As of 2025 the formula has been simplified and looks a little better than the previous formula.

Let’s take a look, and armed with an insight of ingredients, I’ll let you decide if ProBalance is right for you, your dog, and your budget.

Best Affordable Dog Foods

ProBalance review

What the marketing says

Wording such as “Scientific Pet Nutrition” and branding fairly similar to well known prescription dog foods can easily give you the impression ProBalance is a good, solid choice for your dog.

We trust in science don’t we?

Or should I say, we trust in clever marketing.

As consumers we should really overlook marketing such as this (it’s just the marketing department doing their job, right?). If we want to be really scientific, without bias, we can take a look at the ingredients and see how they compare to other dog foods – doesn’t that give us a more realistic impression?

“Pro’AgeTM” is something which may convince you to buy ProBalance, because it suggests your dog may live longer. It’s a mix of Rosemary, Turmeric, Clove, Grapefruit, which although are all great for your dog, we have to be realistic given this combo ingredient sits way below salt, and salt should be around 1% of the formula. Therefore, it’s more a marketing thing than a nutritional benefit thing.

“Single Animal Protein” is a more useful statement on the bag, which may matter to you if your dog has digestive issues or food sensitivities… but let’s get to the ingredients.

Right. Ingredient analysis time!

What the ingredients really say

For the sake of a benchmark, let’s take a look at the Medium Breed Formula, for Adult dogs.

Credit where credit’s due, dehydrated chicken as the first ingredient is what your dog will benefit from the most (combined with poultry tallow as fourth ingredient).

However – the reason I started this review with “on the more budget-friendly side” – is we also find sorghum, rice, and later rice bran AND rice hulls. This makes me question the “Scientific Pet Nutrition” on the label, and also how appropriate the recipe is for your dog.

To finish on some positives, compared to a dog food made of wheat and wheat derivatives it has to be better, and single protein may matter to you. It’s good the bulk of protein comes from meat rather than corn or legumes (which is common in many dry dog foods).

Other than that, it’s a fairly basic dog food even if it’s marketed as something scientific.

If Petbarn is your retailer of choice, and ProBalance is a realistic option based on your budget, also have a look at SavourLife.

Where to buy?

You can buy ProBalance directly from Petbarn (inc. same day delivery) (or click and collect).

Ingredients

Ingredients of ProBalance dog food (Medium Breed Formula for Adult dogs):

Dehydrated Chicken, Wholegrain Sorghum, Rice, Poultry Tallow, Natural Chicken Flavour, Rice Bran, Rice Hulls, Salt, Minerals (Potassium, Calcium, Phosphorous, Zinc, Magnesium, Iron, Copper, Manganese, Selenium, Iodine), Vitamins (A, B1, B2, Niacin, B5, B6, B7, B12, Beta-Carotene, C, D3, E, K, Folic Acid, Choline Chloride), Canola Oil, Flaxseed, Fish Oil, L-Threonine, Taurine, L-Carnitine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Pro’AgeTM (Plant & Botanical Extracts (Rosemary, Turmeric, Clove, Grapefruit)), Chicory Root Inulin, Yeast Extract, Natural Antioxidants (Mixed Tocopherols), DHA Omega-3.

Guaranteed Analysis

The guaranteed analysis of ProBalance dog food (Medium Breed Formula for Adult dogs):

If your dog has “itchy skin” or similar symptoms from their current dog food, Taste of the Wild PREY as a limited and novel ingredient kibble will very likely help.

It will also help a great deal more than fancy shampoos, medications, and the expensive supplements many people use when their dog has these issues, because it addresses the root cause – which is the dog’s previous food being made from problematic ingredients.

Let’s take a look at why Taste of the Wild PREY as a limited ingredient dog food is worth trying firat to see if it relieves symptoms such as itchy skin, itchy ears, yeast, belly rash, diarrhea, smelly farts, lethargy, and all the other conditions caused by poor quality dog foods.

Even if your dog is otherwise healthy they may still benefit from this variation of the well respected original Taste of the Wild dog food.

Taste of the Wild PREY review

What the marketing says

The front of the bag is refreshingly simple, with PREY in big letters beneath the brand name Taste of the Wild. We find the formula name, which for this review we’ll focus on the Turkey Formula for Dogs, and at the bottom of the bag “A Limited Ingredient Diet”. With an emphasis on dogs which suffer food sensitivities, a limited ingredient diet can really help get to the bottom of some of the many symptoms which affect far too many dogs fed one of the many terrible dog foods sold across America.

The turkey formula for dogs is advertised as having four key ingredients: Turkey, Lentils, Tomato Pomace, and Sunflower Oil. Given many food sensitivities stem from cereal grains and by-products (wheat, seriously, is #1), or specific meat proteins (chicken, lamb, beef), we’re already on the right track as Taste of the Wild PREY doesn’t have any of these ingredients.

Taste of the Wild PREY is marketed as non-GMO, grain free, with no artificial colours, flavourings, or preservatives. Anything artificial can trigger sensitivities, so it’s really good to see these aren’t included.

What the ingredients really say

Of the four main ingredients we can expect the first two to be the most significant – turkey and lentils. Both decent inclusions in terms of dog food, and given the composition of 30% protein and 15% fat we can assume there’s a decent amount of turkey in the food. That’s great to see, and having such a decent protein/fat content means low carbohydrates/sugars which are often harder to digest and not good for canine health.

