Rating: 
Holistic Blend Grain Free dry dog food earns the Advisor’s highest rating of five stars.
The product meets AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
Holistic Blend Grain Free
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Deboned turkey meat, turkey meal, potato, sunflower oil, pea, salmon meal, flax meal, alfalfa, yeast culture, salmon oil, sweet potato, dried kelp, chicory root extract, lecithin, taurine, Yucca schidigera extract, pumpkin, cranberries, spinach, broccoli, green apple, blueberries, pears, bananas, rosemary extract, cinnamon, turmeric, capsicum, chamomile, dandelion, paprika, choline chloride, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, niacin, L-ascorbyl (source of vitamin C), inositol, d-calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, beta carotene, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, calcium carbonate, zinc proteinate, ferrous sulfate, iron proteinate, zinc oxide, niacin, copper proteinate, copper sulfate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, calcium iodate, sodium selenite
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 2.2%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 38% | 18% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 42% | 20% | 30% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 35% | 40% | 25% |
The first ingredient in this dog food turkey. Although it is a quality item, raw turkey contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
To reflect its lighter mass, this item should more accurately occupy a lower position on the list.
Which brings us to turkey meal… the second and (more likely) the dominant meat ingredient in this dog food.
Turkey meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh turkey.
The third ingredient is potato. Assuming they’re whole, potatoes are a good source of digestible carbohydrates and other healthy nutrients.
The fourth ingredient lists sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is high in linoleic acid… an essential omega-6 fatty acid needed by every dog to sustain life.
But the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats in a food is nutritionally critical… and can vary significantly (depending on the quality of the source ingredient itself).
There are several different types of sunflower oil… some better than others. Without knowing more, it is impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.
The fifth ingredient lists peas… a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) peas are rich in natural fiber.
The sixth ingredient lists salmon meal. Like chicken meal, salmon meal is considered another high-protein meat concentrate.
We are pleased to note that, unlike many fish meals, this particular item appears1 to be ethoxyquin-free.
The seventh ingredient is flax meal… one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Assuming this meal is made from seeds, it is also rich in soluble fiber.
The eighth ingredient lists alfalfa… a flowering member of the pea family. Although alfalfa is more commonly associated with cattle feeds, it can still provide healthy nutrients to any dog food.
The ninth ingredient lists yeast culture . Although yeast culture is high in B-vitamins and protein, it may also be used as a probiotic to aid in digestion.
The tenth ingredient is salmon oil. Like all fish oils, this item is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids… essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life. A quality addition.
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, we find no mention of probiotics… friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing.
And lastly, this food does contain 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.
Holistic Blend Grain Free Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Holistic Blend Grain Free Dog Food appears to be a quality kibble.
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 42%, a fat level of 20% and estimated carbohydrates of about 30%.
High protein. Above-average fat. And low carbohydrates when compared to a typical dry dog food.
With no sign of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing an abundance of meat.
Bottom line?
Holistic Blend Grain Free is a meat-based dry dog food using a generous amount of turkey meal as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand five stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Those looking for a grain-based kibble from the same company may wish to visit our review of Holistic Blend 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… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
11/06/2010 Original review
11/06/2010 Last Update
- Holistic Blend product brochure, 11/6/2010 ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.