is halo a good brand of dog food

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.

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

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.

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More Halo Brand Reviews

The following Halo dog food reviews are also posted on this website:

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A Final Word

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Halo Dog Food Review 2024: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Review Summary

Our Final Verdict

We give Halo Dog Food a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars.

Introduction

Halo is a health-conscious dog food brand thats marketed towards women who love their pets and the planet. All of their recipes we reviewed feature a well-balanced blend of vitamins, minerals, and probiotics to fortify your dogs gut. The Elevate Dog Healthy Grains Salmon Recipe is our favorite choice because its grain-inclusive but doesnt contain any common meat allergens such as chicken or beef. Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Dry Dog Food is Halos most popular recipe on Chewy, and we like it because its a good source of whole meat chicken, grains, and vitamins. Our first two choices are adult-only, so we selected Elevate Healthy Grains Puppy Chicken Recipe as our third best option because its formulated for puppies.

At a Glance: The Best Halo Dog Food Recipes

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Our Favorite		Halo Holistic Wild Salmon & Whitefish	Good sources of Omega 3 fatty acids Healthy grains Vitamins, minerals, taurine, & probiotics	CHECK PRICE
	Halo Adult Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver	Whole chicken as the first ingredient Includes oats and barley Tons of probiotics	CHECK PRICE
	Halo Puppy Formula Holistic Chicken	Chicken is the sole animal protein Vitamins, minerals, taurine, & probiotics Contains oatmeal and flaxseed	CHECK PRICE

Halo Dog Food Reviewed

Who Makes Halo Dog Food and Where Is It Produced?

Halo dog food is owned by Better Choice Company and is made in the USA from globally sourced ingredients. This company prides itself on providing high-quality dog food recipes to dog moms everywhere. Theres even a vegan recipe, although most vets dont recommend putting your dog on a vegan diet unless medically necessary.

Is This Food Formulated for All Life Stages?

All of the recipes specify whether its intended for puppies or adults. To the best of our knowledge, Halo doesnt make a dog food thats inclusive for all life stages. Adult-only foods are formulated for maintenance needs, not growth. Puppies need extra nutrients as they mature, so while it probably wouldnt hurt them to eat an adult food, its not the best choice.

Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

We love how all of the Halo products we reviewed include probiotics in the food. These beneficial bacteria are found naturally in your dogs gut, but a highly processed diet can cause them to decline. Probiotics indirectly reduce inflammation by fighting off the bad bacteria that causes infections in your pet. Because inflammation is linked to almost every chronic disease, including cancer, probiotics may indirectly reduce the risk of your dog getting sick. This is why theres such an important part of your dogs diet!

Salmon as the main ingredient is a great protein in our overall choice because its rich in omega 3 fatty acids and isnt widely known to cause allergies in dogs. Although chicken is the main ingredient in our other top picks, some dogs are able to tolerate the protein well, and its still one of the most popular proteins in dog food.

Although none of the recipes listed here are grain-free diets (Halo offers them, we just didnt include them in this review), the Holistic Chicken formula includes chickpeas which is a common ingredient in grain-free foods. A 2018 study by the FDA found a correlation between grain-free dietincluding the substitutes for grain such as pea ingredientsand canine cardiomyopathy, a type of heart disease in dogs. This leads us to be wary about too many lentil, pea, and potato ingredients in our dogs food, but there needs to be more studies before we can actually say what caused the link.

Is Halo Actually Holistic?

On Chewy, the product description for the Holistic Chicken recipe states that there are no meat meal products in their food because whole meat is more easily digested than rendered, processed meat meal containing higher levels of ash. They claim that they never use meat meals in their food, just whole chicken. While its true that the Holistic recipe avoids meat meals, we dont see this promise reiterated in the other two recipes. In fact, the Elevate Dog Healthy Grains Salmon Recipe contains three different kinds of meat meal! We wonder what made Halo change their tune.

Also, Halo claims that their ingredients are high-quality, but unless their food is human grade (its not) then legally its held to animal feed standards. These regulations have low accountability and can even contain 3D and 4D meats, which include animals found dead, dying, diseased, or destroyed. Were uncertain about the stance Halo takes on these meats since they seem inconsistent with their beliefs on meat mealwhich is a common source of these lower-quality proteins.

Halo Gives Your Dog Healthy Grains

While Halo does offer grain-free formulas, all the foods we picked to review feature heart-healthy grains such as oats, barley, and quinoa. Added fiber is a bonus to a grain-inclusive diet. And if the FDA found a link correlating grain-free dog foods to heart disease, then the inverse might also be true: grains may help prevent heart disease in dogs.

A Quick Look at Halo Dog Food

Pros

• Grain-inclusive
• Fortified with probiotics
• Made in the USA

Cons

• Some recipes contain meat meal and chickpeas

Recall History

No dog food recalls have tarnished Halos good reputation. The company as a whole has only had one recall, and that was for wet cat food in 2015.

