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SquarePet Dog Food Review 2025: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Dogster_SquarePet Dog Food Review

Review Summary

Our Final Verdict

We give SquarePet dog food a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. 

SquarePet dog food is produced and sold by a small, family-owned American company. The recipes are all manufactured exclusively at the company’s plant in Minnesota. SquarePet is known for its focus on simple recipes and developing non-prescription specialty diets to support dogs with various health problems.

Dog owners will find a lot to love about this brand and its ingredient transparency, but it lacks specific puppy and senior food options.  We give SquarePet dog food a high rating and we’ll tell you why in this review, including details about some of our favorite recipes they produce.

divider single dog paw oct 2024

At a Glance: The Best SquarePet Dog Food Recipes

Rating Image Product Details
Our Favorite
Winner
SquarePet VFS Skin & Digestive Support SquarePet VFS Skin & Digestive Support
  • Intended for dogs with food sensitivities
  • Limited ingredients
  • Includes fatty acids and antioxidants
  • Second place
    SquarePet Squarely Natural Dry Food SquarePet Squarely Natural Dry Food
  • Limited ingredients
  • Digestible and nutrient-dense
  • Includes fatty acids and antioxidants
  • Third place
    SquarePet Turkey & Chicken Formula Dry Food SquarePet Turkey & Chicken Formula Dry Food
  • Includes fruits and vegetables
  • Made with a mix of protein sources
  • Grain-free but made without peas and legumes
  • SquarePet VFS Low Phosphorous Formula SquarePet VFS Low Phosphorous Formula
  • Made with cage-free turkey
  • Includes probiotics, antioxidants, and fiber
  • Made for dogs with specific dietary requirements
  • SquarePet VFS Digestive Support Low Fat Formula SquarePet VFS Digestive Support Low Fat Formula
  • Made with wild-caught fish
  • Includes fiber, prebiotics, and probiotics
  • Support dogs with digestive issues and sensitivities
  • Squarepet Dog Food Reviewed

    Who Makes SquarePet Dog Food and Where Is It Produced?

    SquarePet dog food is made by SquarePet. It’s a family-owned business started by Peter Atkins, who enjoyed a long career working for Purina and other pet brands before starting his own company. Atkin’s sons also help run the company, one of which is a licensed veterinarian.

    All SquarePet food is produced at a plant in Minnesota, which maintains food safety certifications. The company states that they do not source ingredients from China.

    Which Type of Dog Is SquarePet Dog Food Best Suited For?

    SquarePet dog food is best suited for adult dogs with special dietary needs, whether food sensitivities or digestive concerns.

    Which Type of Dog Might Do Better With a Different Brand?

    SquarePet doesn’t produce a senior diet, has only one puppy recipe (sort of), and owners of these age groups will need to look elsewhere for food choices. Possible recipes to consider are Purina ProPlan Puppy Food and Purina ProPlan 7+ Dry Food.

    While dogs with special diet needs can thrive on SquarePet foods, the company’s recipes are still not as carefully researched, tested, and quality-controlled as prescription foods, particularly the limited-ingredient diets. If your dog has a chronic disease, talk to your vet before switching to SquarePet food to make sure it meets all your pup’s needs.

    Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

    Hydrolyzed Pork

    Hydrolyzed pork is the protein source in SquarePet’s Skin and Digestive Support diet. The company labels pork as a “novel” protein. True novel proteins are those that a dog has never ingested before. While pork is an uncommon primary protein source, some brands use pork liver and other pork products, and it may not be new to all dogs like rabbit or duck would be.

    However, the pork is hydrolyzed, meaning it has been broken down into smaller particles. In theory, the proteins are too small to be recognized as allergens by the dog’s immune system and won’t trigger a reaction.

    Turkey and Chicken

    Many SquarePet recipes use turkey and chicken as primary proteins. When you see poultry ingredients listed like this, it refers to the actual muscle meat of the birds, not organ meat or other by-products. Both the meats are considered high-quality protein. SquarePet specifies that they use cage-free poultry, which won’t matter to a dog but might to many owners.

    Cod and Ocean Whitefish

    Cod and ocean whitefish are used in SquarePet’s low-fat recipes. Fish is considered safe and healthy for dogs as long as species known to be high in mercury are avoided. Cod and whitefish are both low in mercury2, and they are an excellent source of lean protein and fatty acids.

    Belgian,Malinois,Dog,Is,Sitting,Near,Meal,Bowl
    Image Credit: BoJack, Shutterstock

    Lamb and Turkey Meal

    Two SquarePet recipes use meal meat as their first protein source. Meals are produced by removing the water from the meat, cooking it, and grinding it into a powder. The resulting product is higher in protein than the equivalent amount of actual meat. Meat meals are a cost-effective way to get protein into dog food.

    Rice, Brown and White

    For their grain-inclusive diets, SquarePet uses a lot of rice. Rice3 tends to be gentle on the stomach and also provides plant-based protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and other nutrients.

