I’m Kayla. I’ve got two dogs who eat like they’ve got jobs.
- Millie, an 8-year-old Lab mix. Big heart. Bigger appetite. She was creeping up in weight.
- Finn, a 2-year-old border collie mix. Sweet, fast, and a little… sensitive. His tummy is picky. And he gets itchy ears.
I tried Annamaet dog food because I kept hearing about their formulas for sensitive dogs, and the lean one for weight. Plus, a friend at my small pet shop swore by it. You know what? I was a little nervous. It’s not cheap. But I wanted less itch and better poops. That’s the dream, right?
Which recipes we used (and why I picked them)
I didn’t just buy one bag and call it a day. I tested three over a few months.
- Annamaet Lean (grain free): for Millie’s weight.
- Annamaet Option (salmon formula): for Finn’s tummy and skin.
- Annamaet Original Adult 23% (with grains): as a middle ground when my wallet sighed.
The kibble pieces are medium-small, kind of flat, about pea size. The salmon formula smells like, well, salmon. Not gross, but it’s there. My dogs didn’t mind one bit. I mean, they would eat my socks if I let them.
The switch: slow and steady (because I learn from mistakes)
I did a 10-day transition. I’ve messed this up before. Never again.
- Days 1–3: 25% Annamaet, 75% old food.
- Days 4–6: 50/50.
- Days 7–9: 75% Annamaet.
- Day 10: 100% Annamaet.
I added a spoon of plain pumpkin for Finn during the first week. I also poured a splash of warm water on the kibble. It made a light gravy, and both dogs thought it was fancy.
Real-life results (not just the label talk)
Week 1:
- Finn’s stools firmed up by day 4 on the salmon formula. Less gas. And the ear scratching dropped. Not gone, but less.
- Millie didn’t act hungry on the Lean formula. That shocked me. Lean foods can be sad. This one felt hearty.
Week 3:
- Millie’s energy was up a notch. Less couch potato, more “let’s trot.”
- Finn’s coat got shiny. My vet even said, “Whatever you’re feeding, it’s agreeing with him.”
Week 6:
- Millie went from 68.2 lb to 65.9 lb. Same walks. Same treats. That’s big for her.
- Finn had zero midnight tummy drama. I slept better. He did too.
I tracked every stage in a running log—you can browse the full week-by-week diary of my Annamaet trial right here.
By the way, stool size was moderate and easy to pick up. Not chalky. Not soupy. The yard looked… normal. Pet parents know that’s a win.
What I liked (and why it mattered)
- Consistent poops. I can’t stress this enough.
- Coat health. Finn’s fur went from dull to glassy. Less dander on the couch.
- Satiety. Millie wasn’t begging an hour later on the Lean formula.
- Ingredient vibe. I like seeing salmon, poultry, and algae for omega-3s. DHA helps skin and brain. That’s my nerd note.
- No greasy film. The kibble didn’t leave oil on my hands.
- No food coma. Both dogs ate, then wanted to play. Clean energy, if that makes sense.
What bugged me (because nothing’s perfect)
- Price. Ouch. My store charged $82 for a 25-lb bag of Option. Lean was around the same. The Original with grains was a bit less.
- Harder to find. My big-box store didn’t have it. I got it at a local shop and once on Chewy. When I got tired of calling around, I used MyFoodTrip to quickly pinpoint which local shops had fresh bags in stock. The tool even helped when I was craving noodles—the outing turned into my honest take on Chinese food in Rapid City.
- Bag closure. The big bag I bought didn’t reseal well. I used a bin and a chip clip.
- Fish breath. On the salmon formula, Finn had slight fishy breath right after meals. Nothing wild, but I noticed.
- Crumbs at the bottom. A decent dust layer in the bag. I mixed it with water and used it as gravy, so no waste.
Feeding amounts and cost (my household math)
- Millie (65–68 lb) on Lean: 1.5 cups, twice a day. A 25-lb bag lasted just under 5 weeks.
- Finn (43 lb) on Option: 1 cup, twice a day. Same bag lasted about 6 weeks.
My rough cost per day:
- Millie on Lean: about $2.30/day.
- Finn on Option: about $1.60/day.
Could I feed cheaper? Sure. But I paid for fewer tummy issues and better weight control. That felt fair.
Small details that stood out
- Kibble soak: Warm water made a quick gravy. Great for seniors or picky dogs.
- Exercise: I didn’t add more walks, just kept our usual 30–40 minutes a day. The weight still moved in the right direction.
- Vet check: My vet liked the protein levels and said the formulas meet AAFCO standards. We talked omega-3s and L-carnitine. She nodded at both.
Who this food seems to fit
- Dogs with sensitive tummies or itchy skin (the salmon formula helped us).
- Dogs who need to slim down without feeling starved (Lean did the job).
- Owners who don’t mind paying a bit more for steady, boring, reliable digestion.
If you’re dealing with blood-sugar swings, you might want to peep the foods that actually worked for my diabetic dog in this separate review: I fed my diabetic dog these foods—what actually worked.
Who might skip:
- Folks on a tight budget.
- Very picky dogs who hate fish smell (maybe try the poultry formulas instead).
One hiccup and how I fixed it
Finn had softer stools for two days when I rushed from Option to Original Adult. My fault. I went back to a slow mix and added pumpkin again. Problem solved by day 3. So yeah—go slow. Your carpet will thank you.
A quick note on taste and day-to-day life
Millie actually dances at breakfast now. Little hop, big tail. Finn brings me a toy after dinner, which is his way of saying more please. I don’t give more. But I do smirk. The food just seems to sit right, and honestly, that eases my mind before bed.
Side note: I’m the type who can spiral into niche forums about anything—from slow-feeder bowls to videos of dogs bobbing for kibble. If you’ve got your own off-beat fascinations and enjoy chatting with people who embrace every quirky obsession, you can hop into this dedicated fetish chat room where open-minded enthusiasts swap ideas in real time—perfect for sparking new enrichment games for your pup or simply scratching that itch for ultra-specific conversation.
After lugging 25-lb bags of kibble up the stairs, my shoulders can feel like they’ve done a full workout, and sometimes a proper massage is in order to keep me in dog-parent shape. If you’re ever in Plainfield and need the same kind of muscle relief, the local massage options are conveniently cataloged at Rubmaps Plainfield where you’ll find candid user reviews, service breakdowns, and insider tips to help you choose a reputable spot and unwind before your next pet-supply run.
Final take
Annamaet worked for my dogs. It helped Millie lose weight without pouting. It calmed Finn’s tummy and made his coat pop. It’s pricey and not always easy to find, and the fish formula has a smell. But the results were clear in my house.
Would I buy it again? Yes—especially the Lean for Millie and the Option for Finn. I keep the Original Adult on hand when I need to balance cost.
If you try it, do a slow switch, watch portions, and keep water handy. And if you’re unsure, ask your vet. Mine was on board, and that made me feel better.
Solid 4.5 out of 5 from me. Not perfect, but pretty darn close for my two goofballs.