Rating: 
Breeder’s Choice Active Care Healthy Joint dog food receives the Advisor’s above-average rating of 4 stars.
The Breeder’s Choice Active Care Healthy Joint Formula product line includes two dry dog foods, each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
- Breeder’s Choice Active Care Healthy Joint Lamb
- Breeder’s Choice Active Care Healthy Joint Chicken
Breeder’s Choice Active Care Healthy Joint Chicken and Brown Rice dog food was selected to represent both products in the line for this review.
Breeder's Choice Active Care Healthy Joint Chicken and Brown Rice Formula
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Brown rice, chicken meal, chicken cartilage (source of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate), chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and ascorbic acid), flax seed (source of omega 3 fatty acids), dried egg product, diacalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, salt, potassium chloride, monosodium phosphate, choline chloride, dl-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), sodium selenite, riboflavin supplement (vitamin B2), copper sulfate, amino acid chelates of zinc, iron, manganese, copper and cobalt, niacin, ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C), vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, d-biotin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), calcium iodate, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.3%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food lists brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest.
The second ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third ingredient is chicken cartilage. Chicken cartilage contains both glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, two natural compounds believed to support healthy joints.
In human studies, there has been conflicting evidence regarding the effectiveness of these two ingredients.
Just the same, chondroitin and glucosamine are widely accepted for the prevention and treatment of arthritis in veterinary medicine.
The fourth item 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. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The fifth ingredient lists 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 sixth item mentions dried egg product, a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary significantly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries — from eggs that have failed to hatch.
In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
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 find no mention of probiotics, friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing.
And lastly, this food does contain 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.
Breeder’s Choice Active Care Healthy Joint
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Breeder’s Choice Active Care Healthy Joint dog food looks 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 28%, a fat level of 17% and estimated carbohydrates of about 48%.
Together, the two products feature an average protein content of around 26% and a mean fat level of 15%. These figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 51% for the overall product line.
Below-average protein. Near-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Breeder’s Choice Active Care Healthy Joint is a grain-based kibble using a moderate amount of lamb or chicken meals as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.
Recommended.
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
02/16/2010 Original review
09/22/2010 Review updated
01/19/2012 Review updated (upgraded to 4 stars after re-analysis)
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.