Lily’s Kitchen is one of the UK’s most loved premium dog food brands, but just why is Lily’s Kitchen so popular? Well, its reputation for providing dogs with top-notch nutrition with fresh, quality ingredients to create mouthwatering tasty meals makes it a hit with both dogs and their owners alike.
As well as being well known for packing its recipes with real meat/offal, veggies, fruit and plenty of herbs, Lily’s Kitchen is also a great brand for providing variety to pooches. With bags of dry food filled with kibble tailored to different life stages and breed sizes, cans and trays of wet dog food in a variety of flavours including adaptations of human classics like Cottage Pie and Lamb Hotpot, and tasty treats such as biscuits and jerky for offer different textures for your pup to chow down on.
If you and your pooch haven’t tried Lily’s Kitchen before, you may think all of the good stuff about the brand is too good to be true. That’s why we’ve enlisted the help of 13-year-old Yorkshire Terrier, Lola and her owner Nicola to tell you their honest thoughts on the food and we’ve also done a bit of investigating to bring you the answers to the internet’s most asked questions about Lily’s Kitchen. Read on to our Lily’s Kitchen dog food review to find out more…
Lily's Kitchen dog food review: our thoughts
Great quality and variety
"Lola has been eating a combination of Lily’s kitchen dry dog food and wet food for 10 years or more. I like to use them because of their transparency of what is in their food and all of the good added extra vitamins and minerals for dogs at all stages of life," says Nicola. "I would go as far as to say that it’s probably better quality than what we humans eat! One thing I really love about Lily's Kitchen is the amount of different recipes there are for dogs to try. I know some dogs can get bored of having the same food to eat all the time, but this is never an issue with Lola as there's so much variety with Lily's Kitchen.
"Lola is now 13 years old and I am sure that her energy and still very much 'puppyness' is because of the Lily's Kitchen food and treats that we give her. Not to mention the condition of her fur is lovely and shiny and her nose is always nice and wet, and I feel like I can definitely attribute that to the food."
Gentle on teeth
"Lola was also a rescue dog and her teeth have never been in the greatest of condition, in fact, she had to have some taken out around the age of 4/5, but she has always managed to chow down on the Lily’s kibble, wet food and meaty treats. We do mostly have to break treats up into more bite-sized pieces, which is something to bear in mind if you have a dog with similar teeth issues, but I feel like Lola loves that more because she thinks she's getting many treats rather than just the one."
Wet food favourites
"Lola's Lily’s Kitchen wet food favourites are the Wild Campfire Stew and Fishy Fish Pie canned dog food. They both have quite a strong aroma, which isn't my favourite smell, but the scent of food alone entices Lola to the bowl and she always chows it down in a matter of minutes. Having recently tried the Lily's Kitchen Ultimate Suppers for the first time, Lola has found new firm favourites to add to her monthly Lily's shop, enjoying the steak flavour the most. You can tell these new recipes and the classic recipes from the rest of the Lily's Kitchen dog food collection are made with proper ingredients, as you can see chunks of meat and veg in it. Some dog food brands claim they are made with natural ingredients, but the fact they're actually physically in the tin gives me peace of mind as Lola's owner."
Testing treats
When it comes to the treats, Lola loves the jerky collection that Lily’s do. Her favourites are the beef burgers and duck. Being a dog that isn’t all that keen on fruit and veggies, save for broccoli and the odd cooked carrot and frozen pea, I was surprised the Lily's Kitchen Mango Jerky was an absolute hit! I will definitely be buying their Sweet Potato Jerky for Lola to try in the future too now. Lola always finishes her day with a Bedtime Biscuit. While I’m not entirely sure that they help to calm her down before it's time to hit the hay, she sure does sleep well when she decides it’s bedtime and she certainly wouldn’t go to bed without one."
