Rating: 
Dr. Tim’s Dog Food gets the Advisor’s highest rating of five stars.
The Dr. Tim’s product line includes three dry dog foods… two meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for maintenance and one (Kinesis) for all life stages.
We note both the Pursuit and Momentum recipes are intended for performance and athletic animals.
- Dr. Tim’s Kinesis Dog Food
- Dr. Tim’s Pursuit Dog Food
- Dr. Tim’s Momentum Dog Food
Dr. Tim’s Pursuit dog food was selected to represent both products in the line for this review.
Dr Tim's Pursuit
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Low ash chicken meal, rice flour, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), herring meal, beet pulp, dried egg product, flaxseed meal, oat flour, canola oil, natural flavor, salmon oil, chicory root, rice bran, salt, potassium chloride, Yucca shidigera extract, vitamins (niacin supplement, vitamin E supplement, D-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, biotin, riboflavin supplement), Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus faecium, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, kelp meal, psyllium seed husks, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, trace minerals (iron sulfate, zinc oxide, manganous oxide, copper sulfate, cobalt carbonate, sodium selenite, ethylenediaminedihydiodide), chelated trace minerals (zinc amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate), l-carnitine, rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.3%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this food is low ash chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The second ingredient is rice flour. Rice flour is made from either white or brown rice and is considered a good gluten-free substitute for wheat flour.
The third 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 fourth ingredient lists herring meal. Herring meal is another protein-rich meat concentrate.
We are pleased to note that, unlike many fish meals, this particular item1 appears to be ethoxyquin-free.
The fifth item is 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.
The sixth ingredient is 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.
The seventh ingredient includes flaxseed meal… one of the best plant-based sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Flax meal is particularly rich in soluble fiber.
The eighth ingredient is oat flour. Since oat flour is nothing more than finely ground oats, it has the same gluten-free nutritional content as raw oats.
The ninth ingredient is canola oil. 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
After the natural flavor, we find salmon oil. This item is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids… essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life. Salmon oil is a welcome addition.
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 have much of an effect on the overall rating of this product.
With three notable exceptions…
First, 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.
And lastly, this also 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.
Dr. Tim’s Dog Food… the Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Dr. Tim’s dog food appears 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 33%, a fat level of 22% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 37%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 34% and a mean fat level of 22%.
Together, these figures (and a low 6% ash) suggest a carbohydrate serving size of 38% for the overall product line.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbohydrates… when compared to a typical dry dog food.
With no evidence of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a dry dog food containing a significant amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Dr. Tim’s dog food is primarily a meat-based kibble using a notable amount of chicken meal as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand five stars.
Enthusiastically 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
08/09/2010 Original review
12/10/2010 Review updated (menadione removed)
- Dr. Tim’s website claim of “no artificial preservatives are used in our products”, 8/9/2010 ↩
- Mikkelson, B and DP, Oil of Ole, Urban Legends Reference Pages (2005) ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.
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