Halo Grain Free Dog Food Review (Canned)
Highly Recommended
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Which Halo Grain Free Wet Recipes Get Our Best Ratings?
Halo Grain Free canned dog food receives the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.
The Halo Grain Free product line includes the 2 canned dog foods listed below.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available… Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Halo Small Breed Grain Free Chicken and Salmon | 5 | M |
| Halo Small Breed Grain Free Turkey and Duck | 5 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Halo Small Breed Grain Free Chicken and Salmon was selected to represent both products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Halo Small Breed Grain Free Chicken and Salmon
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, salmon, carrots, peas, dried egg whites, guar gum, potassium chloride, salt, 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), agar-agar, salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), flaxseed oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), 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, sodium carbonate, l-carnitine
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredient 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 ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient 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 addition component in many canned products.
The third ingredient listed is chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The fourth ingredient is salmon. Salmon is an oily marine and freshwater fish not only high in protein but also omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life.
The fifth ingredient includes carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The sixth item 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 seventh ingredient is dried egg whites. Eggs are highly digestible and an excellent source of usable protein.
The eighth ingredient is guar gum, a gelling or thickening agent found in many wet pet foods. Refined from dehusked guar beans, guar gum can add a notable amount of dietary fiber to any product.
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 Halo product.
With 3 notable exceptions…
First, we find salmon oil. 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.
Next, this recipe contains 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, Halo Grain Free looks like an above-average canned dog food.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 43%, a fat level of 23% and estimated carbohydrates of about 26%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 47% and a mean fat level of 23%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 23% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 63%.
Which means this Halo product line contains…
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical canned dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, this looks like the profile of a wet dog food containing a significant amount of meat.
Our Rating of Halo Grain Free Canned Dog Food
Halo Grain Free is a canned dog food using a significant amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Halo Grain Free Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Halo through April.
- TruDog Withdraws Dog Food Due to Salmonella (4/18/2018)
- TruDog Pet Treats Recall | February 2018 (2/24/2018)
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
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More Halo Brand Reviews
The following Halo dog food reviews are also posted on this website:
- Halo Dog Food Review (Canned)
- Halo Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Halo Elevate Dog Food (Dry)
- Halo Freeze-Dried Raw Meal Bites Dog Food Review (Freeze-Dried)
- Halo Grain Free Dog Food Review (Dry)
- TruDog Dog Food Review (Freeze-Dried)
Compare This Dog Food
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