Rating: 
Lotus dry dog food receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
The Lotus Dog Food product line includes five kibbles… three claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages, one for seniors (adult maintenance) and one not rated (duck recipe).
- Lotus Lamb
- Lotus Puppy
- Lotus Chicken
- Lotus Grain Free Duck
- Lotus Senior (3 stars)
Lotus Lamb dry dog food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Lotus Lamb Formula
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Lamb, lamb meal, whole ground rye, pollock, whole ground brown rice, ground barley, oatmeal, dried egg product, soybean oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols, and citric acid), pea fiber, brewers dried yeast, pumpkin, apples, sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, blueberries, potassium chloride, choline chloride, flaxseed, garlic, salt, olive oil, salmon oil, zinc proteinate, l-ascrobyl-2-polyphosphate (a source of vitamin C), glucosamine hydrochloride, iron proteinate, chondroitin sulfate, vitamin E supplement, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation soluble, dried Lactobacillus lactis fermentation soluble, and Lactobacillus casei fermentation soluble, dried kelp, inulin, Yucca schidigera extract, niacin, sodium selenite, calcium pantothenate, folic acid, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin, calcium iodate, vitamin B12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), vitamin D3 supplement, rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 24% | 12% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 27% | 13% | 52% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 24% | 29% | 47% |
The first ingredient in this dog food is lamb. Although it is a quality item, raw lamb contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
Once processed, this item would probably occupy a lower position in the finished product.
Which brings us to lamb meal… the second and (more likely) the dominant meat ingredient in this dog food.
Lamb meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than even fresh lamb.
The third ingredient is rye. Rye is a cereal grain nutritionally similar to barley.
The fourth ingredient is pollock… a protein-rich whitefish native to the central and northeast coasts of the United States.
The fifth item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
The sixth ingredient lists 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 seventh ingredient lists oatmeal… a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, fiber and is (unlike many other grains) mostly gluten-free.
The eighth ingredient is dried egg product… a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary significantly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries… from eggs that have failed to hatch.
In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The ninth ingredient is soybean oil… red flagged here only due to its suspected (yet unlikely) link to canine food allergies.
The tenth ingredient is pea fiber… a mix of soluble and insoluble plant fiber derived from pea hulls. It is probably used here to add bulk.
In addition to the usual benefits of fiber, pea fiber can account for a trace of extra protein in this food.
Brewers dried yeast can be a controversial item. Although it’s a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient contains about 45% protein… and is rich in other healthy nutrients.
Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.
Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.
What’s more, a vocal minority insist yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is something we’ve not been able to scientifically verify.
In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast can be considered a nutritious additive.
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
However, the limited professional literature we surveyed provided no definitive warnings regarding 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.
Lotus Dry Dog Food… the Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Lotus Dog Food looks to be an above-average kibble.
But ingredient quality by itself does not tell the whole story. It’s still important to estimate the product’s total meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 27%, a fat level of 13% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 52%.
Due to its apparently lower meat content, we have downgraded the senior product to the next lower rating category.
If you eliminate the senior product, the remaining group features an average protein content of 28% and a mean fat level of 14%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 50% for the overall product line.
Average protein. Average fat. And above-average carbs 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.
Bottom line?
Lotus 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.
Those looking for a wet product from the same company may wish to visit our review of Lotus 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 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 brand… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
07/05/2010 Original review
01/24/2011 Review updated
02/28/2011 Added new Grain Free Duck product
02/28/2011 Last Update
- 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.