AvoDerm Natural Dog Food (Dry)

by Mike Sagman
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Rating: ★★★★☆

AvoDerm Natural dry dog food earns the Advisor’s second-highest rating of 4 stars.

The AvoDerm Natural dog food product line includes 11 kibbles… five claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance, two for growth and four for all life stages.

The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.

According to the company, AvoDerm Natural Lamb Meal and Brown Rice is designed for pets with sensitive stomachs.

AvoDerm Natural Chicken Meal and Brown Rice Large Breed Adult was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

AvoDerm Natural Large Breed Adult Formula

Dry Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 29% | Fat = 11% | Carbs = 52%

Ingredients: Chicken meal, ground whole brown rice, ground whole white rice, oatmeal, salmon meal, rice bran, avocado, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), tomato pomace (source of lycopene), flax seed (source of omega-3 fatty acid), alfalfa meal, chicken cartilage (natural source of chondroitin sulfate & glucosamine), natural flavor, egg product, salt, potassium chloride, kelp meal, vitamins (choline chloride, a-tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), niacin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin a supplement, ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C), pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), thiamine mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), riboflavin supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, biotin, folic acid), minerals (zinc sulfate, zinc amino acid chelate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, manganese amino acid chelate, copper sulfate, copper amino acid chelate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate), avocado oil, taurine, rosemary extract, sage extract, lecithin, pineapple stem (source of bromelain), papain, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation product

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.9%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The second ingredient includes brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient. It’s a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.

The third ingredient is white rice… a less nutritious form of rice in which the grain’s healthier outer layer has been removed.

The fourth item is oatmeal… a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in fiber, B-vitamins and is (unlike many other grains) mostly gluten-free.

The fifth ingredient is salmon meal. Like chicken meal, salmon meal is another high-protein meat concentrate.

We are pleased to note that, unlike many fish meals, this particular item1 appears to be ethoxyquin-free.

The sixth ingredient is rice bran… a healthy by-product of rice milling. Though not as nutritionally complete as whole grain rice, brans are still unusually rich in fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals.

The seventh ingredient is avocado. Avocado can be a controversial item.

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.

The eighth ingredient lists 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. Though it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is a quality ingredient.

The ninth 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 tenth ingredient mentions 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.

However, plant-based oils (like flax) are less biologically available to a dog than fish oil as a source of quality omega-3 fats.

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.

AvoDerm Natural Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Judging by its ingredients alone, AvoDerm Natural Dry appears 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 29%, a fat level of 11% and estimated carbohydrates of about 52%.

However, due to their notably decreased meat content, the Senior, Lite and Vegetarian recipes have all been downgraded to a lower category.

If you eliminate the three lower-rated products from our analysis, the remaining group features an average protein content of 28% and a mean fat level of 15%.

Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 48% for the overall product line.

Average protein. Average fat. And 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 moderate amount of meat.

In addition, it’s important to acknowledge the absence here of any critical Red Flag items.

Bottom line?

AvoDerm Natural is a grain-based dry dog food using a moderate amount of poultry or lamb meals as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand 4 stars.

Highly recommended.

Those looking for a nice wet product from the same company may wish to visit our review of AvoDerm Natural canned 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

02/14/2010 Original review
08/30/2010 Review updated (ethoxyquin-free)
09/18/2010 Review updated
03/12/2011 Review updated (new recipes)

  1. AvoDerm Customer Service, 8/30/2010 ↩
  2. Craigmill AL, et al. Toxicity of avocado (Persea americana, Guatamalan variety) leaves: review and preliminary report, Vet Hum Toxicol 1984;26:381 ↩
Dog Food Advisor IconThe Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.


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  • Mike D

    cilantrO

  • Shawna

    Our 2.5 year old Yellow Lab loves Avoderm.  We switched her about over a year ago because she was getting lots of ear infections, scratching a lot and her paws were cracked and bleeding.  We had been feeding her Royal Canin, but that wasn’t working.  She absolutely loves the Avoderm Chicken or Beef.  She isn’t fond of the lamb.  She hasn’t had 1 ear infection since and her paws are fine.  It’s amazing how much dog food can effect them. 

  • CAR

    Diamond Naturals is a great food. The budget Diamond is what gave the company a bad name a few years ago. I wouldnt worry about it now. Either way Diamond Naturals or Avoderm are both great products.

  • CAR.

    Guacamole is not Avocado. Avocado is part of the dip which also consists of jalapenos, onions, tomatos, and sometimes cilantra. And the only part thats bad is the peel of the avocado.

  • Jestine

    I feed Avoderm to my dogs and love it. My Great Danes started it as puppies that I rescued from a breeder. It was a God-send when my boy had was unable to handle any other food with out serious intestinal and bloating reactions. He was claimed by Wobbler’s he lived until 6. His sister just passed 2 months ago at age 11. My remaining dogs also rescues all are very healthy with great health and amazing skin and coats. I hope that the quality and consistency never changes.

