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Grandma Mae’s Dog Food Review
Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Dog Food receives the Advisor’s second-highest tier rating of 4.5 stars.
The Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals product line includes the 8 dry 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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| Product | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Adult Dog Entree | 4.5 | A |
| Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Puppy Entree | 5 | A |
| Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Large Breed Adult and Puppy Entree | 4.5 | A |
| Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Farmhouse Blend | 4.5 | A |
| Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Low Fat Dog Entree | 4 | M |
| Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Lamb and Whitefish Meal Entree | 4.5 | A |
| Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Salmon and Whitefish Meal Entree | 4.5 | A |
| Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Duck Meal and Sweet Potato Entree | 4.5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Adult Dog Entree 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 Mae's Country Naturals Adult Dog Entree
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken meal, brown rice, millet, oats, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), barley, dried plain beet pulp, menhaden fish meal, dried egg product, flaxseed meal, natural chicken liver flavor, cranberries, blueberries, dl-methionine, sweet potato, dried apple pomace, dried carrots, dried spinach, potassium chloride, lecithin, dicalcium phosphate, choline chloride, l-lysine, monosodium phosphate, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium thermophilum fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, zinc proteinate, vitamin E supplement, niacin, zinc sulfate, chelated ferrous sulfate, riboflavin, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, vitamin A supplement, chelated copper sulfate, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin B12 supplement, chelated manganese sulfate, biotin, vitamin D3 supplement, cobalt proteinate, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid, chelated sodium selenite, chelated calcium iodate
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 24% | 14% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 27% | 16% | 50% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 23% | 33% | 44% |
Ingredient Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The second ingredient is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The third 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 fourth ingredient includes oats. Oats are rich in B-vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
The fifth ingredient is chicken fat. This item 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 sixth ingredient is barley, 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 seventh ingredient is beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient, a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.
Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.
We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.
The eighth ingredient is menhaden fish meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.
Menhaden are small ocean fish related to herring. They’re rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. What’s more, in their mid-depth habitat, menhaden are not exposed to mercury contamination as can be typical with deep water species.
Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations.1
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.
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 Mae’s product.
With 3 notable exceptions…
First, flaxseed meal is one of the best plant-based sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Flax meal is particularly 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, we note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
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 Mae’s Country Naturals Dog Food looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 27%, a fat level of 16% and estimated carbohydrates of about 50%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 27% and a mean fat level of 14%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 51% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 52%.
Which means this Grandma Mae’s product line contains…
Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed meal, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a notable amount of meat.
Is Grandma Mae’s a Good Dog Food?
Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals 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 4.5 stars.
Highly recommended.
Related Topics
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Has Grandma Mae’s Dog Food Been Recalled?
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls since 2009 related to Grandma Mae’s.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
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More Grandma Mae’s Reviews
The following Grandma Mae’s dog food reviews are also posted on this website:
- Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Grain Free Dog Food Review (Canned)
- Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Grain Free Dog Food Review (Dry)
Compare This Dog Food
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A Final Word
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