The Best Dog Food For Vizslas 2024 [For Young And Old] | It's A Vizsla (2024)

If you’ve either recently or soon to bring home a vizsla to be part of the family, or you are already a vizsla owner, one of the things you’re no doubt wondering is what is the best dog food for vizslas?

Vizslas are lean athletic dogs with a tall frame and lots of energy and they need good quality, nutritious food to keep them healthy and active.

However, with so many different dog foods on the market, it’s not always easy to decide which is the best dog food for vizsla puppies, let alone adult or senior vizslas.

You almost need to be a nutritionist yourself to fully understand all those labels and wade through all the marketing jargon to determine what is the best dog food on the market.

We put a lot of effort into researching what the experts recommended as the best food for vizsla dogs before getting our pup and she is thriving.

So to help you determine the best vizsla dog food, I’ve put together this guide on how to choose one of the top rated dog foods. At the end of the guide, we also take a closer look at some of the best rated dog food options for vizslas currently on the market.

While there are many different options for a healthy vizsla diet including raw and wet dog food, here we cover just the best dry dog food for vizslas.

Regardless of how old your vizsla is, whether you’re after the best puppy food for vizsla dogs, the best food for senior dogs, or adult dogs, in this best dog food review, you’ll find something no matter their age.

So let’s get into it and find the best vizsla food for your newest family member.

>> Click here to see the best dog food for vizslas now

The Best Dog Food For Vizslas 2024 Comparison

Below is a handy comparison table where you can see all the best dog foods reviewed within this guide.

The best dog food comparison chart lists the various features side by side to help you decide what’s the best dog food for your vizsla.

Click the product name to check the price or read on for our dog food reviews.

Image	Brand	Grain Free	Suitable for	Main ingredient	Price
	Orijen Grain Free	Yes	All life stages	Deboned chicken	CHECK
	Nutro Ultra	No	Adults	Chicken	CHECK
	Taste of the Wild High Prairie Formula	Yes	Adults	Water buffalo	CHECK
	Acana Wholesome Grains Red Meat & Grains	No	All life stages	Beef	CHECK
	American Journey Active Life Formula	No	All life stages	Deboned chicken	CHECK
	Ziwi Peak Beef Grain-Free Air Fried Dog Food	Yes	All life stages	Beef	CHECK
	Annamaet Original Ultra Formula	No	Adult	Chicken meal	CHECK
	Nature's Way Instinct Original	Yes	All life stages	Beef	CHECK
	Merrick Classic Healthy Grains	No	Adult	Deboned chicken	CHECK
	Canidae All Life Stages Dry Dog Food	No	All life stages	Chicken meal	CHECK
	Skinner's Field and Trial UK	No	Adult	Brown Rice	CHECK

This article is based onresearchand personal experience as a Vizsla owner. I’m not a qualified dog trainer, breeder, Vet or dog behaviourist.

My Pick For The Best Dog Food For Vizsla 2024

Don’t have time to read this entire guide on the best dried dog food for vizslas and just want to hear my recommendation?

Then I suggest the Acana Red Meat and Grains formula.

How To Choose The Best Food For Vizsla Dogs

Whether you’re after the best food for vizsla puppy or the best senior dog food, it can be difficult choosing, as there are many different products on the market.

When it comes to choosing the best quality dog food or the best healthy dog food, there are various individual factors that you’ll need to consider.

To help you determine what’s the best dog food for your Vizsla, consider the following factors.

Age Of Dog

As your dog moves through different phases of life, their health needs will change and consequently, their diets will need to change to meet these needs.

Generally, puppies will require special vizsla puppy food until they’re around 12 months or almost fully grown.

The best dog food for vizsla puppy owners is one designed for large breed dogs to ensure they are getting all the nutrients they need to develop properly.

Once your dog is around 12 months of age or fully grown, you can change them to a good quality adult food – large breed formulas are suitable if they are super active all day, but a regular dry food is perfectly fine if they are not.

The best adult dog food is one which is high in protein – this encourages lean muscle and keeps their energy levels ups.

When dogs get much older into their senior years, they might need their diet changed up depending on any health issues they may have.

