Eagle Pack Dog Food (Canned)

by Mike Sagman
Share

Rating: ★★★★☆

Eagle Pack canned dog food receives the Advisor’s second-highest tier rating of 4 stars.

The Eagle Pack product line includes four canned dog foods, each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.

The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.

  • Eagle Pack Chicken Formula
  • Eagle Pack Turkey Formula
  • Eagle Pack Lamb Formula
  • Eagle Pack Beef Formula

Eagle Pack Turkey Formula was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

Eagle Pack Turkey Formula

Canned Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 41% | Fat = 27% | Carbs = 24%

Ingredients: Turkey, chicken broth, chicken, chicken liver, brown rice, ground flaxseed, dicalcium phosphate, guar gum, salt, lecithin, choline chloride, potassium chloride, carrageenan, cassia gum, Yucca schidigera extract, cranberries, vitamins [vitamin E supplement, vitamin B-12 supplement, niacin supplement, D-calcium pantothenate, biotin, folic acid, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D-3 supplement], minerals [zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, sodium selenite, manganese sulfate, calcium iodate]

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 6.8%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

Estimated Nutrient Content
MethodProteinFatCarbs
Guaranteed Analysis9%6%NA
Dry Matter Basis41%27%24%
Calorie Weighted Basis31%51%18%

The first ingredient in this dog food is turkey. Turkey is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of turkey”.1

Turkey 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 empty. But because they add both flavor and moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many canned products.

The third ingredient is chicken. Like turkey, chicken is considered another protein rich meat ingredient.

The fourth 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 fifth ingredient is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The sixth ingredient is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The seventh ingredient is dicalcium phosphate, likely used here as a dietary calcium supplement.

The eighth ingredient 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.

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 one notable exception…

Unfortunately, the listed minerals 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.

Eagle Pack Canned Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Judging by its ingredients alone, Eagle Pack looks to be an above-average canned dog food.

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 41%, a fat level of 27% and estimated carbohydrates of about 24%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 41% and a mean fat level of 27%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 24% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 66%.

Near-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical canned dog food.

When you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a canned product containing a moderate amount of meat.

Bottom line?

Eagle Pack is a meat-based canned dog food using a moderate amount of poultry, beef or lamb as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.

Highly recommended.

Those looking for a kibble product from the same company may wish to visit our review of Eagle Pack dry dog food.

Special Alert

Rice ingredients can sometimes contain arsenic. Until the US FDA establishes safe upper levels for arsenic content, pet owners may wish to limit the total amount of rice fed in a dog's daily diet.

A Final Word

The descriptions and analyses expressed in this and every article on this website represent the views and opinions of the author.

Although it's our goal to ensure all the information on this website is correct, we cannot guarantee its completeness or its accuracy; nor can we commit to ensuring all the material is kept up-to-date on a daily basis.

Each review is offered in good faith and has been 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 analyze each product, please 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 qualified veterinary professional for help.

In closing, we do not accept money, gifts or samples from pet food companies in exchange for special consideration in the preparation of our reviews or ratings.

To learn how we support the cost of operating this website, please visit our public Disclosure and Disclaimer page.

Have an opinion about this dog food? Or maybe the review itself? Please know we welcome your comments.

Notes and Updates

09/04/2011 Original review
03/10/2013 Review updated
03/10/2013 Last Update

  1. Adapted by the Dog Food Advisor and based upon the official definition for chicken published by the Association of American Feed Control Officials, Official Publication, 2008 Edition ↩
Tagged as: , , , , ,

  • Pingback: Dog Food Recalls, An Update - Dog Wonders

  • Pingback: All Different Dog Food Brands & Types | My Blog

  • Chris

    My puppy had itchy skin, gas issues and stomach sensitivity.  This is the only food that I have run across that fixes  all of these issues.  Minor problem – Newer productions of this food have altered the ingredient list from the one that is listed.  Newer production lists the following changes:

    Turkey, Chicken Broth, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Ground Brown Rice, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Carrageenan, Cassia Gum, Salt, Guar Gum, Minerals [several changes here, including chelated], Vitamins [a few changes], Choline Chloride, Cranberry Powder, Yucca Schidigera Extract.

    Please update the analysis.  Thank you.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Diana… Our formulas are taken directly from studies published by the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition and are based on the scientifically derived determinants conveyed in the footnotes you’ll find at the end of this article.

    Many pet manufacturers use these formulas too in computing their recommended feeding instructions printed on the package.

    But imagine for a minute that humans could be fed by a formula, too. Which mathematical formula would you feed yourself (our your kids) by? The fact is, no formula can be automatically appropriate for every creature on earth. Each has its own activity level (which by the way the formula you mentioned here seems to ignore). And its own basal metabolism rate (the amount of energy a body burns at rest.

    Here’s the only way to get this number right. It’s called real life. Titration. And biological feedback.

    Since each dog has its own unique energy requirements (just like people), there’s no way to reliably predict the exact serving size that’s right for each pet. No matter which method you use.

    So, I’d suggest starting with the package’s feeding instructions. Or our calculator. Or the books you’ve read.

    Always measure the food with a real measuring cup. Not a scoop. Never guess. Keep an accurate record of how much you’re feeding.

    Be sure to weigh your dog periodically (every few weeks or so). Then, simply adjust (titrate) that serving size up or down to establish and maintain your pet’s ideal weight.

    Of course, determining the ideal weight for a growing puppy can be a challenge. So, check with your vet, an experienced breeder or another canine professional.

    Sure, it’s a little work. But in the end, it’s the only real life method you can scientifically rely on.

  • Diane

    I use your site often and find it most helpful.I do have a question about the accuracy of the dog food calculator.
    When entering my dogs weight is states 429 calories per day.I have read numerous books written by vets and it states 25 calories per pound which far exceeds your calculations.I used yours and was not giving my girl the requirements needed.25 kal per pound would be 625 for a 25 pound dog.Could you please revisit this? all will be most gratful.
    Thank you,
    Diane Newell and my girl Jessie