It’s always important to know what you’re feeding your pets. After all, they are part of your family and should be treated as such. This article serves as a wealth of information for you to make a decision regarding if 4health Dog Food is the best dog food for your pet. Ingredients, reviews, and recall history are all parts of a puzzle to determine whether a particular brand of dog food is the best for your pup!
It’s safe to say that there are some dog food and other pet food brands out there that are high quality with great value and, of course, there are some that aren’t. You have probably heard of some of the leading dry food manufacturers, such as Blue Buffalo, Beneful Dog Food, Diamond Pet Food, Pedigree, and IAM Dog Food, but does it mean that they offer the best dog food brands? Also, with so many options out there with so many ingredients such as omega fatty acids and max omega options, chicken fat, beet pulp, meat by-products, grain free, corn… the list is endless and confusing.
That said, with a variety of types of formulas (grain free, special care, untamed, and original), there is a formula for all ages and needs. If you’re looking for a dry dog food manufacturer that offers weight loss management, puppy development, or adult and everyday living, then 4health Dog Food has a product for you. We’re going to dig deeper into 4health Dog Food reviews to determine if this dog food is the best fit for your pet.
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.
I purchased 4 Health canned food after talking to someone that worked at TS. Our little dachshund puppy loves it but has now started with horrible diarrhea. She’s already housebroken but she can’t make it outside with how bad this is. She has finished 1 1/2 can but you better believe there will be no more. She’s slept more today and wants to be carried and that’s not her personality. A couple of our other dogs have ate it out of bowl and they now have diarrhea. I’ve thrown the rest in the garbage and will never purchase this again.
I wish I would have just stuck with Bil Jac and feeding them a raw diet. I was trying to save money and it cost my Beloved Boxer of 13 years his life. I will not even go back to Tractor Supply after learning they are part owners of the 4health and Diamond brand dog foods. Makes me sick to think I fed my dog this poison. Ill stick with Bil Jac and raw diet from now on.
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.
I immediately went to TSC and was impressed with the variety of options for both dog and cat food. The cat food has options for outdoor, indoor, every life stage, dietary needs, etc., and the cost was a fraction of what buying the Blue Buffalo brand costs. Ive been feeding it to my cats for about 4-5 years now, and I also switched the dogs to 4Health which also offers a variety of flavors, dietary needs, life stages, weights, activity levels, you name it. 4Health for is also the only brand I have ever seen for cat food that comes in a 25lb bag. You can get 60lbs of dog food, but cat food? Nope. Not until 4Health. The cost recently went up, as did everything but its still less expensive at $35 for 25lbs and its developed with great ingredients to meet every cats needs. The dog food offers all the same options as Blue Buffalo with varying price levels. I highly recommend giving 4Health a try and feed your pets the best but save some money, too!
They gave me meds, the next night I cooked her some hamburger and she devoured it and was still hungry. So I put half a can of this in her bowl she smelled it and made a disgusted face and refused to eat it. I dumped it, scrubbed her bowl and gave her more hamburger, which she immediately ate. I started researching the food and found on Consumer Affairs 2 dozen situations exactly like mine! Its been a few days now, and my dog still hasnt pooped, still no energy, and will only eat a little at a time. We are taking her to be tested for kidney failure from poisoning caused by this dog food! This has been the only change in her diet for the last 7 years… This food needs to be recalled!
#2 4health Grain-Free Beef & Potato Dog Food
As with the first food, I think this recipe is suited to typical medium/large dogs that get an hour or less of exercise a day.
It is a grain-free formula, so it’s a good choice if your dog has a grain allergy. Since the protein in this recipe comes from beef, it’s certainly one for dogs that like the taste of red meat.
As with the first recipe in this review, it has small amounts of glucosamine and chondroitin to help support your dog’s joints, so it is a great choice for dogs who are prone to joint diseases.
While not high, the fiber content is medium-range. Alongside the generous addition of probiotics, this food will be a good choice to support your dog’s digestion.
This recipe from Wellness Complete Health makes a good alternative to this food, as it has a similar macronutrient balance.
It is grain-free, plus it has similar amounts of glucosamine and chondroitin to protect your dog’s joints.
FAQ
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