zignature salmon dog food reviews

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 18, 2024

Contributions sourced from

Zignature Dog Food Review (2024)

Customer Reviews and Feedback

Customer feedback on Zignature Dog Food across various platforms presents a predominantly positive picture. Many pet owners report significant improvements in their dogs health after switching to Zignature, particularly praising the brand for its effectiveness in managing food sensitivities and allergies.

Reviews frequently highlight reductions in skin irritations, digestive problems, and other allergy-related symptoms, attributing these health improvements to Zignatures limited ingredient and hypoallergenic formulas. The variety of unique protein sources available is also a point of satisfaction, allowing owners to tailor their dogs diet to avoid common allergens effectively.

However, as with any product, not all feedback is universally positive. A minority of reviews express disappointment, noting that some dogs did not take well to the taste of certain formulas or did not show the expected health improvements. These instances underscore the individual nature of dietary needs and preferences among dogs, emphasizing the importance of finding a diet that aligns with each pets specific requirements.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Limited Ingredient Diets: Ideal for dogs with food sensitivities, allergies, or special dietary needs.
Unique Protein Sources: Offers a range of novel proteins, reducing the likelihood of allergic reactions.
Grain-Free Formulas: Caters to dogs with grain sensitivities and aligns with a more natural, ancestral diet.
Nutritional Quality: High-quality ingredients ensure a balanced diet, supporting overall health and well-being.

Cons:

Price Point: Premium pricing may be a barrier for some pet owners.
Palatability: Some dogs may find certain formulas less appealing, posing challenges for picky eaters.
Limited Availability: While widely available online and in specialty stores, some locations may have a limited selection.

Comparison with Competitors

Comparing Zignature Dog Food to similar premium brands such as Acana, Orijen, and The Honest Kitchen reveals both commonalities and distinctions. Like Zignature, these brands emphasize high-quality ingredients, grain-free options, and nutritional integrity.

However, Zignature sets itself apart with its unique approach to limited ingredient diets and the use of novel proteins, catering specifically to dogs with food sensitivities and allergies. In terms of pricing, Zignature is competitive within the premium segment, offering comparable value given its specialized dietary focus.

While brands like Orijen and Acana prioritize biologically appropriate diets with a broader range of ingredients, Zignatures simpler formulas can be particularly advantageous for dogs with specific health concerns. The Honest Kitchen, offering dehydrated whole foods, presents an alternative for those seeking minimally processed options, yet Zignatures dry and wet food lines provide a more conventional feeding approach with the added benefit of catering to sensitive diets.

Expert Opinions and Overall Score

Zignature Dog Food Score: 8.5/10

Veterinarians and animal nutrition experts often recommend Zignature Dog Food for pets with allergies or food sensitivities, citing its limited ingredient approach and selection of novel proteins as key factors in its effectiveness. Experts appreciate the brands commitment to quality and its avoidance of common allergens, making it a valuable option for managing diet-related health issues.

Given the specific needs it addresses, the expert consensus on Zignature is largely positive, with the brand frequently recommended for its hypoallergenic properties. However, experts also advise that pet owners consult with a veterinarian to ensure that Zignatures formulas meet the individual nutritional requirements of their dogs, particularly for those with complex health issues.

Overall, Zignature Dog Food earns a score of 8.5 out of 10 for its specialized focus on hypoallergenic diets, quality ingredients, and the positive health outcomes reported by many pet owners. This score reflects the brands success in catering to a niche market within the pet food industry, offering substantial benefits for dogs with specific dietary needs.

Conclusion

Zignature Dog Food presents a compelling option for pet owners seeking specialized nutrition solutions for their dogs, particularly those with allergies or food sensitivities. The brands commitment to limited ingredient, hypoallergenic formulas, combined with the use of high-quality and novel proteins, positions Zignature as a leader in this niche market.

While the premium price point and potential palatability issues for some dogs are considerations, the overall value offered by Zignatureevidenced by positive customer feedback and expert endorsementsmakes it a worthwhile choice for many. As with any dietary change, consultation with a veterinary professional is crucial to ensure that Zignature meets the specific nutritional needs of individual pets, optimizing the benefits of this specialized dog food brand.

