Farmina Dog Food Review 2024

Farmina is an Italian dog food brand that produces premium dog foods with a focus on your dogs' carnivorous nutritional needs. Farmina uses only non-GMO produce and natural antioxidants in its dog foods. 

One of the biggest selling points for Farmina is its wide variety of dog foods. There are over 100 Farmina dog food varieties, including recipes for different breed sizes, health conditions, and age groups. Farmina produces grain-inclusive and grain-free recipes. 

Wag! highly rates Farmina dog food because of the inclusion of a named quality meat source as the top ingredient and the use of quality, non-GMO produce. Farmina formulates its recipes with the help of nutritionists and veterinary professionals to create nutritionally rich and balanced dog foods. 

Is Farmina dog food right for your dog? Scroll down and dig into our full Farmina dog food review to learn about the brand's product lines, recalls, pros, cons, and more!

Farmina produces 145 dog food recipes across two main ranges: VetLife and Natural & Delicious (N&D). Read on to learn more about Farmina's product ranges and recipes.

All Farmina dog food recipes are "complete and balanced," meeting the Association of American Feed Control Officials' (AAFCO) nutrient profile guidelines for all life stages, maintenance (adults), or growth (puppies).

VetLife

VetLife is Farmina's prescription-only dog food range specially formulated to treat specific health conditions and diseases. Working with the chair of Animal Nutrition at the University of Naples, as well as the brand's own team of researchers, Farmina produces wet and dry dog food for weight management, gastrointestinal issues, allergies, and more. 

You'll find 16 products in the VetLife line, including nine wet and seven dry recipes. A named meat source is the top ingredient in all VetLife wet food varieties. 

Rice is a common top ingredient in many VetLife dry food variations. Most VetLife recipes are grain-inclusive, with quinoa seeds and rice as commonly incorporated grains. Chicken and duck are the most commonly included meat sources. 

Natural & Delicious

Natural & Delicious (N&D) is Farmina's main product range, with 129 products across seven sub-ranges. 

All N&D products are low glycemic index foods, which help regulate your pup's blood sugar by including no or very few cereals. Each range is infused with vitamins using "cold infusion technology" — vitamins are processed at lower temperatures, which increases their nutritional value and makes them last longer in your dog's body.

Read on to learn about each Farmina N&D sub-range.

N&D Ancestral Grain

Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain is the only N&D sub-range to include alternative grains like spelt and oats. Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain product line includes 14 dry foods. All Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain dry foods list a quality named meat source as the top ingredient. 

Oats are a source of B vitamins, linoleic acid, and dietary fiber. Spelt is a pricier but more nutritious alternative to wheat, containing B vitamins and magnesium. Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain has specific foods for different life stages and conditions, including weight management and pregnancy/nursing.

Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain recipes are protein-rich, with the Lamb & Blueberry Adult Medium & Maxi recipe containing over 30% protein as dry matter. 

N&D Quinoa

Farmina N&D Quinoa is a grain-inclusive range with 26 products, including 14 dry and 12 wet foods. Some varieties are the same recipe in different serving sizes. 

Over 92% of the protein in N&D Quinoa recipes originates from animals. All N&D Quinoa recipes list a quality named meat source — like duck, venison, quail, lamb, or herring — as the first ingredient. 

Farmina N&D Quinoa recipes contain above average protein levels. For example, N&D Quinoa Digestion Lamb dry food consists of 27.4% dry protein matter, while N&D Quinoa Digestion wet food consists of 42.7% dry protein matter. 

Quinoa is considered a quality grain and more nutritionally valuable than alternatives like rice, soy, and corn. It's also a source of fiber, essential amino acids, and vitamins and minerals like iron, calcium, and vitamin E. 

N&D Ocean

N&D Ocean is Farmina's fish-only product line, which includes 11 dry and 12 wet food varieties. A quality named meat source is the top ingredient in all N&D Ocean recipes. Grain-free and grain-inclusive recipes are available, as well as recipes formulated for pregnant and lactating dogs. 

