Rating: 
Pinnacle Holistic canned dog food receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
The Pinnacle Holistic product line lists three canned dog foods… each meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages and claimed by the company to be allergen-free.
- Pinnacle Holistic Duck and Potato Formula
- Pinnacle Holistic Chicken and Oats Formula
- Pinnacle Holistic Trout and Sweet Potato Formula
Pinnacle Holistic Trout and Sweet Potato Formula canned dog food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Pinacle Holistic Trout and Sweet Potato Formula
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Trout, fish broth, herring, oatmeal, oat bran, sweet potato, canola oil, quinoa seed, carrageenan, guar gum, flaxseed, minerals (iron amino acid chelate, zinc amino acid chelate, cobalt amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, sodium selenite, potassium iodide), potassium chloride, vitamins (vitamin E, A, B12, D3 supplements, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, riboflavin supplement), choline chloride, calcium carbonate, sage, rosemary, papain
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 11.5%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food is trout. Trout is a marine and freshwater fish naturally high in protein.
The second ingredient mentions fish broth. Broths are nutritionally worthless. But because they add moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many canned products.
The third ingredient includes herring. Herring is a fatty marine fish naturally rich in protein as well as omega 3 fatty acids… essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life.
The fourth item includes oatmeal… a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally high in fiber, B-vitamins and is (unlike many other grains) entirely gluten-free.
The next item is oat bran… a by-product of oat milling. But unlike most grain by-products, brans consist of the healthiest part of a cereal grain. Oat bran is particularly rich in vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
The sixth ingredient is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a good source of complex carbohydrates in a dog food. Along with other healthy nutrients, they are especially rich in beta carotene.
The seventh item includes 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 lists 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.
Also, 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.
Pinnacle Holistic Canned Dog Food… the Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Pinnacle Holistic appears to be an average canned 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 33%, a fat level of 29% and estimated carbohydrates of about 31%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 33% and a mean fat level of 28%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 31% for the overall product line.
Below-average protein. Above-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical canned dog food.
With no sign of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a wet food containing moderate amount of meat.
Based upon the numbers alone, this Pinnacle product sits on the fence between three and four stars.
But the quality of its ingredients as well as a lack of any serious Red Flag items tend to tip that score in favor of the higher grade.
Bottom line?
Pinnacle Holistic is primarily a meat-based canned dog food using a moderate amount of poultry or trout as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a comparable kibble from the same company may wish to visit our review of Pinnacle Holistic dry 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
02/17/2010 Original review
09/20/2010 Review updated
- Mikkelson, B and DP, Oil of Ole, Urban Legends Reference Pages (2005), retrieved 12/05/2009 ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.