AvoDerm Dog Food Reviews 2026: Pros, Cons, Recalls

AvoDerm is one of the most recognizable dog food brands when it comes to formulas designed for skin and coat health. Its standout feature using nutrient-rich avocado meal and avocado oil has made it particularly popular among pet owners with dogs suffering from itchiness, dryness, shedding, or mild allergies. But does AvoDerm truly live up to the hype, and is it a safe, high-quality food for long-term feeding?

In this comprehensive AvoDerm Dog Food Review, we break down the brand’s ingredients, nutritional quality, product lines, pros and cons, and real customer feedback to help you decide whether this food is the right choice for your dog.

Brand Background

AvoDerm is produced by Breeder’s Choice Pet Foods, a California-based company that has been making pet food for more than 30 years. The company built a strong reputation by focusing on natural, nutrient-rich ingredients and offering recipes designed to enhance skin and coat health something many dog owners struggle with.

What makes AvoDerm unique is its use of avocado meal and avocado oil, ingredients that provide fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants that promote coat shine, skin hydration, and overall wellness. Unlike some newer boutique brands, AvoDerm has a long history and consistent manufacturing practices, with most of its products made in the USA.

The brand has also maintained a good safety record with very limited recalls, which adds to its credibility as a mid-tier dog food option.

Product Line Overview

AvoDerm offers a diverse selection of dog food options for different life stages, breed sizes, and dietary sensitivities. Whether your dog needs grain-inclusive food, a grain-free diet, or a limited ingredient formula, the brand provides a solid variety.

Dry Dog Food

AvoDerm’s dry kibble collection is the most popular part of its lineup. This includes:

• Grain-free formulas
• Brown rice-based grain-inclusive recipes
• Limited Ingredient Diet (LID) formulas
• Small breed and large breed options
• Puppy-specific and senior-specific formulas

Popular flavors include:

• Chicken Meal & Brown Rice
• Lamb Meal & Brown Rice
• Salmon & Sweet Potato
• Duck Recipe
• Turkey Recipe

The brand ensures real meat or meat meal appears as the first ingredient in almost all kibble recipes, which is a positive indicator of protein quality.

Wet Dog Food

AvoDerm’s wet dog foods come in stews and pâtés, offering both grain-free and grain-inclusive options. Wet foods tend to contain higher moisture and simpler ingredient lists, making them digestible for picky eaters or dogs with dental concerns.

Flavor choices include:

• Chicken
• Lamb
• Beef
• Salmon
• Duck

These wet recipes are often recommended for dogs who need extra hydration or prefer softer textures.

Treats

AvoDerm also offers treats enriched with avocado meal or avocado oil, designed to complement their kibble recipes. These include:

• Oven-baked biscuits
• Skin and coat support treats
• Soft chews

While not as extensive as the treats from larger brands, the available options focus on nutrition rather than fillers.

Ingredient Quality

AvoDerm takes pride in using wholesome, naturally sourced ingredients. Although it is a mid-tier brand not luxury like Orijen or Acana—it generally exceeds the quality of many grocery store dog foods.

Protein Sources

The brand features high-quality proteins such as:

• Chicken
• Salmon
• Turkey
• Lamb
• Duck

Many recipes use meat meals like chicken meal or lamb meal, which are concentrated protein sources and not to be confused with low-quality by-products. Meat meals can contain more amino acids than fresh meat due to their reduced water content.

Importantly, AvoDerm avoids poultry by-product meals in most of its classic recipes, which is a plus for ingredient-conscious dog parents.

Carbohydrates

AvoDerm offers balance by featuring:

Grain-Inclusive Carbs:

• Brown rice
• Oatmeal
• Barley

These ingredients support digestion and provide long-lasting energy.

Grain-Free Carbs:

• Sweet potatoes
• Peas
• Chickpeas

Similar to other grain-free foods, their grain-free line relies on legumes, which some pet parents prefer to avoid due to concerns surrounding the FDA’s investigation into grain-free diets.

Avocado Benefits

Avocado is what truly makes AvoDerm unique. The brand uses:

• Avocado oil
• Avocado meal (from flesh, not the toxic parts)

Benefits include:

• Rich omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
• Natural antioxidants
• Vitamins A, C, E, B6
• Fiber for digestive health
• Anti-inflammatory properties

These nutrients play a major role in reducing skin dryness, flakiness, dull coat, and seasonal allergy symptoms.

Is Avocado Safe for Dogs?

Many dog owners raise concerns about avocado toxicity. The toxic compound persin is harmful to birds and horses, but dogs are largely unaffected by avocado flesh, which is what AvoDerm uses.

AvoDerm does not use avocado skin, pits, or leaves.

Therefore, AvoDerm formulas containing avocado meal or oil are considered safe.

