The Lyka Dog Food Review: Tested & Evaluated 2024

Written By Eloisa Thomas | Canine Coach, Double M.A in Anthropology.
Edited & Fact Checked By Renae Soppe | B.A Journalism & Science.
Last Updated: 30th January 2024

Fact Checked & Medically Reviewed by Dr Kathryn Rosalie Dench | M.A VetMB MRCVS.
Review Guidelines & Methodology: Our product reviews are 100% unbiased.

Are you looking for a dog food subscription service in Australia? Then today’s Lyka dog food review is for you. We teamed up with canine nutritionists, veterinarians, and dog parents to research every food Lyka offers our pets. After months of testing, we were able to agree on the brand's standout features.

Our experts have gathered everything you need to know about Lyka so you have all the information to make the right choice for your dog. Let's get to it!

Lyka is an Australian company offering a dog food subscription service
This brand has “bowls” of gently cooked food based on different proteins
Food is delivered in frozen single-serve pouches, and the subscription can be cancelled or paused at any time

Table Of Contents

Australia's Lyka Dog Food Review

Quick Pick - Our Best Rated Dog Food

Our Number 1 Pick -
Petzyo Dog Food

Ethically sourced Kangaroo, Chicken or Salmon, sweet potato & superfood extras
Iron-rich & low fat proteins
Three Omega-3 and -6 rich oils with a well balanced 11% fat content
Made in Australia

Check Current Price

Australia's Lyka Dog Food Review

Lyka Dog Food being tested by our independent expert team.

Lyka Dog Food being tested by our independent reviewer, Daze The Dog.

Lyka - 4 Star Rating

Ingredients: Beef bowl: Beef Mince, Beef Heart, Purple Sweet Potato, Broccoli, Carrots, Kale, Sardines, Beef Liver, Psyllium Seed Husk, Fish Oil, Safflower Oil, Celtic Sea Salt, Ginger, Flaxseed Oil, Kelp, Spirulina, Tricalcium Phosphate, Vitamin E, Magnesium Chelate, Iron Chelate, Zinc Chelate, Manganese Chelate, Vitamin D3, Vitamin B1
Named Protein First: Yes
Dog Food Type: Cooked dog food, subscription service.
Recipe Range: Beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, kangaroo, fish bowls. Treats available.
Suitable For: All life stages
Cost: $$$
Australian Owned: Yes


Taste
Ingredients
Protein content
Additives
Variety
Price

Taste 5/5

One could say Lyka exaggerates with the names (tail tappin’ turkey, lip lickin’ lamb) but dogs love these bowls. Of course, the high meat content and plenty of veggies are probably to blame. These recipes are rich in meat and also have offal (heart and lung, depending on the recipe), so it was no surprise to us that our pups enjoy it.

Like our best-rated dog food, Petzyo, which offers raw patties and dry kibbles, Lyka is one of the best-tasted dog food in the market, and thousands of reviews also prove this.

These are so tasty that the company’s founders taste test all bowls. If that isn’t proof of good flavour, we don’t know what is!

Our dogs love the taste of this dog food and leave their food bowl clean in no time! We recommend this for fur parents who have picky eater dogs.

PRO TIP: Want to give your pup a taste but a full subscription is out of your budget? You can use this food as a topper to make other food more palatable and add nutrients as well. We recommend getting a half-meal plan if you plan to use Lyka as a topper.

Considering even picky eaters enjoy this brand, our team of independent experts agreed to give Lyka 5 out of 5 in this category.

Ingredients 5/5

If you’re looking for high-quality ingredients in your dog’s food, then this brand is one of the best out there. Lyka prides itself in offering only human-grade ingredients, sourced from Australian producers.

Although it is unlike Eureka, which spoils our meat-loving dogs with at least 90% meat, bone, and organs, Lyka has more than enough protein to keep up with our dog's needs. Also, it balances their diet by including healthy fruits and veggies.

All recipes are formulated in compliance with AAFCO standards for adult dogs. Since every batch is made by hand, there is no “guaranteed analysis”. Although we’re usually wary of typical analysis or averages, in this case, it’s understandable.

The beef bowl, which is sold as a “medium-high fat and protein suitable for most puppers”, features a stunning 55% crude protein percentage and 18% crude fat [1]. This goes well beyond the bare minimum recommended by AAFCO (18% protein, 5% fat), and ensures your dog has plenty of energy to go about their day.

This composition is wildly different from traditional kibble, which in most cases offers 25% - 35% protein (at best). We also appreciate that the analysis includes the carbohydrate percentage, a rarity in our unregulated dog food industry [2]. Keeping with the beef bowl example, these recipes have 14% carbs, a good percentage significantly below the 50%+ in most kibbles out there.

All recipes are built around a single main ingredient (meat mince of some kind). To complete the food, there are one or two main veggies or grains. As of the writing of this article, the lamb and turkey recipes are grained, and the rest are grain-free.