Lily's Kitchen dog food review: our tester's favourite recipes
Lily's Kitchenwww.lilyskitchen.co.uk
Pros
- Made with freshly prepared venison, pheasant and salmon, which could make this food a good choice with dogs that may be allergic to traditional protein sources like chicken
- Contains potatoes as a source of potassium and energy and butternut squash for vitamins A and C
- 65 per cent of the overall composition is meat/fish
Cons
- As the recipe uses freshly prepared venison, there may be a very small chance of finding a tiny piece of shot in the recipe, although the brand assures us this is very rare
| Food weight: | 1 x 400g, 6 x 400g |
| Flavour: | Wild Campfire Stew: Venison, Pheasant, Salmon |
- Ingredients: Venison (40%), Pheasant (15%), Salmon (10%), Potatoes (3%), Butternut Squash, Green Beans (1%), Apples, Vitamins & Minerals, Hemp Oil (Source of Omega 3 & 6). Herbs & botanicals: Golden Rod, Nettle, Aniseed, Celery Seed, Rosehips, Marigold Petals, Cleavers, Seaweed, Alfalfa, Milk Thistle, Dandelion Root, Burdock Root
Lily's Kitchenwww.lilyskitchen.co.uk
Pros
- Contains freshly prepared salmon and herring which gives protein for muscle strength
- A source of Omega-3 to improve coat condition and keep skin healthy
- Uses sustainable fish in every tin
Cons
- Strong-smelling food, which you might not like but your pooch will love
| Food weight: | 1 x 400g, 6 x 400g |
| Flavour: | Fishy Fish Pie with Peas: Salmon, Herring, Turkey |
- Ingredients: Turkey (30%), Herring (15%), Salmon (15%). Potatoes (4%), Peas, Carrots, Spinach, Vitamins & Chelated Minerals, Hemp Oil. Herbs & botanicals: Golden Rod, Nettle, Aniseed, Celery Seed, Rosehips, Marigold Petals, Cleavers, Seaweed, Alfalfa, Milk Thistle, Dandelion Root, Burdock Root.
Lily's Kitchenwww.lilyskitchen.co.uk
Pros
- You can actually see the meaty/fishy chunks in each meal
- Packed with natural ingredients from the meat/fish to the veggies, fruit and herbs
- Can be fed to dogs from six months+
Cons
- Can be fed every day but we feel these meals are more for one-off treat meals or special occasions like your dog's birthday because of the overall value they offer
| Food weight: | 3 x 150g (can also be bought in packs of 1 x 150g and 10 x 150g for individual flavours) |
| Flavour: | Ultimate Steak Dinner: Steak, Ultimate Chicken Dinner: Chicken, Ultimate Chicken with Salmon Supper: Chicken, Shrimp, Salmon |
- Ingredients:
- Ultimate Steak Dinner: Beef Steak (55%), Cubed Celeriac (2%), Diced Carrots (2%), Minerals, Tomato Flakes (1%), Sunflower Oil, Marjoram (0.2%), Oregano (0.2%), Thyme (0.2%), Algae.
- Ultimate Chicken Dinner: Chicken (38%), Chicken Breast (17%), Diced Courgette (2%), Emmental Cheese (2%), Peaches (2%), Minerals, Mint (0.4%), Whole Fennel Seeds (0.2%), Algae.
- Ultimate Chicken Dinner with Salmon Supper: Chicken (32%), Chicken Breast (10%), Whole Peeled Shrimp (8%), Salmon Fillet (5%), Diced Pumpkin (2%), Minerals, Yoghurt (1%), Cubed Courgette (1%), Shredded Savoy Cabbage (1%), Dill (0.4%), Mint (0.4%), Algae.
Lily's Kitchenwww.lilyskitchen.co.uk
Pros
- Made with natural ingredients and it's a vegan recipe too
- Can be broken up into smaller bits for dogs with teeth/mouth problems, puppies with smaller mouths, or to use for training
- Can be fed from puppyhood (four months+) into adulthood and beyond
Cons
- If your pooch is used to more meaty treats, they might turn their nose up at these
| Food weight: | 1 x 70g, 8 x 70g |
| Flavour: | Tropical Mango Jerky: Mango, Sweet Potato and Quinoa |
- Ingredients: Mango (32%), Potato, Glycerine (derived from Rapeseed Oil), Pea Protein, Sweet Potato (6%), Quinoa (4%), Cellulose Fibre, Fennel Seeds, Kale
Lily's Kitchenwww.lilyskitchen.co.uk
Pros
- Contains chamomile, which is known for its calming properties, which should help pups get ready for bedtime
- Honey is also a key ingredient that is designed to support your hound's immune system
- Added yoghurt for a source of good bacteria to contribute to their overall gut health
Cons
- As they're a more crunchy treat, dogs with teeth problems may struggle to eat these unless they're broken down for them into more manageable bites
| Food weight: | 1 x 80g, 8 x 80g |
| Flavour: | Organic Bedtime Biscuits: Yoghurt, Honey and Chamomile |
- Ingredients: Organic Light Rye Flour, Organic Oat Flour, Organic Oats, Organic Yoghurt (5%), Organic Sunflower Oil, Nutritional Yeast, Organic Honey (4%), Organic Chamomile (1%), Organic Passion Flower (1%).
