Our Ultimate Verdict
We give A Pup Above model an total score of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
High quality: 4.9/5
Selection: 4.7/5
Components: 4.8/5
Worth: 4.9/5
On the earth of contemporary pet food, there are extra selections than ever. From custom-preportioned meals to grocery retailer manufacturers, all these selections current an issue for homeowners who simply need the most effective for his or her pups. In any case, how are you aware which manufacturers ship on their guarantees and that are simply good at advertising themselves?
I lately had the chance to check 4 recipes from A Pup Above, a pet food firm with a singular strategy to contemporary meals. They cook dinner their human-grade meat through sous vide to retain extra vitamins and protein than the competitors. Additionally they go the additional mile to make sure their components are sustainably grown and humanely harvested.
My senior Chihuahua, Papyrus, has been loving this meals and I’m a fairly large fan too. Preserve studying my A Pup Above model evaluation to find why this tackle contemporary fare has gained us over and if it’s the fitting selection to your pooch.
At a Look: What We Obtained
About A Pup Above
A Pup Above began with a easy mission: make pet food that’s extra sustainable, simply traceable, and higher for us, our canines, and the planet. Immediately, the corporate takes this mission into consideration throughout each step of the method, from sourcing their components to designing their packaging.
Who Makes A Pup Above and The place is it Produced?
A Pup Above was began by Ruth and Javier Marriott and their canine Lola in 2018 with a model overhaul in 2020. They function out of Austin, Texas, and all of their canine meals are made in USDA human-grade kitchens.
Which Forms of Pets is A Pup Above Finest Suited For?
Most canines can profit from a contemporary, pure food regimen just like the contemporary recipes A Pup Above affords.
These meals are excessive in protein and fats, making them an particularly nice possibility for energetic, younger, and dealing canines. With correct portioning, they will also be an amazing selection for seniors and fewer energetic canines.
A Pup Above recipes are tailor-made to the dietary wants of grownup canines. They can be utilized as a topper for puppies, however shouldn’t be fed solely to canines underneath one yr of age.
Key Options
There are lots of issues that set A Pup Above, nicely, above the competitors. Right here, we’ll have a look at how their components, preparation, sourcing, concentrate on sustainability, and ordering choices make them distinctive within the contemporary pet food world.
Components
The primary ingredient in each A Pup Above contemporary meals recipe is meat. That is one motive these recipes are a lot increased in protein than different contemporary meals choices. The second ingredient in all recipes is organ meat sourced from the identical animal because the muscle meat.
These excessive protein, nutritionally dense components make up a lot of the meals. I do know that is true as a result of you may see it!
From right here, every recipe comprises a handful of nutrient-dense greens reminiscent of candy potatoes, spinach, and inexperienced beans. A couple of recipes additionally comprise some much less fascinating plant components, together with potatoes, rice, and peas. However these make up such a small portion of the full components that they don’t pose the identical issues they do when utilized in massive portions as we see in lots of dry canine meals.
Every recipe additionally comprises a plethora of superfoods. Bone broth, turmeric, thyme, and parsley are utilized in each taste to offer distinctive vitamins and loads of sturdy antioxidants.
A particular mix of minerals and nutritional vitamins can also be added to each batch to make sure your canine will get all of the vitamins they should thrive. Whereas an absence of bone meal and complete prey components makes these artificial vitamins essential, it’s price noting that this meals has fewer added vitamins than most.
Notably, it doesn’t have any added amino acids. It is a testomony to how nutrient-dense the meat components are and the way nicely the preparation methodology preserves these vitamins.
Preparation
Probably the most distinctive elements of A Pup Above’s contemporary meals is how they cook dinner it.
Uncooked meals has many advantages largely as a result of it comprises extra vitamins than cooked meals. Warmth breaks down enzymes and nutritional vitamins whereas lowering mass, which lowers the protein content material. Nevertheless, uncooked meals additionally requires particular dealing with, could cause points for immune-suppressed canines, and is extra more likely to harbor excessive quantities of harmful micro organism.
Gently cooked contemporary meals is a compromise that gives secure meals with a better nutrient profile than historically cooked choices. A Pup Above has taken this compromise to a brand new stage by using sous vide to cook dinner their components.
Sous vide cooking entails putting the components in a vacuum-sealed container and placing them in a water tub. The vacuum situations contained in the container decrease the boiling level of water, permitting the components to cook dinner at a lot decrease temperatures.
These decrease temperatures are much less dangerous to vitamins, holding extra of them intact all through the cooking course of. Moreover, much less mass is misplaced throughout cooking and all the juices are retained within the ultimate product, resulting in meals with naturally increased quantities of macronutrients.
Sourcing
This firm additionally goes above and past in terms of sourcing their human-grade components.
The entire meat components come from farms that observe humane farming. The rooster, turkey, and pork are sourced from cage and crate-free services, whereas the meat comes from ranches, not feed tons.
