Dog foods can be comprised of several different protein sources – beef, chicken and lamb are undoubtedly the most common ingredients used, but some dog foods contain more unusual meats, like alligator, salmon, turkey or, as strange as it may sound, kangaroo!
Feeding your pup a more unique protein source can provide several different benefits, from preventing allergies to simply adding a dose of excitement to your dog’s daily life.
However, good owners still need to do their homework – whether you’re on the hunt for kangaroo dog food or less exotic choices, you’ll need to do your homework in order to select the best food for your dog’s needs
Best Kangaroo Dog Food: Quick Picks
- Zignature Kangaroo Dog Food [Best Dry Option] A highly-rated corn, wheat, and soy-free limited-ingredient formula with kangaroo and kangaroo meal as the top ingredients.
- Zignature Kangaroo Food [Best Canned]. This limited ingredient, grain-free canned dog food features kangaroo as #1 ingredient and is packed with protein.
Why Feed Your Dog Kangaroo Meat in the First Place?
I know what you’re thinking: Why on earth would you feed your dog a kangaroo-based dog food? Isn’t that unnecessarily eccentric, like serving sea urchin or tripe to group of school kids?
And for that matter, aren’t chicken, beef and other, more common protein sources much cheaper?
Let’s back up for a moment. Did you know that dogs can develop allergies to proteins in their food? When dogs develop food allergies, it’s often developed in response to a protein that a dog has already been exposed to (like chicken or beef).
If this happens, you need to provide your pup with a different, novel protein source. Because your dog has probably not eaten kangaroo meat before, he is unlikely to experience an allergic reaction to it.
So, yes, kangaroo meat is quite an exotic protein; that’s the entire point.
In fact, it’s one of the more exotic proteins used to make hypoallergenic dog foods. Accordingly, kangaroo is often used as a protein of last resort, for dogs who have not responded well to more common hypoallergenic dog food proteins, such as salmon or turkey.
But exotic meats come at a price, and many kangaroo-based dog foods are more expensive than comparable foods, comprised of more main-stream proteins, like chicken.
However, this is a small price to pay for your furry friend’s health and happiness when they’re suffering from food allergies.
Additionally, kangaroo-based dog foods are usually cheaper than allergy shots and medications, so you’re likely still saving money in the long run.
Selecting a Kangaroo-Based Dog Food
Smart owners need to be discerning about what dog food they buy for their four-legged family members – marketing around dog food can be misleading, and you don’t want to just click on the first dog food you see with a picture of a kangaroo on the bag.
Take the time to sort through the leading options, and select the best one for your dog – just as you would with anything else you’d buy for your favorite tail-wagger.
Keep the following considerations in mind when selecting a kangaroo-based dog food:
- Look at Ingredient Lists. Kangaroo meat should be the first ingredient listed in your kangaroo-based dog food. Ingredients are listed sequentially by content, and your dog wants and needs a protein-rich food. The best products often contain additional forms of kangaroo (such as kangaroo meal), listed as the second or third ingredient.
- Avoid Additional Protein Allergens. Kangaroo-based foods should not contain any proteins that are often associated with allergies, such as chicken, beef, lamb or pork. Including these types of protein sources defeats the purpose of offering your dog kangaroo meat. Most owners looking for kangaroo kibble want a single-protein dog food in order to limit their dog’s exposure to other proteins or ingredients that could potentially cause intolerances or allergies.
- Hunt Down Good Carbohydrates, Avoid The Bad Stuff. Kangaroo dog foods should use good, healthy carbohydrate sources like potato, millet, sweet potato, or rice – things which rarely cause food allergies in dogs. They should not contain corn, wheat or soy products, as these ingredients may elicit allergic reactions.
- Extra Vitamins + Bonus Ingredients. The best kangaroo meat foods are usually fortified with vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids, to ensure complete nutrition for your pet. Some products also contain chondroitin, glucosamine and other ingredients that may help stave off joint problems and arthritis, further raising their value.
- Avoid Dog Food Made In China. As with any other edible product you offer your beloved four-footer, try to stick to products manufactured in countries with high food-quality standards, such as the United States, Australia, New Zealand or the countries of Western Europe. Try to avoid products manufactured in Asia.
- Opt Out of Preservatives & Artificial Colors. Because your dog may also allergic to a number of things in her food, try to select products that feature no additives, preservatives or artificial colors. Looking for dog food with limited ingredients is often helpful when conducting a food allergy challenge diet.
