Victor Dog Food vs Taste of the Wild : Your complete guide.

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Victor Dog Food and Taste of the Wild both offer high-quality dogs foods in a variety of formulas. Victor Dog Foods have an average 5-star rating and Taste of the Wild has on average a 4.5-star rating. So here is Victor Dog Food vs Taste of the Wild, let’s see how they compare….

	Victor Dog Food Check Price on Amazon	Taste of the Wild Check Price on Amazon

Our rating	(4.7 / 5)	(4.8 / 5)
Proteins:	22%-42% (Real meat and meat meal)	25% (Protein-rich, Real meat and Meal)
Fats:	10%-22% (Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids)	15% (Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids)
Carbs :	2.7% fiber- 4.5% fiber (whole grains)	4% fiber (nutritious whole grains)
Vitamins and Minerals:	Real veggies. Vitamin A, E and B12. Iron, Zinc and Calcium.	Selenium, Vitamin E
Preservatives and Bad Stuff:	Natural, plant-based preservatives, No artificial preservatives. No bad stuff.	Natural preservatives, No Bad stuff.
AAFCO approval:	Yes	Yes

Taste of the Wild only carries grain-free formulas, while Victor has several formulas that are not grain-free. Grain-free food is gaining popularity because it tends to be better for dogs’ skin and fur. Grain or gluten allergies are not as common in dogs (many more dogs are allergic to chicken than grain), but it is one of the top five allergens. However, if your dog is having digestive issues on a grain-free formula, you may need to add a few whole grains to balance out their digestive system.

For the sake of accuracy, I will be comparing Victor’s grain-free Lamb Meal formula with the Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Lamb Formula. Both of these are grain-free, protein-rich dog foods with without artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Prices may vary according to flavor and vendor, but both brands tend to run at about the same cost. The average cost that I have found for both brands is around $1.20 per pound to $1.60 per pound. When considering cost, remember to consider shipping costs if ordering online. Both of these formulas are quality products that will meet the basic nutrition requirements for most dogs, but here are some other factors to consider and to discuss with your veterinarian.

Summary:

Victor Dog Food is best for highly active dogs because it contains more protein from meat instead of from plants. However, it might be more difficult to get and all of their grain-free formulas contain chicken, which could be a problem for dogs with food allergies. Taste of the Wild has several formulas that contain only one main meat source. That makes it best for picky eaters or dogs with food allergies, but certain varieties have been blamed for digestive problems.

Comparison Criteria:

	VICTOR’S FORMULA Check Price on Amazon	Taste of the Wild Check Price on Amazon

Our rating	(4.8 / 5)	(4.9 / 5)
Proteins:	26% (meat meal, alfalfa)	25% (Protein-rich, Real meat and Meal)
Fats:	18% (omega-3 fatty acids from flaxseed, glucosamine)	15% (omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids)
Carbs :	Approximately 40%, 3.8% as crude fiber (chicory root, sorghum, millet, carrot)	Approximately 40%,
Vitamins and Minerals:	Chelated minerals, selenium yeast, prebiotic, montmorillonite clay	Selenium, Vitamin E
Preservatives and Bad Stuff:	Plant-based and gluten free with added meat, tomato pomace is controversial as filler ingredient, no preservatives	Natural preservatives, No Bad stuff.
AAFCO approval:	Yes	Yes

Cali is my 13-week-old, female Silky Terrier. I adopted her just a couple of weeks ago and she is an adorable, high-energy puppy that loves to play and chews on everything! I am trying out different dog foods to find the best one for her.

When I started looking for the best dog food for Cali, I felt extremely overwhelmed. My wonderful veterinarian recommended that I start by focusing on a few key factors. I want a food that is a good source of protein, has the right amount of healthy fats, and has enough but not too many carbohydrates, and adequate vitamins and minerals, with no artificial preservatives. I also want a food that is AAFCO approved. Here are some of the reasons that my vet explained to me.