Sometimes older dogs can benefit from more fiber, protein or other nutrients – your vet will be able to advise you and assist you in choosing the best dog food for senior dogs that will meet your vizsla’s needs.

Any Allergies

While generally speaking vizsla’s are fairly healthy dogs, they can suffer from various allergies, including skin and food allergies.

Often allergies can form as a result of a diet high in grains, which is why some vizsla owners choose to feed their vizsla a grain free diet (more on that below).

There are many good options with whole grains worth considering though and we outline them too.

Foods that contain low quality grains such as wheat, corn and soy are not the best dog food for allergies and should be avoided at all costs.

Also consider YOUR allergies – if anyone in the home suffers allergies, feeding your dog a high quality food can help improve the dog’s coat and skin, resulting in less shedding and pet dander.

Ingredients

It can be quite confusing and daunting trying to read the ingredient labels on dog food.

However, a really easy way to find out main ingredients is to look at the first five ingredients listed on the label.

Ingredients contained in dog food are listed in descending order by weight. So the higher up the list, the larger component of the ingredient in the dog food.

So if a dog food says it’s made with chicken and rice, but neither chicken nor rice is listed within the first five ingredients, then I’d reconsider purchasing this for your dog.

It is also important to check for deceptive ingredient splitting practices, which breaks similar ingredients down into smaller categories to reduce the overall % listed for categories such as pulses and grains.

Another easy way to determine what’s in the dog food is the wording on the front of the label.

Understanding pet food labels

There are rules around how much of a certain ingredient the dog food must contain, depending on how the manufacturer has labelled it:

• When a label says “chicken dog food,” the product must contain at least 95% chicken.
• If a label says “chicken and rice dog food,” the product must contain at least 95% of chicken and rice combined.
• When a label says “chicken platter” or “chicken formula” (note the additional words), the product is only required to contain 25% chicken.
• If a label says “with chicken,” the product is only required to contain 3% chicken.
• Lastly, if the label says “chicken flavored,” then no percentage of chicken is required whatsoever! However, at least some chicken must be detected in the dog food.

While the main components of your dog’s diet should be good quality protein and fats, some natural fibers and vegetables can also provide energy, essential minerals and vitamins.

However, be sure to avoid artificial preservatives or fillers (more on this below) which have no nutritional value.

Grain Or Grain Free

Something else you may like to consider in terms of ingredients is whether or not the food is grain free.

There is ongoing concern and research on whether a diet free of grains is more beneficial or not to your vizsla, with some FDA research and veterinary nutritionists saying a grain free diet can lead to health issues such as secondary dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

This is mainly because often, when grains are removed from the dog food, pulses and legumes such as lentils, peas and chickpeas, or carbohydrates fillers (see more on fillers below) are added, resulting in a diet too high in carbohydrates.

If you want the best grain-free dog food for your vizsla, it’s really important to check all the ingredients and ensure the grains aren’t being replaced by something unhealthy.

Regardless of whether you decide on a grain or grain free diet, grains should not be the main ingredient of your dog’s food.

If grains are listed as the top ingredients in the dog food, it is not good quality dog food and is likely to be of poor quality, with minimum protein coming from meat sources.

It will take a bit of trial and error to determine if your dog has a grain allergy or intolerance. But if they seem to tolerate and thrive on formulas with whole grains, then there is no need to feed them a grain free diet.

Fillers

Fillers are inexpensive ingredients with little to no nutritional value used to bulk out dog food. Usually, things that are added to dog food as fillers are carbohydrates such as corn, wheat, soy and rice.

While fillers aren’t all bad, particularly if they offer some level of nutritional value or add fiber to your dog’s diet, it is important to consider how much filler is used in dog food compared to good quality meat proteins.

A canine’s diet should be high in protein not high in carbohydrates as this can lead to obesity and other health issues, including gas, bloating, and diarrhea. This is often where the support for a grain free diet comes from.

So avoid dog foods that are high in fillers and instead, look for dog foods high in protein.

Price

It really is amazing the huge price differences when it comes to quality dog food. However, you do get what you pay for when it comes to good dog food.

