Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Evanger’s Dog Food (dry) receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.

Currently, the Evanger’s product line includes three kibbles… each designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles “for all life stages”.¹

• Evanger’s Chicken with Brown Rice Dry Dog Food
• Evanger’s Pheasant and Brown Rice Dry Dog Food
• Evanger’s Whitefish and Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food

Evanger’s Chicken with Brown Rice was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

The first ingredient in this dog food includes chicken. Raw chicken contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just 20% of its original weight.

To reflect its lighter weight, this item should more accurately occupy a much lower position on the list.

Which brings us to brown rice… the second and (most likely) the dominant ingredient in this dog food. Brown rice is a quality grain… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.

The third ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The fourth item lists potato product… a by-product of the potato processing industry containing about 71% carbohydrates.²

The fifth ingredient is barley… a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. Unlike grains with a higher glycemic index (like rice), barley can help support stable blood sugar levels in dogs.

The sixth item includes chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Though it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is a quality ingredient.

The list goes on to include a number of other quality ingredients.

But to be realistic, items located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to have much of an effect on the overall quality of this product.

This dog food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to amino acids. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are generally found in better dog foods.

Evanger’s Dog Food (Dry)… the Bottom Line

Judging from the quality of the ingredients here, this Evanger’s dog food product looks like a very nice kibble.

But how much of this dog food’s nutrient content can be attributed to animal protein?

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 29%, a fat level of 17% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 46%.

Solid protein. Moderate fat. And average carbohydrates (compared to a typical dry dog food).

Featuring a brand average of 30%, protein percentages range from a low of about 27% for the Pheasant recipe to a high of 33% for the Whitefish formula.

Nice numbers… but nothing extraordinary.

The dashboard suggests an above-average animal protein content. For a higher rating, we would like to have seen Evanger’s include more meat in its formula.

Bottom line?

Evanger’s Dog Food is essentially a grain-based kibble utilizing a reasonable amount of chicken and chicken meal for its primary sources of animal protein… earning the brand a solid four stars.

Highly recommended.

Some Final Thoughts

Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult your veterinarian for help.

Have an opinion about this dog food brand… or maybe the review itself?

Please feel free to share your comments below.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Premium Edge Healthy Weight Reduction Formula Dog Food earns the Advisor’s highest rating of five stars.

Although the Premium Edge Dog Food product line currently lists eight kibbles, this review is designed to cover the Healthy Weight Reduction Formula only.

The first ingredient in this dog food includes chicken. Raw chicken contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just 20% of its original weight.

So, to reflect this lighter mass, this item should more accurately occupy a much lower position on the list.

Which brings us to chicken meal… the second and (most likely) the dominant meat ingredient in this dog food.

Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The third ingredient lists peas. Peas are considered a quality source of carbohydrates… and (like all legumes) are loaded with natural fiber.

The fourth item is egg product… a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary greatly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries… from eggs that have failed to hatch.

The quality of this item all depends on the caliber of the ingredient purchased by Premium Edge (you get what you pay for).

In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.

The fifth ingredient is potato protein… the dry residue left over after removing the starchy part of a potato. This product contains over 80% plant protein… and so it’s used here to elevate that all-important nutrient in this food.

The sixth item includes potato. Assuming they are whole, potatoes are a good source of digestible carbohydrates and other healthy nutrients.

The seventh ingredient is fresh salmon. Raw salmon (like chicken) contains mostly water. So, the process of making kibble reduces the meat content to just a fraction of its pre-cooking weight.

For this reason, this item should be moved to a lower spot on the ingredients list.

The eighth item mentions chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Though it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is a quality ingredient.

Next, we note powdered cellulose… a non-digestible plant fiber usually made from cotton or wood. It is used in dog food to add bulk.

Cellulose fiber is sometimes added to dilute the number of calories per serving and to give the feeling of fullness when it is eaten.

Except for the usual benefits of fiber, powdered cellulose provides no other nutrients to a dog.

Flaxseed is one of the best vegetable sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. The seeds are rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber.

However, we find it strange to see flaxseed here in its whole seed form. Whole flax seeds are almost impossible to digest (at least for us humans) unless they are first ground to a usable powder before they are consumed.

After the natural chicken flavor (whatever that means), we find fish meal. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, fish meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.

Unfortunately, this particular item is anonymous. The term “fish” does little to properly describe this ingredient. What species? What parts?

