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Among vegetable oil, canola oil is one of the most common ingredients found in dog food. It’s a cheap source of fat for pet food manufacturers, and it provides some essential fatty acids that are good for your dog’s coat and skin. However, there is some controversy surrounding canola oil in dog food, and some experts believe that it may not be the best choice for your pet.

If you’re interested in feeding your dog food that doesn’t contain canola oil, there are plenty of options available. In this guide, we’ll take a look at some of the best canola-free dog foods on the market and help you choose the right one for your pet.

Why go for dog food diets without canola?

  • Denatured proteins, rancid fats, and processed grains are some of the reasons why canola-free diets are better for your pet. When proteins are denatured, they become less bioavailable, meaning that your dog’s body can’t use them as effectively. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies and other health problems.
  • Rancid fats are another issue with canola oil. When fats go rancid, they produce harmful compounds that can damage your dog’s cells and lead to inflammation.
  • Finally, processed grains are often full of unhealthy ingredients like artificial preservatives and flavorings. By avoiding canola oil, you can help your dog avoid these harmful ingredients.

Which dog food brands have Canola

While researching the net for this article, I did a spot check on dog food brands on Chewy and found 389 dog food recipes out of a sample of 3,663 recipes that use Canola oil as an ingredient.

That’s about 10.6% of all the recipes on Chewy as of September 2022 had Canola oil as an ingredient.

-Ourpets HQ Analysis

I then went over to Amazon and looked at the first 50 popular recipes and found that 36% of them used Canola oil as an ingredient. A number of brands do not indicate or list canola oil on their labels opting to instead write ‘vegetable oil‘.

So, it appears that a significant minority (around 30%) of all commercial dog food brands use Canola oil as an ingredient. Read the benefits and disadvantages of Canola oil in dog food here.

What are the best canola-free dog foods?

Limited-ingredient diets without Canola Oil

If you’re looking for canola-free dog food, a limited-ingredient diet may be the best option. These diets are made with fewer ingredients than traditional dog foods, which makes them easier to digest and eliminates the risk of allergies or sensitivities.

There are plenty of great limited-ingredient dog foods on the market, but we’ve narrowed down the list to our top three picks.

First on our list is Merrick Classic Small Breed Grain-Free Dry Dog Food. This food is made with just eight ingredients, including real deboned chicken and sweet potatoes. It’s also free of grain, gluten, corn, soy, and artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

Next up is Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Dry Dog Food. This food is made with just six ingredients, including deboned turkey and potatoes. It’s free of wheat, corn, soy, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

Finally, we have Orijen Six Fish Grain-Free Dry Dog Food. This food is made with six different kinds of fish, including herring, flounder, and sardines. It’s grain-free and also free of potatoes, tapioca, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

Fresh, human-grade Diets with no allergic Canola Oil or traces:

Nom Nom Fresh

Nom Nom Fresh Dog Food is a great option for dogs who need a canola-free diet. This food is made with fresh, human-grade ingredients, including Ground pork, russet potatoes, green beans, squash and kale. It’s also free of grains, gluten, corn, soy, and artificial preservatives.

Farmer’s dog Food:

To ensure our fresh recipes are nutritionally complete and balanced, Farmers’ Dog Food adds high-quality supplemental nutrients, like fish oil. It’s Human-Grade, filled with Omega-3s, and really tasty!

Hypoallergenic canola-free diets for allergic dogs:

If your dog has allergies or sensitivities, a hypoallergenic diet may be the best option. These diets are made with novel proteins and limited ingredients to minimize the risk of reactions.

There are plenty of great hypoallergenic dog foods on the market, but we’ve narrowed down the list to our top three picks.

First on our list is Zignature Limited Ingredient Formula Dry Dog Food. This food is made with a single protein source, duck, and a limited number of other ingredients. It’s also grain-free and free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

Next up is Acana Singles Limited Ingredient Diet Dry Dog Food. This food is made with a single protein source, lamb, and a limited number of other ingredients. It’s grain-free and free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

Finally, we have Canidae Grain-Free PURE Limited Ingredient Diet Dry Dog Food. This food is made with a single protein source, chicken, and a limited number of other ingredients. It’s grain-free and free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

Homemade diets:

If you’re looking for complete control over your dog’s diet, a homemade diet may be the best option. With a homemade diet, you can choose exactly what goes into your dog’s food and tailor the ingredients to your dog’s individual needs.

The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Dog Food is made with whole foods, including free-range chicken, organic quinoa, and sweet potatoes. It’s also free of grains, gluten, corn, soy, and artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

Another great option is Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food. This food is made with raw, cage-free chicken and organic fruits and vegetables. It’s also grain-free and free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

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