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, each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
- 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
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
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 23% | 13% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 26% | 14% | 52% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 23% | 31% | 46% |
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
09/21/2010 Last Update
- Mikkelson, B and DP, Oil of Ole, Urban Legends Reference Pages (2005) ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.