Rating: 




Burns Dog Food earns the Advisor’s mid-tier rating of three stars.
The Burns product line lists three dry dog foods… each designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
- Burns Brown Rice and Ocean Fish
- Burns Brown Rice and Chicken
- Burns Mini Bites
Burns Dog Food Brown Rice and Chicken dog food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Burns Brown Rice and Chicken
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: whole grain brown rice, chicken meal, peas, oats, chicken fat, sunflower oil, seaweed, calcium carbonate, niacin supplement, dlalpha tocopharyl acetate (vitamin E supplement) dcalcium pantotthenate, vitamin A acetate, riboflavine supplement, vitamin D supplement, folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, dbiotin, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, cobalt proteinate, ethylenediamine dihydriodide, sodium selenite, potassium chloride
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 2.4%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is 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 includes peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
What’s more, peas contain about 25% protein which must be considered when evaluating the total protein reported in this food.
The fourth item includes oats. Oats are rich in B-vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
The fifth 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 sixth ingredient includes sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is high in linoleic acid… an essential omega-6 fatty acid needed by every dog to sustain life.
But the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats in a food is nutritionally critical… and can vary significantly (depending on the quality of the source ingredient itself).
There are several different types of sunflower oil… some better than others. Without knowing more, it is impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.
The seventh item includes seaweed. Seaweed is rich in essential vitamins and minerals.
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.
Burns Dog Food… the Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Burns Dog Food has the look and feel of a quality kibble.
However, a glance at the product’s nutrient percentages tells a different story about its meat content.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 20%, a fat level of 8% and estimated carbohydrates of about 64%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 22% and a mean fat level of 10%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 61% for the overall product line.
Below-average protein. Low fat. And high in carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
When you account for the protein contributed by the peas, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing only a limited amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Burns Dog Food is a grain-based dry kibble using only a limited amount of chicken or fish meals as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand three 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 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… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
04/29/2010 Original review
11/28/2010 Review updated
