PetPlate Dog Food Review (Fresh)

PetPlate Dog Food product range is made up of six recipes with ratings varying from 4 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 4.5 stars.

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.

Recipe and Label Analysis

PetPlate Barkin’ Beef Entree was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Ingredients Analysis

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.¹

Beef is naturally rich in all 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.

The second ingredient includes sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in a dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.

The third ingredient is potato, 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 beef liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.

The fifth 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 sixth item lists carrots, which are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.

The seventh inclusion is apple, a nutrient-rich fruit that’s also high in fiber.

The eighth ingredient is vinegar, an item of only modest nutritional value to a dog. We would assume it’s used here to adjust the pH of this recipe.

The ninth ingredient is dicalcium phosphate, likely used here as a dietary calcium supplement.

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 PetPlate product.

With fifth notable exceptions…

First, we find safflower oil, which is nutritionally similar to sunflower oil. Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3’s, they’re considered less nutritious than canola or flaxseed oils.

Safflower oil is notable for its resistance to heat damage during cooking.

Next, we note the inclusion of salmon oil. Salmon oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.

Depending on its level of freshness and purity, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.

In addition, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually associated with higher quality dog foods.

Next we find,  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.

And lastly, this recipe includes 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.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, PetPlate fresh dog food looks like an above-average wet product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 32.1%, a fat level of 22.2% and estimated carbohydrates of about 38.2%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 31.7% and a mean fat level of 17%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 44.6% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 54%.

Which means this PetPlate product contains…

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

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, this still looks like the profile of a fresh dog food containing a notable amount of meat.

PetPlate Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to PetPlate through March 2025.

No recalls noted.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

Our Rating of Petplate Dog Food

PetPlate includes both grain-free and grain-inclusive fresh-cooked dog foods. Each recipe uses a notable amount of named meats as its main source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4.5 stars.

Highly Recommended

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