When considering the best nutrition for your canine companion, understanding the ingredients and their impact is crucial. Whole Earth Farms offers a dry dog food line that aims to provide a balanced and wholesome diet. This review delves into the specifics of their dry food, evaluating its recipe, ingredients, and overall nutritional profile to help you make an informed decision for your dog’s health.
Product Overview and Rating
Whole Earth Farms Dog Food garners a high rating of 4.5 stars from DogFoodAdvisor.com, signifying its quality and the brand’s commitment to canine nutrition. The product line includes a dry dog food recipe that is formulated to meet the AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance. While the brand is generally well-regarded, it’s important to note that finding complete and up-to-date label information on the company’s website can sometimes be a challenge, and the specific product reviewed may have been discontinued or updated.
Recipe and Label Analysis
The Whole Earth Farms Healthy Grains Chicken and Rice recipe is the focus of this dry food review. Based on dry matter analysis, the estimated nutrient content includes approximately 28.1% protein, 15.7% fat, and 48.2% carbohydrates. The fat-to-protein ratio stands at around 56%. These figures indicate a food with above-average protein content, near-average fat, and near-average carbohydrates when compared to the typical dry dog food market.
Ingredient Breakdown
The primary ingredient in this formula is chicken, a quality source of animal protein. Following this is chicken meal, a concentrated form of chicken protein, which significantly contributes to the overall protein content. Rice and barley are included as carbohydrate sources. Pork meal is another meat concentrate, adding further protein.
Canola meal is present, which is a byproduct of canola oil production. While it contributes protein, it’s worth noting that canola can sometimes be derived from genetically modified rapeseed, and its inclusion warrants consideration. Chicken fat is a good source of essential omega-6 fatty acids. Sorghum, a gluten-free grain, offers a nutrient profile similar to corn and may be a suitable alternative for some dogs.
Other ingredients include flaxseed, a beneficial source of omega-3 fatty acids when ground. Beet pulp is included for fiber, though it’s a somewhat controversial ingredient; however, in reasonable amounts, it can offer intestinal health benefits. Dried yeast is another ingredient that provides protein and nutrients, though some dogs may have sensitivities to it. The formula also contains dried fermentation products to aid digestion, taurine for heart health, and chelated minerals for better absorption. However, the presence of sodium selenite, a controversial form of selenium, is noted.
Nutrient Analysis and Our Rating
When analyzed based on its ingredients, Whole Earth Farms Dry Dog Food presents as an above-average product. The estimated nutrient content, particularly the protein and fat levels, suggests a food that provides substantial nourishment. Even accounting for the protein contributed by ingredients like canola meal, flaxseed, and dried yeast, the overall profile indicates a kibble with a notable amount of meat.
The brand is classified as a grain-inclusive dry dog food. Its use of named meat meals as the primary animal protein source earns it a highly recommended 4.5-star rating.
Recall History and Alerts
As of the last update, there have been no recalls noted for Whole Earth Farms dog food. For ongoing updates and alerts, owners can subscribe to recall notification services.
Final Considerations
Whole Earth Farms aims to provide a quality, natural dog food option. This dry food, particularly the Healthy Grains Chicken and Rice formula, stands out for its ingredient quality and balanced nutritional profile. While minor controversies exist around some ingredients like beet pulp and sodium selenite, the overall composition, dominated by quality protein sources and beneficial additions, makes it a highly recommended choice for adult dogs. For those interested in the company’s wet food offerings, a separate review of Whole Earth Farms canned dog food is also available.
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