PetPlate Dog Food Review (Fresh)
Highly Recommended
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Review of PetPlate Fresh Dog Food
PetPlate Dog Food earns The Advisor’s top tier rating of 5 stars.
The PetPlate product line includes the 6 fresh cooked dog foods listed below.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available… Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
Recipe and Label Analysis
PetPlate Barkin’ Beef Entree was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
PetPlate Barkin' Beef Entree
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Ground beef, sweet potatoes, potatoes, beef liver, carrots, apples, peas, pumpkin, dicalcium phosphate, natural flavor, safflower oil, calcium carbonate, salmon oil, minerals (ferrous fumarate, zinc oxide, manganese gluconate, magnesium oxide, potassium iodide, sodium selenite), vitamins (vitamin E supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride [vitamin B6], thiamine mononitrate [vitamin B1], vitamin D3 supplement), mixed tocopherols (preservative), taurine, salt
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 0.9%
Red denotes any controversial items
PetPlate Dog Food Ingredient Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is beef. Beef is defined as “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered cattle” and includes skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus.1
Beef is naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient includes sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in a dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.
The third ingredient is potato, 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 next ingredient is beef liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The fifth item lists carrots, which are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The sixth inclusion is apple, a nutrient-rich fruit that’s also high in fiber.
The seventh 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 eighth ingredient is pumpkin, a nutritious addition high in complex carbohydrates, beta-carotene and dietary fiber.
The ninth 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 PetPlate product.
With 4 notable exceptions…
First, we find safflower oil, which 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.
Next, we note the inclusion of 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.
In addition, 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.
And lastly, this recipe includes taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.
Since taurine deficiency appears to be more common in pets consuming grain-free diets, we view its presence in this recipe as a positive addition.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, PetPlate fresh dog food looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 31%, a fat level of 22% and estimated carbohydrates of about 39%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 30.9% and a mean fat level of 15.8%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 44.3% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 51%.
Which means this PetPlate product contains…
Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical fresh dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, this still looks like the profile of a fresh dog food containing a notable amount of meat.
Our Rating of PetPlate Dog Food
PetPlate includes both grain-free and grain-inclusive fresh-cooked dog foods. Each recipe uses a notable amount of named meats as its main source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars. Other flavors and recipes earn 4 to 4.5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Has PetPlate Been Recalled?
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls since 2009 related to PetPlate.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
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What Actual Users Are Saying
Sample buyer review… “My dog loves this food! Her weight has stabilized and she isn’t gassy at all. I’ve tried almost every dog food delivery companies and Pet Plate is my favorite! Great customer service!”
Sample buyer review… “My dogs love Petplate. The package arrives very well packed with dry ice and the food stays frozen. Very good customer service. Highly recommend.”
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A Final Word
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