NOTICE : PARTY ANIMAL IS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION
Meet Party Animal Dog Food
Party Animal is a premium wet dog food brand that uses whole ingredients and no grains to develop its line of canned foods. As soon as you step foot on their website, you can tell they’re a fun company that likes to appear light-hearted and youthful.
They make no jokes when talking about their ingredients though because Party Animal has a top of the line list of ingredients, especially for moist foods. We find that dry kibble tends to get the best of the best because it’s easier to disguise bad ingredients in canned foods; we think of them as a “snack.”
The company’s reputation online is minimal because they don’t have a lot of reviews on either Chewy nor Amazon. What little reviews they do have are inconsistent.
In this article, Party Animal dog food review, we’re going to crash this party and find out if this brand is doing everything it can to provide the best moist food.
Brand Quick Look
- Parent Company: Party Animal Inc.
- Founded in: 2006
- Made in: California USA
- Available at: Chewy, Amazon
- Types of Food: Canned
- Real Meat in First 5 Ingredients? : Yes
- Recalled in Past? : Yes
Behind the Brand
The company started in 2006 with a couple who didn’t have a business plan or a direct goal, they wanted to provide the best food for their furry friends, and they would stop at nothing to achieve their goal.
Party Animal food develops all natural, grain-free, and wholesome pet foods that are delicious and nutritious. There is little additional information online about the founding of the company.
Based on their website and other information, they seem like a small company that makes all of their foods in small batches.
Party Animal Dog Food Reviews
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Cocolicious I’m Wholesome Chicken Recipe
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VIEW LATEST PRICE → | |
Cocolicious I’m Wholesome Turkey Recipe
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VIEW LATEST PRICE → | |
California Chicken & Oats Recipe
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VIEW LATEST PRICE → |
In this section, we’re diving deep into the meat and potatoes of this pet food brand to see if we can find anything they might be doing wrong.
We’re taking a close look at the ingredients and Party Animal’s online reputation to grab some customer feedback regarding the brand’s recipes.
The brand’s products have very few reviews online and not much reputation. Even on the company website, many of the products are out of stock or simply not available anymore. (There are only TWO available right now.)
So we’re going to do our best to review the little products available to give you an accurate representation of the company.
1. Cocolicious I’m Wholesome Chicken Recipe
First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Pea Protein, Organic Coconut
Overall: 4.5 out of 5
Flavor: 4 out of 5
Ingredients: 5 out of 5
Packaging: 5 out of 5
Price: 4 out of 5
The Cocolicious range features a single animal protein and limited ingredient formulation that allows you to see and control precisely what goes inside your pup’s bowl.
It’s a grain- and gluten-free diet that features organic coconut for unique flavor and skin and coat benefits.
Based on the first five ingredients, we can see that this food is truly meat-based. Meats make up the most volume in the food, while the rest are simply supporting ingredients.
Chicken is a great source of protein and has a savory taste that many pooches adore. It has lean meat and less fat and contains some of the essential nutrients like vitamins B3 and B6, phosphorus, and selenium.
Chicken is also a rich source of glucosamine, which helps keep the joints healthy. But some dogs are allergic to chicken so it's best to observe your pups.
Chicken broth is made from cooked chicken bones. It is packed with flavor and provides additional nutrients that make this hydrating meal even more nutritious.
Chicken liver is added to the formula and provides extra protein. Its many nutrients will benefit your pup's liver too. The liver contains some of the essential nutrients that dogs need much more than meat.
Chicken livers in particular are a great source of selenium, niacin, thiamin, retinol, beta-carotene, and vitamins C and D.
And if you look closely at the label, you’ll see that the first five ingredients are also the main ingredients.
There are simply no fillers because the rest of the food is made up of supplemental nutrition. The only two exceptions are the guar gum and cassia gum, both of which act as thickeners and stabilizers in this dog food.
According to a majority of the reviewers, this recipe was a hit among their picky dogs. Many were also pleased with the wholesome and safe ingredients used.
