Rating: 
Amicus Dog Food receives the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.
The Amicus Dog Food product line includes three kibbles designed for small and mini breed animals.
Two products meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance and one for growth (puppies).
The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.
- Amicus Small and Mini Breed Adult
- Amicus Small and Mini Breed Puppy
- Amicus Small and Mini Breed Senior and Weight Management
Amicus Small and Mini Breed Adult was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Amicus Small and Mini Breed Adult
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Turkey, chicken meal, red lentils, peas, pea starch, salmon, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, form of vitamin E), salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols, form of vitamin E), turkey meal, salmon meal, flax, alfala meal, pea fibre, egg product, carrots, apples, broccoli, bok choy, cabbage, blueberries, dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation extract, Fructooligosacchardides, Yucca schidigera extract, dried Aspergillus niger fermentation extract, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract, pineapple, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium bifidum fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, d-calcium pantothenate, biotin, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), ferrous sulfate, iron, proteinate, zinc sulfate, zinc proteinate, manganous oxide, manganese proteinate, copper sulfate, copper proteinate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, magnesium oxide
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.7%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 30% | 16% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 33% | 18% | 41% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 28% | 37% | 35% |
The first ingredient in this dog food includes turkey. Although it is a quality item, raw turkey 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 account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
Which brings us to chicken meal… the second and (more likely) the dominant meat ingredient in this recipe.
Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third item lists red lentils. Lentils are a nutritious member of the legume family. They are rich in protein and dietary fiber.
The fourth ingredient includes peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, both peas and lentils each contain about 25% protein… a factor that must be considered when evaluating the total protein reported in this food.
The fifth ingredient includes pea starch… a paste-like carbohydrate extract probably used here as a gel-like binder for making kibble.
The sixth ingredient includes salmon. Salmon is a fatty marine and freshwater fish not only high in protein but also omega 3 fatty acids… essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life.
The seventh 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. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The eighth ingredient is salmon oil. Salmon oil is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
The ninth ingredient is turkey meal… like chicken meal, another protein rich meat concentrate.
The tenth ingredient is salmon meal… yet one more high protein meat concentrate.
We are pleased to note that, unlike many fish meals, this particular item appears1 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 affect the overall rating of this product.
With two notable exceptions…
First, the manufacturer appears to have applied friendly bacteria to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.
And lastly, this food also contains 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.
Amicus Dog Food… the Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Amicus Dog Food looks 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 33%, a fat level of 18% and estimated carbohydrates of about 41%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 34% and a mean fat level of 17%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 41% for the overall product line.
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the lentils and peas, this still looks like the profile of a kibble containing a notable amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Amicus Dog Food is a plant-based kibble using a notable amount of chicken meal as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically 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 specific health benefits 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
05/02/2011 Original review
05/02/2011 Last Update
- Horizon Pet Customer Service, 4/25/11 ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.