Recommended Kangaroo Meat Dog Foods
If you are thinking about switching to a kangaroo-based food, consider one of the five leading products listed below.
1. Zignature Kangaroo Formula Dog Food
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Zignature Kangaroo Formula Dog Food
Grain-free, limited-ingredient formula
A highly-rated corn, wheat, and soy-free formula with kangaroo and kangaroo meal as the top ingredients.
About: Zignature Kangaroo Formula Dog Food is a corn, wheat, and soy-free dog food designed to provide your dog with a balanced, yet hypoallergenic diet.
PROS
- Kangaroo is the first listed ingredient, and kangaroo meal is the second listed ingredient
- Fortified with vitamins and minerals
- Derives much of its carbohydrates from peas, chick peas and alfalfa meal, which are typically unlikely to trigger allergic reactions
CONS
Most dogs find the formula palatable, but there are scattered reports of dogs that do not appear to like the recipe.
Ingredients List
Kangaroo, Kangaroo Meal, Peas, Chickpeas, Pea Flour...,
Kangaroo, Kangaroo Meal, Peas, Chickpeas, Pea Flour, Sunflower Oil (Preserved with Citric Acid), Flaxseed, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Pea Protein, Natural Flavors, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Choline Chloride, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Cobalt Proteinate), Potassium Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Lactic Acid, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols.
2. Outback Kangaroo Feast Dehydrated Dog Food
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Outback Kangaroo Feast Dehydrated Dog Food
Kangaroo-based raw dog food
This dehydrated, raw formula is grain-free and composed of 40% wild kangaroo with no corn, fillers, soy, wheat or artificial colors or flavoring.
About: Outback Kangaroo Feast is a dehydrated, raw-meat dog food. The food can be offered as-is, or you can rehydrate it by mixing it with a little warm water before offering it to your pup. This is also a good way to heat it up, if your dog prefers warm food.
PROS
- Fortified with vitamins and minerals to ensure balanced, complete nutrition
- Contains ingredients rich in anti-oxidants, such as apples, and fatty acids, such as canola oil.
- Many owners report improvements in their dog’s coat after switching to Outback Kangaroo Feast
- Manufactured in New Zealand
CONS
Like most other kangaroo-based foods, Outback Kangaroo Feast is somewhat expensive. However, the per-pound price implied by the product is somewhat misleading, as the dog food is dehydrated and can actually make up to 24 lbs of food.
3. Zignature Kangaroo (Canned)
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Zignature Kangaroo (Canned)
Wet kangaroo formula
This limited ingredient, grain-free canned dog food features real kangaroo meat as the #1 ingredient. Plus, it contains no chicken, corn, wheat, soy, or potatoes.
About: In addition to the dried kibble detailed above, Zignature also offers a canned version of their kangaroo-based dog food.
This limited-ingredient dog food is ideal for dogs with allergies or intolerances to other more common proteins.
PROS
- Kangaroo as #1 ingredient
- No other animal proteins present outside of kangaroo
CONS
While the grain-free formulas have been popular, there have been some issues with canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) from dogs who eat a primarily grain-free diet.
Ingredients List
Kangaroo, Broth, Peas, Sunflower Oil, Carrots, Chickpeas...,
Agar-Agar, Sun-Cured Alfalfa Meal, Choline Chloride, Salt, Tricalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Cranberries, Blueberries, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid).
4. Billy & Margot Kangaroo Casserole With Superfoods
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Billy & Margot Kangaroo Casserole
Grain-free kangaroo superfood
This kangaroo-and-chicken based wet food is hearty, grain-free, and generally enjoyed by dogs.
About: Billy & Margot Kangaroo Casserole is a grain-free, hypoallergenic food for dogs that prefer wet food over dry.
You can treat this as your dog’s primary food, or you can rotate it with a dry dog food. Just be sure that you select a kangaroo-based dry food to avoid triggering your pet’s allergies.
PROS
- Contains no artificial flavors, preservatives or colors
- Includes enticing added ingredients like flaxseeds, coconut oil, and manuka honey
- Dogs typically find the recipe quite palatable
CONS
- This recipe does contain chicken, which won’t be suitable for owners looking for a chicken-free dog food.