First, I need to look for a dog food that is approved by the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials). This approval simply means that the formula of dog food meets the minimum nutritional requirements. AAFCO specifies different requirements for the life stage of the dog. Cali is a growing puppy so she needs a lot more nutrients than an adult dog does. Many companies focus on formulas that are approved for all life stages instead of making a different formula for each life stage.

Protein is essential to a dog’s diet. I prefer quality protein that comes from whole meat as opposed to meat by-products. By-products can be a better source of protein, but shouldn’t be the main ingredient. Protein from meats will give dogs more energy than proteins from plants. My vet explained that it is important to consider the moisture content of an ingredient because ingredients with a large amount of moisture can be misleading. This is because they make you think that there is more of that ingredient than there really is. Ingredients listed as chicken (or any form of edible meat) “meal” tend to have higher protein content and less moisture. Therefore, they are a more accurate reflection of the actual amount of protein in the formula than the meat itself, which would contain a lot of moisture.

Dogs need a certain number of calories from fat. A quality dog food should have a two to one ratio of protein to fat so that the calories from fat and calories from protein are about the same. I also look for fats that contain healthy sources of omega fatty acids. Fish tend to be the best source of omega fatty acids, but labels on dog food do not usually specify the exact type of fish used. Different types of fish will have different amounts of omega fatty acids so referring to fish ingredients so generally is not very helpful. Flaxseed and canola oil is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, however, dogs digestive system has to convert the fatty acids before they are beneficial. Fish oils are easier for dogs to digest in order to get the benefits of the omega fatty acids.

Carbohydrates are the next main nutrient in a dog’s diet. Healthy carbohydrates are an important part of a dog’s digestive process but too many carbs can make Cali gain too much weight too fast. Since I am choosing to feed Cali a grain-free diet, I look for carbs that come mostly from vegetables and fruits. High-quality vegetables and fruits like peas or sweet potatoes are considered a carbohydrate, and they are also a good supplemental form of protein. Just make sure that most of the protein is coming from meat instead of from plants.

Vitamins and minerals are also an important part of a dog’s diet. They contribute to a healthy metabolism, healthy bones, and healthy teeth. Many dog foods supplement essential vitamins and minerals individually, but they can also be found in fruits, vegetables. There is a big difference between nutrient-dense vegetables, like peas, and drab vegetables, like potatoes, that are high in calories but lack key nutrients.

Preservatives are necessary to keep food fresh but some preservatives are better than others. My vet told me to look for natural preservatives, like tocopherol or ascorbate. Artificial preservatives containing Ethoxyquin, BHT, or BHA should always be avoided. Both Victor and Taste of the Wild are committed to only using natural preservatives.

After considering all of the advice my veterinarian gave me, I narrowed it down to Victor Dog Food and Taste of the Wild. They are both good options for any pup. So how do I decide? Here is some more information about each brand that I found through my research and my experiences with Cali.

Victor Dog Food:

Victor Dog Food is a family-owned and operated company based in East Texas that started in 2007. All of the products are manufactured in their Texas facility and they boast that many of the ingredients come from within a 200-miles of the factory. They have not had any recalls on their products since they started in 2007.

Taste of the Wild

Diamond Pet Food, a family-owned company based in Missouri, manufactures Taste of the Wild dog food. They have 5 manufacturing plants in the United States. Most, but not all, of their ingredients are sourced in the United States.

Taste of the Wild has only had one recall in 2012, but the parent company, Diamond Pet Food, had several recall issues in 2012, including some due to Salmonella. Some pet stores that carry Taste of the Wild have noted increased returns of the products due to pets getting sick during certain times but a recall was never issued. Instead, the company seemed to handle these complaints on a case-by-case basis. Many pet owners have also complained that Taste of the Wild seemed to sometimes change the formulas without notice, and these changes often made their dogs sick. Others have claimed that one formula might be great for their dog, but that the other formulas make their dog sick.

Therefore, I would suggest trying multiple formulas from the Taste of the Wild brand before writing them off completely. In the end, each dog is individual and their food needs to match their individual needs.