The phrase “ocean fish meal” is just another fancy name for this ingredient’s more recognized alias… fish meal.

Fish meal is commonly made from the by-products of commercial fish operations.

What’s more, the controversial chemical ethoxyquin is frequently used as a preservative in fish meals.

But because it’s usually added to the raw fish before processing, the chemical does not have to be reported to consumers.

Without knowing more, and based upon this fish meal’s location on the list of ingredients, it’s reasonable to expect to find not more than a trace amount of ethoxyquin in this product.

The list goes on to include a number of other ingredients.

But to be realistic, items located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to have much of an effect on the overall quality of this product.

The manufacturer appears to have added back some of the “good” bacteria lost during the cooking process. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.

This dog food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to amino acids. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are generally found in better dog foods.

Premium Edge Healthy Weight… the Bottom Line

Although it is not the goal of the Dog Food Advisor to rate each and every product, we feel Premium Edge Healthy Weight Reduction Formula is unique enough to merit its own special review.

In addition to the ingredients already discussed, it’s critical to be able to estimate the amount of animal protein in this product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 49%, a fat level of 13% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 30%.

Very high protein. Low fat. And low carbohydrates (when compared to a typical kibble).

Unlike most weight reduction dry dog foods (low on protein, high on carbs), this one is a game changer.

Lots of animal protein. And no grains.

Now, admittedly, at least some of that protein has to be attributed to the (vegetable-based) potato protein.

But still, these numbers make it hard to believe we’re looking at a weight loss kibble.

Bottom line?

Premium Edge Healthy Weight Reduction is primarily a grain-free kibble utilizing a generous amount of meat meal and eggs as its main sources of animal protein… making this one of the very best weight loss kibbles we’ve reviewed to date.

Five stars… oh, yeah.

Enthusiastically recommended.

Some Final Thoughts

Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult your veterinarian for help.

Have an opinion about this dog food brand… or maybe the review itself?

Please feel free to share your comments below.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Premium Edge Dog Food earns the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.

Currently, the Premium Edge product line includes eight kibbles… two for puppies, three for adults, two for weight management and one for seniors.¹

• Premium Edge Puppy
• Premium Edge Puppy Large Breed
• Premium Edge Adult Lamb
• Premium Edge Adult Chicken
• Premium Edge Skin and Coat
• Premium Edge Healthy Weight Control
• Premium Edge Healthy Weight Reduction (5 stars)
• Premium Edge Senior (3 stars)

Premium Edge Adult Chicken Formula was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

The first ingredient in this dog food includes chicken. Raw chicken contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just 20% of its original weight.

So, don’t be influenced by chicken’s first-ingredient status here. To reflect its lighter weight, this item should more accurately occupy a much lower position on the list.

Which brings us to chicken meal… the second and (most likely) the dominant meat ingredient in this dog food.

Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The third ingredient is ocean fish meal. Like chicken meal, this is another a high-protein meat concentrate.

Unfortunately, this particular item is anonymous. The term “ocean fish” does little to properly describe this ingredient. What species? What parts?

The phrase “ocean fish meal” is just another fancy name for this ingredient’s more recognized alias… fish meal.

Fish meal is usually made from the by-products of commercial fish operations.

What’s more, the controversial chemical ethoxyquin is frequently used as a preservative in fish meals.

But because it’s usually added to the raw fish before processing, the chemical does not have to be reported to consumers.

Without knowing more, and based upon this fish meal’s location on the list of ingredients, it’s reasonable to expect to find (at least) a trace amount of ethoxyquin in this product.

The fourth item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.

The fifth ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. Unlike grains with a higher glycemic index (like rice), barley can help support stable blood sugar levels in dogs. This is a quality grain ingredient.

The sixth item mentions white rice… a less nutritious form of rice in which the grain’s healthier outer layer has been removed.

The seventh ingredient is oatmeal… a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in fiber, B-vitamins and is (unlike many other cereal grains) mostly gluten-free.

The next ingredient includes chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Though it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is a quality ingredient.

The list goes on to include a number of other ingredients.

But to be realistic, items located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to have much of an effect on the overall quality of this product.

The manufacturer appears to have added back some of the “good” bacteria lost during the cooking process. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.

This dog food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to amino acids. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are generally found in better dog foods.

Premium Edge Dog Food… the Bottom Line

Excepting the fish meal, the ingredients used to make this Premium Edge dog food are certainly fine enough.

But that all-important question remains to be answered… just how much animal protein does the product most likely contain?