However, not everyone can afford to spend $3 or more for a pound of dog food,so you will need to take the time and work out what you can afford on an ongoing basis.

Luckily in terms of the best dog food for dogs, there is a range of good quality food options and this guide, covers some of the top dog foods at all price points.

Flavor Preference

Lastly, just like humans, dogs have their own personal preferences for flavor when it comes to ingredients.

Perhaps your dog is a bit of a seafood lover and would prefer salmon flavored food over beef or they go nuts over beef and turn their nose up to chicken.

It will take time for you to work out what your dog considers to be the best tasting dry dog food, but once you work it out, you’ll be able to stick to their favorite flavors.

Best Dry Dog Food For Vizslas

To quickly recap, below are the vizsla food brands we review below. Read on for the full reviews.

• Orijen Grain Free Dog Food, Chicken, turkey, fish and eggs
• Nutro Ultra Dry Dog Food, Chicken, lamb and salmon
• Taste of the Wild Dry Dog Food, bison and venison
• Acana Wholesome Grains, Beef, pork, oats and lamb
• American Journey Active Life, Chicken and brown rice
• Ziwi Peak Air Dried Dog Food, Beef
• Annamaet Original Formula, Chicken and rice
• Nature’s Variety Instinct Raw Coated Dog Food, Beef and fish
• Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Dog Food, Chicken and brown rice
• Canidae All Life Stages Dog Food, Chicken, turkey and fish
• Skinner’s Field and Trial UK, Chicken and Rice

Best Vizsla Dog Food Reviews 2024

To help you determine what’s the best food for dogs, below we have compiled a list of the top 10 dog foods from some of the best dog food brands.

Keep reading the best dog foods reviews below for more details.

1. Orijen Grain Free Dry Dog Food Review

Top premium vizsla dog food

There are so many things to love about Orijen, so it’s no surprise that it is one of the top rated dog food options currently in the market.

Stacked with protein and with 85% of the ingredients coming from animal products, with Orijen, you know you’re feeding your vizsla only the best.

Orijen dry dog food provides your dog with a diet high in protein. The first 5 ingredients are always raw or fresh animal products.

The protein in this grain free dry food is sourced solely from free range chicken, turkeys and eggs and wild caught fish.

The majority of the animal products used come fresh and raw and include ingredients such as organs, cartilage, and bone.

The Orijen dog food original formula is suitable for vizslas of all ages, from puppies through to senior dogs. Origen have puppy and large puppy formulas available too.

As with all changes in diet, when transitioning from another brand of dog food to Orijen, it’s best to slowly introduce it to your dog to avoid any upset tummies.

Pros

• 85% animal ingredients
• Made with free range chicken, turkey and eggs andwild caught fish
• Suitable for all stages of life
• First 5 ingredients fresh or raw animal sources

Cons

• One of the more expensive dry dog foods

If you’re looking for the very best dog food money can buy, the Orijen Grain Free really is an easy choice – it’s one of the highest rated dog food options around.

It provides a balanced nutritional diet for your vizsla to ensure they remain fit and healthy. It’s a great choice for pet owners after the best grain free dog food.

>> Click here to check the price and read more reviews

2. Nutro Ultra Adult Dry Dog Food Review

Nutro Ultra is a good option to consider if you are wondering what is the best dry dog food that won’t completely blow the budget.

While made with a lower protein content than the previous Orijen dry dog food, Nutro Ultra uses a range of protein, whole grains, seeds, fruit and vegetables to provide a nutritional and satisfying meal for your pets.

The number one ingredient used in Nutro Ultra is chicken, with other protein sources coming from lamb and salmon.

All other ingredients are of high quality and no chicken by-products, corn, soy, wheat, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives are used.

Rather superfoods such as coconut, chia, kale, blueberries, and other quality ingredients are used to provide a healthy balanced meal to your pets.

Nutro have tailored kibble for seniors and large breeds if your dog is super active and if your vizsla is just a pup, they also have a puppy option – see it here.

Pros

• Chicken is the top ingredient
• No poor quality fillers used
• Good range of options available

Cons

• Lower protein content than some others options in our review
• Rice is one of the main ingredients

The Nutro Ultra dry dog food is a premium kibble for adult dogs and a great option for pet owners who want to provide top dry dog foods for their vizsla.

