1. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula
Key Features
Crude protein 22.0% min
Crude fat 14.0% min
Crude fiber 5.0% max
Moisture 10.0% max
Calcium 1.0% min
Phosphorus 0.7% min
Omega 3 0.75% min
Omega 6 2.0% min
Glucosamine 400 mg/kg min
Main ingredients are deboned lamb, Menhaden fish meal, and brown rice.
One of the most trusted dog food brands on the market for lamb and rice dog food, Blue Buffalo have created a lamb and brown rice recipe that is to be envied by competitors. It’s perfectly balanced between fats, proteins and carbs, while offering ample additional vitamins and minerals. Therefore, this dog food easily comes up as the best lamb and rice dog food available, at the time of writing.
Taking a simple, deboned lamb and brown rice recipe, the brand has stripped away any artificial flavors, preservatives, and fillers. Instead, they’ve added fish meal, which is naturally packed with omega fatty acids – which are essential amino acids that can have a beneficial effect on brain function and health.
Grain-free and perfect for adult dogs, this lamb and brown rice formula comes as dry dog food. Which makes it ideal for your dog’s diet, if they have sensitivities, as kibble will encourage dogs to chew. Thus, making smaller, more digestible bites (and helping to clean their teeth in the process!).
2. Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Healthy Weight Formula
Key Features
Crude protein 10.0% min
Crude fat 3.0% min
Crude fiber 1.5% max
Moisture 80.0% max
Main ingredients are lamb and chicken broth, liver, lamb, wheat gluten
For those who prefer wet food for their dog’s diet, then look no further – Purina has gone all out with this food for adult dogs. This lamb and brown rice formula is perfect for older dogs, dogs who need a lower level of protein, and dogs who need high moisture content in their food.
This option does include wheat gluten, so if your dog is allergic to whole grain wheat, then this lamb and rice dog food may not be the best option for your needs. That being said, it is free from whole grain barley and whole grain corn. So, if you need lamb and rice dog food that avoids these ingredients, then this option will suit you, perfectly.
3. Nutro Natural Choice Small Bites Adult Dog
Key Features
Crude protein 20.0% min
Crude fat 12.0% min
Crude fiber 3.5% max
Moisture 10.0% max
Selenium 0.35 mg/kg min
Vitamin e 60 iu/kg min
Chondroitin sulfate 850 mg/kg
Glucosamine 250 mg/kg
Omega-3 0.2% min
Omega-6 2.0% min
Main ingredients are deboned lamb, chicken meal, brewers rice, and whole-grain brown rice
With no chicken by-product meal (do be aware, however, that this product includes chicken meal in the ingredients), yet packed with all the benefits of deboned lamb and brewers rice, this option is one of the best dog foods to switch to if your adult dogs are showing signs of allergies.
This lamb and rice dog food with chicken meal is a firm favorite with customers, earning it the title of being Amazon’s Choice for buyers. While the new design does include chicken meal, it still negates some of the most allergenic foods.
Better still, it offers a healthy balance of protein, fat and fiber. As such, it’s ideal for older dogs. This is great news for dog owners, who often have a hard time finding lamb and rice dog food for their elderly canine companions. Here’s a detailed look at Nutro Dog Food.
4. Zignature Lamb Limited Ingredient Formula
Key Features
Crude protein 28.0% min
Crude fat 15.0% min
Crude fiber 4.0% max
Moisture 10.0% max
Calcium 2.0% min
Phosphorus 1.1% min
Omega-6 fatty acids 5.5% min
Omega-3 fatty acids 0.9% min
Taurine 0.2% min
L-carnitine 40 mg/kg min
Main ingredients are Lamb, lamb meal, and chickpeas
Slightly more expensive than other dry dog food options there, this premium quality lamb meal and legumes formula is a rare sight in that it doesn’t compliment the lamb with rice (brown or white rice).
Instead, it highlights a grain-free, limited ingredient formula that is full of protein and healthy fats. Even being free from pearled barley and any other low-risk ingredients often found in lamb and rice dog foods.
With plenty of amino acids to complement the lamb, lamb meal, and chickpeas, this dog food does much more than simply help dogs with sensitivities. Instead, it uses ample vitamins and minerals, to ensure your dog is healthy, inside and out. From a shiny coat to a sharp brain, this is perfect for pampering your pup!
5. Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Real Lamb
Key Features
Crude protein 25.0% min
Crude fat 15.0% min
Crude fiber 5.0% max
Moisture 10.0% max
Docosahexaenoic acid (dha) 0.05% min
Zinc 150 mg/kg min
Selenium 0.35 mg/kg min
Vitamin e 150 iu/kg min
Taurine 0.12% min
Omega-6 fatty acids 2.4% min
Omega-3 fatty acids 0.3% min
Total microorganisms not less than 80,000,000 cfu/lb
Main ingredients are lamb, lamb meal and sweet potatoes
Taste of the Wild is often the top contender for lamb and rice dog food options, so you can really see how tight the competition is, here. With cooked lamb, lamb meal and sweet potatoes, this dry dog food offers 24% protein in total, making it suitable for a wide range of different breeds and ages.
Added to the lamb meal is prebiotics, antioxidants and superfoods, so you can be sure that your dog is getting the best of the best, when it comes to this option. Unlike other dog foods on our list, it also avoids using the staples of rice formula (rice bran, rice flour, white rice, and brown rice) – as well as whole grain wheat.
6. ZIWI Peak Air-Dried Lamb Recipe
Key Features
Crude protein 35.0% min
Crude fat 33.0% min
Crude fiber 2.0% max
Moisture 14.0% max
Ash 12.0% max
Chondroitin sulfate 1,300 mg/kg min
Main ingredients are lamb, lamb heart and lamb tripe
If you’re trying to avoid brown rice and lamb meal, but want the benefits of chicken-free dog foods, then this is the best lamb dog food for you. Unlike most lamb and rice dog foods, this selection has been created with larger dog breeds and energetic pups in mind.
A massive 35% protein makes up every meal, combined with a high percentage of fat. This means that, while this option isn’t the best choice for older dogs, some toy breeds and dogs who need low-protein diets, it’s perfect for energetic breeds and working dogs. Just be aware that the smaller percentage of fiber can cause some discomfort for dogs – so be sure to supplement this if needs be!
7. IAMS Lamb & Rice Recipe Dog Food
Key Features
Crude protein 25.0% min
Crude fat 14.0% min
Crude fiber 5.0% max
Moisture 10.0% max
Selenium 0.35 mg/kg min
Vitamin e 60 iu/kg min
Omega-6 1.75% min
Main ingredients are lamb, brewers rice, and chicken by-product meal
Another option that’s great for all kinds of breeds, this lamb and rice dog food uses “minichunks”. As such, it’s much better for smaller breeds or puppies that are coming into adult age. It offers excellent nutrition with dried plain beet pulp and brewers rice. However, owners should be aware that this is not a grain-free option.
Instead, this is a lamb and rice dog food for those who are simply looking to offer their pups the benefits of a rice formula, alongside the lamb. It offers plenty of amino acids, as well as vitamins and minerals. So, while this may not be ideal for allergy sufferers or sensitive tums, it’s a great choice if you’re just looking for a good quality food for your dog. If you want to find out more about their company, product lines, and recall history, read our review of Iams Dog Food.
8. Natural Balance Ultra Premium Wet Dog Food
Key Features
Crude protein 8.0% min
Crude fat 5.0% min
Crude fiber 1.5% max
Moisture 78.0% max
Main ingredients are lamb broth, lamb and lamb liver
With a lower level of protein but high level of moisture, this wet food is suitable for puppies, dogs and elderly canines. While lamb makes up the main three ingredients, this is actually a lamb, lamb meal and brown rice formula.
The combination of lamb, brown rice and lamb broth ensure your dog’s coat stays healthy and shiny. While the natural amino acids present in the food help to keep your dog happy and healthy. A good level of fiber, alongside the moisture content, ensures dogs who have bowel problems or suffer with urinary tract issues are also safe to eat this lamb and rice dog food.
9. Amazon Brand Wag Dry Dog Food
Key Features
Made with Australian lamb
No added corn, gluten, meal from other meat sources, or preservatives
Made in California, USA
Formulated with the help of vets and animal nutritionists
Main ingredients are lamb, lamb meal, lentils and pea protein.
As a brand, Wag have been around for many years, making many dog owners happy and even more dogs full and fed. This lamb, lamb meal and lentil option is suitable for both adult dogs and puppies, thanks to a simple recipe that has proven to be popular with pet owners.
This is another choice that avoids rice bran, white rice and brown rice, making it a great choice for those trying to keep rice digestion down to a minimum. This choice is even made in the US and is free from preservatives and grains, making it perfect for sensitive dogs or those with allergies.
