Welcome to our Addiction Large Breed Dry Dog Food Review, covering ingredients, nutrition, cost, and quality.
Addiction Large Breed Dry Dog Food Review
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List of products
Addiction Large Breed Dog Food Products | Ratings | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
→ Mega Lamb & Beef - Adult | 4.7 | Maintenance |
→ Mega Chicken - Puppy | 4.4 | Growth |
→ Mega Chicken - Adult | 4.9 | Maintenance |
→ Mega Chicken - Senior | 4.5 | Maintenance |
This dog food line has 4 recipes. Reviewing all isn’t possible. The review of Mega Lamb & Beef – Adult Recipe represents the quality, nutrition, and ingredients of the whole line.
Ingredients
Lamb Meal, Beef Meal, Potatoes, Peas, Tapioca, Chicken Fat, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Sea Salt, Dried Cranberries, Dried Blueberries, Kelp, Brewers Dried Yeast, Choline Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Niacin (Vitamin B3), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Vitamin B12 Supplement , Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Cobalt Sulfate, Taurine, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Mixed Tocopherols for added freshness, Rosemary Extract, Tea Extract, Spearmint Extract
Ingredient Analysis
The first five ingredients are highlighted as the primary ingredients in this Addiction Large Breed Dry Dog Food Review.
Primary Ingredients
→ Lamb meal is rendered lamb tissues (muscle, bone, organs), cleaned, dried, and ground into a nutrient-dense powder.
It offers a highly digestible protein concentrate (typically 60-65%), delivering essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and beneficial fatty acids to support muscle development and provide energy.
→ Beef meal is rendered beef that has been dried and ground, typically including clean flesh, skin, and bone.
It contains a high protein concentration—around 60–70%—which supports muscle growth and overall strength.
Beef meal is also a natural source of essential nutrients like iron, zinc, and B vitamins, contributing to energy production and immune system health.
→ Potatoes serve as a gluten-free carbohydrate source, providing energy, fiber (2.2g per 100g), and nutrients like vitamin C and potassium. They are easy to digest and often used in grain-free formulas.
However, their high starch content and glycemic index (which causes rapid blood sugar spikes) may not be suitable for dogs with diabetes.
→ Peas are a common part of commercial pet foods. They provide fiber, vitamins (A, C, K), minerals (iron, manganese, phosphorus), and antioxidants.
Raw green peas have 5.42 g of protein and 14.4 g of carbohydrates in each 100-gram serving.
→ Tapioca is obtained by purifying starch from cassava root. Although it’s a popular carbohydrate source and binder in grain-free dog diets, it offers almost nothing beyond starch and is often viewed as a low-nutrient filler.
Secondary Ingredients
The three ingredients immediately following the primary ingredients are highlighted as the secondary ingredients in this Addiction Large Breed Dry Dog Food Review.
→ Chicken fat is the fat separated from chicken tissues during rendering. It is commonly used in dog food as a concentrated energy source and flavor enhancer.
It is rich in omega-6 fatty acids, such as linoleic acid, and is often preserved with mixed tocopherols to maintain freshness.
→ Flaxseed is a natural source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that help keep skin healthy, make coats shiny, and reduce inflammation in dogs.
Every 100g of ground flaxseed contains around 18g of protein, 37.3g of fat, 34.4g of carbs, and 23.1g of fiber.
→ Natural flavor is an ingredient derived from plant or animal sources used to enhance taste and palatability.
It is commonly added to pet food to make it more appealing to dogs and may be sourced from herbs, meats, or concentrated extracts of animal products.
Other Ingredients
→ Sea salt is sometimes added to dog food as a flavor enhancer.
While commercial diets already provide sufficient sodium for fluid balance and nerve function, a little extra offers no real benefit, and too much can pose health risks.
→ Cranberries, fresh or dried, provide antioxidants and vitamins C, A, and K to support the immune system and overall canine health.
Their fiber aids digestion, and natural compounds in the fruit may help prevent urinary tract infections. Each 100 g of raw cranberries contains 12 g of carbohydrates and 3.6 g of fiber.
→ Blueberries, fresh or dried, provide antioxidants and vitamins C and E, as well as potassium and fiber, to support the immune system and overall canine health.
Each 100 g of raw blueberries contains 14.6 g of carbohydrates.
The Mega Lamb & Beef – Adult Recipe includes other beneficial ingredients further down the list to support your dog’s health; however, we won’t explore them in detail here due to the scope of this Addiction Large Breed Dry Dog Food Review.
