Kabo

Kabo Information

Kabo is a quickly-growing Canadian Fresh Home-Delivered dog food brand who have followed the huge success of similar brands based south of the border.

Fresh Home Delivered dog food is not well understood by most dog owners but has taken off in the United States with brands like The Farmer’s Dog, Nom Nom, Pet Plate and Ollie. The subscription-style arrangement is prevalent when combined with high-quality ingredients and nutrition.

Kabo featured on season 15 of the popular TV show – Dragons Den. On the show, Vino Jeyepalan and Vijay Jeyeplan, who are the founders of the brand, showcase their offering and attempt to get the investment they need to get the brand moving forward.

We won’t reveal any spoilers about how this pitch went but you can check out the full Dragon’s Den segment below.

When Kabo was first released it was only available in select cities and provinces, including Ontario, British Columbia, Montreal, Winnipeg, and Calgary. However, as the brand has grown and become more established, they have expanded their delivery to most of Canada including the Maritimes.

Their food is shipped frozen directly to consumers in pre-portioned packaging. This methodology ensures that the food remains safe to eat, and no excess food is wasted.

In order to pre-portion their food, Kabo requires various crucial pieces of information about your dog. This includes their weight, age, activity level, and breed. Below is a snap-shot of this tailor-made dog food process.

Also, Kabo, along with many other Fresh dog food companies, use fully recyclable packaging to remain environmentally friendly.

How Much Does Kabo Dog Food Cost?

While fresh subscription-based dog food services, such as Kabo, are more expensive than traditional kibble, their cost is not outrageous.

We priced up the cost of a plan for an active Golden Retriever to give you a visual example.

As you can see below, when selecting two of Kabo’s fresh dog food recipes, their plan comes out to be $164.16 for two weeks’ worth of food with Kabo’s 40% initial discount. Without this discount, this works out to be $273.60 bi-weekly.

This works out to be about $12 per day with the initial discount or $20 per day without the discount. Even when the exchange rate is taken into account, this cost is quite steep when compared to some US-based brands.

However, if you choose to go with a 50/50 mix of Kabo’s fresh dog food and kibble, the cost reduces down to $122.88 for the initial offering and then $204.80 without the discount.

This may be a more viable option for those unwilling to expend quite as high a cost of their dog’s diet.

For smaller breed dogs, you can expect Kabo to cost anywhere between $5 and $10 per day, and for large or giant breed dogs, you could expect Kabo to cost upwards of $25 to $35 dollars per day.

You can price up the cost of Kabo for your dog here.

For more information about Kabo, such as how it is delivered and how it is prepared, we recommend checking out their FAQ page, which you can find here.

Kabo Product Range

Dog Food

At first, Kabo had a tiny product range that only contains two distinct recipes. Both of these were fresh dog food recipes, each using a different meat ingredient.

Kabo promised to expand its range soon, which would bring it up to three to four recipes, which is a similar size to its US counterparts.

In late 2020, they did exactly as they promised, adding two extra fresh dog food recipes and a dry dog food (kibble) recipe. This brought them up to a grand total of five recipes, which is in line with other brands.

However, in 2021, Kabo went further and expanded its range to include an additional two kibble recipes bringing their total product range up to 7 unique recipes.

It is surprising that Kabo has released several dry dog food recipe so quickly, given that most of the other home-delivered dog food brands have chosen not to enter this space.

The only other similar brand to release a kibble recipe successfully has been Spot & Tango which is exclusive to the United States.

If you want to learn more about Kabo’s kibble recipes, check out their page dedicated to it, which can be found here.

Cat Food

At this time, Kabo does not produce any cat food products such as fresh cat food or cat food kibble. Fresh home-delivered cat food is still in its infancy, but there are some US brands exploring the market, including Nom Nom and Smalls.

We strongly believe that other fresh dog food providers will expand into this market in the coming years to take advantage of the huge number of cat owners looking for high-quality food.

Kabo Nutrition

The nutrition offered by Kabo recipes varies significantly between their four fresh dog food recipes. The nutritional profile is above-average compared to many traditional dry dog food recipes but is below some of their US counterparts that produce similar fresh dog food.

The proportion of protein in Kabo recipes is satisfactory but would not be classed as extraordinary by most and is comparable to premium dry dog food.

Both the Chicken and the Turkey recipes have meager proportions of fat compared to typical dog food recipes which is notable. This low-fat diet could appeal to dogs looking to achieve weight loss or looking to avoid weight gain.

