Rating: 
Dogswell Dog Food canned formula earns the Advisor’s top rating of five stars.
Currently, the Dogswell product line lists six canned dog foods…
- Dogswell Vitality Duck and Sweet Potato Stew
- Dogswell Vitality Lamb and Sweet Potato Stew
- Dogswell Vitality Chicken and Sweet Potato Stew
- Dogswell Happy Hips Duck and Sweet Potato Stew
- Dogswell Happy Hips Lamb and Sweet Potato Stew
- Dogswell Happy Hips Chicken and Sweet Potato Stew
The brand also includes three Dogswell dry kibbles reviewed by the Advisor in a separate report.
Dogswell Vitality Duck and Sweet Potato was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Dogswell Vitality Duck and Sweet Potato Stew
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Duck, chicken broth, chicken liver, chicken, dried egg product, salmon (source of omega 3), peas, potato starch, sweet potatoes, carrots, red peppers, guar gum, natural flavor, sodium phosphate, cranberries, blueberries, spinach, zucchini, tricalcium phosphate, canola oil (source of omega 3), garlic powder, flaxseed oil (source of omega 3), squash, potassium chloride, taurine, iron amino acid chelate, vitamin E supplement, zinc amino acid chelate, choline chloride, cobalt amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, riboflavin supplement, sodium selenite, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, potassium iodide, biotin, vitamin D3 supplement
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5.6%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food is duck. Duck is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of duck”.1
Like most meats, duck is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
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 ingredient is chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal. So long as it’s not over-weighted in a dog food, chicken liver is a beneficial component.
The fourth item is chicken. Like duck, chicken is also an excellent source of quality protein and amino acids.
The fifth ingredient is dried egg product… a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary greatly. 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.
The sixth ingredient includes salmon. Salmon is a fatty marine and freshwater fish naturally rich in protein as well as omega 3 fatty acids… essential oils needed by every dog for good health.
The seventh item mentions peas. Peas are considered a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re loaded with natural fiber.
What’s more, peas also contain about 25% protein.
The eighth ingredient includes potato starch… a starchy powder extracted from the cell walls of potatoes. Potato starch is most likely used here to thicken the broth into a gravy.
From here, the list goes on to include a few other healthy items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to have much of an effect on the overall quality of this product.
Canola oil is a controversial ingredient. Most applaud canola for its favorable omega-3 content… while a vocal minority condemn it as an unhealthy fat.
Current thinking (ours included) finds the negative stories about canola oil more the stuff of urban legend than actual science.2
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.
Garlic is another controversial item. In rare cases, garlic has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.3
Most of the professional literature we surveyed did not provide any conclusive warnings regarding the use of garlic… especially in small amounts (as it is here).
Although we see no reason to be overly concerned, we do feel it is a mistake to include such controversial ingredients in any dog food.
Dogswell “Canned”… the Bottom Line
The collection of quality ingredients used to make this Dogswell canned dog food are notable.
But ingredient quality isn’t the only issue when judging a dog food. We’re also concerned about the amount of meat, too.
So, we look to the nutrient percentages for help.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 44%, a fat level of 22% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 25%.
All six products in the group report identical nutrient profiles.
Above-average protein. Average fat. And below-average carbs… as compared to a typical canned dog food.
This is the profile of a canned dog food containing an abundance of meat.
Bottom line?
Dogswell is primarily a grain-free canned product using a generous amount of lamb or poultry as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand a commendable five stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
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.
- Adapted by the Dog Food Advisor from the official definition for chicken published by the American Association of Feed Control Officials, 2008 Edition ↩
- Mikkelson, B and DP, Oil of Ole, Urban Legends Reference Pages (2005) ↩
- 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) ↩
