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ZIWI Peak Original Series Venison Recipe Dog

DogAir-Dried

ZIWI Peak Original Series Venison Recipe Dog scores 5/5 on Moesonson's label-based analysis. Its two scoring factors rate evenly: protein clarity (high — 100% of the recipe's protein panel is clearly named) and animal-protein content (strong — 100% of the weighted protein comes from animal sources).

Rating

Updated Jul 2026
★︎★︎★︎★︎★︎ 5.0 / 5
Protein Clarity

Protein Clarity

This measures how clearly the protein sources are identified on the label. "High" means ingredients like "chicken" or "salmon" are listed by name, so you know exactly what your pet is eating. "Low" means vague terms like "meat meal" or "animal by-products" are used, making it harder to know what's really inside.

Why does clarity matter?

According to AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials), pet food labels must follow specific naming standards. When a product uses a named protein like "chicken" it must contain at least 25% of that ingredient. Vague terms like "meat by-products" have no such minimum and can include lower-quality parts from any animal source — making it impossible to know what your pet is actually eating or to identify allergens.

High
Animal Protein

Animal Protein

This estimates how meat-forward the protein sources are from the ingredient label. Named animal proteins count strongly, plant protein concentrates count strongly against the score, and whole plant ingredients with some protein count more lightly. A "High" score means the recipe appears mainly animal-protein led. A "Low" score means the label shows a stronger reliance on plant protein signals.

This is an ingredient-label heuristic, not an exact lab measurement of protein grams.

Why does animal protein matter?

1. Contains irreplaceable essential nutrients Taurine and Arginine — which cats need to stay healthy — are only found in meat. Plants contain none at all.

2. Plant proteins are poorly utilized by the body Even though plant proteins (like corn gluten meal) may show 92.9–96% apparent digestibility, that does not mean high bioavailability. They lack adequate Lysine (only 1.7% vs. the ideal 6–7%) and contain phytic acid that blocks mineral absorption.

High
How we review →

How this score is made

This score isn’t a hand-wavy impression: it reads what the label actually prints — the ingredient list, guaranteed analysis and AAFCO adequacy statement — and runs it through the same algorithmic rubric as every other product. No brand pays for placement, and there are no affiliate links on reviewed products.

Read the full methodology

Is ZIWI Peak Original Series Venison Recipe Dog air-dried dog food good?

ZIWI Peak Original Series Venison Recipe Dog is a air-dried dog food rated 5 stars, with high ingredient transparency and strong animal protein content. The recipe lists most animal ingredients by name and features real muscle meat as a primary protein source. However, most minerals are supplied in inorganic forms that may be less well absorbed. This recipe is free from Gluten grains, Grains (gluten-free), Dairy, Egg, Legumes, Nuts, Poultry, Fish, Unknown Meal but contains Red meat, Shellfish.

Allergy Highlights

Contains:

Red meatShellfish

Free From:

Gluten grainsGrains (gluten-free)DairyEggLegumesNutsPoultryFishUnknown Meal

Pros

  • Uses clearly named animal protein sources for better transparency.
  • Contains organ meats that provide natural vitamins and minerals.
  • Includes plant ingredients that can provide fiber and natural antioxidants.

Cons

  • Relies mostly on inorganic mineral supplements, which may be less bioavailable.

Nutrition Breakdown

Nutrition Breakdown — Dry Matter
Protein 52%
Fat 27%
Est. Carbs 5%
Fiber 2%
Ash 14%

Moisture (14%) removed so you can compare foods fairly.

Dry matter basis = label value ÷ (100% − moisture%). Carbs estimated from remaining.

Nutrition Breakdown — As Fed
Protein 45%
Fat 23%
Est. Carbs 4%
Fiber 2%
Moisture 14%
Ash 12%

As-fed values are the raw percentages printed on the product label.