    Whole Egg

    SquarePet uses whole eggs in many of its recipes, including the primary protein source in its vegetarian food. Eggs are healthy for dogs and provide protein and essential amino acids.

    Sunflower Oil

    In dog food, oils like sunflower are used to add fat, fatty acids, and flavor. Fat provides energy and calories and is necessary for the digestion of certain vitamins.

    A Quick Look at SquarePet Dog Food

    Pros
    • One of the only brands offering non-prescription diets for special health needs
    • Made in the USA at a single plant
    • No ingredients from China
    • Simple recipes
    • Family-owned company
    • Food developed with vet nutritionists and veterinarians
    Cons
    • No puppy or senior-specific diets
    • Fairly high in price, especially special diets

    Recall History

    SquarePet has not issued any recalls during its history. They have only one manufacturing plant and claim to maintain safety certifications there. According to their website, SquarePet tests all packaged food for nutrition and safety before sending it out for sale.

    divider dog paws oct 2024

    Reviews of the 3 Best SquarePet Dog Food Recipes

    Here’s a look at three popular SquarePet dog food recipes in a little more detail.

    1. SquarePet VFS Skin and Digestive Support Dry Food

    SquarePet VFS Skin and Digestive Support Dry Food

    SquarePet VFS Skin and Digestive Support is a non-prescription solution for some dogs with food sensitivities.

    It’s made with only a few ingredients, including hydrolyzed pork, and is enhanced with antioxidants for immune health and fatty acids for skin and coat support. With over 22% protein and 10% fat, this recipe is simple and nutritionally balanced, with nothing artificial.

    Dogs with severe allergies may still need prescription diets with documented quality control to avoid cross-contamination.

    Pros
    • Made with hydrolyzed pork to decrease the chance of allergic reactions
    • Limited ingredients
    • Includes fatty acids and antioxidants
    Cons
    • Higher priced diet
    • May not have the same quality control as prescription allergy diets

    2. SquarePet Squarely Natural Lamb Meal and Brown Rice

    SquarePet Squarely Natural Lamb Meal and Brown Rice

    Made with limited ingredients, this recipe is designed to be gentle on the stomach while still providing all the necessary nutrients.

    Featuring lamb, rice, and sunflower oil as the main ingredients, the formula is 22% protein and 12% fat. Besides omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, added antioxidants help boost immune health. Squarely Natural Lamb Meal and Brown Rice may not be high enough in protein for working, active dogs.

    Pros
    • Limited ingredients
    • Digestible and nutrient-dense
    • Contains fatty acids and antioxidants
    Cons
    • Protein may be too low for working dogs

    3. SquarePet Grain-free Turkey and Chicken Formula

    SquarePet Grain-free Turkey and Chicken Formula

    As the only grain-free offering from SquarePet, this blend is unique because it does not include peas or other legumes. It features a blend of salmon, turkey, chicken, and eggs, and it also includes fruits, vegetables, and fatty acids.

    At 41% protein, SquarePet Grain-free Turkey and Chicken Formula is packed with fuel and muscle-building power. Check with your vet to determine if a low-carb, grain-free diet is appropriate for your dog.

    Pros
    • Grain-free but also free of peas
    • High in protein
    • Includes fruits and vegetables
    Cons
    • Grain-free is not necessary for all dogs

    divider dog paws 4 oct 2024

    What Other Users Are Saying

    Here’s a quick look at some opinions on SquarePet dog food from other users on Chewy:

    • “Great low-fat kibble”
    • “This food has been wonderful for both my dogs…I couldn’t be happier with this”
    • “Finally a company that doesn’t have all the same ingredients as everyone else”

    Amazon – Double-checking Amazon reviews before you buy dog food can provide valuable insights. You can read these by clicking here.

    divider dog paws 3 oct 2024

    Conclusion

    SquarePets is a newer dog food brand aiming to fill a niche by offering over-the-counter versions of prescription diets formulated for specific needs. Its recipes are simple, with easily recognized ingredients. We like that SquarePet is a small business that seems to value quality and transparency. However, we hope in the future they expand their product line to include life-stage-specific diets for the youngest and oldest dogs.

    See also:


    Featured Image Credit: SquarePet

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    2 Responses

    1. I found my dog with some kidney issues liked very much the food geared for that. Low phosphorus. However my vet insisted he eat science diet. He doesn’t like that food at all. If he had some kidney stones and seemed to need a kidney focused food can this food be the one.

      1. Hello Joanne,

        thank you for your question, although I am sorry to hear about the difficulties you are experiencing with your dog. I cannot comment on the specific food choice for your dog, however, if you would like to receive a second opinion, I can recommend you booking an online video-call appointment with one of our veterinarians from www.PangoVet.com. In 20-minute video call you can ask your questions and our veterinarian will do their best to help your dog.

        Hope this helps.

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