[Ed E]

Some ratings for a particular brand dog food is 5 star but then some may show 2.5 star for some ingredients. For example Stella and Chewy chicken freeze dried is 4.5 stars but the. Lamb and duck is only 2,5 stars … makes it hard to understand since you always review only the highest rating. Many would like to know why the rating is lower?

[Patricia A]

Hope someone can correct me if I’m wrong. I believe the lower ratings for a particular protein/flavor are so because of a higher fat to protein ratio. I stick to the 5* in Stella’s freeze dried . Higher fat would be a problem if your dog is prone to pancreatitis.

[Ed E]

Perhaps this is the reason. The protein to fat ratio is very
similar across the chicken, beef, and lamb so not sure
that explains the 1.5 rating difference.

[Patricia A]

I’m going to email DFA and ask for explanation on his criteria for the * ratings on this brand. A few months ago his rating for their freeze dried turkey was 5* but the raw was 2.5* I believe. I asked why and they corrected the freeze dried to the lower rating. I’ll post when they answer. I also use primal freeze dried. I notice the calories with the same protein is much lower then the Stella’s so I think lower in fat? I alternate since my one Chihuahua tends to get chubby with the Stella’s.

• This reply was modified 5 years, 3 months ago by Patricia A.

[Ed E]

Thanks.. I feed 2 beef and 2 duck or lamb plus 2 Primal Turkey & sardine daily plus probiotics and digestive enzymes . My dog has a slight allergy to chicken so that was why I wanted clarification. Did not have an Email for DFA.

[Patricia A]

Ed E this is DFA reply…

Thanks for your email. For the last 6 years, we have prepared, posted and maintained more than 1000 dog food reviews representing some 4100 different recipes. Although every recipe is analyzed together with all the other “siblings” in its product line, we select one example and discuss it in detail in every review published on our website.

In many cases, we award a higher or lower star rating for specific recipes — known as “outliers”. There are a number of reasons why we might assign different star ratings to different recipes within the same product line. And the most common cause for these variations is typically due to our estimate of the meat content of a particular recipe. Or in some cases, we observe a higher or lower fat-to-protein ratio.

If you check the protein, fat and carbohydrate figures for a product, you should be able to see this difference.

Hope this helps.

Jackie B.
Community Support
The Dog Food Advisor

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• This reply was modified 5 years, 3 months ago by Patricia A.

[Pabloo Escabaros]

When selecting a high-protein diet for your dog, it’s not only the protein content that matters — the fat-to-protein ratio plays a big role too. Some flavors or formulas may receive lower ratings due to a higher fat percentage, which can be a concern dog food for dogs prone to conditions like pancreatitis. That’s why it’s important to go beyond just the star ratings and look at the full nutritional profile. With the right high-protein recipe that’s well-balanced and tailored to your dog’s specific needs, you’re giving them the best chance to thrive, stay active, and enjoy a long, healthy life.

[Olivia Harris]

Understanding dog ratings and behavior can be a fun and rewarding experience for pet owners. If you want to delve deeper into this topic, it is recommended that you read the essay “Our Pets – Dog and Cats” on Allessay.org. This essay discusses various aspects of owning pets, including dogs and cats. You can read it here

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