Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Halo canned dog food product range is made up of two recipes, the chicken recipe received the Dog Food Advisor’s rating 5 stars.
The second recipe is a vegan food so it currently unrated. This is because our review methodology favors dog foods rich in meat, and judging a plant-based diet against this criteria would always give a low rating. Studies of plant-based diets for dogs are showing some great results, as well as providing preferable options for many dogs with allergies or those wanting to choose more environmentally sustainable options.
Pros
- High-quality protein sources
- Non-GMO vegetables
- Outstanding customer care
Cons
- Expensive compared to some of its competitors
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Halo Chicken Stew Adult | 5 | M |
| Halo Holistic Garden of Vegan Recipe | N/R | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Halo Chicken Stew Adult recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Halo Chicken Stew Adult
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken broth, chicken, chicken liver, turkey, carrots, barley, celery, peas, rolled oats, guar gum, salt, potassium chloride, natural flavor, xanthan gum, minerals (zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, sodium selenite, cobalt amino acid chelate, potassium iodide), vitamins (vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), choline chloride, dried kelp
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 8% | 5% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 50% | 31% | 11% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 37% | 56% | 8% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken broth. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to a dog food, they are a common component in many canned products.
The second ingredient 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 third item is chicken liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
Next, we find turkey, another quality addition.
The fifth ingredient includes carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The sixth 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.
Next, this recipe includes celery. Although raw celery can be very high in water, it can still contribute a notable amount of dietary fiber as well as other healthy nutrients.
The eighth 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 ninth ingredient includes rolled oats, whole oats that have been rolled and flattened into flakes. Since they’re minimally processed, rolled oats are exceptionally high in dietary fiber and nutritional value.
From here, the ingredient list goes on to include a number of other items.
But realistically, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Halo product.
With two notable exceptions…
First, 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.
And lastly, this recipe includes 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.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Halo Chicken Stew Adult looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 47.5%, a fat level of 30% and estimated carbohydrates of about 7.5%.
Which means this Halo product contains…
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to other canned dog foods.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, this looks like the profile of a canned dog food containing a significant amount of meat, except for the Vegan recipe which is not rated.
Halo Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Halo through May 2025.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Halo Canned Dog Food
Halo is a grain-inclusive moist dog food using a significant amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Compare Halo Canned Dog Food
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A Final Word
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