Zignature is one of the top-of-the-line companies for dog foods on the market today. It is great for all life stages, meaning one can feed it, from a puppy to a senior dog. What makes Zignature special and unique is a large array of single-source animal proteins.
Their formulas are completely free of potatoes, grains, and chicken. According to this brand, chicken is a very commonly found protein in dog foods, and many dogs have become intolerant and sensitive to chicken. That’s why one will not find it in any Zignature foods.
Instead, they utilize very exotic proteins such as kangaroo and venison. My job is to present clear-cut facts about this unique brand of dog food so that you may decide for yourself if it’s good enough for your four-legged family.
Zignature food comes in a ton of different flavors. Here are the recipes we’ll focus on today:
| Products | Type | Special Feature | Our Rating | AAFCO Nutrient Profile(Life Stage) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zignature Kangaroo Formula | Dry | Zignature original | 5 | All Life Stages |
| ZignatureTurkey Select Cuts | Dry | Turkey is the first ingredient | 4.5 | All Life Stages |
| Zignature's Zssential Small Bites | Dry | Small bites for small breeds with multi protein | 4.5 | All Life Stages |
At a Quick Glance: Zignature Dog Food
The key points to remember about Zignature are:
- It is great for all life stages, from puppies to adults.
- It’s great for dogs with allergy issues and skin sensitivities.
- They offer a very large array of single-source animal proteins, including kangaroo and venison.
- All of their proteins are very limited in ingredients, and they use certified low-glycemic carbohydrates.
- There is no chicken, no egg, no chicken fat in their formulas, no grain, no potatoes, and no gluten.
About The Zignature Dog Food
- Includes probiotics for regular digestion
- Tailored for large and giant breeds
- Includes natural antioxidants
*We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
As with all of Zignature’s formulas, no chicken, grain, or potato is present in their products. Zignature’s formulations for their dry food are manufactured in Minnesota, and their canned food packages are made in South Dakota.
In the Zignature line, a wide variety of proteins are available for dogs with allergies or sensitivities, such as kangaroo, venison, trout, salmon, lamb, turkey, and duck. They also offer a single salmon formulation in moist food.
Each of their Zignature dry recipes includes a matching can. All their cans are completely BPA-free and free of guar gums, carrageenan, and locust bean gum. They utilize agar-agar, which is derived from red algae and their thickening agent, making their can extremely creamy and palatable.
This company’s dog food products are diverse, and they are rated five stars for most of their formulations.
Who Makes Zignature Dog Food In 2023?
In 2023, Zignature Dog Food was made by Pets Global Inc– the same company that makes Fussie Cat, Inception, and Essence. It advertises itself as a pet health company rather than a pet food company. Its main focus is the holistic welfare of animals.
Five-Factor Analysis of Zignature Dog Food
It’s where I set the parameters for the review. I’ll assess Zignature dog food based on its recipes, ingredients, nutritional value, price, and recall history. So stick around to find out whether Zignature can be a signature dog food for your pets.
1. Recipes | ★★★★
In terms of recipes, Zignature does not shy away from providing its customers with dozens of options. But right now, we’ll cover only 3.
Zignature Kangaroo Formula
- Kangaroo meat is the first ingredient.
- Chicken, potato, and egg free
- With probiotics
- Limited Ingredients
Limited ingredient formula means that the recipe focuses on including a few high-quality ingredients to provide for all needs rather than throwing a bunch of stuff together.
It’s one of the original recipes that Zignature started with, and it has done a phenomenal job of replacing chicken as a protein source in dog food. It’s truly one of a kind.
Zignature Turkey Formula Select Cuts
- The first ingredient is Turkey.
- Chicken, potato, and egg free
- With probiotics
It says limited ingredient formula, exceeding expectations in pet nutrition. Turkey protein first, nutrient-dense legumes with antioxidants from fruits. Gluten-free with added healthy vegetables.
Spinning it around here, you’ll find it has a 31% crude protein guaranteed analysis. If your dog is fussy with high proteins, this might give them the runs. So definitely, you know, be aware of that. Each dog has different nutritional needs to balance them out.
However, if you take a look, you’ll see that this has very select ingredients. They don’t put a lot of fillers in there, which can sometimes cause the runs as they switch over from a meal.
So Zignature is a high-quality food. Just, you know, be aware of your dog’s individual nutritional needs.
Zignature ZSSENTIAL Small Bites
- Small bites
- Multi-protein recipe
- Chicken, potato, and egg free
- With probiotics
Zignature’s Small Bites offers the same nutritional benefits as their other dry formulas but in a smaller kibble so your little fur friend can get their crunch on.
Small bites are easier to chew and digest, so it is great for small dogs and a win-win choice for many medium and large dogs.
And with delicious options like lamb, turkey, kangaroo, trout, salmon, and the Z Central multi-protein formula, your best pal won’t be able to resist.
With Zignature Small Bites, you’ll give your small pal the nutrition to get them standing on two paws, asking for more.
The company is doing its best to offer as many single and whole protein formulations as possible, with more to come.
2. Ingredients | ★★★★
Zignature is a dog food brand that uses various ingredients in different formulas but does not overcrowd things in a single formula.
Meats
Zignature is rich in protein, and meat is always the first ingredient in every recipe. One will also notice their large array of fish protein, so they have a white fish, a traveling salmon, and a catfish available. One can rotate through all those proteins if they choose to do so.
Kangaroo and venison are great for dogs with very high sensitivities, protein allergies, and dogs that need to be fed a completely exotic protein.
