Holistic Select Dog Food (Dry)

by Mike Sagman
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Rating: ★★★★☆

Holistic Select dry dog food earns the Advisor’s second-highest tier rating of 4 stars.

The Holistic Select product line includes 12 dry dog foods, eight claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance, three for growth (puppy formulas) and one for all life stages (grain-free formula).

The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.

  • Holistic Select Nourish Puppy
  • Holistic Select Adult Duck Meal
  • Holistic Select Adult Lamb Meal
  • Holistic Select Adult Chicken Meal
  • Holistic Select Small & Mini Breed Adult
  • Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Adult
  • Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Puppy
  • Holistic Select Small & Mini Breed Nourish Puppy
  • Holistic Select Weight Management Chicken Meal
  • Holistic Select Vitalize Senior Health Chicken Meal
  • Holistic Select Adult Anchovy, Sardine & Salmon Meal
  • Holistic Select Grain Free Adult and Puppy Health (4.5 stars)

Holistic Select Adult Health Chicken Meal and Rice was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

Holistic Select Adult Health Chicken Meal and Rice

Dry Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 27% | Fat = 17% | Carbs = 49%

Ingredients: Chicken meal, ground brown rice, ground white rice, oatmeal, chicken fat (preserved with natural mixed tocopherols), pork meal, dried beet pulp, anchovy & sardine meal, flaxseed, dried egg product, menhaden fish oil, tomato pomace, carrots, peas, sun-cured alfalfa, potassium chloride, organic quinoa, blueberries, apples, cranberries, dried kelp, Yucca schidigera extract, dl-methionine, vitamins [beta-carotene, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, niacin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), biotin], minerals [polysaccharide complexes of zinc, iron, manganese and copper, cobalt carbonate, potassium iodate, sodium selenite], choline chloride, lecithin, rosemary extract, glucosamine hydrochloride, inulin, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Enterococcus faecium, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus niger fermentation products, mixed tocopherols (a natural preservative)

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

Estimated Nutrient Content
MethodProteinFatCarbs
Guaranteed Analysis24%15%NA
Dry Matter Basis27%17%49%
Calorie Weighted Basis23%35%42%

The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The second item is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The third ingredient is white rice, a less nutritious form of rice in which the grain’s healthier outer layer has been removed.

The fourth ingredient is oatmeal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and is also (unlike many other grains) gluten-free.

The fifth item mentions 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. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.

The sixth ingredient mentions pork meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.

The seventh ingredient is beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient, a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.

Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.

We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.

The eighth ingredient is anchovy and sardine meal, once again, another high-protein meat concentrate.

We are pleased to note that, unlike many fish meals, this particular item appears1 to be ethoxyquin-free.

The ninth 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.

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.

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 five notable exceptions…

First, tomato pomace is a controversial ingredient, a by-product remaining after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.

Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content, while others scorn it as an inexpensive pet food filler.

Just the same, there’s probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.

Next, we note the use of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added to provide enzymes to aid the animal with digestion.

Thirdly, we note the inclusion of inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers.

Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.

Next, menhaden oil. Menhaden are small ocean fish related to herring. Their oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids, two high quality fats boasting the highest bio-availability to both dogs and humans.

What’s more, in their mid-depth habitat, menhaden are not exposed to mercury contamination as is typical with deeper water species.

And lastly, this food also 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.

Holistic Select Dry 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 27%, a fat level of 17% and estimated carbohydrates of about 49%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 28% and a mean fat level of 16%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 49% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%.

Near-average protein. Near-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.

Bottom line?

Holistic Select is a grain-based dry dog food using a moderate amount of named species meat meals as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.

Highly recommended.

Those looking for a wet food from the same company may wish to visit our review of Holistic Select canned dog food.

Special Alert

Rice ingredients can sometimes contain arsenic. Until the US FDA establishes safe upper levels for arsenic content, pet owners may wish to limit the total amount of rice fed in a dog's daily diet.

A Final Word

The descriptions and analyses expressed in this and every article on this website represent the views and opinions of the author.

Although it's our goal to ensure all the information on this website is correct, we cannot guarantee its completeness or its accuracy; nor can we commit to ensuring all the material is kept up-to-date on a daily basis.

Each review is offered in good faith and has been 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 analyze each product, please 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 qualified veterinary professional for help.

In closing, we do not accept money, gifts or samples from pet food companies in exchange for special consideration in the preparation of our reviews or ratings.

To learn how we support the cost of operating this website, please visit our public Disclosure and Disclaimer page.

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
04/13/2010 Review updated (ethoxyquin warning removed)
06/18/2010 Review updated (corrected nutrient percentages)
09/29/2010 Review updated (changed example product)
12/07/2012 Added Grain-Free product
12/07/2012 Last Update

  1. See comment from Paula dated 4/13/2010 ↩
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  • http://www.facebook.com/amy.chopda Amy Chopda

    If you haven’t found a supplier yet, try wag.com. They deliver next day, free shipping for orders over $50…which is easy, HS is expensive, lol.

  • The Dogfather

    Thanks Patty. Let’s hope that’s it.

  • Pattyvaughn

    Probably improper storage or something causing the fat to go rancid. It’s fairly common.

  • The Dogfather

    My dog’s been on this HS Lamb for about 8-9 months and it has been the best food yet. However, I noticed the latest bag had a slightly strange odor. She has refused to eat it and she is NOT a picky eater at all, so after visiting the vet and getting a clean bill of health I just wanted to see if anyone else had a similar experience, (doesn’t look like it so far). I’ll return the bag and get another from a different store and see if that works first. We love this food and hope it’s an isolated incident.

  • Cate

    Try the Blue Buffalo Basic. Some dogs benefit from that recipe. It seems that adolescent males have this problem more.

  • InkedMarie

    I didn’t realize they had a grainfree til the other day.

  • Jan_Mom2Cavs

    Years ago I used Holistic Select with success and more recently I fed a bag of their new grain free with success. I would feed the grain free again.

  • Lori

    We started feeding the shelter dogs this food and they are all doing fantastic on it. So I am going to try it with my own. I usually give them Earthborn Holistic Grain free, but I am transitioning over. Hope it works out.

  • Jess

    Eagle Pack (as it was then known) was recommended to me by a trainer 10 years ago and I have fed the lamb and rice formula exclusively to both of my older dogs ever since. They are now 11 (a border collie/bernese mountain dog mix) and 13 (a shepherd mix) and thriving. Their coats are in wonderful condition, their stool is solid, and they are in great health. They absolutely devour the Holistic Select kibble. My mom has had similar results with her dogs, who switched to Holistic Select on my recommendation.