10. Acana Singles Limited Ingredient Dog Food
Key Features
Crude protein 31% min
Crude fat 17% min
Crude fiber 5% max
Moisture 12% max
Dietary starch 18% max
Sugars 5% max
Epa (eicosapentaenoic acid) 0.3% min
Dha (docosahexaenoic acid) 0.2% min
Calcium 1.8% min
Phosphorus 1.2% min
Omega-6 fatty acids* 1.2% min
Omega-3 fatty acids* 1.0% min
Glucosamine* 500mg/kg min
Total microorganisms* 100 million cfu/lb
Main ingredients are deboned lamb, lamb meal and lamb liver
Another option that’s packed with the good stuff and perfect for working dogs. This limited ingredient lamb, lamb meal, and lamb liver dog food is absolutely rammed with protein and has a good level of fat to boot, too. Every aspect of this food is designed to give your dog the absolute finest ingredients around – even down the lamb meal being made with 65% grass-fed lamb.
Other than the hearty, meaty ingredients, it also boasts the superfoods of sweet potatoes, and ample vitamins and minerals. All of which help to keep your dog in top shape, from their bones to their nose. All-in-all, this is a great choice if you’re looking for a lamb and rice food alternative.
11. CRAVE Grain Free Premium Dog Food
Key Features
Crude protein 34.0% min
Crude fat 17.0% min
Crude fiber 3.5% max
Moisture 10.0% max
Omega-6 fatty acids 2.5% min
Main ingredients are lamb, chicken meal and split peas
Crave are a much newer brand but have been quick to offer excellent dog food options for working dogs and those who live an active lifestyle. Indeed, 34% protein makes up every serving, helping your adult dog to feed their muscles. On top of that, a good amount of fat provides your pup with plenty of energy to burn through, too.
This option also has a good deal of fiber and moisture, meaning that sensitive stomachs will have an easy time digesting this dog food. Of course, it wouldn’t be on our Top list if it didn’t also offer a good range of vitamins and minerals to help your pooch live their best life, as well!
12. Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets
Key Features
Crude protein 22.0% min
Crude fat 12.0% min
Crude fiber 4.0% max
Moisture 10.0% max
Calcium 1.2% min
Phosphorus 1.0% min
Taurine 0.25% min
Omega-3 fatty acids 0.12% min
Omega-6 fatty acids 1.5% min
Main ingredients are lamb, brown rice, and lamb meal
With lamb, brown rice and lamb meal being the top ingredients in this L.I.D option, this is the ideal choice if you’re looking for puppy food. You can be sure that the ingredients (beyond lamb meal, brown rice and, of course lamb) are designed to keep your puppy happy. Since most allergies become apparent in the first year, it’s no surprise that this quality brand have thought ahead and brought a lamb and rice alternative that also works for sensitive dogs.
On top of this, Natural Balance have created the ideal combination of protein and fat, alongside moisture, as well as vitamins and minerals. Ensuring that this puppy food offers more than your standard lamb meal and rice food. Indeed, you’ll be providing your dog with strong muscles and a quick mind, starting them off with this lamb food.
Lamb Dog Food Buying Guide
Things to Consider When Buying Lamb Dog Food
Nutritive Value
Regardless of the ingredients, the nutritive value is based around providing your puppy with the most nutrition possible, for each serving. While we humans use calories as our yardstick, dogs need to look at the guaranteed analysis.
The guaranteed analysis covers the basics, allowing owners to easily see how much of the food is made up of protein, fat, moisture, essential amino acids and more - all as a percentage. For dogs, protein should be at the top of the list, and the amount your dog needs changes depending on their lifestyle and breed.
Similarly, healthy fats should be used in place of general fats, so be sure to check out the ingredients list. This will help you to keep an eye on what's going into your dog's food bowl. In this case, lamb, lamb meal, brown rice, and other parts of the lamb, or some legumes, should be at the top. We discuss this in more detail, below.
Balanced nutrition means healthy dogs, and the best dog food is filled with nutritive value. That means many things - but, first and foremost, it means no fillers. Fillers are used to "pad" the dog food out, but has no nutritional value, such as standard grain/wheat/corn/gluten. Meal from protein-based food, meanwhile.
Ingredients
When it comes to lamb food for dogs, the most common ingredients you'll spot alongside the star of the show is lamb meal, brown rice and legumes (peas, chickpeas and so on). While brown rice and white rice can't be digested too well by dogs, they still offer plenty of benefits.
Most notably, they're a great source of low-calorie, high nutrition energy. They're also great for adding fiber to your dog's daily diet. They're also (not so surprisingly) cheap. As such, do keep an eye on the levels of lamb, brown rice, and other ingredients at the top of the list.
It's also worth considering fillers and unnecessary ingredients.
