Kirkland Dog Food (Costco) Review 2025: Is It Good for Your Dog—Or Just Cheap?

Is Kirkland Dog Food, Made by Costco, Really Good For Dogs... Especially Adult and Senior Dogs?

Costco’s private-label dog food brand, Kirkland, is one of the most budget-friendly kibbles on the market. And because the price is so low, many dog parents want to know:

Is Kirkland dog food actually good? Or are you just getting what you pay for?

Today, we’re taking a deep dive into the Kirkland Senior Dog Formula, breaking down:

✔️ The first 5 ingredients

✔️ Major positives

✔️ The negatives you should know

✔️ How it compares to other low-cost brands

✔️ The science behind carbs, omega fats, and meals

✔️ How to dramatically improve this food for almost no money

If you’re feeding Kirkland—or considering it—this review will help you make the most informed decision possible.

⭐ Quick Verdict

If judged purely on price, Kirkland performs better than other bargain brands (like Alpo, Ol’ Roy, and frankly, even better than higher priced Purina).

But judged on nutrition, it’s still a long way from ideal—especially for senior dogs.

That said, with a few low- or no-cost improvements, you can significantly boost its nutritional value.

🥩 The First 5 Ingredients: What They Tell Us

The first five ingredients of Kirkland’s senior dog formula are:

🐔 Chicken

🐔 Chicken meal

🍚 Rice

🥚 Egg product

🌾 Cracked barley

Let’s break them down.

1. Chicken (Good… but not great)

The first ingredient is whole chicken.
BUT—if this were free-range or organic, the label would proudly say so.

Since it doesn’t, you can safely assume this is:

❌ Battery-raised poultry

❌ Lower nutrient density

❌ Higher omega-6 fat content (more inflammation)

Still, real chicken is better than what many budget foods use. While it's not ideal, your dog could do a LOT worse than a food that has chicken (a real protein) as the first ingredient.

2. Chicken Meal (A mixed bag)

Many dog owners don’t know what meal means.
It’s essentially anything rendered from the animal:

✔️ Muscle meat

✔️ Tendons

✔️ Bone

❌ Feathers

❌ Skin

❌ Heads & beaks

❌ Indigestible parts

Chicken meal can contain usable protein, but also a lot of material your dog can’t digest well.

Think of it like:
If McDonald's made a McRib for dogs—that’s meal.

3. Rice (Not ideal for seniors)

Rice is cheap.
It adds calories.
It keeps kibble costs low because it adds bulk (total weight) to the food.

But it’s also:

❌ A high-glycemic carb

❌ Often contaminated with arsenic (depending on sourcing)

❌ Not helpful for older dogs with inflammation, arthritis, or metabolic issues

Rice is fine in tiny amounts, but this bag contains a lot. This is by far the most problematic ingredient. For seniors, and adults, too many carbs is asking for trouble.

4. Egg Product (Not the eggs you’re picturing)

This is nothing like a real egg.

“Egg product” usually means:

• Ground eggs

• Shell fragments

• Lower-quality eggs from industrial farms

• Eggs not suitable for retail sale

Because supermarket eggs are chemically washed, their shells shouldn’t be fed to pets.

This ingredient is mostly a cheap filler protein. However, it is still an upgrade from some of the trash they stuff into Purina, Alpo, and Ol'Roy type foods.

5. Cracked barley

Barley isn’t the worst ingredient—it adds fibre and can help gut health—but in a senior formula that already has high carbs, it adds even more starch.

💥 Major Negatives of Kirkland Dog Food

Let’s hit the biggest concerns.

❌ 1. Nearly 50% Carbohydrates (Way Too High for Seniors)

This formula contains 48% carbohydrates, which means:

🔥 Roughly 50% becomes sugar in the body

📈 Increases inflammation

🧬 Can worsen cancer risk

🦴 Fuels arthritis

💤 Causes energy crashes

Healthy adult dogs may tolerate this, but seniors almost always do worse on high-carb diets.

