Rating: 
Azmira canned dog food gets the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
The Azmira Dog Food product line lists three canned formulas… each meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
- Azmira Ocean Fish Formula
- Azmira Lamb and Barley Formula
- Azmira Beef and Chicken Formula
Azmira Beef and Chicken Formula was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Azmira Beef and Chicken Formula
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Beef, beef broth, chicken, chicken liver and kidney, ocean fish, tuna, oat bran, whole brown rice, kelp, alfalfa, calcium carbonate, lecithin, garlic, choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, iron amino acid chelate, zinc amino acid chelate, sodium selenite, niacin, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, maganese amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, vitamin B12 supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), folic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, calcium panothenate, vitamin D3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.5%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food is beef. Beef is defined as “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered cattle” and includes skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus.1
Beef is naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second item is beef 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. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.2 Another nutrient-rich ingredient.
The fourth ingredient lists chicken liver and kidney. These are organ meats sourced from a named animal. So long as they’re not over-weighted in a food, liver and kidney are beneficial components.
The fifth ingredient lists ocean fish. Like beef and chicken, fish is yet one more high protein ingredient rich in all ten amino acids needed by a dog for life.
Unfortunately, this particular ingredient is anonymous. The phrase “ocean fish” does little to adequately describe this item.
Unfortunately, this particular item is anonymous. Because various fish contain different types of fats, we would have preferred to have known the source species.
The sixth item is tuna. Like most dark meat fish, tuna is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids. We are pleased to find this particular fish item in the recipe.
The seventh 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 eighth item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
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 three notable exceptions…
First, garlic can be a controversial item. Although the majority of experts favor the ingredient for its numerous health benefits, garlic (in rare cases) has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.3
However, the limited professional literature we surveyed provided no definitive warnings regarding the use of garlic… especially in small amounts (as it is here).
Next, 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.
And lastly, this Azmira dog food also contains menadione… a controversial form of vitamin K linked to liver toxicity, allergies and the abnormal break-down of red blood cells.
We also note this 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.
Unfortunately, this Azmira product also contains menadione… a controversial form of vitamin K linked to liver toxicity, allergies and the abnormal break-down of red blood cells.
Azmira Canned Dog Food
The Bottom Line
With meat making up no less than five of the first six ingredients, Azmira is looking like an above-average canned dog food.
But to get a clearer picture of just how much meat is in this dog food, it’s important to analyze the product’s reported nutrient percentages.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 46%, a fat level of 23% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 24%.
All three products report the same nutrient figures.
Above-average protein. Average fat. And below-average carbs… as compared to a typical canned dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this is the profile of a wet food containing a generous amount of meat.
However, it’s unfortunate the company chose to include menadione in these recipes. This presence of this controversial supplement made us question ourselves in awarding this favorable rating.
Menadione-phobic consumers may wish to pass on this product.
Bottom line?
Azmira Dog Food is a meat-based wet product using a generous amount of lamb, beef, fish and chicken as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a nice kibble from the same company may want to check out our review of Azmira 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 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 brand… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
05/25/2010 Original review
12/24/2010 Review updated
- Association of American Feed Control Officials ↩
- Association of American Feed Control Officials ↩
- Yamato et al, Heinz Body hemolytic anemia with eccentrocytosis from ingestion of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum) and garlic (Allium sativum) in a dog, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 41:68-73 (2005) ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.