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4Health dog food is a private-label brand of dog food owned by a large chain store, Tractor Supply Company. In this article, we will find out a bit about this company, and check out some of 4health’s most popular recipes. Plus, I’ll recommend some good online alternatives.
Review of 4Health Dry Dog Food
Rating:
4Health Dog Food earns the Advisor’s second-highest tier rating of 4.5 stars.
The 4Health product line includes the 10 dry dog foods listed below.
Each recipe includes its related AAFCO nutrient profile when available on the product’s official webpage: Growth, Maintenance, All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| 4Health Puppy Formula | 5 | A |
| 4Health Small Bites Formula | 5 | M |
| 4Health Large Breed Formula | 4.5 | M |
| 4Health Chicken and Rice Formula | 5 | M |
| 4Health Salmon and Potato Formula | 4.5 | M |
| 4Health Performance Formula | 5 | M |
| 4Health Mature Adult Formula | 3 | M |
| 4Health Lamb and Rice Formula | 3.5 | M |
| 4Health Healthy Weight Formula | 3 | M |
| 4Health Beef and Rice Formula | 4.5 | M |
4Health Chicken and Rice Formula 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.
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient ContentProtein =
Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, cracked pearled barley, ground white rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), oatmeal, dried beet pulp, natural chicken flavor, flaxseed, ocean fish meal, potassium chloride, salt, dl-methionine, choline chloride, taurine, dried chicory root, glucosamine hydrochloride, dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, Yucca schidigera extract, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteinate, chondroitin sulfate, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 26% | 15% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 29% | 17% | 46% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 25% | 35% | 40% |
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The second ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third ingredient is barley, 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 next ingredient is ground white rice, another name for rice flour. Ground rice is made from either white or brown rice and is considered a gluten-free substitute for wheat flour.
The fifth 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 sixth 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 beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient, a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.
Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.
We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.
After the natural chicken 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 to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this 4Health product.
With 5 notable exceptions…
First, we note the inclusion of ocean fish meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.
Unfortunately, the phrase “ocean fish” is vague and does little to adequately describe this ingredient. Since some fish are higher in omega-3 fats than others, it’s impossible for us to judge the quality of this item.
Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations.
Next, chicory root 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, we 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.
Next, this recipe contains sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
And lastly, this food includes 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.
Based on its ingredients alone, 4Health looks like an above-average dry dog food.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 29%, a fat level of 17% and estimated carbohydrates of about 46%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 26% and a mean fat level of 14%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 52% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 53%.
Which means this 4Health product line contains…
Near-average protein. Below-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to other dry dog foods.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.
Review of 4Health Grain Free Dry Dog Food
Rating:
4Health Grain Free Dog Food receives the Advisor’s second-highest tier rating of 4.5 stars.
The 4Health Grain Free product line includes the 7 dry dog foods listed below.
Each recipe includes its related AAFCO nutrient profile when available on the product’s official webpage: Growth, Maintenance, All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| 4Health Grain Free Large Breed | 4 | M |
| 4Health Grain Free Puppy | 4.5 | A |
| 4Health Grain Free Beef and Potato | 3.5 | M |
| 4Health Grain Free Duck and Potato | 4 | M |
| 4Health Grain Free Whitefish and Potato | 4 | M |
| 4Health Grain Free Small Breed | 4.5 | M |
| 4Health Grain Free Chicken and Vegetables | 4 | M |
4Health Grain Free Chicken and Vegetables 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.
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient ContentProtein =
Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, garbanzo beans, lentils, peas, potatoes, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), pea flour, egg product, tomato pomace, natural flavor, flaxseed, ocean fish meal, salt, dl-methionine, choline chloride, taurine, dried chicory root, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, glucosamine hydrochloride, Yucca schidigera extract, chondroitin sulfate, dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, vitamin E supplement, beta carotene, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteinate, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5.6%
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 26% | 15% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 29% | 17% | 46% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 25% | 35% | 40% |
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The second ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
It’s important to note that the next three ingredients included in this recipe are each a type of legume:
Although they’re a mixture of quality plant ingredients, there’s an important issue to consider here. And that’s the recipe design practice known as ingredient splitting.
If we were to combine all these individual items together and report them as one, that newer combination would likely occupy a significantly higher position on the list.
In addition, legumes contain about 25% protein, a factor that must also be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
The sixth item is potato. Potatoes can be considered 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 seventh 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 eighth ingredient is pea flour, a powder made from roasted yellow peas. Pea flour contains as much as 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
The ninth ingredient is egg product, an unspecified (wet or dry?) form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary significantly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries — from eggs that have failed to hatch.
In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
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 4Health product.
With 6 notable exceptions…
First, we find tomato pomace. Tomato pomace is a controversial ingredient, a by-product remaining after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.
Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content, while others scorn it as an inexpensive pet food filler.
Just the same, there’s probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.
Next, flaxseed is 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.
In addition, we 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.
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.
We also find chicory root in this food. 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.
Next, this recipe includes sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
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.
Based on its ingredients alone, 4Health Grain Free Dog Food looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 29%, a fat level of 17% and estimated carbohydrates of about 46%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 28% and a mean fat level of 16%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 48% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%.
Which means this 4Health product line contains…
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
When you consider the protein-boosting effect of the garbanzo beans, lentils, pea products and flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a kibble still containing a notable amount of meat.
I thought it was the medication my dog was on making her throw up every day all day long. But it turns out it was this food. Very very disappointed and after reading all the complaints about how other peoples dogs are doing the same thing and yet there is no recall being done I am switching brands and never coming back to this.
Ive always loved ProPlan for my dogs. They happily gobbled it up with no health issues for years, and then I broke down and adopted two cats, (Then two more). I was dumbfounded at the cost and lack of decent options for food at the time. Then one day, I was scanning the aisles of PetSmart for good options that didnt cost 1/2 my paycheck and there was a cat adoption day being held. I got to talking to the woman who runs the rescue and cat food came up. Because we were in PetSmart, she lowered her voice and very quietly told me that if I wanted the best cat food on the market, and at a fraction of the cost, to buy it from Tractor Supply Co, (TSC). She told me that their brand is called 4Health, but its made by Blue Buffalo. The difference is in the price. Its extremely reasonable! She said she only feeds that to all the animals in her shelter but didnt want the staff at PetSmart to hear her say that.
Ive been feeding this to my 14 yr old dog and my 2 year old for about 8 months. Before that, they both were on the 4 Health puppy formula. About 6 months ago, the old dog would whimper and whine when he ate and afterward. I thought he had bad tooth. I had the vet look at his teeth, there were no issues. He started barfing foam. A few years back a vet said he had acid reflux and to give him an acid reducer 1/2 hr before he eats. So I started that up. It wasnt helping, so I started mixing some instant potato flakes, cooked rice, a little canned Ole Roy, and milk in with a little dry 4 health. He doesnt cry when he eats now!
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I should have researched the brand before buying and the recalls from the company. My boxer Zeus after having so many seizures on Sunday we had to take him to the emergency veterinarian to have him put to sleep. I realized after thinking what did we do differently that could have caused the seizures it was the 4Health Beef and Potatoes that poisoned my dog. I took all 3 bags back to Tractor Supply they are having the dogfood tested and supposed to give me the results but, after learning its their brand Im sure I wont hear back so I kept a quart-size freezer bag of all the 3 bags I bought and going to have it tested myself.
FAQ
Is 4Health bad for dogs?
Does 4Health dog food cause heart problems?
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