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Inukshuk Dog Food Review 2024: Pros, Cons, Recalls & FAQ

Written by: Kristin Hitchcock

Last Updated on May 2, 2024 by Dogster Team

Inukshuk Dog Food - Featured Image

Inukshuk Dog Food Review 2024: Pros, Cons, Recalls & FAQ

Our Final Verdict

We give Inukshuk Dog Food a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars.

Inukshuk is not a brand that most people are familiar with, but we hope to change that! Inukshuk dog food is for very active dogs. They have four recipes, which vary in the percentage of protein they offer. Therefore, you can choose the best option for your dog based on the amount of protein they need.

Plus, we love that Inukshuk provides plenty of nutrients, which are necessary for working dogs. Read on to learn more about our experience with Inukshuk.

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At a Glance: The Best Inukshuk Dog Food Recipes

Rating Image Product Details
Winner
Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food 30 25 Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food 30 25
  • Prebiotics
  • Chelated minerals
  • DHA and omega-3 fatty acids included
  • Second place
    Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food 26 16 Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food 26 16
  • Lower in protein and fat
  • High in fiber and calories
  • Animal proteins and fats in high amounts
  • Third place
    Inukshuk Professional Performance Marine 25 Dry Dog Food Inukshuk Professional Performance Marine 25 Dry Dog Food
  • Calorie dense
  • Grain-inclusive
  • No common allergens
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    Inukshuk Dog Food Reviewed

    Who Makes Inukshuk and Where is it Produced?

    All Inukshuk dog food is made in a family-owned facility in Fredericton, Canada. They follow very strict quality control standards to ensure that the food meets quality standards. They use patented technology to ensure that it provides optimal nutrition.

    Technically, when you purchase this brand, you buy directly from a manufacturer. Therefore, there is no middleman, saving you a bit of money.

    Which Types of Dogs Is Inukshuk Best Suited For?

    Inukshuk was created specifically for working dogs, not for companion animals. It contains a massive amount of protein and calories, which working dogs need to thrive. Therefore, we only recommend it for very active dogs, as it may cause others to gain excessive weight.

    Many types of working dogs, such as K9 units and service dogs, can thrive on this dog food.

    Which Types of Dogs Might Do Better With a Different Brand?

    If your dog isn’t very active, they would probably do better with a different brand. While Inukshuk is a very high-quality brand, it has a lot of protein and calories. Dogs with health conditions may also benefit from another brand, especially when they require less protein.

    Discussion of Primary Ingredients

    Despite having four recipes, Inukshuk uses the same ingredients for the most part. Generally, chicken meal is utilized as the primary ingredient. It provides protein while containing very little moisture. Therefore, it works great for most dogs. Inukshuk’s formulas also include herring meal and chicken fat. In addition to these meat-based ingredients, the recipes also include grains.

    For instance, corn, brown rice, and wheat are all included. These provide essential amino acids that are essential for your dog’s health and well-being. Grains provide an easy source of energy, which is vital when your canine is active and working. Inukshuk’s marine formula utilizes slightly different ingredients for dogs that don’t do great on the main formulas. For instance, it contains no chicken, which is ideal for dogs with poultry allergies.

    The main ingredient of this formula is salmon meal, though herring meal is also included.

    Grain-Inclusive

    Inukshuk’s formulas are grain-inclusive. While some dogs are allergic to grains, they play a very important role in your dog’s health. For one, grains provide fast-acting carbohydrates that are particularly vital for active dogs. Therefore, without these carbohydrates, your working dog might have a hard time getting the energy they need.

    Furthermore, corn is incredibly digestible and provides more amino acids than many other ingredients. Plus, the FDA has linked grain-free foods to heart conditions in dogs. Therefore, if you want your dog to be as healthy as possible, we highly recommend grain-inclusive food. Despite what many websites will have you believe, there is no evidence that grains are bad for dogs. The opposite appears to be true.

    Meat-Based Proteins

    Unlike many other dog foods, Inukshuk mostly uses meat-based protein. Its recipes don’t include ingredients like pea protein. Whole grains provide a small amount of protein, but most of the protein comes from meat.

     

    Allergy-Friendly Recipes

    Despite many common misconceptions, the most common food allergies in dogs are chicken and beef. Typically, dogs become allergic to an ingredient after being exposed to it for an extended period. Chicken and beef are the most common ingredients in dog food, so dogs are exposed to them often.

    Luckily, Inukshuk has a chicken-free recipe. If your dog is allergic to chicken, they can safely eat the Marine recipe. Of course, your dog’s particular food allergies must be considered. If your dog is allergic to fish, feeding them fish-based food is probably not the best option.

