Rating: 
Precise Dog Food gets the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
Currently, the Precise product line includes nine kibbles. We found no AAFCO nutritional adequacy recommendations for these dog foods anywhere on the Precise website.
- Precise Endurance Formula
- Precise Competition Formula
- Precise Light Formula (3 stars)
- Precise Senior Formula (3 stars)
- Precise Chicken Meal and Rice Adult
- Precise Large and Giant Breed Puppy
- Precise Small and Medium Breed Puppy
- Precise Chicken Meal and Rice Foundation
- Precise Lamb Meal and Rice Sensicare (hypoallergenic)
Precise Dog Food Chicken Meal and Rice Adult Formula was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Precise Canine Chicken Meal and Rice Formula
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken meal, ground brown rice, rice bran, ground oats, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and ascorbyl palmitate), flaxseed, chicken cartilage (source of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate), beet pulp, lecithin, natural chicken flavor, dried kelp, fish oil, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, salt, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product and dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, Yucca schidigera extract, dl-methionine, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, calcium ascorbate (source of vitamin C), choline chloride, zinc amino acid chelate, cobalt amino acid chelate, riboflavin supplement, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese amino acid chelate, folic acid, biotin, thiamine mononitrate (B1), pyridoxine hydrochloride (B6), sodium selenite, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, calcium iodate
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.9%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
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 item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
The third ingredient lists rice bran… a by-product of rice milling. Though not as nutritionally complete as whole grain rice, brans are still high in fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals.
The fourth item is ground oats. In addition to B-vitamins, oats are also rich in fiber… and (unlike many other grains) mostly gluten-free.
The fifth 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. Though it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is a quality ingredient.
The sixth ingredient mentions flaxseed… one of the best vegetable sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. And the seeds are naturally rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber.
However, we find it strange to see flaxseed here in its whole seed form. Whole flax seeds are almost impossible to digest (at least for us humans) unless they are first ground to a usable powder before they are consumed.
Chicken cartilage is a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate… two nutrients added here to support joint health.
Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient… a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.
Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.
We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.
Lecithin is a waxy substance obtained from soybeans. Although it is commonly used to make fats more blendable, lecithin is believed to improve a dog’s skin and coat.
The list goes on to describe a number of other ingredients.
But to be realistic, items located this far down the list (other than vitamin and nutritional additives) are not likely to have much of an effect on the overall quality of this product.
The manufacturer appears to have added back some of the “good” bacteria lost during the cooking process. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.
This dog 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.
Precise Dog Food… the Bottom Line
Judging by the ingredients alone, Precise Dog Food has all the looks of a winning kibble.
But estimating how much meat is present here can play a pivotal role in determining a fair rating for this product.
The dashboard reports a dry matter protein reading of 28%, a fat level of 17% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 48%.
When you eliminate the lower-rated Senior and Light products, protein content was 29% for the group. Fat averaged 16%… and carbs were estimated to be about 49%
Moderate protein. Average fat. And average carbohydrates… when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Yet with no plant-based protein enhancers, this is the profile of a kibble containing moderate amount of meat.
In addition, it’s difficult to ignore the near complete absence of any critical Red Flag items.
Bottom line?
Precise Dog Food is essentially a grain-based dry kibble using a moderate amount of a named meat meal as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a higher-grade kibble from the same company may want to check out our review of Precise Plus Dog Food.
A Final Word
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
03/03/2010 Original review
05/29/2010 Review updated (added probiotics and menadione-free recipe, upgraded from 3 to 4 stars)
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Hi Mike,
I sent an e-mail a few weeks back about my chocolate lab mix and his multiple allergies. He has been on Precise Sensicare and has made a complete turnaround. His coat looks great, no flaking, and no odor. I highly recommend this dog food. FYI, he is also on “Nzymes” granules. I also highly recommend this product. The website is great and the help provided is excellent. I am so thrilled to see the improvement after searching for over 2 years to get the help that he needed.
Thank you for your website and your up-to-date information.
Elizabeth Yates