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 29%, a fat level of 17% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 46%.

Good protein. Moderate fat. And average carbohydrates (compared to a typical dry dog food).

Featuring a brand average of 30%, protein percentages range from a low of 22% for the Senior recipe to a high of 49% for the Healthy Weight Reduction Formula.

Nice numbers. Indeed.

Bottom line?

Premium Edge Dog Food is primarily a grain-based kibble utilizing a reasonable amount of meat meal as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand a solid four-star rating.

Highly recommended.

Some Final Thoughts

Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult your veterinarian for help.

Have an opinion about this dog food brand… or maybe the review itself?

Please feel free to share your comments below.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul (canned) gets the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.

Currently, the Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul product line includes three canned formulas… each designed for a specific life stage.¹

• Chicken Soup for the Puppy Lover’s Soul
• Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul Adult Formula
• Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul Senior Formula

Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul Adult Formula was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

Four of the first five ingredients in this dog food are meat items…

• Chicken
• Turkey
• Duck
• Salmon

Like most meats, these four components are naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.

The third ingredient lists chicken broth. Broths are nutritionally worthless. But because they add moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many canned products.

Getting back to proper order, the sixth item includes chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal species. So long as it’s not over-weighted in a dog food, chicken liver is a beneficial component.

The seventh item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.

The eighth ingredient mentions white rice… a less nutritious form of rice in which the grain’s healthier outer layer has been removed.

The list goes on to include a number of other ingredients.

But to be realistic, items located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to have much of an effect on the overall quality of this product.

Surprisingly, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are usually associated with lower quality dog foods.

The Bottom Line

This Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul product presents a quality ingredients list… with no critical Red Flag items.

But before we decide on a final rating, it’s important to first consult the dog food’s protein, fat and carbohydrate percentages. These numbers can help reveal just how much meat the product actually contains.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 36%, a fat level of 18% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 37%.

Modestly high protein. Moderate fat. And reasonable carbohydrates (when compared to a typical canned dog food).

Checking the rest of the line… protein percentages range from a low of 34% for the Senior Formula to a high of 41% for the “puppy”.

The numbers do (indeed) confirm the higher quality suggested by the product’s ingredients.

Bottom line?

Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul is primarily a meat-based canned dog food that uses a variety of animal species as its main source of protein… thus earning the brand a solid four-star rating.

Highly recommended.

Some Final Thoughts

Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult your veterinarian for help.

Have an opinion about this dog food brand… or maybe the review itself?

Please feel free to share your comments below.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul (dry) receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.

Currently, the Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul product line includes five kibbles… one for puppies, one for seniors, two for adults and one for adult weight loss.¹

• Chicken Soup for the Puppy Lover’s Soul
• Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul Senior
• Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul Adult
• Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul Large Breed Adult
• Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul Adult Light (3 stars)

Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul Adult Formula was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

The first two ingredients in this dog food are chicken and turkey. Raw poultry contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just 20% of its original weight.

So, to reflect their true lighter mass, these two items should more accurately occupy much lower positions on the list.

Which brings us to chicken meal… the third and (most likely) the dominant meat ingredient in this dog food.

Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The fourth ingredient lists ocean fish meal. Because (like chicken meal) it is another meat concentrate, fish meal contains almost four times as much protein as raw fish.

Unfortunately, this particular item is anonymous. The term “ocean fish” does little to properly describe this ingredient. What species? What parts?

Fish meal is commonly made from the by-products of commercial fish operations.

What’s more, the controversial chemical ethoxyquin is frequently used as a preservative in fish meals.

But because it’s usually added to the raw fish before processing, the chemical does not have to be reported to consumers.

Without knowing more, and based upon this fish meal’s location on the list of ingredients, it’s reasonable to expect to find a trace of ethoxyquin in this product.

The next three items include a series of quality cereal grains…

• Barley
• Brown rice
• Oatmeal

The eighth ingredient mentions white rice. This is a less nutritious form of brown rice in which the grain’s healthier outer layer has been removed.

The next item includes chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Though it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is a quality ingredient.

The list goes on to include a number of other ingredients.

But to be realistic, items located this far down the list (other than vitamin and nutritional supplements) are not likely to have much of an effect on the overall quality of this product.

The manufacturer appears to have added back some of the “good” bacteria lost during the cooking process. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.

This dog food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to amino acids. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are generally found in better dog foods.

