Summary of assessment
Our final verdict
We give Crave Dog Food a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Crave dog food is a newer brand that offers dry and wet food formulas. The brand promotes grain-free diets and contains lean meat-based proteins. Like all AAFCO-approved brands, Crave offers complete and balanced nutrition for dogs. However, as with all dog foods, there are pros and cons to Crave dog food that are important to consider.
We’ve done the hard work for you! Our review covers all the important details you need to consider with Crave, including ingredients, nutrition, variety, recalls, and manufacturing and sourcing.
At a glance: The best Crave dog food recipes:
Crave Dog Food Reviewed
Crave dog food offers high protein, grain-free recipes in both dry and wet recipes. Real meat is the first ingredient in all recipes and each recipe meets AAFCO guidelines for complete and balanced nutrition. Crave has a limited selection for recipes, but you have a variety of different protein sources in both food textures.
Who makes Crave and where is it produced?
Crave pet food is produced by Mars Petcare, an umbrella brand that owns many other pet foods. Launched in 2017, Crave aims to provide dogs and cats with humane diets that feature lean, meat-based protein formulas and a full spectrum of nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
All formulas are made and packaged in the U.S. with ingredients sourced from around the world. However, Crave is not transparent about where specific ingredients are sourced, which could raise concerns about quality control or food safety standards.
What type of dog is Crave best suited for?
Protein is an important nutrient for all dogs, but especially if you have active or working dogs that need a little more protein for muscle health. These dogs may need more protein, but it is also important that they have quality carbohydrates to support their energy needs.
All Crave recipes are grain-free only; it does not offer grain-inclusive formulas. If you have a dog with wheat or corn allergies, this is a good choice, although most dogs benefit from a diet with high-quality grains.
Image Credits: Alicia Fdez, Shutterstock
Which type of dog does better with a different brand?
Grain-free diets aren’t right for every dog. In fact, certain breeds are prone to dilated cardiomyopathy, an enlargement of the heart that leads to weakness and an inability to effectively pump blood through the body. While more research is needed, the FDA is investigating a link between an increased incidence of dilated cardiomyopathy in dog breeds, both genetically predisposed and non-genetically predisposed, and grain-free diets. It’s important to talk to your veterinarian about whether grain-free diets are right for your dog’s breed and health history.
Otherwise, Crave offers a good range of adult maintenance diet formulas. If you have a puppy, senior dog, or dog with special dietary needs, such as restricted ingredients or weight management, Crave doesn’t offer many options. In these cases, it’s worth considering other brands on the market.
Discussion of the primary ingredients (good and bad)
All commercial dog foods that meet AAFCO guidelines provide complete nutrition for dogs, but the quality and nutritional value can vary widely. The ingredients added can make a difference in your dog’s overall health and how much nutrition he gets from his calorie intake.
Meat-based proteins
Dogs aren’t obligate carnivores like cats, but they still need meat-based proteins to thrive. Crave has an above-average protein content of 38% that comes from meat sources, such as chicken, beef, lamb, salmon, and whitefish.
Like most dog foods, Crave recipes get some protein from plant sources, such as chickpeas, peas, pea protein, and alfalfa meal. In general, however, Crave gets the majority of its protein from meat or meat-based sources such as chicken meal and pork meal.
Grain free
As mentioned, most dogs benefit from a diet that includes some grains. While there is no definitive link between grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy, it is worth considering the potential effects in dogs that are prone to the condition. If your dog does not have a grain allergy, you may be better off with a grain-rich food that uses high-quality grains.
Image by: iMarzi, Shutterstock
Controversial ingredients
Crave does contain some controversial ingredients. Crave uses beet pulp, a cheap filler and fiber-rich byproduct of sugar beet processing. While it has been linked to blood sugar and gut health benefits, some question the addition of beet pulp to dog food and its effects.
Some other controversial ingredients are pea protein, alfalfa, and selenium yeast. Plant protein is not as biologically valuable as meat for total protein, but these ingredients are low on the ingredient list and therefore low on the overall nutritional value. Selenium yeast is a safer alternative to the inorganic form of selenium, but is still questionable overall.
A Quick Look at Crave Dog Food
Advantages
- Meat based proteins
- Quality ingredients
- Exceptional nutritional value
Cons
- Limited selection
- Grain free only
- Some controversial ingredients
Memory history
Crave dog food is a newer brand and has not been recalled. Some recalls are inevitable for brands of food, both human and pet, but it is a good indication of Crave’s quality control standards that there has been no recall at this time.
Reviews of the 3 best Crave dog food recipes
1. Crave High Protein Chicken Adult Grain Free Dry Dog Food
Crave High Protein Chicken Adult Grain-Free Dry Dog Food features farm-raised chicken as the first ingredient and no chicken by-products, soy, wheat, or artificial flavors or preservatives. This formula is suitable for all breeds on an adult maintenance diet. The formula contains 34% protein for a lean, healthy body and lots of energy. However, several reviewers have noted that their dogs have digestive upset, gas, and diarrhea from this food.
Advantages
- Chicken as first ingredient
- No by-products, wheat or soy
- 34% protein
Cons
- May cause digestive upset
2. Crave High Protein Salmon Adult Grain Free Dry Dog Food
Crave High Protein White Fish & Salmon Adult Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is a fish-based recipe that features whitefish as the first ingredient and no by-product meal, wheat or soy. Like the chicken recipe, this recipe provides 34% protein from meat and protein-rich vegetables. Fish is one of the most bioavailable proteins for dogs and this formula provides an affordable solution to high-quality fish sources. However, several reviewers have said their dogs did not like the food.
Advantages
- White fish as first ingredient
- 34% protein
- Vegetables with a lot of protein
3. Crave High Protein Beef Adult Grain Free Dry Dog Food
Crave High Protein Beef Adult Grain-Free Dry Dog Food has beef as the first ingredient for a meaty flavor that dogs love and an excellent source of protein. This food contains no grains, chicken by-products, wheat, soy, or artificial flavors or preservatives. This food is also high in carbohydrates for energy. Some reviewers have noted that the recipe seems to have changed and their picky eaters are no longer interested in it. Some have also noted that the kibble is too small for a large breed.
Advantages
- Meaty flavour
- Beef as the first ingredient
- No grains, wheat, soy or by-products
Cons
- May not be ideal for large breeds
- Some dogs don’t like it
What other users say
- Chewy – “I think my dog is the pickiest, most finicky dog in the world. After about $2,000.00 and 4 years later, I have found a dog food that he will eat!!”
- PetSmart “He loves this dog food. We mix it with chicken broth and life is “golden” for my buddy.”
- Amazon – Amazon is always a good source for detailed, unbiased reviews from other pet owners like you. You can read them here.
Final thoughts
Crave is a premium dog food that uses real meat sources for protein in every recipe. You can find both wet and dry food formulas, though Crave doesn’t have as much variety or grain-inclusive options as other brands. Still, there’s plenty to like, including no recalls, limited controversial ingredients, and generally favorable reviews.
Also see: Is Grain Free Dog Food Bad for a Dog’s Health? Veterinarian Approved Guide