Below is an example of the nutrition offered by a Kabo recipe (Savoury Beef Recipe).

As you can see, this recipe has a large proportion of fat, which would make it very appealing to dogs but may not be ideal for those looking to avoid weight gain or who are not active.

We’d recommend checking out the exact nutritional breakdown of each of Kabo’s recipes, which you can do here.

In addition, if you are interested in learning more about canine nutrition, we highly recommend you check out our Dog Food Guide.

Kabo Ingredients

High-Quality Meat & Fish Ingredients

• Beef
• Beef Liver
• Chicken 
• Chicken Liver
• Turkey
• Duck
• Lamb
• Salmon Meal

All of the meat and fish ingredients used by Kabo are high-quality additions that can provide a plentiful supply of animal-based protein and fat, which should be at the core of every dog’s diet.

Many of these ingredients are industry favorites and are used by the majority of pet food producers due to their relatively low cost and high availability. Classic examples of these include Chicken, Beef, and Salmon.

The use of organ meat, such as Liver, is also widespread among premium dog food brands. Organ meat such as Liver can provide act as dense sources of vitamins and minerals that traditional meat cuts lack, as well as enhance a food’s flavor to make it more appealing and palatable to dogs.

Other Notable Ingredients

Sweet Potatoes & Potatoes are a common addition to dog food recipes throughout the industry. They are classed as starch ingredients, which means that they are very dense sources of carbohydrates.

However, they can provide some additional nutrition beyond this carbohydrate content in the form of fiber and select vitamins and minerals. The key with starch ingredients is that the portion size is tightly controlled to ensure the overall proportion of carbohydrates is not excessive.

Thankfully the portion size used in Kabo recipes is not particularly large and so they only provide a modest proportion of carbohydrates.

Rice is found in one of Kabo’s recipes and also acts as a source of carbohydrates. Rice is a grain ingredient, and for that reason, it can be a controversial addition to pet food recipes.

Many dog owners refuse to feed their dogs food that contains grain ingredients like rice as they think it is inappropriate. However, others, especially fans of brands like Purina Pro Plan, are big fans of grains like Rice and strongly support their use.

It is not clear whether Kabo uses White or Brown Rice in this recipe. Brown Rice is preferred to White Rice by many thanks to the additional micronutrients and fiber it can provide.

Peas, Lentils and Chickpeas are the most common plant-based ingredient used in premium and grain-free dog food and have taken the industry by storm over the last two decades.

They have a very high proportion of protein for a plant-based ingredient, making them appealing to manufacturers who want to make their recipe high-protein without splashing out on costly meat or fish ingredients.

However, in recent years there have been some concerning links between the over reliance and usage of Peas and other Legumes in dog food recipes and increased risk of Canine Heart Disease.

Thankfully the portion of Peas and other Lentils in Kabo recipes is not extreme which likely means this risk is minimal, but regardless, we recommend reading more about this in our article Best Dog Foods Without Peas.

Green Beans & Carrots are two vegetable ingredients that are not commonly found in dog food recipes. Most brands rarely venture outside of the usual suspects of legumes, grains, and starch ingredients.

However, their rarity does not mean that they are negative additions. They can provide carbohydrates, fiber, and select micronutrients. They also offer unique flavors that a dog may not be used to and could enjoy.

Kabo’s kibble recipe makes use of a small portion of Pumpkin as a minor ingredient. Pumpkin is an excellent addition to dog food recipes and is best known for its high-fiber content. It is often prescribed to dogs who struggle with regular digestion and stools.

However, it isn’t beneficial just for its fiber content and can also provide carbohydrates and select vitamins and minerals such as Beta Carotene.

You can learn more about Pumpkin’s use in dog food and some of our favorites recipes in Best Dog Food With Pumpkin.

More minor additions to Kabo’s kibble recipe include Flaxseed and Brewers Yeast.

Flaxseed is best known as an excellent plant-based source of the Omega 3 Fatty Acids. These fatty acids are believed by many to provide several health benefits to dogs and humans alike, such as an improvement in the skin and coat health and a reduction in the risk of certain health issues.

However, these aren’t the only benefits that Flaxseed can provide to dogs. If you want to learn more about Flaxseed and its benefits, check out Flaxseed In Dog Food.

Brewers Yeast is also present in Kabo recipes to provide beneficial micronutrients; however, it utilizes vitamins and minerals. The B vitamins are the most prominent to be found in Brewers Yeast, but there are several others with high levels.

