The 6 Best Whitefish Dog Foods - Pet Food Reviewer (2023)

What is white fish?

Whitefish is a term used to describe several species of oceanic fish. Examples include cod, haddock, whiting, hake, and saithe. The term white fish does not include oily fish such as salmon or herring.

White fish is very popular for human consumption and is present in traditional dishes like “Fish N Chips” and also in processed foods like Fish Sticks.

While we're usually discouraged from promoting vague dog food ingredients like this, Whitefish has a good reputation and often contains a mix of high-quality fish ingredients. However, this quality is not guaranteed and varies from brand to brand.

Some brands have more information about what fish are present in the Whitefish they use. This transparency is admirable and will help consumers better understand what their dogs are consuming.

White fish in dog food

White fish does not serve a definite purpose in dog food. Some other ingredients, such as rabbit or venison, are used for a specific purpose, such as to help fight allergies and severe sensitivities.

While some dogs with allergies may also react well to Whitefish, it is not its primary use.

Instead, it's featured regularly because it's a reliable and profitable fish ingredient.

Another essential factor worth discussing with white fish is its palatability or flavor. White fish has proven to be an ingredient that the vast majority of dogs like, probably thanks to its protein and fat content.

This palatability is surprising given that some dogs tend not to react well to fish ingredients. While these bad reactions or disinterest are usually not as severe as an allergy, they can discourage many dog ​​owners from feeding their dogs fish-based foods.

However, many dogs react better to white fish compared to other common fish found in dog foods. While it is not clear why this is the case, it could put Whitefish in an advantageous position for these dogs.

white fish nutrition

Protein

As you can imagine, Whitefish is high in protein. Protein is essential for dogs and should be at the center of their diet. It is used to maintain, repair and develop a dog's muscles and tissues.

Additionally, protein from fish ingredients, such as white fish, is considered superior to protein from plant-based ingredients, such as legumes or grains.

This superiority is due to the full range of amino acids that whitefish and other fish ingredients contain, as well as the fact that this fish-based protein is more easily absorbed by a dog's digestive system.

This improved digestibility will result in a dog requiring less protein in his diet than if he eats primarily plant-based protein.

Omega Fatty Acids

Unfortunately, white fish does not contain as many omega fatty acids as other ingredients such as oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, and herring.

However, the level of omega fatty acids found in white fish is still higher than that of most meat ingredients like chicken or beef. This level of omega fatty acids means that dogs eating white fish-based formulas can still benefit somewhat from this higher level.

These omega fatty acids have a variety of proven benefits. These benefits include improved cognitive function, a reduced risk of heart disease, and a noticeable improvement in a dog's skin and coat health.

Vitamins and minerals

Exactly which vitamins and minerals are present in Whitefish depends on which Whitefish is present. While this can make it difficult to spread, here are some micronutrients found in the most common white fish.

Cod, for example, contains high levels of vitamin B3 and B12, as well as phosphorus. These vitamins and minerals can lower cholesterol, improve brain function, and keep bones healthy.

Haddock provides similar micronutrients to cod, but also includes very high levels of selenium. This selenium can act as an antioxidant and help prevent or reduce the risk of heart disease.

Finally, Pollock shares the same characteristic of high levels of vitamin B3 and B12, but also includes a remarkable level of potassium. Potassium is essential for dogs as it helps with muscle contractions and nerve signals.

You can read a complete list of the benefits of a variety of vitamins and minerals in this brochure from the National Academy of Sciences..

The best food for dogs with white fish

Ocean Wellness Core Formula Review

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WelfareIt is a renowned brand that has been on the shelves for decades. They are owned by WellPet LLC, which also owns other pet food brands such asEagle PackagemiHolistic selection.

While some premium brands have moved away from big box stores or retail sites, Wellness has stuck and is available at Chewy, Amazon, PetSmart, and more.

Their Core line is one of their most popular, featuring a variety of formulas for adult dogs and puppies.

Regardless of whether it contains Whitefish, Ocean Formula is one of our favorites. It has a variety of fish ingredients, but the standout is white fish. Other fish ingredients present include salmon meal, herring meal, and Menhaden fish meal.

The combination of Whitefish and these oily fish ingredients provides an ample serving of protein and fat. In particular, omega 3 fatty acids are found in abundance in Ocean's formula, which we know can provide a number of health benefits.