    I also started a six-month old king charles cavalier spaniel/bichon mix on the puppy formula after he did not do well on Blue Buffalo (poor coat condition and very smelly stool). He loves the puppy food and is thriving on it too.

  • Juliet Seman

    I have been using Holistic Select Lamb food to feed both of my dogs. I find its the only food they like to eat and I have tried many. I have a Newfindland and they need maximum nutrition b/c they are large dogs and live shorter lives. My newfie is a healthy 8 years old. My last newfie lived until 13. I have used this brand of food since I have had dogs and find it to be an excellent product.

  • 14petes

    Petco stopped stocking Holistic Select Dry Dog Food for adults and puppies.  Grain stores are far and few between.  We don’t want to stop using this excellent product.  The only time our dog was sick was when kids slipped table food to her. I’m in the process of locating a feed store near the Inland Empire in California that Does stock Holistic Select.

  • aimee

     HDM,

    You know me too well! Yes, I’m always interested in finding out if there is any evidence for the idea that the pancreas is “stressed” or “inflamed” simply for functioning as it should.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Aimee –

    I knew you would have something to say about this, I actually thought about you when I was typing it and reworded a few things to make it clear it was their hypothesis (not proven fact) because I knew you would question it. :)

    I don’t believe the idea is that the production of amylase specifically is what stresses the pancreas, but the production of enzymes in general. The point trying to be made is that with a natural raw diet the food already contains enzymes and often supplemental enzymes are also consumed in the stomach. My dogs, for example, eat all raw foods and get green tripe several times per week so I’m sure their pancreases are less “stressed” (in terms of enzyme production) than a dog that is eating commercial dry or canned food devoid of enzymes. Eating a diet devoid of enzymes may not be an issue for every dog (and obviously it isn’t) – but it could cause serious issues for some that are either aging and not producing enzymes as efficiently as they once did or just never did produce adequate enzymes on their own. The idea makes sense.

    I believe the idea that carbohydrates cause undue stress on the pancreas is related to the insulin secreting function of the pancreas. It probably stems from the fact that dogs have no requirement for carbohydrates and that carbohydrates have the greatest effect on postprandial glycemic response. I suppose it’s assumed that the highly processed carbohydrates and high glycemic carbohydrates found in a lot of processed foods cause more rapid changes in blood sugar which would stress the pancrease by making it work harder to keep blood sugar level. To quote Dr. Becker: “As a holistic veterinarian, I don’t think it’s fluke or happenstance that the pancreas has become more and more attacked as an organ. We know that the high carbohydrate-based diets that most dogs and cats eat are extremely taxing to pets’ insulin levels, which are, in turn, taxing to the pancreas.”

  • aimee

     HDM,

    In your readings from vets like Dr. Becker who think carbohydrate stresses the pancreas and causes pancreatic inflammation do they ever explain the mechanism by which it happens or reference their writings documenting it happens?

    What specifically occurs in the production of  amylase that does not occur in the production of  trypsin or lipase for it to be considered stressful?

    What criteria do they use to diagnose pancreatic inflammation? Histopathology of the pancreas in normal research dogs has been reported to be well .. normal, not filled with inflammatory infiltrates. Diet isn’t specifically mentioned in the reports I’ve read but I highly doubt that a research beagle is being fed a raw meat diet.: ) 

    I wonder if now that this new research is out which supports that dogs are genetically prepared to produce lots of amylase and digest carbohydrate with ease if that belief will fall to the sidelines.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Michelle –

    Certain drugs such as potassium bromide and phenobarbital can predispose a dog to pancreatitis. High levels of low quality fats can cause pancreatitis. Rancid fats can cause pancreatitis – so even if you’re feeding a good quality food if the fats have become rancid (the food is old, the food has been open too long, the food has been stored improperly, etc.) the dog could potentially get pancreatitis. Also, some breeds – such as the schnauzer – are just genetically prone to pancreatitis.

    The pancreas is responsible for the secretion of insulin and the secretion of the enzymes necessary for digestion. It should be noted that some holistic veterinarians, such as Dr. Becker, believe that the carbohydrate-laden, enzyme-devoid, highly processed, non-species appropriate foods most pets eat stresses the pancreas. These veterinarians believe that high carbohydrate diets are taxing on a pet’s insulin levels and thus on their pancreas. Also, the species-appropriate diet dogs were intended by nature to eat is a fresh raw diet full of naturally occurring enzymes. When the dog consumes enzymes in its food the pancreas doesn’t have to produce as many enzymes for the digestive process. The cooking processes most commercial foods undergo destroys the natural enzymes in the food, so when a dog eats these foods the pancreas has to work extra hard to secrete large amounts of enzymes for digestion. It is believed that, for these reasons, most pets have a pancreas that is constantly mildly inflamed due to all the unnecessary stress a species-inappropriate diet places on it.

    For dogs that are prone to recurring pancreatitis a low fat diet usually helps as does supplementing with digestive enzymes and a pancreas glandular.

  • Shadowbeen

    Try adding some canned pumpkin or fresh cooked and see if this helps the stool. I give my dog orijen and canned pumpkin to offset the high protein. She has great bowel movements, and the pumpkin will also help take off a little weight if that is a problem as well.

  • Michelle

    Hi.. My young (3 year old) Shar Pei x Blue Heeler has been fed Holistic Health for at least a year..She only eats this and some gluten-free dog cookies.  Last night I had to take her to emergency: she has pancreatitis : (  She is not overweight, isn’t allowed human food and is well taken care of… I can’t understand why?  Has anyone heard of this being related to healthy dog foods?? : (  Thank you

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  • amberabcg

    If you are still having issues, try lowering the amount you are feeding the dog by 1/4.  Give it 1-2 weeks and see if his stool has improved.  Other than changing his diet, you might consider a holistic probiotic supplement.  I know many foods, including HS have it, but I have been told (don’t know for fact) that the probiotic breaks down during the baking process of the food.  I feed HS AND use a seperate supplement that I order online.  Good luck!

  • Melissaandcrew

     Hi Michael-

    I am sorry to hear about your poor dog’s experience with the food. Sounds like he is one of the sensitive ones. If he were mine, I would feed him a bland diet for a few days, and then find something else to try. I personally tend to feed a lot of the Acana products and all do well(I do have to watch the fat content and cut the fat by mixing with another food) I personally do not have a problem with some grains in the diet, and the dogs do really well on the Acana Lamb/okanagan apple(it has oatmeal) and its one of the few that I can feed “solo” They also love the GF varieties and right now they are eating Grasslands mixed with Hi Tek grain free(lamb)

  • Michael Daniel

    Mellissa, I had the same issue with my Aussie went from puppy blue buffalo to Holistic Select Lamb and Rice, made a normal transition little over a week loved it. Then after the transition we started him solo on HS no problems then one day/night he was BAD and when I mean BAD I mean BAD diarrhea then that weekend he threw up at least 2 days worth of food looks like it never started breaking down in his tummy. Then it started scaring my wife and I he stopped eating didn’t want nothing to do with the food dropped about 3lbs over the weekend took him to the vet found high bacteria in his stool no other parisites and gave us some pills.