The Bottom Line

Based upon the ingredients alone, this Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul product appears to be an excellent kibble.

But the question remains, just how much meat-based protein does this dog food actually contain?

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 27%, a fat level of 16% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 50%.

Good protein. Moderate fat. And average carbohydrates… when compared to a typical dry dog food.

In addition to this “example” product, protein numbers for the full product line range from a low of 22% for the “light” recipe to a high of 31% for the Puppy Formula.

Decent profile, yes. But nothing extraordinary.

Yet when you consider the quality of its ingredients and eliminate the weight loss dog food from the product line, there’s a noticeable upward bias to the brand’s overall rating.

Bottom line?

Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul is primarily a grain-based kibble using quality meats and meat meals as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand a solid four-star rating.

Highly recommended.

Some Final Thoughts

Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult your veterinarian for help.

Have an opinion about this dog food brand… or maybe the review itself?

Please feel free to share your comments below.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Rachael Ray Nutrish Dog Food earns the Advisor’s second-lowest rating of two stars.

Currently, the Rachael Ray Nutrish product line includes just two kibbles… designed to meet the AAFCO¹ nutritional profile “for all life stages of a dog”.²

• Rachael Ray Nutrish Beef and Brown Rice
• Rachael Ray Nutrish Chicken and Veggies

Rachael Ray Nutrish Beef and Brown Rice Dog Food was selected to represent both products for this review.

The first ingredient in this dog food lists beef. Raw beef contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just 20% of its original weight.

To reflect its lighter mass, this item should more accurately occupy a much lower position on the list.

The second ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The third ingredient is brewers rice. Brewers rice represents the small grain fragments left over after milling whole rice.

This is a cheap cereal grain by-product and not a quality ingredient.

The fourth item is corn meal. Corn meal is a ground flour made from dried corn. Although there’s no way to know for sure, it’s reasonable to assume the corn described here is similar to the kind used to make feed for livestock.

Feed corn can be contaminated with insects, mites and molds.

Many blame corn for chronic canine allergies. But those allergies are probably more a result of what’s in the corn… than the corn itself.

The fifth ingredient is soybean meal. Soybean meal is actually a by-product. It’s what remains of soybeans after all the oil has been removed.

Soybean meal contains 48% protein… inferior plant-based protein. So, it has the ability to raise the reported protein content of any dog food product. Not a quality ingredient.

The sixth item lists animal fat. Animal fat is a generic by-product of “rendering”… the same high-temperature process used to make meat meals.

Since there’s no mention of a specific animal, this stuff could come from almost anywhere… restaurant grease, slaughterhouse waste, diseased cattle… even euthanized pets.

Needless to say, generic animal fat is not a quality ingredient.

The seventh ingredient, corn gluten meal, is the rubbery residue remaining once corn has had most of its starchy carbohydrate (the good stuff) washed out of it.

Compared to meat, glutens are inferior grain-based proteins lacking many of the essential amino acids dogs need to sustain life.

Like soybean meal, this inexpensive plant-based ingredient can significantly boost the protein content reported in this dog food.

The list goes on to include a number of other ingredients… including the brown rice named in the title of this dog food.

But to be realistic, items located this far down the list (other than vitamin and nutritional additives) are not likely to have much of an effect on the overall quality of this product.

The minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are usually associated with lower quality dog foods.

Unfortunately, this Rachael Ray product also contains menadione… a controversial form of vitamin K linked to liver toxicity, allergies and the abnormal break-down of red blood cells.

Rachael Ray Dog Food… the Bottom Line

Wow, I have to admit… I was expecting higher quality ingredients in this celebrity-endorsed product.

Just the same, it’s still important to look at the dog food’s protein, fat and carbohydrate numbers… before arriving at a final rating.

The dashboard reports a dry matter protein reading of 30%, a fat level of 17% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 46%.

Above-average protein. Moderate fat. And average carbohydrates (when compared to a typical dry dog food).

A reasonably nice nutrient profile.

But when you subtract for the protein contributed by the soybean and corn gluten meals… we have little confidence in the estimated meat content of this product.

Bottom line?

Rachael Ray Nutrish Dog Food is essentially a grain-based kibble using only a modest amount of chicken meal as its main source of animal protein… earning the brand a disappointing two stars.

Not recommended.

Some Final Thoughts

Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult your veterinarian for help.

Have an opinion about this dog food brand… or maybe the review itself?

