Kirkland Dog Food
September 21, 2008
Filed under Dog Food Reviews, Kirkland
Kirkland Dog Food Review
Kirkland dog food made by Diamond is conveniently sold at Costco’s world wide. The Kirkland product line has 6 dry food formulas designed to meet the individual requirements of specific ages of dogs. The Kirkland Signature Adult Dog Formula has two variances, chicken and lamb, which gives a healthy choice for hypersensitive dogs. The Kirkland dog food products are less expensive compared to other well-rated dog food brands however their prices does not compromise the quality of their dog food lines. Last time we checked it was 17.99-23.99 for a 40lb bag, depending on the formula. Due to the price many are lead to believe that this food is just another low quality dog food, however, we believe that Kirkland dog food falls in the middle of the food quality spectrum.
Compared to other budget-friendly dog food brands, Kirkland dog food formulas don’t incorporate corn, soy, or wheat among the first five ingredients. There is also no mention of unspecified animal by-products which are often from questionable sources that can further degrade the quality of the dog food.
Chicken and lamb are the main sources of animal proteins for Kirkland dog food formulas. This is a good protein source for dogs of all ages. Whole grains including brown rice and cracked pearl barley also form the basal ingredients.
Although chicken is an excellent protein source, it is used raw which means it still contains 80% water which is lost when processed, leaving only a small part of its original weight. This is probably the reason for the addition of the chicken meal which is a meat concentrate and contains 300% more protein compared to fresh or raw chicken.
Brown rice is a good source of complex carbohydrates which can be easy to digest after it has already undergone processing. Another ingredient that supplies starchy carbohydrate, fiber and other nutrients is Barley.
Chicken fat is a by-product obtained from rendering chicken. It is rich in omega-6 fatty acids and linoleic acid which are important in the different physiological processes of the body. It is important for dog food manufacturers to specify the source of fat in order to assess the quality of the ingredient. There are dog food manufacturers that list down this ingredient as “animal fat”.
Among the different ingredients, beet pulp has been met with skepticism because although it is a high-fiber ingredient, it is often used as inexpensive filler.
Other minor ingredients which contribute to the over-all nutrition value of the dog food include potato which is a good source of highly digestible carbohydrates; fish meal provides additional animal protein; flaxseed which is an excellent plant source of omega-3 fatty acids and soluble fiber.
There is no mention, though, of probiotics or beneficial bacteria which is present in many top-rated dog food products.
Customer Reviews
The most common feedback relates to the price of Kirkland dog food products -it is not every day that one can get a good quality dog food at such low prices. There are dog owners who agree that the high protein from quality meat sources is great for their dog’s hair coat, body weight, and energy—all these positive feedbacks even though their dogs were eating less compared to other dog food brands.
Negative feedbacks include diarrhea in first time users, manifestation of allergy symptoms, digestive problems that include vomiting, loose stools, smelly gas, and an upset stomach.
Please visit the links listed below for Kirkland dog food reviews by formula.
Have a comment or question about our Kirkland dog food review? Want to share your experiences with others? We welcome your comments!
Kirkland Dog Food Reviews
Kirkland dog food comes in four different formulas:
- Kirkland Signature Range Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Adult formula
- Kirkland Signature Range Lamb and Rice Adult
- Kirkland Signature Range Super Premium Puppy Chicken, Rice and Vegetable
Kirkland Dog Food Consumer Rating
| Title | Votes | Rating | Review |
| Kirkland Dog Food | 407 | 6.8 | -1.0 |
| Kirkland Signature Range Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Adult formula | 88 | 7.1 | -1.0 |
| Kirkland Signature Range Lamb and Rice Adult | 164 | 6.4 | -1.0 |
| Kirkland Signature Range Super Premium Puppy Chicken, Rice and Vegetable | 221 | 7.1 | -1.0 |
I just wanted to know what Costco stores were selling the Kirkland brand dog food for $17.99. I haven’t seen that price in my local store for a long time. It is currently at $24.99 to $25.99 at my local store. And I just bought some today. If you could tell me where it might be cheaper that would would be great.
Thanks
Do all Costco’s have the same price? I am not for sure on this, but at our Costco in the Kansas City Metro area it was 17.99 the last time I checked. I will look into it and see if even they have raised their prices recently.