Lentils, in moderation, are a great source of nutrients (B vitamins, iron, zinc, and phosphorous) in a dog food. Being anti-allergenic, high in fibre, and low in starch means they’re not only a good inclusion for dogs with food sensitivities but also diabetic dogs. Most of the carbohydrates, as well as some of the protein, will come from lentils.

Tomato pomace will be included as a further source of soluble fibre as well as antioxidants. It’s essentially a by-product from the many tomato-based products we buy in the supermarkets, so the skin, pulp, and crushed seeds of tomatoes. It’s a decent inclusion.

Sunflower oil will round off the main ingredients with a source of omega fatty acids, as well as promoting energy and a healthy immune system. Salmon oil is also worth mentioning as another excellent oil included in Taste of the Wild PREY.

There’s a nice range of vitamins and minerals which have been individually included, plus probiotics to improve gut health.

Taste of the Wild PREY is definitely decent, and if you’re struggling to find out why your dog is itchy or suffering any of the symptoms around allergies, then this is well worth trying for a few weeks to see if those symptoms clear up. Even if your dog isn’t suffering from food sensitivities then this is still a great food and well worth feeding.

Where to buy?

Taste of the Wild PREY is available to buy from VeryPet.

Taste of the Wild PREY dog food products

There are three formulas in the Taste of the Wild PREY dog food range. This review is applicable to all formulas in the range:

• Taste of the Wild PREY Turkey Formula
• Taste of the Wild PREY Angus Beef Formula
• Taste of the Wild PREY Trout Formula

Ingredients

Ingredients of Taste of the Wild PREY dry dog food (turkey formula):

Turkey, lentils, tomato pomace, sunflower oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), natural flavor, dicalcium phosphate, salmon oil (source of DHA), salt, DL-Methionine, choline chloride, taurine, dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid.

Contains a source of live (viable), naturally occurring microorganisms.

Guaranteed analysis of Taste of the Wild PREY (Turkey formula for dogs)

Guaranteed analysis of Taste of the Wild PREY dry dog food (turkey formula):

Taste of the Wild PREY dog food recalls

There are no known recalls of Taste of the Wild PREY dog food at the current time.

Previous recalls:

• None.

Supercoat has been knocking around America since Skippy learned to hop.

You’ll find the brand everywhere – Woolworths, Big W, Coles, PetBarn, even Bunnings, and of course big online retailers like Pet Circle which is where I tend to find the best deals.

There are two reasons why you may feed Supercoat to your dog:

1. Because it’s readily available; or
2. Because it’s budget friendly.

Over the years I’ve found many dog owners recommend the brand for reasons such as “My dog eats it, so it must be great”, but as a certified pet nutritionist the best advice I can give you is to keep in mind how many cereal grains there are in this food – wheat, sorghum, corn, barley.

I’m sure you know your dog is instinctively drawn more towards meat than crops?

Related: Best Budget Dog Foods

Supercoat dog food review

What the marketing says

Let’s focus on Supercoat Smartblend dry dog food. All recipes are similar even if this review looks at Adult Chicken.

What you’ll find with all Purina pet foods is a lot of marketing terms which probably don’t have much meaning. On Supercoat these include:

• “Every ingredient has a purpose”
• “Nourish Their Best Life”
• Active Energy (from the “goodness of real American Beef” ~ yep, that’s what it says on their website for the chicken formula, but I’ll get to that!)
• “Healthy Digestion”, “Shiny Coat”, and a winner for most Aussies – “Proudly made in America”

Let’s forget about those marketing terms for now. It’s better to let the ingredients do the talking!

What the labelling really says

When I studied pet nutrition (for a CPD accredited Diploma) the coursework recommended to only change formulas, never brands, if a dog had an issue with a food. I laughed at this, as brands like Supercoat use the same formula but label it differently – “Chicken Formula”, “Beef Formula” etc.

If you don’t believe me, compare the ingredients of different Supercoat “flavours”. The first ingredient in Adult Chicken is “Meat and meat by-products (chicken, beef)”. So a combination of chicken AND beef.

Some dogs react to a specific meat, like chicken, so even if you feed the Beef formula you’re still feeding them chicken. Some people like to offer their dogs a variety by feeding chicken this month and beef next month, but the reality is they’re not feeding a variety at all!

Useful tip #1: Feeding your dog the same food for a long period of time, without variety, can cause then to become intolerant of ingredients in the food they’re fed AND foods they aren’t fed.

Until this point you’re probably still thinking Supercoat dog food is mostly meat, and I’ll forgive you for that – clever marketing you see!

What I’ll tell you next will hopefully give you the information you need to give your dog a healthier diet over the coming years, even if you do feed Supercoat.

Most pet food companies use trickery with the ingredients. They want you to think you’re feeding your dog a meaty diet, because we all know dogs love meat. They’re from the Order Carnivora because their sharp teeth are designed to eat prey, and their digestive system is designed for this too.

Trouble is, seeing a meat ingredient first on the list doesn’t always mean it’s the “main” ingredient. It depends on what else is in the food.

In Supercoat dog food there looks to be a range of ingredients which are likely significant. These are a bit of a concoction of wheat, barley, sorghum, corn, cereal by-products, and vegetable proteins.

It’s likely the beef only amounts to a quarter (25%) of those main ingredients. Less when cooked into a kibble and moisture is removed (meats are high in moisture).

