Rating: 
AvoDerm Natural Senior Dog Food (dry) gets the Advisor’s mid-tier rating of three stars.
Currently, the AvoDerm Natural product line includes one senior dry kibble… which meets the AAFCO1 nutrient guidelines for adult maintenance.2
AvoDerm Natural Chicken Meal, Brown Rice and Oatmeal Senior Formula
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken meal, ground whole brown rice, oatmeal, ground whole rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and ascorbic acid), rice bran, chicken cartilage (natural source of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine), flax seed, herring meal, oat bran, avocado meal, dried alfalfa meal, natural flavor, avocado oil, lecithin, rosemary extract, sage extract, bromelain, papain, dried bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried aspergillus oryzae fermentation product, monosodium phosphate, choline chloride, ferrous sulfate, dl-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), zinc oxide, sodium selenite, manganous oxide, riboflavin supplement (source of vitamin B complex), copper sulfate, zinc methionine, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, cobalt proteinate, niacin, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, biotin, pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), calcium iodate, thiamine mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 6.7%
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 is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality item. It’s a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
The third ingredient is oatmeal… a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in fiber, B-vitamins and (like rice and unlike many other grains) is entirely gluten-free.
The fourth ingredient mentions whole rice. Whole rice is similar to brown rice… so similar (in fact) that we’re not sure why it’s even listed separately here.
The fifth ingredient includes 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 sixth item lists yet another form of rice… rice bran. Rice bran is a by-product of rice milling. Though not as nutritionally complete as whole grain rice, brans are still high in fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals.
With no less than three rice items listed within the first six, there is an important issue to consider here…
The questionable practice of ingredient splitting.
You see, if you were to combine all three rice ingredients, the rice would (rightfully) occupy a higher position on the list… probably even nudging out the chicken meal for “first ingredient status”.
Something to keep in mind later on when attempting to evaluate this product’s protein content.
The list goes on to include a number of favorable ingredients…
- Chicken cartilage (for joint health)
- Flaxseed
- Herring meal
- Oat bran
- Avocado meal
- Alfalfa meal
Unfortunately, items located this far down the list are not likely to have much of an effect on the overall nutrient content of this food.
We note that this product contains avocado oil. Avocado oils are naturally rich in monounsaturated fats… making them nutritionally similar to olive oil.
According to AvoDerm, avocado oil is added here to help support healthy skin and coat.
This dog food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are generally found in better dog foods.
AvoDerm Natural Senior Dog Food… the Bottom Line
Even though a quality item like chicken meal occupies the ingredient list’s first slot here, we have very little confidence in the likelihood of much animal protein included in this AvoDerm “senior” kibble.
A look at the product’s nutrient profile should verify our concern.
The dashboard reports a dry matter protein reading of 22%, a fat level of 11% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 59%.
Low protein. Low fat. And unusually high carbohydrates (compared to many other dry dog foods)… confirming our initial suspicion of low meat content.
Bottom line?
AvoDerm Natural Senior Formula is primarily a rice-based dry dog food using only a modest amount of a chicken meal as its main source of animal protein.
Yet its lack of any critical Red Flag items prompts us to soften our unfavorable impression and award this AvoDerm Senior product an acceptable three stars.
Recommended.
Some Final Thoughts
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult your veterinarian for help.
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