Rating: 
LiveSmart Dog Food receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
The LiveSmart Dog Food product line includes five kibbles… four adult formulas designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance and one for growth (puppies).
- LiveSmart Lamb and Brown Rice Adult Formula
- LiveSmart Chicken and Brown Rice Adult Formula
- LiveSmart Chicken and Brown Rice Puppy Formula
- LiveSmart Chicken and Brown Rice Weight Management
- LiveSmart Chicken and Brown Rice Senior Formula (3 stars)
LiveSmart Dog Food Chicken and Brown Rice Adult Formula was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
LiveSmart Chicken and Brown Rice Adult Formula
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, oats, dried beet pulp, chicken fat (naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols, a source of vitamin E), dried eggs, natural flavor, whole ground flaxseed, whole sweet potatoes, whole carrots, whole apples, herring oil, brewers dried yeast, dried kelp, potassium chloride, dicalcium phosphate, vitamin E supplement, garlic, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium thermophilum fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, lecithin, choline chloride, zinc proteinate (source of zinc), iron proteinate (source of iron), zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese proteinate (source of manganese), vitamin B12 supplement, manganese sulfate, niacin, vitamin A supplement, cobalt proteinate (source of cobalt), calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, copper proteinate (source of copper), vitamin D3 supplement, copper sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, rosemary extract, ethylenediamine dihydriodide (source of iodine), pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, folic acid, sodium selenite
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first item in this dog food lists 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 chicken meal… the second and (most likely) the dominant meat ingredient in this dog food.
Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
The fourth ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. Unlike grains with a higher glycemic index (like rice), barley can help support stable blood sugar levels in dogs.
The fifth item includes oats. Oats are rich in B-vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
The sixth ingredient lists 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 seventh ingredient lists 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 eighth item lists dried eggs… a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary greatly. 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.
After the natural flavor, we find ground flaxseed… one of the best vegetable sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Plus the seeds are naturally rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber.
The next few items include a number of nutrient and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables…
- Sweet potatoes
- Carrots
- Apples
- Kelp
Herring oil is an excellent source of essential 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 three notable exceptions…
First, garlic can be a controversial item. Although the majority of experts favor the ingredient for its numerous health benefits, garlic (in rare cases) has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.1
Most of the literature we surveyed offered no conclusive evidence against the use of garlic… especially in small amounts (as it is here).
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.
LiveSmart Dog Food… the Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, LiveSmart Dog Food looks to be an above-average kibble.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 27%, a fat level of 16% and estimated carbohydrates of about 50%.
Due to its unusually low estimated meat content, the LiveSmart Senior product has been downgraded to a lower rating.
Excluding the lower rated senior formula, the brand features an average protein content of 26% and a mean fat level of 13%.
Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 53% for the overall product line.
Below-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbohydrates when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.
In addition, with its quality ingredients and a notable absence of any critical Red Flag items, LiveSmart Dog Food deserves a higher grade.
Bottom line?
LiveSmart Dog Food is a grain-based kibble using a moderate amount of chicken or lamb meals as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.
Highly recommended.
A Final Word
This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
04/30/2010 Original review
11/30/2010 Review updated
- Yamato et al, Heinz Body hemolytic anemia with eccentrocytosis from ingestion of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum) and garlic (Allium sativum) in a dog, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 41:68-73 (2005) ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.