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Petaluma Dog Food Review 2024: Our Expert’s Opinion

Written by: Jessica Kim

Last Updated on April 10, 2024 by Dogster Team

Petaluma Dog Food Review 2024: Our Expert’s Opinion

Our Final Verdict

We give Petaluma Dog Food a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Petaluma is changing up the pet food industry by producing 100% vegan dog food that also contains high-quality ingredients. This Oakland-based company is mission-driven and works diligently towards building a more environmentally friendly and sustainable model for pet food production.

Petaluma dog food is a great option for any vegan dog owners or people interested in making more sustainable lifestyle choices. Because Petaluma is a pretty new company, it currently has just one dog food recipe available for adult dogs. However, with how promising this recipe is, I wouldn’t be surprised if more recipes are developed in the future for other life stages.

While the pet food industry has heavily portrayed dogs as carnivorous descendants of wolves, Petaluma provides a fresh new perspective to dog food by creating a plant-based recipe that meets the nutritional requirements for adult dogs of all breeds.

If you’re still feeling unsure about giving your dog a vegan diet, keep reading to find out if Petaluma dog food is a good option for you.

The Petaluma Dog Food Recipe in 2024

Image Product Details
Most Popular Roasted Peanut Butter & Sweet Potato Flavor Roasted Peanut Butter & Sweet Potato Flavor
  • Suitable for all dog breeds
  • Sustainably and ethically produced
  • Safe for dogs with dairy and meat allergies
  • Petaluma Dog Food Reviewed

    Petaluma’s Roasted Peanut Butter & Sweet Potato Flavor on counter top

    About Petaluma Dog Products

    Petaluma aims to provide high-quality vegan diets for dogs while also being mindful of sustainable and ethical practices. This pet food company currently sells one baked dog food recipe and a dehydrated chew.

    Who makes Petaluma and where is it produced?

    Petaluma was founded in 2019 by Garrett Wymore and Caroline Buck. The company’s mission is to use sustainable ingredients to develop nutritious dog food that also reduces ecological harm and promotes humane practices for both people and animals.

    The company is based in Oakland, California, and it sources its ingredients from various farms in the United States.

    Which Types of Dogs is Petaluma Best Suited For?

    Petaluma dog food is best suited for adult dogs as this company only produces adult dog food. Since puppies and adult dogs have different nutritional needs, Petaluma dog food is not yet a viable option for puppies.

    Petaluma also produces a 100% vegan recipe, so it can be a safe choice for dogs with meat or dairy allergies.

    a hand showing the Petaluma’s Roasted Peanut Butter & Sweet Potato Flavor packaging to the dog

    Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

    The topic of vegetarian and vegan recipes has caused quite a stir within the pet nutrition community. However, the general expert consensus is that vegan recipes are safe for dogs as long as they’re carefully crafted and contain the appropriate amount of nutrients, particularly taurine and L-carnitine.

    Petaluma’s dog food recipe consists of over 50% organic foods. It also does its best to omit cheap fillers and opts for nutrient-dense ingredients instead. Foods, such as chickpeas and potato protein, contain a lot of protein and essential amino acids for dogs. You can also find other nutritious ingredients that many dogs find tasty, such as organic peanut butter, organic sweet potato, and carrots.

    The only ingredient that we’re hesitant about is the organic brown rice syrup. While brown rice may be nutritious, brown rice syrup is high in calories and low in nutritional value. Fortunately, this ingredient is listed pretty far down on the ingredient list, and it may just be used to add more flavor and help bind the food together.

    Petaluma’s Roasted Peanut Butter & Sweet Potato Flavor dog food in a bowl

    Backed by Research

    Due to the common uncertainty around vegan dog food, Petaluma has been very thorough and transparent with the work that it puts into developing its own dog food recipe. The company website contains very thorough information and research-based references that support vegan dog food. The Roasted Peanut Butter & Sweet Potato Flavor recipe was also developed by veterinarians and reviewed and approved by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN).

