Mills Dry Dog Food Review (Dry)

Mills Dry product range consists of four recipes, each receiving the Dog Food Advisor’s rating of 5 stars.

Four recipes tailored to your individual dogs’ needs. With protein as the first ingredient, and raw coated for additional protein and flavor.

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.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Mills Salmon and Vegetable Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient 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 second ingredient is salmon meal. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, fish meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.

Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations.¹

The third ingredient is chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans. Like peas, bean and lentils, chickpea is a nutritious member of the fiber-rich legume (or pulse) family of vegetables.

However, chickpeas contain about 22% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The fourth ingredient is lentils. Lentils are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.

However, lentils contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The fifth ingredient is 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 sixth 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.

The seventh ingredient is canola oil. Unfortunately, canola can be a controversial item. That’s because it can sometimes (but not always) be derived from genetically modified rapeseed.

Yet others cite the fact that canola oil can be a significant source of  omega-3 fatty acids.

In any case, plant-based oils like canola are less biologically available to a dog than fish oil as a source of quality omega-3 fats.

The eighth ingredient is tapioca, a gluten-free, starchy carbohydrate extract made from the root of the cassava plant.

The ninth ingredient is herring meal. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, herring meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.

Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations.²

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 the product.

This recipe has five notable exceptions.

First, salmon oil. Salmon oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA types of omega-3 fatty acids. 

Depending on its level of freshness and purity, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.

Next, taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of the heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.

We view taurine in this recipe as a positive addition.

We note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.

Next, we note the inclusion of inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and typically sourced from chicory root. 

Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.

Lastly, this food also contains chelated 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, Mills Salmon and Vegetable Recipe looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 40.8%, a fat level of 16.3% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 30.7%.

As a group, the brand features a protein content of 40.8% and a mean fat level of 16.6%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 30.4% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 41%.

This means this Mills product line contains above-average protein, below-average carbohydrates, and near-average fat compared to typical dry dog food.

Mills Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Mills through December 2025.

No recalls noted.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

Our Rating of Mills Dry Dog Food

Though Mills have limited recipes, they are certainly worthy of the 5 stars they earned in our review. Nutritionists formulated products using high-quality, natural ingredients, which are gently cooked to maintain nutritional value.

Highly Recommended

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