Rating: 
Flint River Ranch Dog Food receives the Advisor’s mid-tier rating of three stars.
The Flint River Ranch product line includes seven kibbles. Since we could not locate AAFCO nutritional adequacy statements for these products on the Flint River Ranch website, we’re unable to report life stage recommendations.
- Flint River Ranch Original Oven-Baked Puppy and Adult Nuggets
- Flint River Ranch Original Oven-Baked Puppy and Adult Kibble
- Flint River Ranch Dry Water Ultra Fresh Innovations
- Flint River Ranch Lamb Meal, Millet and Rice
- Flint River Ranch Duck and Oatmeal
- Flint River Ranch Fish and Chips
- Flint River Ranch Senior Plus
Flint River Ranch Original Oven-Baked Puppy and Adult Nuggets was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Flint River Ranch Original Oven Baked Nuggets
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken meal, whole wheat flour, ground rice, lamb meal, chicken fat (preserved with tocopherols and ascorbic acid), ground whole wheat, flaxseed, dried whole egg, lecithin, fish meal, blueberries, cranberry, rosemary, sage, brewers dried yeast, wheat germ meal, dried kelp, dehydrated alfalfa meal, salt, potassium chloride, monosodium phosphate, choline choride, ferrous sulfate, dl-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), zinc oxide, sodium selenite, manganous oxide, riboflavin supplement (source of vitamin B2), copper sulfate, amino acid chelates of zinc, iron, managanese, copper and cobalt, niacin, ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C), vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin supplement, calcium pantothenate, d-biotin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), calcium iodate, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid, vitamin D3
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The second ingredient is wheat. Now, contrary to what you may have heard, wheat isn’t necessarily a bad ingredient.
On the other hand, although there’s no way to know for sure here, the wheat used in making many pet foods can be similar to the kind used to make feed for livestock.
And that can sometimes be problematic.
What’s more, wheat is commonly linked to canine food allergies1.
For these reasons, we rarely consider wheat a preferred component in any dog food.
The third ingredient is rice. Is this whole grain rice, brown rice or white rice? Since the word “rice” doesn’t tell us much, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this item.
The fourth ingredient mentions lamb meal… another high-protein meat concentrate.
The fifth 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. Though it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is a quality ingredient.
The sixth item mentions ground whole wheat. We don’t really know why the company has chosen to list wheat a second time… except that maybe this is a coarser grind?
The seventh item includes flaxseed… one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Since in this case they’ve first been ground into a meal2, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.
The eighth ingredient is dried whole egg… a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary greatly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries… from eggs that have failed to hatch.
In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
Fish meal is considered another meat concentrate.
Unfortunately, this particular item is anonymous. The term “fish” does little to properly describe this ingredient. Due to the variable oil content of fish, we would prefer to have known the species.
Unlike most fish meals, this item appears3 to be ethoxyquin-free.
Wheat germ meal is a mixture of nutritious by-products of the wheat milling process. Even though it contains 25% protein, it is too far from the top to effect the protein content of this food.
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, brewers dried yeast. Brewers 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.
Next, we find no mention of probiotics… friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing.
And lastly, this food does contain 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.
Flint River Ranch Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Flint River Ranch appears to be a good 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 26%, a fat level of 13% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 53%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 24% and an average fat level of 12%. Together, these figures suggest an overall carbohydrate content of 56% for the full product line.
Below-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbohydrates… when compared to a typical dry dog food.
With no sign of any plant-based protein boosters, this is the profile of a kibble containing only a modest amount of meat.
In any case, it’s important to acknowledge the absence here of any critical Red Flag items.
Bottom line?
Flint River Ranch dog food is a grain-based kibble using a modest amount of poultry, lamb or fish meals as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand three stars.
Recommended.
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 brand… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
04/19/2010 Original review
07/15/2010 Review updated
09/12/2010 Review updated (flaxseed meal)
10/28/2010 Added Duck and Oatmeal/removed Senior Lite)
- White, S., Update on food allergy in the dog and cat, World Small Animal Veterinary Association, Vancouver, 2001 ↩
- Comment, Steve, 9/12/2010 ↩
- Flint River Ranch, 7/15/2010 ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.