Nutrient Sources - Addiction Large Breed Dry Dog Food Review
Nutrient | Sources |
|---|---|
Protein | Lamb Meal, Beef Meal, Potatoes, Peas, Flaxseed, Kelp, Brewers Dried Yeast |
Fat | Lamb Meal, Beef Meal, Chicken Fat, Flaxseed, Brewers Dried Yeast |
Carbohydrate | Potatoes, Peas, Tapioca, Flaxseed, Cranberries, Blueberries, Kelp, Brewers Dried Yeast |
Fiber | Potatoes, Peas, Flaxseed, Cranberries, Kelp, Brewers Dried Yeast |
Vitamins
This dog food delivers vitamins A, D3, E, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9 and B12 via synthetic supplements, with vitamin K from kelp/flaxseed and canine synthesis. Mixed tocopherols and botanical extracts boost stability. It lacks Biotin (B7) fortification, though trace amounts arise from ingredients, and dogs synthesize Vitamin C themselves.
Minerals
This dog food contains all essential minerals (iron, copper, zinc, etc.) in sufficient amounts via inorganic salts (sulfates, iodate, selenite). However, no minerals are chelated. Chelation improves absorption but is absent here, making mineral uptake less efficient than possible. The blend meets basic needs but isn’t optimal for bioavailability.
Ingredient Concerns
The inclusion of chicken fat and brewer’s yeast, poses allergy risks for sensitive dogs, and vague ingredients such as “natural flavor” undermine ingredient transparency and traceability. Additionally, the absence of a specified omega-6 to omega-3 ratio makes it difficult to assess whether essential fatty acids are properly balanced.
Finally, the product’s elevated price point may be outpaced by its actual nutritional value and clarity.
This Addiction Large Breed Dry Dog Food Review highlights both the strengths and potential concerns in the formulation, giving pet owners a clearer picture of what to expect from this popular dry dog food line.
Nutrient Analysis
Moisture=10% Max
Method of Analysis | Protein | Fat | Carbs | Fiber |
|---|---|---|---|---|
→ Guaranteed Analysis | 20% | 13% | 45% | 4% |
→ Dry Matter Basis | 22.2% | 14.4% | 50% | 4.4% |
→ Calorie Content Basis | 20.7% | 32.7% | 46.6% | NA |
Normal dog food typically contains 30–50% carbohydrates, 18–35% protein, and 9–25% fat on a dry matter basis.
However, Addiction Mega Lamb & Beef – Adult contains 22.2% protein, 14.4% fat, and approximately 50% carbohydrates on a dry matter basis.
This makes it moderately low in protein, moderate in fat, and moderately high in carbohydrates.
Compliance with AAFCO and FEDIAF Standards
The Addiction Mega Lamb & Beef – Adult contains 22.2% protein and 14.4% fat on a dry matter basis.
These levels exceed the minimum requirements for adult dog maintenance set by AAFCO and FEDIAF standards, ensuring the food provides sufficient protein and fat to support a dog’s overall health.
Every recipe in the Addiction Large Breed Dry Dog Food line meets AAFCO and FEDIAF standards to support the health of large-breed dogs.
AAFCO Statement
“Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance of adult dogs.”
The statement means the recipe’s nutrient levels were tested in a lab but not through actual feeding trials with dogs.
Both methods ensure nutritional adequacy, though feeding trials provide practical validation.
Pros and Cons - Addiction Large Breed Dry Dog Food Review
Pros
- Made with 100% grass-fed, free-range New Zealand beef & lamb meal
- Grain-free, air-dried rapid-air technology for maximum nutrient retention
- High-quality animal protein sources (lamb meal, beef meal)
- Enriched with taurine for heart health
- Glucosamine for joint support
Cons
- High carb/starch content (peas, potatoes, tapioca)
- Undisclosed “natural flavor” source
- No omega-6:omega-3 ratio specified
- Premium pricing relative to actual ingredient value
Recalls and Safety
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Our Rating
Our dog food rating system rated the Mega Lamb & Beef – Adult Recipe at 4.7 out of 5, while the Addiction Large Breed Dry Dog Food line received an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5.
Final Verdict of Addiction Large Breed Dry Dog Food Review
This article gives a basic look at dog food ingredients, but you should always ask your vet for specific advice. Your dog may have different needs, and an expert’s help is important.
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