Hepper is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

Inukshuk Dog Food Review 2024: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Samantha Reed

By Samantha Reed

Inukshuk Dog Food Review

Review Summary

Our Final Verdict

We give Inukshuk dog food a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Inukshuk Dog food is a high-quality food crafted by a family-owned business and designed specifically for meeting the nutritional requirements of sled dogs and other working canines. Inukshuk has maintained its premium reputation during its 40 years of business, leading the dog food world in science-based nutrition and strict quality standards.

It has its own manufacturing facility to ensure the safety of its products, and if you are the lucky parent of a high-energy canine or working dog, Inukshuk is the food for you.

divider 9

At a Glance: The Best Inukshuk Dog Food Recipes

Rating Image Product Details
Most Popular
Winner
Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food 30/25 Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food 30/25
  • Designed for higher energy, working dogs
  • Packed with animal-based protein
  • Has the ideal amounts of protein, fat, and carbs to fuel athletic activities
  • Best Overall for Average Dogs
    Second place
    Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food 26/16 Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food 26/16
  • Suitable for all life stages and normal activity levels.
  • High in animal-based protein I
  • Requires less feeding due to the concentrated formula.
  • Best for the Highest Energy Dogs
    Third place
    Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food 32/32 Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food 32/32
  • Made for athletic working dogs.
  • Highest protein content of Inukshuk dog foods.
  • Grain inclusive.
  • Inukshuk Professional Performance Marine 25 Inukshuk Professional Performance Marine 25
  • High protein content
  • Inukshuk has never had a product recall
  • All recipes are free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
  • Inukshuk Dog Food Reviewed

    Inukshuk sells four dry dog food formulas to support working dogsโ€™ high-energy lifestyles. The brand is favored by pet parents who use their canine companions for hunting, sporting, sledding, or as professional working dogs in the military or police force.

    Starting with all life stages and the puppy-friendly 26/16 and increasing up to the high-powered 32/32, Inukshukโ€™s versatile ingredients ensure a smooth transition as your dog moves through the range of products.

    Who Makes Inukshuk Dog Food and Where Is It Produced?

    Inukshuk is a division of Corey Nutrition Company, a family-owned company operating off the coast of Canada for over 30 years. The company was founded in 1982 by Lee Corey, and it continues to promote outstanding customer care, science-based nutrition, and superior safety with their products. Inukshuk is located in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.

    Which Types of Pets Is Inukshuk Best Suited For?

    Inukshuk is designed for dogs that hunt, protect, and serve or pull sleds that need a special diet to fuel their high performance without compromising their nutritional needs. Each formula is tailored to a specific lifestyle, so itโ€™s important to match your dogโ€™s needs to the formula you purchase.

    What Types of Dogs Might Do Better With a Different Brand?

    As weโ€™ve said, Inukshuk dog food is made for more active dogs. While they offer an all-life stages formula, Inukshuk is crafted for hard-working, high-energy dogs. If your furry friend is lazy, Inukshuk is probably not the best choice for you. In addition, if your dog has known food sensitivities, Inukshukโ€™s protein and fat-dense formulas arenโ€™t necessarily allergy-friendly with their ingredients.

    Divider 2

    Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

    Inukshuk guarantees that all of their formulas are GMO-free and made without any unnecessary filler ingredients. Each formula is centered on providing a nutrient-dense meal containing a healthy balance between fat and protein. While each formula contains different percentages, the ingredient list on each is almost the same.

    Inukshukโ€™s primary ingredients include chicken meal, chicken fat, herring meal, ground whole-grain corn, chicken fat, brown rice, and ground whole grain wheat.

    Some pet owners may question the inclusion of chicken meal and corn, but Inukshuk has reasons for including the ingredients in their premium food. According to Inukshuk, they include chicken meal as their primary protein source because working dogs have โ€œspecific dietary requirements beyond those of the average dog.โ€

    This means a working dog will benefit from the highly digestible, highly concentrated protein source more than the average canine. Chicken meal is a concentrated animal protein that contains the essential amino acids your dog needs to thrive at their highest levels of activity.

    The inclusion of corn is equally as controversial, but Inukshuk swears by it as a highly digestible carbohydrate. Inukshuk states that the whole grain corn they use contains more fiber, more protein, and less starch than other corn-derived products on the market.

    According to Inukshukโ€™s FAQ page, cornโ€™s high digestibility can โ€œbe a powerful asset in a performance diet by providing a low glycemic carbohydrate sourceโ€ that fuels endurance and sprinting activities in dogs. PetMd supports Inukshukโ€™s views on corn in dog food, agreeing that when corn is properly milled, it provides โ€œa source of easily digestible carbohydrates used by dogs for energy.โ€

    In addition, PetMd further states that whole ground corn provides โ€œprotein and amino acids, linoleic acid (omega-6), and antioxidants.โ€ So, while pet parents may be skeptical of the corn included, both PetMd and Inukshuk agree on the overall nutritional benefit of whole-grain corn.

    Inukshuk also uses beet pulp in their formulas which some people dismiss as a cheap filler. Beet pulp is a byproduct of sugar beets that is high in fiber, and some researchers claim that beet pulp is difficult to digest and has been linked to Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). However, beet pulp is a great source of fiber and essential vitamins and minerals like iron, potassium, and magnesium.

