Rating: 
Drs. Foster and Smith dry dog food receives the Advisor’s mid-tier rating of three stars.
The Fosters and Smith product line includes five kibbles… two designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages, two for adult maintenance (Senior and Lite) and one for growth (Puppy).
- Drs Foster and Smith Puppy
- Drs Foster and Smith Senior
- Drs Foster and Smith Adult Lamb and Brown Rice
- Drs Foster and Smith Adult Chicken and Brown Rice
- Drs Foster and Smith Adult Lite Chicken and Brown Rice
Drs. Foster and Smith Adult Chicken and Brown Rice Dry Dog Food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Drs Foster and Smith Adult Chicken and Brown Rice
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, whole brown rice, barley, brewers rice, oat groats, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), beet pulp, natural flavor, dried egg product, flaxseed meal, dried carrots, dried sweet potatoes, dried apple pomace, dried kelp, fish oil, brewers dried yeast, potassium chloride, dicalcium phosphate, salt, taurine, l-ascorbyl-2 polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), zinc proteinate, vitamin E supplement, iron sulfate, manganese proteinate, zinc oxide, mixed tocopherols and citric acid (preservatives), choline chloride, copper proteinate, manganous oxide, copper sulfate, niacin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, biotin, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), cobalt carbonate, ethylenediamine dihydriodide, folic acid, sodium selenite, rosemary extract, and Bacillus coagulans
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.9%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food lists chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably occupy a lower position on the list.
Which brings us to chicken meal… the second and (more likely) the dominant meat ingredient in this dog food.
Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
The fourth 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. This is a quality grain ingredient.
The fifth ingredient is brewers rice. Brewers rice represents the small grain fragments left over after milling whole rice.
This is an inexpensive cereal grain by-product and not considered a quality ingredient.
The sixth item is oat groats… a whole grain, minimally processed form of oats. So long as they are adequately cooked, groats are high in nutritional value.
The seventh ingredient is 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 eighth ingredient lists beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient… a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.
Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.
We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.
After the natural flavor, we find 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.
Flaxseed meal is one of the best plant-based sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Flax meal is particularly rich in soluble fiber.
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 four notable exceptions…
First, brewers dried yeast. Brewers yeast can be a controversial item. Although it’s a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient contains about 45% protein… and is rich in other healthy nutrients.
Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.
Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.
What’s more, a vocal minority insist yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is something we’ve not been able to scientifically verify.
In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast can be considered a nutritious additive.
Next, the manufacturer appears to have applied friendly bacteria to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.
Thirdly, 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 Drs. Foster and Smith recipe contains menadione… a controversial form of vitamin K linked to liver toxicity, allergies and the abnormal break-down of red blood cells.
Drs. Foster and Smith Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Drs. Foster and Smith dry dog food looks to be an 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 27%, a fat level of 16% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 50%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 26% and a mean fat level of 12%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 55% for the overall product line.
Below-average protein. Below-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.
However, it’s unfortunate the company chose to include menadione in its recipes. Without this controversial supplement and excluding the brewers rice, we might have been compelled to award this brand a higher rating.
Bottom line?
Drs. Foster and Smith is a grain-based kibble using a moderate amount of chicken or lamb meals as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand three stars.
Recommended.
Those looking for a wet food from the same company may want to check out our review of Drs. Foster and Smith canned 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
06/04/2010 Original review
01/06/2011 Review updated
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.