Rating: 
Holistic Select dry dog food earns the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
The Holistic Select product line includes 11 dry dog foods… eight meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance and three for growth (puppy recipes).
- Holistic Select Adult Duck Meal
- Holistic Select Adult Lamb Meal
- Holistic Select Vitalize Senior Health
- Holistic Select Nourish Puppy Health
- Holistic Select Small and Mini Breed Adult
- Holistic Select Large and Giant Breed Adult
- Holistic Select Adult Chicken Meal and Rice
- Holistic Select Large and Giant Breed Puppy Health
- Holistic Select Adult Anchovy, Sardine and Salmon Meal
- Holistic Select Small and Mini Breed Nourish Puppy Health
- Holistic Select Weight Management Chicken Meal and Peas
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
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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 24% | 15% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 27% | 17% | 49% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 23% | 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. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
The third ingredient is white rice… a less nutritious form of brown 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, 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. Though it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is a quality ingredient.
The sixth ingredient is pork meal. Like chicken meal, pork meal is 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 quality (high-protein) meat item.
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 three 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 a cheap pet food filler laden with pesticides found on the skin of the tomato before processing.
Just the same, there’s probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.
Next, the manufacturer appears to have applied friendly bacteria to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.
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 27% and a mean fat level of 16%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 49% for the overall product line.
Near-average protein. Average fat. And average 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 a moderate amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Holistic Select is primarily a grain-based dry dog food using a moderate amount of specific meat meals as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four 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.
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
04/13/2010 Review updated (ethoxyquin warning removed)
06/18/2010 Review updated (corrected nutrient percentages)
09/29/2010 Review updated (changed example product)
09/29/2010 Last Update
- See comment from Paula dated 4/13/2020 ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.