Dec. 24, 2024

The Honest Kitchen Dog Food Reviews

The Honest Kitchen Dog Food Reviews, Ratings and Analysis
XX
Top 5 Ingredients*
  1. Dehydrated beef

  2. Organic oats

  3. Organic rye

  4. Organic flaxseed

  5. Potatoes

Artificial Ingredients No
Contains By-products No
Price Range $$$
*Verve Dehydrated Dog Food, Adult Maintenance was selected as the recipe for this ingredient list
What's good about this pet food
  • excellent animal proteins - raised humanely
  • fruits
  • vegetables
  • whole grains
What's not so good about this pet food
  • Price

Our Analysis

The Honest Kitchen Dog Food gets our highest rating for the high quality ingredients that their food is manufactured with—the company actually applied to the FDA to get a “human grade” approval and it was granted. The dog and cat food is manufactured in the U.S. in Honest Kitchen’s privately owned facility where human food is manufactured as well. Most of the ingredients are from the U.S.

The food is dehydrated, so water needs to be added to rehydrate it or it can be put on other foods as a supplement. Honest Kitchen’s dog food does not use fillers, and the foods contain a healthy amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Most of the Honest Kitchen dog foods also include fruits and vegetables which are beneficial to a dogs health and not included in many main stream foods. This is a company that is also very environmentally conscious so they try to use whole ingredients including animals that are raised humanely (e.g. free range chickens and wild haddock).

The Word on the Street...

The reviews of The Honest Kitchen Dog Food are overwhelmingly positive. The only complaint that is echoed by many dog owners is the price of the food, which is more than many ultra-premium dog food formulas. For example, a 10lb bag of dog food (which makes 40-48lbs of fresh food) can cost from $60 – $80. However, many dog owners did not mind the price, since the ingredients in Honest Kitchen are highly nutritious, and of very high quality. Most all dog owners reported favorable results when feeding their dogs Honest Kitchen dog food.

  • L.T. Chen

    I am using THK products to feed my dogs, I want to 100% make sure that NO ingridents of the THK dehydrated products are sourced from China. Thank you.

  • Terenve

    The method of cooking is by dehydration which is good. However, they flash heat the potatoes to 284 F and any high temp. above 250 F for plant-based foods will form the cancer-causing chemical called Acrylamide. I have informed the company not to do this or better still, remove the potato from their ingredients list. That will make a healthier food. But so far, there is no response.

    • Billy

      Our fruits and vegetables are harvested at the peak of their ripeness,
      cleaned and trimmed, then gently dried below 104 degrees so they are
      still considered raw after dehydration is complete. Our meat and egg
      ingredients are dehydrated at a high enough temperature to kill any
      pathogenic bacteria that may be present, and the required temperature
      for this is above 120 degrees F. This makes them safe for human
      consumption-a requirement for entry into the human food facility where
      our products are made

  • butch

    has anyone had any problems with these products once again dog are dying for a bacteria found in some treats and chicken from china…I am so afraid anymore of the dog foods has anyone had any problems thanks please let me know thanks.

  • julie

    I have had many digestive/allergies issues with my 2.5 year old lab pit mix. She’s been on taste of wild salmon for past year, recently switched to THK on suggestion due to problems with vomiting blood and pooping blood. I have had her blood checked/xrays/tests/antibiotics without ever finding the exact cause. Maybe ulcer/maybe colorize…Finally after almost 3 mos of THK embark, totalzymes and ,totalbioitics she has a beautiful soft coat, she’s puke free, at a great weight, she’s still hyper and she even cries and drools while waiting for me preparing her food. Btw Don’t believe all the critics they probably work for science diet lol check ingredients on dog food and sign up for pet food advisor recalls. Good luck!

  • John

    Poor quality food, poor quality company.
    Lots of high quality marketing. Yes, pets can even like the food, but the consequences of ingredients sourced in third world nations but manufactured here won’t show up for years to come.

    • vader1013

      no ingredients are sourced from third world countries. where are your source references for this information?

  • Beth

    The thing about this dog food is that it says it is manufactured in the US. I have learned that they source their ingredients from sources that include China. Also, while some dogs will enjoy the food and may even perk up, what toxins they receive will not produce health problems for years to come. Then it will be too late.
    My experience with this company is the worst I have ever had with any company outside of the contract cell phone industry of years ago. There is no customer service. Yes, they have a person who picks up voice mail messages, but that’s about it. Good luck relying on anything said to you or expecting follow up. And forget about privacy of your personal contact information Forget about that because you will be submitted to the largest data base in the world without a blink of an eye.

    Very ignorant company. Just marketing…….

    • vader1013

      it says right on the box “no ingredients from China”. please stop spreading unfounded and misinformed rumors.

  • Manny

    I’m sorry to disagree but I had the worst experience with the quality of the dog food and the company. I’ve been a lifelong animal welfare advocate and I have a degree in Life Science. I have zero faith in this company and their products.

