Spot and Tango Dog Food Review (Fresh)
Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Spot and Tango Dog Food earns The Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.
The Spot and Tango product line includes the 3 fresh-cooked, wet dog foods below.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Spot and Tango Turkey and Red Quinoa | 5 | A |
| Spot and Tango Beef and Millet | 5 | A |
| Spot and Tango Lamb and Brown Rice | 5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Spot and Tango Beef and Millet was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Spot and Tango Beef and Millet
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Beef, millet, eggs, spinach, carrots, peas, cranberries, vegetable stock, safflower oil, dicalcium phosphate, potassium chloride, sea salt, calcium carbonate, fish oil, kelp, magnesium oxide, selenium yeast, zinc proteinate, manganese proteinate, vitamin E supplement, copper proteinate, vitamin B12, iron amino acid chelate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, apples, beets, blueberries, broccoli, cherries, oranges, pumpkin, shiitake mushrooms, strawberries, tomatoes, folic acid, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D supplement, mixed tocopherols, potassium iodide, apple cider vinegar, parsley
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 12% | 6% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 39% | 20% | 33% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 33% | 40% | 28% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is beef. Beef is defined as “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered cattle” and includes skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus.1
Beef is naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is millet, a gluten-free grain harvested from certain seed grasses. Millet is hypoallergenic and naturally rich in B-vitamins and fiber as well as other essential minerals.
The third ingredient is spinach. Due to its exceptional vitamin and mineral content, spinach exhibits a remarkably high nutrient Completeness Score2 of 91.
The fourth ingredient includes carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The fifth ingredient lists peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
The sixth ingredient includes cranberries, a nutrient-rich fruit that’s also high in fiber.
The seventh ingredient is egg. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The eighth ingredient is parsley. Due to its exceptional vitamin and mineral content, parsley exhibits a remarkably high nutrient Completeness Score3 of 91.
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 2 notable exceptions…
First, we find safflower oil. Safflower oil is nutritionally similar to sunflower oil. Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3’s, they’re considered less nutritious than canola or flaxseed oils.
Safflower oil is notable for its resistance to heat damage during cooking.
And lastly, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually associated with higher quality dog foods.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Spot and Tango fresh dog food looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 39%, a fat level of 19% and estimated carbohydrates of about 33%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 41% and a mean fat level of 20%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 31% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 49%.
Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical moist dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, this still looks like the profile of a fresh dog food containing a significant amount of meat.
Spot & Tango Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Spot & Tango through April 2024.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Spot and Tango Grain-Inclusive Dog Food
Spot and Tango is a fresh-cooked, grain-inclusive wet dog food. Each recipe contains a significant amount of named meats as its primary source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars. The turkey and lamb formulas also earn 5 stars.
Compare Spot and Tango Dog Food
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A Final Word
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