Rating: 
4Health Dog Food receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
The 4Health product line includes six dry dog foods. Although five appear to be designed for adults and one for puppies, we found no AAFCO nutritional adequacy statements for these dog foods on the 4Health web pages.
- 4Health Dog Food Lamb and Rice Formula for Adults (3 stars)
- 4Health Dog Food Chicken and Rice Formula for Adults
- 4Health Dog Food Performance Formula for Adults
- 4Health Dog Food Large Breed Formula for Adults
- 4Health Dog Food Small Bites Formula for Adults
- 4Health Puppy Formula
The 4Health Dog Food Chicken and Rice Formula was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
4Health Chicken and Rice Formula for Adults
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, cracked pearled barley, millet, brewers rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), beet pulp, natural chicken flavor, flaxseed, fish meal, potassium chloride, salt, choline chloride, dried chicory root, glucosamine hydrochloride, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, Yucca schidigera extract, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, chondroitin sulfate, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D supplement, folic acid
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food lists chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably occupy a lower position on the list.
Which brings us to chicken meal… the second and (more 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 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 fourth ingredient is millet… gluten-free grains harvested from certain seed grasses. Millet is hypoallergenic and naturally rich in B-vitamins and fiber… as well as other essential minerals.
The fifth ingredient is brewers rice. Brewers rice represents the small grain fragments left over after milling whole rice.
This is an inexpensive cereal grain by-product and not considered a quality ingredient.
The sixth ingredient lists 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. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The seventh item includes 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.
After the natural chicken flavor, we find flaxseed… one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Flax seeds are rich in soluble fiber.
However, we find it unusual 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.
The tenth 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 properly describe this ingredient. What species? What parts?
Fish meal is commonly made from the by-products of commercial fish operations.
However, we are pleased to report that, unlike many other fish meals, this particular item1 appears to be ethoxyquin-free.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to have much of an effect on the overall rating of this product.
With two notable exceptions…
First, we find no mention of probiotics… friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing.
And lastly, this food does contain chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
4Health Dog Food… the Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, 4Health Dog Food appears to be an above-average kibble.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 29%, a fat level of 17% and estimated carbohydrates of about 46%.
With its implied (23% protein) lower meat content, we’re compelled to downgrade the Lamb and Rice to the next lower category.
So, if we exclude the lamb and rice recipe, the brand features an average protein content of 30% and a mean fat level of 16%.
Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 46% for the overall product line.
Above-average protein. Average fat. And below-average carbs… as compared to a typical dry dog food.
With no evidence of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a dry dog food containing a moderate amount of meat.
In addition, it’s important to acknowledge this product’s absence of any critical Red Flag items.
Bottom line?
4Health Dog Food is primarily a grain-based kibble using a notable amount of lamb or chicken meals as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.
Highly recommended.
A Final Word
This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in a specific health benefit for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
01/16/2010 Original review
08/19/2010 Review updated
- Diamond Pet Customer Service email, 07/17/2010 ↩
{ 114 comments… read them below or add one }
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Alright all ! The food sounds like a valid choice , now the problem lies that I do not have a tractor supply anywhere near me , is there any other place to purchase this food . We adopted a English Pointer and we need to find the food fast . I don’t want to run out of the supply provided without finding more. THANX , C
Hi Chris… I believe 4Health might be sold only at Tractor Supply. However, some of the other foods made by Diamond Pet may fit the bill. Products like Kirkland, Premium Edge, Diamond Naturals, Taste of the Wild have very similar formulas. Shop wisely and make any changes very gradually over a week.
Hi! My name is sadie and I love my new dog food. Mom buys me the lamb and rice and it is so good. I eat every bit and want more. I used to eat blue buffalo chicken and rice but this lamb is so much better. I used to have gas too but no more. I just wish someone would tell my mom to feed me more.
Mike , thanks for the valuable information on the 4Health brand and where it is sold. No with the mixing of the foods( dry) … The previous foster parents of our pup gave us a bag with around 5 lbs of kibble in it to hold us over until we bought more . This is when we found that they do not sell this anywhere around us. Is the amount of food enough to to begin weening off of to start another comp brand ? and how much do you mix of each for how long ? Thanks again , Chris
Hi Chris… I’d start with about 20-25% new food on the first meal and very gradually increase that to 100% over the next week or so. If you don’t have enough to do that, try to stretch what you do have slowly over as long a transition period as you can.
