Rating: 




Halo canned dog food earns the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
Currently, the Halo Dog Food Spot’s Stew product line includes four canned products… each meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
- Halo Spot’s Stew Wholesome Beef Recipe
- Halo Spot’s Stew Wholesome Lamb Recipe
- Halo Spot’s Stew Succulent Salmon Recipe
- Halo Spot’s Stew Wholesome Chicken Recipe
Halo Spot’s Stew Wholesome Beef Recipe was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Halo Spot's Stew Wholesome Beef Recipe
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Beef, beef liver, beef broth, carrots, green beans, celery, zucchini, yellow squash, green peas, mustard greens, rolled oats, dicalcium phosphate, calcium citrate, konjac, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, guar gum, sodium ascorbate, sea salt, potassium chloride, garlic powder, flaxseed oil, minerals (iron amino acid chelate, zinc amino acid chelate, cobalt amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, sodium selenite, potassium iodide), vitamins (vitamin E, A, B12, D3 supplements, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, riboflavin supplement), choline chloride, dried kelp
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 8.3%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food is beef. Beef is defined as “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered cattle” and includes skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus.1
Beef is naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is beef liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal. So long as it’s not over-weighted in a dog food, beef liver is a beneficial component.
The third item is beef broth. Broths are nutritionally worthless. But because they add moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many canned products.
The next seven items include a series of nutrient and fiber-rich vegetables…
- Carrots
- Green beans
- Celery
- Zucchini
- Yellow squash
- Green peas
- Mustard Greens
The next ingredient includes oats. Oats are rich in B-vitamins, 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 three 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
Most of the professional literature we surveyed did not provide any conclusive warnings against the use of garlic… especially in small amounts (as it is here).
Next, flaxseed oil… one of the best non-fish sources of omega-3 fatty acids… essential to a dog’s life.
And lastly, this food 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.
Halo Canned Dog Food… the Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Halo Dog Food appears to be a quality canned 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 36%, a fat level of 28% and estimated carbohydrates of about 28%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 35% and a mean fat level of 22%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 35% for the overall product line.
Below-average protein. Average fat. And above-average carbs… as compared to a typical canned dog food.
With no sign of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a wet food containing a moderate amount of meat.
In addition, it’s important to acknowledge the product for its absence here of any critical Red Flag items.
Bottom line?
Halo is primarily a meat-based canned dog food using a moderate amount of beef and liver as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a quality kibble from the same company may wish to visit our review of Halo dry 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 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… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
02/21/2010 Original review
09/27/2010 Review updated
