This rise in popularity and demand for pet food has led to many new brands jumping into the industry and creating their own niche with a particular type of kibble or diet. A great example of this is the Lotus Dog Food brand. This family-owned company makes oven-baked dog food that’s made with high-quality, locally sourced ingredients and is free of corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or additives.
In the pet food world, you will find a seemingly endless supply of different brands and types of kibbles. In fact, in recent years, the pet food market has seen double-digit growth every single year.
However, not all dog foods are created equal, and almost all brands have had some sort of recall due to unhealthy ingredients being discovered. But is this the case for Lotus? To find out the answer and to learn more about the pros, cons, and final verdict of Lotus dog food, keep reading this in-depth review!
At a Glance: The Best Lotus Dog Food Recipes
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Product
Details
Lotus Oven-Baked Small Bites Grain-Free Turkey Recipe
Good for dogs with sensitive tummies
Doesn’t contain high-protein starches like potatoes
Lotus dog food hit the shelves in 2003. This high-end pet food is made by the owners of Centinela Feed and Pet, a small chain of high-quality retail pet stores in Los Angeles. All dry kibble recipes are made in small batches at a family-owned Canadian bakery. All the canned foods are made in small batches at its micro-cannery in California.
Most Lotus dog food formulas are designed for all breeds at every stage of life. It also has a line of kibbles called Small Bites, which is made for tiny mouths. Finally, it has recipes for dogs with special needs, such as allergies or intolerances to certain ingredients.
Which Type of Dog Might Do Better With a Different Brand?
Unless your pooch has an allergy to a specific ingredient used in Lotus recipes (e.g., chicken or eggs), all dogs can benefit from this food made with premium ingredients. However, Lotus also offers a raw product line, which may not be suitable for your pet. You must talk to your vet before giving raw foods to your dog.
Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)
Oven Baked
One of the great things about Lotus dog food is that the kibbles are oven baked instead of extruded. This helps preserve the protein, amino acids, vitamins, and antioxidants from the fruits and vegetables added to each formula. In addition, it gives better palatability to food, while limiting the addition of fats and artificial flavors.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
All the ingredients come from North America, except for three: green mussel, lamb, and lamb meal. These come from New Zealand. In addition, Lotus mainly uses animals raised on farms near its facilities in order to ensure the quality of the animal proteins used in each of its recipes.
Aside from grain-free formulas, many of Lotus’s recipes contain whole grains, such as brown rice (a good source of vitamin E and well-digested), oats, and barley. These ingredients provide insoluble fiber, which aids the dog’s digestion, essential vitamins, and minerals.
Garlic
Garlic is found in the ingredient list of several Lotus dog food formulas. Garlic is considered a toxic food for dogs. However, studies have shown that it takes about 15 to 30 grams of garlic per kg to produce harmful changes in a dog’s blood. Thus, your dog would have to ingest between 5 and 10 garlic gloves to become sick; the amount of garlic found in Lotus dog food is minimal in comparison. In any case, you can ask your veterinarian for advice if you have any doubts about this controversial ingredient.
This yummy kibble features real turkey, turkey liver, and fruit and veggies in bite-sized pieces. It’s also free of potatoes, so your sensitive-stomach pal can eat it. Your dog will also benefit from the healthy omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids provided by the olive and salmon oil, as well as the vitamins, antioxidants, and nutrients that support their health in general. Overall, most pups also find this Lotus dog food highly palatable, but some ingredients, like dried eggs, may trigger allergies in some dogs.
Pros
Good for dogs with sensitive tummies
Doesn’t contain high-protein starches like potatoes
Turkey is the only animal protein source
Perfect kibble size for tiny mouths
Cons
Includes potential allergens, like dried egg product
This Lotus Venison recipe is a stew specially designed for a dog’s refined palate. Venison is deer meat, which is a tasty new protein that is becoming an increasingly popular meat source in dog food. It provides important B vitamins and minerals, such as zinc, phosphorus, and iron, which help dogs maintain healthy energy levels. Although it contains less protein than beef or chicken, it also has less fat and cholesterol.
This hearty venison stew is a great option for dogs with food sensitivities or allergies to other meat protein sources, like chicken. Indeed, since venison is a novel protein, it can help reduce allergens and skin irritation in pets with food-related issues. However, this canned dog food comes at a steep price, so you may want to consider giving it to your pup primarily as a topper or as a tasty treat.
Pros
Made in small batches in a micro-cannery in California
Packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and probiotics
Suitable for dogs on a low glycemic diet
Venison is a great source of B vitamins, zinc, phosphorus, and iron
Lotus Good Grains Senior Special Needs is one of our favorite recipes because it contains complex carbohydrates like brown rice, barley, and oats. When cooked, these cereals are quite easy to digest and provide a good source of energy for your dog. These oven-baked kibbles also combine real chicken, chicken liver, sardines, and fruits and vegetables for a nutritious and balanced meal. However, some users didn’t like the smell of this recipe, though it didn’t seem to have much of an impact on their doggies’ appetites.
Pros
Good option for dogs on a limited-ingredient diet
Features sardines for an extra dose of omega-3 fatty acids
Contains complex carbohydrates to keep your senior dog fit and more energetic
Packed with veggies and fruits like pumpkin, spinach, apples, carrots, and blueberries
Cons
Some users find this food rather smelly
Kibble pieces are big for small dogs
What Other Users Are Saying
It is always helpful to read reviews from other customers before buying a new brand of dog food. Check out these reviews of Lotus dog food:
Herepup — “Great for a substitute of low-calorie training treats!”
The Dog Geek — “Lotus dog food brings Ru inner peace”
Chewy — “My girls love this! Even the picky eater”
Amazon — As dog lovers, we always double-check with Amazon reviews before we try a new brand. You can read more of these customer reviews by clicking here.
Conclusion
Lotus dog foods are high in meat with some vegetable protein and emphasize high-quality ingredients that are locally sourced. This small family-owned company bakes its dog food in a bakery in Canada and makes its wet food in a micro-cannery in California. A range of limited-ingredient recipes for dogs with food sensitivities and allergies is also available. Our final verdict: If you’re ready to whip out your wallet, you and your beloved pup won’t be disappointed because Lotus dog food is among the best on the market.
Genevieve is a biologist and science writer. Her deep love for capuchin monkeys, pumas, and kangaroos has taken her worldwide to work and volunteer for several wildlife rehabilitation centers in Bolivia, Guatemala, Canada, and Australia. As a Canadian expat, Genevieve now lives in Argentina, where she wakes up every morning to horses and cows saying hello from the vast plain next to her home office window. She is the proud mom of three rescued dogs, Lemmy, Nala, and Pochi, and a frisky kitten, Furiosa. Having the privilege of sharing her knowledge and passion for animals of all kinds is what makes her fulfilled and happy....Read more