Many of you may not be familiar with Menhaden fishmeal. It is a small blue fish from the Atlantic Ocean, inexpensive but high in protein, and is used by manufacturers as an alternative to cheap, low-quality plant by-products such as pea protein.

Menhaden Fish Meal is regularly used by many dog ​​food brands, including some that would be considered premium.

Learn more about this ingredient in our article,Menhaden fishmeal in dog food.

Zignature White Fish Formula

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stampedis a market leader in the limited ingredient space and produces many formulas that can be classified as new meat formulas.

The best-known of these limited-ingredient recipes is hiskangaroo formula, which was the first kangaroo-based dog food recipe to become popular.

While Zignature has other rare or unusual formulas based on meat or fish ingredients, such as goat or guinea fowl, it also produces recipes that use some more common or widespread ingredients.

Examples of the most common ingredients found in proprietary formulas include pork, lamb, turkey, salmon, and white fish.

The Whitefish formula uses the same mold as its sister recipes. A blend of white fish and white fish meal are the only fish ingredients present and provide most of the protein and fat in the formula.

Whitefish Meal is identical to Whitefish, but has had its moisture removed prior to the production process, making it a denser ingredient.

The level of Omega 3 Fatty Acids in Zignature's white fish formula is very admirable, considering that the formula contains only white fish and no oily fish such as salmon or herring.

These White Fish ingredients are combined with a blend of legumes that includes Chickpeas and Peas. Pulses are an industry staple thanks to their low price and high nutritional value.

Unfortunately, the formula also uses pea flour, which is a plant by-product. Pea flour is considered inferior to whole peas or other whole plant ingredients.

We advise you to read more about pea flour in our articlePeas, Pea Protein, Pea Meal, and Pea Fiber in Dog Foodif you are worried

Dog Sports Food Whitefish Formula Review

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Sports food for dogsis a brand of dog food that many of you do not know. The brand aims to fill the sporting and working dog food niche. Examples of such dogs include K9 dogs, sled dogs, and tracking dogs.

As a result, many of Sport Dog Food's formulas provide highly satisfying nutrition, which is essential to ensure that working dogs can perform to the best of their abilities.

However, non-working dogs may continue to buy their products, and many will not appreciate them, but they will also stand out for their nutrition and quality.

Finally, it's worth noting that Sport Dog Food recently upgraded their website to display extremely detailed information about their ingredients.

This information includes where the ingredients come from and why they were included. You can check this informationhere.

Some of the Sport Dog Food recipes use Whitefish. An example of one of these is Sporting Dog – Whitefish Formula above.

It contains a minimal number of ingredients, including a central fish ingredient unique to Whitefish Meal. This lack of other fish ingredients can make this formula ideal for dogs with allergies.

Again, the protein and fat portion in this formula is very satisfying and suitable for the vast majority of dogs, including very active ones.

The level of omega fatty acids is also high in this formula and much higher than in other sporting dog food recipes.

Finally, the formula contains a large serving of starchy ingredients like sweet potato and tapioca. These starchy ingredients can provide carbohydrates and dietary fiber.

Tapioca is a lesser known ingredient in the western world, but it is popular in South America. Discover tapioca in our articleTapioca in dog food.

I And Love And You Limited Ingredient Whitefish and Sweet Potato Recipe Review

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me and love and youThey have one of the more unusual brands, but that doesn't stop them, and they are increasing their range of pet food thanks to its popularity.

While the brand is best known for its cat products, it produces traditional dry dog ​​food, limited ingredient dog food, canned dog food, and treats.

The brand produces all its products in the United States, which is a relief for many. Plus, most of their ingredients also come from the United States or Canada, with the rest coming from other trusted countries like Australia and New Zealand.

One of their best dog food formulas is Whitefish & Sweet Potato, which has Whitefish as its first listed ingredient. This large serving of white fish provides a very satisfying ratio of protein to fat.

Unfortunately, compared to other recipes discussed in this article, the omega 3 fatty acid serving is not very impressive.

Despite having Sweet Potato in its name, Sweet Potato is not the main carbohydrate ingredient, which is somewhat confusing. Instead, the recipe uses peas and chickpeas, and then a smaller serving of sweet potatoes.

