Harmony Farms (Canned)

by Mike Sagman
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Rating: ★★★★☆

Harmony Farms canned dog food receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.

The Harmony Farms product line includes six canned dog foods… each meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance.

  • Harmony Farms Roast Lamb Dinner
  • Harmony Farms Hearty Beef Dinner
  • Harmony Farms Roast Venison Dinner
  • Harmony Farms Healthy Salmon Dinner
  • Harmony Farms Country Chicken Dinner
  • Harmony Farms Homestyle Turkey Dinner

Harmony Farms Hearty Beef Dinner Dog Food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

Harmony Farms Hearty Beef Dinner with Idaho Potatoes

Canned Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 39% | Fat = 27% | Carbs = 26%

Ingredients: Beef, beef broth, beef liver, brown rice, barley, carrots, sweet potatoes, potatoes, peas, eggs, guar gum, chicken meal, flaxseed meal, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, dicalcium phosphate, sea salt, carrageenan gum, zinc amino acid complex, iron amino acid complex, sodium selenite, manganese amino acid complex, copper amino acid complex, calcium iodate, vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, choline chloride, folic acid, pyridione hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, ascorbic acid

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5.9%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

The first item in this 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 includes beef broth. Broths are nutritionally empty. But because they add moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many canned products.

The third 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 fourth item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.

The fifth ingredient lists barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. Unlike grains with a higher glycemic index (like rice), barley can help support stable blood sugar levels in dogs.

The sixth ingredient mentions carrots. Carrots are loaded with beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.

The seventh item lists sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a good source of complex carbohydrates in a dog food. They are naturally rich in fiber, beta carotene and other healthy nutrients.

The eighth ingredient is potato. Assuming they’re whole, potatoes are a good source of digestible carbohydrates and other healthy nutrients.

The next ingredient lists peas. Peas are considered a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus they’re loaded with natural fiber.

The tenth ingredient includes eggs… a desirable addition. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.

The eleventh ingredient is guar gum… a gelling or thickening agent found in many wet pet foods. Refined from dehusked guar beans, guar gum can add a notable amount of dietary fiber to any product.

The twelfth ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

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 one notable exception…

We also note 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.

Harmony Farms Canned Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Judging by its lack of Red Flags and the quality of its ingredients, Harmony Farms Dog Food looks to be an above-average canned product.

But ingredient quality alone cannot paint the whole picture. We still need to estimate meat content before determining a final rating.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 39%, a fat level of 27% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 26%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 39% and a mean fat level of 27%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 26% for the overall product line.

Average protein. Above-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical canned dog food.

Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a wet food containing a moderate amount of meat.

Bottom line?

Harmony Farms is a meat-based canned dog food using a moderate amount of named meats as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.

Highly recommended.

Those looking for a good kibble from the same company may wish to visit our review of Harmony Farms 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 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

06/10/2010 Original review
01/10/2011 Review updated

  1. Association of American Feed Control Officials ↩
Dog Food Advisor IconThe Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.


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  • Jonathan

    I just got a can of this for my Sadie from Harris Teeter as a topper. She digs it. But more importantly, I was excited to see a good quality food in a grocery store. They did not, however, carry the dry version of this product. But they do have Evolve. So even if you live in a pet store-less town, Harris Teeter (and probably Kroger’s, Lowe’s Food or other “premium” stores) may have a decent kibble.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Jeannine… Depending upon who you talk to, protein content can be controversial. To see why we tend to favor higher protein dog foods (even for seniors) please be sure to read our recent article, “Suggested Low Protein Dog Foods“. Hope this helps reassure you that good protein content shouldn’t be feared.

  • Jeannine

    i was told that older dogs need lower protein. i could be wrong, the thing is i want the BEST food for my Casey. she is a 16 old Lab and in great health but need to eat canned food. Just looking for the best.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Jeanine,

    Since I’m not a veterinarian, it would be misleading and inappropriate for me to assure you a particular food would provide the health benefits you’re looking for.

    However, it’s no secret to our readers that we aren’t particularly fond of low protein dog foods (even for older dogs) as these (senior) products are notoriously high in carbohydrates. We never award low protein (a.k.a. low meat) dog foods our higher ratings so it’s very difficult for me to recommend a food like this.

    To learn more about low-protein and senior dogs, you may want to read this article by respected nutritionist, Dr. Lew Olson.

    In any case, if you still feel you need to find a low protein recipe, try looking through our 3-star foods to see if you can find one you think you and your dog would like. Hope this helps.

  • jeannine morlacci

    do you have a can food for older dogs who cant have lots of protine? my dog is 16 and has to have low protine.

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