Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Dr. Pol dry product range is made up of three recipes which each receive the Dog Food Advisor’s rating, 5 stars.
Pros
- Vet formulated
- Real meat or fish as the first ingredient
- Limited ingredients
Cons
- Limited recipes
The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Pol Healthy Balance Chicken Recipe | 5 | A |
| Dr. Pol High Energy Chicken Recipe | 5 | A |
| Dr. Pol Healthy Balance Grain-Free Salmon Recipe | 5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Dr. Pol Healthy Balance Chicken Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Dr. Pol Healthy Balance Chicken Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, peas, brown rice, pearled barley, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), pumpkin, carrots, spinach, whole flaxseed, salt, potassium chloride, yucca schidigera extract, choline chloride, dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, chicory, glucosamine hydrochloride, taurine, chondroitin sulfate, dried aspergillus oryzae fermentation product, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, calcium pantothenate, ferrous sulfate, zinc methionine complex, zinc sulfate, manganese methionine complex, manganese sulfate, copper lysine complex, copper sulfate, biotin, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, sodium selenite, ethylenediamine dihydroiodide, cobalt glucoheptonate, cobalt carbonate, mixed tocopherols and rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 25% | 12% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 28% | 13% | 51% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 25% | 29% | 46% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.1
Chicken is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second 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 third 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 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 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 sixth ingredient is pumpkin. Pumpkin is a nutritious addition high in complex carbohydrates, beta-carotene and dietary fiber.
The seventh ingredient lists carrots, which are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The eighth ingredient is spinach. Due to its exceptional vitamin and mineral content, spinach exhibits a remarkably high nutrient Completeness Score2 of 91.
The ninth ingredient is flaxseed, 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.
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 Dr. Pol product.
With four notable exceptions…
First, we find 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.
Since taurine deficiency appears to be more common in pets consuming grain-free diets, we view its presence in this recipe as a positive addition.
Next, we note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
We also note, sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
And lastly, this food 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.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Dr. Pol Healthy Balance Chicken Recipe looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 28.8%, a fat level of 14.1% and estimated carbohydrates of about 45.3%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 30.6% and a mean fat level of 17%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 40.6% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 55%.
Above-average protein. Near-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 dry dog food containing a notable amount of meat.
Dr. Pol Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Dr. Pol through June 2025.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Dr. Pol Dog Food
Dr. Pol is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a notable amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
About
Dr. Pol launched his collection of food for dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits, horses, and goats at the end of 2019. He has partnered with Consumers Supply Distributing, LLC for manufacturing and distribution.
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