Dogs are designed for protein and fat—not starch.

❌ 2. High Omega-6, Low Omega-3 (Inflammation Trouble)

This is true for 90% of kibble, but it still matters.

Dogs need a balanced ratio of omega fatty acids.
Most dry foods, including Kirkland, looks like this:

⚠️ Omega-6: Very high

⚠️ Omega-3: Very low

Too many omega-6s:

• Increase chronic inflammation

• Worsen joint pain

• Contribute to skin issues

• Reduce immune resilience

Even fish-flavoured dry foods rarely fix this issue.

❌ 3. Heavy Reliance on Cheap Carbs and Meals

This is how Kirkland keeps costs low.

The formula is built around:

• Rice

• Barley

• Meal proteins

• Egg product

None of these are harmful in isolation, but together they create a food that is cheap to produce but not ideal for seniors.

🌱 But There Are Positives Too

To be fair, when compared to other bargain brands (Alpo, Ol’ Roy, Gravy Train), Kirkland does better in a few ways.

✔️ 1. Better First 5 Ingredients Than Most Low-Cost Brands

Alpo, Purina, and Ol’ Roy often start with:

• Corn

• Soybean meal

• Meat by-product meal

Compared to those, Kirkland's chicken-first formula is an upgrade.

✔️ 2. Includes Prebiotics + Probiotics

Is it enough for major gut benefits?

No.

But:

• Even a little probiotic support

• Is better than no probiotic support

This gives Kirkland a small edge over many grocery-store dog foods.

✔️ 3. Extremely Affordable

A 20 kg bag for ~40 - 45€ is almost unbeatable.

Price comparisons:

For what you pay, Kirkland offers good value—especially compared to other budget foods.

🛠️ How to Improve Kirkland Dog Food for Almost No Money

Here’s the best part:
If you must buy this food, you can upgrade it massively for pennies.

All these options cost little or nothing.

🥣 1. Homemade Bone Broth (Nearly Free)

Benefits:

• Hydration

• Collagen

• Gelatin

• Minerals

• Improved digestion

Bone broth makes dry food:

• Softer

• Easier to digest

• Less inflammatory

How to get bones cheap: Ask the Costco butcher.

Tell them the bones are for broth—otherwise they may upsell you if you say they’re for your dog.

🐟 2. Add Omega-3s (Free if You Eat Tuna)

If you can’t buy fish oil:

• Use the olive oil from canned tuna, salmon, anchovies, or sardines

• Omega-3 improves inflammation, skin, coat, joints, and heart health

A teaspoon a day is enough for most small-to-medium dogs. A tablespoon for big doggies.

This method isn't as good as an actual high EPA/DHA omega 3 supplement, but if you're on a budget, this oil is essentially free.

🥚 3. Add Real Eggs (Nature’s Best Protein)

Not egg product—real eggs.

Benefits:

• Highly bioavailable protein

• Excellent amino acid balance

• Healthy fats

• Vitamins + minerals

• Easy to digest

If you have farm-fresh eggs:

• You can add the shell (loaded with calcium)

• The membrane contains collagen

If you buy eggs at the supermarket:

• ❌ Do NOT feed shells
  They’re washed with chemicals.

🥕 4. Add Vegetable Scraps

Any veggies that didn’t go into your broth can go into your dog’s bowl.

Choose scraps like:

🥕 Carrot

🥬 Spinach (small amounts unless CKD)

🥦 Broccoli

🫛 Green beans

Veggies add:

• Fiber

• Antioxidants

• Polyphenols

• Gut-support nutrients

🥛 5. Yogurt or Kefir

Great for senior dogs with gut issues.

• Yogurt = millions of probiotics

• Kefir = billions

Even 1 tablespoon daily helps restore gut balance, and optimise GUT health.