Ingredients List
Water Sufficient For Processing, Kangaroo, Chicken, Beef Liver, Pea Flour...,
Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Carrots, Sunflower Oil, L-Lysine, Animal Plasma, Calcium Carbonate, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Caramel Color, Guar Gum, Dextrose, Coconut Oil, Flaxseed Oil, Inulin, Blueberries, Potassium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Magnesium Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate), Vitamins (Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin D3 supplement, Folic Acid), L-Methionine, Salt, Honey
5. Addiction Wild Kangaroo & Apples
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Addiction Wild Kangaroo & Apples
Grain-free recipe with wild kangaroo
Made from wild-harvested kangaroos and designed to be easy on your dog’s stomach, all without any artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
About: Addiction Wild Kangaroo and Apples Dog Food is a high-quality, kangaroo-based dog food packed with important vitamins and minerals to power your pup! Designed to be easy to digest, this is a great dog food for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
PROS
- Made from wild-harvested kangaroos, which guarantees the animals haven’t been treated with antibiotics or growth hormones
- Food sources from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States
- Not only does it help alleviate the problems associated with food allergies, Addiction Wild -Kangaroo and Apples is often tolerable for dogs that are intolerant of other foods
CONS
Contains potatoes, which don’t normally trigger allergic reactions, but potatoes are a high-glycemic food and should be used sparingly.
Ingredients List
Dried Kangaroo Meat, Potato, Tapioca, Peas, Chicken Fat...,
***
Have you ever offered kangaroo-based foods to your dog? Let us know how it worked for you, and how it was received by your dog. Did she like it? Did she hate it? And perhaps most importantly, did it help stop the problems with allergic itching?
Tell us all about your experiences in the comments below!
38 Comments
November 26, 2020
My German Shepherd had allergies & stomach issues and after feeding raw for a few years, my vet suggested trying a kangaroo based diet. Wow, what a difference it’s made for him. I’m thrilled to be rid of the diarrhea, happy he isn’t scratching much anymore and he absolutely LOVES it!! I’m feeding the Zignature, both kibble and canned, and love the results! Happy dog, happy Dog Mom.
November 30, 2020
Glad you’ve found something that works for you and your pooch, GSD-Mom!
It’s not terribly surprising that switching away from a raw diet has helped! They’re certainly quite trendy these days, but raw proteins are not something to take lightly.
Thanks for sharing!
September 19, 2020
Can you feed zignature kangaroo dog food to a dog with diabetes? Now hearing stories of this food causing heart problems, what is our there to feed your dogs. Seems like all dog foods are not great. Stumbling block. Suggestions please
September 21, 2020
Hey, Geraldine.
We’d recommend asking your vet, as there are a ton of variables at play. Zignature is grain-free, and some grain-free foods have been correlated with DCM, but that doesn’t mean they are causing the problems — it may just be an association. But, if you’re researching kangaroo-based dog foods, you’re probably also dealing with some food allergies or intolerances, which means you may not have a ton of options.
Just discuss it with your vet and go from there.
Best of luck!
May 4, 2019
My dog Bentley is a sheltie turning four years old and has been having stomach issues for quite some time belts of diarrhea. He had an alter sound and they suggest that he go on a kangaroo diet to help with allergies to try and help with his bowels they have diagnosed him with a PD irritable bowel disease. They have given me reign low-fat kangaroo diet. I am trying to find the highest quality the best quality kangaroo food for him. Can you please advise on what I should be feeding him
May 6, 2019
Hey, Dianne. So sorry to hear about Bentley’s troubles! We’d recommend sticking with the food your vet recommended. But, if that’s not working for some reason, and your vet has no problems with you doing so, you may want to give Zignature a shot. It seems to work well for a lot of owners.
May 6, 2019
Hey, Dianne. So sorry to hear about Bentley’s troubles! We’d recommend sticking with the food your vet recommended. But, if that’s not working for some reason, and your vet has no problems with you doing so, you may want to give Zignature a shot. It seems to work well for a lot of owners.
January 19, 2019
According to my vet Rayne Kangaroo dog kibble has been withdrawn temporary until end of January 2019 I was told the reason for some heart problems in dogs with Kangaroo food is it’s grain free and now it seems they need this in their diet I would like to know your thoughts on this
January 21, 2019
Kangaroo dog foods as a whole have not been withdrawn. There are new studies coming out that show a possible connection between BEG diets (Boutique, Exotic, Grain-free) and heart issues. It does now seem that grain-free diets are causing issues in some dogs, but researchers have not been able to discover what ingredient or factor is causing the issue (could it be how these foods are processed? Is it the presence of legumes, chickpeas, and lentils instead of traditional grains?).
If your vet is suggesting you not feed your dog a BEG diet, then that’s probably good advice to follow! But ultimately there are no clear answers as to what is causing heart issues in dogs, outside of the fact that they all seem to be on BEG diets.