    From then on which was in late Aug I took him back to Blue Buffalo adult meal he is eating it like crazy but we are still having loose stools which he has had ever since we brought him home and feed him Blue Buffalo…

    I feel bad that he has to do live with the loose stools so I’m trying to do some research on some good foods and thinking of moving him over to a Grain Free diet, my wife thinks I’m crazy and spend to much time doing this but I feel if you have a dog give him the life he should they are only here for a short period of time… 

  • Judith Greenberg

    I just wanted to mention that the Holistic Select Lamb variety is the only food that all three of my dogs (Afghan Hounds) do well on.  All of them have solid stools all the time.  I have tried many other varieties and at least one dog won’t do well on it.  At one point one of my dogs refused to eat the HS and we went through a difficult time finding a replacement.  Finally we went back to HS Lamb (it seems to be the variety they like best) and thank goodness he is eating that just fine after a break.

    You can get a coupon (monthly) by being on their email list.  If you call the number on the package, you can also get a form mailed to get a free rebate after 12 packages.  You need to get that directly from the company, the stores don’t have it.  I buy my food at a very small local pet food store.  The owner was great at helping us find a substitute and knew when it was time to cycle back to HS again.

  • Roxy’smom

    I have had several allergy dogs. They can become allergic to the next food and the next that you try. The only thing I found that worked is DR. Plechner’s drug proticol. He has a web site and several books on this endocrine-immune syndrome. I too almost ran out of proteins before we balanced my German Shepherd’s endocrine system.

  • Shawna

    I agree with HDM!!  Look at the carb content of the food (which has protein too)..  Especially since the hydrolyzed diet/s didn’t work..

    And definitely try elimination if you can’t find a kibble that works..  My dog is raw fed but I had to do elimination with her.  She ended up having reactions to cow bone, cow tripe, goat milk and barley (same symptoms as those you mentioned — REALLY red and hot, itching etc).  However, she was not allergic/intolerant of even one of the meat proteins I was feeding her.

    If you have had blood work done while she has been reactive look at the eosinophil white blood cells.  If they are high then you are very likely dealing with a food allergy…  However, food intolerances can have the same symptoms.  The saliva test info HDM listed tests for food intolerances.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Laura –

    Have you tried a grain-free, white potato free, chicken free food? I’m not sure which varieties of the above foods you used but chicken can often cause issues so it’d be worth trying to eliminate this and all of the above foods contain potatoes and/or grain, it’d be worth trying to cut that out as well and seeing what happens. I’d look into a food like Nature’s Variety or The Great Life – both are grain-free/white-potato free and have some chicken-free varieties with novel proteins. If that doesn’t work and you and your vet truly believe these symptoms are food related you may want to try an elimination diet or get a saliva test done. Here’s some info:

    http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/09/15/help-your-dog-overcome-these-common-allergies.aspx

    http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/07/26/a-great-tool-for-dogs-with-rumbling-tummy-gas-diarrhea-or-vomiting.aspx

    http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/05/07/protein-diets-for-pets-allergy.aspx

  • Laura

    my last two dogs (11 yr old greyhound, and 11 yr old mastiff) were on Blue for several years and did fine.  my two new mastiffs (turned 1 in july and have been on 9 foods) could not tolerate Blue, I have read that many dogs can’t handle the “life bits” in Blue. I have been feeding Holistic select since large breed adult since July, my female seems to be doing fine with HS (I have to add 1/2 can of wet for her to eat) yet has not had any reactions, my male has developed HORRIBLE feet,face and now upper shoulder itching, hair loss, RED and more.  We thought grass pollen allergies???? However, with the meds he has been on (not showing many positive signs) is now pointing to “food issues”.  I’m ready to pull my hair out!!! Has anyone had such extensive experience with food allergies? These are the foods we have tried, always having to go back to Science Diet to rid all symptoms with the exception of not consistant stool.  Orijen, Arcana, Blue Buffalo, Science diet (2 types), wellness, a HP diet (hydrolyzed protein),holistic select, and one other I can’t recall at the moment (a lg breed puppy food that you use for two years. Most you change to adult after 1 yr) Looking for any advise from those that have experienced such extensive food allergies.
    symtoms: red inflamed ears, hot spots on cheeks and head, red/itchy paws, and diarrhea ……   

  • Jan_Mom2Cavs

    Hi kristen38, I’ve used both foods and think they both are of good quality.  I don’t think you could go wrong with either food.

  • BryanV21

    In my opinion it’s 6 one way, half a dozen the other. The foods are really close in terms of protein, fat, carbohydrate, and ingredients (I compared the chicken flavors of each).

  • kristen38

    Can anyone tell me how this food compares to Wellness Super5Mix?  (Wellness and Holistic Select are the same company) Is is better or worse quality, or about the same?  They seem so similar to me, but there must be some reason they’re making each of these foods.  Obviously Wellness Core is the best of them, but it’s slightly expensive for me.  My dog currently eats Wellness Super5Mix, and he seems a little disinterested lately, but he liked his free sample of Holistic Select.  So, I was considering switching his food for a while, but I don’t want to do this food if it’s inferior to Wellness in any way.  

  • Jan_Mom2Cavs

    It’s only been a couple of days but so far they are all doing fine with the Holistic Select grain free.  I really didn’t transition them and their stools seem just fine, maybe a little better than when on the Fromm.  They’re eating it fine, but remember I do add in canned.  I was worried about the kibble size but it doesn’t seem to bother Stella, who has fewer teeth.  I will let you know if any adverse symptoms arise, but I certainly hope not!

  • Melissaandcrew

     tonnie-

    Your welcome. Remember, just because something does not work for one dog, does not mean it will not work for another.

  • tonnie5k

    Melissa,  thanks for the info.. it’s very helpful.  I was also thinking of trying Eagle Pak as it is the same manufacturer.  Funny thing is the Eagle includes corn and it’s still rated 4 stars..  Go figure!!

  • Melissaandcrew

    tonnie-

    I would try grain free or a different food. Not sure I would feed HS to a dog with a known soft stool issue, since I do see several owners have had issues, and I just did as well.

  • Melissaandcrew

     Good to hear!

