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Review of Grandma Lucy’s Artisan Freeze-Dried Dog Food
Grandma Lucy’s Artisan Dog Food receives the Advisor’s best rating of 5 stars.
The Grandma Lucy’s Artisan 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.
| Product | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Grandma Lucy’s Artisan Venison | 5 | A |
| Grandma Lucy’s Artisan Pork | 5 | A |
| Grandma Lucy’s Artisan Lamb | 4.5 | A |
| Grandma Lucy’s Artisan Chicken | 4.5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Grandma Lucy’s Artisan Chicken 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 Artisan Chicken
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, potatoes, flax, carrots, celery, apples, blueberries, cranberries, 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) = 7.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 26% | 13% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 28% | 14% | 50% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 25% | 31% | 44% |
Ingredient Analysis
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 potato. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The next 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 includes carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
Next, we find 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.
The seventh ingredient includes blueberries, which are a good source of vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
The eighth ingredient lists cranberries, 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 Artisan Dog Food looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 28%, a fat level of 14% and estimated carbohydrates of about 50%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 31% and a mean fat level of 15%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 46% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 50%.
Which means this Grandma Lucy’s product line contains…
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a dry product containing a significant amount of meat.
Our Rating of Grandma Lucy’s Artisan Dog Food
Grandma Lucy’s Artisan is a grain-free dry 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 Artisan 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 Brand Reviews
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