Rating: 
Halo Dog Food (dry) earns the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
Currently, the Halo Dog Food Spot’s Stew product line includes four kibbles… two for adults and two for puppies.1
- Halo Spot’s Stew Adult Wholesome Chicken Recipe
- Halo Spot’s Stew Adult Wild Salmon Recipe
- Halo Spot’s Stew Puppy Wholesome Chicken Recipe
- Halo Spot’s Stew Puppy Wild Salmon Recipe
Halo Spot’s Stew Puppy Wholesome Chicken Recipe was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Halo Spot's Stew Puppy Wholesome Chicken
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken, whole dried eggs, pea protein, oats, vegetable broth, pearled barley, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), pea flour, chicken liver, salmon, flaxseed, salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), pea fiber, sweet potatoes, apples, blueberries, green beans, carrots, cranberries, zucchini, alfalfa, inulin, calcium sulfate, potassium chloride, taurine, salt, folic acid, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, cobalt proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, choline bitartrate, niacin, pantothenic acid, ascorbic acid, riboflavin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, Enterococcous faecium, Lactobacillus plantarum, calcium iodate, biotin, sodium selenite
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 7.2%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this food is chicken. Raw chicken contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just 20% of its original weight.
That’s what makes any uncooked meat a much smaller contributor to the overall protein content of a dry dog food than its equivalent and comparable meat meal.
So, don’t be swayed by chicken’s first-ingredient status here. To reflect its lighter weight, this item should more accurately occupy a much lower spot on the list.
The second item includes whole dried eggs… a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary significantly. 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.
The third ingredient is pea protein… what’s left after removing the starchy part of peas.
Compared to meat, pea protein is an inferior source of dog-specific amino acids. Yet it is still capable of raising the protein content of this food.
The fourth item lists oats… a whole-grain ingredient naturally rich in fiber, B-vitamins and is entirely gluten-free.
The fifth ingredient lists barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying more fiber and other healthy nutrients. Unlike grains with a higher glycemic index (like rice), barley can help maintain stable blood sugar levels in dogs. This is a quality grain ingredient.
The sixth item includes 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.
Following pea flour, we find chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal. So long as it’s not over-weighted in a dog food, chicken liver is a beneficial component.
The tenth item mentions salmon. Like the first ingredient (chicken), raw salmon is inclusive of water and subject to the same drying effects of cooking.
Because of its lighter after-cooking mass, this item should also be positioned much lower on the list.
Unfortunately, the salmon and liver components are located too far down the list to have much of effect on the overall protein content of this food.
The next item is described as flaxseed… one of the best vegetable sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. And the seeds are naturally rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber.
However, we find it strange to see flaxseed here in its whole seed form. Whole flax seeds are almost impossible to digest (at least for us humans) unless they are first ground to a usable powder before they are consumed.
The salmon oil listed here is naturally rich in omega 3 fatty acids… essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life. This is a quality ingredient.
After the pea fiber, the next seven ingredients include a series of nutrient-rich and fiber-filled fruits and vegetables…
- Sweet potatoes
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Green beans
- Carrots
- Cranberries
- Zucchini
Halo appears to have added back some of the live bacteria lost during the cooking process. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.
This dog food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to amino acids. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are generally found in better dog foods.
Halo Dog Food “Dry”… the Bottom Line
Looking at the ingredients alone, this Halo Dog Food certainly looks like a quality kibble.
But no dog food analysis can be considered complete without first attempting to estimate the product’s true meat content.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 33%, a fat level of 22% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 37%.
Fairly high protein. Moderate fat. Low carbs (when compared to a typical kibble). And no Red Flag items anywhere.
Halo Dog Food surely specs out like an above-average product. But keep in mind, a significant amount of its reported protein comes from the pea protein.
Although we heartily commend Halo for its use of such high-quality, human-grade components, we feel it’s critically important to never lose sight of a dog’s natural carnivorous bias.
For this reason, we would like to have seen the company provide more meat… and less vegetable protein in its formula.
Bottom line?
Halo Spot’s Stew Dog Food is primarily a vegetable-based kibble using a generous amount of dried eggs as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand a solid four stars.
Highly recommended.
Some Final Thoughts
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult your veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food brand… or maybe the review itself?