    One thing I wanted to say, since I like to post good, bad or indifferent results-

    I mixed the sardine,anchovy/salmon in and all seemed to be great for a few days. Last night, one of them looked at me, gave a gag, and explosive vomiting of yellow bile and I mean HUGE amounts. This was right before dinner. He ate his dinner fine, so I thought perhaps it was because I was a tad late in feeding-this am, woke up to watery beige diarrhea from him-and the poor thing straining like crazy. He is now on bland food for a few days. None of the others seem to have issues(yet) so I am guessing it just affects certain dogs this way. However, if it were not for this site and other owners reporting, I would not have known that it might be a concern.

  • tonnie5k

    My Labradoodle puppy has been on Blue Life Protection since we got him from the breeder 6 months ago.. switched from Science Diet.  He has also had diarrhea even since.  We’ve been to the vet and he does not have worms, or any parasites..  The BLUE just does not agree with him.  I am thinking of swiching to Holistic Select.  Hoping this will be a better choice as it has been very frustrating for me and my pup. 

  • Jan_Mom2Cavs

    melissa, I went ahead and started adding in the HS.  The dogs like it (I used to feed the Anchovy formula with grains and they’ve always liked it).  They don’t seem to be bothered with the kibble size…I do mix wet in with it.  It’s a little soon, but so far so good.  Laverne has been showing some allergy symptoms, at least that’s what me and my holistic vet have concluded together.  She had very full, almost impacted anal glands recently, and has been itching her arm pits.  Hence the reason I’m transitioning quicker than planned onto the HS grainfree. She’s also getting some benedryl, as it may be seasonal, too.  I love Fromm, but it’s been a few months now (don’t really remember how long, but they’ve gone thru multiple 12lb. bags either of Salmon/Tunalini or Gamebird) and the allergic symptoms are just showing up, so…..it’s only Laverne, but all of the dogs will be put on HS for a while to see if it helps.  Come to think of it, Laverne was given to me with a bag of Wellness Whitefish & Pot., which is supposed to be hypo-allergenic but who knows. I haven’t really mentioned anything to her breeder, yet, but I might.  The HS is fish based, with no poultry at all.  While it does have pots., we will still start here.  I like the prot., fat, fiber content and the company has never had a recall.  Well…enough rambling lol.  I’ll let everyone know how it goes.  Hopefully, it’ll be good!

  • melissa

    Hi Jan-

    Please keep us updated on how they do, I for one would love to see “user comments” on its performance. I recently had a problem with too high fat and protein for my crew and ran over to the petstore to find something lower in both to mix. I settled on the HS Sardine,Anchovy, salmon meal variety because it met the requirements I needed to lower the overall content of the kibble mix. If they had the Grainfree version in, I would have gotten that to try since they have been grain free for quite a bit now. However, despite that, they took to the food immediately and within 24 hrs all digestive/intestinal issues have resolved.

    Due to the inability to handle the Orijen protein, I had to find something lower as they would be very unhappy losing their Instinct frozen, lol

  • Jan_Mom2Cavs

    melissa, I actually just bought a small bag for my crew to try lol.  The kibble is kinda big, imho, for my small dogs but we’ll see.  I like the fiber content and the fat is a little lower (I like that for mine, too).  After they finish their current bag of Fromm Gamebird, we’ll transition to this.  We used a little of Wellness Core Small Breed lately and I’m not sure about it.  I like the H.S. because it’s chicken free, too.

  • melissa

    Fyi-For those that use this food, I saw at the beginning of the week that they now make a grain free version. Can’t say anything else about it as when I went back tonight to pick up some Natures Variety, the entire display had been sold out.

  • bestlittledoggie

    We started feeding our 4 year old dachshund Holistic Select about a week ago. We had been feeding him Iams up until now, thinking we were doing something good, but he kept getting a little bigger and we’d have to back off the feeding so he’d lose some weight. He’s not a fat doggie, but he gains weight easily. In the week we’ve been feeding him Holistic Select, he’s getting slimmer, his coat seems healthier, and he seems to feel better in general. I think we’ve found his new food.

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  • LA

    Wellpet makes eagle pak, holistic select, wellness and mother hubbard.

  • LA

    Eagle Pak and Holistic are the SAME Company but are different foods – go to their website http://www.eaglepack.com/     Holistic select is Eagle Paks natural food.

  • lablover

    We have been using Eagle Pack/Holistic for years and our Lab mix and his many Labbie foster friends have done wonderfully with no bowel problems. Just a bunch of “regular” dogs. Also, periodically switching/mixing from Duck, Sardine/Anchovy and chicken gives them a good variety without any noticeable problems. I find it a great food without breaking the bank account.  

  • warba

    Our Husky/Shepherd mix had ongoing GI tract issues, including bleeding out of the rectum and very seriously inflamed lower GI tract (as viewed on a scope). Poor little guy went through so many drugs, and “prescription” alergy-dog-foods and just could not seem to solve it.
    Then researched Eagle Pack and moved him onto this as it was heavily fed by Northern dog racers with similar breeds to ours.
    “Eagle Pack” was prior brand name before it changed over to “Holistic Select” – but same product.
    GI issues went away, and our troubled-eater, barfer, bloody-diarrhea pooch is now healthy, happy, and has a great appetite and energy. Yes, it is more expensive, but if you compare the ingredients they are top notch.
    I cannot say enough about this dry food for solving these issues. My review applies specifically to the Anchovy/Sardine/Salmon recipe.

  • S3sharon

    We have two Saint Bernard dogs who had been on Nutro Lamb and Rice Large Breed for years, with great success.  Recently one of our dogs, who has lots of allergies, began to show signs of food intolerance: vomiting phlem, lack of appetite.  I suspected the formulation of the food might have changed.  We switched both of them to Holistic Select Salmon, Sardine and Anchovy.  After only a few days, he is much improved.  

  • Jan_Mom2Cavs

    I noticed awhile ago that my local Petco also stopped selling Holistic Select.  When I asked the manager, a friend of mine, why he said that it was a corporate decision because it wasn’t selling well anymore and they needed room for other products.  Okay……I used to feed it with success many years ago and it still seems like a decent grain inclusive food.  I know that the Great Dane Lady used to endorse it but when Wellpet bought it, she stopped and now endorsed Precise.  She likes family owned companies and other reasons.  Now that you mentioned it, I’ve also stopped getting their newsletter and coupons, but I still get Wellness’s.  Hmmm….?