Our team of independent experts all liked that there is actual variety in these recipes. Instead of keeping the main vegetables the same across recipes, some have sweet potato, while others have quinoa, cabbage, squash or cauliflower. Vets know that a diverse diet is the key to a healthy gut microbiome, which can have a positive effect on our dog’s long-term health [3]. We liked that with this brand, variety is built into the subscription plan! The rest of the ingredient list only has whole foods, and there are no blanket terms that might cover some nasties

As for the subscription itself, I was able to choose the recipes included in the delivery from my profile when I registered. I had the option of getting a full meal plan (that accounts for all the calories my dog would need), a half-meal plan (only 50% calories), and a starter pack (a full meal plan for 14 days). All the subscriptions renew automatically (including the starter pack!), and the main difference is the cost.

What we love about this brand is they offer a meal plan for our dogs. Upon signing up, you will be asked about the needs of your dogs, and they will provide suggestions on what type of dog food to give your dogs, the portion, and others, which is great, especially if you are a first-time fur parent.

All in all, our panel of pros were really happy with the overall composition of these bowls. We’re giving this brand 5 out of 5 in this category.

Protein content 4/5

As we’ve mentioned, this brand only uses high-quality ingredients in their recipes. For the proteins selected, this means all meats are wild-caught, grass-fed and sustainably sourced. This is good to see, particularly since they source all meats from Australian producers.

Compared to Ziwi Peak, which at a bare minimum, has 45% protein and 23% fat, this dog food also keeps up with the raw food diet. You can get protein from things like corn or peas, but there is none of that stuff here.

There are currently six different recipes available. Although none of these are single-protein options, they are centred around one meat each. Our independent expert team appreciated the variety in meats since it allows pups with different needs to enjoy the bowls.

So, while the beef bowl has a moderate amount of fat and substantial protein (88%), other recipes are lower (or higher) in fats and proteins. The chicken bowl has 12% fat and 65% protein, the lamb recipe has more fat but less protein (for those with kidney issues), and the kangaroo has the lowest fat percentage of all bowls with 9% fat. While all recipes have 60% or more protein, some of the recipes can be fed to dogs with a history of pancreatitis or kidney issues.

PRO TIP: If you have a senior dog, or your pup has been diagnosed with pancreatitis or kidney issues, always talk to your vet before switching to a high-fat or high-protein diet.

On top of the main meat mince, these recipes have internal organs. These are the heart, liver or lungs and offer plenty of essential micronutrients to round up your dog’s diet. I also liked that even the offal comes from sustainably sourced, grass-fed animals, which is a good sign the brand cares about quality and not interested in brand marketing to appeal to consumers. Plus, all recipes have a small amount of fish meal to round up the micronutrient profile and boost the healthy fats.

Overall, we’re happy with the protein selection and variety. It would have been nice to have single-protein options (without extra fish) for pups with allergies, like mine. But in general, these are pretty nice recipes that should be well tolerated. We’re giving Lyka 4 out of 5 in this category.

We love how healthy and organic these protein sources are. They are carefully selected with the highest quality, and the meat sources are definitely safe and not fed with harmful stuff that might compromise your dog's health.

Additives 5/5

The extra goodies, instead of cheap fillers, are one of the highlights of this brand. Besides the main animal meat and veggie, these recipes have a ton of extras meant to round up the food:

Fruits and vegetables: Kale, carrot, broccoli, and nice fruits such as blueberries and apples. These add fibre and vitamins, as well as complex carbs.
Healthy fats: On top of the natural fat from the meat, most of these recipes have different kinds of oils. These include fish oil (all recipes), safflower oil, flaxseed oil and fish meal (sardines).
Chelated minerals: These are minerals that have been modified to improve absorption. Unlike most vitamin and mineral powders, chelated minerals are slightly more expensive but are readily absorbed during digestion. Most brands don’t use chelated minerals due to their cost, so seeing them in any recipe is a good sign.
Other superfoods: Depending on the recipe, you can find kelp, ginger, turmeric, psyllium seed husk, spirulina, and coconut.

Compared to Petzyo, this is also a good brand that is concerned with our dogs' overall health by not including additives that can harm our canine companions. The inclusion of fruits and vegetables, with vitamins and minerals, shows how this dog food is great, especially if your dog needs that nutrient-dense diet.

We also appreciate there are no preservatives added to the food. This does shorten the lifespan of the pouches after opening, but we’d happily trade that for the knowledge we’re not giving our dogs nasty chemicals.

With all of the mentioned things about Lyka, we highly recommend this one if you are looking for a locally-sourced dog food that has a lot of health benefits for your furry friend.

Our team loved the extras in Lyka, so we agreed to give this brand 5 out of 5 in this category.

