Earth Animal Dog Food Review: Is Wisdom Worth the Price?

If you’re looking for a dog food that goes beyond the usual chicken-and-rice formula, my Earth Animal dog food review starts with one thing I really appreciate about this brand: variety. Earth Animal takes a genuinely different approach to canine nutrition, offering proteins from land, sea, air, and even soil—including venison, bison, quail, sardines, catfish, crickets and black soldier fly larvae.

I also like that the brand isn't limited to food. Its broader lineup includes Wisdom air-dried food, No-Hide chews, and Apothecary wellness products, giving pet parents several ways to build a more varied routine.

Earth Animal is also a Certified B Corporation, with the certification recognizing its commitments to sustainability, animal welfare, and quality of life for animals, people, and the planet.

Quick Verdict

My Final Score: 9.2/10

Best for: Dogs who enjoy protein variety, picky eaters, pet parents interested in air-dried food, and owners looking for novel protein options.

Bottom line: It is one of the more interesting premium air-dried dog foods I've come across. The combination of unusual animal proteins, whole-food ingredients, veterinary formulation, gentle air-drying and multiple recipes makes it especially appealing for rotational feeding.

Benefits and Drawbacks

What Is Earth Animal Dog Food?

Earth Animal is a pet wellness company founded in 1979 by Dr. Bob and Susan Goldstein. The company focuses on food, treats, chews, supplements, and other products designed around animal health, sustainability, and quality of life.

The brand's Wisdom Air-Dried line is where I would focus if you're specifically evaluating Earth Animal as a dog food brand.

Wisdom is formulated by Dr. Bob Goldstein, a holistic veterinarian with more than 45 years of experience. Earth Animal says the recipes are designed to meet AAFCO standards and can be fed as complete and balanced diets for all life stages.

What makes Wisdom different?

Instead of producing another conventional high-heat kibble, Earth Animal gently air-dries its ingredients. The company says this lower-temperature process is intended to protect nutrient integrity and natural flavor while producing a soft, moisture-rich texture.

The basic technical profile is:

• Food type: Air-dried
• Formulation: Veterinary formulated
• Life stages: Wisdom recipes are formulated for all life stages
• Texture: Soft, moisture-rich nuggets
• Production: Made at Earth Animal's Riverstone Kitchen
• Testing: Each batch undergoes quality-control testing, with lot-specific testing information available from their site
• Protein approach: Animal proteins, organs and plant-based alternatives
• Feeding philosophy: Variety and rotational feeding

They also publish nutritional and testing information for its Wisdom recipes, which I consider a positive sign for transparency.

Earth Animal Dog Food Review

1. From the Air Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Quail, Duck, Dried Salmon, Quinoa, Coconut Glycerin

This premium recipe features sustainably sourced, cage-free quail, duck and goose, including wholesome organ and muscle meat, to provide a flavorful source of quality animal protein. Made in the USA in small batches, it uses a gentle air-drying process that helps preserve its savory taste while creating a soft, jerky-like texture dogs love. Salmon, ancient grains, fruits, vegetables, vitamins and minerals round out each serving for a balanced and nutritious meal suitable for dogs of all breeds.

Versatile and convenient, it can be served as a complete meal, used as a tasty topper to add variety to your dog’s regular food, or broken into bite-sized pieces for training. Its soft texture also makes it ideal for puzzle toys, treat dispensers, and snuffle mats, giving your pup a delicious way to stay engaged during mealtime and playtime.

2. From the Soil Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Dried Cricket, Dried Black Soldier Fly Larvae, Sunflower Meal, Coconut Glycerin, Lentil Protein

This unique recipe provides a novel source of natural protein from dried crickets and black soldier fly larvae, making it a thoughtful option for dogs with food sensitivities or those benefiting from rotational feeding. Its holistic formula includes organic sprouted seeds to support gut health and help maintain a healthy microbiome, while ancient grains, fruits, vegetables, minerals and vitamins add nutritional variety to every serving.