Zignature Dog Food Review

Zignature has a really good name worldwide*, and over the years Ive found the brand very reputable.

2022 has seen the Zignature dog food range finally hit Australian shores, and at the time of writing only available at Pet Circle.

Zignature is named after boxer doggy Ziggy, who in his early years suffered far-too-common food sensitives from crap brands. Ziggys owner, with prior experience in the pet food industry, set about creating a hypoallergenic dog food with low glycemic binders.

Enter Zignature.

That was 2012, and Zignature dog food is still going strong

Lets take a look!

* Unless youve been led down the garden path by the corporate-funded grain-free marketing BS.

Zignature dog food review

What the marketing says

Zignature recipes are marketed as limited ingredient.

This makes them a great choice for dogs showing signs of food sensitivities like scratching, flakey skin, itchy ears, or dry coat.

Even if your dog isnt suffering food sensitivities, Zignature dog food is still worth considering as a no-nonsense option.

Zignature is an alternative to expensive vet-endorsed hypoallergenic derma brands, but theres actually no real science or magic behind those brands. In fact, many vet-endorsed derma brands are high carbs from grains and not as healthy as you may think. Switching from a wheat-based dog food to an expensive rice-based derma brand may seem to work, but not for long term health.

In contrast, Zignature opts for a single-protein meat-first recipe, backed up with low GI ingredients and no rubbish.

Truth is hypoallergenic dog foods arent complicated at all, they simply dont contain rubbish like wheat or cereal by-products, dubious preservatives, or common protein allergens like chicken.

For dogs with a chicken intollerance it gets very tricky to find a suitable diet. The reason being most dog foods contain chicken of some sort, even if the formula name is something else. A food can be labelled kangaroo, but may contain chicken fat (or even animal fat as a more obscure term).

None of the Zignature formulas contain chicken, so its a safe bet in that respect.

With Zignature its nice to see such straight forward no-nonsense marketing. They tell it like it is, and thats a refreshing change.

What the ingredients say

For the purpose of this review well take a look at the Zignature Original Grain Free Trout and Salmon formula. Its the most popular in the range and possibly the best starting point for addressing diet-related sensitivities.

The Trout and Salmon formula boasts the highest protein in the range at 31%, which is very respectable.

Youll also find recipes made with kangaroo from Australia (obviously), duck from France, lamb from New Zealand, turkey, whitefish, and trout from America, and the ultra-protein Zssential formula which is the absolute top notch of the range (which Ill cover later).

Its great to see the first two ingredients in the Trout and Salmon formula are actually trout and salmon meal, so exactly what it says on the tin.

Having a combination of meat and meat meal ensures a decent amount of protein from meat (or fish), which is what you want for your dog.

Often you find dry foods with MEAT FIRST plastered on the packaging, but this is meaningless when its wet weight with 70% moisture which gets cooked off, then followed by a whole load of grains, starches, and legumes. Not the case with Zignature.

The next two ingredients, however, will also be significant. These are chickpeas and peas. These ingredients will also contribute to the protein as well as adding fibre, vitamins, and minerals. For the manufacturer, they also keep production costs down and the product affordable.

Both these ingredients are low GI.

The protein is really decent (around 30%), as is the fat content (14%). High protein and fat means lower carbohydrates, and dogs have no real need of carbs.

Weve already covered the main ingredients, which is expected in a limited ingredient diet. The rest of the ingredients cover essential vitamins and minerals, as well as sunflower oil, flaxseed, and DHA to provide omega fatty acids for heart health, skin, and coat.

I cant find anything to complain about, so lets summarise so you can decide whether you want to buy Zignature for your dog.

A summary

All in all Zignature dog food is well rounded, no-nonsense, and shouldnt cause food sensitivities or allergies. Theres a decent amount of meat in the food, and even the two legume inclusions arent anything to worry about.

If you have an itchy/scratchy dog, and assuming the root cause is diet, then I bet a couple of weeks on Zignature and youll see vast improvements in health and comfort.

