The 'Big Dog' Dog Food Review: Tested & Evaluated 2024

Are you looking to switch to a raw diet? We’ve teamed up with pet nutritionists in today’s Big Dog dog food review, to gather everything you need to know about this frozen dog food brand. Is it worth it to switch? Here are the basics:

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Australia's Big Dog Low Allergy and Scientific Dog Food Reviewed

In the past, I already did a general overview of Big dog’s core food range[1] . In today’s review, I’ll be focusing on the two specialty lines: “low allergy” and “scientific” dog food. Since the ingredients in these recipes are significantly different from the main range, we thought it was worth it to go into detail. Here’s how this food compares with our best-rated dog foods[2] :

Taste 5/5

Our testers loved this food. I have two very picky chihuahuas and they licked their bowls. All our testers were thrilled, although they are used to raw food. If your dog has spent all their life on a kibble-only diet, they might have a harder time adapting to an all-raw food. If that’s the case, I recommend starting by adding a few pieces of raw patties as a topper to their regular food. They’ll get used to the texture, so you can switch in no time.

Compared to the reception of the chicken raw patties we’ve previously tried; the dogs didn’t show a different reaction. Both times they liked the food and ate it all. Because of the great composition and clean bowls, I’m giving Big Dog’s specialty line 5 out of 5 in this category.

Ingredients 4/5

In all cases, animal protein is the first ingredient. I really liked the inclusion of not only meat, but also crushed raw bones and innards. Following the meat, there’s “seasonal fruit & vegetables” which complete the bulk of the food. While I don’t like the use of blanket terms, the brand does add a small list.

Big Dog has two different specialty lines: low-allergy and “scientific”. All low-allergy recipes are single-protein, meant to help during an elimination diet, or if your dog is allergic to well-known proteins.

The “scientific” range only has two recipes, with slightly different purposes. There’s the “wellbeing” recipe, meant for older or obese dogs, and the “sensitive skin & joint” recipe, aimed at lowering inflammation.

In all cases, protein content was around 12% (about 40% on a dry matter basis), with around 13% fat. I appreciate that all ingredients, and especially the proteins, are human-grade. Considering the industry in Australia is largely unregulated [1], it’s a relief to see more brands going for better-regulated human-grade ingredients.

I’m taking off 1 point because the actual veggies included change from batch to batch, but it’s a minor problem if your dog isn’t allergic.

Protein content 5/5

I really liked that regardless of the specific need, all recipes had meat as the main ingredient and they also included bones and innards. In all recipes, protein content was around 12%, which for a food with 71% moisture, means a whopping 40% protein.

A word of caution, if your dog needs to stick to “rare” or single proteins, the sensitive skin recipe IS NOT single protein. It does, however, use less-known proteins (lamb, salmon & pork), and has a lot more Omega-3 than all other recipes. The wellbeing recipe has an equally diverse mix of proteins (lamb, beef & goat), but is significantly lower in fats. While food alone won’t treat medical issues, if your dog does need extra nutritional support, any of the specialty recipes could work.

I liked the protein sources, in line with some of our other top-rated foods like Petzyo. Hence why it gets top marks for this category.

Additives 4/5

Like some of the top-rated foods such as Petzyo, Big Dog has extra goodies such as vegetables, fruits and some add-ons like flaxseed.

After reading the ingredients and looking at my dog’s reaction, they loved the food and I felt the add-ons added to the micro nutritional composition. Their fur remained shiny, and all poops were healthy.

My only issue is that the actual vegetables included change from batch to batch, so if you have a very sensitive dog, it might be a problem. Since most dogs aren’t allergic to any veggie, I’m only taking off 1 star to this category.

Price 3/5

When compared to regular kibble, these raw patties are on the expensive side. However, as far as raw frozen dog food goes, Big Dog raw dog food is a mid-range option. This brand is not the most expensive option out there, but offers great human-grade ingredients for the price.

Plus, I liked that the price difference between their core range and the specialty options (both low allergy and scientific) is minimal. It’s already an investment, I don’t want to feel like I’m overpaying. I understand the price point, but it’s definitely not for every budget, so I’m giving this brand 3 out of 5.

Do Not Buy If…

Although this can be a great option for many, it might not be the right choice if you:

My Final Verdict

I really liked the composition of this food, and Big Dog’s specialty range doesn’t disappoint. I’d be wary of blindly following marketing materials, so if you feel your dog needs special care, ask your vet first. Otherwise, the human-grade ingredients, nice recipes and ease of use were a winner for me. Plus, my dogs loved it.

References

1. “How is the pet food industry regulated?”. RSPCA Knowledge Base. Retrieved October 12, 2023. https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/how-is-the-pet-food-industry-regulated-in-australia/