>> Click here to check the price and read more reviews

3. Taste Of The Wild High Prairie Dog Food Review

Best affordable grain free dog food

If you are looking for a top rated dry dog food free of grains AND with a more affordable price tag, then the Taste of the Wild is a great one to try.

Featuring 32% protein and made with real meat, this Taste of the Wild contains no grain, corn, wheat, artificial flavors or colors, making it a well balanced meal for your vizsla.

The protein of this dry dog food comes from real meat, including roasted bison, roasted venison, beef and lamb.

It’s packed with natural antioxidants from foods like blueberries, raspberries and sweet potato. In addition, every serve includes probiotics to help with healthy digestion and immune system.

For your vizsla puppy they also offer a grain free puppy food – see it here.

Pros

• Real meat is the top two ingredients
• Contains probiotics
• No fillers or artificial colors and preservatives

Cons

• Lower meat content than some others in our review

While grain free dog food is usually associated with a high price tag, Taste of the Wild provides owners with an good more affordable option.

>> Click here to check the price and read more reviews

4. Acana Wholesome Grains Gluten Free Dog Food Review

Best vizsla dog food overall

If you’re looking for the best dog food for sensitive stomach or the best dog foods for allergies, then Acana Wholesome Grains is a good one to consider.

Acana dry dog food is gluten free so perfect for dogs suffering from digestion issues and may even assist with a range of skin conditions, which vizslas often suffer from.

The Acana Wholesome Grains is made with 60% animal products and the remaining 40% is made of grains, vegetables and fruits.

The protein sources are from ranch raised beef, Yorkshire port and grass fed lamb and at least half of these ingredients come fresh or raw before being processed.

The wholesome grains include oats, sorghum, millet, and ground miscanthus grass with absolutely zero legumes, potato and of course any gluten.

In addition to no gluten, the Acana dog food is free from artificial flavors and preservatives and free from any fillers like soy, corn, tapioca, and wheat.

Acana also have a range of limited ingredient dry foods for pups with allergies to specific foods and a puppy recipe too.

Pros

• High content of animal products
• No fillers and free from gluten
• Quality wholesome grains

Cons

• More expensive than others on our list

For pet owners looking for the best dog food with grain but wanting to try their dog on a gluten free diet, the Acana Wholesome Grains is a great product to try.

Packed full of high quality protein and grains, this dry food ensures your dog gets all the nutrients they need for an active and healthy lifestyle.

>> Click here to check the price and read more reviews

5. American Journey Active Life Formula Review

Best budget dry dog food

One of the most affordable dog foods in the guide is the American Journey Active Life Formula.

Despite its cheap price tag, this is the best brand of dog food for vizsla owners on a budget.

This dog food includes 25% protein, with chicken being its number one ingredient, so your dog receives all the nutrients they need.

It’s always a good sign when you see actual meat as the primary ingredient in dog food plus there is no poultry by-product meal included.

In addition to fresh deboned chicken, this good dry dog food includes natural fiber from wholesome grains such as easy to digest brown rice and barley, vegetables including sweet potatoes and carrots and blueberries for antioxidants to promote a healthy immune system.

In addition, it contains omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat. What you won’t find are fillers like wheat, corn, soy or artificial ingredients.

If your pup suffers from a sensitive stomach, American Journey have a range of limited ingredient formulas too.

Pros

• Features fresh chicken as number one ingredient
• Super affordable
• Wholesome quality grains
• No fillers

Cons

• Lower protein content than some others
• May be too high in fiber content for some dogs

The American Journey Active Life Formula is one of the top 10 best dog foods suitable for dogs of all ages and comes in a range of different bag sizes to suit your needs.

Just because you’re on a tight budget doesn’t mean that you can’t provide the best food to feed your dog.

With American Journey, your vizsla will receive a well rounded and balanced diet at an affordable price.

>> Click here to check the price and read more reviews

6. Ziwi Peak Grain-Free Air Dried Dog Food Review

Best air dried dog food

If you’re after top dog food brands, which make food super high in protein content, the Ziwi Peak is one of the best brands to consider.

