halo wet dog food reviews
Halo Elevate Dog Food (Dry)
Halo Elevate Dog Food (Dry)
By Mike Sagman
Updated: March 22, 2024
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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 (Canned)
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Which Halo Recipes Get Our Best Ratings?
Halo canned dog food receives the Advisors top rating of 5 stars.
The Halo product line includes the 3 canned dog foods listed below.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
Recipe and Label Analysis
Halo Chicken Stew Adult recipe 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 Chicken Stew Adult
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Chicken broth, chicken, chicken liver, turkey, carrots, barley, celery, peas, rolled oats, guar gum, salt, potassium chloride, natural flavor, xanthan gum, minerals (zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, sodium selenite, cobalt amino acid chelate, potassium iodide), vitamins (vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), choline chloride, dried kelp
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Guaranteed Analysis | 8% | 5% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 50% | 31% | 11% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 37% | 56% | 8% |
Ingredient Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken broth. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to a dog food, they are a common component in many canned products.
The second 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 ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The third item is chicken liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
Next, we find turkey, another quality addition.
The fifth ingredient includes carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The sixth 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.
Next, this recipe includes celery. Although raw celery can be very high in water, it can still contribute a notable amount of dietary fiber as well as other healthy nutrients.
The eighth ingredient lists peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, theyre 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 ninth ingredient includes rolled oats, whole oats that have been rolled and flattened into flakes. Since theyre minimally processed, rolled oats are exceptionally high in dietary fiber and nutritional value.
From here, the ingredient list goes on to include a number of other items.
But realistically, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Halo product.
With 2 notable exceptions
First, 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.
And lastly, 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.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Halo looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 50%, a fat level of 31% and estimated carbohydrates of about 11%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 44% and a mean fat level of 27%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 21% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 61%.
Which means this Halo product line contains
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to other canned dog foods.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, this looks like the profile of a canned dog food containing a significant amount of meat, except for the Vegan recipe which is not rated.
Our Rating of Halo Wet Dog Food
Halo is a grain-inclusive moist dog food using a significant amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Halo Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls since 2009 related to Halo.
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.
