Rating: 
Artemis Fresh Mix Canned Dog Food receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
The Artemis Fresh Mix product line lists three canned dog foods… each meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
- Artemis Fresh Mix Beef Formula
- Artemis Fresh Mix Lamb Formula
- Artemis Fresh Mix Chicken Formula
Artemis Fresh Mix Lamb Formula canned dog food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Artemis Fresh Mix Lamb Formula
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Lamb, lamb broth, lamb liver, ocean fish, oat bran, carrots, peas, potatoes, canola oil, egg, cranberry powder, lecithin, brewers dried yeast, dried kelp, salt, potassium chloride, choline chloride, iron amino acid complex, zinc amino acid complex, di-alpha tocopheryl acetate, zinc sulfate, iron sulfate, selenium supplement, manganese amino acid complex, copper sulfate, copper amino acid complex, vitamin B12 supplement, manganese sulfate, niacin, calcium, pantothenate, vitamin a acetate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, calcium iodate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, d-activated animal sterol (source of vitamin D3)
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 6.8%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food lists lamb. Lamb is considered “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered” lamb and associated with skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus.1
Lamb is naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second item is lamb broth. Broths are nutritionally empty. But because they add moisture to a dog food they’re a common finding in many canned products.
The third ingredient is ocean fish. Fish is a high protein ingredient rich in all ten amino acids needed by a dog for life.
Unfortunately, this particular item is anonymous. The term “ocean fish” does little to adequately describe the item. It would be nice to know the actual species.
The fourth item is oat bran… a nutritious by-product obtained by milling whole grain oats. The bran is the fiber-rich outer layer of the grain containing starch, protein, vitamins and minerals.
The fifth item lists carrots. Carrots are loaded with beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The sixth ingredient includes peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
The seventh ingredient mentions potato. Assuming they’re whole, potatoes are a good source of digestible carbohydrates and other healthy nutrients.
The eighth ingredient 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 ninth ingredient mentions egg… a desirable addition. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
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, brewers dried yeast. Brewers yeast can be a controversial item. Although it’s a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient contains about 45% protein… and is rich in other healthy nutrients.
Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.
Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.
What’s more, a vocal minority insist yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is something we’ve not been able to scientifically verify.
In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, we feel yeast should be considered a nutritious addition.
And lastly, we also note this dog food 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.
Artemis Fresh Mix Canned Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Artemis Fresh Mix appears to be an above-average canned 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 41%, a fat level of 23% and estimated carbohydrates of about 28%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 41% and a mean fat level of 23%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 28% for the overall product line.
Above-average protein. Average fat. And average carbohydrates when compared to a typical canned dog food.
With no sign of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a wet food containing moderate amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Artemis Fresh Mix is a meat-based canned dog food using a moderate amount of beef, chicken or lamb as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a grain-free kibble from the same company may wish to visit our review of Artemis Fresh Mix Maximal Dog.
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
03/26/2010 Original review
10/26/2010 Review updated
- Adapted by the Dog Food Advisor and based upon the official definition for beef published by the Association of American Feed Control Officials, 2008 Edition ↩
- 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.