Karma Organic Dog Food (Dry)

by Mike Sagman
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Rating: ★★★☆☆

Karma Organic Dog Food receives the Advisor’s mid-tier rating of three stars.

The Karma Organic Dog Food product line includes just one kibble designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance (not for puppies).

Karma Organic

Dry Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 22% | Fat = 9% | Carbs = 61%

Ingredients: Organic chicken, organic brown rice, organic oats, organic barley, organic rye, organic pea protein, organic flaxseed, yeast extract, organic carrots, organic beets, organic sunflower oil (naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols), calcium carbonate, organic broccoli, organic cranberries, dicalcium phosphate, potassium chloride, herring oil (naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols), ascorbic acid, beta carotene, biotin, calcium carbonate, calcium iodate, choline chloride, cobalt carbonate, cobalt proteinate, copper proteinate, d-calcium pantothenate, dicalcium pantothenate, dl-methionine, folic acid, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, niacin, potassium chloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin C supplement (sodium ascorbate), vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement (alpha tocopherol), zinc proteinate, salt, direct fed microbials

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.9%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

The first ingredient in this dog food is organic chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.

After processing, this item would probably occupy a lower position on the list.

Which brings us to organic brown rice… the second and (more likely) the predominant ingredient in this dog food.

Brown rice is a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.

The third item is organic barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. Unlike grains with a higher glycemic index (like rice), barley helps support stable blood sugar levels in dogs. This is another quality grain ingredient.

The fourth item is organic rye… a cereal grain nutritionally similar to barley.

The fifth ingredient lists organic pea protein… what’s left after removing the starchy part of peas.

Even though it contains over 80% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.

And this less costly plant-based item can significantly boost the total protein content reported in this dog food.

The sixth ingredient lists organic 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 yeast extract mentioned here is probably used as a flavor and immune system enhancer. Although you may have heard otherwise, the glutamic acid found in yeast extract is a food additive generally recognized as safe by the USFDA.1

Four of the next six items include a series of nutrient-rich organic fruits and vegetables…

  • Carrots
  • Beets
  • Broccoli
  • Cranberries

We also note two additional oils. Sunflower oil is high in linoleic acid… an essential omega-6 fatty acid. Herring oil, like most fish oils, is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

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, 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.

Karma Organic Dog Food… the Bottom Line

It’s almost impossible to find fault with the level of quality of these Karma Organic Dog Food ingredients.

Since Karma Organic Dog Food contains a good number of high quality organic ingredients2, we feel obliged to grant the product favored status when determining its ultimate rating.

That’s because organic ingredients are produced under remarkably strict government standards… standards which greatly restrict the use of any synthetic pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, hormones or antibiotics.

Just the same, we still need to evaluate the product’s protein, fat and carbohydrate content.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 22%, a fat level of 9% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 61%.

Low protein. Low fat. And high carbohydrates (when compared to a typical dry dog food).

Even though the product is loaded with high quality organic items, the percentages still present the profile of a dog food containing only a modest amount of meat.

Bottom line?

Karma Organic Dog Food is primarily a grain-based organic kibble utilizing a limited amount of chicken as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand three stars.

Recommended.

Some Final Thoughts

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 your veterinarian for help.

Have an opinion about this dog food brand… or maybe the review itself?

Please feel free to share your comments below.

Notes and Updates

04/03/2010 Original review
11/03/2010 Review updated

  1. L-Glutamic Acid, FDA Select Committee on GRAS Substances ↩
  2. Ninety-five percent organic per Karma, 4/3/2010 ↩
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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  • Dog Food Ninja

    Dwolfett, I would not recommend adding this to any dog’s diet.  What you are feeding now is good, provided you are getting the nutrient ratios correct as Mike pointed out.  So to ensure proper nutrients, you could add a kibble.  But if you added THIS kibble, you would be loading your dog up with ANTI-nutrients.  Grains, beans, and white potatoes actually contain things that inhibit the body from proper nutrient absorption.  They are not actually food, but rather an inedible part of a plant’s growing cycle.  the “food” made from these items are a concocted, processed product of human invention.  There are some birds that eat grass seeds, but they have evolved an anti-anti-nutrient enzyme in their gut that our and our dog’s DNA has never heard of.  So if you’re looking for a kibble to add, go with a high protein grain-free kibble, and even white potato-free would be preferable.        

