The Providore 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: 10th 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 considering switching to air-dried dog food? Then you’re probably wondering whether Providore is worth the money.

To help you get the best bang for your buck, we teamed up with veterinarians, canine nutritionists and dog parents to form an independent panel of experts. We then researched every type of food Providore offers and tested them out with our canine companions. After several months and dozens of dog food dishes later, we were able to agree on the contents of this review.

Here’s our ultimate Providore dog food review: our experts have gathered everything you need to know about this New Zealand dog food brand.

Providore offers air-dried, high-protein food that can be used as a balanced food or as a healthy topper.
All recipes have protein as the first ingredient, and they include innards (like liver and lung) for added micronutrients.
This brand is significantly more expensive than traditional kibble, as a result, it’s available in smaller bag sizes.

Table Of Contents

Australia's Providore 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

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Australia's Providore Dog Food Review

Providore - 4 Star Rating

Ingredients: Chicken recipe, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Peas, Vegetable Glycerine, Green Lipped Mussel, Fish Oil, Parsley, Chicory Extract, Vitamins & Minerals (Calcium, Choline, Iron, Zinc, E, Copper, Selenium, B1, B3, B5, Manganese, B2, Biotin, A, B12, B6, D3, Folic Acid), Sea Salt, Kelp, Flaxseeds, Natural Antioxidants.
Named Protein First: Yes
Dog Food Type: Air-dried raw food
Recipe Range: Treats and air-dried complete food (can be used as a topper)
Suitable For: Adult and senior dogs
Cost: $$$$
Australian Owned: No, but New Zealand-owned.

Providore Dog Food Review
Taste
Ingredients
Protein content
Additives
Variety
Price

Taste 5/5

This brand is very tasty, probably due to its high protein content. Many owners of picky eaters on our independent team of experts mentioned that their fussy pups happily chomp on their food after mixing with Providore. Most people use Providore as a tasty, nice-smelling topping to entice their fussy eaters and ensure they eat all their food.

All recipes are a hit at home, so we’re giving Providore 5 out of 5 in the taste category.

Ingredients 4/5

Providore has a fairly short ingredient list with nice ingredients. The bulk of the food is composed of chicken, chicken liver and peas. This means around two-thirds of the food is sourced from animal protein, with the remainder being legumes. The guaranteed analysis confirms this composition: it boasts a minimum of 32% crude protein, 26% crude fat and packs 4,500 kcal per kilogram.

Chicken and chicken liver are great as first and second ingredients, and we’ll cover those in-depth in the next category. Peas as a third ingredient, however, aren’t on par with other air-dried foods at this price point like Ziwi Peak.

Are peas in dog food healthy? The answer isn’t straightforward: As a legume, peas have been involved in some controversy. In a 2020 study, researchers from Tufts University found a statistical correlation between a diet high in legumes (like peas, chickpeas and lentils) and heart disease in dogs [1]. Despite the initial concern that even caused the FDA to release a statement, the links between legumes and heart disease are still non-conclusive.

Some researchers have proposed that certain chemicals in legumes might cause a taurine deficiency in dogs, which if left unattended might be the root cause of heart disease [2].

Overall, here at Gentle Dog Trainers, we consider peas a safe ingredient in dog food if it is used in moderate quantities. As long as research doesn’t say otherwise, peas can be a good option for your dog when compared to corn, wheat, and wheat gluten. Providore dog food includes peas to lower the final cost of the food and bulk it up, but it shouldn’t be a reason to doubt its safety.

PRO TIP: If you want to avoid peas, some Providore recipes just skip them altogether: the lamb & venison and lamb & mackerel recipes don’t have peas in the ingredient list [3]

On the flip side, there is another major ingredient that might be a cause for concern. Right after peas, “vegetable glycerin” is in the ingredient list. Glycerin is a common ingredient in dog food: it is used as a humectant to keep humidity levels in check, improve palatability and give treats that “chewy” texture. Glycerin is colourless and odourless, but has a relatively high glycaemic index and can make dog food slightly sweet [4].

Glycerin has also been somewhat of a controversial ingredient because it can be a derivative of petroleum manufacturing as well as from the processing of other fats. Glycerin that comes from diesel fuel can have traces of methanol and sodium from the actual fuel. These traces can cause harm to your dog if consumed in large quantities, and there haven’t been enough studies to show whether or not even small amounts are safe [5].

