AvoDerm dog food is unique in the world of dog food because it features avocados at the heart of every recipe. In fact, it’s used so much in their pet food that this is where their name comes from. If this sounds potentially unappealing to a dog, don’t worry — avocado comes some way down the list of ingredients in recipes, so your pup won’t taste it.

This pet food brand specializes in providing dog food for pups who suffer with skin problems and is often used to help treat skin allergies. 

Read our AvoDerm dog food review to see if this is the right brand of food for your four-legged friend. 

AvoDerm serves up over 20 dry dog foods infused with avocado for your canine companion to enjoy, as well as line of dog treats. 

All AvoDerm dog food recipes are "complete and balanced" meeting the Association of American feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient profile guidelines for all life stages, adult maintenance, or growth. 

AvoDerm’s original dry food range includes food for puppies, adults, and seniors, as well as food specifically formulated for small breeds (bite-sized pieces for those weighing under 30 lbs) and large breeds.

All AvoDerm Original dry dog foods are good quality, but don't rank among the best dry foods on the market. Each recipe lists meat meal at the top of the ingredient list, followed by ground brown rice, ground white rice, oatmeal, and chicken fat. Avocado is often the seventh or eighth most common ingredient in these recipes. 

AvoDerm Original recipes have decent protein-to-fat ratios — the Chicken Meal & Brown Rice recipe contains above-average protein (25.5% as dry matter) and near-average fat (14.4% as dry matter) compared to standard kibbles. 

Does your dog have a sensitive digestion or a grain allergy? AvoDerm’s Grain-Free range includes food specifically formulated for senior health and joint health. 

AvoDerm Grain-Free options have similar ingredients to its Original offerings but are slightly better quality, with real meat and meat meal as the top two ingredients in each standard adult recipe. These protein sources are followed by peas, pea flour, potatoes, and chickpeas instead of grains. Avocado ranks at around seventh and eighth in each ingredient list. 

Grain-Free Chicken & Vegetables is higher in protein (31.1% as dry matter) and fat (26.6% as dry matter) than its Original recipe equivalent — likely due to the use of real meat and protein-packed peas. 

Should you feed your dog a grain-free diet? We discuss that here.

The Advanced Sensitive Support range is for dogs with sensitive skin or a sensitive stomach. It includes grain free options as well as those specifically for small breeds. 

Each recipe includes a single animal protein source — ideal for pups with specific meat allergies. They're also high in fiber, with a bland of oatmeal and pumpkin to aid digestion. Plus, they're high in omega fatty acids which support skin and coat health.

Is your dog less active or could do with losing a few pounds, perhaps for health reasons? Are they a touch overweight? If so, this food is a solid option as it has 25% less fat than the original recipes. 

For example, AvoDerm Advanced Healthy Weight, Grain-Free Turkey Meal recipe contains above-average protein (30% as dry matter) and below-average fat (8.8% as dry matter), which is ideal for weight loss. 

AvoDerm offers canned dog foods in stew recipes and in pate form, but can be hard to find. These are grain free, so ideal to mix with one of the grain free dry food options. 

AvoDerm wet dog food come highly recommended, with each recipe listing unprocessed cuts of meat and broth as the top ingredients, followed by nutritionally-rich fruits and veggies like carrots, green beans, and  pumpkin.

AvoDerm wet dog foods have excellent macronutrient levels, too — the Grain-Free Chicken & Vegetable Stew recipe contains above-average protein (43.7% as dry matter) and near-average fat (12.5% as dry matter) compared to typical wet dog foods. 

There’s also dog treats, in three tasty flavors and all with avocado included too. Top ingredients in each recipe include real meat, sweet potatoes, vegetable glycerin, and, of course, avocados. These treats are between 13 and 16 calories a piece, so are best used as a high-value training reward. 

This brand definitely stands out from the rest with its unique use of avocados. Here’s what we like about AvoDerm dog food.

