Unrated

Kiwi Canine Pure Dog Food receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of 4 stars.

The Kiwi Canine Pure Dog Food product line includes four canned recipes… each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance.

The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.

• Kiwi Canine Pure Free Range Fish and Lamb
• Kiwi Canine Pure Free Range Chicken and Lamb
• Kiwi Canine Pure Free Range Beef and Vegetable
• Kiwi Canine Pure Free Range Lamb and Vegetable

Kiwi Canine Pure Free Range Beef and Vegetable was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

The first ingredient in this dog food 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

Beef is naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.

The second ingredient lists ocean fish. Like beef, fish can also be considered a protein-rich meat item.

Unfortunately, the phrase “ocean fish” is generic and does little to adequately describe this ingredient. Since some fish are higher in omega-3 fats than others, it’s impossible for us to judge the quality of this item.

The third ingredient is lamb. Lamb is nutritionally similar to beef and is yet another high-protein meat ingredient.

The fourth ingredient mentions peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.

However, peas contain about 25% protein which must be considered when evaluating the total protein reported in this food.

The fifth item lists carrots. Carrots are loaded with beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.

The sixth ingredient includes sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is high in linoleic acid… an essential omega-6 fatty acid needed by every dog to sustain life.

But the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats in a food is nutritionally critical… and can vary significantly (depending on the quality of the source ingredient itself).

There are several different types of sunflower oil… some better than others. Without knowing more, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.

The seventh ingredient is flaxseed oil… one of the best non-fish sources of omega-3 fatty acids… essential to a dog’s life.

The eighth ingredient mentions simply gelling agents. Is this guar gum, carrageenan or something else? Because of the anonymous nature of this component, we’re unable to assess the quality of this item.

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 three notable exceptions…

First, molasses. Although it’s rich in mineral nutrients, molasses is a less-refined form of sugar with a glycemic index similar to maple syrup. Like table sugar (and in larger amounts), molasses has the ability to raise a dog’s blood sugar.

Next, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are usually associated with lower quality dog foods.

And lastly, green-lipped mussel powder. Mussels are clam-like animals notably rich in glucosamine and omega-3 fatty acids… compounds claimed to support long-term joint health.

Kiwi Canine Pure Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Judging by its ingredients alone, Kiwi Canine Pure Dog Food looks to be an above-average canned product.

But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 34%, a fat level of 32% and estimated carbohydrates of about 26%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 34% and a mean fat level of 32%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 26% for the overall product line.

Below-average protein. Above-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical canned dog food.

When you allow for the modest protein-boosting effect of the peas, this looks like the profile of a wet food containing a moderate amount of meat.

However, we’re puzzled by the nutrient figures reported by the company in its Guaranteed Analysis. With three meat items leading the ingredients list, we would have expected the nutrient profiles to have reflected a higher animal protein content.

Bottom line?

Kiwi Canine Pure Dog Food is a grain-free canned product using a moderate amount of free-range meats as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.

Highly recommended.

Notes and Updates