Rating: 
Pet Botanics Dog Food rolls receives the Advisor’s second-lowest rating of 2 stars.
The Pet Botanics product line includes 3 rolled dog foods… each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
- Pet Botanics Beef and Brown Rice
- Pet Botanics Lamb and Brown Rice
- Pet Botanics Chicken and Brown Rice
Pet Botanics Beef and Brown Rice rolled dog food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Pet Botanics Beef and Brown Rice
Rolled Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Beef lung, whole wheat flour, beef kidneys, wheat bran, beef meat, molasses, sucrose, beef spleen, beef fat, flaxseed, salt, brown rice flour, calcium carbonate, glycerin, lecithin, diacalcium phosphate, potassium chloride, natural smoke flavor, ascorbic acid, natural flavor, powdered garlic, vitamin E supplement, kelp meal, brewers yeast, calcium disodium, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, rosemary extract, sodium erythorbate, vitamin A supplement, niacin, calcium pantothenate, sodium nitrite, riboflavin supplement, biotin, vitammin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid, natural mixed tocopherols
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 6.7%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 14% | 6% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 23% | 10% | 59% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 22% | 23% | 55% |
The first ingredient in this dog food is beef lung. Beef lung is a protein-rich organ meat that’s also low in fat.
The second ingredient is wheat flour, a highly-refined product of wheat milling. Like corn, wheat is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
For this reason, we rarely consider wheat a preferred component in any dog food.
The third ingredient lists beef kidneys. Like beef lungs, this organ meat is also high in protein and low in fat.
The fourth ingredient is wheat bran. Wheat bran is made from the tough outer layer of a wheat kernel. Brans are especially rich in dietary fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals.
Unfortunately, wheat bran can also be subject to some of the same problems as wheat itself.
The fifth ingredient is beef meat. Beef is defined as “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered cattle” and includes skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus.1
But again, like the kidney and lung ingredients previously listed, this meat (too) is subject to the same weight-reducing process of cooking.
The sixth ingredient is sucrose… the cloaked word for common table sugar. Sugar is always an unwelcome addition to any dog food. Because of its high glycemic index, sugar can unfavorably impact the blood glucose level of any animal soon after it is eaten.
The seventh ingredient is molasses. Although it’s rich in mineral nutrients, molasses is a less-refined form of sugar with a glycemic index similar to maple syrup. Like table sugar (just mentioned), molasses has the ability to raise a dog’s blood sugar, too.
The eighth ingredient is beef spleen… another high protein organ meat.
The ninth ingredient is beef fat. Beef fat (or tallow) is most likely obtained from rendering beef… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Although it may not sound very appetizing, beef fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The tenth 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.
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 four notable exceptions…
First, brewers dried yeast. Brewers 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.
Next, 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.2
However, the limited professional literature we surveyed provided no definitive warnings regarding the use of garlic… especially in small amounts (as it is here).
Thirdly, this product contains sodium nitrite… a controversial color preservative. Sodium nitrite has been linked to the production of cancer-causing substances (known as nitrosamines) when meats are exposed to high cooking temperatures.
And finally, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are usually associated with lower quality dog foods.
Pet Botanics Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Pet Botanics looks to be only an average 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 23%, a fat level of 10% and estimated carbohydrates of about 59%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 22% and a mean fat level of 9%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 61% for the overall product line.
Below-average protein. Low fat. And high carbs when compared to a typical rolled dog food.
Even with no plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a wet food containing only a modest amount of meat.
What’s more, we find it difficult to ignore the inclusion of sodium nitrite and the sugar-based sweeteners in these Pet Botanics products.
Bottom line?
Pet Botanics Dog Food is a wheat-based rolled product using only a modest amount of beef, lamb or chicken as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand 2 stars.
Not 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
02/10/2011 Original review
02/12/2011 Review updated (downgraded to 2 stars)
02/12/2011 Last Update
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.