Heed Dog Food Review 2024: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Review Summary

Heed dog food is a niche but popular brand of dog food. It costs more than some other brands, but it also has higher quality ingredients that may be healthier for your pet. Like all pet foods, there are pros and cons to this product.

In this review, we discuss all these details and more, so you can decide if Heed dog food is right for your dog!

At a Glance: The Best Heed Dog Food Recipes

Heed Dog Food Reviewed

Heed Dog Food is a fresh food option for dogs. There is one fresh kibble recipe available, three freeze-dried raw toppers, and three treat recipes. This food emphasizes providing the highest-quality ingredients that are ethically sourced within North America.

Who Makes Heed and Where Is It Produced?

Heed is a small company that was founded in Los Angeles, California, by two pet owners, Rei and Melanie. The dog food is sold online only and relies on a subscription model of service that delivers dog food directly to people’s doors.

Heed Foods provides a similar service as many other fresh dog food brands, such as Spot and Tango, Nom Nom, Ollie, or The Farmer’s Dog. The biggest difference is that Heed only sells dry dog food.

Which Type of Pet Is Heed Best Suited For?

Heed dog food is made with high-quality ingredients that are suitable for most adult dogs. Heed only uses a single protein source in its food, making it easily digested by dogs with sensitive stomachs.

Since Heed recipes are low in carbohydrates and have high quantities of protein and fat, they are best suited to dogs that are active or working.

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

Heed does not make any puppy or senior recipes, so it’s not suitable for dogs in these age groups. It’s also not ideal for overweight dogs or with special health needs.

Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

Heed dog food offers a satisfactory level of nutrition. The protein and fat levels are higher than average, and the food has below-average levels of carbohydrates compared to most other dog foods.

Quality Meat Ingredients

Heed uses a small range of meat ingredients in its recipes, but they are all considered high-quality protein sources.

Heed’s Freeze-Dried Toppers include chicken liver and organ meats, which are considered healthy ingredients that greatly enhance the taste of the food. Organ meats are known for their ability to boost vitamin and mineral levels in food better than traditional cuts of meat.

Other Notable Ingredients

Heed dog food is not grain free. There is a wide range of grain ingredients in the recipes, including brown rice, barley, quinoa, and oat groats. While there has been a trend of many manufacturers producing grain-free dog food, grain is not considered a controversial ingredient. It provides a mix of fiber, carbohydrates, and plant-based protein.

If your vet has recommended grain-free dog food, however, then Heed is not the food for you. However, unless your dog has a specific allergy to grains, there is no reason for a grain-free diet. Recent studies have shown that dogs fed grain-free diets are at an increased risk of developing heart disease.

Heed uses vegetables in its recipes that aren’t commonly found in dog food, like carrots and spinach. It also includes flaxseed, which provides high levels of omega-3 fatty acids to promote your dog’s skin and coat health.

Chicken fat is included in Heed dog food. This ingredient is commonly used to improve palatability. It is also easily sourced and low cost, which is why it’s often chosen over alternative flavorings.

A Quick Look at Heed Dog Food

Recall History

Our research shows that Heed Foods products have never been recalled. Given that the company is relatively new, this is not surprising. Most pet food brands are at least voluntarily recalled at some point for various reasons, so dog owners should be vigilant about checking their dog’s food.

The 3 Best Heed Dog Food Recipes

Heed Foods has a small product range compared to its competitors. There are only two dry dog food recipes, three toppers, and dog treats. It also doesn’t produce any age- or size-specific foods.

1. Heed Fresh Salmon and Quinoa Kibble

Heed Fresh Salmon and Quinoa Kibble contains salmon as the primary ingredient. Extra fish in the form of herring meal and whitefish meal is also included. This high level of fish ingredients makes the protein and fat content of the kibble 31% and 15%, respectively. A large variety of grains is also included to provide fiber and healthy carbohydrates.

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2. Heed Slow Baked Beef Tendon Chew

Heed’s Slow Baked Beef Tendon Chew is a single-ingredient treat. All of Heed’s treats are freeze-dried raw food to retain all the vitamins and minerals contained in the original ingredient, so they are appropriate for dogs that have food allergies or sensitivities and require limited-ingredient diets.

The beef tendon recipe is high in glucosamine and chondroitin, making it an excellent option to promote joint and bone health. These treats only come in one size and are most appropriate for small dogs. Large dogs that are avid chewers will likely devour them quickly.

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3. Heed Freeze-Dried Toppers

Heed’s freeze-dried toppers are freeze-dried raw food. They can be combined with Heed kibble or otherwise used to improve the flavor of your dog’s existing food. Each one contains a single protein, a fruit, and a vegetable, so they are appropriate for limited-ingredient diets. If you have a picky pooch, these toppers can be a great way to get your dog to eat, and they add extra nutrition to their food.

Unfortunately, Heed’s freeze-dried toppers are only sold as a bundle of all three flavors. If your dog doesn’t like a certain flavor or doesn’t tolerate it, you will be stuck buying it, anyway.

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What Other Users Are Saying

Since Heed is only sold online, there are limited customer testimonials available regarding the food. That said, there are several available from individuals who have received samples from the company in return for a review, and we included a few of those here.

For more Amazon customer reviews, click here.

Conclusion

While Heed dog food isn’t without its downsides, it’s still a high-quality food overall. It’s a fantastic choice if you are looking for nutritious food toppers or treats to supplement your dog’s regular food. The kibble choices are limited and expensive, but they do seem to be good for dogs with sensitive stomachs and gut issues. The quality of ingredients and attention to detail in the manufacturing process make Heed dog food an excellent choice that receives 4 out of 5 stars.