Farmina N&D Ocean recipes are high in protein, with Cod & Pumpking wet food containing 55.2% dry protein matter and Herring & Orange Medium & Maxi dry food containing 37.3% dry protein matter. 

N&D Ocean recipes incorporate a variety of fish, including salmon, squid, sea bass, shrimp, cod, and trout. Alfalfa meal, a source of protein and fiber, is commonly used instead of grains. Sweet potato and pumpkin are often included in the line's grain-free wet food varieties. Farmina uses spelt and oats in grain-inclusive recipes, which are high in dietary fiber and B vitamins.

N&D Pumpkin

Farmina N&D Pumpkin is a grain-free product line with 18 dry and 20 wet foods, including starter foods for puppies. Pumpkin is nutritionally rich and high in fiber, vitamin A, and iron. 

N&D Pumpkin recipes contain above average protein levels. Duck & Pumpkin wet food consists of 50% dry protein matter, while Chicken and Pomegranate Adult Medium & Maxi consists of 32.9% dry protein matter. 

All Farmina N&D Pumpkin wet and dry foods list a named quality meat source as the top ingredient. Common meat protein sources include chicken, duck, quail, boar, and lamb. Included in these 38 products are recipes formulated for small, medium, and large dogs. 

N&D Prime

N&D Prime is Farmina's grain-free premium product line, including 16 products (eight wet and eight dry foods). It's the most protein-rich N&D subrange, with each recipe containing 98% protein originating from animals. Specific recipes are available for different breed sizes, age groups, and pregnant or lactating dogs. 

Farmina N&D Prime recipes are high in protein. Boar & Apple Wet Food consists of 50% dry protein matter, while Board & Apple Adult Medium & Maxi dry food consists of 37.3% dry protein matter. 

All N&D Prime varieties list a quality named meat source as the top ingredient. Common meat protein sources in N&D Prime recipes include chicken, boar, and lamb. Alfalfa meal, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin usually substitute for grains as a secondary protein and fiber source. 

Farmina N&D Tropical Selection

Farmina N&D Tropical Selection is a sub-range that includes ten dry food recipes. 

As the name suggests, these recipes include tropical fruits like kiwi, mango, papaya, and pineapple. Kiwis are rich in vitamin C, while pineapple is a source of vitamin B6, thiamine, and niacin. 

Farmina N&D Tropical Selection recipes contain above-average protein levels, with the Chicken, Spelt, Oats, and Tropical Fruits Medium & Maxi recipe containing 29.6% dry protein matter. 

Farmina N&D White and Brown

Farmina N&D White and Farmina N&D Brown are two dry food recipes specially formulated for specific coat types. 

Farmina N&D White is formulated to help prevent brown tear staining on white coats. Meanwhile, N&D Brown helps protect vibrant brown fur from losing color. 

Both recipes list a quality meat source as the top ingredient. Both have above-average protein levels, with 25.2% and 37.3% dry protein matter in the White and Brown recipes, respectively.

Here are a few reasons why Wag! highly rates Farmina dog food.

Made with high-quality ingredients

Farmina formulates all its dog foods with natural, non-GMO ingredients. Apart from its prescription-only VetLife range, Farmina lists a named quality meat source as the top ingredient in its wet and dry foods. 

Common ingredients in the top five — like pumpkin, pomegranate, blueberry, and sweet potato — are nutritionally valuable to dogs. For example, sweet potatoes are high in antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin C, and dietary fiber. 

Wide variety of meat sources

Farmina uses an array of meats in their dog foods, which is ideal for dogs with food allergies and sensitivities. Beef and chicken allergies rank among the most common in dogs. 

Using novel protein sources like boar, quail, squid, and sea bass means you have plenty of options when feeding a picky pup or a dog with food allergies.

Recipes specifically for age groups, breeds, and conditions

Farmina offers the prescription-only VetLife range for specific conditions and diseases, such as preventing struvite stones, managing intestinal absorptive disorders, and supporting renal function.

Outside the VetLife range, Farmina N&D features products for seniors, pregnant dogs, different breed sizes, and certain conditions. Such a wide range of foods makes finding the right food for your dog easier.