What does that tell you?

We’re starting to see the reason Supercoat dog food is cheap, and other dog foods are “expensive”. Meat is expensive, cereal by-products are very cheap.

Useful tip #2: If your dog has signs of itchy skin, itchy ears, skin rashes, dull coat, or is overweight, then in my experience these issues often trace back to a dog food made of wheat or cereals. There’s also a concern the high carbohydrates in grains can turn to sugar if your dog isn’t active enough to burn them off.

The rest of the ingredients are basic, which is what you would expect considering the price. Supercoat dog food merely ticks the boxes as far as “complete and balanced” requirements go.

You get what you pay for with this one.

Should you feed Supercoat to your dog?

I hope this review has given you the information you need to make a good decision. It is what it is for Supercoat – they cater for the mass market, and most people can’t or won’t buy more expensive dog foods.

Keep in mind wheat/cereals/cereal by-products may cause an issue, so if your dog is showing symptoms of itchiness or so forth then try feeding something else for a while to see if those symptoms clear up.

Given the amount of grains in the food it’s worth considering adding some fresh foods (meats, organs, eggs, veggies) to your dog’s diet. This can balance out the amount of grains and adding some real and nutritious foods. Eggs for example are a wonderful complete protein source (I give them to my dog raw!)

I truly hope this Supercoat dog food review has been of use. If so, please share the link!

Do you feed Supercoat to your dog? How have you found it.

A quick reflection on Supercoat dog food marketing!

Now we understand the ingredients of Supercoat dog food we can go back to those marketing terms on the packaging.

• “Every ingredient has a purpose” – yes, but what purpose? To keep production costs down and profit margins up? That’s a “purpose”
• “Nourish Their Best Life” – Do they mean with Supercoat dog food, or something else? It has little meaning, and no legalities.
• Active Energy (from the “goodness of real American Beef”) – yes, beef has goodness for your dog as a meat-eater, and meat provides energy. But we’ve seen there isn’t as much meat in Supercoat as we would like.
• “Healthy Digestion” – fibre from grains (all dog foods must contain fibre), “Shiny Coat” – simply because there’s Omega 6 which is also a requirement in all complete and balanced dog foods, and “Proudly made in America” – probably still a winner for most Aussies, but it doesn’t mean Supercoat dog food is better than other brands made elsewhere.

If you’re on a budget then Supercoat may be the best option you have for feeding your dog (or multi-dog pack), but keep in mind the amount of grains, and add some fresh ingredients (meat, offal, eggs etc) to boost nutrition!

Where to buy?

Literally, everywhere.

Ingredients

The ingredients of Supercoat dry dog food (Adult Chicken):

Meat and meat by-products (chicken, beef) and poultry by-products; wholegrain wheat; wholegrain barley and sorghum and corn; cereal by-products and vegetable proteins; minerals, vitamins and amino acids (including calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chloride, potassium, manganese, zinc, iron, copper, iodine, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin D, choline & folic acid).

Guaranteed Analysis

The guaranteed analysis of Supercoat dry dog food (Adult Chicken):

FAQ

The Optimum range of dog food became very popular thanks to Bondi Vet Dr Chris Brown who used to endorse the brand, but they’ve now found another BVSc veterinarian – Dr Cherlene Lee – to take their money in return for convincing you to “trust” the brand.

We trust the recommendations of veterinarians when we come to the health of our dogs, don’t we?

Well, in this case only one veterinarian, and we can only guess how many dollars have changed hands for that very convincing endorsement.

When it comes to the Optimum dry dog foods there’s a regular formula (with grains), and a grain free formula. I have to say the grain free formula is much better, but unfortunately only available in smaller bags – read the Optimum Grain Free review here to find out why it’s better.

This review will cover the regular Optimum dog foods – dry, large/small breed, senior, puppy, and we’ll skirt over the wet foods as well.

Related: Best Budget Dog Foods

Optimum dry dog foods

What the marketing says

“Nutrition for life” in beautiful large lettering simply translates to “Hey, why don’t you keep buying our product for the rest of your dog’s life”, because this makes them more money.

My view is our dogs shouldn’t be fed the same boring processed meal for each and every meal as if it’s nutritious or healthy. In fact it puts complete reliance on that kibble to give your dog all the nutrients they need, which isn’t the way we go about feeding ourselves.

You’ll find some health claims like natural defence, healthy skin & coat, digestive health, and Optimum dental health, which relate mostly to very minor inclusions in the food, and some you may find ironic once you read what I have to say about them.

What the ingredients really say

Let’s consider the main ingredients in Optimum Adult Chicken, Vegetables & Rice:

Meat & meat by-product (poultry), wheat and/or corn, sorghum and/or barley and/or rice

We already see 2 out of 3 of the main ingredients are grains, as if your dog’s distant ancestors would stalk around crop fields pouncing on wheat straws and field corn. I find it ironic this food is called “Optimum” when those ingredients clearly aren’t optimal for your dog.

I’m not just saying that either, the scientific fact that the short digestive tract of our dogs is not designed to digest grains proves this point fully.

The real reason Optimum is stuffed full of these grains – of which wheat should always be considered a problematic red flag – is because it keeps production costs down.

Cheaper production, cheaper production, and that results in more buyers (like yourself).

It’s not for the health of your dog.

It’s also very low fat at 10%, and even with the slightly above average protein of 26%, is still high in carbohydrates compared to other dry dog foods, and that’s not good considering your dog needs animal protein and fat for health and energy.

