We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating. ![]() Judging by its ingredients alone, Caliber Dog Food looks like a below-average dry product.īut ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. Since vitamin K isn’t required by AAFCO in either of its dog food nutrient profiles, we question the use of this substance in any canine formulation. Chelated minerals are usually associated with higher quality dog foods.Īnd lastly, this food contains menadione, a controversial form of vitamin K linked to liver toxicity, allergies and the abnormal break-down of red blood cells. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Next, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. However, since the actual amount of salt added to this recipe isn’t disclosed on the list of ingredients, it’s impossible to judge the nutritional value of this item.įrom here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.īut to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.įirst, we find no mention of probiotics, friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing to help with digestion. That’s because sodium is a necessary mineral for all animals - including humans. Salt is a common additive in many dog foods. 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.Īfter the natural chicken flavor, we find salt (also known as sodium chloride). Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient, a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient. 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.Ĭhicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. The fifth ingredient is soybean meal, a by-product of soybean oil production more commonly found in farm animal feeds.Īlthough soybean meal contains 48% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.Īnd less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label - a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food. The bran is the fiber-rich outer layer of the grain containing starch, protein, fat as well as vitamins and minerals. ![]() The fourth ingredient is rice bran, a healthy by-product of milling whole grain rice. Wheat is another cereal grain and subject to the same issues as corn (previously discussed). ![]() However, the ash content of the final product is typically adjusted in the recipe to allow its mineral profile to meet AAFCO guidelines. Yet it can also be high in ash - about 25-30%. Pork meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh pork. And aside from its energy content, this grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.įor this reason, we do not consider corn a preferred component in any dog food. ![]() Corn is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain. The first ingredient in this dog food is corn.
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