Canada Fresh Dog Food Reviews, Recalls & Coupons for 2024

Meet Canada Fresh Dog Food

Canada Fresh dog food is a premium canned food brand based out of British Columbia, Canada. This brand is under the PetKind pet food brand, and this specific line focuses on using real meat as the primary source of protein and nutrition.

The Canada Fresh brand is designed to adhere as strictly as possible to a natural diet that dogs would eat in the wild. Many of its formulas use only one primary source of protein to limit allergies and adverse reactions.

Canada Fresh has a moderate reputation online with most of its products rated around three to four stars, so we want to help you make the right decision for your pup.

Brand Quick Look

• Parent Company: PetKind
• Founded in: 2001
• Made in: British Columbia, Canada
• Available at:  Chewy and Amazon
• Types of Food: Canned
• Real Meat in First 5 Ingredients? : Yes
• Recalled in Past? : No

Behind the Brand

Canada Fresh is the child of the company PetKind so we’ll be focusing primarily on the company as a whole in this section. The company started like a lot of pet food companies; with the love and compassion for the families own pets.

The family who founded Canada Fresh noticed that a lot of the ingredients in their pet’s food were not high-quality and you couldn’t source where these components came from. They went above and beyond to find the best way to source their ingredients and created their own pet food line.

The company started its first line of dog food called Green Tripe. This brand has been the best seller for PetKind since 2001, and they believe wholeheartedly in this ingredient.

Today, PetKind is proud to serve four different lines of dog food and products that are 100% sourced and produced in Canada. They are committed to supporting pets and pet parents all over the world.

Canada Fresh Dog Food Reviews

Now let’s take a more in-depth look into some of the foods from Canada Fresh. The best way to decide if something is right for your pup is to take a close look at the ingredients and nutritional values that go along with it. As pet owners, we always want to give them the best food we can afford. Let’s take a closer look.

1. Canada Fresh Red Meat
2. Canada Fresh Lamb
3. Canada Fresh Salmon
4. Canada Fresh Chicken
5. Canada Fresh Duck
6. Canada Fresh Beef

 

1. Canada Fresh Red Meat

• Overall: 4 out of 5
• Flavor: 4 out of 5
• Ingredients: 4 out of 5
• Packaging: 4 out of 5
• Price: 4 out of 5

First, let’s look at the red meat formula. Usually, when we see a red meat recipe in pet food, we know that it contains multiple animal proteins, which is true for this recipe too.

This formula uses beef, beef liver, and lamb as its primary ingredients to satisfy your dog's cravings and desires for real meat. Since the meats are all within the first five ingredient slots, we know that there’s a significant amount of natural protein here.

The food supports lean, active muscles from its protein, salmon oil, and glucosamine content. According to the company, this formula works for pups of all ages, and since it contains limited ingredients (there are only four key ones), it shouldn’t trigger a reaction from dogs with sensitivities.

Benefits:

• Meat based protein
• A complete and balanced diet for dogs
• Supports overall health
• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Glucosamine for healthy joints
• Can get mixed in with kibble or consumed by itself
• 100% produced in Canada

First 5 Ingredients:

• Beef
• Beef Liver
• Beef Broth
• Lamb
• Tricalcium Phosphate

Nutritional Breakdown:

Overall, the list of ingredients is excellent for canned food. There is a lot of nutrition — but no fillers or by-products — packed into each can, and we would highly recommend this as either a regular meal for your pup or as topper for his dry food.

We especially like the use of salmon oil as the main contributor of fat. Fish oil is rich in omega fatty acids that are responsible for keeping your pet’s heart healthy and his skin and coat shiny. 

2. Canada Fresh Lamb

• Overall: 4 out of 5
• Flavor: 4 out of 5
• Ingredients: 4 out of 5
• Packaging: 4 out of 5
• Price: 4 out of 5

The next food we want to look at contains lamb and lamb broth as its first ingredients and is high in protein to support dogs with a more active lifestyle. As with the previous food this one also contains omega fatty acids from the salmon oil and glucosamine for healthy joints.

The main difference between these two foods is the fact that this food only uses one source of protein so it’s more ideal for pups with food sensitivities. Some dogs cannot handle multiple protein sources in one food because it upsets their stomach so many pet owners turn to single protein based foods.

Benefits:

• Lamb and lamb broth as the first ingredients
• Supports lean muscles
• A complete and balanced diet
• Works for all breeds and ages
• Single animal protein
• 100% produced in Canada

First 5 Ingredients:

• Lamb
• Lamb Broth
• Peas
• Tricalcium Phosphate
• Agar-Agar

Nutritional Breakdown:

Many of the ingredients are the same between all of the foods in this line. Tricalcium Phosphate is an excellent source of calcium and phosphate, and usually gets used in dog food as an emulsifier.

Agar-agar is vegetable gelatin that comes from red algae. This is included in dog food because it's rich and fiber and it helps supply moisture to the food.

