Pinnacle Holistic (Dry)

by Mike Sagman
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Rating: ★★★★☆

Pinnacle Holistic dry dog food earns the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.

The Breeder’s Choice Pinnacle product line lists three dry kibbles. Although the company claims each formula to be allergen free, we found no AAFCO nutritional adequacy statements for these dog foods on the Pinnacle Holistic website.

  • Pinnacle Holistic Duck and Potato
  • Pinnacle Holistic Chicken and Oats
  • Pinnacle Holistic Trout and Sweet Potato

Pinnacle Holistic Duck and Potato dry dog food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

Pinnacle Holistic Duck and Potato Formula

Dry Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 26% | Fat = 14% | Carbs = 52%

Ingredients: Duck meal, potatoes, oatmeal, duck, oat flour, potato fiber, canola oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), flax seed, organic quinoa, lecithin, rosemary extract, sage extract, vitamin E supplement, bromelain, papain, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation product, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, choline chloride, zinc oxide, zinc amino acid chelate, iron sulfate, vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, manganous oxide, vitamin B12 supplement, copper sulfate, manganese amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, riboflavin supplement (source of vitamin B complex), niacin, calcium pantothenate, folic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), thiamine mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), biotin, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, cobalt carbonate

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.9%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

The first ingredient in this dog food lists duck meal. Duck meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than even fresh duck.

The second item is potato. Assuming they’re whole, potatoes are a good source of digestible carbohydrates and other healthy nutrients.

The third ingredient is oatmeal… a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in fiber, B-vitamins and is also (unlike many other grains) gluten-free.

The fourth item is duck. Although it is a quality item, raw duck 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.

The fifth ingredient is oat flour. Since oat flour is nothing more than finely ground oats, it has the same gluten-free nutritional content as raw oats.

The sixth item is potato fiber… a source of insoluble dietary fiber. Dietary fiber in reasonable amounts can help stabilize blood sugar levels and reduce a dog food’s caloric content.

The seventh ingredient is canola oil. Most applaud canola for its favorable omega-3 content… while a vocal minority condemn it as an unhealthy fat.

Current thinking (ours included) finds the negative stories about canola oil more the stuff of urban legend than actual science.1

The eighth ingredient includes 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 ninth item mentions quinoa. Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is not a true cereal grain but is prized for its gluten-free seeds.

Compared to most other grain-type ingredients, it is high in protein (about 12-18%), fiber and other healthy nutrients. Quinoa is a quality non-meat 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 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 amino acids. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are generally found in better dog foods.

Pinnacle Holistic Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Judging by its ingredients alone, Pinnacle Holistic appears to be a good dry 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 26%, a fat level of 14% and estimated carbohydrates of about 52%.

As a group, the product line features an average protein content of 26% and a mean fat level of 14%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 52% for the overall product line.

Near-average protein. Near-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

With no sign of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.

In addition, it’s important to acknowledge the absence here of any critical Red Flag items.

Bottom line?

Pinnacle Holistic is primarily a plant-based dry dog food using a moderate amount of poultry or fish 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 Pinnacle Holistic 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 a specific health benefit 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

02/15/2010 Original review
09/21/2010 Review updated

  1. Mikkelson, B and DP, Oil of Ole, Urban Legends Reference Pages (2005) ↩
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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  • sandy

    There are other foods that are grain free and only fish protein – Core Ocean, Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream, California Natural GF Salmon, Horizon Pulsar, dogswell Nutrisca Salmon, Canine Caviar Wild Ocean, Canidae GF Pure Sea, Honest Kitchen Zeal, Instinct Salmon.

  • Guest

    I’ve been feeding my dog Pinnacle Trout and Sweet Potato for a year now. I originally switched to this food because it was referred by a friend. My dog had severe skin allergies and  I think it was due to wheat/grains. He’s done wonderfully on Pinnacle with the exception of his paws and mouth are now stained brown. I believe it’s from the oil in the food from the trout. Also, it does make his breath smell horribly, which is strange because the food doesn’t affect my friend’s dog in that way. I am considering switching to a different flavor or trying Natural Balance. They seem to have the same ingredients and it’s much cheaper than Pinnacle. Overall, I would recommend Pinnacle if you can afford it!

  • tim

    just started using this site,to me is trustworthy. if your dog likes cheep commercial food it could be because its like feeding your children mcdonalds cheese burgers and fries,what kid would turn that down. same with dogs.i would try some how a little harder to get some nutrition in my dog for its sake.

