Rating: 
AvoDerm Natural Vegetarian Formula canned dog food earns the Advisor’s mid-tier rating of two stars.
AvoDerm Natural Vegetarian is a meatless canned dog food which meets AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
AvoDerm Natural Vegetarian Formula Adult
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Water, soybean meal, rice, canola oil, barley, peas, carrots, potatoes, guar gum, tricalcium phosphate, blueberries, cranberries, carrageenan, calcium carbonate, tomato paste, flaxseed, dried kelp, potassium chloride, lecithin, salt, avocado meal, avocado oil, 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) = 7.7%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food lists water… which (of course) adds nothing but moisture to this food. Water is a fairly routine finding in most canned dog foods.
The second ingredient is soybean meal. Soybean meal is actually a useful by-product. It’s what remains of soybeans after all the oil has been removed.
Soybean meal contains 48% protein. However, compared to meat, this item is considered an inferior plant-based protein providing a lower biological value.
The third item is whole rice. Whole rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
The fourth item is potato. Assuming they’re whole, potatoes are a good source of digestible carbohydrates and other healthy nutrients.
The fifth item lists carrots. Carrots are loaded with beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The sixth item 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.1
The seventh ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. Unlike grains with a higher glycemic index (like rice), barley can help support stable blood sugar levels in dogs.
The eighth ingredient mentions peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
The ninth ingredient is tomato paste. Unlike the controversial item, tomato pomace, tomato paste does not include the skin or seeds of the fruit. This is a quality ingredient.
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 that this product contains 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 Vegetarian Canned
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, AvoDerm Natural Vegetarian looks like an average canned dog food.
Now, this is the point in our review where we normally try to figure out how much meat is present in the dog food.
But AvoDerm Natural Vegetarian is (by design) a vegan product… meatless.
Now, before we continue…
Please understand we do recognize the need for some dog owners to provide (for whatever reason) a completely meat-free diet.
However, we also respect a dog’s natural carnivorous bias. For this reason, the highest rating awarded any vegetarian dog food found on this website can never exceed two stars.
That said, and before we determine our final rating… let’s estimate how much plant-based protein might be present.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 29%, a fat level of 15% and estimated carbohydrates of about 48%.
Below-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbohydrates… when compared to a typical canned dog food.
As we’d expect, this is obviously the profile of a canned dog food containing no meat.
Bottom line?
AvoDerm Natural Vegetarian is a 100% plant-based canned dog food using a considerable amount of soy meal as its main source of protein… thus earning the brand two stars.
If a vegetarian diet is your goal (a strategy we cannot scientifically endorse), then AvoDerm Natural Vegetarian Formula may be worthy of your consideration.
Not recommended.
Those looking for a vegetarian kibble may wish to visit our review of AvoDerm Natural Vegetarian 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
02/10/2010 Original review
09/16/2010 Review updated
- Mikkelson, B and DP, Oil of Ole, Urban Legends Reference Pages (2005) ↩
- Craigmill AL, et al. Toxicity of avocado (Persea americana, Guatamalan variety) leaves: review and preliminary report, Vet Hum Toxicol 1984;26:381 ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.