Rating: 
Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance Dog Food receives the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.
The Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance product line lists four freeze dried dog foods, each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.
- Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance Goat
- Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance Lamb
- Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance Rabbit
- Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance Chicken
Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance Rabbit was selected to represent the other products in the line for this review.
Grandma Lucy's Pureformance Rabbit
Freeze-Dried Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: USDA Rabbit, chickpeas, flax, carrots, celery, apples, bananas, blueberries, cranberries, pumpkin, papaya, spinach, garlic, rosemary, vitamin A, vitamin D3, vitamin E, niacin, iron, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, riboflavin, thiamine, potassium, manganese, chloride, copper, magnesium, pyridoxine, cyanocobalamin
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 7.6%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 36% | 14% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 39% | 15% | 38% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 34% | 32% | 34% |
The first ingredient in this dog food is rabbit. Rabbit is considered “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered rabbit” and associated with skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart, esophagus or other tissues accompanying the flesh.1
Rabbit is naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans. Like peas, bean and lentils, the chickpea is a nutritious member of the fiber-rich legume (or pulse) family of vegetables.
However, chickpeas contain about 22% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The third ingredient is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.
However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The fourth ingredient is carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The fifth ingredient is celery. Although raw celery can be very high in water, it can still contribute a notable amount of dietary fiber as well as other healthy nutrients.
The sixth 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 two notable exceptions…
First, garlic can be a controversial item. Although most experts favor the ingredient for its numerous health benefits, garlic (in rare cases) has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.2
However, the limited professional literature we surveyed provided no definitive warnings regarding the use of garlic — especially when used in small amounts (as it likely is here).
And lastly, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are usually associated with lower quality dog foods.
Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance dog food looks like an above average 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 39%, a fat level of 15% and estimated carbohydrates of about 38%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 38% and a mean fat level of 14%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 40% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 37%.
Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effects of the chickpeas and flax, this looks like the profile of a freeze dried food containing a significant amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance is a meat-based freeze dried dog food using a generous amount of named meats as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Those looking for another freeze-dried product from the same company may wish to visit our review of Grandma Lucy’s Artisan Dog Food.
Please note certain recipes are sometimes given a higher or lower rating 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.
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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
11/02/2011 Original review
05/07/2013 Review updated
05/07/2013 Last Update
- Adapted by The Dog Food Advisor from the definition of meat published by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (2008) ↩
- Yamato et al, Heinz Body hemolytic anemia with eccentrocytosis from ingestion of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum) and garlic (Allium sativum) in a dog, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 41:68-73 (2005) ↩
