Rating: 
Evo Canned Dog Food earns the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.
Currently, in addition to its other wet product line (EVO 95%) the company makes only one canned dog food, EVO Turkey and Chicken Formula.
The product is claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
EVO Turkey and Chicken Formula
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Turkey, chicken, turkey broth, chicken broth, chicken meal, herring, carrots, whole egg, salmon meal, natural flavor, carrageenan, tomato flakes, cottage cheese, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, apples, guar gum, vitamin E supplement, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, folic acid, biotin, iron amino acid chelate, zinc amino acid chelate, cobalt amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, selenium yeast, potassium iodide, inulin, herring oil, choline chloride, potassium chloride, salt, sunflower oil, taurine, sodium phosphate, beta carotene
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 2.3%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 12% | 8% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 55% | 36% | 1% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 38% | 61% | 1% |
The first two ingredients include turkey and chicken, defined by AAFCO1 as “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses” of the named poultry.
Turkey and chicken are rich in all ten amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The third item is turkey broth. Broths are nutritionally empty. But because they add moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many canned products.
The fourth item includes chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The fifth ingredient includes herring. Herring is a fatty marine fish naturally high in protein as well as omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life.
The sixth item lists carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The seventh item includes whole eggs. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The eighth ingredient includes salmon meal, another protein rich meat concentrate.
Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations.2
We are pleased to note that, unlike many fish meals, this particular item appears3 to be ethoxyquin-free.
After the natural flavor, we find carrageenan is 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, we note the inclusion of inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers.
Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.
Next, this recipe also contains selenium yeast. Unlike the more common inorganic form of selenium (sodium selenite), this natural yeast supplement is considered a safer anti-cancer alternative.
In addition, 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.
And finally, 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 Canned Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, EVO Dog Food appears to be an above-average canned 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 55%, a fat level of 36% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 1%.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 67%.
The 1% carb content estimated by our software appears to be too low and suggests the company may have understated the protein and/or fat content of the product.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And low carbs when compared to a typical canned dog food.
With no evidence of any plant-based protein concentrates, this is the profile of a wet food containing an abundance of meat.
For those looking to mimic a dog’s natural ancestral diet, this EVO canned dog food makes an excellent choice.
Bottom line?
This EVO product is a grain-free grain-free canned dog food using an abundance of turkey and chicken as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Those looking for a comparable kibble from the same company may wish to check out our review of EVO 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.
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Notes and Updates
11/26/2009 Original review
07/10/2010 Review updated
01/30/2011 Review updated (no changes)
10/29/2012 Last Update
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