Just Food for Dogs Review (Fresh)
Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Just Food for Dogs Fresh Dog Food earns The Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.
The Just Food for Dogs product line includes the 9 fresh cooked dog foods listed below.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
Recipe and Label Analysis
Just Food for Dogs Fish and Sweet Potato was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
JustFoodForDogs Fish and Sweet Potato
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Wild Alaska pacific cod, sweet potatoes, potatoes, green beans, broccoli, safflower oil, dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, salt, choline bitartrate, vitamin E supplement, zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, D-calcium pantothenate, copper citrate, cholecalciferol (source of vitamin D3), riboflavin, manganese citrate, potassium iodide, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 7% | 2% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 39% | 11% | 42% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 36% | 25% | 39% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is cod. This item is typically sourced from clean, undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings of commercial fish operations.1
Cod is a marine species of fish native to both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America.
The second ingredient is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.
The third ingredient includes potato. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The fourth ingredient lists green beans, a healthy vegetable notable for its vitamin, mineral and natural fiber content.
The fifth ingredient is broccoli, a healthy green vegetable and a member of the kale family. It’s notably rich in vitamin C and fiber and numerous other nutrients.
Like other cruciferous vegetables, broccoli is believed to provide anti-cancer benefits.
The sixth ingredient is 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.
The seventh ingredient is dicalcium phosphate, likely used here as a dietary calcium supplement.
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 dried seaweed meal, a product made from a family of brown algae known as Fucaceae (Rockweed). Although it does contain a number of healthy nutrients, seaweed meal is primarily used as a source of inexpensive carbohydrates (about 60% dry matter).
This item is only rarely used to make pet food and is more typically found in feeds for cattle, horses, hogs, hens and sheep.
And lastly, with the exception of iron, 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, Just Food for Dogs looks like an above-average moist dog food.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 38.9%, a fat level of 11.1% and estimated carbohydrates of about 42%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 33.4% and a mean fat level of 15.7%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 42.9% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 47%.
Below-average protein. Near-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical moist dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a fresh cooked dog food containing a moderate amount of meat.
Just Food For Dogs Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Just Food For Dogs through April 2024.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of JustFoodForDogs Grain Free and Grain Inclusive Dog Food
Just Food for Dogs includes both grain-free and grain-inclusive fresh dog foods using a moderate amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
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A Final Word
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