  • Jan

    I have an 11 year old Sheltie/Collie cross breed (big for Sheltie/small for collie). She has had skin problems for several years now and 2 former vets only put her on Prednisone. She gained a lot of weight and it did nothing for her skin problem. My new traditional/holistic vet put Star on a temporary antibiotic and a holistic med to cool her down (summer only). Her skin has healed and her fur is coming back (my vet said she could make Star better, but possibly not heal her). She has lost weight on the starvation diet and now weighs about 60 lbs. with the goal being 55. Her arthritis is almost gone. Before I found the new vet I placed Star on Pinnacle Wild Duck holistic dry and canned because so many of your readers advised it was good. The vet has had me continue this food. That is all I give her, no treats.
    So, for all of you with dogs with skin problems, find a good vet. I can’t tell you if it is the Pinnacle or the vet, maybe both, but Star is better than she has been in about 3 years and many dollars later. Also, she doesn’t have diarrhea any more like she did on some other “good” brands.

  • sandy

    Carolyn,

    If your dog can eat fish, maybe you can try Nutrisca Salmon. It is grain free (which will help with allergies) and low glycemic.

    http://nutrisca.dogswell.com/salmon.html

  • http://www.facebook.com/Toxed2loss Toxed2loss

    Carolyn
    Have you considered that her skin allergies might be contact dermatitis? We all absorb stuff through our skin and react to substances on the skin, more than to what we consume. In our stomach hydrochloric acids and other enzymes breakdowns substantial amount of toxins. Our skin doesn’t have that kind of enhanced defense. The top contact dermatitis triggers in our dogs are: pesticides (flea and tick treatments, lawn products) laundry products and cleaning chemicals, and fragrance. Fragrances always contain pesticides, excitatory neurotoxins, petroleum solvents and skin sensitizers.
    Fragrance volatizes through the air and coats everything it comes in contact with.

    The other thing to consider is what she consumes unintentionally, like chlorine and flouride if you’re on treated water, or your personal care products that she would ingest when she licks you. Food for thought.

  • Carolyn

    I use the Trout and Sweet Potato with my dog, who has food allergies and diabetes. Frankly, it’s not the diabetes that keeps me with the food because she would probably do better on a different food for the diabetes, but she had terrible skin allergies, so I’ve been feeding limited ingredient food for a while. I used to use California Natural, and really liked it, but something changed (denied by the company) and her allergies roared back, so I switched. This food is above average in combating her allergies, but she has stopped liking the flavor, and I’ve had to amend it to make her eat. I use a Wellness Salmon topper and I add rice because of her diabetes she needs just a bit more carbs. Anyway, I called the company to tell them that the flavor doesn’t seem to be enough to entice my dog anymore, and they were very interested and very responsive. Not sure what they can do about my problem, but I still appreciated how they reacted. So, it gets a thumbs up from me. Wish it were cheaper, but I’ve gotten used to spending this sort of money on my dog’s food…unfortunately.

  • Kris

    I have a dog who had struvite bladder stones (she had a terrible bladder infection which we believe caused the stones) and the Hill’s Prescription food is so toxic, I simply refuse to use it. My vet told me the low magnesium and lower protein are the most important things to look for. My dog started out with homemade meals and now I am transitioning in Fromm Dry kibble which has helped with the mushy stools. She gets the dry kibble now with boiled chicken, white rice and canned Nature’s Variety. I am also liking Pinnacle Trout (the Chicken is a little too high in magnesium). I am monitoring her PH every morning, she has to have an occasional urine culture to make sure of no bacteria and I am really hoping I can keep her stone-free with this diet. Interested to know if anyone else out there has been battling the same problem. By the way, The Whole Dog Journal says you don’t need to worry so much about the diet if it is struvite stones caused by bladder infections; you need to be sure they don’t get anymore bladder infections. I had to research mineral contents in foods and Blue Buffalo is the only company who refused to give me this information. I fed my dogs BB for years so needless to say, it made me suspicious and my dogs are all going to Fromm and Pinnacle now. I won’t buy products from a company who refuses to divulge this information. They lost a good customer who has five dogs and was spending a fortune on their products. Pinnacle and Fromm are just great, Pinnacle will send you free samples and my dogs love both brands of foods.

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