Rating: 
Go! Dog Food dry formula gets the Advisor’s above-average rating of 4 stars.
The Go! Dog Food product line includes 6 kibbles, each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
- Go! Sensitivity and Shine Duck
- Go! Sensitivity and Shine Salmon
- Go! Refresh and Renew Chicken
- Go! Fit and Free Grain Free (3 recipes)
Go! Refresh and Renew Chicken Recipe was selected to represent all but the grain free products in the line for this review.
However, due to their unique recipes, we review the Go! Fit and Free Grain Free products in their own special report.
Go! Refresh and Renew Chicken Recipe
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken meal, de-boned chicken, whole brown rice, whole white rice, oatmeal, sunflower oil, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), potatoes, salmon meal, natural chicken flavour, whole dried egg, flaxseed oil, rice bran, pea fibre, alfalfa, apples, carrots, cranberries, sodium chloride, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, yeast extract, dried kelp, dried chicory root, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, vitamins (vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, inositol, niacin, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (a source of vitamin C), d-calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, beta-carotene, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement), minerals (zinc proteinate , iron proteinate, copper proteinate, zinc oxide, manganese proteinate, copper sulphate, ferrous sulphate, calcium iodate, manganous oxide, selenium yeast), dl-methionine, l-lysine, calcium phosphate, taurine, dried Aspergillus niger fermentation product, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation product, Yucca schidigera extract, dried rosemary
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 2.8%
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 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 account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The third item is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
The fourth item is white rice, a less nutritious form of rice in which the grain’s healthier outer layer has been removed.
The fifth ingredient is oatmeal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, fiber and is also (unlike many other grains) gluten-free.
The sixth ingredient includes sunflower oil. 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.
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.
The eighth item includes potato. Assuming they’re whole, potatoes are a good source of digestible carbohydrates and other healthy nutrients.
The ninth ingredient is salmon meal. Salmon meal is another high protein meat concentrate, with the extra kick provided by its healthy omega-3 fatty acid content.
Unlike most fish meals, this item appears1 to be ethoxyquin-free.
After the natural flavor, we find whole dried 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.
Flaxseed oil is one of the best non-fish sources of omega-3 fatty acids, essential to a dog’s life.
The the yeast extract mentioned here is probably used as a flavor and immune system enhancer. Although this ingredient can be controversial, the glutamic acid found in yeast extract is a food additive generally recognized as safe by the USFDA.2
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 naturally rich in a substance called 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, the manufacturer 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.
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.
Go! Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Go! Dog Food looks to be an above-average 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 27%, a fat level of 16% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 50%.
Excluding the 5-star Fit and Free grain free products, the brand features an average protein content of 25% and a mean fat level of 14%.
Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 54% for the overall product line.
Below-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-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 moderate amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Excluding the Fit and Free grain-free recipes…
Go! Dog Food is a grain-based dry kibble using a moderate amount of poultry or salmon meals as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand four stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a nice wet product to go with this kibble may wish to visit our review of Go Natural 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 specific health benefits 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
05/28/2010 Original review
12/27/2010 Review updated
11/22/2011 Review updated, new names
- Per Petcurean Customer Service, 5/28/2010 ↩
- L-Glutamic Acid, FDA Select Committee on GRAS Substances ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.
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