A Pup Above was founded in 2020 with the idea of making a dog food company that was more transparent, and easy for pet parents to know exactly what was in their dog’s food, and where the ingredients were sourced, and the quality control performed in the diets. Each recipe has a specific code with allows consumers to see the general location of where ingredients are sourced, along with third-party testing for pathogens such as e-coli, salmonella, and listeria.
A Pup Above Dog food offers four different gently cooked diets: beef, chicken, turkey, and pork. All the recipes created by A Pup Above are high protein, high fat, and lower in carbohydrates – ideal for a highly active dog, dogs who are picky, or those who do not tolerate higher levels of carbohydrates. All recipes are grain-free, single protein, and two of the recipes – the beef and the turkey contain peas.
Last updated: March 12th 2023
OVERVIEW:
Company Responded to Questions Asked via Email: No. The information gathered below was from their website.
Who formulated A Pup Above Dog Food? A Pup Above Dog Food recipes were formulated with the help of a consulting team of un-named board-certified veterinary nutritionists.
Where are A Pup Above Dog Food Recipes Manufactured? A Pup Above Dog Food recipes are manufactured at a Human-Grade Facility in Texas that is not directly owned by the company.
What Quality Control Procedures do A Pup Above perform on their foods? A pup Above follows the same manufacturing standards as for human food production, including ingredient sourcing to end-product. Each batch of A Pup Above Dog Food is tested for pathogens such as e.coli, salmonella, and listeria.
Has A Pup Above Invested in Digestibility or AAFCO Feeding Trials? Not at this time – currently all recipes are formulated to AAFCO, though they do mention interest in pursuing research in the future.
Are Full Nutritional Profiles Found Online for the A Pup Above Recipes? Yes- you can see the full nutritional profile online for each A Pup Above Dog Food recipe. However typical analysis information was not given, only guaranteed analysis.
Has A Pup Above every been recalled? No.
RECIPES:
A Pup Above Texas Beef Stew
The A Pup Above Texas Beef stew recipe is very high in protein and fat and lower in carbohydrates. Making this a good recipe for a moderately to highly active dog. However, some dogs who do long endurance activities may have issues with the higher protein content, and lower caloric density – which could make it hard to maintain a healthy weight (be prone to weight loss). However, this composition may work well for picky dogs as most dogs prefer foods that are higher in protein and fat.
Estimated Nutrient Breakdown based on Guaranteed Analysis:
| Dry Matter | Caloric Distribution | Nutrient Density | ||||
| Protein | 46% | Protein | 37% | Protein | 104.7 | g/1000 kcal |
| Fat | 23% | Fat | 46% | Fat | 54.1 | g/1000 kcal |
| Carbs | 20% | Carbs | 17% | Carbs | 47.9 | g/1000 kcal |
Ingredients: Beef, beef liver, tomatoes, green peas, carrots, russet potatoes, safflower oil, turmeric, thyme, parsley, minerals [dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium oxide, zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, potassium iodide, sodium selenite], vitamins [vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement].
AAFCO Statement: A Pup Above Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile for adult maintenance.
Balanced for adults only.
A Pup Above Turkey Pawella
The A Pup Above Texas Turkey recipe is very high in protein and fat and lower in carbohydrates. Making this a good recipe for a moderately to highly active dog. However, some dogs who do long endurance activities may have issues with the higher protein content, and lower caloric density – which could make it hard to maintain a healthy weight (be prone to weight loss). However, this composition may work well for picky dogs as most dogs prefer foods that are higher in protein and fat.
Estimated Nutrient Breakdown based on Guaranteed Analysis:
| Dry Matter | Caloric Distribution | Nutrient Density | ||||
| Protein | 43% | Protein | 35% | Protein | 99.2 | g/1000 kcal |
| Fat | 22% | Fat | 44% | Fat | 51.8 | g/1000 kcal |
| Carbs | 25% | Carbs | 21% | Carbs | 58.3 | g/1000 kcal |
Ingredients: Turkey, Turkey liver, tomatoes, carrots, green peas, rice, turmeric, thyme, parsley, minerals [dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium oxide, zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, potassium iodide, sodium selenite], vitamins [vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement].