Unfortunately, the formula includes a small portion of pea starch and pea protein, which are lower-quality pea by-products.

We mentioned this earlier, but we recommend checking out our articlePeas, Pea Protein, Pea Meal, and Pea Fiber in Dog Foodfor more information on these ingredients.

Oatmeal and Whitefish Recipe Review for Large Breeds Blackwood

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Blackwood describes itself as a super premium pet food brand. One of Blackwood's unique features is that they slow cook their dog food recipes, something most dog food brands don't.

They claim that this slow cooking process retains more nutrients in the ingredients than traditional cooking, although others dispute this or to what extent it is true.

Blackwood has a small variety of recipes, but they do have a grain-free recipe that focuses on white fish. The only other meat or fish ingredients present are a small amount of chicken fat and duck meal.

Chicken fat is a regular addition to dog food and is often used to add flavor and increase the level of animal fat in a recipe. Learn more about the use of chicken fat in our article,Chicken fat in dog food.

Most of the plant matter in the recipe comes in the form of whole grains like oats, brown rice, and pearl barley.

While we're generally discouraged from grain-rich formulas, these particular grains are some of the best. They can provide additional nutrition beyond the carbohydrate content in the form of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

However, there are smaller amounts of some less common vegetables like celery, carrots, and lettuce.

While the serving size of these ingredients means they will provide little nutrition, they may provide some vitamins and minerals that grain ingredients do not.

Diamond Naturals Whitefish and Sweet Potato Recipe Review

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diamanteis a well-known brand and a popular choice for those with little money to spend. One reason for this is that Diamond formulas are sold in bulk, such as 35lb or 40lb bags.

Buying in bulk is most cost-effective as long as your dog(s) consumes all of the food within a reasonable amount of time so the food doesn't spoil or go bad.

Diamond is also best known for being the maker of several other brands of dog food. Examples includeI like the nature,4 Health, misolid gold.

Diamond Naturals is the secondary brand of Diamond and contains a recipe that uses Whitefish. All formulas in this range use named meat or fish ingredients, which are then combined with vegetables, starches or grains.

The present fish ingredients are white fish and fishmeal. While we find the vagueness of white fish generally acceptable, the phrase fishmeal is a bit of a concern since it's unclear what type of fish it contains. Despite this, it is likely that this ingredient still provides beneficial nutrition to the recipe.

Many Diamond formulas use grains such as brown rice. However, this particular formula does not, instead using sweet potatoes and legumes like peas and lentils.

The formula is completed with some minor ingredients like tomato pulp and canola oil. Tomato pomace is added for its soluble fiber and canola oil to add additional fatty acids.

Learn more about these two ingredients in our articlesTomato pomace as an ingredient in pet food?micanola oil in dog food.

Reseña de Canned Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream

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I like the natureis an extremely popular brand that many of you will be familiar with. It's present on the shelves of popular brick-and-mortar stores like PetSmart, as well as big online retailers like Chewy and Amazon.

The brand has come under fire in recent years, especially with revelations about legume use and canine heart disease. However, Taste of the Wild has adapted and recently launched a new line of products with recipes that include grains.

While most people tend to buy their dry dog ​​food recipes, they do have a respectable range of canned dog food.

One such recipe is the canned equivalent of Pacific Stream, and its main ingredient is white fish. Whitefish's serving size is much larger than any other ingredient and makes up the majority of the recipe.

Some other ingredients in small quantities complete the recipe; this includes turkey, egg whites, salmon, and more. These further increase the protein and fat levels to make the formula incredibly nutritious.

Purina Beyond Ocean Canned Whitefish, Salmon & Sweet Potato Review

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Beyond is one of Purina's sub-brands. It focuses on being an economical and nutritious solution. We have discussed them before in some of our other articles, such asbest cheap dog foodmiThe best dog food at PetSmart.

Many expect these low-cost formulas to include poor nutrition or ingredients, but Purina Beyond bucks the trend.

The formula above uses ocean whitefish, chicken, liver, turkey, salmon, and sweet potato as key ingredients, all of which are respectable additions.

This combination of meat and fish ingredients, especially White Fish, results in satisfying nutrition, rich in protein and fat.

Ultimately, since Purina makes the recipe, you can be confident in its nutrition, safety, and suitability for dogs. Purina has a tremendous amount of technical resources and knowledge behind its foods.