Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Voyager Dog Food Co dry product range is made up of four recipes with ratings varying from 3.5 to 4.5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 4 stars.
While the range is limited in terms of animal protein sources, it is still appealing and worth considering due to the transparency and quality of the ingredients.
It’s unfortunate the company chose to include so much plant-based protein in one of its recipes. Otherwise, we would have been compelled to award this food a higher rating.
Pros
- Vet formulated
- No added chelated copper
- Added vitamins and minerals
Cons
- Contains plant-based protein
The table below shows each recipe in the range including our rating. The AAFCO nutrient profile is not included on the company website.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Voyager Dog Food Co Clean & Complete Wholesome Farm Chicken Recipe | 4 | U |
| Voyager Dog Food Co Clean & Complete Wholesome Ocean Pollock Recipe | 4.5 | U |
| Voyager Dog Food Co Clean & Complete Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon Recipe | 3.5 | U |
| Voyager Dog Food Co Clean & Complete High-Performance Chicken Recipe | 4.5 | U |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Voyager Dog Food Co Clean & Complete Wholesome Ocean Pollock Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Voyager Dog Food Co Clean & Complete Wholesome Ocean Pollock Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Pollock meal, brown rice, barley, chicken by-product meal, poultry fat, whole oats, flaxseed, dried yeast, dried plain beet pulp, pumpkin, carrot, dried tomato pomace, natural flavor, salt, mixed tocopherols (a preservative), choline chlorid, taurine, monocalcium phosphate, vitamin E supplement, iron carbonate, zinc oxide, dl-methionine, biotin, sodium selenite, manganous oxide, niacin, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin B12 supplement, calcium iodate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin D3 supplement, cobalt carbonate, folic acid
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 7%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 26% | 14% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 29% | 16% | 48% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 25% | 33% | 42% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is pollock meal. Pollock is a type of marine fish native to the North Atlantic.
Because it is considered a meat concentrate, pollock 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. 1
Unfortunately, this particular item is anonymous. Because various fish contain different types of fats, we would have preferred to have known the source species.
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 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.
The fourth ingredient is chicken by-products, what’s left of a slaughtered chicken after all the choice cuts have been removed.
In addition to organs, this item can also include feet, beaks, undeveloped eggs and almost anything other than prime skeletal muscle.
The quality of this ingredient can vary, depending on the caliber of the raw materials obtained by the manufacturer.
The fifth ingredient is poultry fat. Poultry fat is obtained from rendering, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Poultry fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life.
However, poultry fat is a relatively generic ingredient and can be considered lower in quality than a similar item from a named source animal (like chicken fat).
The sixth ingredient is oats. Oats are rich in B-vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
The seventh ingredient is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also 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.
The eighth ingredient is yeast, which can be a controversial item. Dried yeast contains about 45% protein and is rich in other healthy nutrients.
Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system. Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies.
This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself. In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, we feel yeast should be considered a positive addition.
The ninth 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.
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 three notable exceptions.
First, 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, tomato pomace. Tomato pomace is a controversial ingredient, a by-product remaining after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.
Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content, while others scorn it as an inexpensive pet food filler.
Just the same, there’s probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.
Lastly, taurine, an important amino acid for dogs 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.
We view the presence of taurine in this recipe as a positive addition.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Voyager Dog Food Co Clean & Complete Wholesome Ocean Pollock looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 28.9%, a fat level of 15.6% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 47.6%.
As a group, the brand features a protein content of 29.4% and a mean fat level of 16.9%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 45.6% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 57%.
This means this Voyager Dog Food Co dry range contains near-average protein, below-average carbohydrate, and near-average fat when compared to typical dry dog food.
Voyager Dog Food Co Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Voyager Dog Food Co through November 2024.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Voyager Dog Food Co Dog Food
Voyager Dog Food Co offers veterinarian-formulated recipes with grains in every recipe and high levels of protein.
About
Voyager Dog Food Company was founded by Dr. Pete VanVranken in direct response to the health issues he was encountering daily in the dogs he was treating. A practising veterinarian of over 48 years.
The company is based in Battle Creek, Michigan, all ingredients are sourced from the United States and Canada and the food is manufactured in Lisbon, Ohio.
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