Rating: 
Pinnacle Peak Protein Formula dog food earns the Advisor’s highest rating of 5 stars.
Pinnacle Peak Protein Grain Free Formula is a “high-protein, high energy” dry dog food claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
Pinnacle Peak Protein Grain-Free Formula
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken meal, chicken, potatoes, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), tomato pomace, salmon oil, dried egg product, organic quinoa seed meal, potassium chloride, vitamins (choline chloride, a-tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), niacin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C), pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), thiamine mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), riboflavin supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, biotin, folic acid), minerals (zinc sulfate, zinc amino acid chelate, ferrous sulfate, iron amino acid chelate, manganous sulfate, manganese amino acid chelate, copper sulfate, copper amino acid chelate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate), rosemary extract, sage extract, pineapple stem (source of bromelain), papain, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 2.2%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 42% | 22% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 47% | 24% | 21% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 37% | 47% | 17% |
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The second ingredient is chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken 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 third ingredient is potato. Assuming they’re whole, potatoes are a good source of digestible carbohydrates and other healthy nutrients.
The fourth ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The fifth ingredient lists tomato pomace. Tomato pomace is a controversial ingredient… a by-product remaining after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.
Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content… while others scorn it as an inexpensive pet food filler.
Just the same, there’s probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.
The sixth ingredient is salmon oil. Salmon oil is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids… essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life.
The seventh 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 eighth ingredient lists quinoa seed meal. 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, quinoa is high in protein, fiber and other healthy nutrients.
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 protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Pinnacle Peak Protein Formula Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Based upon its ingredient quality, Pinnacle Peak Protein looks like an above-average dry dog food.
However, ingredient quality alone cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s probable meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 47%, a fat level of 24% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 21%.
High protein. Above-average fat. And very low carbohydrates… as compared to a typical dry dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this is the profile of a kibble containing a generous amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Pinnacle Peak Protein Grain Free Formula is a meat-based dry dog food using chicken meal as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically 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 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 brand… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
02/14/2010 Original review
07/06/2010 Review updated (new recipe)
09/21/2010 Review updated
12/31/2010 Upgraded to 5 stars (eliminated menadione and potato protein)
02/13/2011 Review updated (quinoa added to recipe)
02/13/2011 Last Update
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.