I have just heard that the Kirkland dog food is now manufactured by “menu foods”, in China. Is this true? I have been using Kirkland dog food for years for all of my dogs. I sure hope someone has the wrong information, especially after so many dogs died from contamination.
I know a lot of people feed this product because it is cheap, but I also know breeders that tried it and got horrible results. It is especially poor for growing puppies. The fact that it may now be manufactured by Menu Foods should scare everyone away. To me, in pet food more than anything else, you get what you pay for.
This food is still made by Diamond. I just called the number on the bag while I was at Costco today. According to the representative with whom I spoke, they would never have a company in China manufacture their food; it is made to Costco’s specs by Diamond, which makes most foods in this country.
We are paying 32.99 for the Lamb and Rice here in Toronto/Canada (mind the exchange rate for you Americans). However, last year we were paying $10 less.
IS COSCO THE ONLY PLACE WHERE I CAN BUY KIRLAND?
I was just wondering if someone could get me the 1-800 number on the bags of food, I have some nutritional questions for the company regarding Kcal/cup, and can’t seem to find that info on the web anywhere. Thanks!
The last time I purchased this was on October 13th, 2008, and it was $23.99 a bag. I just bought two bags of Kirkland Lamb & Rice dog food at Costco today (December 22nd, 2008) and it is now $32.99 for the exact same dog food. Am I the only one who is experiencing this inflation…is it local to my area, or is Kirkland dog food sky-rocketing in price everywhere?
I live in Phoenix, AZ. The prices of Costco’s Kirkland Super Premium dry dog foods (40lb bags) are:
(1) $22.99 for Adult Chicken Rice and Vegetables formula
(Crude protein=25 Fat=16)
(2) $22.99 for Adult Lamb Rice and Vegetables formula
(Crude protein=23 Fat=14)
(3) $25.49 for Adult Mature Chicken Rice and Egg formula
(Crude protein=27 Fat=12)
I am now feeding the Adult Mature Chicken Rice and Egg formula to my 2 year old lab. I like the higher protein at lower fat formula (and………. no grain based protein like rice/corn/soybean glutens added to boost protein!!). Yes, it is slightly more $$ but definitely much more economical and you are getting meat protein not grain based protein..like those you would find in all of Nutro Natural Choice – - they made new changes and other brands (if you read the ingredients you will find grain based protein sources like potato protein, rice protein, corn gluten meal, and etc.)
I have a dog that has just undergone sever operations. He would not eat anything except raw meet. I have tried many dog foods and he will not eat any of them. We are now using Kirkland Super Premium and he loves it.
(1) Is Kirkland made in China? I hope that it is not. i do not want to look for another brand.
(2) Does it come in smaller quantities than the 40Lb bag?
I Live in Richmond Va.
After exhaustive research I started feeding my German Shepherd Kirkland food several years ago. A friend who has a farm and a successful dog grooming business was talking it down because of the cost, I told her that she needs to check her facts before making that assumption. Long story short, I cut a label off of a bag and brought it to her- she has a pet nutrition book that explains all kinds of stuff, including pet food ingredients. After she picked her jaw up off the floor- Kirkland is made with HUMAN GRADE ingredients, she decide to get a Costco membership for the purpose of buying Kirkland. It is simply one of the best dog foods you can buy. And, for the money, it is the best. It’s kinda like the Corvette of the dog food world.
The dog breeder who is having bad luck needs to check elsewhere for his problems. Probably a disgusting, bacteria-infested puppy mill.
Oh, and Haywood, I recently moved to California from Richmond, VA. No, there is only one bag size- large. Quantity- that’s the idea behind Costco, but you knew that.
Is there any way of obtaining a sample? Think my dog will make the switch, but cat is finicky!
All dog foods like all dogs are not the same. I check all dog foods using Innova EVO and Chicken Soup as my base. I then dump any dog food that uses a grain product as its main ingredient. Top of the line use a meat product (not a by-product)as its main ingredient. as a basic rule rice is OK but not corn etc. Remember, like people some dogs and cats can’t eat some grains.
As far as Cosco having the same price all over, the answer is no. No store-chain ever has the same price across the US including fast foods.