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Review of Dr. Marty Dog Food
Dr. Marty Dog Food earns The Advisor’s top rating of 4.5 stars.
The Dr. Marty Nature’s Blend product line includes seven freeze-dried raw dog food, which meet AAFCO nutrient guidelines for adult maintenance.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Marty Nature's Blend Essential Wellness | 4.5 | M |
| Dr. Marty Nature's Blend Sensitivity Select | 4.5 | M |
| Dr. MartyNature's Blend Active Vitality | 4.5 | M |
| Dr. Marty Nature's Blend Healthy Growth | 4.5 | M |
| Dr. Marty Nature's Blend Small Breed | 4.5 | M |
| Dr. Marty Nature's Blend Essential Wellness Premium Origin | 4.5 | M |
| Dr. Marty Nature’s Blend Radiant Select | 4.5 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Dr. Marty Nature’s Blend Essential Wellness was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Dr. Marty Nature's Blend
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Turkey, beef, salmon, duck, beef liver, turkey liver, turkey heart, flaxseed, sweet potato, egg, pea flour, apple, blueberry, carrot, cranberry, pumpkin seed, spinach, dried kelp, ginger, salt, sunflower seed, broccoli, kale, mixed tocopherols (natural preservative)
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 37% | 27% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 39% | 29% | 24% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 30% | 52% | 18% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is turkey. Turkey is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of turkey”.1
The second ingredient is beef. Beef is defined as “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered cattle” and includes skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus.2
Both turkey and beef are naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The third ingredient is salmon, an oily marine and freshwater fish not only high in protein but also omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life.
The fourth ingredient is duck. Duck is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of duck”.3
The fifth ingredient is beef liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The sixth ingredient is turkey liver, another quality addition.
The seventh ingredient is turkey heart. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, heart tissue is pure muscle — all meat. It’s naturally rich in quality protein, minerals and complex B vitamins, too.
The eighth 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 ninth ingredient is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.
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 product.
With 3 notable exceptions…
First, we find 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.
Next, sunflower seeds are a good source of plant-based fatty acids that are also rich in vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
And lastly, we find no added vitamins or minerals on the ingredients list. However, since the nutritional adequacy statement included on the label states the product is “complete and balanced”, we would assume these essential nutrients are provided by the food ingredients in the recipe.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Dr. Marty Dog Food looks like an above-average freeze-dried raw product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 39%, a fat level of 29% and estimated carbohydrates of about 24%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 40% and a mean fat level of 29%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 24% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 72%.
Below-average protein. Near-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical raw dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed and pea flour, this still looks like the profile of a raw dog food containing a notable amount of meat.
Dr. Marty Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Dr. Marty through November 2024.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Dr. Marty Dog Food
Dr. Marty Nature’s Blend is a grain-free, freeze-dried dog food using a notable amount of named meats as its main source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Compare Dr. Marty Dog Food
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A Final Word
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