Rating: 
EVO 95% Canned Dog Food receives the Advisor’s mid-tier rating of 3.5 stars.
The EVO 95% product line includes five canned dog foods, each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance.
The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.
- EVO 95% Beef
- EVO 95% Venison
- EVO 95% Duck (2 stars)
- EVO 95% Salmon and Herring
- EVO 95% Chicken and Turkey
EVO 95% Chicken and Turkey was selected to represent the other products in the line for this review.
EVO 95% Chicken and Turkey
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken, chicken broth, turkey, natural flavors, carrageenan, potassium chloride, ascorbic acid, beta carotene, biotin, calcium carbonate, calcium iodate, choline chloride, cobalt carbonate, cobalt proteinate, copper proteinate, d-calcium pantothenate, dicalcium pantothenate, dl-methionine, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, niacin, potassium chloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin C supplement (sodium ascorbate), vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement (alpha tocopherol), zinc proteinate, guar gum, choline chloride, herring oil, salt, potassium chloride, sodium ascorbate, taurine, sunflower oil, sodium phosphate, beta carotene
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.5%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 9% | 10% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 41% | 46% | 6% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 26% | 70% | 4% |
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.1
Chicken 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 turkey, another quality whole meat. Like chicken, turkey is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
After the natural flavor, we find carrageenan, a gelatin-like thickening agent extracted from seaweed. Although carrageenan has been used as a food additive for hundreds of years, there does appear to be some recent controversy regarding its long term biological safety.
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 four notable exceptions…
First, this recipe contains selenium yeast. Unlike the more common inorganic form of selenium (sodium selenite), this natural yeast supplement is considered a safer anti-cancer alternative.
Next, herring oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, herring oil should be considered a commendable addition.
In addition, sunflower oil is nutritionally similar to safflower oil. Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3′s, they’re considered less nutritious than canola or flaxseed oils.
Sunflower oil is notable for its resistance to heat damage during cooking.
There are several different types of sunflower oil, some better than others. Without knowing more, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.
And lastly, this food also 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.
EVO 95% Canned Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, EVO 95% canned dog food looks like an above average wet product.
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 46% and estimated carbohydrates of about 7%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 40% and a mean fat level of 44%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 8% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 109%.
Near-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical canned dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a canned product containing a significant amount of meat.
EVO 95% presents an exceptionally simple design — what some may refer to as a limited ingredients diet.
With no milk, no eggs, no corn, no wheat, no soy, no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, this dog food could be helpful to those trying to determine the cause of a specific food sensitivity.
However, with a fat to protein ratio of about 109%, these recipes may not be suitable for every dog.
This fact could pose a potential problem for those dogs prone to pancreatitis. Without this higher fat content, we would have been compelled to award this product a higher rating.
Bottom line?
EVO 95% canned dog food is a meat-based wet product using a generous amount of beef, poultry, venison or fish as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 3.5 stars.
Recommended.
Those desiring a lower fat content for their pet’s diet may wish to look elsewhere for a another product.
Those looking for a quality kibble from the same company may wish to check out our review of EVO Dry Dog Food.
Please note the Duck product was given a lower rating based upon our estimate of its exceptionally high fat content.
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
11/25/2009 Original review
07/10/2010 Review updated
01/30/2011 Review updated (no changes)
07/04/2011 Added Chicken and Turkey recipe, reduced to 4 stars due to high fat content
01/03/2013 Last Update
- Association of American Feed Control Officials ↩