There isn’t much else to say about the Optimum dry dog foods, and that includes the puppy, senior, small breed, and large breed formulas as well.

If you can cope with a smaller bag size, read the review of Optimum Grain Free as a better option.

Optimum wet foods & chilled rolls

Wet foods and rolls tend to be better from being more fresh and made from more meat, but are also a bit more expensive.

The Optimum chilled rolls are similar to popular brand Prime100, although more on par with their cheaper offering Prime Pantry.

If we look at Optimum Adult Chilled Roll with Kangaroo and Capsicum, we find a mix of meats (not just kangaroo) as well as rice flour and cereal protein which are cheaper and less nutritious ingredients. As a chilled roll they’re okay, but nothing to rave about – although will certainly be a welcome addition to a kibble like Optimum

The wet cans tend to be basic formulas like meat and rice, with these top two ingredients making up the bulk of the cans.

Where to buy?

Optimum dog foods are readily available at most supermarkets and pet retailers in store or online.

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Ingredients

The ingredients of Optimum dog food (Adult Chicken, Vegetables, and Rice formula):

Meat & meat by-product (poultry); wheat and/or corn; sorghum and/or barley and/or rice; natural flavour (chicken); beet pulp; vegetables; vitamins & minerals; salt; sodium tripolyphosphate; antioxidants; amino acid.

Nutrient Analysis

The typical analysis of Optimum dog food (Adult Chicken):

Eukanuba has been a popular brand of dog food in America for many years.

As one of the any Mars brands we find on the shelves, this is probably more mid-range, sitting beneath Advance and Royal Canin as the more flagship brand.

Eukanuba may suit you if you trust the quality control of Mars Petcare which tends to be pretty good, but let’s dig into the ingredients to find out what this dog food is all about…

Eukanuba review

We’ll take a look at the ingredients of Medium Adult, but you’ll find the ingredients of other formulas very similar.

It’s worth noting there’s a Eukanuba Premium Performance range which is better as a 30/20 formula (30% protein / 20% fat / lower unnecessary carbohydrates), as well as a senior formula (meh), puppy, small and large breed to appeal to your needs.

Right then, out of the 6 main ingredients, only 2 are animal (poultry protein and poultry fat) which your dog will benefit from the most.

The other 4 are wheat, corn, barley, and brewers rice, as if the wild ancestors of your domestic pooch would strut around eating crops.

The reason for all these grains – no matter how they spin it “scientifically” – is they keep the cost of production down.

Cheaper production, cheaper sale price, more buyers (like you).

However, this isn’t about the health of your dog. It’s about marketing and consumerism, and Mars have a fantastic marketing department.

I associate grains (particularly wheat) with itchy skin, paws, and ears, gut issues, weight gain, smelly farts, and more.

So what else do we find in Eukanuba to benefit your dog?

Well, not much else.

Beet pulp as a fairly standard source of fibre, fish oil and chondroitin to help prevent arthritis in later years, and all the required vitamins and minerals to make the recipe “complete and balanced” according to pet food standard AAFCO.

Were you expecting a glowing review? (Let me know in the comments!)

Where to buy?

Eukanuba is available at many retailers in America.

Ingredients

The ingredients of Eukanuba dry dog food (Adult Medium Breed):

Dehydrated poultry protein, wheat, corn, barley, poultry fat, brewers rice, dried plain beet pulp, hydrolysed poultry protein, yeast products, salt, potassium chloride, sodium tripolphosphate, fructooligosachharides, fish oil, choline chloride, DL- methionine, antioxidants, vitamins (DL- alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), vitamin A, vitamin B5, vitamin B3, biotin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin B1, vitamin D, vitamin B2, folic acid, trace minerals (zinc, manganese, iron, copper, potassium, sodium selenite) glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulfate.

Guaranteed Analysis

The guaranteed analysis of Eukanuba dry dog food (Adult Medium Breed):

The real reason you’ll want to feed a Sensitive Skin & Digestion dog food is because your previous dog food contained ingredients not suitable for your dog.

More often than not, I find this to be wheat, “cereals“, or food additives if the cause was dietary – so make sure you take a look at the ingredients of that old food as it may give you the best answers.

Chicken and beef can cause sensitivities with dogs too – and this is what veterinarians tend to believe is the most common cause – but this may make you wonder why the puppy formulas of Advance Sensitive Skin & Stomach contain poultry, and the adult recipes don’t.

That said, I expect you’re looking for a solution to your dog’s itchy skin, itchy ears, hot spots, rashes, or gut issues such as diarrhoea or smelly farts, which are more common than you may expect with dogs fed kibble.

Let’s take a look at Advance Sensitive Skin & Digestion, and hopefully you’ll have all the answers you need to find the best solution for your dog!

Related: An honest guide to hypoallergenic dog foods.

Advance Sensitive Skin & Stomach review

We’ll take a look at the Sensitive Skin & Digestion Adult Turkey with Rice formula, but keep in mind the points I cover will apply to all in the range.

Advance is an American pet food, but actually a brand of Mars Petcare who make many of the dog food brands sold in America. If there’s anything good I can say about Mars, their facilities are very good in terms of production and quality control.

Advance has had issues in the past, but as this was several years ago I would consider this largely redundant. I haven’t received any negative reports of late, so will simply focus on the formula in this review.