FAQs
Who owns Lily's Kitchen?
Lily's Kitchen has been part of the Purina PetCare group since 2020, but it was founded by Henrietta Morrison in 2008 with the name inspired by her Border Terrier, Lily.
Lily fell ill, suffering from sore and itchy skin, so Henrietta started cooking up tasty meals from scratch to get her furry bestie back to health. From that experience, Henrietta then worked with some vets and nutritionists to make the delicious, quality recipes with wholesome ingredients dogs know and love.
Lily herself may have now passed over the rainbow bridge after 17 happy years pottering aside Henrietta but her favourite recipes are still enjoyed by pooches up and down the country to this very day.
Is Lily's Kitchen good for dogs?
As pet owners, we only ever want what's best for our pups, from the beds they sleep in and the toys they play with. However, the most important thing is of course the food they eat. The thing that's keeping them full and satisfied while also making sure they're getting all the good stuff they need to be happy and healthy. As it's made with proper, fresh or freshly prepared meat, fish and offal, wholesome vegetables/fruit and herbs and botanicals, Lily's Kitchen dog food is generally considered good for dogs.
Proper meat is used in all Lily's Kitchen recipes because it's easier to digest than processed meat and animal parts that is often found in other, cheap dog foods. There's a high percentage of meat in most recipes which is essential for muscle and tissue growth too. As there's a higher amount of meat in the food compared to cheaper dog foods, it may take your pooch time to get used to this larger amount of protein. When we asked around other pooch owners in the office whose dogs had tried Lily's Kitchen treats, some said their dogs did have an upset tummy and a looser stool after trying them for the first time but for long-time lovers of Lily's, this hasn't been a problem.
Lily's Kitchen have done the research and found that as dogs are natural omnivores, about 20-30 per cent of your pup's diet should come from plants. That's why the brand always includes veggies and fruit in their diet that are full of antioxidants and a great source of essential minerals, vitamins and fibres which contribute to improving all sorts of things in your dog's body from their energy levels to their immune system. They also steam cook the vegetables they add to the wet dog food so they don't lose any of the goodness through cooking.
The dog food (and the cat food but we're focusing on our canine companions here) at Lily's Kitchen always contains a selection of naturally nutritious herbs as not only do they help bring variety into your pet's diet but they also have a whole load of health benefits. From marigold petals for their antioxidant properties and rosehip for their richness in vitamin C to chicory root for a good source of vibe and milk thistle for liver health and so many more in between.
Is Lily's Kitchen good for dogs with allergies?
If your dog is prone to stomach problems and/or itchy skin, it can be a worrying time introducing your pup to Lily's Kitchen or any other dog food. As we mentioned earlier, Lily's Kitchen was made after the founder's pooch had skin issues so the food is made in the mind of helping to ease some ailments.
As the recipes are made with just natural ingredients, it cuts out cheap fillers, artificial colours and flavourings that are often found in pet food, which may help with allergies and sensitivities, as well as hyperactivity or other related behavioural issues you may be having with your pup.
The majority of Lily's Kitchen dog food recipes are also made to be grain-free dog food and with fewer carbohydrates compared to other dog foods on the market. This is good news if you're looking for recipes that your dog with a grain intolerance, allergy or sensitivity can eat without causing them health problems afterwards. It is worth noting though that Lily's Kitchen dog food is made in a factory that handles grain so traces may be present. If your dog's intolerance, allergy or sensitivity to grain is so severe that even traces of grain can upset their stomach or skin, this may not be the right brand of dog food for them. Some of their dog treats are also not completely grain-free so you should double-check the ingredients before you buy.
How much Lily's Kitchen should I feed my dog?
How much Lily's Kitchen you should feed your pup will depend on a number of different factors, including your dog's breed size, age, weight, activity level and their specific dietary requirements. However, on the packaging of Lily's Kitchen food, there are recommended portion sizes of what your pup needs to maintain a healthy body condition.
There's also a handy Feeding Guidelines Calculator on the Lily's Kitchen website where you fill in information about your pooch, including their weight, activity level and what type of food they like to eat and it'll provide you with the brand's daily recommendation for how much your pup needs, the amount of calories that is equal to and how much food you need buy to last you for a certain number of days.
Rosie Floyd is a Senior Home & Pets Product Writer for Take A Break Pets, specialising in all things dogs. She grew up always having at least one dog as part of the family and has experience in owning a variety of breeds, including Labradors, Cockapoos and Yorkshire Terriers.