    • Sara

      Does anybody know if this type of product causes any harm to animals in long term?

  • Timothy T.

    I have nothing to add to this review except to say that you should probably not say that the price is a bad thing. You get what you pay for, so this price is actually a great value since you get a fantastic food for the price.

    • kayakesva

      This review is vague and seriously lacking in specifics. Also- as far as I know, a degree in Life Sciences (whatever that is) is not a degree in veterinary science nor in veterinary nutrition.

  • myron

    This is a fantastic food. The price is really high, but at least I know that I am paying for quality.

  • MsCynic

    My puppy was having serious digestive issues for months. The vet was not certain what was going on, and thought she may have an enzyme problem or intestinal issue, and we even ran tests for that. Her breeder and I spoke constantly and were worried and at our wits end. When the breeder returned to the states, she provided me 4 boxes of Honest Kitchen to try under the recommendation from someone in her SAR Group and I was so very grateful. My dog has normal bowel movements, fabulous coat, dramatic increase in energy (which I did NOT think was possible), and was steadily gaining weight (which was a concern I had been having). I now feed Honest Kitchen with Instinct or Wellness to balance the cost somewhat (although NONE of them are ‘cheap’ foods) and she is thriving in Schutzhund & Obedience training. I am grateful for this food, and don’t have any complaints about it (aside from the cost).

    • Linda

      I had the same sort of experience (but to lesser degree). One of my dogs was just not doing well — her stomach was always upset no matter what food we fed her, she had low energy and her coat was coarse and dull. Someone from the dog park recommended the Honest Kitchen, so we gave it a try. What a difference in our Bella. It is the first time in years that her stools have been regular and firm. Her energy level is up and her coat looks great. Our other dogs love the food as well. Yes, the price is high, but it is well worth it.

More Information

Who makes The Honest Kitchen?

The company who makes The Honest Kitchen dog food is called The Honest Kitchen. The Honest Kitchen was first founded in 2000, though the company didn’t become “officially” founded and incorporated until 2002. In the year 2009, The Honest Kitchen reported that they were producing and selling over 100,000 lbs of food. In 2007, Honest Kitchen introduced new, “eco-friendly” packaging for some of their dog food formulas.

Honest Kitchen Dog Food Recall

As of Feb. 2013, The Honest Kitchen voluntarily recalled five lots of Thrive, Verve and Zeal pet food products produced between August and November 2012. Please visit The Honest Kitchen website to find out which product lots are being recalled and for more information and updates.However, since recall information may change unexpectedly, it’s important for you to check the FDA pet food recall list on a regular basis, to make sure that your dog’s food has not been recalled.

The Honest Kitchen Recipes

The Honest Kitchen Dry Recipes:

  • Honest Kitchen Zeal
  • Honest Kitchen Force
  • Honest Kitchen Keen
  • Honest Kitchen Verve
  • Honest Kitchen Thrive
  • Honest Kitchen Embark
  • Honest Kitchen Preference

Honest Kitchen Consumer Info

Where can I buy Honest Kitchen?

You may be wondering, “Where can I buy The Honest Kitchen Dog Food?”. To assist you, we have included links on the specific Honest Kitchen formula pages to purchase Honest Kitchen dog food.

How much Honest Kitchen should I feed my dog?

A common question that many pet owners have, is “How much Honest Kitchen dog food should I feed my dog?”. Since the answer is dependent on several factors (such as your dog’s age, weight, activity level, etc) always follow the specific instructions on your formula’s packaging.

Have you fed your dog any of the Honest Kitchen dog food dry or canned formulas? Do you have feedback that could help other pet owners? Please share your review of Honest Kitchen dog food!

Ingredient List*

The Honest Kitchen Dog Food Ingredient List

*for Verve Dehydrated Dog Food, Adult Maintenance

Dog Food Coupons

Dog Food Coupons

Posted on Mar.09.2016
50% off of a sample bundle from TheHonestKitchen.com.
Posted on Jul.14.2015
  • On your 1st delivery - Use code 12OFF
Posted on Jul.17.2015
  • New Customers Only
  • Enter code AF5BUCKS at OnlyNaturalPet.com!
Posted on Feb.08.2016
Save $1 on Wonders. Expires 2/19/16.

More Dog Food Coupons…

16 Responses to Honest Kitchen

  1. L.T. Chen April 16, 2014 at 9:31 am #

    I am using THK products to feed my dogs, I want to 100% make sure that NO ingridents of the THK dehydrated products are sourced from China. Thank you.

  2. Terenve April 14, 2013 at 11:55 pm #

    The method of cooking is by dehydration which is good. However, they flash heat the potatoes to 284 F and any high temp. above 250 F for plant-based foods will form the cancer-causing chemical called Acrylamide. I have informed the company not to do this or better still, remove the potato from their ingredients list. That will make a healthier food. But so far, there is no response.