Of course, first is the use of avocados in the recipes. There are many health benefits to eating avocados. They’re a source of omega fatty acids and are rich in folates, potassium, and niacin. This all helps to keep your dog's skin and coat looking and feeling healthy. They’re also rich in vitamins A, C, E, and B6 as well as 18 amino acids — which is important for energy, muscle development and organ function.

The presence of avocado or avocado oil as an AvoDerm dog food ingredient means these recipes are beneficial to a dog's skin and coat. Avocado oil is high in healthy fats, which is why AvoDerm is so good for dogs with skin allergies. 

AvoDerm provides an extensive selection of recipes — as well as food for puppies, dogs and seniors, you’ll find ones specifically for small and large breed dogs. There’s also grain free options alongside the sensitive support, joint health and weight support. Across all the ranges there are plenty of tasty dog-friendly flavors to choose from including beef, chicken, lamb, and salmon. 

As with all dog food, there are a few things you should be aware of before changing your pup’s diet. These are the factors you need to consider before buying and trying AvoDerm dog food.

AvoDerm isn’t that budget-friendly, especially compared to some other dog food. However, bear in mind that you’re paying for the high-quality ingredients and many pet parents say it’s worth the price. 

Some of the recipes feature a meat meal as the first ingredient. While meat meal isn’t necessarily a bad ingredient, you might prefer a dog food that includes human-grade meat instead. However, there are also AvoDerm recipes that don’t have meat meal as the first ingredient. With so many options to choose from, you can decide which you’d prefer for your pup.

While we’ve spoken about the benefits of avocados, we should also point out that some are concerned whether avocados are actually safe for dogs. It’s often listed as toxic to dogs — this is because it contains a fungicidal toxin called Persin. This is mostly in the pits, skin, leaves and bark — none of which is in the AvoDerm dog food  recipes. Controlled amounts of avocado are not only safe but beneficial. Plus, AvoDerm only uses carefully selected suppliers of natural avocados in California. 

“My Dakota has suffered from dry skin since the moment I brought him home. He used to scratch and bite at himself frequently throughout the day and it was only made worse during the colder months. I’ve switched brands seven different times since 2019 as well as spending a fortune on vitamins and supplements marketed towards helping pets with allergies or a bad skin & coat problem. Nothing worked long term, it was all a temporary fix that made his itching come back worse than before.

Finally, I stumbled upon (AvoDerm) in February of 2021 and decided to give it a try. That was the best decision I’ve ever made and combined with Nordic Naturals Fish oil capsules, Dakota has never been better! Firm, consistent BMs, always eager to eat, soft and shiny coat with reduced shedding, and minimal itching that I would actually consider normal. Dakota and I love (AvoDerm) and intend to remain loyal customers for as long as they’re around!”

“I've been feeding my dogs (AvoDerm) for over 5 years and they have never disappointed. They (have great) customer service who (are) knowledgeable about nutrition. I get many compliments (on how) healthy my pets are. This brand has high quality ingredients and (I) really like how it delivers on something I trust. In researching more about (AvoDerm) they are made in California, with no ingredients sourced from China. Some of the other brands out there got into some bad recalls when they had contaminated ingredients from China. I'm an avid fan and will continue to feed my pet (AvoDerm).”

Read more reviews on ConsumerAffairs.

AvoDerm is owned by pet manufacturer Breeder’s Choice. The headquarters are located in Irwindale, California and the company dates back to 1947 when it was established by Harold Taylor. They were the first to make frozen pet meals, moving onto biscuits and kibble in 1960.

AvoDerm has become one of their most successful dog foods since it was introduced in 1982. Alongside them are brands including Lucy Pet Foods.

There has been one AvoDerm dog food recall as of March 2025.

AvoDerm was recalled in September 2012. It was subject to a voluntary recall by Breeder’s Choice due to possible contamination with salmonella bacteria. The product recalled was AvoDerm Natural Lamb Meal and Brown Rice Adult Dog Formula. The affected products were the 26 lb bag with best before dates of August 28, 2013, August 29, 2013 and August 30, 2013.

AvoDerm stated that the affected products never made it to retail outlets as they were contained at distribution centers. No illnesses were recorded.