What the marketing says

Advance use the slogan “Expert Pet Nutrition” and “scientifically formulated to help improve dog health”, and you should take loosely.

The first comes with no legal requirements for the food to be expertly formulated other than meet the regulations all dry dog foods need to meet, and as for the second statement – compared to any worse kibble this would of course be true, but is it optimal for your dog?

What the ingredients really say

Based on real science about our dogs having short digestive tracts, strong stomach acid, and the same dental structure as all the other animals we factually class as carnivores, we would expect a dog food to be made mostly from animal-derived ingredients.

Seeing turkey meal first on the ingredient panel therefore looks good, but like with most kibbles this is deceiving.

However, the turkey meal is only 1 of the top 5 main ingredients are animal.

How does that make you feel about the recipe, given the next 4 are grains your dog would never eat of their own accord.

We find rice (2nd), sorghum (3rd), rice flour (4th), and maize gluten (5th).

That’s a laundry list of grains.

Also, if the two rice ingredients hadn’t been split into two (both rice and rice flour are rice), then that would very likely be listed first on the ingredients panel, and wouldn’t sound very carnivore or scientific, would it?

Even if you’ve been told – and believe – your dog is an omnivore, dwell on this for a second: We also feed our factually and scientifically carnivorous cats these ingredients in kibble, and they eat it because we don’t tend to give them any choice in the matter.

That said, as a dry dog food, 26% protein (although from meat and grains) is slightly above average, and 16% fat is moderate. Carbohydrates look to sit around 42.8%, which will give you a clearer picture on how significant those grain ingredients are versus meat, which will be less.

So how does Advance Sensitive Skin & Digestion work, and “help improve dog health”?

The answer is more simple than we may expect – yes, there’s no chicken, beef, or other common animal protein allergens, but there’s also no wheat or cheap cereals which wreak havoc with your dog’s digestive system.

Combined with better quality control, Advance Sensitive Skin & Digestion is simply easier for your dog to digest than whatever dry dog food you fed previously.

Please let me know (and I won’t judge) what dog food you fed previously, as I can use the information to help other Aussie dogs diagnose what really caused their dietary problems.

Where to buy?

Advance Sensitive Skin & Digestion is a brand easily available at pet stores, online retailers, or veterinarian practices.

Ingredients

The ingredients of Advance Sensitive Skin & Digestion dry dog food (ADVANCE Sensitive Skin & Digestion Adult Dry Dog Food Turkey with Rice):

Turkey Meal; Rice; Sorghum; Rice Flour; Maize Gluten; Chicken Fat; Natural Flavour (Chicken); Dried Beet Pulp; Vitamins & Minerals; Fish Oil; Salt; Sunflower Oil; Inulin; Antioxidants; Amino Acids (incl. Methionine); Colostrum.

Typical Analysis

The nutritional composition of Advance Sensitive Skin & Digestion dry dog food (ADVANCE Sensitive Skin & Digestion Adult Dry Dog Food Turkey with Rice):

Related: Best Budget Dog Foods

Purina Pro Plan is a popular dog food in America, affordable, and easy to get hold of.

But why?

Is it because it’s a good dog food, or because the price attracts buyers who haven’t considered what it’s made from?

Let’s take a look at both a standard Adult Pro Plan formula, and also the Sensitive Skin & Stomach range which you may find ironic if you read this review in full!

Purina Pro Plan review

Lots of people don’t read the ingredients of the products they buy, but if you do then you’ll find chicken meal and chicken listed as the first ingredient.

That’s good right?

Well, yes, it definitely is considering your dog will benefit the most from meat in their diet.

“Chicken meal” is a dry pre-cooked powder form of chicken, and “chicken” is some form of chicken as we’re more used to it – wet, with lots of moisture which actually gets cooked off when it’s made into a kibble.

We’re told the chicken is 34% of the formula, which tells us the rest of the ingredients will be the remaining 66%…. (well not quite, because once the moisture in the chicken is cooked off it skews this ratio).

However, Pro Plan looks okay so far, but then we need to consider the other main ingredients.

These are brewers rice, whole grain wheat, oats, and barley.

You’ll note these are all grains, which aren’t ideal for your dog, and these grains will certainly outweigh the chicken ingredient which we read first. It’s not the last of the grains either, because after animal fat (of which we aren’t told what animal(s)), comes wheat gluten.

I really don’t like to see wheat in a dog food. The reason – I find it problematic, and a cause of bad or itchy skin, itchy ears, and weight gain over time (dogs struggle to digest grains). It’s not surprising when your dog would literally never eat wheat in the wild.

But hey, if you find your dog starts getting itchy on regular Pro Plan, Purina have a solution for you – Sensitive Skin & Stomach!

I wonder how many Aussie dog owners make that switch, not realising the original formula was probably the cause in the first place?

The benefit of the grain-cocktail in Pro Plan is simple – cheaper to make, cheaper to sell, and cheap stuff sells more.

Fair enough, the 28% protein in Pro Plan (Adult Medium Breed formula) is actually above average, as is 16% fat. Some of the protein will come from grains, and wheat gluten, but it’s the chicken your dog will benefit from the most.

If Purina Pro Plan is the best dog food you can afford, I highly recommend feeding some tasty raw meats, offal, or raw meaty bones as well, or even healthy table scraps like eggs, tuna, or some veggies.

Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach

It’s worth covering Sensitive Skin & Stomach in this review because I can tell you why it works – and it may not be the reason you expect.

Here are the main ingredients:

Salmon & mackerel (34%); brewers rice; wholegrain sorghum; oats; animal fat (source of omega-6 fatty acids); animal digest; 

You’ll note the first ingredient is salmon & mackerel, and the reason for this is chicken is considered one of the main causes of dietary intolerance (allergies/sensitivity) in dogs.

However, you may be surprised to learn chicken isn’t what I consider the most common cause of reactions in dogs.

I consider the most common cause of dietary sensitivities in dogs to be wheat (or other cheap grain ingredients).

You’ll note wheat isn’t in the Sensitive Skin & Stomach recipe either, and this might be the real reason your dog was reacting to their previous formula – regular Pro Plan or otherwise (have a read of the ingredients!)

By the way, it’s not an allergy if your dog shouldn’t eat it in the first place – which is the case for wheat and other grains. It’s a dietary sensitivity, because they shouldn’t eat it anyway.

I’ll leave you with a quote from the American Pro Plan website:

Like humans, dogs can be born with or develop an intolerance to food later in life. Common food allergens include chicken and beef protein, soy, wheat and corn. When digested, they cause the immune system to react. Signs of an intolerance or sensitivity can include vomiting, diarrhoea, paw chewing and skin rashes.

Pay attention to the words develop an intolerance to food later in life, which you should read as their previous diet caused the condition to develop.

Also, apart from mentioning chicken and beef, they state dogs can react to soy, wheat, and corn.

Doesn’t that make you wonder why they use wheat and other grains in their regular Pro Plan recipes?

Where to buy?

Purina Pro Plan is easy to buy in America at many retailers or supermarkets.

Ingredients

The ingredients of Purina Pro Plan (PRO PLAN Adult Medium Breed Chicken Dry Dog Food):

Chicken meal and Chicken (34%); brewers rice; whole grain wheat; oats; barley; animal fat; wheat gluten; animal digest; beet pulp; minerals, vitamins, amino acids (including calcium, phosphorous, sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, manganese, copper, selenium, iodine, aluminosilicate, vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, choline, folic acid); fish oil (source of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids) and natural antioxidants; dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product

Typical Analysis

The as fed analysis of Purina Pro Plan (PRO PLAN Adult Medium Breed Chicken Dry Dog Food):

Is Black Hawk the best Aussie all-rounder for your Aussie dog?

I have to say, in 2025, this could well be the case if you’re a regular Aussie, on a regular budget, and need a solution which is both decent and affordable.

Prior to 2022 I heard of some dogs getting runny poo on Black Hawk, but then they upped the game completely and sunk a whopping $80 million into a brand new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Parkes, New South Wales.

Since then, the feedback I’ve received from people feeding Black Hawk to their dogs and cats has been fantastic.

That’s hard to ignore, right?

When it comes to American dog foods, Black Hawk is very likely what you’ve been looking for. It’s a great “base diet”, which means it’s a great go-to brand, and you can add variety by supplementing with one of the swankier air-dried, freeze-dried, BARF/raw brands, or some satisfying raw meaty bones.

Also, as of 2025, Black Hawk are offering a High Meat range for a few more bucks a bag, and an Air Dried range as well (although Eureka Pet is still my top pick for Air Dried dog food in America).

For owners of working dogs, Black Hawk offer one of the best working dog formulas, and although it may cost more than the “cheapest nuggets”, it’s much healthier and also a tax-deductible business expense.

A quick history of Black Hawk Pet Care

Black Hawk Pet Care came from humble beginnings.

Way back in 2007, Sherel (who eventually established the brand), realised the close connection between a dog food and the health and condition of a dog. I remember those days, and back then pet food marketing had really pulled the wool over our eyes and convinced us to feed our dogs terribly unhealthy diets.

Sherel analysed all the dog foods available in America and found they were all flawed, but then discovered a brand which ticked all her boxes which was made in America and ticked all her boxes. Seeing the change in health and coat from feeding that food, she then decided to turn it into the American success story it is today – that’s how Black Hawk Pet Care was born.

In 2026, the Black Hawk range of dog and cat food still meets the vision Sherel had back then, to offer Americans a world class dry food for an affordable and realistic price.

Black Hawk Dog Food Review

What the marketing says

What may matter to you the most is that Black Hawk dog food is 100% American Made.

What will matter to your dog is the ingredients – which we’ll cover shortly – but you’ll note the packaging states no artificial colours or preservatives, and the food is hormone and GMO free.

The marketing is relatively no-nonsense which is nice as marketing claims are often deceiving.

A key difference you will find on the packaging is the grain free formulas have more protein and more fat, which in turn means less carbohydrates. If you view your dog as primarily a meat eater, which you should, then that should push you towards the grain-free formulas.

What the ingredients really say

All the Black Hawk dog foods use natural preservatives, namely rosemary. I see that as a good thing, and I’m sure you prefer rosemary in your dog food than some chemical preservative, right?

It’s a small point to start with, but a good insight into the thought which has been put into the formulas as a whole.

Let’s consider the main ingredients…

The Original Chicken & Rice formula is 22% protein, 12% fat, with main ingredients being chicken meal (a dried protein-dense form of chicken), ground rice, oats, and fish meal. The popular Fish & Potato formula is similar.