AAFCO Statement: A Pup Above Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile for adult maintenance.
Balanced for adults only.
A Pup Above Porky’s Luau
The A Pup Above Texas Pork recipe is very high in protein and fat and lower in carbohydrates. Making this a good recipe for a moderately to highly active dog. However, some dogs who do long endurance activities may have issues with the higher protein content, and lower caloric density – which could make it hard to maintain a healthy weight (be prone to weight loss). However, this composition may work well for picky dogs as most dogs prefer foods that are higher in protein and fat.
Estimated Nutrient Breakdown based on Guaranteed Analysis:
| Dry Matter | Caloric Distribution | Nutrient Density | ||||
| Protein | 51% | Protein | 42% | Protein | 123.8 | g/1000 kcal |
| Fat | 20% | Fat | 41% | Fat | 50.8 | g/1000 kcal |
| Carbs | 20% | Carbs | 17% | Carbs | 50.8 | g/1000 kcal |
Ingredients: Pork, pork liver, sweet potatoes, green beans, pineapple, turmeric, thyme, parsley, minerals [dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium oxide, zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, potassium iodide, sodium selenite], vitamins [vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement].
AAFCO Statement: A Pup Above Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile for adult maintenance.
Balanced for adults only.
A Pup Above Chicka Chicka Bow Wow
The A Pup Above Texas Chicken recipe is very high in protein and fat and lower in carbohydrates. Making this a good recipe for a moderately to highly active dog. However, some dogs who do long endurance activities may have issues with the higher protein content, and lower caloric density – which could make it hard to maintain a healthy weight (be prone to weight loss). However, this composition may work well for picky dogs as most dogs prefer foods that are higher in protein and fat.
Estimated Nutrient Breakdown based on Guaranteed Analysis:
| Dry Matter | Caloric Distribution | Nutrient Density | ||||
| Protein | 42% | Protein | 35% | Protein | 103.5 | g/1000 kcal |
| Fat | 17% | Fat | 37% | Fat | 44.9 | g/1000 kcal |
| Carbs | 32% | Carbs | 27% | Carbs | 79.6 | g/1000 kcal |
Ingredients: Chicken, chicken liver, sweet potatoes, spinach, apples, rice, turmeric, thyme, parsley, minerals [dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium oxide, zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, potassium iodide, sodium selenite], vitamins [vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement].
AAFCO Statement: A Pup Above Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile for adult maintenance.
Balanced for adults only.
Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQ )
Where can you find A Pup Above Dog Food?
A Pup Above Dog Food is found in select pet stores in the USA and can be shipped directly to consumers nation-wide from their website.
How do you store and feed A Pup Above?
Similar to most lightly cooked frozen dog food brands, foods will need to be defrosted prior to serving. There are two food-safe ways to defrost frozen food. The first is to place the frozen package in cold water (without opening it) rotating the cool water until completely defrosted (do not use warm water! The second is to place in your fridge overnight to defrost. In a pinch you can use the “defrost” setting in your microwave as well.
You should not heat up A Pup Above meals to defrost – certain vitamins and minerals are heat-sensitive and could reduce below nutritional minimums if you do so. Frozen fresh dog food should also not be placed on the counter to defrost as this is not considered food-safe.
A Pup Above meals can be stored in the fridge for up to 7 days (per their website), and the rest should be stored in your freezer. A good general habit is to rotate one frozen meal into your fridge whenever you remove one to feed to your pup.
As someone who has fed fresh food for over 7 years now – it is always a good idea to have at least two to four weeks’ worth of food in your freezer at any one time to keep from running out of food! Many pet parents choose to have a separate freezer just for their pup in order to have ample storage space.
Is A Pup Above Balanced for Puppies?
No. A Pup Above is only considered balanced for adult dogs.
A Pup Above vs. Kibble – how does it compare?
The main difference between a kibbled diet and a lightly cooked diet like A Pup Above comes down to the processing or cooking involved. Most kibbled foods are considered to be ultra-processed, and are either cooked at a very high temperature (up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit for a short period of time, or at lower temperatures such as 300 degrees Fahrenheit for longer periods of time to dehydrate into a pelleted form.
