Rating: 
Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance Dog Food receives the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.
The Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance product line includes 3 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 Lamb
- Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance Rabbit
- Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance Chicken
Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance Rabbit freeze-dried grain-free dog food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Grandma Lucy's Pureformance Rabbit
Dehydrated 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 item 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 item 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.
Chickpeas contain about 22% protein which must be considered when evaluating the total protein reported in this food.
The third ingredient mentions flax. We are taking the liberty here to assume this means 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.
The fourth ingredient mentions carrots. Carrots are loaded with beta-carotene, minerals and dietary 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 the majority of 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 in small amounts (as it 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 Purformance looks to be an above-average dry dog food.
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 41% for the overall product line.
Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Even considering the protein-boosting effect of the chickpeas, this looks like the profile of a freeze-dried food containing a significant amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance is a grain-free freeze-dried dog food using a generous amount of named animal species as its main source of meat 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.
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… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
11/02/2011 Original review
11/02/2011 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) ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.