  • Tina

    Hi! To those who have purchased Holistic at Petco, I went through the same thing. It was weird because it seemed as soon as they started selling it here, they stopped. I don’t know what’s going on w/ the company, but I used to get coupons monthly via email when I signed up on their website. Now…no more coupons as of the 1st of the new year. I still get the food from Petco online….They have had it “on sale” for a few months now and you get free shipping over $49. So I get 2 or three bags at a time. It saves me from driving to the store and lugging it out to my car. Fedex drops it at the door whether your home or not and they are wrapped in individual boxes ( I buy the 30 lbs). I have a dobey and a greyhound and I also foster retired grey’s so we go through alot of food.

  • sandy

    Here are some other choices with fish (if you’re still looking around):

    Innova Prime Salmon 
    Canine Caviar GF Wild Ocean
    Merrick Wilderness Blend 5-star Entree
    Natures Select Salmon & Sweet Potato
    Great Life Salmon (grain or grain free)
    Infinia ZenFood Salmon & Sweet Potato
    California Natural GF Salmon Meal
    Horizon Pulsar Fish Formula
    Earthborn Holistic Ocean Fusion and Coastal Catch
    Honest Kitchen Zeal

  • Sue_devito

    My golden is alergic to poultry and tomato pumic and was going to put him on Holistic Select with the anchovy,sardine and salmon w/oatmeal. if anyone is out there and does not agree w me about this product please let me know asap 

  • Jan_Mom2Cavs

    @Judy….after rereading my post, I apologize for coming off sounding “snotty”.

  • Jan_Mom2Cavs

    @Judy…First off, this is a rating site and not Holistic Select’s own personal site, so you would have to ask them personally if they have a buy 10, get 1 program.  Secondly, if Petsmart is carrying it, it must be a recent event because they don’t carry it at my local Petsmart (or at least they didn’t….haven’t been there in a while actually).  We don’t have a Petsupplies Plus where I live.

  • Br17jr

    I totally disagree my this is the first dog food my dog has not throw up in 2 years.

  • Judy

    You can get it at petsmart or pet supply plus if they are in your area.

  • Judy

    You can get it at petsmart and pet suppy plus if they are in your area.

  • Judy

    They carry it at petsupply plus and petsmart

  • Judy

    I would just like to say that my dog has had many food problems we just switched her to the Holistic Sad/fish and she is doing wonderful. She was having bowel problems and now she has none. Thank You, Judy Rasmussen and do you offer the buy 10 get one free program?

  • Apryl

    I noticed other reviews stating people have purchased this food at discount from Petco which is funny because I just bought 2 bags on clearance at Petco last week.  One of the associates told me they will no longer be carrying the Holistic Select brand.  To transition, I mixed it with their regular dry food and they picked through it to get to their regular food dropping the HS kibble on the ground.  I guess they don’t care for the taste as much.  

  • Marie

    That is so funny…I bought a discounted bag at PetCo for my boys today too! I hope they like it. :)

  • Kat

    I just bought  a discounted bag at my local Petco to try out with my dogs. The manager told me that the food wasn’t selling fast and they were making more shelf space for more Blue Buffalo products.

  • Jan_Mom2Cavs

    Yes, melissa, it is.  I used to feed it and my dogs did well on it.  Petco isn’t carrying it anymore….don’t really know why since they carry Wellness and I think they’re still owned by the same company, but not sure.

  • melissa

    Isn’t Holistic Select the old Eagle Pack Holistic?

  • Jan_Mom2Cavs

    I’m not sure as to why Petco is discontinuing the selling of Holistic Select.  Mine here in Ohio has dropped it, as well.  I found it strange because they still carry the Wellness brand and as far as I know both were owned by the Berwind Corp. and are now under the name Wellpet.  Maybe they are splitting again, but Idk and haven’t heard anything about it.  I don’t use the food, but have in the past.  I was in the store the other day and found out about it when another customer came in to buy it and they were told it was dropped.  The manager didn’t seem to know why, just that it came from the “higher ups”.

  • Anonymous

    The Petco in Lafayette, LA. has recently stopped selling Holistic Select. Today, my daughter drove to the Petco in Baton  Rouge, LA to purchase food for her dog and discovered all of Holistic Select products were on sale as they are also discontinuing the line. My daughter asked an employee of the store the reason and was told Holistic Select has been sold to another company (maybe this was in reference to the 2009 merger?), and that the company was making a ingredient changes that would diminish the quality of the food.

    Has anyone else heard anything about this? Could this Petco employee have been misinformed?

    I’ve fed Eagle Pack then Holistic Select to my two dogs for the past eight and a half years.  My daughter adopted her first rescue a few months ago and decided to feed Holistic Select, because it has always been such a fabulous food and our now senior dogs are exceptionally healthy as a result. I live in a different part of the country, and so far my supplier’s shelves are well-stocked.

  • MadameBleu99

    I feed this to my 3. A St Bernard, and 2 Heeler mix brother and sister (both are deaf). All of their coats improved, my previously lethargic St Bernard is energetic and sooooo much happier. He’s 4 1/2 years old and romps and plays once again. Flatulence isn’t nearly as much of a problem (the anchovy variety is the exception haha). No vomiting or other stomach issues at all. Love love love this product (It was recommended by a St Bernard breeder).

  • Jodi

    I have been using Holistic Select for seniors, and my two older pound puppies, age 7 and 8, love it. First time I have found something that both dogs like. No vomiting, nothing negative and both seem energetic, happy and look forward to meals. Makes me think dogs are just like people; what works for one doesn’t necessarily work for another.

  • Ana

    I recently start using HS dry dog food and my two dogs and pretty much straight away they got pretty sick,vomiting and even my old Chow which I thing she’s a “tefflon” dog got so sick she had to stay at the vets on a drip,after many tests they couldn’t find what was wrong with her,
    Within a few days she start getting seborrhea dermatitis all over her body,And a bad smell .The same happen to my other dog he got so itchy his little belly was bleeding.
    I never tought the cause could be the Hollistic Select but I’m wondering now after reading all this posts.
    I have stoped with this food and although the beagle is ok now
    The chow still not well.
    A big bag of food is in the bin now,just in case!!
    And the fresh meat ONLY is back on the menu!.

  • Jan (Mom to Cavs)

    TinaC….I’m glad Eagle Holistic Select worked for your dog for 8 years! However, it seems it’s definitely time to find a new food. I’m a believer in rotation and I change my dogs’ food up every now and then to give them variety. I know I wouldn’t like to eat the same food for a long time. Anyway, EPHS is a good brand of food…I used to feed it and would not be adverse to feeding it in the future, if warranted. The Great Dane Lady, I believe, had issues when the food was bought by Wellpet. I’m not even certain she actually had issues with the food itself, but I don’t really know. I feel she is a qualified person to tell people what to feed a giant breed as I think she raises them herself, however, now she is endorsing “big time” Precise and I don’t feel it’s any better than EPHS…just mho.
    Well enough of that….the main reason you need to find a new food seems to be your dog’s health on its current food. I feel there a lot of great foods recommended on this site (Mike S. has done a lot of work for us!) and there are some very knowledgable people here that can recommend a good food for you to switch to. I’m not going to do that because I have small breed dogs and I wouldn’t want to steer you in the wrong direction. I do know that large/giant breed pups need lower calcium/phosphorus ratios to help in slow growth. I believe it should be around 1.5/1.0. Hopefully a more experienced person will chime in soon. Good luck to you!