  • Jan (Mom to Cavs)

    Karen, Breeder’s Choice, the maker of Avoderm (and Pinnacle), has been around for quite a long time. They have never had a recall (to my knowledge, anyway). Avoderm, itself, has been around a long time and I have never heard of anyone’s dog having adverse reactions to the food because of the avocado used. That being said, if a dog (like your, for instance) has a reaction like itchiness, diarrhea, etc. that has continued for awhile perhaps it’s time to try a new food. One suggestion is to go to a grain free food and try that for awhile to see if the itching stops.

  • sandy

    If your dog is still itching alot, might try changing foods.

  • Karen

    Help! We have been feeding this dog food to our dog for about a year now. He loves it and we have seen a difference in his shiny coat & energy, but he still seems to itch a lot. I was reading about foods that are bad or poisonous to dogs, and I saw Avacado on it. This is what it said: “Avocado
    No matter how good you think the guacamole is, you shouldn’t give it to your dog. Avocados contain a substance called persin. It’s harmless for humans who aren’t allergic. But large amounts might be toxic to dogs. If you happen to be growing avocados at home, keep your dog away from the plants. Persin is in the leaves, seed, and bark, as well as in the fruit”.
    Is this true? Maybe there isn’t enough in his food to make a difference? Not sure what to do now.

  • Jan (Mom to Cavs)

    @Gina….as the saying goes…it’s never too late (or you’re never too old lol) to learn something new! Don’t feel bad. Most of us at one time didn’t think much about our animals’ food either. Just be glad you finally did learn and can now make an informed decision!

  • Gina

    I have considered it. My 114 lb lab is 12. I just recently started reading and being concerned for my expensive LGD’s.
    I never knew dog food was made so differant, I knew nothing about by-products, bone meal, corn, skin irritations etc.
    I should give it a try on my older lab, maybe it will aleast allow him to finish out his life healthy. I honestly just never gave any thought to dog food until 6 months ago.

  • Jan (Mom to Cavs)

    Gina…none of my business, really, but are you considering using Avoderm for your house dog, too? If in your budget, I would definitely consider it, if I were you. Sounds like he/she would definitely benefit, as well. Have a great day!

  • Gina

    I bought 2 LGD’s at 8 weeks old. Brought them home and found that they had heat spots. The breeder stated their dogs never got heat spots before. I switched them from the recommended dog food to Avoderm for puppies and now Avoderm for large dogs. They have not had a heat spot until they ate my house dogs cheeper dog food and 2 days later the begining of heat spots again. Needless to say I now keep the cheeper dog food away from them getting access. Also they live in the pasture with my sheep. The reduction in waste on 2 100 lb dogs is incredable!! Compared to the 100 lb house dog that I feed a cheeper dogfood too. My front yard looks like a mine field…LOL. I highly recommend Avoderm.

  • christine

    I have three dogs, a 2 yo pit bull, a 6.5 yo black lab, and a 5 yo yellow lab/beagle mix. I have been feeding them AvoDerm Natural Chicken Meal and Brown Rice Large Breed Adult and am constantly getting comments on the shininess and general appearance of their coats…especially the pit bull. I recommend this dog food highly and all of my dogs love it too!

  • kathy

    I also purchased a bag of Wellness Puppy and my Morkie puppy won’t touch it. Next I tried Acana and he will tolerate that but only if I mix it with my older dog’s Diamond Naturals. They both love the Diamond Naturals but I’ve heard controversial things about the company so I’m trying to wean everyone off of it. So my last attempt was to buy Avoderm. Both dogs absolutely love it and can’t get enough! I tried samples of the All Life Stage and the chicken and brown rice formula and they love them both.

  • Deb

    Hi new here. I have a 5 month old Bichon and was feeding him Royal Canin recomended by the breeder. Started reading your site and whole dog journal so bought Wellness Just for Puppy, dry and canned. He doesn’t like the Wellness dry, won’t eat it at all, prefers Royal Canin (which sounds like poor quality food after visiting sites). He does like Wellness canned. He does have some itching. I’d like to try a new dry food that he’ll eat with gusto like the Royal Canin. Any suggestions? It sounds like Avoderm might be good food for his itching. I want to feed him 5 star food but he’s a fussy eater. Thanks. Deb

  • Jeremy B

    Thank you Antonio, Jonathan and Mike! We appreciate the help!

  • Antonio

    @Jeremy B… Jonathan makes a good point, Salmon oil does wonders for the coat on a lot of dogs, also make sure your not bathing the dog too often, if the dogs are bathing too regular their coats will become very dull and dried out w/ time. Most people are astonished to learn I only bath my dog about once every 2mths, maybe a little more frequent in the summer months, and NOO they don’t have the Doggy odor inside my house (at least my neighbors said they couln’t smell it :) )

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