Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Performatrin Ultra Dry product range is made up of nine 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.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Performatrin Ultra Wholesome Grains Healthy Weight with Salmon | 5 | M |
| Performatrin Ultra Wholesome Grains Lamb and Brown Rice Puppy | 5 | G |
| Performatrin Ultra Wholesome Grains Healthy Weight with Salmon Small Bite | 5 | M |
| Performatrin Ultra Wholesome Grains Chicken and Brown Rice Puppy | 5 | G |
| Performatrin Ultra Stream Ancient Grains | 5 | U |
| Performatrin Ultra Woodlands Ancient Grains Large Breed | 5 | U |
| Performatrin Ultra Meadow Ancient Grains | 5 | U |
| Performatrin Ultra Woodlands Ancient Grains | 5 | U |
| Performatrin Ultra Wholesome Grains Stream | 5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Performatrin Ultra Woodlands Ancient Grains Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Performatrin Ultra Woodlands Ancient Grains Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Turkey, salmon meal, oatmeal, barley, chicken meal (source of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate), millet, rye, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), dried egg product, quinoa, natural chicken flavor, dried tomato pomace, flaxseed, dehydrated alfalfa meal, dried apple pomace, sweet potato, salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), carrots, salt, potassium chloride, pumpkin, cranberries, blueberries, chicory root extract, dried kelp, choline chloride, dl-methionine, dried yeast, taurine, spinach, blackberries, ginger, oregano, dandelion, l-carnitine, rosemary extract, Yucca schidigera extract, chamomile, parsley, green tea extract, garlic, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium bifidum fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate [source of vitamin C], niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, beta carotene, vitamin B12 supplement, biotin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), minerals (ferrous sulfate, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, selenium yeast, zinc oxide, calcium carbonate, copper sulfate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, manganous oxide, calcium iodate)
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 28% | 14% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 31% | 16% | 45% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 27% | 33% | 40% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is turkey. Although it is a quality item, raw turkey 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 salmon meal. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, fish meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.
Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations.1
The third 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 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 next item is chicken meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.
The sixth ingredient is millet, a gluten-free grain harvested from certain seed grasses. Millet is hypoallergenic and naturally rich in B-vitamins and fiber as well as other essential minerals.
The seventh ingredient is rye, a cereal grain nutritionally similar to barley.
The eighth ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat 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 ninth ingredient is dried egg product, a dehydrated 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.
The tenth ingredient is quinoa. Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is not a true cereal grain but a plant prized for its gluten-free seeds.
Compared to most other grain-type ingredients, it is high in protein (about 12-18%), dietary fiber and other healthy nutrients.
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 Performatrin product.
With eight 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, although alfalfa meal is high in plant protein (about 18%) and fiber (25%), this hay-family item is more commonly associated with horse feeds.
In addition, this recipe includes 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.
Next, dried yeast can be a controversial item. Dried yeast contains about 45% protein and is rich in other healthy nutrients.
Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.
Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.
What’s more, a vocal minority insist yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is something we’ve not been able to scientifically verify.
In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, we feel yeast should be considered a nutritious addition.
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.
Additionally, selenium yeast is used in this food. Unlike the more common inorganic form of selenium (sodium selenite), this natural yeast supplement is considered a safer anti-cancer alternative.
Next, we find garlic which can also be a controversial item. Although many favor the ingredient for its claimed health benefits, garlic has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.2
So, one must weigh the potential benefits of feeding garlic against its proven tendency to cause subclinical damage to the red blood cells of the animal.
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.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Performatrin Ultra Dog Food looks like an above-average dry kibble.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 31%, a fat level of 16% and estimated carbohydrates of about 45%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 31% and a mean fat level of 14%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 47% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 46%.
Which means this product line contains…
Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to other kibbles.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed, alfalfa meal, and dried yeast, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a notable amount of meat.
Performatrin Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Performatrin through December 2024.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Performatrin Grain Inclusive Dog Food
Performatrin Ultra is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a notable amount of named meat meals as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
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