I've heard all about the keto diet for humans—how it can help with weight loss, blood sugar, and energy levels. But when I stumbled upon Ketona dog food, a low-carb kibble for dogs, I was skeptical.
Could the keto craze really translate into benefits for my Golden Retriever, Gary? Or was this just another gimmick in the ever-expanding pet food market?
The Actual Claims and My Doubts
KetoNatural Pet Foods, the company that makes Ketona, makes some pretty impressive claims about their products. Most notably, Ketona contains less than 6% digestible carbohydrates, whereas most commercially available pet foods contain 30% (or much, much more!). Even ultra-expensive “fresh” diets contain five or six times as much carbohydrate as Ketona.
Ketona’s meat and protein content is also about as high as their carbohydrate content is low. Ketona contains more than 46% protein, with more than 90% of that protein coming from meat sources, not potatoes or legumes.
I did a lot of research, and it seemed like they were telling the truth. Virtually every other dog food I read about contained way less protein and way more carbohydrate than Ketona.
The problem? Ketona is pricey. It’s definitely less than a fresh, home-delivery service like Ollie. But at more than $120 for a 24.2-pound bag, it’s way more costly than Gary’s usual kibble.
Taking the Plunge
I decided I would at least give it a try. Ultimately, three things convinced me. 3️⃣
First, KetoNatural is offering a 35% off your first order deal and a 100% money-back guarantee.
Feed Ketona to your pup for 30 days, and if you're not happy with it they’ll give you all of your money back—no return shipping, no risk. They just ask that you donate any unused product to a local rescue or some other worthy cause.
Second, prior to founding the company, KetoNatural’s CEO, Daniel Schulof, actually wrote a whole book about what’s wrong with the modern pet food industry. Apparently it took him four years to write it! He has also created a podcast, a YouTube channel, and dozens of informational articles about companion animal nutritional science. He seems really genuine, trustworthy, and smart—which definitely isn’t the vibe I get from most pet food companies.
And third, it just seemed like there was more science and substance behind KetoNatural than I was used to seeing while shopping for pet food. Most brands make vague wellness claims. But KetoNatural seemed to be all about concrete numbers and real scientific evidence.
The Verdict
So, anyway, I decided to give it a shot.
How did it go?
I've been feeding Gary Ketona for about a month now, and I can tell you that I'm genuinely impressed. And the improvements I’ve seen aren’t just wishy-washy stuff like “my dog seems happier,” either.
First, it was so easy to switch. Every other time I swapped dog foods, I had to slowly transition my dog from the old brand to the new one. Ketona’s nutritional profile is so unique that you can just switch your dog over all at once without worrying about digestive problems. Gary gobbled down Ketona straight away with no adjustment period, and it didn’t upset his stomach at all.
This also relates to a second thing I noticed: his poop changed! After switching to Ketona, his stool got smaller and firmer. I knew that was a really common experience for dogs fed a raw diet, but apparently Ketona falls under that umbrella, too. The protein gets digested really differently from carbs. It’s much easier to clean up!
Thirdly, on their website, Ketona talks a lot about how excess body fat has been proven to be worse for a dog than a lifetime of smoking is for a person. Gary isn’t technically overweight, but I love knowing that there isn’t any risk of him gaining too much while eating Ketona.
My dog doesn’t have diabetes, so I wasn’t able to verify a fourth change that other KetoNatural customers seem to report pretty often: better blood sugar numbers. The website is full of testimonials from pet parents who say that a low-carb diet has helped reduce and stabilize their dogs’ blood glucose levels.
Before You Call Me Crazy…
I know what you're thinking: "Sounds great, but that price?”
I had the same hesitation. On a per-bag basis the price does seem really high. But when you break it down to a per-meal basis it feels much more reasonable.
I did the math and figured out that my old brand of dog food used to cost me about $1.75 per day, and Ketona costs about $2.60 per day. While the full price of the bag feels high, Gary’s health and vitality are definitely worth the extra dollar per day.
Plus, Ketona offers convenient, money-saving subscription plans. I love that Gary’s food gets delivered right to our door!
Worth the Try
While your results may vary, they’ve been legitimately excellent for me. Ketona has now become a staple in my dog’s diet. It’s such a unique product (and company!) and it seems to me that the benefits far outweigh the costs.
