Rating: 
Eagle Pack Adult Reduced Fat Formula Dog Food gets the Advisor’s second-lowest rating of two stars.
Currently, the Eagle Pack product line includes eight kibbles… one of which has been specifically designed for adult weight loss.
And that product, Eagle Pack Adult Reduced Fat Formula has been selected for review here.
Eagle Pack Adult Reduced Fat Formula
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Ground yellow corn, ground brown rice, pork meal, oatmeal, dried beet pulp, chicken meal, chicken fat (preserved with natural mixed tocopherols), dried egg product, anchovy & sardine meals, flaxseed, wheat germ meal, brewers dried yeast, salt, potassium chloride, carrots, peas, inulin, yucca schidigera extract, dl-methionine, vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, d-pantothenic acid, niacin supplement, choline chloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid, ascorbic acid, biotin, lecithin, rosemary extract, inositol, kelp, polysaccharide complexes of zinc, iron, manganese, copper and cobalt, potassium iodate, sodium selenite, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Enterococcus faecium, B. subtilus, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus coagulins, Aspergillus oryzae, and Aspergillus niger.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.8%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food is corn. Although there’s no way to know for sure, it’s reasonable to assume the corn described here is similar to the kind used to make feed for livestock.
Feed corn can be contaminated with insects, mites and molds.
Many blame corn for chronic canine allergies. But those allergies are probably more a result of what’s in the corn… than the corn itself.
The second item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
The third ingredient is pork meal. Pork meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh pork.
The fourth item lists oatmeal… a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in fiber, B-vitamins and is (unlike many other grains) entirely gluten-free.
The fifth ingredient is dried 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.
Normally, we find the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts to be entirely acceptable. But at position number five on the list, this item not only dilutes the calories but also serves as a means for reducing meat content.
Three of the next four items are all animal-based protein sources… chicken meal, dried eggs plus anchovy and sardine meals.
Due to their later listings, these three components are less likely to contribute heavily to the product’s reported protein numbers.
The seventh 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 list goes on to include flaxseed, wheat germ, carrots, peas and more. Unfortunately, food items located this far down the list are not likely to have much of an effect on the overall nutrient content of this product.
Eagle Pack appears to have added back some of the “good” bacteria lost during the cooking process. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.
This dog food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to amino acids. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are generally found in better dog foods.
Eagle Pack “Reduced Fat”… the Bottom Line
Weight loss dog foods like this Eagle Pack product are notorious for not just being “lite” on the calories… they’re almost always light on nutrition, too.
For a fair rating, the overriding question has got to be… just how much high biological value protein is available for the animal to use?
And here’s where the product’s nutrient profile can help tell the real story…
The dashboard reports a dry matter protein reading of 22%, a fat level of 10% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 60%.
Low protein. Low fat. And high carbohydrates (when compared to a typical dry dog food).
Just as we suspected, Eagle Pack Reduced Fat isn’t just light on calories… it’s light on the meat, too.
Bottom line?
Eagle Pack Adult Reduced Fat is primarily a grain-based dry kibble using only a modest quantity of pork meal as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand a disappointing two stars.
Not recommended.
Some Final Thoughts
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult your veterinarian for help.
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