There were only two negative reviews but one of them was mainly to do with how difficult it was to source this recipe. The other gave the food a low rating because her pet did not like it.
2. Cocolicious I’m Wholesome Turkey Recipe
First 5 Ingredients: Turkey, Turkey Liver, Turkey Broth, Organic Coconut, Organic Guar Gum
Overall: 4.5 out of 5
Flavor: 4 out of 5
Ingredients: 5 out of 5
Packaging: 5 out of 5
Price: 4 out of 5
Much the same as Party Animal’s Chicken Recipe, this Turkey recipe is also grain- and gluten-free and made with organic coconut.
The first five ingredients are also the only ingredients in this recipe that are not either a vitamin or mineral supplement (with the exception of cassia gum). This gives you maximum control over the products that your pup is eating.
Turkey is the first ingredient on its list. Turkey meat is much like chicken – lean and highly digestible, and high in protein. It's also rich in nutrients like riboflavin, and phosphorus and very delectable for most dogs.
Turkey liver is an excellent component in this formula. Liver is considered a superfood for dogs because of the abundant nutrients they offer. Among the many important vitamins and minerals derived from liver are vitamins A, D, B, as well as iron, copper, niacin and zinc.
Turkey broth, which is made from cooked turkey bones, provides additional nutrients and also upgrades the flavor of the meal.
It’s an excellent alternative meat for pets who can’t quite handle chicken due to sensitivity issues.
Organic coconut is another valuable component in this recipe. It has lauric acid, a fatty acid that can ward off fleas in dogs, cut down inflammation, heal wounds faster, and reduce pain from arthritis.
Rich in antioxidants, coconut can help boost the immune system. It is also known for healing properties that can help with ear yeast infections common to some dog breeds like German Shepherds, poodles, and beagles. It's also believed to relieve itchy skin and improve coat health.
If you’re looking for fillers, there are none. The cassia gum and guar gum are only there to stabilize the food and give it a thicker consistency. These are commonly used in canned foods of all kinds.
Based on the reviews we could find, around 79% of customers rated it a 5-star. The food smells good, fussy eaters like it, and it seems to help the dogs thrive.
Only one left a one-star review, and it’s because the customer did not like the new formulation, which he called a “mushy mess.”
3. California Chicken & Oats Recipe
First 5 Ingredients: Organic Chicken, Chicken Meal, Organic Oats, Organic Barley, Organic Peas
Overall: 5 out of 5
Flavor: 5 out of 5
Ingredients: 5 out of 5
Packaging: 5 out of 5
Price: 5 out of 5
Party Animal California Chicken & Oats offers up a wholesome meal for pups with its USDA-certified organic chicken as the main ingredient.
Chicken is a favored flavor for dogs. Chicken meat is rich in protein, vitamins B3 and B6, phosphorus, and selenium. It's also rich in glucosamine, which is beneficial to the joints.
And since the chickens used are USDA-certified organic, you can be sure the quality is premium and the birds are most likely bred in cage-free farms. Chicken is also a preferred protein source for overweight dogs because of its low-fat content.
However, it's important to observe if your pups don't have food allergies to chicken, as it is one of the most common allergy-inducing ingredients, according to the American Kennel Club.
Chicken meal is added to the mix for the extra protein and nutrients. The chicken meals are derived also from USDA-grade farms to ensure clean and high-quality ingredients.
Organic oats, the third main ingredient, are a great source of carbohydrates for dogs with food sensitivities to wheat or other grains. Oats are rich in linoleic acid, a type of omega-6 fatty acid that helps enhance the skin and coat.
They are also a good source of soluble fiber, which can help regulate blood glucose levels. Oats are also low in calories and fats, and their fiber content can help regulate gastrointestinal problems in dogs.
Organic barley is also part of the formula. Barley is easily digested by dogs and provides abundant fibers and minerals like selenium and copper.
Organic peas are the fifth main component in this recipe that also serves as filler and stabilizer for the kibble.