With its combination of premium, novel ingredients and insect-based protein, it offers a flavorful way to introduce variety into your dog’s diet while supporting overall nutritional needs.

3. From the Seed Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Lentil Protein, Sunflower Meal, Quinoa, Potato Protein, Alfalfa Nutrient Concentrate

This vegan dog food harnesses the nutritional power of plants to provide a convenient and versatile option for adding wholesome variety to your dog’s diet. Made in the USA, it combines plant-based ingredients such as lentils, sunflower, alfalfa, quinoa and potato with ancient grains, fruits and vegetables for a flavorful blend of nutrients.

The easy-to-scoop texture makes it simple to serve as a complete meal, sprinkle over your dog’s regular food as a tempting topper, or portion into small bites for training. It’s a convenient way to introduce more plant-based variety while keeping mealtime interesting and enjoyable for your canine companion.

4. From the Sea Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Catfish, Clam, Dried Sardine, Quinoa, Coconut Glycerin

This premium recipe features sustainably sourced wild-caught catfish, clams and sardines, providing dogs with high-quality animal protein and beneficial omega-3 fatty acids to support strong muscles, healthy skin and a shiny coat.

Quinoa and sprouted quinoa provide digestible carbohydrates and plant-based nutrients, while sweet potato and carrots contribute fiber, vitamins and antioxidants for healthy digestion and immune support.

Fenugreek may help support digestive health, while dried cranberries provide antioxidant-rich nutrients. Pumpkin adds gentle fiber that can promote regular digestion and healthy stools, making this nutrient-rich recipe a wholesome choice for dogs of all life stages.

5. From the Land Recipe Jerky Strips

First 5 ingredients: Venison, Beef, Beef Liver, Quinoa, Coconut Glycerin

These premium jerky-style treats feature sustainably sourced venison, beef, beef liver, bison, beef heart and venison liver for a rich, meaty flavor dogs adore. Quinoa, an ancient grain, adds nutritional variety, while real, traceable ingredients provide a wholesome treat option without artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors.

The soft, chewy texture makes these treats easy to break into smaller pieces, making them especially convenient for training, rewarding or everyday snacking. Suitable for picky dogs of all sizes and ages, they offer a flavorful way to keep tails wagging during training sessions or simply show your pup some extra love.

6. No-Hide Stix Strawberries & Cream

First 5 ingredients: Brown Rice Flour, Dried Whole Goat Milk Powder, Dried Strawberries, Agar-Agar, Eggs

This vet-formulated chew offers a wholesome alternative to traditional rawhide and bully sticks, combining the sweet flavor of strawberries with creamy goat milk for a taste dogs and cats enjoy. Specially sized for extra-small pets weighing up to 10 pounds, it provides a satisfying, long-lasting chewing experience while giving your furry companion a tasty way to stay engaged.

Made with a short list of simple, responsibly sourced ingredients, these chews are slowly baked for a rewarding texture without rawhide, bleach, synthetics or fillers. The compact size makes them convenient for smaller pets, but always choose a chew larger than your pet’s mouth, consider their individual chewing style and supervise chewing sessions for added safety.

7. No-Hide Stix Beef Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Beef, Brown Rice Flour, Agar-Agar, Eggs, Olive Oil

These long-lasting chew treats provide dogs and cats with a highly digestible alternative to traditional rawhide and bully sticks. Made with humanely raised beef, they deliver a rich, satisfying flavor while supporting your pet’s natural instinct to chew.

Veterinarian formulated with a thoughtful approach to quality and nutrition, these chews contain no rawhide, bleach, synthetic ingredients, or fillers. Their satisfying texture keeps pets engaged, making them a rewarding option for everyday chewing and enjoyment.

8. No-Hide Small Rolls Chicken Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Brown Rice Flour, Agar-Agar, Eggs, Olive Oil

These long-lasting chews feature humanely raised chicken and offer a satisfying alternative to traditional rawhide. A thoughtfully selected ingredient list includes brown rice flour, agar-agar, eggs, olive oil, oregano extract, cherry extract, flaxseed, banana powder and pineapple stem, creating a flavorful chew that dogs can enjoy while satisfying their natural urge to chew.