Tips

Ingredients Analysis

15 of 16 matched

  • 1 Venison
    Animal Protein

    Description

    A more exotic red meat, higher protein and lower in fat compared to other domestic red meats.

    Why Prefer?

    A high-quality animal protein with high digestibility and biological value.

  • 2 Venison Tripe
    Animal Protein

    Description

    Stomach lining from venison (deer), a nutrient-rich organ meat providing natural enzymes and probiotics.

    Why Prefer?

    Named animal source organ meat with high nutritional value.

  • 3 Venison Heart
    Animal Protein

    Description

    An excellent source of iron, zinc, selenium, and vitamin B2, B6, B12.

    Why Prefer?

    Organ meats are highly nutritious, with quality protein and many important vitamins / minerals.

  • 4 Venison Lung

    No match found in database

  • 5 Venison Liver
    Animal Protein

    Description

    A great source of vitamin A, Bs, iron, and selenium.

    Why Prefer?

    Organ meats are highly nutritious, with quality protein and many important vitamins / minerals.

  • 6 Venison Kidney
    Animal Protein

    Description

    Organ meat from venison, rich in B vitamins, iron, and selenium.

    Why Prefer?

    Organ meats are highly nutritious, with quality protein and many important vitamins / minerals.

  • 7 New Zealand Green Mussel
    Animal Protein

    Description

    An excellent source of protein, vitamin A, B12, zinc, and iron.

    Why Prefer?

    A high-quality animal protein with high digestibility and biological value.

  • 8 Venison Bone
    Animal Protein

    Description

    Ground venison bone providing natural calcium, phosphorus, and collagen.

    Why Prefer?

    A named by-product providing natural minerals.

  • 9 Lecithin
    Fat

    Description

    A fat essential in body cells, it could be extracted from different food like soybean. It acts as an emulsifier that helps fats mixing with other ingredients.

  • 10 Inulin
    Carbs

    Description

    A prebiotic that promote friendly bacteria in the gut and support better digestion.

  • 11 Dried Kelp
    Carbs

    Description

    An excellent source of various minerals including calcium, iron, magnesium. Rich in rare mineral iodine essential for healthy thyroid function.

  • 12 Minerals
    Supplement

    Description

    A general term for mineral supplementation, specific sources not identified.

  • 13 Salt
    Others

    Description

    Mainly added to enhance the flavor, might cause kidney and blood pressure issues in a larger dose. High-quality pet foods should get a sufficient amount from raw meat, additional salt is not necessary.

    Why Concerned?

    A controversial ingredient that might cause health issues, unnecessary for the risk.

  • 14 Parsley
    Carbs

    Description

    A type of plant native to the Mediterranean. It is particularly rich in vitamin K, and a good source of vitamin A, C, and antioxidants.

  • 15 Natural Vitamin E
    Supplement

    Description

    Naturally sourced vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol) used as an antioxidant.

  • 16 Vitamins
    Supplement

    Description

    A mixture of vitamins supplements to ensure the complete nutrition profile of pet food.

Tips

  • Some protein sources are less clear: Venison Bone appear near the top without a clearly defined animal source.
  • Ingredients worth checking: Salt.
  • Ingredient matching note: 15 of 16 ingredients were matched. One early unmatched item was Venison Lung. We update our ingredient database over time, so this analysis may become more complete if you check again later.

Protein Analysis

How this recipe earned its protein scores.

Protein Clarity

High
High
  • Named 100%

Strong clarity: 100% of ZIWI Peak Original Series Venison Recipe Dog's animal-protein ingredients are clearly named (like chicken or salmon). Only 0% use vague terms such as "meat meal" and 0% are by-products. Named protein ingredients let you verify the source and check for allergens.

Contributing ingredients

Named

Venison Venison Tripe Venison Heart Venison Liver Venison Kidney New Zealand Green Mussel Venison Bone

Animal Protein

High
High
  • Animal 100%

Meat-forward: 100% of the weighted protein in ZIWI Peak Original Series Venison Recipe Dog comes from animal sources. Plant signals are modest (0% whole plants, 0% plant concentrates), so the protein profile leans on real meat.