They're heavy in vitamins and minerals that include Vitamins A, K, and various B's, and fiber, iron, zinc, potassium, and magnesium, which all provide various health benefits for your furry babies. However, if your pooch has kidney issues, it's best to avoid meals with pea ingredients.
There are no artificial ingredients, wheat, or corn in the recipe. Instead, you can find prebiotics, probiotics, and a balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. This recipe is designed to provide optimal health, lustrous coat, and a healthy digestive system.
There are currently 16 reviews for this food that we could find on Chewy.com, and all of them give the recipe a 5-star rating. This speaks a lot about the formulation’s effect on pets and their reception towards it.
What was often remarked upon was how this food helped pets with sensitivities. There is an appreciable difference in dogs who were given this diet.
Less itching and scratching were observed and fewer incidences of stomach upsets were reported. Overall, customers said that this recipe was very promising and gave it full marks out of 5.
What Types of Dog Food Do They Offer?
Party Animal offers wet canned food, and just recently, dry dog food too containing all-natural ingredients with meat as the first. The company does a great job of using organic ingredients and additional vitamins to really pack a nutritious punch into their canned foods.
Many canned and dry foods have a reputation for containing fillers and harmful ingredients even when they come from a health food company. After a quick run through of the foods Party Animal has on offer, there are no red flags that stand out.
Here are some of the foods the brand offers:
- California Chicken & Oats Recipe
- Cocolicious I’m Wholesome Chicken Recipe
- Cocolicious I’m Wholesome Turkey Recipe
In addition to their standard line of food, they also offer something called “Cocolicious.” This line contains organic coconut towards the top of the list as a helpful addition for sensitive stomachs.
Coconut is natural on the digestive system, and it fills voids in the food without lacking nutrition like most fillers.
Recall History
Based on our research, since the founding of Party Animal in 2006 there has been only one major recall. Here is it below.
- In April 2017 the company recalled Cocolicious Beef and Turkey plus Cocolicious Chicken and Beef for possible contamination with pentobarbital. We had to do our research on this one, and we found out that pentobarbital is a narcotic used to sedate or help people fall asleep during surgeries. It slows brain and nervous system activity and had the potential to be consumed in the food. At the time the food was manufactured at a facility owned by Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Co. Inc., and Party Animal sued them for 20 million dollars.
Customer Reviews
The best way to get a real look into how a company is performing is to look at their honest and verified reviews section. It’s intimidating to switch dog foods because you’re afraid of wasting money and you don’t want to make your pups sick. Here are some real reviews from customers who already tried Party Animal.
Positive
Great for sensitive stomachs
- One of my dogs has always had digestive issues, and I've had to switch foods numerous times. This food cleared up a particularly long bout of loose bowels and the “gurgle bellies,” even faster than bland homecooked chicken and rice with sweet potato. He loves the taste! I highly recommend this food! – Chewy Customer
Delicious
- I started my dogs on this when Wild Calling changed their Shepherd's Choice formula. One of my dogs is highly allergic to most everything, and so this is a good limited ingredient choice. The food looks and smells appealing, like real meat, and both of my dogs love it. – Chewy Customer
Negative
No thanks
- Blech. That was my reaction when I opened the can for the first time and saw the goopy green contents. It was also my dog's reaction when he took his first (and last) mouthful of this food. My dog used to love Party Animal's Wild Caught Salmon. Since they no longer make it, I was really happy to learn that Party Animal came out with a new salmon dog food. After seeing my dog's reaction after tasting this food for the first time, however, my happiness was short-lived. The fact that the food is green and goopy doesn't matter nearly as much as the fact that my dog doesn't like it. So no, no home run here. – Chewy Customer
Bottomline
The overall theme of Party Animal dog food is an uncertain feeling in your stomach. Many of the reviews have great things to say about how their food has impacted their pups life, but so many of the complaints say that same thing.
The food does not have a desirable texture and dogs need that. The food appears more like a cat pate, and for Party Animal to be a real contender in the healthy dog food realm, they’ll need to improve on that.
That said, you can’t argue with a long list of healthy ingredients so we would absolutely recommend giving Party Animal Dog Food a try.