As a natural treat, each chew may vary in size, color, and appearance, and these differences are completely normal. You may also notice a natural scent or oil as your dog chews, which can potentially stain furniture, carpeting, or other surfaces. Always provide plenty of fresh water when offering any chew or treat and supervise your pet during chewing sessions.

Protein Sources

This is probably my favorite part of the brand.

Instead of sticking to the usual chicken, beef and lamb rotation, the brand has created a protein lineup that feels much more adventurous.

From the Land: Venison, Beef & Bison

The From the Land recipe combines grass-fed and pasture-raised venison, beef and bison.

These are nutrient-dense animal proteins that provide essential amino acids needed for maintaining muscle, supporting energy, and keeping dogs healthy.

The recipe contains both muscle meat and organs, which can naturally contribute nutrients such as iron, zinc, B vitamins and other micronutrients. Earth Animal reports a minimum of 25% crude protein and 15% crude fat for this recipe.

Why I like these proteins

• Venison: A novel protein that can be useful for dogs that have eaten more common proteins extensively.
• Beef: Highly palatable and rich in high-quality protein, iron, zinc and B vitamins.
• Bison: Another less-common red meat that provides complete animal protein and adds variety.

For dogs that become bored with the same protein every day, this combination makes mealtime considerably more interesting.

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From the Sea: Catfish, Clams & Sardines

The From the Sea recipe is where it really stands out.

It uses sustainably sourced wild-caught catfish, clams and sardines. It specifically highlights the recipe's omega-3 content, with a minimum of 2.3% omega-3 fatty acids on its guaranteed analysis.

Why marine proteins matter

Fish can provide valuable omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, which are associated with supporting healthy skin and coat, joints and other aspects of normal body function.

Sardines are especially interesting because they're naturally rich in marine omega-3s.

Earth Animal also says its fish sourcing includes wild-caught catfish and MSC-certified clams and sardines.

One clarification is important:Salmon is part of Earth Animal's broader ingredient lineup and appears in products such as No-Hide and some Wisdom recipes, but the current From the Sea recipe itself is centered on catfish, clams and sardines.

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From the Air: Quail, Duck, Goose, Chicken & Turkey

The air category is particularly appealing to me because it gives pet parents several options beyond the standard chicken formula.

The current From the Air recipe features quail, duck and goose, while Earth Animal also offers separate chicken and turkey recipes.

The From the Air recipe includes:

• Quail
• Duck
• Goose
• Dried salmon
• Duck liver
• Duck gizzard

That combination gives the food a nice mix of muscle meat, organs and marine nutrition.

Why novel poultry proteins can be useful

Chicken is extremely common in dog food, so having alternatives such as quail, duck and goose can be useful when a dog needs dietary variety.

Duck and goose also tend to provide a richer flavor profile, which may be helpful for picky eaters.

Quail, meanwhile, offers another novel animal protein without relying on the usual beef or chicken formula.

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From the Soil: Crickets & Black Soldier Fly Larvae

This is probably the most unusual recipe.

The From the Soil formula uses dried cricket and dried black soldier fly larvae as its primary animal-derived proteins.

And yes, dogs can eat insects. In fact, insect proteins are increasingly being explored as alternative protein sources because they can provide protein while potentially requiring fewer resources than conventional livestock production.

Earth Animal combines the insect proteins with ingredients such as sunflower meal, lentil protein, alfalfa, quinoa, sweet potato, pumpkin, carrots and sprouted grains. The recipe provides a minimum of 29% crude protein and 12% crude fat.

Why this recipe is interesting

I wouldn't choose it simply because it's unusual. I'd choose it because it gives pet parents another option when traditional proteins aren't working well.

The company also describes the recipe as supporting digestion, energy and immune function through its combination of insect proteins, whole-food ingredients and postbiotics.

For environmentally conscious pet parents, the insect-protein approach is also worth considering.