Please feel free to share your comments below.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Black Gold Dog Food Signature Series earns the Advisor’s second-lowest rating of two stars.

Currently, the Black Gold Signature Series includes three kibbles… plus ten others marketed under its standard Black Gold Dog Food brand and covered in a separate review.

• Black Gold Ultimate Adult
• Black Gold Ultimate Performance
• Black Gold Ultimate Puppy

Black Gold Ultimate Performance Dog Food was picked to represent the others in the line for this review.

The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The second ingredient lists corn meal. Corn meal is a ground flour made from dried corn. Although there’s no way to know for sure, it’s reasonable to assume the corn described here is similar to the kind used to make feed for livestock.

Feed corn can be contaminated with insects, mites and molds.

Many blame corn for chronic canine allergies. But those allergies are probably more a result of what’s in the corn… rather than the corn itself.

The third ingredient is fish meal. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, fish meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.

Unfortunately, this particular item is anonymous. The term “fish” does little to adequately describe this ingredient. What species? What parts?

Fish meal is commonly made from the by-products of commercial fish operations.

What’s more, the controversial chemical ethoxyquin is frequently used as a preservative in fish meals.

But because it’s usually added to the raw fish before processing, ethoxyquin’s presence does not have to be reported to consumers.

Without knowing more, and based upon this fish meal’s location on the list of ingredients, it’s reasonable to expect to find a notable amount of the chemical in this product.

The fourth item is poultry fat. Poultry fat is a generic by-product of “rendering”… the same high-temperature process used to make meat meals.

There’s no mention of a specific source animal here. Generic poultry fat like this is an inexpensive ingredient usually found in dog foods of lower quality.

The fifth ingredient is brewers rice. Brewers rice represents the small grain fragments left over after milling whole rice.

This is a cheap cereal grain by-product and not a quality ingredient.

The sixth item is corn gluten meal. Gluten is the rubbery residue remaining once corn has had most of its starchy carbohydrate (the good stuff) washed out of it.

Compared to meat, glutens are inferior grain-based proteins lacking many of the essential amino acids dogs need to sustain life.

This inexpensive plant-based ingredient can significantly boost the total protein content reported in this dog food.

The seventh ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. Unlike grains with a higher glycemic index (like rice), barley can help support stable blood sugar levels in dogs. This is a quality grain ingredient.

We also note the listing of beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient… a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.

Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.

We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods (as it looks to be here) is entirely acceptable.

The minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are usually associated with lower quality dog foods.

Unfortunately, this Black Gold product also contains menadione… a controversial form of vitamin K linked to liver toxicity, allergies and the abnormal break-down of red blood cells.

Black Gold Signature Series… the Bottom Line

From its ingredients, this Black Gold Signature Series product looks like a typical “price-first” dry dog food.

Yet, to be fair, it’s important to complete our review with a look at the product’s protein, fat and carbohydrate numbers.

The dashboard reports a dry matter protein reading of 34%, a fat level of 16% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 42%.

High protein. Moderate fat. And lower “carbs” (a good thing)… when compared to a typical dry dog food.

A surprisingly favorable profile.

But when you consider the low-quality of the ingredients used to make it (and all the products in the line), Black Gold Signature Series reveals itself as a below-average dog food.

Bottom line?

Black Gold Signature Series Dog Food is primarily a cheaply-made grain-based kibble that uses chicken meal as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand a disappointing two stars.

Not recommended.

Some Final Thoughts

Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult your veterinarian for help.

Have an opinion about this dog food brand… or maybe the review itself?

Please feel free to share your comments below.

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

Black Gold Dog Food earns the Advisor’s lowest rating of one star.

Currently, the Black Gold product line includes ten kibbles… plus three Black Gold Signature Series dog foods covered in a separate review.

• Black Gold Super Blend
• Black Gold Kennel Blend
• Black Gold Trainers Blend
• Black Gold Plantation Blend
• Black Gold High Energy Blend
• Black Gold Professional Blend
• Black Gold Performance Blend
• Black Gold Lamb Meal and Rice Blend
• Black Gold Large Breed Puppy Formula
• Black Gold Bites and Bones with Healthy Squares

Black Gold Dog Food Trainers Blend was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

The first ingredient in this dog food is meat meal… “the rendered product from mammal tissues, exclusive of blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices”.¹

What does Black Gold mean by the word “meat”? Where does this stuff come from? Slaughterhouse waste? Dead zoo animals? Road kill? Or maybe even euthanized pets and laboratory animals?

