halo small breed wet dog food
Halo Elevate Dog Food (Dry)
Halo Elevate Dog Food (Dry)
By Mike Sagman
Updated: March 22, 2024
DogFoodAdvisor is reader supported See how
All reviews are 100% impartial but if you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee.
Which Halo Elevate Recipes Get Our Best Ratings?
Halo Elevate Dog Food earns The Advisors top rating of 5 stars.
The Halo Elevate product line includes the 14 dry 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 Elevate Grain-Free Puppy | 5 | A |
| Halo Elevate Grain-Free Red Meat | 5 | M |
| Halo Elevate Grain-Free Salmon | 5 | M |
| Halo Elevate Grain-Free Small Breed Chicken | 5 | M |
| Halo Elevate Grain-Free Chicken | 5 | M |
| Halo Elevate Healthy Grains Small Breed Red Meat | 5 | M |
| Halo Elevate Healthy Grains Chicken | 5 | M |
| Halo Elevate Healthy Grains Lamb | 5 | M |
| Halo Elevate Healthy Grains Large Breed Chicken | 5 | A |
| Halo Elevate Healthy Grains Puppy | 5 | A |
| Halo Elevate Healthy Grains Red Meat | 5 | M |
| Halo Elevate Healthy Grains Salmon | 5 | M |
| Halo Elevate Healthy Grains Small Breed Chicken | 5 | M |
| Halo Elevate Healthy Grains Red Meat | 5 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Halo Elevate Healthy Grains Chicken 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 Elevate Healthy Grains Chicken
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, oats, barley, tapioca, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), quinoa, natural flavor, salmon oil, potassium chloride, salt, sunflower oil, choline chloride, inulin, taurine, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, biotin), minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate), mixed tocopherols (preservative), dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Guaranteed Analysis | 32% | 18% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 35% | 20% | 37% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 29% | 40% | 31% |
Ingredient Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The second ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third ingredient is turkey meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.
The fourth ingredient includes oats. Oats are rich in B-vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
The fifth ingredient is barley, which 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 sixth ingredient is tapioca, a gluten-free, starchy carbohydrate extract made from the root of the cassava plant.
The seventh ingredient is chicken fat. This item 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 doesnt sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The eighth ingredient is quinoa. Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is not a true cereal grain but a plant prized for its gluten-free seeds.
Compared to most other grain-type ingredients, it is high in protein (about 12-18%), dietary fiber and other healthy nutrients.
After the natural flavor, we find 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.
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 6 notable exceptions
First, we find sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is nutritionally similar to safflower oil. Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3s, theyre considered less nutritious than canola or flaxseed oils.
Sunflower oil is notable for its resistance to heat damage during cooking.
There are several different types of sunflower oil, some better than others. Without knowing more, its impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.
Next, inulin is a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and typically sourced from chicory root.
Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, its also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dogs digestive tract.
In addition, we note the use of 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.
Next, 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.
Additionally, 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.
And lastly, we note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
Halo Elevate Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Halo Elevate looks like an above-average dry dog food.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 35%, a fat level of 20% and estimated carbohydrates of about 37%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 35% and a mean fat level of 21%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 37% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 60%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the quinoa, this still looks like the profile of a kibble containing a significant amount of meat.
Our Rating of Halo Elevate Dog Food
Halo Elevate is a freeze-dried, raw-coated dry dog food using a significant amount of named meat meals as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Halo Elevate Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Halo through April.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Get Free Recall Alerts
Get free dog food recall alerts sent to you by email. Subscribe to The Advisors recall notification list.
More Halo Brand Reviews
The following Halo dog food reviews are also posted on this website:
Compare This Dog Food
How does this brand compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?
A Final Word
The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.
However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.
For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.
Halo Dog Food Review (Dry)
Halo Dog Food Review (Dry)
By Mike Sagman
Updated: April 16, 2024
DogFoodAdvisor is reader supported See how
All reviews are 100% impartial but if you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee.
Halo Dog Food receives the Advisors second-highest tier rating of 4 stars.
The Halo product line includes 3 dry dog foods listed below.
Each recipe includes its related AAFCO nutrient profile when available on the products official webpage: Growth, Maintenance, All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
Recipe and Label Analysis
Halo Holistic Chicken and Brown Rice Adult 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 Holistic Chicken and Brown Rice Adult
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Chicken, chicken liver, dried egg product, oat groats, pearled barley, dried peas, dried chickpeas, soy protein concentrate, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), flaxseed, natural flavor, dicalcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product, pea fiber, dried blueberries, dried cranberries, dried carrots, dried sweet potatoes, calcium carbonate, salt, marine microalgae, inulin, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid, biotin), minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate), taurine, potassium chloride, mixed tocopherols (preservative)
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Guaranteed Analysis | 25% | 15% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 28% | 17% | 48% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 24% | 35% | 41% |
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The second ingredient is chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
Although it is a quality item, raw organ meat contains up to 73% moisture.
The third ingredient is dried egg product, a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary significantly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries from eggs that have failed to hatch.
In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The next ingredient includes oat groats, a whole grain, minimally processed form of oats. With the exception of their caloric content and the fact theyre also gluten free, oat groats can be considered average in nutritional value.
The fifth 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 sixth ingredient includes dried peas. Dried peas are a good source of carbohydrates. Plus theyre naturally rich in dietary fiber.
The seventh ingredient lists dried chickpeas. Chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) are a good source of carbohydrates. Plus theyre naturally rich in dietary fiber.
However, both dried peas and dried chickpeas contain about 27% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
The eighth ingredient is soy protein concentrate, what remains of soybeans after removing the water soluble carbohydrates from the beans.
Even though it contains over 80% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.
The ninth ingredient is chicken fat. This item 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 doesnt sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
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 Halo product.
With 6 notable exceptions
First, flaxseed is one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided theyve 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.
Next, we find pea fiber, a mixture of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber derived from pea hulls. Aside from the usual benefits of fiber, this agricultural by-product provides no other nutritional value to a dog.
In addition, inulin is a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers.
Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, its also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dogs digestive tract.
We also note the use of 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.
Next, 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.
And lastly, 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.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Halo looks like an above-average dry dog food.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 28%, a fat level of 17% and estimated carbohydrates of about 48%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 28% and a mean fat level of 17%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 47% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 59%.
Which means this Halo product line contains
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to other dry dog foods.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the dried peas, dried chickpeas, soy protein concentrate and flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a dry dog food containing a notable amount of meat, excluding the Vegan recipe.
Our Rating of Halo Dog Food
Halo is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a notable amount of dried egg product as its main source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.
Highly recommended.
Halo Holistic Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Halo through April.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Get Free Recall Alerts
Get free dog food recall alerts sent to you by email. Subscribe to The Advisors recall notification list.
More Halo Brand Reviews
The following Halo dog food reviews are also posted on this website:
Compare This Dog Food
How does this brand compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?
A Final Word
The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.
However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.
For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.
