Choosing the right dog food is a critical decision for any pet owner, impacting their beloved companion’s health and longevity. Allprovide, a brand manufactured in Georgia, offers a range of dog food options, including raw and gently cooked recipes. This article delves into a comprehensive review of Allprovide’s offerings, examining ingredient quality, safety, and overall value to help you make an informed choice for your canine.
Allprovide emphasizes using USDA-inspected meats and sourcing fruits and vegetables from US suppliers, with a few exceptions for specific ingredients like turmeric, oregano, and hemp seed oil. The brand currently provides raw foods, cooked foods, bones, and bone broth. For this review, we will analyze two primary lines: Allprovide Raw Dog Food and Allprovide Gently Cooked Dog Food, assessing each based on established criteria for ingredient quality and safety. Our analysis aims to provide an unbiased perspective, similar to the comprehensive Allprovide Dog Food Reviews available elsewhere.
Allprovide Raw Dog Food Review
Score: 9.4/10
Allprovide’s Raw Chicken Recipe boasts ingredients such as Chicken with Bone, Chicken Heart, Chicken Liver, Carrot, Broccoli, Butternut Squash, Kale, Milled Flaxseed, Flaxseed Oil, Wheatgrass, Sea Salt, Cod Liver Oil, Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil, Turmeric Powder, Oregano Leaf, and Dried Sea Kelp. Based on our evaluation criteria, Allprovide Raw is categorized as a low-risk dog food, though there are a few points of concern.
Ingredient Quality
The overall ingredient quality in Allprovide Raw dog foods is generally acceptable. However, a notable concern is the fat content. Some recipes exhibit a higher fat-to-protein ratio than is ideal, and others have more fat than preferred. Raw food manufacturers may sometimes opt for fattier meats to manage costs, as animal proteins are typically the most expensive component. Diets excessively high in fat can disrupt the gut bacteria balance and potentially lead to the accumulation of toxins, which are stored in fatty tissues. Furthermore, many fats, particularly those from pork and poultry, are rich in omega-6 fatty acids, which can contribute to systemic, low-grade inflammation in dogs.
Ingredient Safety
Pet food ingredients can sometimes be unsafe or produced using hazardous chemicals, which leads to Allprovide losing points in ingredient safety. A significant concern is the presence of high-pesticide/herbicide foods within the top five ingredients. Recipes in the Allprovide Raw line include ingredients like apples, spinach, and kale, which are known to carry substantial pesticide and herbicide residues. Crops treated with herbicides like Roundup can contain higher levels of glyphosate residue than other crops, even genetically modified ones. Glyphosate is an antibiotic that can harm beneficial gut bacteria and has been associated with increased risks of cancer and other health issues.
Benefits
Despite the concerns, Allprovide Raw foods offer several benefits. They are minimally processed, which helps preserve the natural nutrients present in the raw ingredients. The protein content is notably high, averaging 47% on a dry matter basis, providing ample protein for canine health. Additionally, these foods feature low carbohydrates, averaging around 6.5% on a dry matter basis. The carbohydrates present are derived from fruits and vegetables, not from starchy fillers. For those seeking raw options, exploring reviews like Allprovide Raw Dog Food Reviews can offer further insights.
Allprovide Gently Cooked Dog Food Review
Score: 8.8/10
The Allprovide Gently Cooked Turkey Recipe includes ingredients such as Turkey with Bone, Pork Heart, Pork Liver, Carrots, Broccoli, Butternut Squash, Spinach, Cranberry, Milled Flaxseed, Coconut Oil, Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil, Wheatgrass, Cod Liver Oil, Himalayan Sea Salt, Turmeric, Oregano Leaf, Dried Sea Kelp, and Mixed Tocopherols (natural Vitamin E). Similar to the raw line, Allprovide’s Gently Cooked food is considered low risk, but with some additional considerations regarding processing.
Ingredient Quality
There are several points of concern regarding the ingredient quality in the Gently Cooked line. The issue of high fat content persists, with some recipes having a higher fat-to-protein ratio and overall fat levels than is desirable. As mentioned previously, high fat diets can negatively impact gut health and toxin levels. The prevalence of omega-6 fatty acids in common animal fats can also contribute to inflammation.
Ingredient Safety
The Gently Cooked line faces similar ingredient safety issues as the raw line, with the added factor of processing. The moderate processing involved in cooking results in a loss of some active enzymes, vitamins, amino acids, and phytonutrients. Crucially, the presence of high pesticide/herbicide foods in the top five ingredients remains a concern. Ingredients like apples, spinach, and kale, known for carrying significant residues, are included in these recipes. The risks associated with glyphosate exposure from these crops, including potential damage to gut bacteria and links to serious diseases, are significant.
Benefits
The Allprovide Gently Cooked line also offers benefits, including a high protein content of approximately 47%, ensuring dogs receive adequate protein. The low carbohydrate level, averaging 6.5% on a dry matter basis, is also a positive attribute, as high carbohydrate foods can lead to issues like obesity and imbalances in the gut microbiome.
Is Allprovide a Good Dog Food?
When evaluated on ingredient quality and safety, both the raw and gently cooked lines from Allprovide can be considered low-risk options for dogs. The gently cooked line presents a slightly higher risk due to the heat applied during processing, which can diminish nutrient bioavailability. While some recipes may have slightly higher carbohydrate or fat levels compared to other premium dog foods, Allprovide generally utilizes quality ingredients and maintains a reasonable balance of macronutrients. The brand’s claim of using non-GMO ingredients is positive, although the inclusion of “dirty dozen” produce known for high pesticide residues warrants consideration. For a broader perspective on dog food ratings, consulting resources like DogFoodReviews.com is recommended.
Allprovide Dog Food Recalls
As of the latest available information, Allprovide dog foods have not been subject to any recalls. This absence of recalls can contribute to a perception of reliability for the brand.
Evaluation Criteria for Dog Food
Our evaluation process for dog foods is based on two primary criteria: ingredient quality and ingredient safety.
Are the Ingredients High Quality?
We assess ingredient quality by looking for several indicators:
- Excessive carbohydrate content: High carbs can lead to gut imbalances.
- Unnamed proteins: These are generally of lower quality.
- Cellulose as a fiber source: Using wood pulp instead of whole food sources for fiber is a marker of lower quality.
- Excessive added vitamins and minerals: When these are added in large amounts instead of deriving nutrition from whole foods, it can be a concern.
- Excessive added amino acids or plant proteins: These may be used to artificially inflate protein percentages instead of using meat protein.
- Inflammatory processed seed oils: These can contribute to inflammation.
How Safe Are the Ingredients?
Ingredient safety is evaluated by considering:
- Level of processing: Highly processed foods can be less beneficial.
- Genetically modified (GM) foods: The presence of GM ingredients is a consideration for some owners.
- High pesticide/herbicide ingredients: Foods known to carry high residues are a concern.
- Natural flavor: This often indicates MSG or animal digest, which can be undesirable.
- Rice content: Rice can be high in arsenic.
Each food is objectively scored using these criteria, with the final score being an average of the ingredient quality and safety assessments. This review is not sponsored, and no affiliate links are used. Our partnership with DogFoodReviews.com ensures that dog owners receive unbiased and objective information to aid in selecting the best dog food available. You can find the full Evaluation Criteria on their website.
