Zignature

Founded2010
CountryUnited States
Parent CompanyPets Global, Inc.
Reviews1

Zignature is a limited-ingredient dog food brand founded in 2010 by Pets Global, Inc. It specialises in novel protein recipes — from kangaroo to venison — designed for dogs with food allergies and sensitivities.

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Born From a Dog Named Ziggy

Zignature was created in 2010 by Daniel Hereford and the team at Pets Global, Inc., a family-owned holistic pet food company headquartered in Valencia, California. The brand was inspired by Ziggy, a dog who struggled with food sensitivities, chronic itchiness, and digestive issues. Hereford — who had years of experience in pet food retail and manufacturing — saw a gap in the market for a truly limited-ingredient diet built around proteins that most dogs had never been exposed to. Rather than reformulating an existing line, Pets Global built Zignature from scratch with a single focus: fewer ingredients, novel proteins, zero common allergens. The brand has never been recalled in over a decade of production — a rare achievement in the pet food industry.

Proteins Your Dog Has Probably Never Tried

Zignature's biggest differentiator is its roster of unusual single-protein recipes. While most brands revolve around chicken and beef, Zignature avoids both entirely in nearly every formula. Instead, you can choose from kangaroo (sourced from Australia), duck (France), lamb (New Zealand), venison, catfish, trout and salmon, whitefish, turkey, and pork — all sourced from identified countries and listed as the first ingredient. There is also a multi-protein "Zssential" formula for owners who want variety in one bag. Every recipe excludes corn, wheat, soy, dairy, eggs, and gluten, and uses low-glycemic carbohydrates like chickpeas and peas instead of potatoes or white rice.

Three Lines, One Philosophy

  • Zignature Original – the core grain-free, limited-ingredient range with 10+ single-protein dry and wet formulas. This is where you find the novel proteins like kangaroo, venison, and catfish.
  • Select Cuts – launched in 2023 as a grain-inclusive alternative, pairing lamb, turkey, or trout and salmon with ancient grains like millet, quinoa, and oats. Created in direct response to the FDA's DCM investigation for owners who prefer grains in the diet.
  • Small Bites – the same Original formulas reformulated into smaller kibble for toy and small breeds.

In late 2025, Pets Global also consolidated its former Essence and Inception brands under the Zignature umbrella, adding 12 new recipes that expand the lineup while keeping the limited-ingredient, high-protein philosophy intact.

The DCM Question — What You Should Know

No honest Zignature review can skip this topic. When the FDA began investigating a potential link between grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs, Zignature was among the most frequently named brands in consumer reports submitted to the agency. This alarmed many owners and led some to switch away. However, context matters: Zignature was named often partly because it is popular among allergy-focused pet parents who actively report health concerns, not because a causal link was proven. The FDA has not established that grain-free diets cause DCM, and Zignature's own internal feeding trials showed healthy cardiac markers and stable taurine levels throughout the study period. Still, the brand took the concern seriously and responded by launching the grain-inclusive Select Cuts line. If the DCM debate worries you, Select Cuts offers a practical middle ground — novel proteins with the reassurance of ancient grains. If you are feeding the original grain-free formulas, discussing taurine testing with your vet is a reasonable precaution.

Zignature Reviews

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