Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
OptimPlus Dry product range is made up of 16 recipes with ratings varying from 4 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 4 stars.
Pros
- Affordable
- Protein-rich recipes
- Ease of ordering
Cons
- Contains plant-based fillers
The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| OptimPlus Adult Sensitive Skin and Stomach Salmon and Oatmeal | 5 | M |
| OptimPlus Adult Lamb and Brown Rice with Tender Shreds | 4 | M |
| OptimPlus Adult Beef and Brown Rice with Tender Shreds | 4 | M |
| OptimPlus Adult Chicken and Brown Rice | 4 | M |
| OptimPlus Adult Chicken and Brown Rice with Tender Shreds | 4 | M |
| OptimPlus Adult Large Breed Chicken and Brown Rice | 4 | M |
| OptimPlus Puppy Lamb and Brown Rice | 4 | A |
| OptimPlus Puppy Sensitive Skin and Stomach Salmon and Oatmeal | 5 | A |
| OptimPlus Adult Small Breed Chicken and Brown Rice | 4 | M |
| OptimPlus Puppy Large Breed Chicken and Brown Rice | 4 | A |
| OptimPlus Adult Beef and Brown Rice with Tender Shreds | 4 | M |
| OptimPlus Senior Chicken and Brown Rice with Tender Shreds | 4 | A |
| OptimPlus Adult Lamb and Brown Rice with Tender Shreds | 4 | M |
| OptimPlus Adult Weight Management Chicken and Brown Rice with Tender Shreds | 4 | M |
| OptimPlus Puppy Chicken and Brown Rice | 4 | A |
| OptimPlus Adult Sensitive Skin and Stomach Lamb and Oatmeal | 4.5 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
OptimPlus Adult Small Breed Chicken and Brown Rice was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Ingredients Analysis
The first 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 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
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 chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The fourth ingredient is ground rice, another name for rice flour. Ground rice is made from either white or brown rice and is considered a gluten-free substitute for wheat flour.
The fifth ingredient is ground corn. Corn is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain. And aside from its energy content, this grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The sixth ingredient is corn gluten meal. Gluten is the rubbery residue remaining once corn has had most of its starchy carbohydrate washed out of it.
Although corn gluten meal contains 60% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.
And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label – a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The seventh ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat 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 eighth ingredient is salmon meal. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, fish meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.
Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations.2
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 the product.
This recipe has five notable exceptions.
Firstly, this recipe contains 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.
Next, 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 cat foods is entirely acceptable.
Fructooligosaccharide, an alternative sweetener3 probably used here as a prebiotic. Prebiotics function to support the growth of healthy bacteria in the large intestine.
Also added is taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.
Since taurine deficiency appears to be more common in pets consuming grain-free diets, we view its presence in this recipe as a positive addition.
In addition, this food includes 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, OptimPlus Adult Small Breed Chicken and Brown Rice looks like an above-average, dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 33%, a fat level of 18% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 41%.
As a group, the brand features a protein content of 31% and a mean fat level of 18%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 44% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 58%
This means this OptimPlus dry range contains near-average protein, above-average carbohydrate, and above-average fat when compared to typical dry dog food.
OptimPlus Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to OptimPlus through December 2024.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of OptimPlus Dog Food
OptimPlus dry recipes are formulated with a good level of protein as the first ingredient. They meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles for puppies, adults and senior dog maintenance.
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