Based on the ingredients, nutrition, and reputation we would highly recommend any of Canada Fresh’s dog foods to your pups.

3. Canada Fresh Salmon

• Overall: 4 out of 5
• Flavor: 4 out of 5
• Ingredients: 4.5 out of 5
• Packaging: 4 out of 5
• Price: 4 out of 5

Although it’s gaining popularity as a pet food ingredient, there are still plenty of canines who have not been exposed to salmon.

For those that have not been and who are quite sensitive to many animal proteins, salmon could be the answer. Fish allergies are quite rare in canines. It happens, of course, but the numbers aren’t that significant.

The recipe uses salmon as the main and first ingredient. It’s not as protein-heavy as say, beef or chicken, but salmon is quite loaded with omega fatty acids like all fatty/oily fish are.

The omega-3 fatty acids in it are good for decreasing inflammation, correcting hair loss and dullness, and keeping the heart healthy.

Since the food is developed to provide complete nutrition for pups of all ages, it can be quite helpful for multiple pet households. 

Benefits:

• Single animal protein source
• Complete nutrition for all canine breeds and ages
• Supports healthy joints
• Limited ingredients
• Contains glucosamine and omega fatty acids
• Can be used as a topper or fed by itself
• 100% produced in Canada

First 5 Ingredients:

• Salmon
• Salmon Broth
• Peas
• Calcium Carbonate
• Tri-Calcium Phosphate

Nutritional Breakdown:

It’s a pretty solid formula for dogs, starting with the single animal protein source to the limited number of ingredients. The food is quite packed and not watery, so even with its slightly more expensive price, it’s still value for money.

The meaty flavor is also sufficient enticement to finicky pups. According to reviews, their pets are doing well on this diet and have shown excellent results.

4. Canada Fresh Chicken

• Overall: 4 out of 5
• Flavor: 4 out of 5
• Ingredients: 4.5 out of 5
• Packaging: 4 out of 5
• Price: 4 out of 5

Chicken has been a traditional pet food ingredient for as long as anyone can remember. Most pet food brands use it because it’s tasty, it’s inexpensive, and it has all the nutrition that canines need. In this particular recipe by Canada Fresh, it’s the star. 

If your pup is not sensitive to chicken, he’ll reap a lot of the benefits that chicken provides. The chicken here contributes omega-6 fatty acids for the skin and coat, glucosamine for healthy joints, and essential amino acids for tissue repair and nutrient absorption.

The formula also utilizes salmon oil as its fat source, while the peas provide the carbohydrates for energy and fiber for pup’s digestive health.

Benefits:

• Single animal protein source
• Crafted for pups of all sizes and ages
• High in protein
• Limited ingredients
• Ideal for pets with sensitivities
• Feed as a regular meal or as topper for dry food
• 100% produced in Canada

First 5 Ingredients:

• Chicken
• Chicken Broth
• Peas
• Tri-Calcium Phosphare
• Agar-Agar

Nutritional Breakdown:

It’s a very limited ingredient recipe that you can easily check for things your pup might react to. Since there are only four key ingredients, the likelihood of your pup reacting to the food is low. The rest of the ingredients are either natural stabilizers, fat, or added vitamins and minerals.

As for the taste, reviewers whose pets are picky eaters claim that it has encouraged their dogs to gobble up all of their meals. And unlike some pet food that smells bad, this chicken recipe just smells like chicken. 

5. Canada Fresh Duck

• Overall: 4 out of 5
• Flavor: 4 out of 5
• Ingredients: 4 out of 5
• Packaging: 4 out of 5
• Price: 4 out of 5

Duck is considered by many to be a novel protein. Canines who may like poultry but have an allergic reaction to chicken, are usually fed duck. (But always consult first with your vet.)

While chicken may have a higher protein content, duck has more iron and fat. Duck is also richer in most vitamins than chicken and in fact, it has three times more vitamin B1 and twice more vitamin K.

This duck recipe uses duck and duck broth as the first two ingredients. It’s a complete meal in of itself and can be given to all of your fur friends no matter the age or breed.

The peas in the ingredients contribute the carbohydrates for energy. (Although protein is also converted to energy, carbs are burned faster.)

Benefits:

• Novel protein
• Crafted for small to large breed pups
• Meat as the first ingredient
• Limited ingredients
• Supports skin and joint health
• May be given as is or mixed with kibbles
• 100% produced in Canada

First 5 Ingredients:

• Duck
• Duck Broth
• Peas
• Calcium Carbonate
• Agar-Agar

Nutritional Breakdown:

This recipe is simple but complete. It doesn’t have the fruits or veggies (aside from the peas) that you’d normally find in dog food but it makes up for it in the supplemental nutrition added. It’s meant to be more meat-focused to entice finicky carnivores even more. 

The protein here is the lowest among all Canada Fresh formulas, so you may want to add more supplemental protein to your pup’s diet. But there are enough of the other nutrients to ensure your pet gets all his daily nutrition needs. 