  • TinaC

    Wow. I can’t believe the comments! We’ve been using Eagle/Holistic Large Breed since we brought home our 8 week old great dane mix 8 years ago… I hadn’t noticed any big changes in 2009… that I remember… ?? He has lost weight and seems more anxious… but I attributed that to his new little brother being such a pest… maybe a better food will help him be less of a pest, too (we can hope!).

    The reason we went with Eagle was the Great Dane Lady’s recommendation. Now I find she’s dropped them from her list COMPLETELY. YIKES! I need to get my dogs OFF of this food!!!

    Guess I need to do some research – the Great Dane Lady has a list of recommendations for big dogs: http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/criteria_list_of_better_foods.htm

    With her list and the list here, it looks like there are some good options out there.

    Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!! for this website and all the GREAT information here (and the comments too!!)!

  • mandy

    I literally just bought a 6lb bag of HS anchovy last night for $18.00. My pug was on Solid gold barking at the moon and before acana. I am now debating if I should just throw away the food and buy a different brand of dog food or just see how it goes with this bag. I dont really have the money to spend another $20 on dog food but if it could potentially save me from vet bills it might be worth it.

  • Lee

    Richard and everybody,

    After one week of being off Holistic Select and on Orijen Senior (grain-free), Hannah is seven days free of vomiting yellow bile. Moreover, the dry flakes on her coat have disappeared. COMPLETELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I purchased some Brothers Dyhydrated treats (grain-free), and she loves them.

    Thank you Richard for steering me away from Holistic Select. When we finish the Orijen package, we will give Brothers a try because it does not contain potatoes and it balances nutrients.

    Richard, I feel so bad being so ignorant. Thanks for bringing me this information.

    After seeing the transformation in Hannah after one week, I honestly believe that any food that contains grain should be rated at “2″ or less.

    Wake up, folks. These corporate SOB’s solely interested in profits are selling our beloved pets down the river.

    I am still very, very upset. But hopeful.

  • http://BrothersComplete.com Richard Darlington

    Lee

    Glad to hear Hannah is already doing better. You might want to consider adding some digestive enzymes and probiotics to her food to help support and heal her system. Most of her immune systems T Lymphocytes and IgA Immunoglobulin sites are in the intestines so active probiotics will help restore and maintain health there which will affect her overall health. The digestive enzymes will help take a load off her pancreas and help her get more useable nutrition from the food.

  • Lee

    Thank you, Richard. I really appreciate you taking the time. Orijen is grain free so I’m headed in the right direction with Hannah. Three days now without vomiting the dreaded yellow bile.

    Thanks again.

  • http://brotherscomplete.com Richard Darlington

    Lee

    Three of the first four ingredients are grain – two of them being rice which is split into two ingredients to prevent it from being listed as number one. That’s a LOT of grain for your Carnivore with slight omnivorous tendencies.

    I definitely recommend you get your dog off grain and even off white potato. See discussion on potato problems on Brothers Allergy thread so I don’t have to recopy it all.

    2 to 3 months off these two and I strongly suspect you, and Hannah, will be singing a different tune.

  • Lee

    I’m in the process of transitioning to Orijen Senior with Purina En Gastroentric and boiled breast of chicken helping as a buffer to prevent any digestive problems. As a scientist, I do not have the means to test Holistic Select, but the absence of vomiting yellow bile and the overall sense that she’s feeling better is compelling. I will keep you folks apprised of her progress, but I am very optimistic. Orijen Senior seems like a great food.

    Thanks to all here who steered me in a healthier direction.

  • sandy

    Possible recipe change without informing the public??

  • Lee

    There are similar observations everywhere on the Internet.

    For example,

    http://www.rateitall.com/i-958815-eagle-pack-holistic-select.aspx

    Mike, you seem like a nice guy, but, in my opinion, you should rethink the four star. This food is making a lot of dogs sick.

  • Lee

    I am crestfallen. I tried to do the best for Hannah, but I have failed her. My vet and I couldn’t explain the vomiting of yellow frothy bile in the morning before she ate. I was absolutely stunned to see that others on Holistic Select have seen the same symptom. For Hannah, with two unresolved herniated discs in her neck, the heaving has greatly concerned me. Now I know why.

    Mike, this is empirical evidence from several different sources. Why is Holistic Select still rated at four stars?

    I am very upset right now. With all Hannah has been through (two paralyses and two life-threatening surgeries), I feel like I’ve really failed her. I am so sorry Hannah.

  • Gordon

    Ahh yes….Vet bills…..That’s the goal! Nothing like home prepared fresh foods for yourselves and your dogs!

  • Laura

    We had similar problems after 7 years on Holistic Select Anchovy formula. Our shelter dog did well and recently began having intense diarrhea. Several hundred dollars later in vet bills switched to ID and all stomach issues have cleared up. I was thinking about switching back to Holistic until I read these comments. Will definitely switch to something else. So glad I finally saw what caused the problems.

  • Nicky

    I have a 7 month old American Bulldog who has been on Holistic Select since she was 10 weeks old. We have boughten two 35# bags of Large/Giant Breed Lamb/Oatmeal puppy formula and absolutely loved it. Our puppy looked great!
    Last week we bought our 3rd bag. Our puppy has had dirrahea every time she eats it. Now, she won’t even touch the food, which is very strange for her.
    Not sure what we are going to do? i emailed the company, but no response yet.

  • Linette

    I have a Great Dane who is mostly white and has very sensitive skin. He also is very sensitive natured and has ALD, especially when stressed. We also have a chihuahua who does not have any allergies or sensitive skin.

    We had him on food from a a small family owned company. That company was bought out by a commercial enterprise and both dogs started having difficulties. The Dane started having accidents in the house, something he never did before. The chihuahua did as well. Both started producing way more stool than before.

    We switched them to Holistic Select after a LOT of research and they did beautifully. Last summer, the dane looked like a body builder–he rippled with muscle! The chihuahua was also solid muscle.

    After Wellpet bought them out, we saw a dramatic change. The dane started having accidents in the house again. The chihuahua was having multiple bowel movements a day rather than the one or two as usual. More dramatically, teh dane developed a fungal infection on his back and started having all kinds of yeast issues.