Nevertheless, vegetable glycerin only comes from the manufacturing of vegetable fat sources. These are mostly vegetable oils like coconut, palm and sunflower. Vegetable glycerin is food-grade and generally considered safe for dogs to eat.

PRO TIP: Make sure you only buy dog food or treats that specifically say “vegetable glycerin” or “vegetable glycerol”. If a label only states “glycerin”, it is probably derived from diesel manufacturing and might contain traces of harmful chemicals [6].

After peas and glycerin, the remainder of the ingredient list looks good enough, with goodies such as fish oil and green-lipped mussels. We’ll cover those extras in-depth further down.

Our panel of experts is giving Providore 4 out of 5 in the ingredient category. At this price point, we’d expect peas to be a less important ingredient in the overall composition, and the high percentage of glycerin in the food isn’t appealing either. Even though Providore uses vegetable glycerin, it is a big chunk of the food, above green lipped mussels, fish oils and the rest of the ingredients.

Protein content 5/5

The first AND second ingredient in this dog food comes from animal protein, so we’re off to a good start. As a brand, Providore prides itself in using protein as the main ingredient in all recipes, and it shows in the final composition.

Some recipes like the lamb & venison, and beef & hoki options even have the first four ingredients be meat-derived. Considering dogs need their food to be based around animal protein, this is good to see in commercially available food.

It’s also important to mention that, on top of adding whole proteins (i.e. “chicken”, “beef”, “lamb”, etc.), this brand specifically includes innards in their recipes. All recipes include at least liver, and some include lung and liver from different sources. So why are innards such an important part of long-term health in dogs?

Organ meats, unlike muscle meat, are very nutrient-dense foods. On top of high-quality protein and fats, they pack more vitamins like vitamin A, B, and D; as well as iron, copper and selenium [7]. Some trace minerals, like thiamine, are almost non-existent in muscle meats but plentiful in the liver and brain. In fact, “in the wild”, around one-third of a dog’s diet would be organ meats.

Another positive is that Providore is an air-dried food. This means that instead of being cooked down and baked like kibble, it is desiccated until the water content is low enough for packaging. The reason why air-dried food is gaining popularity is that the desiccation process preserves significantly more nutrients than the traditional way of extruding and double-baking kibble. This means that most of the vitamins and micronutrients added to the dog food will reach your dog’s bowl, instead of being cooked to death in the manufacturing process.

Air-drying also preserves the trace minerals in the liver and lungs added to the recipes. Overall, this process increases the nutritional value of the food.

Providore gets 5 out of 5 in the protein category. Our team of independent experts like the use of organ and bones on top of the traditional muscles. The protein is high-quality and will provide a balanced mix of vitamins and trace minerals.

Additives 4/5

Although Providore’s ingredient list is fairly short, they add some interesting extras that are nice to see. Here are our highlights:

Green-lipped mussels: These mussels are only found in New Zealand, and have become a staple of kiwi dog foods. This specific species has green edges (lips) on their shells. Green-lipped mussels are rich in Omega-3. This essential fatty acid has been associated with lower inflammation levels in arthritic dogs [8]. Diets with green-lipped mussels can help dogs with chronic pain and inflammation.
Fish oil and flaxseed: These two ingredients add healthy fat to your dog’s diet. Both of these ingredients add healthy Omega-3s, which are powerful antioxidants that lower inflammation and prevent chronic conditions.
Parsley: This small “super herb” packs a lot of fibre and has chlorophyll that fights bad breath, but also has high levels of Vitamin C, A and K.
Chicory extract and kelp: Both of these add fibre, that in turn acts as a prebiotic feeding the “good” bacteria in the gut. Kelp in particular has lipids on top of fibre, meaning it can help with skin health and a shiny coat.

Overall, we like the little extras. There’s nothing too innovative, so we’re giving Providore 4 out of 5 stars.

Variety 5/5

Providore is a relatively small brand, mainly because of its higher price point. Nevertheless, they offer several recipe options to choose from. For example, there’s a plain chicken and a plain beef option, but also lamb & venison, lamb & mackerel, chicken & mackerel and beef & hoki. There’s also a variety sampler pack with four different flavours. This lets you mix-and-match to your dog’s liking. Of course, all recipes are raw, air-dried dog food that can be used as a full meal or as a topper.

