Whole Grain Turkey & Chicken Essential Clusters

Overall rating: 4.892857 / 5 from 56 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

Whole Grain Turkey & Chicken Essential Clusters are highly appreciated by customers for their high-quality nutrition and minimal processing. Customers love the clusters, and their dogs enjoy the food. The Honest Kitchen brand is also well-regarded.

Summary topics

• Clusters: 22%
• Food Quality: 25%
• Kitchen Brand: 18%

Review topics: ["quality","order","food","clusters","dog","ingredients","kitchen","taste","turkey","nutrition","doggies"].

Review highlights

• "My pups LOVE LOVE LOVE their new kibble-ish Whole Grain Turkey and Chicken Essential Clusters from The Honest Kitchen!!" — Debra H.
• "My dog absolutely loves The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Turkey and Chicken Clusters!" — STACY M.
• "Hinest Kitchen is a great dog food." — Rebecca

Reviews

Q&A

Why is this different from kibble?

Hi Louise, - All of our Clusters recipes are 100% human grade and made using our MadeHonest™ process—which cold-presses, roasts, and gently dehydrates each batch to lock in nutrition and flavor. They’re crafted in a human food facility with high safety and quality standards and never include GMO ingredients or fillers like corn, wheat, or soy. - The key differences come down to ingredients, protein and variety: - Essential Clusters are made with healthy whole grains, high-quality protein, and the essential vitamins and minerals dogs need to thrive. They’re ideal for adult and senior dogs and include dual-protein options. - Whole Food Clusters build on that foundation with added superfoods like broccoli, kale, and carrots for extra health benefits. They also feature mostly single-protein recipes and are boosted with probiotics to support digestion. This line also includes options tailored to puppies and small breed dogs. - Protein Plus+ Clusters are dual-protein recipes that are highest in protein content. They also include added probiotics and are crafted to support many health benefits for puppies and adult dogs. Both lines support heart health with added taurine and promote healthy skin and coat with added omegas.  

Does this have enough protein for large Senior dogs (12 years old)?

Hi Elena, Absolutely! All of our complete and balanced recipes meet AAFCO nutrition standards, and they're designed for either "adult maintenance" or "all life stages." While both types can work for seniors, we generally find that our "adult maintenance" recipes are the better choice. Here's why: our "adult maintenance" recipes are specifically formulated for dogs with moderate activity levels and seniors. They provide balanced nutrition without the extra calories and nutrients that less active pets don't really need. If your senior is still very active or has special dietary needs, an "all life stages" recipe could be a great fit. We always recommend chatting with your vet about which option makes the most sense for your individual pet's needs and activity level. We also have senior specific recipes https://www.thehonestkitchen.com/collections/shop-senior-dog-food-treats-toppers I hope this helps.

I like the lower calories in these new recipes, but why did you add peas to the mix (which aren’t an ingredient in your original chicken & grain recipe)? They are listed as the third or fourth ingredient (depending on the recipe) which seems to mean that there is a good amount. Haven’t peas been associated with DCM and digestive issues for dogs? Thank you.

Hi Stefano, Thanks for reaching out! I'm sorry to hear about your concern. There are many potential causes of DCM, some of which are still being studied, but diet is one piece of the puzzle, albeit not the only one. Other important factors to be considered include breed/genetics, activity level, and environment. The Honest Kitchen has a rigorous development process to ensure proper formulation for your pets. We work with a renowned veterinarian team, including a veterinary nutritionist, to create each and every recipe. Our recipes are formulated to meet the AAFCO dog food or cat food nutrient requirements. They are rigorously tested at an independent ISO-accredited laboratory during the product development phase and production to ensure optimal nutrition. Additionally, we rigorously test the recipes we make, multiple times a year, at an independent ISO-accredited laboratory to ensure they meet and exceed all the values established in the AAFCO Nutrient profiles for dogs or cats. You can read more about our comprehensive in-home AAFCO feeding trial here. Recently, there has been discussion about the FDA's investigation into the use of lentils, legumes, and potatoes as substitutes for grains in dog food. This study was prompted by concerns over a possible connection between these ingredients and Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) in purebred large breed dogs, due to the presence of compounds called lectins that could potentially block taurine absorption. However, the FDA has concluded its investigation and has not released any evidence linking these ingredients to DCM. Here are a few links where you can learn more about the recent study: https://www.avma.org/news/until-more-science-available-fda-will-end-public-updates-potential-link-between-certain-diets https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/questions-answers-fdas-work-potential-causes-non-hereditary-dcm-dogs Due to varying opinions on the subject within the pet and veterinary industries, there has been some confusion due to the FDA's past study. However, our recipes are made in a way that neutralizes lectins in these ingredients through processes such as steaming and pressure cooking, which make them safe to use without blocking taurine. We have always followed this process and are also adding taurine to our recipes, which already contain naturally occurring taurine due to their high meat content and minimal processing. We recommend feeding your dog a combination of whole grain and grain-free options, but either one is acceptable as long as your dog doesn't have a grain sensitivity. Our recipes never use fillers, so every ingredient serves a purpose. Whole grains offer fiber, omega fatty acids, and essential vitamins and minerals. Meanwhile, our grain-free recipes contain ingredients like peas, which are high in the antioxidant Glutathione, and are a great source of vitamins and minerals. Potatoes are also included in our recipes and are an excellent source of carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Linked below I have included a link to our updated blog on the current DCM concerns in pet food. https://www.thehonestkitchen.com/blogs/thk-updates/the-honest-kitchen-s-update-on-dilated-cardiomyopathy-dcm I hope this clears things up a bit. If you need anything else, please feel free to reach out. I know this info can be overwhelming, so I'm happy to clarify. Thanks again,