🍗 6. Bone-Marrow Pudding (Bonus Hack)

After you make broth twice with the same bones:

1. Put the used bones + veggie scraps in a food processor

2. Blend into a “pudding”

3. Add a spoonful to meals

This mixture contains:

• Collagen

• Minerals

• Gelatin

• Trace nutrients

Some research even suggests collagen-rich foods may help support new stem cell production—a huge win for aging dogs.

Here's how to do it:

🔬 Nerd Alert: Why These Tweaks Matter

🧪 Carbs → Sugar

Dogs digest carbs quickly, turning many of them into glucose.
High glucose:

• Fuels inflammation

• Feeds cancer cells

• Worsens weight gain

• Stresses the pancreas

Reducing the carb % by adding protein/fat toppers helps rebalance the meal.

🧬 Omega-3s Support Anti-Inflammation

Omega-3s (EPA/DHA) are scientifically shown to:

• Reduce joint pain

• Improve kidney markers

• Decrease chronic inflammation

• Support heart and brain health

Most kibble (including Kirkland) is omega-6 heavy, so this fix is crucial.

🦠 Probiotics Improve Senior Dog Immunity

A diverse gut microbiome helps with:

• Digestion

• Immune response

• Energy levels

• Inflammation management

Kefir + yogurt + broth all boost gut function.

📌 Final Verdict: Should You Buy Kirkland Dog Food?

✔️ Buy it IF:

• You’re on a tight budget

• You're choosing between Kirkland and lower-tier brands like Ol’ Roy

• You’re willing to add healthy toppers to improve it

❌ Avoid it IF:

• Your dog has arthritis

• Your dog has cancer or metabolic disease

• Your dog struggles with inflammation

• Your dog gains weight easily

• You want a lower-carb food

⭐ Overall Rating: 6/10 (Budget Category, Grading on a Curve)

With topper improvements: 7/10

❓ FAQ: Kirkland Dog Food Review

Is Kirkland dog food good for senior dogs?

It’s okay, but not ideal.
The carbs are too high, and the omega-6 content may increase inflammation.
However, it can be improved with low-cost additions.

Is Kirkland better than Purina or Pedigree?

In many ways: yes.
The first ingredient is chicken instead of corn, and the formula includes probiotics.

Does Kirkland contain harmful ingredients?

Not harmful, but some are low-quality:

• Chicken meal

• Egg product

• High starch fillers

These reduce digestibility and nutrient density.

Can I feed Kirkland dog food to a dog with kidney disease?

Not recommended.
High carbs and low moisture are a tough combination for CKD dogs.

Click Here to learn how to make your dog kidney disease dog food at home for cheap.

What can I add to Kirkland to improve it?

The best low-cost additions are:

🥣 Bone broth

🐟 Omega-3 oil (or olive oil from tuna cans)

🥚 Real eggs

🥕 Veggie scraps

🥛 Yogurt/kefir

🍗 Bone-marrow “pudding”

These improve digestibility, reduce inflammation, and boost nutrient density.

Questions? Email us! [email protected]

****

Most commercial dog food can age your dog prematurely.

Doesn't your dog deserve better?

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🐶Long Live Your Senior Dog is dedicated to helping you help your senior dog live longer, healthier, happier, and stronger.

All information comes from 25+ years experience, interviews with forward-thinking veterinarians, and from scientific research.

We are all about helping you care for your adult or senior dog.

Remember, old dogs don’t have to suffer the problems of ageing! They CAN feel like puppies again… playful, full of happy energy, and constantly begging you for extra walks 😍🥰

✅If your senior dog has cancer, check out the Ketogenic Diet Kills Cancer Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFiWpISGqLM&t=310s

Homecooking is the best option for senior dogs to help them feel better and live longer.

🦮Need help preparing Keto Meals at home for your dog? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFiWpISGqLM&t=310s

🦮How to make bone broth that will help your senior dog’s joints, GUT health, and give them a happy belly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI3dVJSD-Io&t=2s

🦮How to make Turmeric Paste to rejuvenate your senior pup’s joints: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvHKVud2Ctw&t=9s

YouTube:@HelpYourDogLiveLonger

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