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Answers Dog Food Review 2026: Recalls, Pros & Cons

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Dogster_Answers Dog Food Review

Review Summary

Our Final Verdict

We give Answers dog food a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars.

You may have heard of raw dog food, but have you heard of fermented dog food?

Fermented foods are packed full of health benefits, providing your dog with the nutrition they need. Answers dog food has brought fermented dog food products to the mainstream. If you’re curious about the benefits that Answers dog food can provide, this article reviews their top products to give you a glimpse of what they have to offer. If you are trying to decide whether this brand is right for your dog, keep reading to learn more.

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At a Glance: The Best Answers Dog Food Recipes

Rating Image Product Details
Our Favorite
Winner
Answers Detailed Beef Formula Answers Detailed Beef Formula
  • Limited ingredient diet
  • Contains organic ingredients
  • Balanced with proteins and vegetables
  • Second place
    Answers Detailed Chicken Formula Answers Detailed Chicken Formula
  • For all life stages
  • Chicken is organic
  • Balanced with proteins and vegetables
  • Third place
    Answers Detailed Beef Formula – Patties Answers Detailed Beef Formula – Patties
  • Fermented with raw goat milk whey
  • Beef is grass fed
  • Limited ingredient diet
  • Answers Straight Beef Formula Answers Straight Beef Formula
  • Limited-ingredient diet
  • For dogs with allergies or sensitivities
  • Beef is grass fed
  • Answers Straight Chicken Formula Answers Straight Chicken Formula
  • Chicken is organic, cage free
  • Antibiotic and hormone free protein
  • Limited-ingredient diet
  • Answers Dog Food Reviewed

    Here are a few facts about Answers Dog Food to help you better understand the brand.

    Who makes Answers and where is it produced?

    Answers Pet Food is developed by a family-owned pet food manufacturing company in Pennsylvania. The poor quality of some pet foods led the company to its creation, and it believed that the standard pet food was not enough. Thus, Answers Pet Food was founded to provide only the healthiest food for dogs.

    Which type of dog is Answers best suited for?

    Answers Pet Food is suitable for most adults and senior dogs, but it is especially suited for canines with allergies. It produces dog food formulas with limited ingredients, making the recipes ideal for dogs that cannot eat conventional dog food brands due to an intolerance.

    Which type of dog might do better with a different brand?

    As great as this food can be for dogs, it may not be the right option for puppies. Answers has lower crude protein content, which is generally not suitable for puppies.

    As puppies grow, they need a higher amount of protein1 in their diets. It is not recommended to feed adult formulas to puppies, and Answers does not provide any puppy formulas at this time.

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    Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

    The first ingredient in Answers’ formulas is an animal-based ingredient, such as beef or chicken. Next, the recipes have vegetables. The vegetables are organic and fermented, making them extra nutritious for your dog. Other beneficial components include vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and prebiotics.

    Answers also boast that they do not include gluten or fillers in their meals. However, another lacking ingredient to note is grain. Grain is not used in any Answers foods, which can be a bit concerning.

    Grain-free diets are under intense scrutiny for their potential link to severe heart conditions in dogs2. Therefore, you must consult your vet before making any dietary changes involving grain.

    dog eating wet food
    Image Credit: Irina Kozorog, Shutterstock

    What Is the Big Deal about Fermented Diets?

    Why is Answers Pet Food so passionate about fermented diets? As it turns out, fermented diets can have a plethora of health benefits3.

    Fermented foods are packed with nutrients. They promote the absorption of nutrients as well as the production of probiotics, boosting the health of the gastrointestinal tract. Plus, fermentation supports the overall health of the immune system.

    What Are Answers Goals?

    Answers is interested in more than just providing your dog with a healthy meal, that alone is an admirable goal. However, Answers is invested in the health of the planet as much as they are in the health of pets.

    They are dedicated to providing dog food in an environmentally friendly way. As they conduct business, they do their best to consider the environmental ramifications of their actions with the hopes that they will leave behind a cleaner, brighter world for future generations.

    Unable to Buy in Bulk

    Unfortunately, Answers Pet Food does have some downsides. One of the main ones is that purchasing their products in bulk is impossible.

