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 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 product
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 account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The third ingredient is potato. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
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 the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.
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 a plant prized for its gluten-free seeds.
Compared to most other grain-type ingredients, it is high in protein (about 12-18%), dietary 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 carbs 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.
Special Alert
Rice ingredients can sometimes contain arsenic. Until the US FDA establishes safe upper levels for arsenic content, pet owners may wish to limit the total amount of rice fed in a dog's daily diet.
A Final Word
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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)
11/11/2012 Last Update
