Rating: 
EVO Dog Food receives the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.
The EVO product line includes seven dry dog foods, four recipes claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages and three recipes for adult maintenance.
The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.
- EVO Red Meat Formula
- EVO Turkey and Chicken Formula
- EVO Herring and Salmon Formula
- EVO Weight Management Formula
- EVO Red Meat Formula Small Bites
- EVO Turkey and Chicken Formula Small Bites
- EVO Turkey and Chicken Meal Senior Formula
EVO Turkey and Chicken Meal Formula was selected to represent the other products in the line for this review.
EVO Turkey and Chicken Formula
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Turkey, chicken, turkey meal, chicken meal, potatoes, herring meal, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a natural source of vitamin E), natural flavors, eggs, apples, tomatoes, potassium chloride, carrots, vitamins (ascorbic acid, vitamin E supplement, betaine hydrochloride, vitamin A supplement, niacin supplement, calcium pantothenate, beta carotene, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, folic acid), cottage cheese, minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, calcium iodate), alfalfa sprouts, dried chicory root, direct-fed microbials (dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product)
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 2.8%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 42% | 22% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 47% | 24% | 21% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 37% | 47% | 17% |
The first two ingredients in this dog food are turkey and chicken. Although quality items, raw poultry 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, these items would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The third ingredient is turkey meal. Turkey meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh turkey.
The fourth ingredient is chicken meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.
The fifth ingredient is potato. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The sixth ingredient is herring meal, yet another high protein meat concentrate.
Unlike most fish meals, this item appears1 to be ethoxyquin-free.
The seventh ingredient is 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. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
After the natural flavor, we find whole eggs. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The ninth ingredient is apple, a nutrient-rich fruit that’s also high in fiber.
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 three notable exceptions…
First, chicory root is rich in 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, we note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added to provide enzymes to aid the animal with digestion.
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 Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, EVO Dog Food looks like an above average dry 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 47%, a fat level of 24% and estimated carbohydrates of about 21%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 48% and a mean fat level of 22%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 22% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 45%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a significant amount of meat.
For those desiring to mimic a dog’s natural ancestral diet, EVO Dry makes an excellent choice.
Bottom line?
EVO Dog Food is a grain free kibble using a significant amount of named meats and meat meals as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Please note some products may have been given higher or lower ratings based upon our estimate of their total meat 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.
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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
11/22/2009 Original review
06/23/2010 Review updated
01/30/2011 Review updated (added new Senior recipe)
03/31/2011 Review updated (slight change in vitamin and mineral sequence)
11/20/2012 Last Update
- Per Natura Customer Service, 6/23/2010 ↩
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