Rating: 
Dave’s 95% Premium dog food earns the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
Currently, the Dave’s 95% Premium product line includes three canned products… each designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance.
- Dave’s 95% Premium Beef
- Dave’s 95% Premium Turkey
- Dave’s 95% Premium Chicken
Dave’s 95% Premium Chicken dog food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Dave's 95% Premium Chicken
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken, chicken broth, guar gum, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), thiamin mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), riboflavin supplement (source of vitamin B2), folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, biotin, vitamin D2 supplement), minerals (zinc sulfate, iron sulfate, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, selenium yeast and potassium iodide)
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 6.8%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first item in this dog food lists chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.1
Like most meats, chicken is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life. This is a quality ingredient.
The second ingredient is chicken broth. Broths are nutritionally worthless. But because they add moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many canned products.
The third item is guar gum… a gelling or thickening agent found in many wet pet foods. Refined from dehusked guar beans, guar gum can add a notable amount of dietary fiber to any product.
Also, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are usually associated with lower quality dog foods.
Dave’s 95% Premium Dog Food… the Bottom Line
With its uncomplicated list of quality ingredients, Dave’s 95% Premium dog food looks like a fine canned product.
But it’s impossible to award a final rating without first estimating the line’s meat content. And we do that by consulting the label’s reported nutrient percentages.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 50%, a fat level of 23% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 19%.
Featuring a brand average of 50%, protein numbers range from a low of 45% for the turkey recipe to a high of 55% for the beef.
Fat was a moderate 24% for the group. Total carbohydrates were estimated to be 18%… but subtracting the 6.8% fiber yields an effective (usable) carbohydrate content of 11%.
Impressive.
High protein. Moderate fat. And ultra-low carbohydrates compared to a typical canned dog food.
This is the profile of a wet food containing an abundance of meat. Unfortunately, the product’s use of non-chelated minerals prevents it from qualifying for our highest rating.
Those looking to mimic a dog’s natural ancestral diet will find Dave’s 95% Premium an excellent choice.
Bottom line?
Dave’s 95% Premium is a meat-based canned dog food using a bounty of beef or poultry as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand a well-deserved four stars.
Highly recommended.
Shoppers looking for a more conventional wet food from the same company may want to visit our review of Dave’s Delectable Dinners.
A Final Word
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.
- Association of American Feed Control Officials definition ↩