January 14, 2019
Addiction Wild Kangaroo and Apple. One of the ingredients is chicken fat? My 2yr old terrier has allergies to chicken as far as I know I like everything else listed but don’t know if I’m going to cause a problem if I use it. He has recently just started on the other Addiction food listed
January 2, 2019
Another Pro for kangaroo: Kangaroo are (more) “ethically”-sourced than other animals (not including fresh-caught fish). They are shot in the wild by professional hunters and there’re lots of standards and restrictions in place. Don’t take my word on this ‘cause, despite having lived in Oz, I never learned the specifics… I’m a lifelong vegetarian and was not yet a dog-mama, so I’m only reporting what I’ve heard and what I’ve read on Wikipedia. As an animal advocate I’m not for killing any critter, but, like deer in the US, kangaroo “culling” is supposed to help prevent car accidents that injure or kill either/both the nonhuman pedestrian and the (typically) human driver. So, ya, kangaroo.
Just make sure your companion animal is always always always fed AAFCO-approved food or there’s no guarantee s/he is getting the proper vitamins and minerals to maintain optimum health. Also make sure to buy from established companies; resist the allure of small-batch, new, local, etc. — if food from an established brand is contaminated it’ll make it’s way into consumer news and be recalled, but if I small brand has contamination issues you, the consumer, may never learn about it.
January 2, 2019
Great advice Julia, thank you for sharing!
December 30, 2018
Our dog Amy was diagnosed with heart disease earlier this year. In a stroke of luck the doctor that saw her was one of the first vets in the nation to bring to attention the issue of low taurine in these foods. He actually has our dog on the zignature still but we also supplement with additional taurine. Unfortunately unlike some people’s dog’s ours did not get better and it’s probably because she was predisposed to having congestive heart failure. I can say though that her condition seems to have plateaued somewhat which has been nice but she is taking a good deal of medication. For those of you that use something that has lentils as a source of protein you may consider adding taurine to their meal. Amy is a 55lb pocket pit that gets fed twice a day. She gets half a teaspoon of taurine powder added to each meal. Hopefully that will help others.
October 6, 2018
Hummm…..was thinking on going Kangaroo Addiction with our Shih tzu when done with Royal Canine Ultomino prescription. I tip with homemade ground Turkey, rice & frozen green beans. My dogs scratching has improved 50%, however, every time I find something healthier, I read horrific negativity. Anyway, Our dog is not allergic to Venison but Zignature has something in it ours is highly allergic to. Loved the taste, scratched everyday. Anyone have anything positive to say about Addiction Kangaroo dog food short term
September 25, 2018
We were told Zignature had changed their formula by someone at Go Pet Go. They no longer carry it. Have you heard anything about this claim?
September 25, 2018
Interesting, we’ll be looking into this!
September 14, 2018
Please – kangaroo is a horrible source of taurine that is needed for our dogs. Many are having heart problems, heart failure. Especially on zignature specifically. Please do not feed exotic foods!!! Look into DCM and low taurine. Please save a dogs life!
September 14, 2018
Thanks for the comment – yes, low taurine and DCM can definitely be an issue for certain breeds. We’ve seen a lot of talk about low taurine in reference to grain-free dog foods as well. As always, you should always consult your vet before switching your dog to a new diet!
July 16, 2018
Switched our 2yr old cocker to Zignature Kangaroo on advice from pet food store to treat allergies. When he was 4 yrs old, he was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. Took him to one of the top cardiologists in Ohio who said there were many incidents of dogs on kangaroo diets having heart disease and “ordering” us to stop feeding him that immediately! Today, just saw a report on the news that the FDA has found a link between a diet heavy in peas, lentils and potatoes and dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs. So I googled the ingredients in Zignature Kangaroo and saw that after kangaroo, the top ingredients are peas/pea protein and lentils. So maybe the vet had seen so many kangaroo related incidents because Zignature is the most popular kangaroo food and it was actually the pea/lentil content causing the disease? Just would not want another pet owner to go through the emotional or financial burden we have had to endure.
July 16, 2018
Rayne Nutrition has 2 wet kangaroo foods in a limited diagnostic and maintenance formula.