    We switched both dogs to TOTW, and all the problems have cleared up. No more accidents, back to nice firm poops (after a week or so as they adjusted to the new food) and smaller and less copious. The Dane stopped licking madly and his yeast issues and his fungal infection cleared up.

    Coincidence? Maybe. My dogs did not have the vomiting issues, but my cats, also on Holistic Select, did.

    Both dogs are now back to being muscled and glossy and soft coated. Three weeks ago we adopted a alittle pug we found playing chicken in traffic. Her coat was smelly, dry, rough, and she shed copiously.

    After three weeks on TOTW, she is soft, she barely sheds, and she is well muscled and no longer smells. Of course we bathed her too, haha. In addition, the dog had an ulcerated corna and had to have surgery (no such thing as a free dog), and we had her spayed at the same time. She has healed in record time. I do not know if we can attribute it to the food, but so far so good.

  • villa

    I fed Holistic Select for years to my own dogs and hundreds of rescue dogs. When owned by Eagle Pack, the food was fine. Once Wellpet took over, the food changed. My dogs started rushing outside to eat grass and often threw up yellow foam (bile).
    Wellpet said the formula did not change, but where I buy my food the owner said many customers are reporting the same thing about their dogs eating grass.
    I switched to Fromm and so far have been pleased with it.

  • Tonya

    I bought a 5 lb. bag of the Adult Duck formula and my Dogs liked it. I’m thinking about putting this brand into my rotation.

  • Doug A

    LOL Laurie, I was thinking if the anchovy doesn’t help my boys coat I might switch to Fromm next!! I have also thought of trying the lamb Holistic adult as that is the meat used in the Holistic puppy food my boy did so good on. Sigh

  • Laurie M.

    I switched my 3 dogs to Holistic Select Chicken Meal & Rice formula about 3 weeks ago after feeding them Fromm Gold. Holistic Select is cheaper and easier for me to get than Fromm Gold and of the same excellent quality. So far I’ve seen no issues at all with the Holistic Select. I intend to continue feeding them this brand, rotating Lamb and Chicken formulas and including a good variety of quality canned meat toppers or adding cooked meat to their kibble.

  • Pingback: Trying A New Puppy Food « Tail Waggin

  • Doug A

    WOW!!! Last summer I went through the throwing up yellow bile also. The bad news was we had been away and my boy had stayed at the kennel and when I got him home all hell broke loose. After 2 trips to the vet….asking the kennel if they had a problem (no they did not) I finally asked Holistic if something happened….they said no but something sure went wrong with a batch, didn’t it?? I have been feeding Holistic Select for my boy since we got him home as a pup. He was started on Holistic select Large Breed food for pups and I could not have been happier. Coat was as good as I have ever had in a dog. We switched him to HS large breed adult at the companies recommendation and now his coat is dry and flakey. I started adding salmon oil which helped a little but still not good. I have just switched to HS Adult Anchovy Sardine and quit giving the salmon oil. How long should I give this food to see if it helps his coat before trying another? Thanks for a very informative site but I admit it seems like most quality foods on here still create problems for some dogs.

  • Kimm

    I have been using HS Lamb and Oatmeal for about 10-12 years for my Lab because he had such severe allergies that it was the only one that he could eat without breaking out in hot spots on the bottom of his feet. He past away in Sept. 2010 at the age of 14. We just got another lab puppy and started him on the same food and he started having trouble immediately. Itching and bitting his feet started so fast but I did not know what it was until now. We changed his food to the HS Chicken and Rice but it has continued so I called the breeder and he was raised on Enhanced Hunters Edge which has a bad rating. But he seems to have started doing better already. I did not know that HS was sold to Wellpet. Now I am trying to find something else that is Ethoxyquin Free.
    Thanks for getting the information out. I will continue to check the website for info and will also let others know.

  • ShamelessRawFoodie

    Beth – You were already feeding some homemade food, so the next best thing for your dogs, especially since you ‘don’t care about the cost’, is to feed all REAL FOOD to your dogs, preferably with organic ingredients. Check out some of the premade raw dog foods that Mike has reviewed:
    http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/best-dog-foods/raw-dog-food/

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Beth… As much as I wish I could help, it would be impossible for me to predict what food your dogs would find acceptable to their taste. Unfortunately I cannot provide customized product recommendations for each reader. For more information, please check out my reviews and visit our FAQ page. Look for the topic, “Help Me Choose a Dog Food”. Or check back for a possible response from one of our other readers.

  • Beth

    I just purchased the Holistic Select and it seemed to be fine if I mixed it with my own home made food, however, yesterday I put down a small bowl of just the Holistic Select and only one of my four Shih tzus ate it and she indeed threw up. What do you recommend for a dog food? I don’t care about the cost. Beth

  • Tom Zimmerer

    I have two Old English Sheepdogs, ages eight and ten years old.
    I always buy natural dry dog foods for them, and in February switched to HS Senior lamb and rice. Within a few weeks, the dogs began scratching and chewing at their legs and hind quarters. I attributed it to allergies, or lawn fertilizers, but the veterinarians could not solve the problem. Benadryl and steroids did nothing to relieve the itching.
    I am going to switch dog foods and see if that works.
    TZ

  • erin c.

    I have been looking for something to switch to from EVO and was thinking about this food, but not anymore.

    The product choices seem to be shrinking–at least around here.

    Maybe something is wrong with the packaging.
    Does the PACKAGING come FROM CHINA?

    I saw a note on the Castor and Pollux Organix that they are changing their packaging.

  • Paulilne

    Hi there,
    I just read these comments regarding Eagle Pack/Holistic Select dog food. I have a 3 year old Standard Wirehaired Dachshund. When I purchased her the breeder requested that I continue her on the Eagle Pack dog food, which I have done since I have had her at 12 wks.old. Last year she started vomiting yellow flem like stuff. I did not think for minute that it had anything to do with the dog food I was feeding her, which I was told that it is ONLY the packaging that had changed, not the food itself, for Holistic Select. I cholked it up that she has a sensative stomach because when I got her she had Giardia. So, after reading about probiotics online I started adding probiotics to her daily feedings. I think it did help settle her stomach because she has not been vomiting, but now I wonder what could have caused it. I did switch from the chicken to the lamb flavor because I, also, was told that lamb is easier to digest. OMG, I just want to feed my dog good food and not have to worry all the time about if the food is okay. I also have been fostering dogs and they seem to be doing okay on the Holistic Select. Probably better food than what they were use to from the shelters etc.
    Thanks for any comments or suggestions.
    Pauline

  • eve

    I too had been using eagle pack for several years, the lamb and rice formula. My GS had stomach issues and did beautifully on this UNTIL wellpet took over. When I got the last bag a few months ago it looked and smelled different. Within a few feedings my dog was vomiting and having seizures. After spending several hundreds of dollars at the vet for various tests the only obvious conclusion was the food. Beware, no matter what the company says something is wrong!!
    Have switched to Timberwolf and am trying a new sister line called GAEA.
    This is a great website.
    Also bought a bag of Merricks Cowboy cookout and when i looked at the ingredients it listed “meat meal’ as the second ingredient?? What is that?? Took it back to Petco. I always thought Merricks was a good food but after reading several articles about this co. of late am staying away.

