Buying guide for best Zignature dog food
Choosing the right food for your dog can seem like a daunting task when you see all the options. Start your search by considering the food’s ingredients. If you believe in the idea that protein should be the primary and most important ingredient in your dog’s food, Zignature dog food will serve your dog well.
The Zignature brand of food for dogs is well-known for only using a few primary ingredients. Rather than adding excessive carbohydrates and fillers, Zignature starts by delivering nutrition for dogs with meat and protein as the primary ingredients.
Zignature approaches its dog food recipes with the idea that, although dog lovers consider their pets as part of the family, dogs have different nutritional needs than humans. That’s why Zignature dog food starts with a high-protein formula of poultry, pork, fish, or other meats.
Zignature’s recipes then seek to supplement the protein with beneficial dietary fiber, rather than high-glycemic carbohydrates. Add in essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and dog owners can feel comfortable giving their beloved pets healthy food from Zignature.
How to buy the best Zignature dog food
Dry dog food
The most common Zignature food for dogs is available as dry kibble. Zignature offers numerous kibble sizes and primary proteins in its dog food, helping you find just the right food for your dog.
Select dry Zignature dog food in a larger kibble size for adult dogs and in a smaller kibble size for younger, senior, or smaller dogs.
One of the advantages of dry dog food from Zignature is improved oral health. The act of crunching the kibble helps to clean plaque from teeth. Using dry food is also cheaper than wet food, and it comes in large bags that you can store for a few months after opening.
Dogs who are aging or who have bad teeth may be unable to chew the dry kibble, however.
Wet dog food
Moist Zignature dog food comes in a can, offering an easy-to-chew format. Moist food can benefit older dogs who struggle to chew or who don’t drink as much water as they should, as it contains a far higher concentration of water than dry Zignature dog food.
For a dog who’s a picky eater, using wet food may spark the animal’s appetite. Generally, dogs seem to prefer the taste of wet food versus dry food.
Mixing wet and dry food
Some people may mix wet and dry food to give dogs the benefits of both types of food.
Rather than abruptly switching from dry to wet food or vice versa, you can mix the two types of foods for several days before switching completely to the desired type of food.
DID YOU KNOW?
Pets Global has four primary pet food brands, including Zignature, Fussy Cat, Essence Pet Foods, and Inception.
STAFF
BestReviews
What features set Zignature dog food apart?
Low-grain or grain-free dog food
One of the greatest selling points of Zignature dog food is that it contains only minimal grains or no grains. The elimination or reduction of excessive fillers like grains can be helpful for dogs who have allergies. Zignature also mentions the benefits to the dog’s skin health of using a grain-free or low-grain dog food.
High-protein dog food
Zignature dog food focuses on providing protein as its primary ingredient. Dogs can receive multiple benefits from eating protein, including healthier coats, improved muscle development, energy for work and play, and absorption of amino acids.
Non-traditional proteins in dog food
Zignature offers a wide range of proteins in its various dog food options. This is an important feature because some types of proteins are easier for certain dogs to digest than others. If dogs can’t properly digest the protein in the food, they won’t receive the desired benefits and may experience gastrointestinal problems.
Various types of proteins available with Zignature dog food include:
- Catfish
- Chicken
- Duck
- Goat
- Guinea fowl
- Kangaroo
- Lamb
- Pork
- Salmon
- Turkey
- Venison
- Whitefish
For the longest-lasting results, store your Zignature dog food in a dark, dry area where the temperature typically remains between 40°F and 70°F.
STAFF
BestReviews
Dog food accessories
Dog bowls
Not every dog bowl is the same. Different dog bowl designs help with forcing your dog to eat slower or with preventing them from sliding the bowl across the floor. Some dog bowls just look great or show off your dog’s personality. Having the right dog bowl can make mealtime more enjoyable for you and your dog.
Raised dog bowls
Some dog owners prefer a raised dog bowl, which may help dogs move food from the mouth to the stomach easier than a bowl that’s flat on the floor. However, raised dog bowls can be less stable, and rambunctious dogs may knock them over and spill the food.