With the first five ingredients being beef, beef heart, beef kidney, beef tripe and beef liver, this is the best high protein dog food around!

Unlike traditional good dog foods, the Ziwi Peak has been air dried during a two stage process to preserve all the ingredients naturally but like dry dog food can be stored for several months.

Every serve of this best dry food for dogs comes with 96% protein solely sourced from animal products, including meat, bones, organs and green mussels.

This makes the dog food just as nutritious for your vizsla as a completely raw diet.

Plus, all the meat used is 100% ethically sourced from New Zealand without added hormones, antibiotics or growth promotants.

In addition, the food contains taurine for heart health and superfoods such as cold-washed green tripe, New Zealand green mussels, and organic kelp.

The food is completely grain free and free from fillers, carbs, preservatives, and sugars.

Pros

• High protein content
• Grain and filler free
• First 5 ingredients animal meat products

Cons

• Expensive
• Can dry out if not stored properly

With Ziwi Peak suitable for vizslas of all ages, this quite possibly will be the only dry food your dog will ever need.

Used on its own or as a topper, it’s an excellent choice for pet owners after the very best – one of the good dog food brands around.

>> Click here to check the price and read more reviews

7. Annamaet Original Ultra Formula Dry Dog Food Review

Annameat Orignal Ultra Formula is another great option if you are after the best dog food brand for vizslas.

This family business has operated for some 30 years and makes premium pet food packed full of nutrients while ensuring all ingredients are sustainably sourced to protect future generations.

Good news for vizsla owners – Annameat is specifically designed for active dogs.

Every serve of the Ultra Formula comes with 32% of high quality meat and fish products, which is the highest protein and fat levels of any of their products.

All meat and fish products used to make this dry food are of such high quality that they are, in fact, fit for human consumption.

In addition, you’ll find all the necessary nutrients to support a healthy immune system and promote a lean body mass. You won’t find any unhealthy fillers here, such as corn, wheat or soy.

As well as sustainably sourced ingredients, Annameat also uses sustainable packaging too. All packaging used is made with bio-flex materials, which are designed to biodegrade in landfill.

With the Annameat Orginal Ultra Formula, you can rest assured that you’re feeding your vizsla great quality dog food.

Pros

• Contains high quality meat and fish
• Free from fillers like corn, soy, wheat
• Sustainably sourced ingredients

Cons

• Not suitable for less active dogs

With every serve of Annameat, your dog will be getting all the nutrients they need to live their very best life.

Annameat is certainly one of the best dry dog food brands, particularly for pet owners with picky eaters.

>> Click here to check the price and read more reviews

8. Nature’s Variety Instinct Raw Coated Dog Food Review

Best raw coated dry food

If you’re wondering what is the best dog food brand for a good all round, grain free dog food, consider Nature’s Variety.

Nature’s Variety Instinct Original Raw Coated dog food makes the list of the best top 10 dog foods thanks to its high protein, grain free recipe.

This dog food is made with 70% real animal ingredients and 30% vegetables, fruit and other wholesome ingredients. The number one ingredient is USA raised beef which has been responsibly sourced.

In addition to its high protein content, this dog food features probiotics for improved digestion and omegas for healthy skin and coat.

Just as important as what ingredients are included in each serve – is what isn’t. You won’t find any grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy, by products, artificial colors or preservatives here.

Combined, this makes it a great one to consider for pet owners after the best food for dog with allergies.

What’s a little unusual about this dry food is it’s actually a raw coated kibble.

That is, every piece of dog food has been coated with a freeze dried raw product. This provides additional nutrition and a delicious taste your vizsla will just love.

Pros

• High protein content
• Grain free with no fillers
• Freeze dried raw coated for extra flavor

Cons

• More expensive than other options
• Has a strong fish smell

Nature’s Variety Instinct Original Raw Coated dog food is suitable for vizslas of all ages – from puppies to seniors.

It’s an excellent affordable grain free dog food and well deserving of its place in this list of top ten dog foods.