    Extensive Testing

    Petaluma conducted extensive testing to ensure that its dog food meets and exceeds the standards of quality dog food. Petaluma provides a full nutritional analysis, which shows that its formula exceeds the minimum nutritional requirements for dog food laid out by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

    The food has also been tested to be highly digestible and palatable for dogs to increase the likelihood that most dogs will enjoy eating this food.

    a white fluffy dog sitting next to a bowl with the Petaluma’s Roasted Peanut Butter & Sweet Potato Flavor dog food

    Sustainable

    Petaluma is a and goes to great lengths to ensure that it’s distributing a sustainable product. To begin with, a plant-based diet is a more sustainable option than dog food containing meat protein. Many of the ingredients are also sourced from organic, biodiverse farms, and the dog food is baked in a solar-powered facility.

    Petaluma’s packaging is also sustainable and minimizes waste and the use of plastic. The treat bag is also fully compostable.

    Lack of Variety

    As of now, Petaluma has launched one dog food recipe and one dehydrated dog treat. However, since this company is fairly new, it’s understandable that the number of products is currently more limited compared to other more established pet food companies.

    Petaluma Dog Food Review

    Petaluma’s Roasted Peanut Butter & Sweet Potato Flavor

    Petaluma’s Roasted Peanut Butter & Sweet Potato Flavor dog food consists of oven-baked bites that are packed with nutrients and flavor. Each ingredient was intentionally selected for its high nutritional value, so you won’t find filler ingredients that make up a majority of the recipe.

    The low and slow cooking process retains key nutrients while producing a tasty flavor for dogs. While many types of commercial dog kibble grind ingredients to a fine powder, Petaluma’s dog food mixes and rolls ingredients together into a dough that provides a more enjoyable texture for dogs to chew.

    Since Petaluma’s products don’t contain any dairy or meat protein, this dog food is a safe option for dogs with more common food allergies. The recipe has also been tested to be highly digestible, so most dogs should be able to eat and digest it easily.

    As of now, Petaluma distributes just one type of dog food that’s suitable for adult dogs only. However, I would not be surprised to see more variety as the company grows and can develop more recipes over time. Petaluma is very thorough and mindful about creating sustainable products made through ethical practices, so I’m optimistic that any new recipes will be just as thoughtfully made as the Roasted Peanut Butter & Sweet Potato Flavor recipe.

    Pros
    • Nutrient-packed ingredients
    • Sustainably and ethically produced
    • Highly digestible
    • Suitable for all dog breeds
    • Safe for dogs with dairy and meat allergies
    Cons
    • Not for puppies
    • Lack of variety

    Ingredients Analysis

    Crude Protein: 28% min.
    Crude Fat: 13% min.
    Crude Fiber: 6% max.
    Carbohydrates: 39%
    Moisture: 9% max.
    Vitamin E: 281 IU/kg

    Calories per cup breakdown:

    ½ cup: 197.5 calories
    1 cup: 395 calories
    2 cups: 790 calories

    a white fluffy dog eating Petaluma’s Roasted Peanut Butter & Sweet Potato Flavor dog food from a bowl

    Our Experience With Petaluma

    I received a sample of Petaluma’s Roasted Peanut Butter & Sweet Potato Flavor dog food and had my adult Cavapoo be my taste tester. The first thing I noticed about the size of the kibble is that it runs a bit on the larger side, which was fine for my dog, but it may be difficult for smaller dogs and toy breeds to chew. However, the Petaluma kibble was pretty soft and crumbly compared to other commercial dog kibble.

    My dog loves peanut butter, and with organic peanut butter as one of the recipe’s key ingredients, she enjoyed munching on this new type of food. She also has a sensitive stomach and has difficulty getting used to new foods. However, by slowly adding the new kibble to her regular dog food, we were successfully able to avoid having her experience any digestive issues or an upset stomach.

    Overall, I was impressed with Petaluma’s recipe. It was a tasty and healthy addition to my dog’s diet. It also felt reassuring to know that I had chosen a sustainable and environmentally conscious product. Petaluma delivered a high-quality recipe that also helps making eco-friendly choices easy and convenient.

    Final Thoughts

    Petaluma dog food is a refreshingly transparent pet food company that works to produce sustainable pet food options for dogs. It doesn’t just produce gimmicky dog food with a vegan label. You can trust that this recipe is nutritional and healthy for dogs to eat as their main meal. So, if you’re looking for dog food that supports vegan choices and is environmentally conscious, Petaluma is a safe and reliable option to explore.

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