Measuring cup
It’s important to feed your dog the correct amount of Zignature dog food every day. You don’t want to overfeed or underfeed, leaving your dog with weight problems. Using a measuring cup is the surest way to deliver the proper amount of food each day.
How much does Zignature dog food cost?
Inexpensive
Some of Zignature’s regular-sized kibble and small-bites kibble dry dog food options are the least expensive option. It’s available at a cost of about $2 to $4 per pound for pork, catfish, whitefish, salmon, turkey, and chicken. You pay slightly more per pound for smaller bags weighing around 4 pounds or 12 pounds, and less per pound for larger bags, such as those around 25 pounds.
Mid-range
Regular-sized and small-sized kibble in dry Zignature dog food that contains certain proteins cost $4 to $8 per pound. These protein flavors may include venison, duck, goat, guinea fowl, kangaroo, and lamb. Again, bag size affects the amount you pay per pound.
Wet foods are also a mid-range dog food from Zignature. These foods typically ship in 13-ounce cans with 12 cans in a case. They cost $0.20 to $0.50 per ounce for a case of wet food (or about $3 to $8 per pound), depending on the protein type.
Expensive
The most expensive items from Zignature include dog treats. These treats are in a dry biscuit form and cost around $0.50 to $0.90 per ounce or about $8 to $15 per pound.
DID YOU KNOW?
Zignature recommends having your dog consume their dry food kibbles within 90 days of opening the bag and wet food within three days of opening the can.
STAFF
BestReviews
Tips for transitioning your dog to Zignature food
Introducing a new type of food to your dog can be a challenging process, especially if the dog has a sensitive stomach. Here are some tips for making the switch from one brand of dog food to Zignature dog food.
- Stay with the same food format. If you’re currently feeding your dog dry food, stick with dry food when switching to Zignature. If you’re currently feeding wet dog food, stay with wet Zignature dog food. You can switch from dry to wet or vice versa once the dog acclimates to Zignature.
- Start slowly, mix foods equally, then wean your dog off the old food. For the first few days of the transition, use about 25% of Zignature food and about 75% of their current food. See whether your dog experiences any digestive problems. If they tolerate the first mixture, start mixing the two foods evenly. Try this for a few days and see if they handle it well. If the transition continues to go well, mix the foods at 75% Zignature food and 25% old food. Try this for a few days. If your dog has no problems, you can begin feeding only Zignature food.
- Switching flavors. Once your dog is fully eating Zignature food, you can easily switch between flavors of food. Zignature offers 16 different dog food recipes, featuring different textures, proteins, and flavors.
- Stick with one family of protein. When switching to new flavors in Zignature dog foods, Zignature suggests you try to use the same family of proteins (such as fish, poultry, or general meat). Switching protein families may cause digestive issues unless you do it slowly.
- Help with choosing food. If you’re unsure which Zignature dog food is going to best meet the needs of your dog, the Zignature website has a step-by-step guide available.
FAQ
Q. How is Zignature dog food different from other dog food brands?
A. Zignature touts its formula that focuses on providing protein and meat in its recipes. Rather than using fillers, Zignature tries to limit the number of ingredients in its food, simplifying the recipes and ensuring that protein is the primary ingredient.
Q. Are Zignature foods made in China?
A. No. Zignature manufactures its dog food in the United States. The company prides itself on the fact that it only sources its ingredients from safe locations in the world, such as France, Australia, or New Zealand. It even develops its dog food recipes using scientists based at South Dakota and Minnesota facilities.
Q. Is Zignature good for dogs with allergies?
A. Because Zignature’s recipes have a minimal number of ingredients, dog owners have less worry about odd ingredients or chemicals that may cause an allergy flare-up. Additionally, for dogs with allergies to gluten or grains, Zignature’s low- or no-grain recipes are a better option than some other dog food brands that contain extra grains or fillers.
Q. How do I know if my dog will like Zignature dog food?
A. It’s impossible to know if your dog will like a particular dog food before trying it. Zignature hopes that its high-protein recipes and use of real meat as the primary ingredient will appeal to dogs. Zignature offers a money-back guarantee if you return the uneaten portion to the point of purchase.