This is much different than something like A Pup Above which is a lightly cooked diet – these diets are cooked just enough to remove pathogens for food safety reasons but do not cook to dehydrate completely and do not contain additional preservatives to make diets shelf-stable. Instead, A Pup Above freezes their foods, and after thawed foods are kept in the fridge. Similar to foods we typically eat as humans.
Is A Pup Above Raw Dog Food?
No, A Pup Above is not a raw dog food, it is a gently cooked fresh dog food brand. The lightly cooking process provides an additional safety measure to remove pathogens found in meat. It is important to note that most meats (even those that are human-grade) do contain pathogens, and dogs can become ill from pathogens, especially those who are older dogs, puppies or those with compromised immune systems. These dogs who ingest infected foods can also spread these pathogens into the environment.
Can A Pup Above be Used as a Topper?
Yes – combination feeding of kibble and lightly cooked foods can be beneficial for a variety of reasons. Topper Meal Plans are a great tool for picky dogs, or dog moms / dads who would like to feed a small portion of their dog’s diet as fresh food, but cannot afford to feed it as a sole diet.
How much does A Pup Above Cost?
Obviously, this will highly depend on how large your dog is, how active they are, and which A Pup Above meal you choose off their menu. The average 50 lb dog eats around 1000 calories per day. If this dog ate the Chicken recipe by A Pup Above they would eat about 23.8 ounces of food per day, which would cost $18.88 per day. Which is about $528.79 per month.
There is a standard shipping rate of $15 for all orders from A Pup Above, and there are discounts available of 15% off if you schedule auto-ship. This with shipping and discounts you would be spending about $449 per month. Depending on what food you are currently feeding A Pup Above may be more expensive than the food you are feeding right now, or it might be very comparable.
You can get a quote on how much it would cost to feed your dog by contacting A Pup Above’s customer service on their website.
Are A Pup Above Recipes Good for Dogs with Allergies?
Depending on what allergies your dog has the A Pup Above recipes may or may not be useful in their management. A majority of dogs have environmental allergies – these allergies may present as itchiness anywhere on the body including the paws, belly, or even chronic ear infections. Dietary management of these conditions is best done with diets high in fish oil (omega 3 fatty acids), moderate to high in protein, and that have high digestibility. Though A Pup Above recipes are high in protein and fat, they are not particularly high in omega 3 fatty acids – thus they may or may not be the best choice for environmental allergy management.
However, each recipe is a single-protein recipe, meaning they may be a good choice for dogs with food allergies. Dietary management of food allergies simply comes down to avoiding the food allergen in question. Most commonly dogs are allergic to chicken, eggs, or beef – thus the A Pup Above Pork Recipe may be a good option for many dogs with food allergies.
Are A Pup Above Meals Good for Dogs with Loose Stools or Diarrhea?
For dogs with a sensitive stomach, we typically look for diets that are both highly digestible and that are lower in fat (though there are certain cases where this is not true, like in Fiber Responsive Diarrhea, IBD or Food Allergies). Though we suspect that all the A Pup Above Dog Food Recipes are highly digestible due to their composition, we don’t have definitive proof at this time with digestibility trials – thus they may or may not be useful for dogs that need. a highly digestible diet.
Some dogs with IBD that have food-responsive diarrhea may do well on the A Pup Above Pork recipe since it may be a novel protein choice. However all the recipes are low in fiber and high in fat – so these recipes would likely not be appropriate for dogs sensitive to fat or that need a high fiber diet.
About the Author: Nikki is a Registered Veterinary Technician (Veterinary Nurse) and Dog Mom with over a decade of experience with dogs and cats. Since graduation from college (BS Biology, Dip. Animal Nutrition, AS Animal Science) she has adopted two mixed breed dogs – Ranger and Ash, and has focused her time learning about pet food and nutrition.
Nikki shares information on a range of dog nutrition topics: from how to create a homemade complete and balanced dog food recipes, to how to choose a dog food. Nikki strives to give dog parents the information they need in order to make the best nutrition decisions for their pup!
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