Ivory Coat Dog Food Review - Including Puppy, Senior & Grain Free

Loved by owners and dogs looking for a natural diet, today is time for our Ivory Coat dog food review. We did in-depth research so you don’t have to: get to know this popular brand that became all the rage among dogs with skin issues. Here’s what you should know about Ivory Coat, and everything you need to choose the best dog food for your pup.

Got a young dog? We also added a whole Ivory Coat puppy food review section so you know that you’re feeding your little one delicious, whole ingredients.

Ivory Coat Dog Food Review

Taste 3.5/5 Stars

Most dogs love the flavour of Ivory coat! Since the #1 ingredient in all flavours is animal protein (like lamb meal, chicken meal or salmon meal) your pup will likely enjoy it very much. On top of the meaty taste, they’ll get flavour variety through the addition of extras like apples, peas, kale and even blueberries.

We’re taking off some points since several owners have complained that the food smells too strong or even foul, particularly after Ivory Coat was sold to a new investment group in late 2017. This isn’t linked to a specific flavour and the company stated their recipe hasn’t changed. In general, Ivory Coat is a great option if you’re dealing with a fussy eater.

Ingredients 3.5/5 Stars

Ivory Coat ingredients depend on which line you’re looking at. Although they have both grain-free and regular lines, most owners prefer the grain-free options. Nevertheless, keep in mind the regular flavours are slightly less expensive.

In general, Ivory Coat foods have a very limited ingredients list, which is great to avoid unwanted food allergies. The brand also sticks to naturally-sourced additives as a way to complete the nutrient profile, so you can be sure your dog won’t eat any dangerous preservatives like sulphites.

However, keep in mind in most flavours the second main ingredient is plant-based (usually peas, tapioca, or potatoes). This can be a bit misleading since the flavours usually only advertise animal-based protein sources.

Protein Content (3.5/5 stars)

One of the things pups (and owners) like the most about Ivory coat is that the first ingredient is Australian chicken meal and overall, you’re getting 32% crude protein per serving.

According to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), adult dogs need at least 18% of protein in their food [3]. Considering Ivory Coat has more than 30%, you can be sure your furry friend will have plenty enough to stay happy & healthy. However, keep in mind that in all flavour options, the second ingredient is usually a veggie protein, which probably contributes to the protein boost per serving.

Additives (4/5 Stars)

This brand sticks to naturally-sourced additives, and doesn’t add any artificial preservatives. Since sulphites, a common preservative in pet-grade food, has some nasty side effects on dogs [4] Ivory Coat uses prebiotics, rosemary & tocopherols (AKA a form of Vitamin E) to preserve your pup’s food.

Following the all-natural principle, Ivory Coat doesn’t have artificial colours or flavours to keep your dog’s diet as healthy as possible. They also add extra-healthy ingredients like flaxseed, coconut oil and salmon oil that improve your dog’s skin and give them a shiny coat.

Variety (5/5 Stars)

Some grain-free dog foods can be very limited. Luckily, Ivory Coat isn’t one of them! Depending on your pup’s needs and personal taste, you’ll probably be able to find a flavour they will love. They have anything from Salmon & Ocean fish, to Chicken & Coconut oil, as well as Lamb & Kangaroo, Sardines, Chicken and even Turkey.

While Ivory Coat's grain free options are the most popular, if your pup doesn’t follow a grain-free diet they also have several brown rice flavours available. Most of those are mixed with different proteins like salmon, sardines, chicken, turkey or lamb.

On top of these, they also offers several options adapted to your dog’s stage of life and activity level. Of course, there’s puppy and adult food, but you’ll also find low-fat options, senior foods as well as chilled, dry & wet options for most of their flavours.

Keep in mind Ivory Coat doesn’t have food lines dedicated specifically for small or large breeds.

Price (3/5 Stars)

This one is definitely on the pricier side, for a dog food that is. However, depending on your dog’s size and age, this might be a blow that your wallet could take. For example, a chihuahua eats considerably less than a Great Dane or a Cattle Dog. In our experience, a good dog food is worth it since you’ll be saving yourself a lot on vet bills, but it will all depend on your particular situation and your dog.

Ivory Coat Puppy Food Review

As a result of this, we reviewed the puppy food options that Ivory Coat offers.

Flavour Variety

This brand has several options to feed your young dog whether you choose a regular or a grain-free diet. However, in contrast with their adult dog food line, Ivory Coat puppy food is significantly more limited flavour-wise. In contrast, you do have the option between regular, grain-free or chilled dog food. There are no wet food options available to feed your puppy.

On the other hand, the brand doesn’t offer specific options tailored to your puppy’s adult size. While among small and medium-sized dogs this doesn’t pose much of a problem, among large and giant breeds it could.

Small & Large Breed Puppy Food

Large and giant-breed puppies need careful nutritional supervision to avoid them growing too fast. If you allow them to eat food that’s too rich or in large quantities, they risk suffering from brittle bones or decalcification.

Ivory Coat provides adequate nutrition but you should adjust the portions of your large or giant puppy to prevent overfeeding. In contrast, puppy food tailored to their adult size could be easier to portion out without a vet’s advice.

Do Not Buy Ivory Coat If…

Our Ivory coat review wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t cover who this food isn’t for. You shouldn’t buy this brand if:

The Verdict

Give it a try! Many dogs and their owners have enjoyed Ivory coat as their main feed for years. While there have been some complaints about a change in the recipe or GI troubles among certain users, in general this is one of the favourite brands for people looking for a grain-free option to offer their dog.

This is especially true for dogs with skin issues, since going grain-free is one of the main veterinarian recommendations to help with itchy skin. We recommend adding Ivory Coat to your regular rotation as it has a fairly good composition for a processed, dry dog food.

References

1. Ryan, Peter. “Real Pet Food Company: Chinese investors gobble up Queensland business targeting four-legged gourmets” 24 October, 2017. ABC News Australia. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-24/chinese-investors-sink-teeth-into-pet-food-company/9081298
2. Dixon, Michelle. “How much protein is enough in dog food?”. Petcurean. https://www.petcurean.com/blog/how-much-protein-is-enough-in-dog-food/ 
3. AAFCO. “Calorie content – Pet food”. https://petfood.aafco.org/Calorie-Content#protein
4. RSPCA Australia. “Are preservatives in pet food products a concern?”. https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/are-preservatives-in-pet-food-products-a-concern/
5. RSPCA Australia. “What should I feed my dog?”. https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/what-should-i-feed-my-dog/