Solid Gold Dog Food Review (Dry)

Solid Gold dry product range consists of six recipes with ratings varying from 3.5 to 4.5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 4 stars.

Recipes feature sustainably sourced, high-quality meat as a main ingredient, alongside a blend of superfoods, probiotics, and whole grains that provide dogs with a rich source of steady energy, dietary fiber, and essential nutrients that support overall health.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Solid Gold Nutrientboost Fit and Fabulous Weight Control with Alaskan Pollock recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is pollock, a protein-rich whitefish native to the central and northeast coasts of the United States.

The second ingredient is pollock meal. Pollock is a type of marine fish native to the North Atlantic.

Because it is considered a meat concentrate, pollock meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.

The third ingredient is pea fiber, a mixture of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber derived from pea hulls. Aside from the usual benefits of fiber, this agricultural by-product provides no other nutritional value to a dog.

The fourth ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The fifth ingredient is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The sixth ingredient includes 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 seventh ingredient is oatmeal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and can be (depending upon its level of purity) gluten-free.

The eighth ingredient is fish meal. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, fish meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.

Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations.¹

Unfortunately, this particular item is anonymous. Because various fish contain different types of fats, we would have preferred to have known the source species.

The ninth ingredient is chicken fat. This item 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.

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 Solid Gold product.

With six notable exceptions…

First, flaxseed is 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.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

Next, 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.

In addition, we note the inclusion of 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.

We note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.

Next we find chicory root. Chicory is rich in inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers.

Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.

And lastly, this food includes taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Solid Gold Nutrientboost Fit and Fabulous Weight Control with Alaskan Pollock looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 29.9%, a fat level of 8.2% and estimated carbohydrates of about 43.2%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 28.8% and a mean fat level of 12.7%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 44.9% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 44%.

Which means this Solid Gold product line contains…

Near-average protein. Below-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas and flaxseed, this still looks like the profile of a kibble containing a notable amount of meat.

Solid Gold Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Solid Gold through September 2026.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

Our Rating of Solid Gold Grain Inclusive Dog Food

Solid Gold is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a notable amount of named meat meals as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.

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