Petaluma vs. Open Farm Kind Earth: Plant-Based Dog Food Compared

Open Farm has built a genuinely strong reputation in the premium pet food space — traceable ingredients, third-party certifications, and a clear commitment to transparency. Their Kind Earth Plant-Based recipe is one of the more thoughtfully made plant-based dog foods available at retail. So if you're comparing it to Petaluma, you're comparing two brands that actually care. The differences are real, though — and they matter depending on what you're optimizing for in your dog's diet.

At-a-Glance Comparison

Ingredient Breakdown

Ingredient lists are ordered by pre-cooking weight, so position matters. Here's where the two formulas diverge most noticeably.

Open Farm Kind Earth opens with Whole Grain Barley, Fava Beans, Oats, and Dried Yeast — grains and yeast occupy the top four slots before Sweet Potato and Potato Protein appear at positions five and six. Fava beans are a meaningful protein source and a thoughtful choice, but the formula is structured around a grain base first.

Petaluma leads with Organic Chickpeas, followed immediately by Potato Protein and Pea Protein — three protein-forward ingredients in the top five slots. The formula also includes Organic Oats, Organic Barley, Organic Peanut Butter, Organic Sweet Potato, Organic Flaxseeds, and Marine Microalgae, among others. The organic designation applies to over half the formula by weight — a meaningful distinction since Open Farm Kind Earth uses non-GMO ingredients but none that are certified organic.

One nutritionally significant difference: Petaluma includes marine microalgae as a direct source of preformed DHA omega-3. Open Farm Kind Earth relies on flaxseed, which provides ALA — the plant form of omega-3 that dogs must convert to DHA through a metabolic process. Research suggests that conversion efficiency in dogs is limited, making direct DHA sources generally more reliable for dogs on plant-based diets. ^[1]

Guaranteed Analysis & Nutrition

The 5-point protein difference (27% vs. 22%) is meaningful for dogs with higher protein needs — active dogs, working dogs, or those maintaining lean muscle mass as they age. Both formulas add taurine, which is an important consideration for plant-based diets: while dogs can synthesize some taurine, supplementation is standard practice in plant-based formulas to ensure cardiac health support. ^[2]

How Each Food Is Made

Open Farm Kind Earth is produced through extrusion — the same manufacturing method used by the vast majority of conventional dry dog food. Ingredients are ground, mixed with water, and forced through a die under high heat and pressure to form uniform pieces. It's a highly efficient, shelf-stable process. The high temperatures involved (often above 150°C / 300°F) can degrade heat-sensitive omega-3 fatty acids and some vitamins, which are then added back in supplement form.

Petaluma uses conventional oven baking at lower temperatures — more like home cooking than industrial food manufacturing. This gentler process preserves more of the natural fats from whole ingredients like organic flaxseeds and peanut butter, and produces a softer, toasted texture with recognizable food pieces rather than uniform pellets. Petaluma is manufactured in a solar-powered facility in the U.S., with over 50% certified organic ingredients.

Open Farm's Goodbowl line (a separate product) is also oven-baked, which is worth noting — Kind Earth specifically is extruded. If oven-baking is a priority for you, that's a point of genuine differentiation for Petaluma within this product category.

Certifications & Brand Values

This is an area where the comparison is closer than it is with most competitors. Both Petaluma and Open Farm hold B Corp Certification — a rigorous third-party standard that evaluates environmental performance, worker policies, and community impact. That's a meaningful shared baseline.

Beyond B Corp, the profiles diverge. Petaluma also holds Climate Neutral Certification (measuring and offsetting the brand's full carbon footprint) and is a 1% for the Planet member, donating 1% of revenue to environmental nonprofits. Open Farm publishes a carbon footprint figure per product (Kind Earth comes in at 0.84 kg CO2e per lb, their lowest-carbon recipe), offers Terracycle bag recycling, and provides a lot-level ingredient tracing tool that shows geographic origin for each ingredient.

Where Petaluma stands apart: plant-based nutrition is the entire mission. Every formula Petaluma makes is 100% plant-based — it's not a single SKU within a broader portfolio that includes meat-based products. Open Farm's Kind Earth is their only plant-based recipe; the rest of their line is meat-inclusive. For pet owners who want their dog food choice to reflect a consistent commitment to reducing animal use in pet food, that's a meaningful distinction.

What About Senior Dogs?

Open Farm Kind Earth is formulated for adult and senior dogs — but there's only one formula. It isn't a dedicated senior recipe; it's an adult maintenance formula that Open Farm considers appropriate for seniors as well.

Petaluma offers a dedicated Senior Baked Dog Food formulated specifically for dogs 7 and older. The Senior formula is higher in omega-3 fatty acids than the Adult formula — relevant because aging dogs can benefit from additional omega-3 support for joint health, skin, and inflammation management. ^[3] If you have a senior dog on a plant-based diet, having a formula designed for their life stage rather than adapted from an adult recipe is a meaningful difference.