    Divider 3

    A Quick Look at Inukshuk Dog Food

    Pros
    • High protein content
    • Inukshuk has never had a product recall
    • All recipes are free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
    • Crafted specifically for high-energy, working dogs
    • All formulas meet AAFCO standards
    • Vacuum-sealed packaging to keep food fresher longer
    Cons
    • Numerous controversial ingredients
    • Contains potential allergens like corn, soy, and chicken products
    • Not suitable for low-activity dogs

    Recall History

    Since its humble beginnings in 1982, Inukshuk has never experienced a product recall. You can stay up to date on the FDAโ€™s list of recalls and withdraws on their website where you can search for specific brands by name. Dog food is typically recalled when something has contaminated the food, either in the final product or during the manufacturing process.

    Voluntary recalls occur when the manufacturer discovers an issue with the packaging or ingredients. FDA recalls are a bit serious and can include the presence of viruses or pathogens in the food or high levels of certain ingredients. Inukshukโ€™s self-owned and operated manufacturing plant ensures they have a strict standard of quality control

    Divider 4

    Our Reviews of the 3 Best Inukshuk Dog Food Recipes

    Letโ€™s take a look at the three most popular Inukshuk dog food formulas in a bit more detail:

    1. Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food 26/16

    Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food 26 16

    This Inukshuk formula is designed for all life stages. While still higher in calories than a standard commercial recipe, 26/16 is perfect for active pets, working or sporting dogs, pregnant dogs, and even growing puppies or seniors.

    With a balance of 26% crude protein and 16% fat content, the 26/16 recipe is highly nutritious, and many pet parents find they can feed smaller portions and still provide enough daily calories. The high protein content promotes muscle development, recovery, and overall well-being.

    Inukshukโ€™s recipe is packed full of DHA and other omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids to promote your dogโ€™s brain development, healthy skin and coat, and joint health in dogs of any age.

    Pros
    • Suitable for all life stages and normal activity levels
    • High in animal-based protein
    • Includes prebiotics and chelated minerals for gut health and a strong immune system
    • Requires less feeding due to the concentrated formula
    Cons
    • Not suitable for inactive dogs
    • Easy to overfeed your dog if you disregard the feeding guidelines
    • Not allergy-inclusive

    2. Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food 30/25

    Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food

    The next step up in the Inukshuk product line, the 30/25 recipe, provides the same great nutrition as any Inukshuk food while upping the ante a bit. The 30/25 formula is meant for medium to larger breed dogs. Unlike the 26/16 formula, this recipe is meant to balance out a larger and more athletic dogโ€™s high-energy endurance. Youโ€™ll find a great mixture of protein, fat, and carbohydrates to fuel your dogโ€™s optimal performance levels.

    However, as with all Inukshuk formulas, the protein content comes from meat meals rather than whole, fresh deboned chicken, lamb, beef, or fish. The formula is also not inclusive for dogs with allergies or food sensitivities, especially if your dog is sensitive to wheat, soy, or corn. Donโ€™t let that scare you, though. While the Inukshuk formula might not be suited for every dog, the animal protein and high-fat content provide the necessary fuel for muscle development and recovery for any working canine to continue performing at their best.

    Pros
    • Designed for higher energy, working dogs
    • Packed with animal-based protein
    • Has the ideal amounts of protein, fat, and carbs to fuel athletic activities
    • Contains essential fatty acids for healthy skin, coat, and joints
    Cons
    • Not suitable for inactive or small dogs
    • Easy to overfeed your dog
    • Does not list real meat as the primary ingredient

    3. Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food 32/32

    Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food 32 32

    The Inukshuk 32/32 formula is the highest-energy dog food they have available. This high-octane meal is designed to meet the most demanding of conditions and give your dog all the possible calories and nutrients they need for any strenuous activity.

    Coming in at a whopping 720 Kcal per cup, 32/32 doesnโ€™t skimp out in its efforts to ensure maximum performance, recovery, and muscle support. This is the chosen food of canine professionals across the United States and Canada for a reason, but this formula is definitely not suitable for the average dog.

    The 32/32 formula is meant to sustain high endurance, but it is not suitable for a cuddle companion who sometimes likes to play fetch and go on walks.

    Pros
    • Made for athletic working dogs
    • Highest protein content of Inukshuk dog foods
    • Created to provide the right amounts of protein, fat, and carbs to fuel athletic activities
    • Grain inclusive
    Cons
    • Not suitable for inactive, indoor dogs
    • Easy to overfeed less active pets
    • Does not list meat as the first ingredient

    What Others Are Saying

    • Multiple Inukshuk testimonials call Inukshuk the โ€œtop of the nutritional game without the gimmicks.โ€
    • ScoutKnows describes the food as perfect for โ€œvery active dogsโ€ or if โ€œyou want your dogs to become more active.โ€
    • It is always a great idea to check reviews from customers across multiple platforms. Amazon is a great place to get a bigger picture of what pet owners are saying across the board. Check out some of the reviews here.

    Divider 7

    Final Thoughts

    Inukshuk offers high-quality nutrition and fuel for our furry friendโ€™s many activities, though their formulas might not be inclusive for all food sensitivities. Feeding your dog the highest quality food is one of the ways to ensure they live a long and healthy life, no matter their lifestyle.

    You canโ€™t go wrong with any of Inukshukโ€™s energy-packed formulas if your dog is a working dog or a sporting dog. Overall, we are impressed with Inukshukโ€™s quality and think its hard-earned, outstanding reputation in the performance dog world is well-deserved.

    See also:

    Related Articles

    Further Reading

    Vet Articles

    Latest Vet Answers

    The latest veterinarians' answers to questions from our database