How cool is it to be able to feed your dog real venison? If you’re not a hunter like myself, you won’t get to bring them home real venison very often. Being able to order is really cool because I like my dogs to be able to eat nothing but the best ingredients.
Chickpeas
Zignature makes it clear that the purpose of using chickpeas is their variety of nutrients and lack of cholesterol, which is beneficial for heart health.
However, there is another aspect of chickpeas lurking in the shadows- it contains selenium. Selenium can be found in many dog food formulas, but it remains a controversial ingredient.
Although this brand considers it a powerful antioxidant, many believe that selenium can be toxic in high doses. AAFCO only allows selenium in amounts of 2.0 mg/kg if we’re talking strictly in terms of dry matter basis.
Peas
Peas can be found in almost every ingredient list of Zignature Dog Food. It only makes sense to include them as they are not only a source of protein but also have a lot of fiber in them.
However, the brand’s reason for including peas is a little different. Zignature relies on peas for Vitamin D, C, and A and calcium and iron.
It only makes sense for Zignature to incorporate foods with high nutritional value if they only use a few select ingredients.
3. Nutritional Analysis | ★★★
I can only cover some Zignature recipes and their nutritional value, but let me give you an overview of what Zignature Turkey recipe offers.
| Nutrient | Content (per serving) |
| Protein | 32% |
| Fat | 15% |
| Fiber | 4% |
| Moisture | 10% |
| Carbohydrates | 35% (Estimate) |
The protein is top-notch for a dog food like this because Turkey contains lean proteins that will be easily absorbed.
The fat percentage will work well for most dogs. However, dogs with high activity levels should be given food toppers with this dry dog food.
The moisture is low, which ensures that there is no room for bacterial growth. It would help if you kept your dog hydrated with water because dry food alone cannot give your dog enough water to be well.
The amount of carbohydrates in this dog food is higher than the fat and protein percentage. However, it should be fine since the carbs are not coming from fillers and grains.
4. Price | ★★★
Most Zignature formulas cost around $4.25/lb, and the more exotic your choice of meat is, the higher it’ll go.
Zignature is a grain-free food. Most grain-free foods are more expensive than grain-inclusive foods, especially as you get higher ingredient quality.
So, suppose you’re really worried about your budget, and you have a dog or cat that does not have any grain sensitivities. In that case, you may opt for grain-inclusive food to just help keep those costs down.
However, Zignature is a good option if you need grain-inclusive food.
5. Recall History | ★★★★
No recalls have been noted till now for Zignature.
How Does Zignature Dog Food Compare to The Competition?
Zignature specializes in foods for dogs with allergies; that’s their whole shtick. All of their foods are grain-free, with some exceptions, and they also have some proteins you don’t see daily.
All the recipes are chicken-free, meaning they don’t use chicken fat in anything that doesn’t have chicken, which is nice. They also have a bit higher protein than some other competitor products.
Should You Buy Zignature Dog Food?
Ah, sure, what’s not to like? It’s meat first, and the limited-ingredient recipes are hypoallergenic and have a low glycemic index. Zignature has also started increasing their taurine levels, which is great for dogs as it addresses the potential taurine deficiency issue. It’s a really good grain-free food and great for rotation diets, which I highly recommend.
Pros
- Caters to dogs with food sensitivities and allergies
- Exotic meats
- Limited ingredient formulas
- Multi-protein formulas
Cons
- A bit expensive
- It uses a controversial ingredient selenium
Our Rating
Zignature Dog Food Feeding Guide
A lot of people free-feed their dogs. I would not recommend free-feeding a dog food formula like this because it has rich ingredients.
You’ll want to limit the amount they’re eating at first and then mix it in slowly and wean them over it. It will help not upset their digestive balance.
You can see a different chart for puppies, pregnant, and lactating females. Very nice of Zignature to include that on the package.
It would help to feed puppies twice daily and always according to their weight. Pregnant dogs should be gradually shifted to this diet over the course of 7-9 days. You may increase the diet immediately after they start lactating because they’ll need to double the nutrition now.
When fully adjusted, provide three consistent meals per day.
FAQ’s
What is the auto shop program by Pets Global?
With Pet Globaol’s Autoship, you can set a recurring delivery from anywhere between 7 days to two months. On top of that, you’ll receive 30% off your first order and 5% off for every order after that. Check out Autoship in 3 simple steps:
• Step 1: Enter your shipping details
• Step 2: Select the delivery frequency that you like
• Step 3: Select the dog food you like and hit buy
Where can I find Zignature Products?
Apart from local retailers, you can also find Zignature dog food products on Amazon and Chewy.
What makes Zignature special?
Zignature is unlike any other brand of dog food you will come across. It does not use chicken, egg, or potato in any capacity. But it fills the gap with exotic meats like venison, kangaroo, duck, whitefish, turkey, and more.
Parting Thoughts
All in all, Zignature is a great limited-ingredient diet for a dog with food sensitivities. If they have no issues, they can simply rotate the proteins and mix them up each time. Zignature uses low glycemic carbohydrates, such as garden peas and chickpeas, which are great options for diabetic dogs. It means less sugar can be found in these diets. Sure, it is a little pricey, but it’s a small price to pay for your pet’s health.
Ankita is a passionate pet lover and head of content at Pet Food Brands. With her extensive knowledge and research, she provides pet owners with top-quality information on dog food and nutrition. Her dedication to improving the lives of dogs makes her a leading voice in the industry.