    Due to the nature of fermentation, Answers dog food cannot be stored like other conventional dog foods can be. The products are sold in cartons that reach a maximum of 4 pounds each, while traditional dog food bags can get up to 30 pounds or higher. So, the aspect of convenience is something to keep in mind when considering this brand.

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    A Quick Look at Answers Dog Food

    Pros
    • Quality ingredients
    • Promotes healthy digestion
    • Includes organic ingredients
    • Limited ingredient diet
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • No grains

    Recall History

    In 2019, there were traces of salmonella detected in Answers’ Straight Beef Formula for Dogs. This led to the FDA cautioning pet owners to avoid feeding the recipe to their pets as well as a statewide recall of the product.

    On September 22, 2024, Answers Pet Food issued a voluntary recall of certain lots of Answers Detailed Beef Formula for Dogs, Answers Straight Beef Formula for Dogs, and Answers Straight Chicken Formula for Dogs due to potential Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

    There have been no other recalls since then, which is a good sign. Still, their record is something to take into consideration.

    divider dog paws 2 oct 2024

    Reviews of the 3 Best Answers Dog Food Recipes

    If you think that Answers Pet Food might be a good option for your dog, take a look at our picks for the top three formulas they offer.

    1. Answers Detailed Beef Formula for Dogs

    Answers Detailed Beef Formula for Dogs

    Our favorite option out of Answers dog food recipes is the Answers Detailed Beef Formula for Dogs. The first five ingredients are animal-based, making the recipe rich in protein sources. The sources include beef, beef heart, liver, kidney, and ground beef bone.

    This recipe uses raw goat milk whey for the fermentation process and grass-fed beef for the beef ingredients. Overall, it is a healthy option for your dog.

    Pros
    • Balanced with proteins and vegetables
    • Limited ingredient diet
    • Contains organic ingredients
    Cons
    • No grains

    2. Answers Detailed Chicken Formula for Dogs

    Answers Detailed Chicken Formula for Dogs

    The Answers Detailed Chicken Formula for Dogs is another great product by Answers. Much like the Detailed Beef Formula for Dogs, the first ingredients are all animal-based. However, in this recipe, only the first four are from animals. Those ingredients are organic chicken, organic chicken heart, organic chicken liver, and organic ground chicken bone. It also includes organic duck eggs and cod liver to boost the nutrients.

    Raw goat milk whey is once again used to ferment the food, and the chicken is cage-free as well as antibiotic and hormone-free.

    Pros
    • Balanced with proteins and vegetables
    • Limited ingredient diet
    • Contains organic ingredients
    Cons
    • Chicken could be an allergen
    • No grains

    3. Answers Detailed Beef Formula for Dogs – Patties

    Answers Detailed Beef Formula for Dogs – Patties

    The Answers Detailed Beef Formula for Dogs – Patties are another great option and contain the same main ingredients as our favorite recipe. It allows you to serve your dog’s meals in patty shapes rather than from a carton. This can make it somewhat more convenient for you, meaning your dog will not have to wait as long for their food when it is mealtime!

    The main downside with this recipe is that is it more expensive than the carton alternatives.

    Pros
    • Balanced with proteins and vegetables
    • Limited ingredient diet
    • Contains organic ingredients
    Cons
    • More expensive
    • No grains

    divider dog paws 2 oct 2024

    What Other Users Are Saying

    If you want to hear what others have to say about Answers Pet Food before making your decision, take a look at another review down below!

    • Woofster – “Before making the move to Answers Pet Food, I contacted them via their Facebook page and also watched several of their live webinars. They answered all of my questions and even put together a diet plan that was beneficial to dogs with kidney issues. This definitely made me a lot more comfortable with the big switch.”

    divider dog paws 2 oct 2024

    Conclusion

    Answers Pet Food provides unique dog food products that focus on nutrient density and absorption. However, its products can be pricey and cannot be bought in bulk. Also, the recipes do not include grains, which are essential to a healthy dog’s meal. However, the recipes may work perfectly for your dog if they have significant allergies. The ingredients are organic, and the formulas are limited diet, ensuring the food provides only the essentials and no fillers.

    We hope this article has been helpful and has allowed you to make a well-informed decision about Answers Pet Foods.

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    2 Responses

    1. Need feeding recommendations for 73lb Lab mix who currently eats about 20oz per day of Royal Canin Hydrolyzed dry food.

      Thank you

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