Member’s Mark Dog Food Review (Dry)
Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Member’s Mark Dog Food receives the Advisor’s mid-tier rating of 4 stars.
The Member’s Mark product line includes the 2 dry dog foods listed below.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Member's Mark Pasture Raised Lamb and Brown Rice Recipe | 3.5 | M |
| Member's Mark High Protein Grain-Free Chicken and Vegetable Recipe | 4 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Member’s Mark Pasture Raised Lamb and Brown Rice Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Member's Mark Pasture Raised Lamb and Brown Rice Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Lamb, chicken meal (source of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate), brown rice, ground barley, grain sorghum, dried whole peas, poultry fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), dried egg product, dried yeast, oatmeal, lamb meal, dried plain beet pulp, natural flavor, ground flaxseed, salmon oil, salt, potassium chloride, dl-methionine, taurine, choline chloride, mixed tocopherols (a preservative), dried chicory root, yucca schidigera extract, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteinate, ascorbic acid, vitamin a supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, dried bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is lamb. Although it is a quality item, raw lamb contains up to 73% 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 account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The second ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third ingredient 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 fourth ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The fifth ingredient is sorghum. Sorghum (milo) is a starchy cereal grain with a nutrient profile similar to corn.
Since it is gluten-free and boasts a smoother blood sugar behavior than other grains, sorghum may be considered an acceptable non-meat ingredient.
The sixth ingredient includes dried peas. Dried peas are a good source of carbohydrates. Plus they’re naturally rich in dietary fiber.
However, dried peas contain about 27% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
The next ingredient is poultry fat. Poultry fat is obtained from rendering, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Poultry fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life.
However, poultry fat is a relatively generic ingredient and can be considered lower in quality than a similar item from a named source animal (like chicken fat).
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 dried yeast, which can be a controversial item. Dried yeast 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.
In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, we feel yeast should be considered a positive addition.
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 7 notable exceptions…
Firstly, 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.
Next, flaxseed is 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.
However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
We also note that the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually associated with higher quality dog foods.
Additionally, this recipe contains sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
Next, salmon oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.
In addition, this food includes chicory root. Chicory is rich in 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.
Lastly, taurine an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Member’s Mark Dog Food looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 29%, a fat level of 16% and estimated carbohydrates of about 48%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 33% and a mean fat level of 16%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 43% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 49%.
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Member's Mark Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Member's Mark through April 2024.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Member's Mark Grain Inclusive and Grain Free Dog Food
Member’s Mark includes both grain-inclusive and grain-free dry dog foods that use a moderate amount of named meat meals as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.
Compare Member's Mark Dog Food
How does Member's Mark compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?
A Final Word
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