The fruit and vegetable components are non-GMO and sourced from farms that observe sustainable farming. Due to this, they’re uncovered to nourishing soils which might be naturally increased in vitamins and antioxidants.
If you wish to know extra about the place the meals in your baggage got here from, you should utilize the best-by date to lookup the place every ingredient was sourced. For instance, I do know the pork in my bag got here from Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, whereas the inexperienced beans got here from Oregon, and the turmeric got here from India.
I’ll notice that this function on the corporate’s web site doesn’t all the time work flawlessly. Of the 4 baggage I obtained, I might solely recall correct sourcing info on one in all them.
Sustainability
Sourcing sustainably farmed components is only one means that A Pup Above helps sustainability practices.
Their packaging, for example, can also be created with the planet in thoughts. All of their packaging is 100% recyclable. The bins might be recycled curbside, whereas different components of the packaging are recyclable via Terracycle and NexTrex.
A Pup Above’s achievement heart runs on 100% renewable power. And yearly, the corporate donates 1% of their income to White Buffalo Land Belief. This farm is a working, producing instance of regenerative agriculture and serves as an training area for farmers and ranchers within the area.
Ordering Choices
Relating to contemporary meals, A Pup Above affords 4 recipe choices. Every comprises components from just one kind of animal, making it simpler to seek out choices for canines with protein allergic reactions. In case your canine doesn’t have restrictions, you may go for the sampler pack and check out all 4 recipes.
For all their choices, you may go for a one-time buy, or use their subscribe and save function to avoid wasting 10% and have your meals routinely delivered as typically as essential.
With their “100% tail wags assure,” you may attempt their meals risk-free and return it for a full refund in case your canine doesn’t prefer it.
Critiques of the A Pup Above Recipes We Obtained
1. Chicka Chicka Bow Wow
| Principal Components | Hen, Hen Liver, Candy Potatoes, Bone Broth |
| Energy | 1384 kcal/kg |
| Protein (dry mass) | 41.5% |
| Fats (dry mass) | 17% |
| Fiber (dry mass) | 5.8% |
This recipe comprises barely much less protein and fats than the opposite choices, making it an amazing selection for much less energetic grownup canines.
The rooster that provides the meat, liver, and bone broth is 100% cage-free and sourced within the USA.
Chicka Chicka Bow Wow isn’t grain-free because it comprises rice. However, as you may see by trying on the meals, the quantity of rice is sort of a bit lower than what you’ll get with different contemporary meals choices.
Like different recipes from this firm, this one is loaded with superfoods, together with apples, spinach, turmeric, parsley, and thyme.
My Chihuahua, Papyrus, is a giant fan of this recipe. It supplied a simple and mild transition possibility since his earlier meals was chicken-based.
Execs
- Cage-free rooster
- Reasonably-high protein
- Reasonably-high fats
- Excessive fiber
- Accommodates rooster bone broth
2. Porky’s Lua
| Principal Components | Pork, Pork Liver, Candy Potatoes, Bone Broth |
| Energy | 1220 kcal/kg |
| Protein (dry mass) | 51% |
| Fats (dry mass) | 19.5% |
| Fiber (dry mass) | 6% |
If you happen to’re after a high-protein possibility to your senior pooch, the pork recipe is your greatest guess. This taste is loaded with 51% protein however comprises a decrease calorie content material. This makes it a superb selection for older canines who sometimes want extra protein of their food regimen however have a diminished want for energy.
This recipe is comprised of crate-free pork farmed utilizing humane strategies. That is ethically higher and produces meat with increased dietary worth.
Along with pork meat, this recipe additionally comprises pork liver and bone broth. Each of those components are loaded with vitamin.
Porky’s Lua comprises some distinctive components, together with pineapple and inexperienced beans, which convey their very own advantages. Pineapple comprises antioxidants celebrated for his or her anti-inflammatory properties whereas inexperienced beans are loaded with fiber.
My senior pup fortunately wolfed up this recipe with out grievance.
Execs
- Very excessive protein
- Decrease calorie
- Distinctive components
- Crate-free pork
- Hypoallergenic
Cons
- Third ingredient is good potatoes
3. Texas Beef Stew
| Principal Components | Beef, Beef Liver, Russet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Bone Broth |
| Energy | 1461 kcal/kg |
| Protein (dry mass) | 46% |
| Fats (dry mass) | 23% |
| Fiber (dry mass) | 6.7% |
This recipe comprises the best quantity of fiber and fats out of all of the choices. It’s a nice selection for very energetic canines and dealing canines.
The meat that provides the meat, liver, and bone broth is sourced from ranches relatively than feedlots. Not solely does this make it higher for the surroundings, however it means the cattle obtain higher vitamin. This makes for extra nutritious meat to your canine.
The third ingredient is russet potatoes, which isn’t my favourite starch to see so excessive up within the components record. However once more, you may inform from trying on the meals that there’s little or no potato in comparison with meat.
