Addiction Dog Food Reviews

Addiction Foods has 3 lines of dog foods. Addiction Raw Alternative is a dehydrated line with 6 recipes, and is considered a moderate risk dog food. Addiction Wild Islands is an air-dried dog food with 4 recipes that is considered a moderate risk dog food. Addiction Dry is also an air dried line with 8 recipes and is considered a high risk dog food. 

Addiction positions itself as a premium pet food in the marketplace, producing dog food incorporating holistic nutrition and hypoallergenic qualities. Unfortunately, the quality and safety of some of the ingredients is concerning. All recipes have high carbohydrate levels and added vitamins and minerals, high pesticide ingredients and natural flavor, with many other recipes having unnamed animal protein, plant protein, added amino acids, inflammatory seed oils and rice which has potential arsenic contamination.

The Nutri-RX Allergy-HS recipe in the Dry line uses hydrolyzed soy protein isolate. It should be pointed out that proteins are hydrolyzed by cooking with a dilute hydrochloric acid, and the process can produce MSG, a potential problem.

It’s disappointing that air-dried and dehydrated foods have added vitamins and minerals when they contain whole food ingredients. When vitamins come from whole food sources, they include the full spectrum of cofactors, which makes them safe and bioavailable. Added vitamins and minerals usually reflect poor quality or overly processed ingredients. Added amino acids are also a reflection of low quality or lower amounts of animal proteins. 

The company states it doesn’t use corn, soy, wheat or gluten. Most Addiction recipes are grain-free but it should be noted that grain free does not mean low carbohydrates

Addiction Dry air dried has 45% average carbohydrates as calculated and Raw Alternatives dehydrated has 41% average carbohydrates as calculated. These are excessive levels for moderately processed dog foods that don’t require starches for the extrusion process involved in making kibble.

Addiction Wild Islands has the lowest level of carbohydrates at 25% as calculated, which is lower than most kibbles but higher than necessary for dogs, who have no need for carbohydrates. However, it’s noteworthy that the line has average protein of 40%, which is a good level. Unfortunately, the line scores low for using unnamed proteins, added sugar, plant protein, high pesticide ingredients and natural flavor. 

The added sugar is actually Manuka honey. Admittedly, Manuka honey has benefits as an antibacterial and antimicrobial supplement but it’s not something that should be in a dog’s food every day. Its fructose content can stress the liver, especially if diabetes is a concern. It’s better to give Manuka honey to dogs separately if needed.

Addiction recipes don’t have GMO ingredients but that doesn’t mean they are pesticide-free. Addiction could improve the ingredient safety rating in all its recipes by using organic ingredients, which offer reduced pesticide/herbicide exposure as well as being non-GMO.

Addiction offers recipes using novel proteins and game meats such as free-range venison, salmon, kangaroo and brushtail (New Zealand possum). The company also uses salmon rated “Best Choice” by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch, an organization dedicated to ensuring sustainable, safe ocean farming practices. It claims its fish products are sustainably source, but not wild-caught. 

Only a few of the Dry foods provide the omega-6 and omega-3 percentages, and none provide the omega-6:omega-3 ratio, which is a concern since AAFCO allows a very inflammatory ratio of 30:1.

The average score of each Addiction line is listed below. Click on any line to view the individual foods and scores.