Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Bravo! Balance Dog Food product range is made up of three recipes with ratings varying from 3.5 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 4.5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bravo! Balance Beef Formula | 5 | A |
| Bravo! Balance Chicken Formula | 5 | A |
| Bravo! Balance Turkey Formula | 3.5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Bravo! Balance Chicken Formula was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Bravo! Balance Chicken Formula
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken (including bone), chicken liver, chicken gizzard, chicken hearts, green beans, squash, broccoli, vitamins and minerals: (salt, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, vitamin E supplement, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, thiamine mononitrate, potassium iodide, vitamin D3 supplement), salmon oil, choline chloride, taurine
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 2%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 15% | 11% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 50% | 37% | 5% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 35% | 62% | 4% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken (including bone). Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.1
Chicken is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life and chicken bone, an excellent source of natural calcium.
The next item is chicken liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The third ingredient is chicken gizzard. The gizzard is a low-fat, meaty organ found in the digestive tract of birds and assists in grinding up consumed food. This item is considered a canine dietary delicacy. Yum!
The fourth ingredient is chicken hearts. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing to us humans, heart tissue is pure muscle – all meat. It’s naturally rich in quality protein, minerals and complex B vitamins, too.
The fifth ingredient includes green beans, a healthy vegetable notable for its vitamin, mineral and natural fiber content.
The sixth ingredient is squash. Squash is a nutritious addition high in complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
The next inclusion is broccoli, a healthy green vegetable and a member of the kale family. It’s notably rich in vitamin C and fiber and numerous other nutrients.
Like other cruciferous vegetables, broccoli is believed to provide anti-cancer benefits.
The eighth ingredient is vitamins and minerals detailed on the ingredients list. We must assume many of these essential nutrients are provided by the food ingredients in the recipe.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But realistically, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Bravo product.
With one notable exception…
The minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually associated with higher quality dog foods.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Bravo! Balance Chicken Formula looks like an above-average raw product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 48.5%, a fat level of 35.3% and estimated carbohydrates of about 6.5%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 47.5% and a mean fat level of 35.8%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 7% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 75%.
Which means this Bravo product line contains…
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical raw dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a raw product containing an abundance of meat.
However, with 75% of the total calories in our example coming from fat versus just 25% from protein, some recipes may not be suitable for every animal.
Bravo Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Bravo through March 2025.
- Bravo Dog Food Recall December 2015 (December 10, 2015)
- Bravo Dog Food Recall July 2015 (July 23, 2015)
- Bravo Dog and Cat Food Recall (September 26, 2014)
- Bravo! Dog and Cat Food Recall (May 14, 2014)
- Bravo! Raw Frozen Dog Food Recall (April 3, 2013)
- Warning Issued for Bravo! and Steve’s Real Raw Pet Foods (March 13, 2013)
- Bravo Recalls Pig Ears Dog Chews for Salmonella (June 1, 2011)
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Bravo! Balance Dog Food
Bravo! Balance Chicken Formula is a grain-free raw dog food using an abundance of named meats and organs as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Compare Bravo! Balance Dog Food
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A Final Word
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