Reviews of the 3 Best Halo Dog Food Recipes

1. Halo Holistic Wild Salmon & Whitefish Our Favorite

We like this food best because wild salmon and whitefish are tasty meats which serve as excellent sources of Omega 3 fatty acids. Oatmeal and flaxseed are beneficial whole grains that provide your pet with fiber. Wild Salmon & Whitefish Recipe is also packed with vitamins, minerals, taurine, and probiotics, which is so helpful for your dogs immune system and health overall.

Non-GMO fruits and vegetables such as dried blueberries, sweet potatoes, and carrots add some nutrition and flavor to the recipe, as well as chicken fat. Soy protein is also added, presumably as a source of extra protein. However, some people might be opposed to this since soy is a common allergen in dogs and humans, and is sometimes considered a filler. We dont really like all of the pea products that are included in the mix, but this is a common problem in dog food.

Pros

• Salmon and whitefish are good sources of Omega 3 fatty acids
• Oatmeal and flaxseed give your pet some healthy grains
• Includes a good blend of vitamins, minerals, taurine, and probiotics
• Contains a nutritious blend of non-GMO fruits and vegetables

Cons

• Contains soy protein
• Includes pea products

2. Halo Adult Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Dry Food

We like this food because its the top-selling formula by Halo on Chewy and it contains whole chicken as the first ingredient. Unlike some of their other formulas, Holistic Chicken only uses whole chicken, which means it doesnt include any meat meals or by-products. Chicken livers are included further down the ingredients list, but thats the only other animal protein listed besides dried egg product. Oats and barley are good choices of grains. Probiotics are found in the form of dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product fairly early in the list, which means there are even more probiotics than vitamins and minerals. This recipe also includes a healthy produce blend of dried blueberries, dried cranberries, dried carrots, and dried sweet potatoes.

Marine microalgae is featured about halfway into the ingredients list. Its a natural additive thats a good source of EPA and DHA, which are Omega 3 fatty acids that promote joint health.

Although this food has a lot of benefits, were wary about the inclusion of chickpeas after the FDA exposed a potential link between grain-free diets that use chickpeas and DCM, a type of heart disease in dogs. Soy protein concentrate is another hotly debated ingredient thats included in this food because soy is a common dog allergy, and its not as helpful to them as meat. Chicken is also a common allergy, but it remains a top choice of protein in dog food and seems to be a high-quality ingredient in this formula.

Pros

• Whole chicken as the first ingredient
• Includes oats and barley
• Tons of probiotics
• Good blend of fruits and vegetables
• Marine microalgae provide Omega 3 fatty acids

Cons

• Contains chickpeas
• Contains soy

3. Halo Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Puppy Food

This chicken-based recipe is the only Halo product on this list thats formulated just for puppies. Were happy to see that its similar to the adult Holistic Chicken recipe, which may ease the transition into adult food as your baby grows up.

Probiotics, prebiotics, vitamins, minerals, and taurine equip your puppy with the nutrients they need to grow healthy and strong. Prebiotics help their bodies naturally grow more probiotics on their own. Chicken is the sole animal protein, which is an added bonus if your dog is allergic to other meats such as beef. Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver also has dried egg product as an ingredient near the top of the list for extra protein, but just like the adult formulas, it also contains soy protein, which were not as crazy about.

Oatmeal and flaxseed are included as excellent grain-inclusive sources of fiber, but this food also contains several pea products that we could do without.

Pros

• Chicken is the sole animal protein
• Prebiotics, probiotics, vitamins, minerals, and taurine prepare your puppy for a healthy life
• Contains oatmeal and flaxseed

Cons

• Contains pea ingredients
• Soy protein is added as a potential source of protein, or filler

What Other Users Are Saying

Halo Adult Holistic Chicken is the most popular choice of Halo foods on Chewy, but the Elevate formulas are still fairly new. It may only be a matter of time before theyre the new favorite of Halo moms! Before making your decision on what Halo food is best for your pet, we recommend reading pet parent reviews from Amazon and Chewy.

• Amazon As pet owners, we always double-check with Amazon reviews from buyers before we buy something. You can read these by clicking here.
• Chewy These reviews will give you something to chew on as you make the best choice for your dog.

Conclusion

Halo promises to give your pet holistic food that will help them stay healthy. While were not sure about some of their beliefs on the quality of meat, we think their food is a pretty good choice overall. We especially love how all of these formulas included a rich blend of probiotics, vitamins, and minerals.

The Halo Holistic Wild Salmon & Whitefish Recipe was our favorite choice because the fish is loaded with healthy Omega 3 fatty acids. Holistic Chicken Recipe is an excellent meal that features deboned chicken as the first ingredient, although it does include meat meals further down the list. Finally, we were impressed with the nutrients in the Halo Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Puppy Food. It was a comparable recipe to the adult version, and contained probiotics and healthy ingredients to help your new baby thrive for life.

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