Rating: 
Annamaet Grain Free dog food receives the Advisor’s top rating of five stars.
The Annamaet Grain Free product line lists three dry dog foods… each meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
- Annamaet Grain Free Salcha
- Annamaet Grain Free Manitok
- Annamaet Grain Free Aqualuk
Annamaet Grain Free Aqualuk cold water fish formula was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Annamaet Grain Free Aqualuk Formula
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Salmon meal, potato, catfish meal, field peas, tapioca, menhaden oil (preserved with natural mixed tocopherols (vitamin E)), herring meal, carrots, celery, parsley, lettuce, watercress, spinach, canola oil, natural flavor, lecithin, calcium carbonate, salt, dl methionine, l-lysine, cranberry, ascorbic acid, choline chloride, Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product dehydrated, oligofructose, Yucca schidigera extract, kelp meal, 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) = 3.9%
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 is salmon meal. Salmon meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than even fresh salmon.
Salmon is a fatty marine and freshwater fish known to be rich in omega-3 fatty acids… essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life.
We are pleased to note that, unlike many fish meals, this particular item appears1 to be ethoxyquin-free.
The second ingredient is potato. Assuming they’re whole, potatoes are a good source of digestible carbohydrates and other healthy nutrients.
The third ingredient includes catfish meal… another protein-rich meat concentrate. Catfish are usually farm-raised in fresh water.
Like salmon meal, this item is also ethoxyquin-free.
The fourth ingredient lists field peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
The fifth ingredient is tapioca. Tapioca is a natural extract made from the root of the cassava plant. It is a starchy carbohydrate that is not only grain-free… but also gluten-free.
Tapioca is primarily used as a binder to hold the other ingredients together during the cooking process.
The sixth ingredient is menhaden oil… obtained from processing a species of small ocean fish known as menhaden. Like most fish oils, menhaden oil is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids. This is another healthy addition.
The seventh ingredient is herring meal… yet one more fish protein concentrate.
The eighth ingredient mentions carrots. Carrots are loaded with beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
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 three notable exceptions…
First, we note the inclusion of 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
Next, 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.
Annamaet Grain Free Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Annamaet Grain Free appears to be a high quality dog food.
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%.
Together, all three products present the exact same macronutrient content as our chosen example.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbohydrates… when compared to a typical dry dog food.
With no sign of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a significant amount of meat.
Although supplementary marketing information does not influence our ultimate ratings, we note the company claims these kibbles are unusually low in ash (compared to other grain free products).
Bottom line?
Annamaet Grain Free is a potato-based kibble using a generous amount of named meat and fish meals as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand five stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Those looking for a standard grain-based kibble from the same company may wish to visit our review of Annamaet dog food.
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
10/03/2010 Original review
10/03/2010 Last Update
- Annamaet Customer Service, 10/1/2010 ↩
- 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.
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