Contributing ingredients

Animal

Venison Venison Tripe Venison Heart Venison Liver Venison Kidney New Zealand Green Mussel Venison Bone

ZIWI Peak Original Series Venison Recipe Dog air-dried dog food Review

ZIWI Peak Original Series Venison Recipe Dog is a strong choice — rated 5 stars with high ingredient transparency and strong animal protein content. A confident pick when the ingredient panel matches your pet's needs.

Best for

  • Owners who want clearly named protein sources
  • Pets avoiding gluten grains
  • Pets that thrive on muscle-meat protein

Key takeaways

  • Named animal proteins make up 100% of the recipe's protein panel — a clear sourcing win.
  • Contains common allergens: Red meat, Shellfish.
  • On a dry-matter basis: 52% protein, 27% fat, 5% estimated carbohydrates.
  • 100% of the weighted protein comes from animal sources.
  • Free from Gluten grains, Grains (gluten-free), Dairy, Egg, Legumes, Nuts, Poultry, Fish, Unknown Meal.

Frequently asked questions

Is ZIWI Peak Original Series Venison Recipe Dog good for dogs?

Yes — ZIWI Peak Original Series Venison Recipe Dog earns 5 out of 5 stars on Moesonson’s label-based analysis, combining high ingredient transparency with strong animal protein content. The score is computed from the printed ingredient list and guaranteed analysis rather than marketing claims — a confident pick when the label matches your dog’s needs.

Does ZIWI Peak Original Series Venison Recipe Dog contain Dairy?

No — based on the printed ingredient list, ZIWI Peak Original Series Venison Recipe Dog does not include Dairy or closely related ingredients, so pets sensitive to Dairy can typically avoid that trigger here. Recipes do get reformulated, though, so re-check the packaging before feeding — Moesonson’s reading reflects the label at analysis time.

Does ZIWI Peak Original Series Venison Recipe Dog contain Egg?

No — based on the printed ingredient list, ZIWI Peak Original Series Venison Recipe Dog does not include Egg or closely related ingredients, so pets sensitive to Egg can typically avoid that trigger here. Recipes do get reformulated, though, so re-check the packaging before feeding — Moesonson’s reading reflects the label at analysis time.

Does ZIWI Peak Original Series Venison Recipe Dog contain Legumes?

No — based on the printed ingredient list, ZIWI Peak Original Series Venison Recipe Dog does not include Legumes or closely related ingredients, so pets sensitive to Legumes can typically avoid that trigger here. Recipes do get reformulated, though, so re-check the packaging before feeding — Moesonson’s reading reflects the label at analysis time.

Does ZIWI Peak Original Series Venison Recipe Dog contain Nuts?

No — based on the printed ingredient list, ZIWI Peak Original Series Venison Recipe Dog does not include Nuts or closely related ingredients, so pets sensitive to Nuts can typically avoid that trigger here. Recipes do get reformulated, though, so re-check the packaging before feeding — Moesonson’s reading reflects the label at analysis time.

Is ZIWI Peak Original Series Venison Recipe Dog grain-free?

Yes — ZIWI Peak Original Series Venison Recipe Dog is grain-free according to its printed ingredient list: no gluten grains (like wheat) and no gluten-free grains (like rice or corn) appear in the recipe. That makes it a candidate for pets with diagnosed grain sensitivities, though grain-free offers no automatic benefit for pets without one.

What are the main protein sources in ZIWI Peak Original Series Venison Recipe Dog?

The main animal proteins in ZIWI Peak Original Series Venison Recipe Dog are Venison, Venison Tripe, Venison Heart. Each is named by species on the printed ingredient list — a protein-clarity strength in Moesonson’s scoring, because named sources let you verify what your dog is eating and avoid specific proteins when managing food allergies.

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