Rating: 
Annamaet Dog Food receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
The Annamaet Dog Food product line includes five kibbles… each meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.1
- Annamaet Encore
- Annamaet Option
- Annamaet Extra
- Annamaet Adult
- Annamaet Ultra
Annamaet Option was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Annamaet Option
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Catfish meal, brown rice, venison meal, pearled barley, rolled oats, canola oil, millet, dried tomato pomace, flax seed meal, lecithin, salt, calcium carbonate, dl methionine, l-lysine, potassium chloride, ascorbic acid, propionic acid, vitamin E supplement, biotin, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A acetate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, citric acid, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, potassium chloride, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, manganous oxide, sodium selenite, calcium iodate
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food lists catfish meal. Catfish are farm-raised in fresh, filtered water.
Catfish meal is a high-protein meat concentrate… containing nearly 300% more protein than fresh fish.
What’s more, unlike most fish meals, this farmed ingredient is most likely ethoxyquin-free.
The second item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
The third ingredient is venison meal… a second protein-rich meat concentrate.
The fourth ingredient is 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 fifth ingredient lists rolled oats… whole oats that have been rolled and flattened into flakes. Since they’re minimally processed, rolled oats are exceptionally high in nutritional value.
The sixth item is canola oil. Most applaud canola for its favorable omega-3 content… while a vocal minority condemn it as an unhealthy fat.
Current thinking (ours included) finds the negative stories about canola oil more the stuff of urban legend than actual science.2
The seventh ingredient is millet… gluten-free grains harvested from certain seed grasses. Millet is hypoallergenic and naturally rich in B-vitamins and dietary fiber… as well as other essential minerals.
The eight ingredient lists tomato pomace. Tomato pomace is a controversial ingredient… a by-product remaining after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.
Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content… while others scorn it as an inexpensive pet food filler.
Just the same, there’s probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.
The ninth ingredient is flaxseed meal… one of the best vegetable sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. And the seeds are naturally rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber.
Lecithin is a waxy substance obtained from soybeans. Although it is commonly used to make fats more blendable, lecithin is believed to improve a dog’s skin and coat.
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, we find no mention of probiotics… friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing.
And lastly, this recipe 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.
Annamaet Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Annamaet 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 27%, a fat level of 14% and estimated carbohydrates of about 51%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 29% and a mean fat level of 16%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 48% for the overall product line.
Average protein. Average fat. And average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Annamaet Dog Food is a grain-based dry kibble using a moderate amount of catfish or chicken meals as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a kibble with even more meat may wish to visit our review of Annamaet Grain Free.
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
05/27/2010 Original review
07/09/2010 Menadione eliminated
12/27/2010 Review updated
- Annamaet Customer Service, 12/27/2010 ↩
- Mikkelson, B and DP, Oil of Ole, Urban Legends Reference Pages (2005) ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.