With any symptoms related to allergies or sensitivities you should check in with your vet. Environmental allergies and reactions to antibiotics or medicines can also cause such symptoms, and changing diet wont fix these.

As ingredients are kept minimal we find no swanky additions of pre or probiotics, but theres nothing stopping you doing this as well. Its something well worth considering if youre looking at Zignature to address food sensitivities, and theres a guide on probiotics for dogs here.

Recommended!

Rotational feeding

Its great to see such a variety of unique formulas in the Zignature range. Ive been a keen advocate of rotational feeding for some time, and theres no reason your dog should be fed the same thing every day.

If one of the formulas in the Zignature range works for you, its well worth rotating between the various formulas in the range!

Where to buy Zignature dog food

Zignature Trout & Salmon formula:

What about Zignature Zssential dog food?

Yep, thats a lot of zs (imagine Sean Connery pronouncing it).

I assume Zssential is pronounced Essential, but its basically Zignature Original on steroids, with the limited ingredient principle out the window.

Zignature Zssential dog food is fantastic. 32% protein and 18% carbs makes it more meat and fish focused than the others in the range, and even less carbohydrates.

The top ingredients are turkey, turkey meal, salmon, lamb meal, and duck meal, as well as the addition of salmon oil as well as sunflower oil.

So, should you opt for Zignature Zssential rather than the other formulas?

If your dog doesnt have food sensitivities, then yes Id say so. Its the same price.

Where to buy Zignature Zssential dog food

Zignature Zssential (ultra-protein):

Dont like reading? Heres a video

I dug up a training video from Pets Global who make Zignature dog food. It discusses where Zignature source ingredients, obesity and diabetes in dogs, good vs bad carbohydrates, the benefit of lower GI ingredients, candida, dog scooting, and more.

Ingredients

Ingredients of Zignature dog food (Zignature Trout & Salmon formula):

Trout, Salmon Meal, Chickpeas, Peas, Sunflower Oil (preserved with Citric Acid), Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Salmon Oil, Flaxseed, Natural Flavors, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Tricalcium Phosphate, Salt, Vitamins (Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 supplement), Calcium Carbonate, Taurine, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Cobalt Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), L-Carnitine.

Guaranteed analysis

Guaranteed analysis of Zignature dog food (Zignature Trout & Salmon formula):

Protein	(min) 31%
Fat	(min)14%
Crude Fibre	(max) 4%
Carbohydrates *	Estimated 37%

* May be estimated. Read how to calculate carbohydrates in a pet food.

FAQ

Is Zignature suitable for small dogs?

Yes, the Zignature Small Bites range caters for smaller dog breeds. All formulas mentioned in this review have a corresponding small bites option, with a smaller sized biscuit and bag sizes.

Who owns Zignature dog food?

Zignature dog food is a product of American company Pets Global, manufacturers of Zignature, Fussie Cat, Essence, and Inception.

Is Zignature AAFCO compliant?

Zignature dog food formulas (dry and wet) meet AAFCO requirements for All Life Stages, including large breed puppy.

Where is Zignature made?

Zignature dog food is made in the United States using ingredients sourced from around the world. The Australian Kangaroo formula is made in American using Kangaroo sourced from Australia.

A note on the FDA investigation into grain-free dog foods

Like many grain-free brands, Zignature dog food fell under the FDA investigation into grain-free dog foods potentially causing heart problems.

The FDA investigation subsequently found no conclusive evidence, which meant many of these brands were tarnished unnecessarily, without proof.

A point always overlooked is what triggered the investigation, which originated with a concern from a Dr Lisa Freeman of Tufts, on the payroll of multiple corporate manufacturers who make grain-based dog foods.

Why may you ask?

A simple answer would be follow the money. Those corporate manufacturers have a clear interest in damaging the reputation of their many grain-free competitors.

Many of those grain-free brands still suffer to this day despite the lack of evidence. Years on and vets and social media evangelists still warn people against grain-free foods.

What they really should warn people of is dog foods without significant meat content, which is most brands.