Several recipes for all life stages

Many of Farmina's product lines include dog food for all life stages, which means you won't have to switch your pup to a new food as they grow older.

Strict production and quality control processes

Farmina partners with certified suppliers to obtain the freshest ingredients, which are processed carefully to preserve their nutritional value. Every stage of the production process is monitored closely with near infrared technology.

The brand also uses a technique called "just in time production", which means foods are only produced after a stockist places an order. According to Farmina, its products are usually only four days old by the time they reach pet parents.

Backed by research

The brand manages its own Farmina Vet Research Group. In partnership with veterinary professionals around the world, Farmina Vet Research Group has produced a range of studies on general pet nutrition, as well as its own products:

• Scientific comparison of the Obesity VetLife Formula effectiveness
  
• Nutritional management of struvite urolithiasis in dogs
  
• Post-prandial glycemic response in dogs: effects and affecting factors
  

Contributors to Farmina's research include:

• Dr. Monica Cutrignelli DVM, PhD, Professor of Animal Nutrition, University of Naples Federico II — author of 130+ publications on animal nutrition
  

• Dr. Kenneth W. Simpson BVM&S, PhD, Professor of Small Animal Medicine, Cornell University — award-winning author of 150+ papers on pet health and nutrition
  

• Dr. Chiara Noli EBVS, European Specialist in Veterinary Dermatology — author of 3 veterinary textbooks and 100+ academic papers

Here are a few concerns and considerations to think about before purchasing Farmina dog food. 

Concerns about grain-free diets for dogs

According to Wag! veterinary consultant, Dr. Linda Simon MVB MRCVS, "For most dogs, [grain-free] diets are just fine. They have real benefits for those with grain sensitivities, though this isn't a very common food allergy.

"For some dogs, however, grain-free diets could be damaging," Dr. Simon goes on to explain. "There's some evidence of an increased risk of heart disease in a subsection of the population fed grain free diets. Researchers are looking into why this is and theorize it may be the increased legume consumption."

In 2018, the FDA opened an investigation into the correlation between grain-free dog foods and the development of enlarged heart (also known as canine dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM for short). The investigation includes dog foods with high amounts of legumes, lentils, and potatoes. 

The FDA named 16 dog food brands most frequently reported in DCM cases — Farmina was not one of these brands. The FDA's investigation is ongoing, with no new scientific evidence as of December 2022.

Speak with your veterinarian if you're unsure whether a grain-free diet suits your dog.

Some recipes include controversial ingredients

Farmina is not a human-grade dog food, as it features some feed-grade ingredients. 

Some Farmina recipes also contain controversial ingredients. For example, some varieties contain pea fiber, which is a source of dietary fiber, but has little nutritional value and is an agricultural by-product. 

While none of these ingredients will harm your dog, they may not offer the best nutritional value.

"I have tried countless types of foods for my dogs skin allergies without luck until someone recommended Farmina. His skin and coat is so beautiful now, no more licking and bald spots. Highly recommend for allergy prone dogs."

"My dog loves it. Pricey but worth the quality. Chunky, meaty, gravy, veggies, but still easy for a senior dog [with] few teeth to eat. I feel good about feeding her this food."

Read more reviews on Chewy.

Farmina is an Italian brand founded in 1965 by Francesco Russo. It was originally called the Russo Mangimi Company, which focused on animal nutrition.

It wasn't until 1999 that Francesco's son, Dr. Angelo Russo, changed the company's focus to the pet food industry. Soon after, Dr. Russo began developing scientifically tested pet foods and working with Farmina, an English pet food research company. 

Dr. Russo invested heavily in Farmina, collaborating with independent research institutes, including the chair of Nutrition and Animal Nutrition of the University of Naples Federico II.

Today, Farmina is a global brand headquartered in Nola, Campania, Italy. Farmina operates manufacturing facilities in Italy, Brazil, and Serbia. In 2020, Farmina announced the construction of a new manufacturing plant in Reidsville, North Carolina. Construction began in 2022 and is expected to be completed by 2028.

There are no reported recalls of Farmina products as of March 2024. 

Product images sourced from Chewy. Copyright Farmina Pet Food.