  • Christy

    I have used Holistic Select/Eagle Pack Holistic for many years, I too was cautious when I heard they changed hands. But so far nothing has changed for my dogs. I have an 11 yr old golden, and a 1/1/2 year old Lab. Both are on the lamb – which I would like to see a review on that! And they seem to be doing well and their coats look good and stools are normal. I cannot use the chicken or the anchovy as my older dog emits a nasty body odor, but lamb is OK.
    Really appreciate this website! Thanks!

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Tasha… Sorry to hear of your ordeal. Unfortunately, I don’t have any further information to help you make sense of this situation. Hopefully, the Acana will help resolve your dogs’ problems.

  • Tasha Becker

    Mike,
    I own two APBT’s ages 1 1/2 and 2 years old. I am fanatic about the health of my dogs, and have spent countless hours in research on this and many other sites for quality foods. Both our dogs were on Holistic Select anchovy and lamb flavors. At the time they were still owned by Eagle Pack, and they did wonderfully on it.
    In the middle of 2010 the Holistic Select part of the company broke off and is now owned by Wellpet, which also makes the Wellness line of pet food. Our oldest dog has a sensitive digestive system and during the summer he started getting sick in the mornings throwing up yellow, frothy, mucus on an empty stomach, was less energetic, and started avoiding his food and eating less, unless we added something to it. We attributed this to his sensitivity and kept monitoring the symptoms.
    Eventually, our second dog started throwing up in the mornings and turning her nose away at feeding time, too. This really caught our attention since she has a ravenous appetite and never exhibited any signs of sensitivity.This increased in frequency steadily up until last week. We thought it was allergies or certain treats, but never thought it was the food we were feeding them.
    Last summer the owner of the store we buy our food from, that also feeds H.S. to her dogs, told us that the packaging for was going to change soon. But she assured us that it was the only thing that would change. We didn’t know the company was changing hands. Last Friday, having done some research online, it seems that we are definitely NOT the only people making the same claims that their dogs were suddenly getting sick when the new packaging started. It seem as though Wellpet has vehemently denied that they changed the recipe of their foods. There is NO WAY it’s the same. I feel like we’ve been poisoning our dogs for the last 6 months. The damage to the liver may cause health problems in the future, possibly deadly liver cancer.
    We IMMEDIATELY threw away the rest of the remaining food we had. The next day I started them on Acana grain free formula, cold turkey. Neither of them has had any digestive problems AT ALL!!!
    WHAT IS GOING ON!!! I am FURIOUS and feel like we are victims of fraud.

  • Melanie

    I just wanted to add to Paula’s comment that I also recently inquired about the use of ethoxyquin in this food and I received the same response she did that it is not used in this food. Glad to know they are providing a consistent response on this issue! They wrote:
    Thank you for taking the time to write about Holistic Select small & mini breed adult dog food.

    Our pet food products are 100% ethoxyquin free. Our fish meal supplier has obtained the necessary permit to utilize a natural antioxidant made from blended mixed tocopherols in place of ethoxyquin to preserve the fish meal during transit.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Tom… I don’t know how that error got by me again. It’s fixed now. Thanks for the tip.

  • http://www.rudducks.com.au Tom

    “Holistic Select Dry Dog Food
    The Bottom Line

    Judging by its ingredients alone, Holistic Select appears to be an above-average canned dog food”

    Hi Mike…..Just letting you know….. It is the end of Oct and this error still seems to be there.

    Awesome site for my customers….I get them all to refer here.

    Cheers ;-)

    Tom

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Chris… Oops. You’re right. That should have said “dry” dog food. It’s now corrected. Thanks for the tip.

  • Chris

    Under the bottom line, you said that this was an above-average canned dog food, am I mistaken or is this a mistake? This is a dry food correct? Not trying to point this out to be nit-picky but in case you want to correct it. Thanks, love the site.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Patty… Haven’t yet reviewed Cloud Star but have now added it to my To Do list. However, it could be a little while before we get to it due to our current backlog. Thanks for the tip.

  • Patty

    Mike,

    Hi. I was wondering if you’ve looked at Cloud Star’s Holistic Baked Kibble (chicken). It looks to me to be pretty good from the ingredients, taking into account what I’ve learned here, but it concerns me that you don’t have it listed.
    Thanks

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Susan… There are lots of good dog foods out there with plenty of meat. Canned foods generally (but not always) contain the most meat. Look for the foods we’ve reviewed and rated the highest and you should be able to find a nice product.

  • Susan

    Just spoke to someone at the company and I was told that none of the ingredients are human grade–We can all do better than that for our pets—so much cancer in pets I would go organic! I have not found a great food yet–they seem to be low on meat protien and are all life stages which makes me nervous about the needs of a puppy–a toy breed at that- Please comment thanks

  • AJ

    Ha, I had actually fed my Yorkie/bichon mix a small sample bag that I had and she had a “projectile” #2 so I was not sure.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi AJ… Oops. You’re right. Thanks to that sharp eye of yours I’ve corrected the erroneous nutrient percentages. I appreciate your help.

  • AJ

    Is that 10.3% fiber a misprint? Seems awful high.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Paula… thanks (again) for sharing this crucial information. However, in this case, I’ve decided to await a formal announcement from Taste of the Wild before I modify this review. As soon as you (or any other readers) can confirm that the company has changed this formula, please let me know so I can update this report. Thanks again for your comment.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Paula… thanks for sharing this important information. Because of your comment, I’ve corrected this review to show the fish meal as ethoxyquin-free.

  • Paula

    I recently inquired about ethoxyquin. Here is the company’s response:
    Thank you for taking the time to write about Holistic Select Anchovy, Sardine & Salmon adult dog food. Here are the nutritional values you have requested: Anchovy, Sardine & Salmon Meal 0.80% Phosphorus Our pet food products are 100% ethoxyquin free. Our fish meal supplier has obtained the necessary permit to utilize a natural antioxidant made from blended mixed tocopherols in place of ethoxyquin to preserve the fish meal during transit.