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Plant-Based Option: From the Seed

Earth Animal doesn't stop at animal proteins.

The Wisdom From the Seed recipe is a plant-based option featuring ingredients such as lentils, sunflower meal and alfalfa, along with quinoa and organic sprouted seeds. It provides a minimum of 28% crude protein and 13% crude fat.

This is particularly interesting for pet parents who want to incorporate a plant-based recipe into a broader rotational feeding strategy.

However, I would still treat plant-based feeding as something to discuss with your veterinarian, especially if it will make up your dog's entire long-term diet.

What Health Improvements Can You Expect?

This is where I want to separate what the formulation is designed to support from guaranteed medical results.

No dog food can promise that every dog will experience the same health changes. Genetics, age, activity, existing health conditions, allergies, portion size and the rest of the diet all matter.

That said, Earth Animal specifically builds Wisdom around a “gut-first” philosophy. Its recipes include ingredients such as sprouted seeds, functional fibers and postbiotics intended to support digestion and the microbiome.

Improvements I would watch for after a successful transition

Based on the nutritional profile and reported customer experiences, the changes pet parents may notice include:

• More consistent stools and improved digestive comfort
• Better appetite and mealtime enthusiasm
• Improved energy and activity
• Healthier-looking skin and a shinier coat
• Better tolerance of dietary variety
• Improved overall body condition when portions are appropriately controlled
• Potentially fewer digestive problems for dogs that respond well to a particular recipe

There are also customer reports of improvements in skin and digestive issues after switching to Wisdom, although these are individual experiences rather than controlled clinical evidence.

The brand itself connects healthy digestion with broader areas such as energy, immunity, coat and mood. I think that's a reasonable way to look at the food—as a nutritional foundation rather than a treatment for disease.

My biggest performance test: digestion

When I evaluate a new dog food, I care about what happens after the bowl is empty.

A food can have an impressive ingredient list, but if it causes loose stools, gas, vomiting or poor appetite, it isn't a good fit for that individual dog.

That's one reason I like their emphasis on gradual transitions and gut health.

Their 3 Main Support Lines

One thing that makes them different from a company selling only dog food is how its product lines fit together.

1. Wisdom: Everyday Nutrition

Wisdom is the main food line.

Its focus is complete and balanced nutrition, unusual protein sources, whole-food ingredients, gentle air-drying, and rotational feeding. Earth Animal currently offers recipes including From the Land, From the Sea, From the Air, From the Soil, From the Seed, Chicken, and Turkey.

This is the line I'd focus on for everyday meals.

2. No-Hide: Long-Lasting Chews

No-Hide isn't a dog food; it's their own alternative to traditional rawhide.

The chews use real food ingredients rather than animal hide and are available in different proteins and formats. Earth Animal describes them as highly digestible and veterinary formulated.

One particularly interesting point is it's digestibility testing. The company reports an 80% gastric digestibility figure after eight hours in an independent in-vitro study, compared with lower figures reported for collagen-based chews and rawhide.

Of course, chew safety still matters. I would always choose the correct size and supervise chewing.

3. Apothecary: Targeted Wellness Support

Apothecary is their line of plant-based supplements, herbal remedies, powders and topicals.

The range addresses areas such as:

• Digestion
• Skin
• Joints
• Calmness
• Immune support
• Respiratory health
• Urinary and kidney support
• Weight management
• Ear and eye care

They describe these products as veterinary formulated and based on decades of holistic veterinary experience.

I see Apothecary as an optional addition rather than something every dog automatically needs.

Earth Animal vs. Traditional Raw Dog Food

If you're comparing Earth Animal with leading raw brands, the biggest difference is processing and convenience.

Brands such as Stella & Chewy's offer freeze-dried raw formulas containing muscle meat, organ meat, bone and produce, with many recipes formulated to meet AAFCO Nutrient Profiles.

Their Wisdom line takes a different route.