4Health is a Tractor Supply Brand so you’ll only find it there. (much like that nasty Ol ‘Roy food is a Walmart brand) Thankfully the 4Health brand is actually good for them. I switched my dogs from Purina to 4Health and am currently switching the cat as well.
We use the Lamb and Rice brand 4 health for our recently acquired one year old English Bulldog. When we got him he had a staph infection on his skin and he had a horrible ear infection. Also, he had a bad doggy smell even after he was bathed. We put him on a multi vitamin from Tractor Supply (Pet Tabs i think) and give him a teaspoon of Activia brand yogurt on his food everyday. That gives him a probiotic not listed on the food.Activia is the only brand the vet recommended for probiotic. Tank now has a beautiful coat and no skin infection. He has no doggy smell, he doesn’t sit and scratch. He loves his “4 Health” dog food from Tractor Supply. I am so glad we found this food and the info about it on here.
I have a 5 year old Pharaoh Hound female. As a pup I started her on a raw diet. We had good results with it until she started getting picky about eating it. I then switched her to TOTW, which seemed to be good with the exception of runny stools. After a while that cleared up, however I noticed that her coat changed. It became almost double coated and almost wavy. I began to have to strip her coat prior to a show. After about a year on TOTW, I saw 4Health @ TSC and bought a bag and switched her over to it. Within a month her coat began to thin out and lay flat and look normal. She also has a shine on her coat that is unreal.
I am so glad that I found this food. I am getting a new puppy in October, and he will start out on 4Health!
Hi, I am the human to 11 dogs of various sizes and breeds, from 115 lb. King Shepherd, to a 2 1/2 lb. Manchester terrier/Min Pin,we found this food after our chocolate lab started having hair loss issues, she now has a full coat and it is glossy ans soft, also I have to clean up after these guys, I fill a Wal-Mart plastic bag every other day when I clean their yard. I feed 2c in the morning and 2c at night. Good stuff in not a lot goes out.
I tried the 4Health Perfomance forrmula and I WILL NEVER USE THIS STUFF again. I have two dogs a GSP and Lab. My lab showed rapid weight loss and painfull stomack cramps both showed stomach issue and poor coats. I worked the dog food in with the current perfomance dog food I was using for about 7 days and then when it was to the straight use and in two days they both started with loose fecus and no control. They are house dogs also and could not contol the bowls and I never had a problem with this for the last 2 years. I tried not feeding them for 24 hours and this did not help. After two weeks of loss stools everywhere I switched back to the Loyall Performance dog food and within 3 days showed great improvement. I do not recomend that if you care for your dogs DO NOT use this dog food.
Hey Chris,
I have two rescue dogs that are around 120lbs each. They love the lamb and rice meal. It is also sold at Atwoods or any farmers supply should have though I would call them first to double check.
Mike,
We have a Weimaraner, we feed him Nutro puppy. He is going to be a year old at the end of September. His stool has been very soft off and on now for about 4 months. We think he has a sensitive stomach. We are thinking of switching him to the 4health lamb and rice food. Would you recommend this?
Thanks
Hi Shane… There are many good dog foods out there with better quality ingredients. However, since I’m not a veterinarian, it would be misleading for me to assure you that feeding any one of them (like 4Health) would result in the specific health benefit you’re after. This is a question you’d probably want to direct toward you dog’s vet. Sorry I can’t be more helpful.
I have been feeding 4heath to my 5 month old GSP since she was 10 weeks old. During that time, we were under the impression that our puppy had a uti/bladder infection. we tried a mutlitude of drugs with our vet but the crystals in her urine would not go away. the crystals were causing mirco-red blood cells to be present as well. our next step was to try changing her food. We switched to Nutro large breed puppy and her pH has gone down to 6.5 after a week and there are no crystals in her puppy. Im not sure what’s in this food that caused the problem, but it caused my puppy weeks of pain as well as hurt my wallet.
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