Meat meal is an anonymous… low-quality ingredient.

The second ingredient is corn meal. Corn meal is a ground flour made from dried corn. Although there’s no way to know for sure, it’s reasonable to assume the corn described here is similar to the kind used to make feed for livestock.

Feed corn can be contaminated with insects, mites and molds.

Many blame corn for chronic canine allergies. But those allergies are probably more a result of what’s in the corn… than the corn itself.

The third ingredient is wheat… another low quality grain ingredient with most of the same problems as corn.

The fourth item is corn gluten meal. Gluten is the rubbery residue remaining once corn has had most of its starchy carbohydrate (the nutritious stuff) washed out of it.

Compared to meat, glutens are inferior grain-based proteins lacking many of the essential amino acids dogs need to sustain life.

This inexpensive plant-based ingredient can significantly boost the total protein content reported in this dog food.

The fifth item is poultry fat. Poultry fat is a generic by-product of “rendering”… the same high-temperature process used to make meat meals.

There’s no mention of a specific source animal here. Generic poultry fat like this is an inexpensive ingredient usually found in dog foods of lower quality.

The sixth ingredient includes chicken by-product meal… a dry “rendered” product of slaughterhouse waste. It’s made from what’s left of a slaughtered chicken after all the prime cuts have been removed.

In a nutshell… chicken by-products are the unsavory and inedible leftovers deemed “unfit for human consumption”.

This stuff can contain almost anything… feet, beaks, undeveloped eggs… you name it. This is certainly not a quality ingredient.

The seventh item is dried beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient… a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.

Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.

We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.

The minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are usually associated with lower quality dog foods.

Unfortunately, this Black Gold product also contains menadione… a controversial form of vitamin K linked to liver toxicity, allergies and the abnormal break-down of red blood cells.

Black Gold Dog Food… the Bottom Line

Wow… it’s really hard to find something positive to say about this Black Gold dog food product.

So, maybe the nutrient profile will show us something that might save this product from our lowest rating.

The dashboard reports a dry matter protein reading of 27%, a fat level of 14% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 51%.

Moderate protein. Lower fat. And average carbohydrates (when compared to a typical dry dog food).

On the surface, the numbers give us the impression we’re looking at an “average” kibble. But (as they say) looks can be deceiving.

This product is loaded with low-quality (cheap) ingredients… making it a perfect example of a price-first dog food.

Bottom line?

Black Gold Dog Food is essentially a grain-based kibble that uses mostly low-quality meat meals as its primary source of animal protein… thus earning the brand a disappointing one-star rating.

Not recommended.

Some Final Thoughts

Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult your veterinarian for help.

Have an opinion about this dog food brand… or maybe the review itself?

Please feel free to share your comments below.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Precise Dog Food gets the Advisor’s mid-tier rating of three stars.

Currently, the Precise product line includes nine kibbles.

• Precise Light Formula
• Precise Senior Formula
• Precise Endurance Formula
• Precise Competition Formula
• Precise Chicken Meal and Rice Adult
• Precise Large and Giant Breed Puppy
• Precise Small and Medium Breed Puppy
• Precise Chicken Meal and Rice Foundation
• Precise Lamb Meal and Rice Sensicare (hypoallergenic)

Precise Dog Food Chicken Meal and Rice Adult Formula was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The second item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.

The third ingredient lists rice bran… a by-product of rice milling. Though not as nutritionally complete as whole grain rice, brans are still high in fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals.

The fourth item is ground oats. In addition to B-vitamins, oats are also rich in fiber… and (unlike many other grains) mostly gluten-free.

The fifth ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Though it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is a quality ingredient.

The sixth ingredient mentions flaxseed… one of the best vegetable sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. And the seeds are naturally rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber.

However, we find it strange to see flaxseed here in its whole seed form. Whole flax seeds are almost impossible to digest (at least for us humans) unless they are first ground to a usable powder before they are consumed.

Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient… a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.

Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.

We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.

The list goes on to describe a number of other ingredients.

But to be realistic, items located this far down the list (other than vitamin and nutritional additives) are not likely to have much of an effect on the overall quality of this product.

This dog food appears to contain chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to amino acids. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are generally found in better dog foods.

Unfortunately, this Precise Pet formula also contains menadione… a controversial form of vitamin K linked to liver toxicity, allergies and the abnormal break-down of red blood cells.

Precise Dog Food… the Bottom Line

With one important exception, the ingredients used to make this Precise Dog Food product are of very good quality.

