Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance Dog Food Review (Freeze-Dried)

Mike Sagman

By

Mike Sagman
Mike Sagman

Mike Sagman

Founder

Dr Mike Sagman is the creator of the Dog Food Advisor. He founded the website in 2008, after his unquestioning trust in commercial dog food led to the tragic death of his dog Penny.

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Updated: March 21, 2024

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Grandma Lucy’s Dog Food Review

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Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance Dog Food receives the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.

The Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance product line includes the 4 freeze-dried dog foods listed below.

Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available… Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

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Recipe and Label Analysis

Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance Rabbit 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.

Grandma Lucy's Pureformance Rabbit

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

38.6%

Protein

16.1%

Fat

37.3%

CarbsCarbohydrates

Rabbit, chickpeas, flax, carrots, celery, apples, bananas, blueberries, cranberries, pumpkin, papaya, spinach, garlic, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, iron proteinate, calcium carbonate, phosphorous, zinc proteinate, riboflavin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, potassium chloride, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, magnesium chloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement


Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 7.1%

Red denotes any controversial items

Estimated Nutrient Content
Method Protein Fat Carbs
Guaranteed Analysis 36% 15% NA
Dry Matter Basis 39% 16% 37%
Calorie Weighted Basis 34% 34% 32%

Ingredient Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is rabbit. Although it is a quality item, raw rabbit 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 includes chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans. Like peas, bean and lentils, the chickpea is a nutritious member of the fiber-rich legume (or pulse) family of vegetables.

However, chickpeas contain about 22% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The third ingredient is 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.

The fourth ingredient lists carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.

The fifth ingredient is celery. Although raw celery can be very high in water, it can still contribute a notable amount of dietary fiber as well as other healthy nutrients.

The sixth ingredient is apple, a nutrient-rich fruit that’s also high in fiber.

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 Grandma Lucy’s product.

With 2 notable exceptions

First, garlic can be a controversial item. Although many favor the ingredient for its claimed health benefits, garlic has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.1

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 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.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance Dog Food looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 39%, a fat level of 16% and estimated carbohydrates of about 37%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 36% and a mean fat level of 16%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 41% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 44%.

Which means this Grandma Lucy’s product line contains…

Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the chickpeas and flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a dry product containing a significant amount of meat.

Our Rating of Grandma Lucy’s Dog Food

Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance is a grain-free freeze-dried dog food using a significant amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.

Enthusiastically recommended.

Has Grandma Lucy’s Dog Food Been Recalled?

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls since 2009 related to Grandma Lucy’s.

No recalls noted.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

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More Grandma Lucy’s Reviews

The following Grandma Lucy’s dog foodreviews are also posted on this website:



Sources

1: Yamato et al, Heinz Body hemolytic anemia with eccentrocytosis from ingestion of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum) and garlic (Allium sativum) in a dog, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 41:68-73 (2005)

A Final Word

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