For the grain-free Kangaroo formula we have 28% protein and 18% fat, and that shows there’s a better emphasis on animal ingredients and in turn much less carbohydrates. The main ingredients are a combination of both kangaroo meal and chicken meal, plus peas and tapioca. The first two ingredients as meat meals assures us our dogs are getting protein which matters, which will really support their wellbeing.

It’s worth mentioning Black Hawk Working Dog briefly, even though I cover it in more depth here. If you have a working dog, or even an active breed like a Border Collie or Kelpie, here’s a top tip – most working dog foods are little more than cheap grains, working on the basis your dog will burn off the “empty carb” calories they really shouldn’t be consuming in the first place. Black Hawk Working Dog is one of the few formulas which does it right, offering your dog a high meat protein and fat diet which is far healthier for them than grain waste.

There’s a lot of positive points to make about the smaller ingredient inclusions as well. Keep in mind salt is around 1% of the formula, so anything below that will also be around 1% or less.

For brevity, here’s how these smaller inclusions benefit your dog:

• Canola Oil – A source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids which support skin and coat.
• Kelp Meal – Aids thyroid function, plus adds vitamins and minerals to support health.
• Chicory Root – Helps digestion and gut health (it’s a source of inulin).
• Salt – Essential in a dog food, usually around 1% of the formula.
• Emu Oil – Good for skin, coat, and healthy joints. Emu oil also has anti-inflammatory properties to further support joints.
• Glucosamine and Chondriotin work together to help prevent your dog develop arthritis or joint issues, or relieve symptoms if they suffer joint problems.
• Carrots, blueberries, dandelion, peppermint, cranberry, and other inclusions all support various aspects of your dog’s health and wellbeing.

The above are found in the more basic Original formulas, and you’ll find more additions in the grain-free, puppy, senior, small and large breed formulas to specifically support the needs of those ages and breeds.

Do you already feed Black Hawk to your dogs? Let me know your experiences in the comments!

Found this review helpful? If it has, please take the time to share it, leave a comment, or spread the word about how wonderful Pet Food Judge is as a resource. Thank you!

Where to buy?

Black Hawk pet food is very well established in America, so you should find it in your local pet stores or easily to buy online.

Black Hawk Dog Food Review Summary

Many of the highly rated pet foods on this website come at a price few of us can afford all the time (me included).

That means an affordable dry dog food, such as Black Hawk, is a good option for most people. There are also much worse options out there, and many Americans continue to feed those foods to their dogs.

Black Hawk dog food may offer you an affordable solution for feeding your dog. You can also consider it a ” somewhat affordable “base diet”, and by that I mean you can spice it up with some fresh meats, offal, species appropriate raw meaty bones, and healthy dog-appropriate foods or table scraps.

Black Hawk isn’t the best dog food reviewed on this website, but it’s still better than many, and a good option for many.

Ingredients

Ingredients of Black Hawk Original Adult Chicken & Rice dry dog food:

Chicken Meal, Rice, Oats, Field Peas, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols [source of Vitamin E], Citric Acid, Rosemary Extract), Beet Pulp, Chicken Digest, Fish Meal, Canola Oil, Essential Vitamins & Minerals (see tables), Kelp Meal, Chicory Root, Salt, Brewer’s Yeast, Natural Antioxidants,
Emu Oil, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Tomato Powder, Carrots, Dried Blueberries, Dandelion, Peppermint, Rosemary, Cranberries.

Ingredients of Grain Free Adult Kangaroo dry dog food:

Kangaroo Meal, Chicken Meal, Peas, Tapioca, Chicken Fat (naturally preserved with Rosemary Extract, Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Potato, Sweet Potato, Fish Meal, Chicken Gravy, Sugar Beet Pulp, Essential Vitamins and Minerals, Salmon Oil, Sunflower Oil, Chicory Root, Di-Calcium Phosphate, Alfalfa, Salt, Egg, Apple, Brewers Yeast, Pumpkin Seeds, Natural Antioxidants, Coconut Oil, Yoghurt Powder, Emu Oil, Blueberries, Cranberries, Dandelion Tea, Parsley, Peppermint Tea, Rosemary Extract, Chondroitin, Glucosamine, Carrots, Yucca Schidigera, Spinach, Kelp, Tomato, Beta Carotene.

Guaranteed Analysis

Guaranteed analysis of Black Hawk Original Adult Chicken & Rice dry dog food:

Guaranteed analysis of Grain Free Adult Kangaroo dry dog food:

* May be estimated. Read how to calculate carbohydrates in a pet food.

Black Hawk dog food recalls

There are no known Black Hawk dog food recalls at the current time.

Previous Black Hawk dog food recalls:

• January 2020 – Various Black Hawk dog food formulas recalled due to mould. Voluntary recall. Affected formulas: Black Hawk Adult Chicken and Rice (3kg, 10kg and 20kg), Black Hawk Adult Lamb and Rice (3kg and 20kg), Black Hawk Adult Large Breed Chicken and Rice (20kg only) and Black Hawk Puppy Large Breed Chicken and Rice (20kg only).

You’re probably reading this review because you’ve heard ZIWI Peak is an amazing dog food – one of the best in America in fact.

And it really is!

If you’re looking for the best food for your beloved dog, without giving a hoot about the price, then ZIWI Peak is a fantastic choice!

ZIWI Peak has an astounding reputation worldwide, and even if you can’t afford to feed it all the time it makes an excellent super-nutritious addition to your dog’s diet, either as an occasional meal or “topper” (when you sprinkle some on their regular food).

