Is Spot and Tango worth it? Read on for our personal, in-depth Spot and Tango review.
If your furry friend has been eating grocery-bought kibble or canned foods, maybe it’s time for you to consider fresh pet food which is refrigerated.
Just like us hoomans, our pooches need nutritious meals too! Statistics show that more than half the canines over the age of 10 years old will develop some type of cancer with diet/intake often cited as the major contributor.
Heart, kidney, and liver diseases are now widespread among pets too – and again, diet is the major contributing factor. Although fresh pet food is way more expensive than your typical kibble, choosing it is a wise investment providing it does all the following:
- Has savory taste for your pup
- Grants your pet happiness & longevity
- Encourages correct weight, gives the right nutrients and caloric count
- Avoids allergies for those who are sensitive
- Is tailored according to your pet's needs
- Keeps your beloved fur-baby healthier thus no outstanding vet bills
- Gives him a higher quality of life
If you and your beloved pet are looking for that fresh, tasty, healthy pet food delivery, look no further than Spot & Tango.
Spot & Tango is one of the new fresh pet food services that offers exciting meals which boasts all-natural ingredients and a personalized meal plan for your pet.
They claim their recipes benefit dogs in the following ways:
- Relieving allergies
- Improving digestion
- Supporting coat
- Managing weight
- Strengthening muscle
- Building immunity
- Reducing dander
- Alleviating arthritis
- Boosting energy
At a Glance
- $48/week & $51/week for personalized plans (price depends on the size of your dog – I have 2 dogs)
- Personalized meal plans according to your pet's age, weight & activity level
- Free shipping
- High quality, non GMO ingredients
- Meals are cooked weekly
- 100% human grade
- Locally sourced ingredient
- Recipes crafted by a Vet Nutritionist
- Super Tasty (according to my picky eaters)
- No measuring required (pre-portioned meals)
- Individually packed
Where Is the Food Made?
Like with most fresh pet food companies, Spot & Tango is incredibly careful in the production of their products to ensure safety and quality.
This company is in New York City (NYC), and their kitchens were inspected and approved by both the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
All their natural ingredients are cooked in small portions at low temperatures to minimize nutrient loss. Their facility operates in strict compliance with the FDA’s Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) food safety protocols as well.
Also, Spot & Tango employees are required to get the NYC Health Department's food handler's permit as the facility is inspected every week.
What Do They Offer?
As of this writing, Spot & Tango offers 3 dog food recipes, each with a different animal protein source as main ingredient.
You can choose between grain free or grain inclusive recipes, all made with just 12 ingredients with minerals & vitamins to ensure proper nutritional balance.
All recipes contains a blend of vegetables and fruits, such as peas, spinach, carrots, apples, and blueberries as natural key nutrient sources, hence minimizing the need for any synthetic supplements.
Spot & Tango Recalls
Spot & Tango is extremely careful with their production and meticulously manages their facilities every step of the way. They prepare foods in small batches to ensure its quality. And to date, we have found no recalls on this product.
How to Order?
First go to their website and sign up. The process is fairly simple. After you provide your name, email, zip code and your dog’s details, you can choose the meal plan you would like. They will also recommend the best plan for your pet based on those details.
For my Miniature Australian Shepherd Milo, who weighs 50 lbs., meal options ranged from $47.38 to $72.43, depending on which recipe I choose. I admit that math is not my strong suit, but I was able to do a quick calculation and saw that Spot & Tango determined my weekly cost based on 2 meals per day.
From the least expensive to the most expensive, the options are as follows:
- Turkey & Red Quinoa
- Beef & Millet
- Lamb & Brown Rice
For review purposes, I picked 2 recipes: Beef & Millet and Turkey & Red Quinoa. Just to be clear, you can choose 1 recipe or all 3. It’s all up to you.
After signing up, the company will contact you. Their communication skills are impressive. You will first get an email confirmation of your order, plus another email with your package tracking number when they are about to ship it and finally, they will update you once it has been delivered.
Spot & Tango ships all over the continental US via USPS, FedEx, and UPS. Spot & Tango is a subscription service. Once you sign up with them, your credit card will be automatically charged on the schedule you have chosen for your dog’s food.
Your food will be shipped to you directly after your card has been charged. You can pause or cancel your subscription just by emailing them. Also, they always send an email out three days before they process your order, which is quite helpful.
The Arrival of Spot and Tango
My Spot & Tango pet food was delivered frozen in environmentally friendly packaging. My box came in safe and sound. The meals came vacuum sealed in BPA-free pouches. (BPA is a chemical that is used in plastics and can be toxic.) For my 25 lb. dog, Sheba, one pouch is split between 2 meals.
Because Spot & Tango’s food is fresh with no preservatives whatsoever, it must be stored in the refrigerator (up to 4 days) or freezer (up to 6 months). My parcel came in with storing instructions which I found helpful.
The instructions recommended that the food be stored in the freezer. Simply place 1 pouch in the refrigerator at night so it will be ready the following day.
I also like how flat the pouches are. It’s so convenient for storing purposes– simply stack them up.
Taste Testing with Sheba & Milo
When I opened their first pouch for mealtime, my dogs looked up at me in a puzzled manner. The food looks wonderful, nothing like any canned food or kibble. You can really see the peas, quinoa, meat all chopped up and looking colorful.
Let me just emphasize that my pets are picky eaters, and I was expecting them to not eat this one. But lo and behold, they gobbled it all up, bowl licking good!
The following day, they were actually wagging their tails as I took the pouch out from the fridge. No doubt, they are loving this already! Yay to a healthier food choice!
What I do is slice the top off and pour half of the contents for my smaller dog Sheba and save the other half for later. Milo on the other hand gets to have the entire pouch per meal. I usually put 2 or more pouches in the fridge every night so that they are already thawed by morning.
It is advisable to change your pet's diet gradually, feeding 1/4 of the new food with 3/4 of old food for a few days then increase it to half-half and so on, until transition is finally completed.
Personally, this step I skipped since my picky eaters are used to eating various foods, including human food as I cook food for them also from time to time.
They are both doing fine and adjusting well, however if your pet is used to eating a certain type of food or a specific brand, it is wise to transition slowly.
The Verdict
Without a doubt – this pet food is not cheap. However, if you are after your pet's health and the benefits he or she will get from fresh food but you don't have the time to cook it yourself then this may be for you.
The price tag may be a bit steep, but Spot & Tango doesn't skimp on anything. Their recipes are wonderful and made from GMO-free, high-quality ingredients. My dogs are fans already and their stomachs agree as well.
If the thought of spending too much on dog food is a concern, the company also offers a Topper Plan. For a much cheaper price, you will get smaller portions to use as a “topper” on your pet's regular food.
Just bear in mind that building a healthy system for your pet may be costly, but it is a wise investment. Having a sick dog is much more expensive than any of the meal plans of Spot & Tango combined.
Say yes to a healthier pet today! I’m glad I did!