Summit Dog Food Review (Dry)
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Which Summit Dry Recipes Get
Our Best Ratings?
Summit Dog Food receives the Advisor’s second-highest tier rating of 4 stars.
The Petcurean Summit product line includes the 4 dry dog foods listed below.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available… Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Summit Coastal Grill Chicken Meal and Salmon Meal | 4 | M |
| Summit Range Rotisserie Chicken Meal and Turkey Meal | 4 | M |
| Summit Farmstead Feast Pork Meal and Lamb Meal | 3.5 | M |
| Summit Farmstead Feast Large Breed Pork Meal and Lamb Meal | 3.5 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Summit Range Rotisserie Chicken Meal and Turkey Meal 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.
Summit Range Rotisserie Chicken Meal and Turkey Meal
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken meal, oatmeal, rye, barley, whole oats, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), turkey meal, natural flavour, flaxseed, salt, potassium chloride, pumpkin, squash, sweet potatoes, suncured alfalfa, carrots, lentils, broccoli, blueberries, pomegranate, bananas, cranberries, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (a source of vitamin C), niacin, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, beta-carotene, vitamin B12 supplement, biotin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), minerals (ferrous sulphate, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, selenium yeast, zinc oxide, copper sulphate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, manganous oxide, calcium iodate), taurine, dl-methionine, l-lysine, choline chloride, dried rosemary
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 23% | 11% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 26% | 12% | 54% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 23% | 27% | 50% |
Ingredient Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
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 next ingredient is rye, a cereal grain nutritionally similar to barley.
The fourth 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 fifth ingredient includes oats. Oats are rich in B-vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
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 item is turkey meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.
After the natural flavor, we find 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.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But realistically, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Petcurean product line.
With 5 notable exceptions…
First, we find sun-cured alfalfa. Although alfalfa is high in protein (18%) and fiber, it’s uncommon to see it used in dog food. This hay-family ingredient is more commonly associated with horse feeds.
Next, this food includes 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.
In addition, we find 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.
Next, we also note the use of 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.
And lastly, this recipe contains selenium yeast. Unlike the more common inorganic form of selenium (sodium selenite), this natural yeast supplement is considered a safer anti-cancer alternative.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Summit Dog Food looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 26%, a fat level of 12% and estimated carbohydrates of about 54%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 25% and a mean fat level of 13%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 54% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 51%.
Which means that this Summit product contains…
Near-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to other dry dog foods.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed, alfalfa and lentils, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.
Our Rating of Petcurean Summit Dog Food
Petcurean Summit is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a moderate amount of named meat meals as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.
Highly recommended.
Summit Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Petcurean through April.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
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More Petcurean Brand Reviews
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- Go! Sensitivities Dog Food Review (Wet)
- Go! Sensitivities Limited Ingredient Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Go! Skin + Coat Care Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Now Fresh Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Now Fresh Wet Dog Food Review (Cartons)
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