But how those components are actually proportioned can play a crucial role in determining a fair rating for this product.

The dashboard reports a dry matter protein reading of 28%, a fat level of 17% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 48%.

Reasonable protein. Moderate fat. And average carbohydrates (when compared to a typical dry dog food).

Considering the notably lower protein content of the Senior and Light formulas… as well as the unwelcome presence of menadione in the mix prompt us to lower our overall impression of the brand.

Bottom line?

Precise Dog Food is primarily a grain-based kibble using a quality meat meal as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand a respectable three stars.

Recommended.

Some Final Thoughts

Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult your veterinarian for help.

Have an opinion about this dog food brand… or maybe the review itself?

Please feel free to share your comments below.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Precise Plus Dog Food receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.

Currently, the Precise Plus product line includes four kibbles…

• Precise Plus Puppy Formula
• Precise Plus Adult Formula
• Precise Plus Large Breed Adult Formula
• Precise Plus Lamb Meal and Sweet Potato Formula

Precise Plus Adult Formula was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The second item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.

The third ingredient is chicken. Raw chicken contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just 20% of its original weight.

That’s what makes uncooked meat a much smaller contributor to the overall protein content of a dry dog food… than its equivalent and comparable meat meal.

So, don’t be impressed by chicken’s inclusion here. To reflect its significantly lighter weight, this item should more suitably occupy a much lower position on the list.

The fourth ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. Unlike grains with a higher glycemic index (like rice), barley can help support stable blood sugar levels in dogs.

The fifth ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Though it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is a quality ingredient.

The next item mentions beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient… a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.

Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.

We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.

The seventh ingredient includes ground oats. Oats are naturally rich in fiber, B-vitamins and are (unlike many other cereal grains) mostly gluten-free.

The eighth item lists flaxseed… one of the best vegetable sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. And the seeds are naturally rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber.

However, we find it strange to see flaxseed here in its whole seed form. Whole flax seeds are almost impossible to digest (at least for us humans) unless they are first ground to a usable powder before they are consumed.

We note the inclusion here of dried egg product… a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary greatly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries… from eggs that have failed to hatch.

The quality of this item all depends on the caliber of the ingredient purchased by Precise (you get what you pay for).

In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.

This product contains fish meal… another meat concentrate.

Unfortunately, this particular item is generic. What species? What body parts? Fish meal is commonly made from the by-products of commercial fish operations.

Plus the controversial chemical ethoxyquin is frequently used as a preservative in fish meals. But because it’s usually added to the raw fish before processing, ethoxyquin’s presence does not have to be reported to consumers.

However, Precise Pet assures consumers “we’ve never used artificial chemical preservatives like ethoxyquin”.¹

Due to the very design of fish meals, we remain somewhat skeptical regarding the ethoxyquin-free status of this dog food.

The list goes on to include a number of other ingredients.

But to be realistic, items located this far down the list (other than vitamin and nutritional additives) are not likely to have much of an effect on the overall quality of this product.

The manufacturer appears to have added back some of the “good” bacteria lost during the cooking process. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.

This dog food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to amino acids. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are generally found in better dog foods.

Unfortunately, this Precise Plus product also contains menadione… a controversial form of vitamin K linked to liver toxicity, allergies and the abnormal break-down of red blood cells.

Precise Plus Dog Food… the Bottom Line

Judging from the quality of its predominant ingredients, Precise Plus Dog Food looks to be an above-average kibble.

But that all-important question still remains to be answered… Just how much meat-based protein does this dog food actually contain?

To help find the answer, it’s important to consider the product’s protein, fat and carbohydrate numbers.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 29%, a fat level of 18% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 45%.

Above-average protein. Moderate fat. And below-average “carbs”… a good thing (when compared to a typical dry dog food).

Our initial impression has been confirmed. Precise Plus is (indeed) an above-average kibble.

However, we feel it was a mistake for Precise to have included the controversial additive, menadione, in its recipe for this (otherwise) excellent dog food.

Bottom line?

Precise Plus Dog Food is primarily a grain-based kibble that uses a nutrient-rich meat meal as its main source of animal protein.

Even with the controversy over menadione and fish meal, we have guardedly awarded the brand four-stars.

Highly recommended.

Some Final Thoughts

Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult your veterinarian for help.

Have an opinion about this dog food brand… or maybe the review itself?

Please feel free to share your comments below.