>> Click here to check the price and read more reviews

9. Merrick Healthy Grains Dry Dog Food Review

Merrick Healthy Grains is another one of the best pet food for dogs, particularly if you’re after the best non grain free dog food.

This dog food is made with a healthy balance of protein, vegetables and whole grains to support your vizslas, healthy and active lifestyle.

Deboned chicken is the primary ingredient for this dog food, which is always an excellent start.

You’ll also find a range of whole grains for healthy digestion, but no peas, lentils or potatoes for a lower glycemic option.

In addition, it features a range of fatty omega acids for a healthy coat and skin and levels of glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy hips and joints.

Pros

• Real chicken is the primary ingredient
• No peas, lentils or potatoes
• Affordable premium option

Cons

• Less protein than other options

Overall, Merrick Healthy Grains Dry Food is a great all rounder for your vizsla’s diet.

It’s a great natural dry food for dogs with a good range of added vitamins and minerals to support their active lifestyles—certainly, a good one to add to your list of best dog foods.

>> Click here to check the price and read more reviews

10. CANIDAE All Life Stages Dog Food Review

Here we have another all round top healthy dog food from Canidae pet foods.

Suitable for all stages of your vizsla’s life, this is an affordable premium dog food made with quality protein sources and wholesome grains.

Each serve of Canidae All Life Stages comes with four sources of animal protein, including chicken, turkey, lamb and fish.

In addition, probiotics are added to support healthy digestion, omega and fatty acids added for great skin and coat and antioxidants for a healthy immune system.

There are no unhealthy fillers in this dog food, so you won’t find any wheat, corn, or soy.

As this high quality all round dog food features a good balance of protein and wholesome grains, it is ideal for all kinds of dog breeds.

This makes it suitable for homes where there may be other dogs in addition to a vizsla or even dogs of different ages. No need to serve up different meals come dinner time.

Pros

• Suitable for all breeds and all life stages
• No fillers such as wheat, corn and soy
• Suitable for all life stages

Cons

• Lower protein content
• Meat meal is top ingredient

For vizsla owners after a simple, healthy all round dog food, the Canidae All Life Stages is a great one to consider.

It will provide your dog with a well balanced diet and is well priced too.

>> Click here to check the price and read more reviews

11. Skinner’s Field And Trial Dog Food Review

Best food for vizsla UK (affordable premium)

For our readers in the UK looking for the best food for vizsla UK, Skinner’s Field and Trial range of dry dog food is an excellent mid range choice.

Based in Suffolk with over 50 years experience producing dog food they have several dog food options, but their field and trial range of dry dog food is excellent for vizslas.

Developed with the needs of working dogs in mind, this particular chicken and rice flavour has a minimum 25% protein and 10% fat to support their high activity levels.

This recipe is wheat free and the two primary ingredients are brown rice and poultry meat meal.

There are no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives used and Skinner’s try to source most products locally.

Pros

• Flexible range from puppy to senior
• Affordable premium option
• Specialised gundog food manufacturer

Cons

• Not available in the US!

For vizsla owners after a targeted, healthy dog food for working dogs, the Skinner’s Field and Trial range is a great one to consider.

>> Click here to check the price and read more reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should a vizsla be fed?

A vizsla puppy will need three meals a day while they are young to support their small stomachs and high energy requirements. As they mature, you may be able to reduce this to two meals a day, one in the morning and one at night.

You are best to follow the lead of your pup. If they become disinterested in food, try cutting back the quantity and/or frequency of feeding. If they start to look too lean, increase the quantity until they are back to their healthy weight.

What supplements should I add to my dog’s kibble?

Whilst a high quality, nutritionally balanced kibble will provide all the protein and vitamins your vizsla needs day to day, it is a good idea to supplement it occasionally with different foods to keep their meals interesting.

Popular food toppers for vizslas include raw eggs, sardines, broccoli, plain yoghurt and grated carrot.

More Vizsla Food Guides

I hope you found this guide to the best vizsla dog foods helpful. Read more vizsla food reviews and recipes here or read one of the following guides:

• Is Kefir Good For Dogs?
• The best toys for vizslas
• Best dog bed for vizslas
• Homemade gluten free dog treat recipes

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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