This brand also offers several air-dried treat options in somewhat unique flavours: with honey, green lipped mussel, abalone, sweet potato and kiwifruit.

There are some differences among the recipes: for example, a few of them don’t have peas, although all recipes have vegetable glycerin. Other than that, the brand sticks to air-dried, raw meats and a limited ingredient list.

Because of the options available, our panel is giving this brand 5 out of 5 in variety.

Price 2/5

This is where Providore falls behind. The price of this food is hefty, although more affordable than direct competitors such as Ziwi Peak.

Nevertheless, there’s a reason why the brand recommends their dry food as a complete meal OR as a topping. If you have a very small dog, it might be fine. But for medium-to-large pups, or households with more than one dog, it’s not budget-friendly. We’re giving this brand 2 out of 5 in this category.

Do Not Buy If…

This brand is nice for many pups, but our team of independent experts believe it might not be your cup of tea if you:

Are on a budget: The price is the biggest drawback, in our opinion. Most households would have a difficult time making Providore the main component of their dog’s food. However, used as a topper or a hefty mix-in, it would add some raw goodies that aren’t usually in traditional kibble.
Want to avoid vegetable glycerin in high quantities: All Providore recipes have a significant percentage of vegetable glycerin. While this component is safe for most dogs, its higher glycaemic index might pose problems for diabetic or obese pups. When in doubt, as your vet.
Need a single-protein food: Although this brand has two single-protein options (chicken and beef), some dogs can be sensitive to these common proteins. This brand doesn’t offer recipes without chicken or beef, and even the ones with more exotic protein (like mackerel) are paired with one of those options. If your dog is especially sensitive, you might need to look elsewhere.

The Verdict

Compared to other air-dried competitors, Providore is a medium-range food for a hefty price. This brand’s recipes have a high percentage of vegetable glycerin, which is less than ideal considering the price point. Every member of our expert team note that it would have been better to see other wholesome ingredients featured more prominently, instead of glycerin.

Nevertheless, air-dried food is better than most kibbles, and this brand is significantly cheaper than others (like Ziwi Peak). Overall, it’s a good option as a topper or as a main food to get into your rotation.

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

References

Kindy, D. August 13, 2021. "Are Peas in Common Dog Foods Contributing to Canine Heart Disease?". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved January 10, 2024. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/are-peas-common-dog-foods-contributing-canine-heart-disease-180978429/
"Legumes, dilate cardiomyopathy and taurine deficiency". October 2023. All The Best Pet Care. Retrieved January 10, 2024. https://www.allthebestpetcare.com/pet-nutrition/legumes-dilated-cardiomyopathy-dcm-and-taurine-deficiency/
"Lamb & Venison Recipe". Providore. Retrieved January 10, 2024. https://providorepetfood.com/dogs/providore-air-dried-dog-food-lamb-venison/
"Glycerine in dog food". All About Dog Food. Retrieved January 10, 2024. https://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/dog-food-ingredients/0130/glycerin
"6 Ingredients to Avoid When Buying Dog Treats". February 28, 2019. TP Feeds. Retrieved January 10, 2024. https://www.tpfeeds.co.uk/blog/read_188846/6-ingredients-to-avoid-when-buying-dog-treats.html
"Is Vegetable Glycerin Safe For Dogs?". November 18, 2021. Four Leaf Rover. Retrieved January 10, 2024. https://fourleafrover.com/blogs/natural-health/is-vegetable-glycerin-safe-for-dogs
"Read this before feeding your dog innards (internal organs)". April 28, 2020. Can I Give My Dog.com. Retrieved January 10, 2024. https://canigivemydog.com/internal-organs
"Green Lipped Mussels for Dogs: How Can They Help". December 20, 2016. PetMD. Retrieved January 10, 2024. https://www.petmd.com/dog/wellness/green-lipped-mussels-dogs-how-they-can-help

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.

The Providore Dog Food Review: Tested & Evaluated 2024

Australia's Providore Dog Food Review

Taste 5/5

Ingredients 4/5

Protein content 5/5

Additives 4/5

Variety 5/5

Price 2/5

Do Not Buy If…

The Verdict

References

Eloisa Thomas

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