6. Canada Fresh Beef 

• Overall: 4 out of 5
• Flavor: 4 out of 5
• Ingredients: 4.5 out of 5
• Packaging: 4 out of 5
• Price: 4 out of 5

In general, beef is a little higher in fat and has more calories when compared to chicken (although in this recipe the protein content is the same vs the Canada Fresh chicken recipe), but if you compare mineral content, beef wins. It’s got loads of iron, zinc, copper, potassium, and calcium. It’s also lower in sodium. 

Beef is a common meat ingredient in many pet foods because the meat is flavorful and inexpensive. It’s also a favorite of pups, although a downside is that it’s one of the most common food allergens in dogs. But if your furry buddy is not sensitive to beef, then this formula is a great addition to your pup’s regular meals. 

This formulation utilizes fresh beef as the first ingredient, and raises the meat content by adding beef liver too. By adding beef liver, the brand not only increases the protein levels but also the mineral and vitamin content of the food. Liver also has a strong flavor that highly appeals to dogs, so much so that finicky eaters or recovering pups are often fed food with liver in it.

Benefits:

• The single protein minimizes sensitivity risks
• Crafted for all canine breeds
• High protein content
• Four key ingredients only
• Contains glucosamine and omegas
• Used as regular meal or as a topper
• 100% produced in Canada

First 5 Ingredients:

• Beef
• Beef Broth
• Beef Liver
• Peas
• Tri-Calcium Phosphate

Nutritional Breakdown:

This Canada Fresh recipe has one of the highest protein contents (same level as the Red Meat formulation).

The formulation is almost the same as the other brand’s recipes, which means that there are a limited number of ingredients only. There aren’t any veggies aside from peas, but the supplemental vitamins and minerals make up for that.

The formula has a tempting flavor that entices pups to eat and finish their bowls, but a disadvantage to the food is the smell. It’s kind of pungent, but if dogs go wild for it then that’s a win.

What Types of Dog Food Does Canada Fresh Offer?

Canada Fresh offers six different variants of wet canned food. All of the canned foods contain real meat and meat broth as the first two ingredients.

A common feature of the recipes is the inclusion of omega glucosamine into each formulation as well as the utilization of salmon oil for its fat and omega fatty acid content.

Here are the 6 offerings from Canada Fresh:

• Chicken
• Duck
• Lamb
• Beef
• Red Meat
• Salmon

 

Canada Fresh Recall History

• During our research, we were unable to find any recalls from the Canada Fresh Dog Food Brand. We dug even deeper because Canada Fresh is only one of the many brands by the company PetKind.
• Petkind has never had any recalls across its four lines of dog food. When a company goes many years without a recall, it says a lot about its production process and attention to detail. PetKind and Canada Fresh spend a lot of time and money focusing on the quality of their ingredients.

Customer Feedback

As pet parents ourselves, we understand that it’s difficult to purchase something online for your dog without actually seeing it in person.

We think it helps build confidence in the dog food if you read what other customers have to say about the food. If you are on the fence about whether or not Canada Fresh is an excellent choice for your pup, check out these real reviews from customers who already tried the brand.

Unfortunately, there are less than five reviews on each of the brand’s product offerings so it’s difficult to get an accurate representation of the truth behind the formula. Most of the reviews are positive, and all six of its products have four stars or higher.

Positive

Trying it out

• I thought I'd try the Canada Fresh lamb. I hadn't seen it anywhere before and thought I'd see how it would be received. My guys love it. They all dove right in and cleaned the plate. – Chewy Customer

Dogs say, “mmm, yum!”

• This food is a bit out of my normal price range, but even before I scooped it out of the can my two hounds were ultra excited for it. They gobbled it right down. It's one of those foods where you can tell right away that it's high quality and will be enjoyed by the pups. – Chewy Customer

Awesome Company

• I use PetKind tripe single animal protein tripe dry kibble and their Canada Fresh exclusively for my Scotties. This is a reliable company. They have been so helpful when I call them with questions. One of my Scotties has a compromised liver, and he has lived 5+ years longer than expected largely due to their tripe kibble. – Chewy Customer

Negative

Don’t buy it

• I tried this because it was on sale and my dogs won’t even touch it. Now I’m stuck with a bunch of dog food – Chewy Customer.

Purely Natural Dog Food From Canada

If you’ve made it this far in the article, you might still be wondering if this dog food is for your pup. Let us close you out with a few final thoughts. Canada Fresh is an all-natural canned dog food that uses some of the highest quality ingredients known to Canada.

Something that stands out to us about this food is the fact that most of their brands contain one single protein source which is truly ideal for pups with food allergies.

Whenever we find dogs that have issues with vomiting or loose stools, we always recommend they try out a single protein dog food to help alleviate those concerns.

If you’re concerned about your pup's diet and whether or not they are receiving the best nutrition possible, we highly recommend giving Canada Fresh a try.