Rating: 
Evanger’s dry dog food receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
The Evanger’s product line includes three dry dog foods… each designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
- Evanger’s Chicken with Brown Rice Dry Dog Food
- Evanger’s Pheasant and Brown Rice Dry Dog Food
- Evanger’s Whitefish and Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food
Evanger’s Chicken with Brown Rice dry dog food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Evangers Chicken with Brown Rice
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken, ground brown rice, chicken meal, potato product, pearled barley, chicken fat (preserved with natural mixed tocopherols (vitamin E), carrot, celery, beet, parsley, lettuce, watercress, spinach, oat meal, catfish meal, brewers dried yeast, natural chicken flavor, flax seed meal, egg product, monosodium phosphate, d/l methionine, lecithin, fish oil, l-lysine, salt, kelp meal, potassium chloride, natural yucca schidigera extract, vitamin E supplement, ascorbic acid, biotin, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A acetate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B-12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, citric acid, vitamin D2 supplement, folic acid, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, manganous oxide, sodium selenite, calcium iodate
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 26% | 15% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 29% | 17% | 46% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 25% | 35% | 40% |
The first ingredient in this dog food includes 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 brown rice… the second and (most likely) the dominant ingredient in this dog food. Brown rice is a quality grain… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
The third ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The fourth item lists potato product… a by-product of the potato processing industry containing about 71% carbohydrates.1
The fifth ingredient is barley… 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.
The sixth item includes 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 next seven items include a series of nutrient-rich vegetables…
- Carrots
- Celery
- Beets
- Parsley
- Lettuce
- Watercress
- Spinach
Catfish meal is another protein-rich meat concentrate.
In this case, we are pleased to note that, unlike many other fish meals, this particular item appears2 to be ethoxyquin-free.
Brewers dried 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, we feel yeast should be considered a nutritious 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 affect the overall rating of this product.
With two notable exceptions…
First, this dog food contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are generally found in better dog foods.
And lastly, the company 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.
Evanger’s Dry Dog Food… the Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Evanger’s Dry Dog Food appears to be a quality 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 29%, a fat level of 17% and estimated carbohydrates of about 46%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 30% and a mean fat level of 15%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 47% for the overall product line.
Near-average protein. Average fat. And average carbohydrates… when compared to a typical dry dog food.
With no sign of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing an average amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Evanger’s dry dog food is a plant-based kibble using a moderate amount of poultry or fish meals as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a nice wet food to go with this kibble may wish to visit our review of Evanger’s Classic Dinners 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 a specific health benefit 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
03/08/2010 Original review
10/08/2010 Review updated
10/08/2010 Last Update
- Premier AG Resources, 3/8/2010 ↩
- Evanger’s Customer Service, 10/8/2010 ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.