Variety 3/5

Overall, there’s plenty of variety in this brand. As of 2024, Lyka offers six different recipes based on different proteins. Some of them are grain-free (beef, chicken, kangaroo and fish), while others have some cereals (lamb and turkey). We like that we could get a good mix of veggies and grains, and the main vegetables change from recipe to recipe.

Considering that food allergies and intolerances tend to come from repeated food intake, the variety helps lower the chances of your dog developing an allergy.

One of our only issues with this brand is the lack of options to buy the bowls as needed. We understand it’s easier for companies to offer packaged bundles, but we would have liked to see individual bowls being available outside of the subscription.

Another important detail is that customers are immediately forced onto a subscription from the starter box to a full meal plan. This is likely more profitable for the company, but as customers, we’d like this process to be optional instead of having to catch it before it charges our card.

When compared to Eureka, which also has a subscription, this one offers less variety. You can get more options from Eureka, and it does not force you to avail of the meal plan. Some dog owners already know about their dog's needs and have established a meal plan themselves.

Finally, you can only order treats if you have an active subscription. So, there’s no way to only get treats if you’ve paused yours! Keep this in mind if your dog is like mine and likes their treats.

This is a good brand for us, but the variety is limited only to those with active subscriptions, which can be a difficult and pricey option for some. However, if you have the budget, you can definitely go and try it.

All in all, we like this brand but the subscription dynamics could be better, especially considering the price. We’re taking off 2 stars because of these issues.

Price 3/5

Lyka is on the higher end of commercial pet foods, and the price reflects that. Of course, sourcing human-grade ingredients and cooking food in smaller batches comes with a price, so we’re more than happy to pay for that privilege.

Compared to Petzyo, which is more affordable for most fur parents, this can be a luxury to buy. However, your dog is absolutely getting the best ingredients. Still, if you prefer preparing your own dog's meal, it could cost less, but you can still get the same nutrition for your pet.

Of course, households with more than one dog might find Lyka doesn’t fit their budget. However, considering the price (and time) of making a similar version of Lyka bowls at home, our team of independent experts agrees this is a fair price.

We love the overall nutrition and quality of this dog food, but it is not for everyone, especially if you are leaning towards a more budget-friendly option. Considering this, we're giving this brand 3 out of 5 in the price category.

Do Not Buy If…

While this brand could be a great fit for many pups, our panel of experts suggest that you might have to keep looking if you:

Live out of their shipping range: Lyka only ships to 70% of the Australian population, so you might or might not live in the serviced area. The first stage of their onboarding quiz includes checking your postal code, so you’ll know if they can reach you fairly quickly.
Have a dog intolerant to fish oil: All of these recipes include fish oil to add healthy fats and amino acids. However, some dogs are extremely reactive to fish, including fish oil. If this is your case, then Lyka isn’t for you.
Don’t have a large freezer: This might be an issue with any dog food delivery service. You will be receiving food for several weeks at a time, so having enough freezer space is a must. In general, you’ll need a dedicated deep freezer. According to the official website, every 500 grams of Lyka is the size of an ice cube tray. For reference, a dog that’s 30 kg will need about 800 grams of this food per day (about two ice trays in space). If you get 6 weeks of food, plan for 84 ice trays. Not going to lie, that’s a lot of space.
Are looking for raw food: Although these meals are “gently cooked” and the temperature never goes above 90º, they aren’t raw recipes. If you’d like to stick to a strictly raw diet, this isn’t the brand for you.

Final Thoughts

If you want high-quality food for your dog, Lyka is a good option. Although it isn’t raw, being gently cooked does preserve nutrients better and it’s a good food for dogs that don’t like or have never tried raw.

In spite of the fact that it has some of the higher prices, our team of independent experts think it's a good buy because of the high-quality ingredients and the other benefits that it offers.

The recipe variety is nice, and we appreciate the flexible subscription. Some details could be better, but all in all, we’d recommend this one.

Want to read more dog food brand reviews? Check out the below:

References

"Grass Fed Big Boppin' Beef Bowl". Lyka. Retrieved January 30, 2024. https://lyka.com.au/our-food/beef-bowl
"How is the pet food industry regulated in Australia?". RSPCA Knowledge Base. Retrieved January 30, 2024. https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/how-is-the-pet-food-industry-regulated-in-australia/
"The Amazing World of the Canine Gut Microbiome". May 6, 2020. Morris Animal Foundation. Retrieved January 30, 2024. https://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/article/amazing-world-canine-gut-microbiome

Eloisa Thomas

Eloisa Thomas is Gentle Dog Trainers Canine Coach & Anthropologist.

With a double master's degree in Anthropology and awarded a Chancellor's International Scholarship to pursue a PhD in History at the University of Warwick (UK), she's well equipped to write well written and factual canine information that will actually help people understand their dogs better.