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    A Quick Look at Inukshuk Dog Food

    Pros
    • High-quality ingredients
    • Grain-inclusive
    • Very energy-dense
    • High in DHA and omega fatty acids
    • A chicken-free recipe available
    Cons
    • Expensive (though you do need to feed less)
    • Not for your average dog

    Recall History

    Inukshuk has never had a recall. However, considering it’s a new company, it’s not very unusual. They control all of their manufacturing and use very strict quality-control standards. Therefore, they are much less likely to have recalls than brands that outsource their manufacturing.

     

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    Reviews of the 3 Best Inukshuk Dog Food Recipes

    Let’s have a quick look at the top recipes available from this brand:

    1. Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food 30/25

    Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food 30 25

    The Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food 30/25 is the company’s most popular formula. It has a lot of protein and fat, making it an excellent option for working dogs. The main source of protein is chicken meal, which is very high-quality. This concentrated chicken provides a lot of protein, including many amino acids. The calorie content of this formula is very high. It features 578 calories per cup, which is about twice as much as your average dog food.

    This can be a problem for companion animals, but it can benefit working dogs. Much of the protein is from animal sources. These high levels of animal fat and protein are great for recovering muscles and the high-energy needs of working dogs. Thanks to the fish, this formula contains a lot of DHA and omega-3 fatty acids.

    Prebiotics and chelated minerals are also included. Chelated minerals are much more absorbable than others, and prebiotics help regulate your dog’s digestive system.

    Pros
    • Very energy-dense
    • High levels of fat and protein included
    • DHA and omega-3 fatty acids included
    • Chelated minerals
    • Prebiotics
    • Grain-inclusive
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Calorie-dense

    2. Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food 26/16

    Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food 26 16

    The Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food 26/16 contains slightly less protein and fat than the other recipes. Therefore, it may work best for dogs that aren’t quite as active as other working animals. Plus, some dogs simply do better on a lower protein and fat diet—even if they are more active.

    The protein content in this food comes from chicken meal and various fish sources, just like most other foods by Inukshuk. As a grain-inclusive formula, this recipe includes various sources of grain. Corn, wheat, and other sources are included. However, they are all whole grains, meaning they contain a great deal of fiber.

    Like most recipes from Inukshuk, this formula includes DHA and omega-3 fatty acids. They are vital for your dog’s overall health, especially for working dogs. We loved that chelated minerals were also added for absorption. Prebiotics are included, thanks to the use of grain.

    Pros
    • High in fiber and calories
    • Animal proteins and fats in high amounts
    • Chelated minerals for absorption
    • Lower in protein and fat
    • DHA and omega-3 fatty acids included
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Not as high in protein as other formulas

    3. Inukshuk Professional Performance Marine 25 Dry Dog Food

    Inukshuk Professional Performance Marine 25 Dry Dog Food

    If your canine is allergic to chicken, you may want to consider Inukshuk Professional Performance Marine 25 Dry Dog Food. It features salmon as the main protein instead of chicken, which is used in most other formulas. It contains no chicken, corn, wheat, or soy products. Therefore, it is hypoallergenic and suitable for dogs with food allergies.

    This formula contains oats, barley, and rice instead of corn and wheat. All of these ingredients are whole grains, so they provide extra fiber and nutrients that refined grains simply don’t have. The grains are gentler on a dog’s stomach, especially if they have an easily irritated digestive tract.

    This formula is packed with DHA and omega fatty acids, which help improve your dog’s skin and coat health. This may be particularly important for dogs with current skin issues. The Marine formula is also nutrient-dense and has 580 calories. Therefore, while it is more expensive, you can feed your dog much less than other formulas.

    Pros
    • No common allergens
    • Grain-inclusive
    • DHA and fatty acids included
    • Salmon as the primary ingredient
    • Calorie dense
    Cons
    • Expensive

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    What Other Users Are Saying

    Inukshuk’s recipes generally get very good reviews. The added nutrients and high protein work well for working dogs and more active companion animals. Most customers reported that their canines loved this food and devoured it. Because Inukshuk is so high in protein and fat, it appears to work well for picky dogs.

    Customers also reported that Inukshuk helps their dogs maintain their weight. It’s popular with breeders since it provides the nutrients and calories necessary to encourage a safe pregnancy. Many reported that it leaves their dogs’ coats shiny and healthy. Plus, the nutrient density may prevent common reproductive problems based on many customer reviews.

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    Final Thoughts

    Inukshuk doesn’t advertise their products as frequently as other well-known brands, which is likely why you haven’t heard of them. However, it’s s one of the few dog food producers that focuses on recipes for working dogs that need extra calories. While Inukshuk is expensive, your dog doesn’t have to eat as much of it since the recipes are nutrient-dense. Therefore, you may even end up saving money in the long run.

     


    Featured Image Credit: Chewy

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