Sport Dog Food Active Series Dog Food Review (Dry)

Mike Sagman  Karan French

By

Mike Sagman
Mike Sagman

Mike Sagman

Founder

Dr Mike Sagman is the creator of the Dog Food Advisor. He founded the website in 2008, after his unquestioning trust in commercial dog food led to the tragic death of his dog Penny.

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&
Karan French
Karan French

Karan French

Senior Researcher

Karan is a senior researcher at the Dog Food Advisor, working closely with our in-house pet nutritionist, Laura Ward, to give pet parents all the information they need to find the best food for their dog.

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Updated: August 20, 2024

Verified by Laura Ward

Laura Ward

Laura Ward

Pet Nutritionist

Laura studied BSc (Hons) Animal Science with an accreditation in Nutrition at the University of Nottingham, before working for eight years in the pet food and nutrition industry.

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Laura Ward

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Our Verdict

Rating:
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Sport Dog Active Series product range is made up of five recipes which each receive the Dog Food Advisor’s rating, 5 stars.

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

Sport Dog Food Active Series 30/15 Dock Dog All Life Stages was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Sport Dog Food Active Series 30/15 Dock Dog All Life Stages

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

33%

Protein

16.5%

Fat

42.5%

CarbsCarbohydrates

Buffalo meal, oatmeal, sweet potato, coconut oil, pork meal, catfish meal, cassava root, yeast cultures, natural flavor, salmon oil, salt, choline, potassium chloride, zinc amino acid complex, iron amino acids complex, chicory root, vitamin E, pumpkin, carrot, blueberry, cranberry, manganese amino acids complex, copper amino acid complex, selenium yeast, thiamine, niacin, l-carnitine, d-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine, riboflavin, vitamin A, biotin, vitamin d3, vitamin B12, green tea extract, folic acid, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, rosemary extract, kelp meal, calcium propionate, Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation, Lactobacillus casei fermentation, Enterococcus faecium fermentation, Bifido bacterium bifidium fermentation, Yucca schidigera extract


Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.3%

Red denotes any controversial items

Estimated Nutrient Content
Method Protein Fat Carbs
Guaranteed Analysis 30% 15% NA
Dry Matter Basis 33% 17% 43%
Calorie Weighted Basis 29% 35% 37%

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is buffalo meal. Buffalo meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh buffalo.

The second ingredient is oatmeal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and can be (depending upon its level of purity) gluten-free.

The third 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 fourth ingredient is coconut oil, a natural oil rich in medium-chain fatty acids.

Medium-chain triglycerides have been shown to improve cognitive function in older dogs.1

Because of its proven safety2 as well as its potential to help in the treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) and chronic skin disorders, MCT can be considered a positive addition to this recipe.

The fifth ingredient is pork meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.

The sixth ingredient is catfish meal, yet another high protein meat concentrate.

Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations.3

The seventh ingredient is cassava root. Cassava is a root vegetable and the source of tapioca starch. This item is rich in carbohydrates and calories while its nutrient profile is otherwise unremarkable.

The eighth ingredient is yeast culture. Although yeast culture is high in B-vitamins and protein, it can also be used as a probiotic to aid in digestion.

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 Sport Dog Food product.

With four 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, we note the inclusion of chicory root. Chicory is rich in inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers.

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.

In addition, this recipe includes selenium yeast. Unlike the more common inorganic form of selenium (sodium selenite), this natural yeast supplement is considered a safer anti-cancer alternative.

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, Sport Dog Active Series Dog Food looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 33%, a fat level of 17% and estimated carbohydrates of about 43%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 32% and a mean fat level of 19%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 42% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 59%.

Which means this Sport Dog Food product contains…

Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a significant amount of meat.

Sport Dog Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Sport Dog through October 2024.

No recalls noted.

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

Our Rating of Sport Dog Grain Inclusive Dog Food

Sport Dog Active Series is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a significant amount of named meat meals as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.

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Highly Recommended

Sources

1: Pan Y et al, Dietary supplementation with medium-chain TAG has long-lasting cognition-enhancing effects in aged dogs, British Journal of Nutrition, Volume 103, Issue 12, June 2010, pp 1746-1754

2: Matulka RA et al, Lack of toxicity by medium chain triglycerides (MCT) in canines during a 90-day feeding study,Food Chem Toxicol, Jan 2009, 47(1) 35-9.

3: Association of American Feed Control Officials

A Final Word

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