You can try the Petaluma Senior formula with a free sample: https://www.feedpetaluma.com/products/senior-pumpkin-sample

Cost Comparison

Because caloric density differs between the two foods, cost per 100 kcal is the most accurate apples-to-apples comparison — it accounts for how much food you're actually feeding per day.

Petaluma — feedpetaluma.com

First-bag 20% off applies to both bag sizes when you start a subscription. Ongoing subscriber discount is 5%.

Open Farm Kind Earth — openfarmpet.com

At the large bag level, the two brands are relatively close on cost-per-calorie — Open Farm's 20 lb is slightly lower at $0.26 vs. Petaluma's 18 lb subscribe price of $0.27. The small-bag comparison is where they diverge more: Open Farm's 3.5 lb is notably less expensive than Petaluma's 5 lb entry size. For pet owners who buy in bulk and subscribe, the gap narrows considerably.

Switching from Open Farm Kind Earth to Petaluma

Because both foods are 100% plant-based, dogs already accustomed to plant protein typically transition with less digestive disruption than when switching from a meat-based diet. That said, a gradual 7–10 day transition is still best practice for any new food. Start by mixing a small amount of Petaluma in with Open Farm Kind Earth, increasing the ratio over several days until you've fully transitioned.

One practical note: Petaluma has a slightly higher caloric density (395 kcal/cup vs. ~354 kcal/cup), so you may feed a marginally smaller volume than you were serving with Open Farm. Check the feeding guide on Petaluma's packaging for your dog's weight and activity level.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Open Farm Kind Earth a complete and balanced dog food?

Yes. Open Farm Kind Earth is formulated to meet AAFCO nutritional levels for adult dog maintenance. It is listed as suitable for both adult and senior dogs, though it is not a dedicated senior-specific formula.

How does Petaluma's protein compare to Open Farm Kind Earth?

Petaluma's Adult formula provides a minimum of 27% crude protein versus Open Farm Kind Earth's 22% minimum. Petaluma's primary proteins — organic chickpeas, potato protein, and pea protein — appear in the top three ingredient positions. In Open Farm Kind Earth, fava beans appear second but follow whole grain barley as the first ingredient.

Does Open Farm Kind Earth have organic ingredients?

No. Open Farm Kind Earth uses non-GMO ingredients but does not include any certified organic ingredients. Petaluma uses over 50% certified organic ingredients by weight, including chickpeas, oats, barley, sweet potato, flaxseeds, and peanut butter.

Both brands have B Corp certification — what's the difference?

Both brands hold B Corp certification, which is a meaningful shared standard. Petaluma additionally holds Climate Neutral Certification and 1% for the Planet membership. Open Farm has a strong transparency program — including a lot-level ingredient tracing tool and published carbon footprint per product — and a Terracycle packaging recycling partnership. The two brands have different but complementary approaches to sustainability accountability.

What is the difference between baked and extruded dog food?

Extruded food (like Open Farm Kind Earth) is manufactured under high heat and pressure, forming uniform pieces and creating a shelf-stable product. This process can degrade some heat-sensitive nutrients and omega fatty acids. Baked food (like Petaluma) uses oven baking at lower temperatures, which preserves more of the natural fats and flavors from whole-food ingredients, and results in a softer, toasted texture.

Does Petaluma have a formula for senior dogs?

Yes. Petaluma offers a dedicated Senior Baked Dog Food formulated for dogs 7 and older, with a higher omega-3 content than the Adult formula to support joint health and reduce inflammation. Open Farm Kind Earth does not have a dedicated senior formula — it is an adult maintenance recipe that the brand considers suitable for seniors as well. You can try a free senior sample at https://www.feedpetaluma.com/products/senior-pumpkin-sample

Can I switch my dog from Open Farm Kind Earth to Petaluma?

Yes. A gradual 7–10 day transition is recommended for any food change. Because both foods are plant-based, the adjustment is typically smoother than switching from a meat-based diet. Petaluma's slightly higher caloric density means you may feed a marginally smaller serving by volume — check the feeding guide on the bag for your dog's weight.

References

1. Bauer, J.E. (2011). Metabolic basis for the essential nature of fatty acids and the unique dietary fatty acid requirements of cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 239(11), 1441–1450.
2. Sanderson, S.L. (2006). Taurine and carnitine in canine cardiomyopathy. The Veterinary Journal, 172(1), 55–67.
3. Dodd, S.A.S., et al. (2022). Plant-based (vegan) diets for pets: a survey of pet owner attitudes and feeding practices. PLOS ONE.
4. Open Farm. Kind Earth Plant-Based Dog Kibble product page. Accessed March 2026.
5. Petaluma. Adult Baked Dog Food product page. Accessed March 2026.
6. AAFCO. Understanding Pet Food: Nutritional Adequacy Statements. Accessed March 2026.