All of the Taste of the Wild dry dog food formulas contain probiotics to support healthy digestive and immune systems. Taste of the Wild claims that these probiotics are formulated for dogs’ digestive systems specifically. The probiotics are added after the cooking process so that the cultures are more viable than if they were cooked first. However, Taste of the Wild does not go into much more detail about the probiotics. By comparison, Victor Dog Food’s website explains each of the ingredients in their Victor Core including the manufacturer information for those specific ingredients.

Taste of the Wild currently offers seven dry dog food products. They offer specific formulas for puppies, adults, pregnant or nursing, and senior dogs. All of their formulas are AAFCO approved for their specific life-stage requirement. They also offer varieties according to breed size, however, these are not available in every flavor. Breed size and age-specific formulas are definitely one of Taste of the Wild’s advantages when comparing it with Victor Dog Food because the kibbles made for the smaller breed sizes will prevent choking and because the formulas are specifically made to meet the energy needs of different sizes of dogs. They also have a PREY product line with limited ingredient formulas. If your dog is a picky eater or a dog with food allergies, Taste of the Wild’s variety will increase your chances of finding a formula that works for you. Just remember to be careful when reading the ingredient labels. The guaranteed analysis (or the percentage of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in a specific formula) will be different for each flavor. Taste of the Wild does a better job of sticking to one main meat ingredient than Victor does. Their lamb formula is not made with any chicken ingredients.

Many of the Taste of the Wild formulas contain several moisture-rich ingredients. These ingredients will be listed earlier in the ingredient list because the moisture makes them weigh more, but once the moisture is removed, there will certainly be less of that ingredient. This is particularly an issue with the meat ingredients in Taste of the Wild. The lentils, peas, and yeast in the Lamb formula will all increase the amount of protein in the formula. So the product may contain 25% protein, but most of that protein will come from plants instead of from meat. So always read your labels carefully or check websites like dogfoodadviser.com for a more detailed explanation!

Taste of the Wild has a distinct advantage over Victor Dog Food when it comes to convenience. You can purchase Taste of the Wild at almost any pet specialty store and it is also available online.

Cali enjoyed the Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Lamb formula, but not as much as she enjoyed the Victor brand. I appreciated the smaller kibbles and the fact that it was specially formulated for puppies. She was lethargic and had less energy when she was eating Taste of the Wild. I think the difference between protein from meat and protein from grains was evident in her energy level. Her stools were consistent, but she had more gas too. Her coat was also not as healthy. It became patchy and dry. Cali did not try the limited ingredient product line, but if I ever need to switch her food again, that is definitely one of the first ones that I would try.

Overall, I would recommend Taste of the Wild dog foods to anyone, but especially to those whose pets have food allergies.

Conclusion:

Both Victor Dog Food and Taste of the Wild are excellent choices that will be nutritionally adequate for your dog. After trying both of them, I ended up sticking with Victor Dog Food for my Cali. She seemed to have more energy because it had more meat-based protein sources. I appreciated the anti-cancer alternative that Victor uses in their formulas. I have to admit that I was also relieved to not have to constantly smell the rancid farts that Taste of the Wild gave her.

The simple truth of the matter is that there is not one dog food that is best and even if there was, your dog may or may not like it. Different breeds, genetic factors, personality and environmental factors can all have an impact on which food will work best for your dog. You just have to experiment to find the best option for your particular dog. When experimenting with different varieties, remember to transition your pup gradually instead of all at once. Give each variety at least a week to see how your dog’s body adjusts. Remember to try different formulas from the same brands because they are not all going to have the same effect on your dog. Most importantly, remember to communicate with your veterinarian. They will have access to the best research, recall information, and they will know your dog’s body better than anyone else.

Victor Dog Food vs Taste of the Wild : Is one better than the other? Your complete guide.

Summary:

Comparison Criteria:

Victor Dog Food:

See Also:

Taste of the Wild

Conclusion:

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