Not all ingredients are made the same, however. Ground white rice is going to hold less nutritive value than whole brown rice. Similarly, rice bran - or miller's bran - is often marketed as standard rice dog food, but is actually a filler ingredient.
While it is palatable for dogs, dog owners may want to consider brewers' rice or a brown rice dog food formula, instead. Of course, whole grain brown rice dog foods are going to be the best option for your dog. Especially if the dog has a sensitive stomach. Naturally, if you're just after providing your dog with the most nutritious food you can, go with a simple brown rice recipe (or white rice, if your dog is struggling to digest a brown rice formula).
Cracked pearled barley, on the other hand, works brilliantly for providing a nutritious base.
Of course, the best lamb dog foods should always have lamb as the top ingredient. Lamb meal, brown rice and any other ingredient needs to come after this. Because of this, you'll usually see lamb and rice in that order. The only exception being when the food is wet, since the moisture content will usually come first.
Wet or Dry
Wet food is the ideal choice for dogs who are prone to urinary tract infections, or need plenty of hydration during the day. However, because of the high moisture content, there is less nutritive value in the food bought. In other words, you'll need to feed your dog their lamb, brown rice or any other variant of wet dog food, much more frequently than with dry food.
Dry dog food, on the other hand, tends to be more condensed, when it comes to adding nutritional value. This is because the level of moisture is much, more lower than with wet food (usually sitting at around 10% on the analysis).
It is harder to digest, if your dog struggles with their bowel movements, but also lasts longer, is easier to store and remains the most popular version of dog food. It also comes with the added benefit of helping your dog to keep their teeth clean, as the chomping helps to shift plaque.
Additional Benefits
When looking for the best lamb dog food, you'll want to check the additional benefits. Since there is so much competition out there, having some nice, added, nutritional benefits can make all the difference. Some of the most common options to look out for include:
- Omega fatty acids
Omega fatty acids are a particular string of amino acids, which help to keep the brain and heart functioning well. They're most frequently found in fish, but come from many sources of high quality protein. Canola oil is packed with omega fatty acids, so check for this in the ingredients list!.
- Vitamins and minerals
Vitamins and minerals help to maintain various aspects of the body. From the bone to the nose! The most common ones to look out for are vitamin C (which helps to maintain the immune system), vitamin a (maintains eye health and reproductive systems) and ingredients such as phosphorous, calcium and magnesium.
Servings and Price
As with all things, the budget matters. But don't forget to look at serving sizes, as well as the price, when purchasing your dog food. Lamb and rice dog food may be slightly more expensive than the chicken varieties - but often, for those dogs with food allergies, getting a simpler, lamb and rice formula works out much better for your dog's overall health.
Cheaper dog foods will usually be filled with grain, wheat and other unnecessary fillers. They're also more likely to use artificial flavors, rather than fresh lamb. While needs must, when it comes to the budget, if you can afford it, we always recommend getting the best lamb dog food.
However, that doesn't necessarily mean purchasing the most expensive option. As our Top List showcases nicely, you can easily purchase a high-quality lamb and rice formula without breaking the bank. Just check the ingredients list
The Nutritional Benefits of Lamb Food for Dogs
There are ample benefits of adding lamb to your dog's diet, many of which are key to helping maintain a happy, healthy body and mind. While we don't have the space to add all of them individually, here are some of the biggest factors as to why lamb-based dog food is a good choice.
High-Quality Protein
Fresh lamb is a great source of protein. And protein provides your pups with everything they need for healthy cell building and regeneration. In other words, they are the building blocks of life and are required for any animal (including us) to remain healthy and happy. Without protein, your pup will soon become lethargic and extremely poorly.
High Levels of Beta-Alanine
Beta-alanine is great for muscle endurance, which helps your dog to become the best pup they can be. Whether you like agility and canine sports, or are looking to feed your working dog with the right mixture to keep their muscles from tiring, this is what you need. Luckily, lamb is naturally packed with this amino acid!
Packed with Vitamins and Minerals
As well as the above, lamb is also naturally filled with vitamins and minerals. The benefits of which can be seen all over the body physically - but also mentally. A healthy dog will thrive with their training, be happier in themselves and happily bounce around with their human masters.
A Great Option for Dogs with Food Allergies and Sensitive Stomachs
If your dog has allergies, they won't be able to eat the chicken, chicken fat, chicken meal and any other by-products of chicken. As such, a lamb and rice diet is ideal for adult dogs who struggle with their digestion or are showing signs of allergies. However, do be sure to check with your vet if you're ever worried about your dog, their eating habits or a change in behavior.
