The Pet Food Australia 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: 18th January 2024
Want to switch up your dog’s diet? Today’s Pet Food Australia dog food review covers everything you need to know about this Aussie dog food brand. Keep reading to know whether it’s a good option for your pooch!
Related: The Best Dog Food Australia.
Related: How To Choose The Right Dog Food?
Related: How Is Australia’s Dog Food Industry Regulated?
Related: What is AAFCO? The Association of American Feed Control Officials.
Related: What Is the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia (PFIAA)?
Related: AAFCO vs PFIAA: Dog Food Standards Comparison Australia.
Related: Understanding Guaranteed Analysis Levels in Dog Food.
Related: Real Meat vs Meat Meal.
The Pet Food Australia Dog Food Review
Pet Food Australia - 3.5 Star Rating
- Ingredients: Turkey dry food. Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Ocean Fish Meal, Potato, Peas, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E & Citric Acid), Hemp Seed Oil, Carrot, Dried Kelp, Dried Egg Product, Coconut Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Apple, Alfalfa Meal, Beta Carotene, Blueberry, Rosemary Plant Extract, Spinach, Vitamins(A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, D3, E, K3, Biotin, Folic Acid, Niacin), Taurine, Minerals (Copper, Iron, Manganese).
- Named Protein First: Yes.
- Dog Food Type: Grain-free kibble
- Recipe Range: Puppy, Adult (low-fat, turkey, kangaroo)
- Suitable For: Adults and puppies
- Cost: $$$
- Australian Owned: Yes.
Taste | |
Ingredients | |
Protein content | |
Additives | |
Variety | |
Price | |
Taste 5/5
Our three tasters absolutely loved this food. Even my picky chihuahua, who tends to only like high-quality food like Petzyo, happily finished his little bowl. Of course, we weren’t surprised: the first three (!) ingredients in this food are animal protein, so it’s no wonder dogs like the taste.
The Kangaroo recipe is a bit smellier than the others, but for dogs, this just adds to the deliciousness. Overall, this food was a hit in the taste department, so we’re giving it 5 out of 5.
Ingredients 5/5
This brand prides itself on having a “mouth-watering formula to support your dog’s wellbeing from nose to tail”. While this might sound like too much, in Pet Food Australia’s case it doesn’t seem to be an exaggeration.
The ingredient list and nutrient profile look pretty nice, and miles ahead of regular wheat- and corn-filled cheap kibble. The turkey recipe features a respectable 30% minimum crude protein and 16% minimum crude fat. These percentages are well above AAFCO minimum recommendations for adult dogs (as a reminder, 18% minimum protein and 5% minimum fat). For a kibble, it’s a nice composition.
When it comes to the ingredients, it’s an optimal list. The first three ingredients listed in the turkey recipe are turkey, chicken and ocean fish. The bulk of the food is completed with potatoes and peas. This means that around 60% of the kibble is actually made from animal protein! This is in line with the other brands of top-rated kibble we’ve reviewed before, such as Petzyo.
This kibble is both gluten and grain-free, and we appreciate that potatoes and peas are a moderate addition instead of being the bulk of the food. The rest of the ingredient list features plenty of extras, but we’ll go over those in more detail in the additives category.
All in all, we’re happy with the composition of this kibble, so we’re giving it a 5 out of 5.
Protein content 4/5
As mentioned above, the first three ingredients in this food are animal protein. This is well above most kibble brands, and shows high-quality protein is prioritised. From a nutritional point of view, PFA’s 30% minimum crude protein is a welcome sight: it’s well above the minimum AAFCO recommendations and comes mainly from animal meat. Of course, the peas in the recipe likely add some vegetable protein, but much more minor than in traditional grained recipes.
The protein sources in these recipes are varied enough: the turkey recipe features turkey, chicken and fish, while the kangaroo version includes kangaroo and fish.
As a sole negative, these recipes don’t specifically mention including offal (organ meats) in the ingredient lists. Adding offal into a dog’s diet rounds up the micronutrient profile, adds more minerals and more closely replicates how they would eat “in the wild”. However, not having these is a minor issue, particularly considering how much animal meat this food has.
We’re really liking the composition of this food, so Pet Food Australia gets 4 out of 5 in this category.
Additives 4/5
This is where this brand really shines. All recipes are enriched with hemp oil, and it’s high enough on the ingredient list to add substance to the food and not just a marketing ploy.
In the turkey recipe, hemp oil is actually the seventh ingredient, just below chicken fat. Hemp oil has been somewhat of a controversial ingredient, particularly in pet food. However, the latest studies show some benefits to feeding hemp oils to dogs, including improved joint health [1] and less chance of allergies [2]. I give turmeric supplements to my own dogs, and was thinking about hemp oil. Another member of our team has also seen great results in their senior Staffy with a hemp oil supplement. Therefore, having it already in the food seems like a good idea.
The rest of the list includes carrots, kelp, eggs, coconut oil and taurine. The kangaroo recipe also includes turmeric, which we love to see.
Because of the high-quality extras and overall balanced composition, we’re giving this brand 4 out of 5.
Variety 2/5
This is a small company, so it’s not surprising to see a limited range. At the time of writing, Pet Food Australia offers four different dog food options: puppy, low fat, kangaroo and turkey. None of the recipes are single-protein. I would say these are enough for most pups, particularly if you rotate with other brands (which we recommend).
We also appreciate the different kibble sizes available. When packaged in bags from 2.5 kg to 12 kg, you’ll get small kibble. For larger dogs that eat more, get a 20 kg bag that also has larger biscuits. Having a chihuahua at home, I appreciate the flexibility!
Price 3/5
This food is manufactured by an independent company, so it is understandable that the price is higher than more mainstream options. Of course, considering the quality of ingredients and the extras, we’re not too concerned with the price. The cost of this food is in line with other upper mid-range kibble that prioritises protein.
If you’re feeding several large dogs, this food might be on the expensive side, but it’s still more affordable than high-end raw food (also delicious and good quality) like Ziwi Peak.
If you can afford it, this is a good option for your rotation. We’re giving Pet Food Australia 3 out of 5 in this category.
Do Not Buy If…
While this food can be a great fit for many, keep looking if you:
Final Verdict
This kibble is packed with goodies and prioritises protein, which is not common for most food of this type. We liked the meat variety and the addition of hemp oil looks promising. Of course, it is thoroughly cooked (as all kibble is), so this doesn’t qualify as a raw dog food. Here at Gentle Dog Trainers, we don’t mind feeding a variety of raw food and traditional kibble so for us, this one is a great kibble option. We’d say give it a try!
References
- L, et al (2020). “The Use of Cannabidiol-Rich Hemp Oil Extract to Treat Canine Osteoarthritis-Related Pain: A Pilot Study”. American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association Journal, Volume 38, Spring 2020. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lori-Kogan/publication/339698157_The_Use_of_Cannabidiol-Rich_Hemp_Oil_Extract_to_Treat_Canine_Osteoarthritis-Related_Pain_A_Pilot_Study/links/5e6030ad92851cefa1ded0c8/The-Use-of-Cannabidiol-Rich-Hemp-Oil-Extract-to-Treat-Canine-Osteoarthritis-Related-Pain-A-Pilot-Study.pdf
- Xin, G. et al. (2022) “Dietary supplementation of hemp oil in teddy dogs: Effect on apparent nutrient digestibility, blood biochemistry and metabolomics”. Bioengineered, 13:3, 6173-6187. https://doi.org/10.1080/21655979.2022.2043018