Please feel free to share your comments below.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I would use this product as a good base and add my protein now and again, i would not ask my vets because they sell bad dog food well mine does, and halo is a lot better than a lot of dog brands, i make all my own but think i will ghive halo a go/
What makes this a 4 star rating and not a 5 star rating?? It looks very healthy to me.
Hi Michelle… I agree with you. Halo looks very healthy to me, too.
It is sometimes very difficult to choose between two adjacent ratings. Especially (as it was) in this case. It’s probably better to think of Halo as a “four plus”… or maybe even a “five minus”.
As I mentioned in the review, a notable amount of this food’s protein appears to be attributable to the pea protein… which is actually not a bad thing. However, we simply would have preferred more of the protein come more from the chicken… or the eggs.
Please don’t get hung up on whether any dog food on our website rates 4 stars versus 5… for our judgment is certainly not infallible.
Any way you look at it, Halo makes an excellent product. If you’re using this kibble, by all means continue. We like Halo… a lot. When we re-visit this product line sometime later on, we’ll surely reconsider our rating. Thanks for your legitimate question.
My dog is allergic to wheat and corn. She was on Science Diet when I got her and she smelled horrible and scratched and licked herself furiously. I looked for the most organic food I could get, and I had her tested on different foods by my chiropractor and also by my acupuncturist. She tested strongest on Halo–the wild salmon one. A few weeks after being on Halo, the bad odor left. She still scratches and licks herself, but not nearly as much as before. She also tends to make very small turds, which makes me think she’s digesting most of the food.
Thank you for providing this valuable service. I’m happy to know I’m giving my girl the best dog food for her–with no questionable ingredients. Since she’s a guide dog, I need her to stay healthy. She’s not a pet; she’s my eyes.
I am not sure I understand how this food receives it’s four star rating. Although all of the ingredients are high quality, there seems to be very, very little meat protein at all, which is the reason some of the other foods received a lowered rating.
Hi Shannon… I can see why you would question this rating. I had a difficult time in resolving the issue myself.
However, the 33% protein is still above average for a dry food. Although I don’t mention much about the first ingredient (chicken) it is probably also a major player in the protein content of the food. The pea protein probably lowers the amount attributable to the meat component, this (to us) is still an above-average dog food.
my dog has now been on halo spots stew kibble for 2yrs now and seems to like it very much,but i was wondering if the salmon would be better for his stomach as he has issues with bloating at times.could that be from the chicken? i do give him fresh carrots as a treat..but i guess im asking should i switch to the salmon halo kibble?and would that help with his sensitive stomach?he’s going on 6yrs old and has always had problems with his stomach(the vet wanted him to go on science diet which i refuse to do) and for about 3yrs was on the nutro holistic brand ,but took him off that after seeing problems and then saw the recall..please help with this question..thank you very much..he means the world to me and want only the very best for my best friend
Hi Colleen… Most of your concerns seem to be related to resolving health issues with your dog. Unfortunately, since I’m not a veterinarian, it would be misleading for me to assure you that feeding a particular food will result in specific health benefits.
However, the one thing I can suggest regarding your decision about whether to feed canned or kibble… why not feed both? Our Bailey loves when we mix the two together. We use a nice canned food “topper” and combine the two thoroughly (so he can’t pick through the blend). Hope this helps.
Tag: vn
Hi Mike – My tibetan terrier who is 14 mos old (on the small side) had come to us with giardia. She has had other issues too such as dermadex(sP?). She is fine now and is adorable but my vet has always wanted her on a low residue food for intestinal problems. She has been on IAMS and it has just been recalled. I have read great things about HALO and wanted to know which one of their dry foods you would suggest she go on. She is also a dog that is constantly licking herself. Thought i would throw that in.
Thanks, Cindy
Hi Cindy… As much as I’d like to help, I’m not a veterinarian. So, it would be misleading and inappropriate for me to recommend a specific dog food to treat your dog’s condition. By the way, I’m not sure if you could call a higher fiber dog food like Halo a low residue product.
I just switched my 6lb teacup yorkie from beniful to halo dry food and the more i integrate it into her original food i notice she is having pretty bad gas. Any suggestions on this? Also is the protein content to high for her weight??
Hi Alyssa… Dogs are a lot like us humans. Each reacts to a specific food in its own unique way. It would be misleading for me to assure you a particular dog food would solve your dog’s gas problem. Much of choosing the best dog food for any pet should be expected to include at least some trial and error. If things don’t improve, you may need to switch again.