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Dwolfett,

    Sounds like you’ve got the start of a great feeding plan. However, any diet deficient in one or more nutrients can have very negative long term effects on any animal’s health.

    If you’re not feeding raw bone or supplementing the diet in some measured way with calcium, then it’s always possible your pet isn’t getting adequate nutrition.

    So, be sure to get professional advice from an expert (a nutritionally knowledgeable vet, an experienced raw feeder or even some of the helpful raw regulars on our website).

    For without a properly balanced raw diet, you may be even worse off than with some generic supermarket kibble.

    To see what I mean and if you haven’t already done so, please be sure to watch this revealing video by Dr. Karen Becker.

    Hope this helps.

  • sandy

    Brothers Complete and Great Life have not been recalled.  I use the grain free kibble, not canned.
    http://www.brotherscomplete.com/
    http://www.doctorsfinest.com/

  • Dwolfett

    My question is Since I feed real chicken breast to my dogs, would this food then be a 5 star balanced addition? I feed sweet potatoes, other veggies, plain Greek yogurt, bones/ beef stock with seaweed etc. All these things in correct portions and mixed/spaced out over the week. Chicken breast daily though. Im seeking foods 5 star that have never hit the FDA recall list. I use Acana, Orijen now but am seeking others.

  • sandy

    I’ve often heard 20% of unbalanced.

  • aimee

    Wayne,

    I don’t know if this will help or not… but a general rule of thumb I’ve heard is if adding an unbalanced food to a balanced diet ( like you are doing) you should limit the amount of the unbalanced food to 10% of the total daily calories fed.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Wayne… Overfeeding has to do with calories rather than protein. Unfortunately, since the number of calories is determined by the portions you’re feeding, you’ll have to weight the chicken (in ounces) and then multiply that figure by the number of calories per ounce. Plus you’ll need to figure how many calories that are in each serving of Karma.

    Here’s a better idea…

    Since each dog has its own unique energy requirements (just like people), there’s no way to reliably predict the exact serving size that’s right for each pet — especially since you’re mixing 2 different foods together (a feeding method known as “topping”).

    So, I’d suggest starting with the Karma package’s feeding instructions. Then eyeballing a mixture of both foods.

    Of course, always measure the Karma with a real measuring cup. Not a scoop. Never guess. Keep an accurate record of how much you’re feeding.

    Be sure to weigh your dog periodically (every few weeks or so). Then, simply adjust (titrate) that serving size up or down to establish and maintain your pet’s ideal weight.

    In the end, it’s the only real life method you can scientifically rely on. Hope this helps.

  • Wayne

    Thank you Mike. While looking at organic dry some sites had given it a 5 and then reduced it to 3 stars because of P&G. And the below average amount of meat is why I am trying to find out how much to give my 21lbs dog and ratio of chicken meal to mixed in dry Karma per day so he gets the right amount of meat and dry food a day. Best of both.
    Is there somewhere I could look I know there is no way to know the
    meat porteint of what the chicken meal i am giving him I just do not want to over feed him. And give enough of Karma so he gets enough.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Wayne… The reason Karma receives only 3 stars is explained in “The Bottom Line” section of this review. Please notice this rating has nothing whatsoever to do with the P&G purchase of the company last year. It’s just that Karma appears to contain a below average amount of meat compared to other kibbles. Hope this helps.

  • Wayne

    I giving my 21 lbs dog Karma Dog Food with frozen organic chicken meal. Could you tell me how much Karma dry to chicken meal give him per day. So he get right amount of dry and meat.
    Thank You. I live in Toronto Canada and what organic dry dog food I can buy Karma only one thats 95% organic. the others ingredients chicken meal,chicken fat (not listed as organic) and some rosemary. When looking at what food to get this site Reviews help alot on which to pick. Only 3 stars because it sold to p&g ? I hope they leave the Dog Food alone. I cook the chicken meal and add Karma dry and then grind them together for my dog to eat will not eat raw. Just need to know 3 parts meal to 1 part dry food ?? then how much a day to give him Thanks Again

  • http://www.whosyourvet.com Sandi

    A class action lawsuit may affect your rights if you purchased Innova, EVO, California Natural, HealthWise, Mother Nature, or Karma dog or cat food products during the time period from March 20, 2005 to July 8, 2011

    The lawsuit claims Natura made false and misleading statements about the human grade quality of its food.

    http://www.petproductssettlement.com/EN/