    • Billy April 6, 2015 at 7:36 pm #

      Our fruits and vegetables are harvested at the peak of their ripeness,
      cleaned and trimmed, then gently dried below 104 degrees so they are
      still considered raw after dehydration is complete. Our meat and egg
      ingredients are dehydrated at a high enough temperature to kill any
      pathogenic bacteria that may be present, and the required temperature
      for this is above 120 degrees F. This makes them safe for human
      consumption-a requirement for entry into the human food facility where
      our products are made

  3. butch February 14, 2013 at 7:54 am #

    has anyone had any problems with these products once again dog are dying for a bacteria found in some treats and chicken from china…I am so afraid anymore of the dog foods has anyone had any problems thanks please let me know thanks.

  4. julie May 7, 2012 at 8:28 pm #

    I have had many digestive/allergies issues with my 2.5 year old lab pit mix. She’s been on taste of wild salmon for past year, recently switched to THK on suggestion due to problems with vomiting blood and pooping blood. I have had her blood checked/xrays/tests/antibiotics without ever finding the exact cause. Maybe ulcer/maybe colorize…Finally after almost 3 mos of THK embark, totalzymes and ,totalbioitics she has a beautiful soft coat, she’s puke free, at a great weight, she’s still hyper and she even cries and drools while waiting for me preparing her food. Btw Don’t believe all the critics they probably work for science diet lol check ingredients on dog food and sign up for pet food advisor recalls. Good luck!

  5. John April 3, 2012 at 1:25 am #

    Poor quality food, poor quality company.
    Lots of high quality marketing. Yes, pets can even like the food, but the consequences of ingredients sourced in third world nations but manufactured here won’t show up for years to come.

    • vader1013 April 8, 2012 at 8:24 am #

      no ingredients are sourced from third world countries. where are your source references for this information?

  6. Beth April 3, 2012 at 1:22 am #

    The thing about this dog food is that it says it is manufactured in the US. I have learned that they source their ingredients from sources that include China. Also, while some dogs will enjoy the food and may even perk up, what toxins they receive will not produce health problems for years to come. Then it will be too late.
    My experience with this company is the worst I have ever had with any company outside of the contract cell phone industry of years ago. There is no customer service. Yes, they have a person who picks up voice mail messages, but that’s about it. Good luck relying on anything said to you or expecting follow up. And forget about privacy of your personal contact information Forget about that because you will be submitted to the largest data base in the world without a blink of an eye.

    Very ignorant company. Just marketing…….

    • vader1013 April 8, 2012 at 8:26 am #

      it says right on the box “no ingredients from China”. please stop spreading unfounded and misinformed rumors.

  7. Manny April 3, 2012 at 1:17 am #

    I’m sorry to disagree but I had the worst experience with the quality of the dog food and the company. I’ve been a lifelong animal welfare advocate and I have a degree in Life Science. I have zero faith in this company and their products.

    • Sara August 24, 2013 at 2:21 am #

      Does anybody know if this type of product causes any harm to animals in long term?

  8. Timothy T. March 16, 2012 at 5:19 pm #

    I have nothing to add to this review except to say that you should probably not say that the price is a bad thing. You get what you pay for, so this price is actually a great value since you get a fantastic food for the price.

    • kayakesva April 8, 2012 at 8:30 am #

      This review is vague and seriously lacking in specifics. Also- as far as I know, a degree in Life Sciences (whatever that is) is not a degree in veterinary science nor in veterinary nutrition.

  9. myron November 16, 2011 at 2:41 pm #

    This is a fantastic food. The price is really high, but at least I know that I am paying for quality.

  10. MsCynic February 16, 2011 at 3:31 pm #

    My puppy was having serious digestive issues for months. The vet was not certain what was going on, and thought she may have an enzyme problem or intestinal issue, and we even ran tests for that. Her breeder and I spoke constantly and were worried and at our wits end. When the breeder returned to the states, she provided me 4 boxes of Honest Kitchen to try under the recommendation from someone in her SAR Group and I was so very grateful. My dog has normal bowel movements, fabulous coat, dramatic increase in energy (which I did NOT think was possible), and was steadily gaining weight (which was a concern I had been having). I now feed Honest Kitchen with Instinct or Wellness to balance the cost somewhat (although NONE of them are ‘cheap’ foods) and she is thriving in Schutzhund & Obedience training. I am grateful for this food, and don’t have any complaints about it (aside from the cost).

    • Linda March 16, 2012 at 5:17 pm #

      I had the same sort of experience (but to lesser degree). One of my dogs was just not doing well — her stomach was always upset no matter what food we fed her, she had low energy and her coat was coarse and dull. Someone from the dog park recommended the Honest Kitchen, so we gave it a try. What a difference in our Bella. It is the first time in years that her stools have been regular and firm. Her energy level is up and her coat looks great. Our other dogs love the food as well. Yes, the price is high, but it is well worth it.