Highly Recommended
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Which Halo Recipes Get Our Best Ratings?
Halo canned dog food receives the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.
The Halo product line includes the 3 canned 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Halo Chicken Stew Adult | 5 | M |
| Halo Holistic Garden of Vegan Recipe | Not Rated | M |
| Halo Beef Stew Adult | 5 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Halo Chicken Stew Adult recipe 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.
Halo Chicken Stew Adult
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken broth, chicken, chicken liver, turkey, carrots, barley, celery, peas, rolled oats, guar gum, salt, potassium chloride, natural flavor, xanthan gum, minerals (zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, sodium selenite, cobalt amino acid chelate, potassium iodide), vitamins (vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), choline chloride, dried kelp
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 8% | 5% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 50% | 31% | 11% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 37% | 56% | 8% |
Ingredient Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken broth. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to a dog food, they are a common component in many canned products.
The second ingredient is chicken. 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 ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The third item is chicken liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
Next, we find turkey, another quality addition.
The fifth ingredient includes carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The sixth ingredient is barley. Barley is 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.
Next, this recipe includes 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 eighth ingredient lists peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
The ninth ingredient includes rolled oats, whole oats that have been rolled and flattened into flakes. Since they’re minimally processed, rolled oats are exceptionally high in dietary fiber and nutritional value.
From here, the ingredient 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 Halo product.
With 2 notable exceptions…
First, 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.
And lastly, this recipe includes sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Halo looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 50%, a fat level of 31% and estimated carbohydrates of about 11%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 44% and a mean fat level of 27%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 21% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 61%.
Which means this Halo product line contains…
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to other canned dog foods.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, this looks like the profile of a canned dog food containing a significant amount of meat, except for the Vegan recipe which is not rated.
Our Rating of Halo Wet Dog Food
Halo is a grain-inclusive moist dog food using a significant amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
More Top Picks
Halo Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls since 2009 related to Halo.
- TruDog Withdraws Dog Food Due to Salmonella (4/18/2018)
- TruDog Pet Treats Recall | February 2018 (2/24/2018)
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Get Free Recall Alerts
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More Halo Brand Reviews
The following Halo dog food reviews are also posted on this website:
- Halo Elevate Dog Food (Dry)
- Halo Freeze-Dried Raw Meal Bites Dog Food Review (Freeze-Dried)
- Halo Grain Free Dog Food Review (Canned)
- Halo Grain Free Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Halo Holistic Healthy Grains Dog Food Review (Dry)
Compare This Dog Food
How does this brand compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?
A Final Word
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