Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Loyall Life dry product range consists of eight recipes, each receiving the Dog Food Advisor’s rating of 4.5 stars.
Pros
- Contain probiotics
- No corn, wheat, soy or by-products
- No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
Cons
- Do not support hydration
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Loyall Life Puppy Chicken and Brown Rice | 4.5 | A |
| Loyall Life Puppy Large Breed | 4.5 | A |
| Loyall Life Chicken and Brown Rice | 4.5 | A |
| Loyall Life Beef and Barley | 4.5 | M |
| Loyall Life Lamb Meal and Brown Rice | 4.5 | M |
| Loyall Life Large Breed Beef and Barley | 4.5 | M |
| Loyall Life Large Breed Chicken and Brown Rice | 4.5 | M |
| Loyall Life Large Breed Lamb Meal and Brown Rice | 4.5 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Loyall Life Chicken and Brown Rice was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Loyall Life Chicken and Brown Rice
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken meal (source of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate), brown rice, whole grain sorghum, pearled barley, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), dried peas, pea protein, natural flavors, dried plain beet pulp, whole flaxseed, fish oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols) (source of DHA), yeast culture, monosodium phosphate, salt, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, d- calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid), minerals (ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate), potassium chloride, taurine, monocalcium phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, l-threonine, dried sweet potatoes, dried carrots, dried tomato pomace, dried apple pomace, dried blueberries, dried cranberries, dried spinach, choline chloride, rosemary extract, dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 26% | 16% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 29% | 18% | 45% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 25% | 37% | 39% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The second ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
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 sorghum. Sorghum (milo) is a starchy cereal grain with a nutrient profile similar to corn.
Since it is gluten-free and boasts a smoother blood sugar behavior than other grains, sorghum may be considered an acceptable non-meat ingredient.
The fifth 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 sixth 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.
The seventh ingredient includes dried peas. Dried peas are a good source of carbohydrates. Plus they’re naturally rich in dietary fiber.
However, dried peas contain about 27% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
The eighth ingredient is pea protein, what remains of a pea after removing the starchy part of the vegetable.
Even though it contains over 80% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.
And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label – a factor that must be considered when judging the 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 Nutrena product.
With four notable exceptions…
First, we find fish oil. Fish 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, fish oil should be considered a commendable addition.
In addition, 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.
We note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
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, Loyall Life Chicken and Brown Rice looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 29.9%, a fat level of 18.5% and estimated carbohydrates of about 39.3%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 28.8% and a mean fat level of 17.1%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 41.8% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 59%.
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the dried peas, flaxseed, garbanzo beans and lentils, this looks like the profile of a kibble still containing a notable amount of meat.
Loyall Life Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Loyall Life through December 2025.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Loyall Life Dry Dog Food
Loyall Life is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a notable amount of named meat and meat meals as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4.5 stars.
About
Loyall Life is owned by Nutrena, with food produced in the USA at plants situated in Ohio, Kansas, and Minnesota.
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