Plus, this recipe comprises loads of nutrient-dense plant components to offset that prime starch content material. Tomatoes, carrots, and parsley pack loads of antioxidants to maintain your pup wholesome and completely satisfied.
Papyrus has all the time been a giant fan of beef and this selection was no exception.
Execs
- Excessive fats
- Excessive fiber
- Ranch-raised beef
- Distinctive veggie components
- Reasonable energy
Cons
- Accommodates some white potatoes
- Accommodates some peas
4. Turkey Pawella
| Principal Components | Turkey, Turkey Liver, Turkey Hearts, Turkey Livers, Turkey Gizzards |
| Energy | 1543 kcal/kg |
| Protein (dry mass) | 43% |
| Fats (dry mass) | 22% |
| Fiber (dry mass) | 6.6% |
The turkey recipe from A Pup Above comprises much less moisture than the opposite choices. Which means that, whereas it has average protein and fewer fats than the meat recipe, it’s the highest calorie possibility of the 4. This makes it an amazing selection for canines who want to realize weight and those that are very energetic.
Turkey Pawella is made utilizing cage-free turkey, which provides the meat, organs, and bone broth. One of many stand-out options of this recipe is that it comprises three organ components whereas the others solely comprise one.
Turkey hearts, livers, and gizzards all present vitamins that meat alone can’t.
Turkey hearts are excessive in taurine and different amino acids in addition to many B nutritional vitamins. Turkey livers are full of iron and vitamin A. And turkey gizzards are extremely excessive in protein and amino acids.
Papyrus was a giant fan of the turkey recipe and I appreciated how light it was on his abdomen.
Execs
- A number of organ components
- Cage-free turkey
- Excessive calorie
- Excessive fiber
- Light on the abdomen
Our Expertise With A Pup Above
My canine, Papyrus, has not often met a meals he doesn’t like. Fortunately, I’m a bit extra discerning. Not solely am I very choosy in regards to the high quality of components that go into his dish, however I’m additionally all the time looking out for pet food corporations that transcend high quality to do higher by livestock and the planet.
That’s precisely why I used to be so excited to offer A Pup Above a attempt.
Not solely did the recipes seem like they have been full of all the fitting stuff, however I used to be very inspired by this firm’s concentrate on sustainability and ethically sourced meat.
Since Papyrus doesn’t have any food allergies, I went all in on the pattern pack and examined all 4 recipes.
What We Favored
So far as Papyrus is worried, there may be nothing to not like about this meals. For the final week, he has been rotating via all 4 choices and has eagerly devoured each one.
Regardless of the quick transition from his home made contemporary food regimen, he’s had no digestive points. All 4 choices appear to be treating him simply positive.
So far as my opinion, I’ve additionally discovered rather a lot to like about this meals. I like that I can see every ingredient clearly within the bowl. Much more, I like that there seems to be vastly extra meat than plant-based ingredients.
I’ve examined and reviewed fairly a couple of premium canine meals at this level, and this one charges very excessive on the record by way of protein content material. That is additionally one of many few corporations I’ve reviewed who don’t have so as to add taurine to make up for dietary loss throughout cooking. I’ve to imagine the sous vide cooking methodology is liable for this.
I additionally like that every recipe solely comprises components from a single animal supply. This makes it tremendous straightforward for canines with protein allergic reactions and sensitivities to discover a recipe they’ll eat.
A few of the recipes comprise peas and white potatoes, which may scale back taurine absorption. Fortunately, it’s fairly clear from trying on the meals that the quantity used may be very small and unlikely to trigger points.
The opposite space the place this meals impressed was the worth. Now, that’s to not say these recipes are low cost. However after I in contrast the worth per pound to different premium fresh food choices, I solely discovered one which price much less. And I didn’t discover any cheaper choices that in contrast by way of protein content material.
The place I Noticed Room for Enchancment
I solely had one minor grievance about this meals.
Every three-pound bag is damaged up into three separate packages. For my seven-pound Chihuahua, these aren’t precisely small quantities, which implies I’ve to thaw about 5 day’s price of meals at a time. Fortunately, A Pup Above says the packs keep good within the fridge for as much as seven days after being opened, which is longer than most corporations suggest.
General, I’ve been actually impressed with the standard of the recipes and the components used. And much more impressed with the care that goes into sourcing these components and the way inexpensive the meals are contemplating this.
Conclusion
If you happen to’re in search of contemporary pet food that’s excessive in animal protein and goes above and past by way of sustainability and moral sourcing, look no additional than A Pup Above.
Every recipe from this firm comprises solely ethically sourced meats and sustainably farmed plant components. These meals are impressively excessive in protein and comprise nutrient-dense meals cooked through sous vide to retain as a lot protein, nutritional vitamins, and antioxidants as doable. If you happen to’re questioning in the event that they style good, simply watch how briskly my Chihuahua gobbles them up.
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