Rating: 
Holistic Select canned dog food earns the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
The Holistic Select product line includes eight canned dog foods… seven meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance and one for growth (Puppy Recipe).
- Holistic Select Beef Recipe
- Holistic Select Duck Recipe
- Holistic Select Lamb Recipe
- Holistic Select Puppy Recipe
- Holistic Select Chicken Recipe
- Holistic Select Duck and Chicken Recipe
- Holistic Select Tuna, Salmon and Shrimp Recipe
- Holistic Select Chicken and Chicken Liver Recipe
Holistic Select Chicken Recipe was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Holistic Select Chicken Recipe
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, whitefish, oat bran, carrots, peas, potatoes, dried egg product, flaxseed, guar gum, brewers dried yeast, potassium chloride, canola oil, cranberry powder, dried kelp, vitamins [vitamin E, A, B12, D3 supplements, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, riboflavin supplement], minerals [ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, copper proteinate, manganous sulfate, potassium iodide, sodium selenite], choline chloride, carrageenan, lecithin, Yucca schidigera extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 6.8%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this food is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.1
Chicken is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is chicken 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 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 fourth item is whitefish… a protein-rich freshwater species native to Canada and the northern United States.
The fifth ingredient is oat bran… a nutritious by-product obtained by milling whole grain oats. The bran is the fiber-rich outer layer of the grain containing starch, protein, vitamins and minerals.
The sixth ingredient mentions carrots. Carrots are loaded with beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The seventh ingredient includes peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
The ninth ingredient is potato. Assuming they’re whole, potatoes are a good source of digestible carbohydrates and other healthy nutrients.
The tenth ingredient is dried egg product… 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 next ingredient is 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.
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, this food contains canola oil. Most applaud canola for its favorable omega-3 content… while a vocal minority condemn it as an unhealthy fat.
Current thinking (ours included) finds the negative stories about canola oil more the stuff of urban legend than actual science.2
And lastly, only one of the minerals used here (copper) appears to be chelated. Chelated minerals are those that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Holistic Select Canned Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Holistic Select appears 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 41%, a fat level of 23% and estimated carbohydrates of about 28%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 40% and a mean fat level of 25%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 27% for the overall product line.
Average protein. Near-average fat. And near-average carbs… when 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 an average amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Holistic Select is primarily a meat-based canned dog food using a respectable amount of various named meats as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a kibble from the same company may wish to visit our review of Holistic Select 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
02/26/2010 Original review
09/29/2010 Review updated
- Association of American Feed Control Officials ↩
- Mikkelson, B and DP, Oil of Ole, Urban Legends Reference Pages (2005) ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.