Rating: 
AvoDerm Natural canned dog food receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
The AvoDerm Natural product line lists six canned dog foods… each meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
- AvoDerm Natural Chicken and Rice Formula Puppy
- AvoDerm Natural Chicken and Rice Formula Adult
- AvoDerm Natural Lamb and Rice Formula Adult
- AvoDerm Natural Vegetarian Formula Adult (3 Stars)
- AvoDerm Natural Rice and Chicken Formula Lite (2 Stars)
- AvoDerm Natural Original Formula Adult
AvoDerm Natural Chicken and Rice Formula Adult Dog Food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
AvoDerm Natural Chicken and Rice Formula Adult
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, ocean fish, rice, peas, carrots, potatoes, flaxseed, guar gum, blueberries, cranberries, dried kelp, lecithin, avocado meal, avocado oil, potassium chloride, salt, carrageenan, minerals (iron amino acid chelate, zinc amino acid chelate, cobalt amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, sodium selenite, potassium iodide), vitamins (vitamin E supplement, riboflavin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, biotin, vitamin D3 supplement), choline chloride
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 6.8%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this food lists chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.1
Chicken is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient lists chicken broth. Broths are nutritionally empty. But because they add moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many canned products.
The third ingredient is chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal. So long as it’s not over-weighted in a dog food, chicken liver is a beneficial component.
The fourth ingredient lists ocean fish. Like chicken, fish can also be considered a protein-rich meat addition.
Unfortunately, this particular ingredient is anonymous. The phrase “ocean fish” does little to adequately describe this item. We would have preferred a named fish species.
The fifth ingredient mentions rice. Is this whole grain rice, brown rice or white rice? Since the word “rice” doesn’t tell us much, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this item.
The sixth ingredient includes peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
The seventh item is carrot. Carrots are loaded with beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The eighth ingredient is potato. Assuming they’re whole, potatoes are a good source of digestible carbohydrates and other healthy nutrients.
The ninth ingredient is flaxseed… one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.
The tenth ingredient lists guar gum… a gelling or thickening agent found in many wet pet foods. Refined from dehusked guar beans, guar gum can add a notable amount of dietary fiber to any product.
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 note the presence of avocado meal and avocado oil.
It seems avocado products might be somewhat controversial.
Supporters claim the ingredient to be nutrient rich and beneficial to a dog’s skin and coat… while others worry over what are mostly unsubstantiated concerns over potential toxicity.
These fears appear to originate from a 1984 study in which goats (not dogs) consumed the leaves (not the fruit) of the Guatemalan (not the Mexican) avocado… and became sick.2
Based upon our own review of the literature, it is our opinion that the anxiety over avocado ingredients in dog food (in reasonable amounts, of course) is probably unjustified.
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.
AvoDerm Natural Canned Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, AvoDerm Natural 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 36%, a fat level of 32% and estimated carbohydrates of about 24%.
Because of their apparently lower meat content, we have chosen to downgrade the Vegetarian and Lite products to appropriately lower categories.
So, if we exclude the lower-rated Vegetarian and Lite Formulas, the remaining products feature an average protein content of 38% and a mean fat level of 29%.
Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 25% for the overall product line.
Average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs… as 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 a moderate amount of meat.
What’s more, it’s important to acknowledge the absence here of any critical Red Flag items.
Bottom line?
AvoDerm Natural is primarily a meat-based canned dog food using a moderate amount of chicken or lamb as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a comparable kibble from the same company may wish to visit our review of AvoDerm Natural dry 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
02/12/2010 Original review
09/17/2010 Review updated
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.