Read more about these health benefits and what vitamins and minerals Brewers Yeast contains in our article Brewers Yeast In Dog Food.

Kabo Animal Testing

At this time, we have no information on what type of animal testing, if any, that Kabo participates in.

There are concerns by some that “boutique” brands such as those in the fresh dog food space do not participate in sufficient testing of their recipes.

The consequence of this could be that their recipes are not correctly formulated or could have unintended adverse effects.

Regardless of this, we strongly believe that laboratory and invasive testing of animals is a cruel and outdated practice and one which should be eliminated.

Kabo Expertise

To date, we have very limited information about the expertise at Kabo and if they work or partner with veterinary professionals or nutritionists.

However, in their FAQ section, they do state that – “All of our recipes are formulated by a team of pet nutritionists with a strong background in nutritional modeling. “

While this is encouraging, it does lack detail, and we would prefer if they specifically stated who they work with and what expertise they have.

Many in the industry are concerning that smaller “boutique” pet food brands such as Kabo do not have sufficient experts on their staff, and as a consequence, their food may not be appropriately formulated or tested.

Kabo Recalls

Based on our research (FDA, AVMA, DogFoodAdvisor), Kabo products have never been recalled in Canada, which makes them a recall-free dog food brand.

However, given that the brand is still extremely young, this lack of recalls is not surprising, and Kabo needs to maintain this recall-free record in the coming years to be proven as a consistent and reliable brand.

We will note that many in the industry believe that fresh dog food products, such as Kabo’s, garner a higher risk of recalls or spoilage due to their more stringent storage requirements. 

In spite of Kabo’s recall-free record, we encourage all pet owners to be careful and vigilant of any future recalls of Kabo or any other pet food brand to ensure their pets remain healthy and safe.

Best of Kabo

Tender Chicken Recipe Review

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Of the four fresh Kabo recipes currently available, the Tender Chicken Recipe is our clear winner and for several good reasons. The recipe is Kabo’s take on the classic Chicken and Rice formula that many dogs rely on as a staple. 

Chicken and Rice recipes are often given to dogs who have an easily upset stomach or react poorly to other plant-based ingredients.

The simplicity of Chicken & Rice helps them maintain consistent digestion and avoids symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea.

You can read more about Chicken & Rice recipes in our article Best Dog Food With Chicken and Rice.

The nutrition offered by this recipe may be considered advantageous compared to other Kabo recipes due to the very satisfactory proportion of protein present.

The reason for such a high protein proportion is a generous portion of Chicken and Chicken Liver. Chicken Liver is notable as it can enhance the flavor of the recipe and boost levels of select minerals.

This overall protein proportion, thanks to the Chicken ingredients, will be suitable for most dogs, including those that are more active.

While Rice may be the most prominent, it isn’t the only plant-based ingredient present in Tender Chicken. The recipe also makes use of Carrots, Peas, and Apples.

This mix of grains, vegetables, and fruit ingredients adds flavor, carbohydrates, fiber, and micronutrients.

Irresistible Chicken Review

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As we mentioned earlier, Kabo released a fresh kibble recipe in 2020, which you can see above. Since then, Kabo has added an additional two fresh kibble recipes to broaden their range.

This original kibble recipe uses a generous portion of Chicken Meal as its primary ingredient.

While many dog owners fear meat meals such as Chicken Meal, this Chicken Meal has been processed to remove the bulk of its moisture in advance, meaning it is an extremely dense source of nutrition compared to traditional meat cuts.

Kabo then uses a mix of plant-based ingredients, including Peas, Sweet Potatoes, and other minor ingredients, to provide a modest proportion of carbohydrates and fiber.

Lastly, there are tiny portions of beneficial ingredients such as Flaxseed, Brewers Yeast and Kelp Meal.

These minor ingredients are found in many dry dog food recipes, and there is a consistent belief that these can provide health benefits to dogs, including acting as a source of the Omega 3 Fatty Acids.

Kabo Featured Articles

Best Dog Food In Canada – Many Canadians struggle to learn about Canadian dog food as google searches almost always show results for a US-based audience.

However, our recent article has broken down these barriers and discusses many Canadian brands, including Kabo.

Be sure to check it out to learn why Kabo made the cut and to see our other recommendations.

Kabo Full Product Range

Fresh Dog Food

Savoury Beef Recipe

Luscious Lamb

Tender Chicken Recipe

Hearty Turkey

Dry Dog Food

Irresistible Chicken Kibble

Hearty Turkey & Salmon Kibble

Delicious Duck Kibble