Additives & Fillers

AvoDerm recipes avoid:

• Artificial colors
• Artificial preservatives
• Artificial flavors

They use natural preservatives like mixed tocopherols and citric acid. Their ingredient lists are generally clean, without unnecessary fillers such as corn gluten or wheat middlings.

Nutrition & Safety

AAFCO Nutrition

All AvoDerm formulas meet AAFCO nutritional standards. They offer specific recipes for:

• All Life Stages
• Puppy development
• Senior dogs
• Breed-specific needs

This ensures dogs receive the correct nutritional balance for growth and maintenance.

Recalls

AvoDerm has a very minimal recall history, especially compared to some competitors. This strong safety record reflects their manufacturing quality and commitment to food testing.

Manufacturing Quality

AvoDerm is produced in controlled U.S. facilities. Their in-house quality checks include:

• Ingredient testing
• Moisture balancing
• Nutrient consistency checks
• Final food safety testing for contaminants

These factors contribute to AvoDerm’s positive safety reputation.

Customer Reviews & Real Feedback

AvoDerm receives generally positive feedback, particularly from dog parents with pets suffering from skin issues or chronic itching.

Positive Reviews

Common positive themes include:

• Shinier coat after a few weeks
• Reduced itching and hot spots
• Better skin hydration
• Good energy levels
• Improved digestion in grain-inclusive recipes
• Dogs enjoy the taste

Many reviews highlight noticeable skin improvements after switching, especially with the Salmon or Duck formulas.

Negative Reviews

Not every dog responds well to AvoDerm. Some drawbacks include:

• Rare cases of dogs reacting to avocado, though mild
• Dogs sensitive to legumes may react to grain-free recipes
• Some pets experience loose stools when switching abruptly
• Certain picky eaters may reject specific flavors
• Price higher than low-budget dog foods

Availability may also be limited depending on the region, making it harder to find in small local stores.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Avocado meal and oil promote excellent skin and coat health
• Real meat as the first ingredient in most recipes
• No artificial additives
• Good selection of grain-inclusive and grain-free options
• Solid safety record
• Ideal for dogs with mild allergies or dry skin
• Uses natural preservatives

Cons

• Some dogs may react to avocado-based formulas
• Grain-free options rely on legumes
• Not the cheapest mid-tier brand
• Limited protein variety compared to bigger brands
• Picky eaters may prefer stronger-smelling foods

Price & Value Analysis

AvoDerm is a mid-range dog food brand not cheap, but not premium-expensive either. It offers great value for the ingredient quality, especially for dogs needing skin support.

Price Comparison

AvoDerm is typically more affordable than:

• Wellness CORE
• Merrick
• Blue Buffalo Wilderness
• Taste of the Wild (in many markets)

But slightly more expensive than:

• Nutro Natural Choice
• Iams
• Purina One

Is AvoDerm Worth the Price?

Yes, especially for dogs with chronic dry skin or itching. The addition of avocado meal makes it a highly targeted formula that offers benefits beyond basic nutrition.

If you’re seeking a skin-support dog food without jumping to vet-prescribed diets, AvoDerm provides excellent value.

Who Should Choose AvoDerm?

Best For

• Dogs with dry, itchy, or flaky skin
• Dogs with mild food sensitivities
• Pets needing grain-inclusive diets
• Small breeds needing special kibble sizes
• Owners wanting a mid-tier, natural dog food

Not Ideal For

• Dogs allergic to legumes (grain-free options)
• Pets with very sensitive stomachs
• Owners on tight budgets
• Dogs allergic to chicken (many formulas use it)

Final Verdict

AvoDerm Dog Food stands out as a strong mid-range choice for pet parents seeking improved skin and coat health through natural ingredients. Its use of avocado meal and avocado oil provides unique nutritional benefits not offered by most dog food brands. The formulas are generally clean, well-balanced, and tailored to meet different dietary needs.

While its grain-free recipes rely heavily on peas and legumes, the grain-inclusive formulas tend to be the most digestible and provide a great balance of nutrients. AvoDerm is especially beneficial for dogs dealing with seasonal itching, dry skin, or coat dullness.

Overall, AvoDerm is a trustworthy, nutritious, and safe dog food brand that offers noticeable skin and coat improvements, making it a worthwhile option for many dogs.

FAQs

Is AvoDerm safe for dogs?

Yes. AvoDerm uses avocado flesh and oil, which are safe for dogs and provide essential nutrients.

Can dogs eat avocado?

Dogs can safely eat avocado flesh and avocado oil in controlled amounts. Toxic parts like the skin, pit, and leaves are not used.

Does AvoDerm help with itching?

Many pet parents report improved skin hydration and reduced itching within several weeks.

Is AvoDerm grain-free better than grain-inclusive?

Not necessarily. Grain-inclusive formulas are often easier to digest for sensitive dogs.

What is the best AvoDerm formula for skin issues?

The AvoDerm Salmon & Sweet Potato recipe is one of the most recommended for skin and coat improvement.