Feature	Earth Animal Wisdom	Traditional Raw / Freeze-Dried Raw
Main preparation	Air-dried	Raw, frozen or freeze-dried
Refrigeration	Generally no for unopened/normal use	Frozen raw requires refrigeration/freezer space
Bone	Does not use the same ground-bone raw-food format	Many raw formulas include ground bone
Protein variety	Excellent	Excellent
Novel proteins	Excellent	Varies by brand
Convenience	Excellent	Freeze-dried is also highly convenient
Food safety handling	Easier than frozen raw	Requires greater attention with raw products
Texture	Soft, jerky-like nuggets	Varies considerably
Plant-based option	Yes	Depends on brand

For me, this makes them a nice middle ground.

You get the ingredient diversity and meat-forward approach I associate with premium raw feeding, but without the freezer space and handling requirements of frozen raw food.

Is It Worth the Price?

Yes, I think this brand is worth considering if you prioritize premium ingredients, unusual proteins, gentle processing, and dietary variety—but it isn't the cheapest everyday option.

Current pricing on Earth Animal's website puts many Wisdom recipes around the premium end of the market, with some 2-pound bags starting in the mid-$30 range and larger bags costing substantially more.

For a small or moderately sized dog, the cost may be easier to justify.

For a 100-pound dog, the food budget can become significantly more challenging.

My recommendation is to calculate the cost per day, rather than judging the price by the bag alone.

Is Earth Animal Dog Food AAFCO Certified?

Not exactly. AAFCO does not “certify” individual pet foods. Earth Animal says its Wisdom recipes are formulated to meet AAFCO standards for complete and balanced nutrition.

That's an important distinction.

For Wisdom, Earth Animal states that the recipes are complete and balanced for all life stages and designed to meet AAFCO standards.

So when evaluating a bag, I'd look for the nutritional adequacy statement rather than simply asking whether a product is “AAFCO certified.”

Is Earth Animal Good for Dogs?

Yes. it is a high-quality option for many dogs, particularly those that benefit from protein variety and a premium air-dried diet.

What I particularly like is that the brand doesn't rely on one gimmick.

It combines:

• Named animal proteins
• Muscle and organ meats
• Novel protein choices
• Whole-food ingredients
• Functional fiber
• Sprouted seeds
• Postbiotics in selected recipes
• Veterinary formulation
• Gentle air-drying
• Ingredient sourcing transparency

The brand also publishes testing information for Wisdom, including lot-specific reports and nutritional panels.

That level of transparency gives them an advantage in my book.

Is It Vet Approved?

This is veterinarian formulated, but “vet approved” is not the same thing as having every veterinarian recommend it for every dog.

Wisdom was formulated by Dr. Bob Goldstein, an integrative veterinarian with more than 45 years of experience.

That's meaningful, but I wouldn't interpret it as a universal veterinary endorsement.

Dogs with kidney disease, pancreatitis, severe allergies, gastrointestinal disease or other medical conditions may need individualized nutrition prescribed or recommended by their own veterinarian.

My Final Thoughts

After digging into the formulas, sourcing practices, processing method, and product range, I can see why Earth Animal dog food has developed such a loyal following.

The biggest selling point for me isn't simply that the ingredients sound premium. It's the variety.

Where else are you going to find a mainstream premium dog food lineup that moves from venison and bison to catfish and sardines, then quail and goose, and finally crickets and black soldier fly larvae?

That gives pet parents a lot of flexibility.

I also appreciate that it doesn't stop with food. Wisdom handles everyday nutrition, No-Hide tackles the rawhide problem, and Apothecary offers targeted wellness support.

For dogs that thrive on premium air-dried food, especially picky eaters or dogs whose owners want to experiment with novel proteins, Earth Animal deserves a spot on the shortlist.

My Earth Animal dog food review score: 9.2/10.

The main reason I don't give it a perfect score is price. Quality ingredients, unusual proteins, veterinary formulation, testing and careful sourcing come at a cost. But if that cost fits your budget, I think the nutritional variety and convenience make Wisdom a compelling alternative to both conventional kibble and traditional raw feeding.