about what to feed your dog to avoid DCM, chat with your vet.
When are potato-free diets a good idea?
So we know that dogs shouldn’t eat too many potatoes or any raw potatoes, but how do you know if your pooch should avoid these tubers altogether?
The easiest way is to remove potatoes from your dog’s diet without changing anything else. If your dog’s health seems to improve, that could indicate that they have a potato allergy.
You can also do a RAST Test, which is a blood test that can help you determine if your dog is allergic to certain things.
If you have any concerns about your dog eating potatoes, it never hurts to try a diet without them. You might find that Fido is happier with his new diet.
How to Pick the Best Dog Food Without Potatoes?
If you decide to go potato-free, how do you pick the best dog food? It doesn’t matter whether you go with a big name brand or not, and you shouldn’t let money be the driving factor.
Some pricey foods are filled with crappy ingredients, while some cheaper foods have good ones.
The first thing to do is to look at the ingredient list. The first ingredient should always be meat, preferably whole meat, rather than a meat meal. If it isn’t meat, skip it.
Avoid foods with fillers that contain little nutrition, such as ground rice (it doesn’t matter if it’s white or brown), tomato pomace, beet pulp, or ground grains.
While these might not hurt your dog, they don’t contain much nutrition.
What are the specific benefits of a potato-free diet?
Remember that dogs need a different diet depending on their stage of life. A puppy has different needs than an adult dog. Seniors need a special diet for their aging bodies.
Fortunately, regardless of their life stage, any dog can go potato-free. As long as they have other healthy carbs in their diet, they don’t need potatoes.
How to choose the best dog food without potatoes?
The first step to picking any dog food is to review the food ingredient label. You can read the label in person or, if you’re shopping online, most websites like Amazon or Chewy will list the ingredients.
Look to see if the food contains vitamins, minerals, amino acids, healthy fats (like salmon oil, chicken fat, etc.), calcium, and a healthy source of meat protein. Then, make sure there isn’t potato in there.
What to look for in potato-free dog food?
Obviously, the first factor to consider is whether or not the food has potatoes in it. But you also want to look for quality dog food that has healthy carbohydrates, fat, and protein sources.
Some dog owners don’t like to feed their dogs protein from a plant source. If that’s the case, avoid foods with ingredients like pea protein. The first ingredient should always be meat.
You also want something with healthy carbohydrates to replace those potatoes that you’re trying to avoid. Look for quinoa, flaxseed, oatmeal, whole rice, millet, or alfalfa.
You can also look for alternatives like sweet potatoes, legumes, pumpkins, squash, or starches such as apples.
Aren’t sweet potatoes and potatoes the same thing?
While they are botanically related, sweet potatoes have fewer calories and carbs, more fiber, but less protein and more sugars than potatoes.
Sweet potatoes have more vitamins and minerals, according to the Cleveland Clinic. For those reasons, some people like to go to sweet potatoes instead of potatoes.
What about feeding your dog rice instead of potatoes?
Nutritionally, they are about the same, but you’ll want to check and see which your dog tolerates better. That can help make the decision for you.
The bottom line is that a quality protein is the first and most important thing to look for, followed by healthy fruits, veggies, and grains or legumes.
But once you establish that the ingredients list looks satisfactory, check to see if it’s AAFCO approved.
This video shows why finding an AAFCO approved food matters.
You might also want to see if it’s sourced and developed in the USA and if it was made in cooperation with nutritionists and veterinarians.
Finally, you want to avoid cheap fillers like beet pulp, tomato pomace, or ground rice. These don’t offer any real nutrition. Avoid artificial ingredients and meat by-products or meals.
Some brands, such as Purina, Acana, Blue Buffalo, Farmina, Taste of the Wild, Costco brands, and Merrick, are known for their high-quality ingredients. These dog food brands can be a good place to start your search.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is wet potato-free food better for dogs?
Whether you go with wet or dry food is largely a matter of preference. Wet dog food costs more because you are paying for a lot of water. Some people like to use wet food as a topper or a treat instead of the main meal.
Some veterinarians also say that dry food helps maintain healthy teeth and gums, but further research is needed.
Do dogs need grain-free food without potatoes?
A lot of people are turning to grain-free dog food formulas these days. Why? Part of the reason is that grain-free or gluten-free diets are popular with humans right now. People want their pets to be healthy, as well.
But grains aren’t necessarily bad for dogs. They can be a healthy part of their diets, though you want the main part to be meat-based protein. Whole grains are healthier than ground or milled grains.
You can find foods that are not only grain-free but free from carbs like peas, legumes, lentils, and potatoes.
They tend to cost more, and there is some concern that they might not contain all the nutrients your dogs need or may contribute to DCM. If you decide to go this route, talk to your vet.
How to make homemade potato-free dog food?
Some dogs are extra picky or need a topper to entice them to eat their kibble. Sometimes you just can’t find food with the ingredients you love. If that’s the case, consider making homemade food without potatoes.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup rice
- 2 cups sodium-free chicken broth or beef stock
- 1 cup ground beef
- 1 cup diced frozen carrots and/or peas
- 2 tbsp yogurt
Combine a cup of rice with two cups of sodium-free chicken or beef stock. Boil, then simmer on low covered until the rice is soft.
Then, add a cup of cooked ground beef and a cup of diced frozen carrots or peas. Stir over heat until warm. After the food has cooled, add two tablespoons of sugar-free, plain yogurt.
What about potatoes in dog treats?
If you’re aiming to eliminate potatoes from your dog’s diet, then look for foods that don’t contain any potatoes. However, a treat here and there with potatoes in it won’t hurt them unless they have an allergy.
Do dogs need potatoes to be healthy?
Your dog doesn’t need potatoes in their diet, so a food without them won’t hurt them one bit, so long as the food contains the nutrients they need.
How often should you rotate your dog’s food?
It isn’t necessary to rotate your dog’s food if they seem to be doing well, but some people like to change things up to see if a different food might be better for their pet.
Don’t change food too often, however. This can cause upset stomachs and digestive trouble.
Give Your Pup the Best Potato-Free Food
If you’re avoiding potatoes for your pooch, there are plenty of healthy options out there.
We like Orijen’s Grain-Free recipe because the first 13 ingredients are animal protein-based, plus it contains pumpkin, squash, collard greens, and whole fruits.
Plus, the ingredients are frozen or refrigerated to retain freshness, and reviewers rave that dogs love the taste.
However, you can’t go wrong with any of the foods listed above. You may find that a potato-free diet is just the thing your dog needs.