May 9, 2018
Our Frenchie is very allergic so we went with kangaroo…maybe too huge of a jump. It is very hard and I am not sure that he is a fan. It is very lean…he isn’t eating much of it??? Not sure what to do…
April 3, 2018
So confused about what to feed my allergy ridden 5 year old puppy! Vet recommended Kangaroo product but Royal Canine has chicken in the ingredient listing. Tried Iams Veterinary Formula PLUS Apoquel for a month and 2 days after finishing medication she is scratching and biting again. Problem: Iams formula says “this product is intended for intermittent feeding only” and the first ingredient is oat flour. Trying very hard not to give her any “treats” , she loved the very expensive kangaroo treats (of course!). Being a rescue dog her previous owner combined wet and dry food (Royal Canine) she is not interested in only kibble so added pumpkin. Where to go from here is uncertain??
April 3, 2018
Try the Zignture, Outback, or Nature’s Gift, as they only have kangaroo as meat protein sources. Also, did you get your dog tested for environmental allergies? Those might be the issue – they are a lot more common than food allergies.
July 16, 2018
Rayne has a very good wet kangaroo food in diagnostic and maintenance formula we use with our shih tzu.
January 31, 2018
If you had any idea how brutal this meat market is in Australia you would boycott every brand offering kanga meat. This is not a PETA appeal either. It’s actually dangerous to feed pets Kangaroo Meat & products there-of. After being killed, they ship the body’s to China. So much of this meat is sourced from China. Think about that.
http://www.australiansocietyforkangaroos.com/not_so_green.html … & of course there’s the abhorrent cruelty & decimation that the Kangaroo Killing Industry doesn’t want you to know about.
https://www.kangawatch.com/ex-roo-shooters-what-they-say …
January 31, 2018
Hey Ned – thanks for sharing. That’s certainly disheartening to hear. Thank you for sharing some resources for us all to learn more about this issue. I’m sad to say that the way much of our meat around the world is sourced these days is not ideal.
October 19, 2018
Kangaroos live a high quality life, free and wild, right up until the moment they are shot. They are also better for the environment than other animal protein choices due to things like their padded feet not damaging native grasses, they don’t get hormones or medications like domestic animals, they “pause” pregnancies during dry periods and produce far less greenhouse gas per kilo of meat than other choices. Kangaroos are killed to protect crops and pastures so I see no need to lose sleep over using them to feed dogs or humans.
December 17, 2017
We just started our girl Dolly on Zignature and have already noticed a big difference. The vet originally wanted to give us Royal Canine but after seeing chicken fat listed on there (along with a variety of filler ingredients), I was not impressed. I looked at the ingredients on the Zignature formula and was sold on trying it. After spending a full year of trying different food, medications and medicated baths, it was so nice to finally find something that works.
December 18, 2017
Glad to hear it! Zignature is an awesome brand, we love hearing about people’s success with it.
December 12, 2017
Just started giving my young yellow lab Daisy Zignature Kangaroo — SHE LOVES IT!!! I hope it helps quell her skin (itching/nibbling, licking) so I don’t have to give her apaquel.
December 12, 2017
That’s great Anne-Marie – we hear a lot of great things about Zignature. Hope it helps with the skin problems! Also a great choice because it’s a single protein source (just kangaroo), which should help narrow down potential food allergens.
October 27, 2017
Do I ever have news for you! The first brand at the top,of your list is Iams, Iams kangaroo meat was sold to Royal Canin and they substituted Iams receipe for their own receipe.
My dog was doing so well on Iams and now he is back to his old discomfort. Beware Royal Canine kangaroo meat has porc and chicken fat and a third ingredient not found in the Iams KO. So disappointing and time consuming !
October 27, 2017
So sorry to hear that Nina! That stinks.
July 16, 2018
Agree!~ Wish they had not sold out! changed the formula and raised the price over 50%!!!
August 7, 2017
I have an older dog with allergies, hypothyroidism, and recently diagnosed with autoimmune hemolytic anemia January 2017. I have been cooking beef liver, organic green bean and carrots in organic beef broth for him. He has been doing well up until a few weeks ago. I did some research and purchased the Addiction dehydrated food. He had stopped eating and just picked at his food. I tried several things. When I offered the Addiction he loved it! He is improving with medication. I hope this is the answer to his feeding problems. My vet was impressed with this food
August 7, 2017
Thanks for the tip Audrey!
April 24, 2017
Hi Meg
Great write up on up on roo It is a superfood in its pure functionality and benefits.
We are a family based field to plant specialist in kangaroo for humans and pets.
should you like more information please let me know,
Best, Rob Moore, rosedale farms, australia
January 31, 2018
It is not a superfood. Kangaroos have very little fat reserves. They are a sinewy animal. You’re just pushing your BS to get people to buy your products. Shame on you.