Review Summary
Our Final Verdict
We give Valu Pak dog food a rating of 4.6 out of 5.0 stars.
Valu Pak is owned and manufactured by Specialty Feeds, a US company that has been making pet food for more than 50 years. It is a reasonably priced food, and while there are some ingredients that might be considered filler, Valu Pak food is especially good for its clear labeling. Every food clearly shows the protein and fat content on the front of the label rather than hiding it in small print at the back. Most foods also contain similarly clear labeling pertaining to allergen details and even the number of meats that are included in the food. This makes finding an appropriate food for your dog easier, and is something we wish was implemented on more dog food packaging.
At a Glance: The Best Valu Pak Dog Food Recipes
Valu Pak Dog Food Reviewed
Who Makes Valu Pak and Where Is It Produced?
Valu Pak is manufactured by Speciality Feeds. The company was founded over 40 years ago in Mississippi. At the time, it only produced one range of dog food formula from the company’s barn. However, it has grown to produce multiple dry dog food formulas and sell its products across 20 states. The company says its aim is to produce high-quality feeds at affordable prices. Although the food is manufactured in the US, some of the ingredients, especially vitamins and minerals, may be sourced from overseas.
Which Type of Dog Is Valu Pak Best Suited For?
Valu Pak food has two primary ranges of food. One called the “Free Range”, is free from grain and other potential allergens. The other is the standard range that is suitable for dogs that are free of allergies. As such, and because Valu Pak food has good levels of protein, it is considered suitable for most dogs.
Which Type of Dog Might Do Better With a Different Brand?
Valu Pak currently only makes dry dog food and does not offer any wet food ranges. As such, if your dog struggles to properly digest dry kibble or you prefer to feed at least some wet food, you may need to look at other brands of dog food to sate your pup’s nutritional desires. Otherwise, Valu Pak food is considered suitable for most breeds and dogs.
Primary Ingredients
Because it is a lower-priced food, Valu Pak does contain some ingredients that might be considered lower quality, or that could be replaced with higher-quality ingredients. For example, rice bran is included in its recipes, and while this does provide some nutritional benefit, it is not considered as high quality as whole white rice.
In terms of meat ingredients, Valu Pak does include ingredients like chicken by-product meals. Chicken by-product meal does offer dogs a good combination of protein, vitamins, and minerals, but it is made up of the waste that is left after chickens have been ground and cut up for commercial uses. Some consider it lower quality than whole chicken or other chicken-based ingredients.
Clear Labeling
Dog food labels (and labels on all pet foods) can be difficult to read. Even if they are not directly misleading, it can be difficult to find details of the protein, fat, and carbohydrate levels, let alone the primary ingredients and protein sources in the food.
One of the beneficial features of Valu Pak food that we are impressed with is that they put this information right on the front of the pack: in fact, the foods are named for the amount of protein and fat they contain, so the 24/20 recipe, for example, contains 24% protein and 20% fat. The front of the label also clearly states any allergens or other ingredients that are not included in the food, so you can avoid anything your dog is allergic to.
High Protein Content
A lot of dry dog foods contain around 20% protein, but some Valu Pak foods contain as much as 24% or even 28% protein content. This is especially beneficial for active dogs and is also useful for senior dogs who naturally need more protein in order for their muscles to repair. Again, because the foods are clearly labeled, it is easy to choose a protein level that best meets the needs of your dog.
Additional Benefits
Another benefit of Valu Pak’s approach to no-nonsense packaging is that the front of the bag also includes any additional benefits that the food formula offers. The red bag contains additional glucosamine and chondroitin, which are beneficial for healthy skin and coat and, as well as being a positive feature for adult dogs, are also considered very beneficial for senior dogs. This is marked on the front of the bag, so it is easy to see.
Some Lower Quality Ingredients
Although Valu Pak is generally a decent quality food available at lower prices than premium foods, it does contain some ingredients that could be improved. For example, it uses by-products rather than whole meats and rice bran rather than whole rice. None of these ingredients will cause any harm to your dog, but they could be of higher quality.
A Quick Look at Valu Pak Dog Food
Pros
- Reasonably priced dry dog food
- High protein levels in some recipes
- Clearly labeled foods
Cons
- Some ingredients could be higher quality
Recall History
Not only has Valu Pak seemingly not had any product recalls, but neither has the parent company, Specialty Foods, which is impressive considering the manufacturer has been making dog food for more than 40 years.
Reviews of the 2 Best Valu Pak Dog Food Recipes
1. Valu Pak Red Bag
Valu Pak 24-20 Red Bag is a dry kibble with the main ingredients of pork meal, ground whole grain corn, and ground soft wheat. It contains flaxseed, which is beneficial for its omega-3 content and also for a host of other health reasons. It is fortified with additional vitamins and minerals. It has 24% protein and 20% fat and has been formulated for active dogs.
The food is very reasonably priced, and perhaps because of this, it does have some ingredients that could be replaced with higher-quality and more beneficial ingredients, but overall, this is a good quality kibble available at competitive prices and suitable for adult and senior dogs that are still active.
Pros
- 24% protein is good for most adult dogs and senior dogs
- Primary ingredient is pork meal
- Contains glucosamine and chondroitin for coat and skin health
Cons
- Some of the ingredients could be of higher quality
2. Valu Pak Black Bag
The Valu Pak 28-20 Black Bag is part of the Valu Pak Free range and is free of corn and soy products. It contains two meats—chicken and pork—and has the main ingredients of chicken by-product meal, pork meal, and whole grain brown rice. It has 28% protein, which is a lot more generous than other foods and is reasonably priced. It has also been fortified with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are not only beneficial to skin and coat health but can help maintain cognitive function and slow the signs of aging in your dog.
Valu Pak Black Bag is suitable for dogs at all stages of life but one of the ingredients in this food is salt, which is an unnecessary ingredient to add to dry dog food.
Pros
- 28% protein is ideal for energetic and healthy dogs
- Main ingredients are chicken and pork
- Reasonably priced
What Other Users Are Saying
Valu Pak food gets generally positive reviews from buyers, who are especially keen on its competitive pricing and decent quality ingredients. Below are some reviews we have found.
- PetFoodReviewer – “…nutrition is impressive, and the protein and fat proportion content make up the bulk of the recipe’s nutritional content.”
- Amazon – You can also check out Amazon reviews to help determine what other buyers think of Valu Pak food. Check out the Amazon reviews here.
Final Thoughts
Valu Pak dog food is a brand of dry dog food manufactured by Specialty Foods, which has more than 40 years of experience manufacturing dog food. The brand is reasonably priced and very well labeled. It also contains decent-quality ingredients, although some could still be improved upon.
Although there are no wet or canned recipes available, there are a couple of dry food recipes that are suitable for adult and senior dogs, and they generally get good reviews from dog owners who have tried the food.
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