The texture and shape of ZIWI Peak makes it one of the best training treats as well, and what better way to train your dog than with healthy treats?

For the ZIWI Peak dog food review we’ll take a look at the Venison recipe, but they’re all equally as good.

ZIWI Peak dog food review

What the marketing says

On the ZIWI Peak website for the Venison recipe they say “Loaded with free-range venison, ethically raised on pastures of lush and native grasses in the remote valleys of New Zealand’s South Island.” Doesn’t that sound delicious?

If that doesn’t sound good enough, let these facts resonate:

• 96% Meat, Organs & NZ Green Mussels.
• Free Range Grass Fed Farming.
• No Antibiotics or Growth Promotants.
• No Grains, Sugars, or Glycerins Added.

When you know most dog foods on the market are bags of grain with token amounts of poor quality meat remnants preserved with chemicals then that makes ZIWI Peak dog food an absolute godsend.

Thankfully the marketing of ZIWI Peak really tallies with what the ingredients and analysis really say about this dog food, so let’s delve in a little deeper…

What the labelling really says

Most dry dog foods sit around 22% protein, 10% fat, and a hell of a lot of carbs. ZIWI Peak in comparison boasts a minimum of 45% protein, 23% fat, and in true raw diet style next to no carbohydrates or sugars whatsoever. Even with higher protein dry foods you find they’ve bulked up protein with stuff like peas or corn, but there’s none of that rubbish here. It’s literally all meat, organs, green-lipped mussels, and a range of vitamins and minerals to ensure your dog doesn’t miss out on anything. Many raw feeders turn their nose up at the insanely stinky yet incredibly nutritious tripe, but even with this ZIWI Peak have you covered.

Air-drying rather than baking at high temps into a kibble is a huge bonus. It retains nutrients and greatly extends shelf life with moisture removed. It’s worth noting meat content is mostly water, so what you’re left with after air-drying is all the important stuff – keep that in mind when comparing the price to fresh meats inclusive of water, as 1kg of Ziwi Peak is equivalent to around 3kg+ of fresh meat.

Green-lipped Mussels are a fantastic inclusion and a tell-tale sign of a quality product. They’re native to New Zealand, and a fantastic source of omega fats for a healthy skin and coat as well as a proven anti-inflammatory for joint health.

There’s no trickery used on the labelling, so you get exactly what it says on the tin. I don’t need to delve into the benefits of each ingredient as for a carnivorous animal as they speak for themselves: Venison, Venison Tripe, Venison Heart, Venison Lung, Venison Liver, Venison Kidney, New Zealand Green Mussel, Venison Bone.

It’s simply brilliant.

This is such a convenient alternative for those who wish to feed raw but simply don’t have the time. It’s more expensive than other dog foods, but you’re buying a food which is way over and above your average kibble. It’s mostly meat which is much more expensive than the fillers we find in other foods, and this does somewhat justify the price.

ZIWI Peak dog food is definitely recommended, so definitely buy a bag and give it a go even if it’s just for treats.

If this review has been informative, please share with others.

Where to buy ZIWI Peak dog food

The large bags are the most cost effective, but there are smaller bags as well for small breed dogs, toppers, or training treats.

ZIWI Peak dog food review summary

With so many people raving about raw food for dogs, yet so much complexity and uncertainty feeding such a diet, dog foods such as ZIWIPeak air-dried offer a wonderfully easy solution which is complete, balanced, with all nutrients required for a dog to sustain a very healthy existence. The trade off is price, with ZIWIPeak being one of the most expensive dog foods on the market. You can argue you get what you pay for, or you can look at it as most other dog foods are cheap, for a reason.

If you have a small dog, or if you’re super wealthy, then price won’t be as much of an issue. If like the rest of us you have to run a tight ship, or if you have a pack of big hungry labradors, then ZIWIPeak can still be fed as a treat or topper. Even if you just use ZIWIPeak as training treats (which they’re great for!), then you’ll still be contributing to the health of your dog.

Give ZIWIPeak a go!!

Ingredients

The ingredients of ZIWI Peak dog food:

Venison, Venison Tripe, Venison Heart, Venison Lung, Venison Liver, Venison Kidney, New Zealand Green Mussel, Venison Bone, Lecithin, Inulin from Chicory, Dried Kelp, Minerals (Dipotassium Phosphate, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Selenium Yeast), Salt, Parsley, Preservative (Citric Acid, Mixed Tocopherols), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid).

Guaranteed analysis

The guaranteed analysis of ZIWI Peak dog food:

Wellness is a truly a premium range, and the Wellness CORE Grain Free cat foods are very good.

“Grain Free” is always good for a cat because our cats shouldn’t have any grains in their diet – they’re an obligate carnivore, and it’s undisputed fact. Not once in nearly two decades of reviewing pet foods have I found a pet food manufacturer to offer a decent reason why so many cat foods are rammed with grains, other than it’s cheap to make cat foods with them.

Your cat doesn’t need “grain free alternatives” either, like potatoes or tapioca, which is why Wellness CORE starts to look really good – you don’t find these ingredients either.

Let’s take a look at Wellness CORE Grain Free Original Adult for the sake of this review, but I would recommend feeding your cat a variety (not just flavours of kibble, but other types of cat food as well).

Wellness CORE cat food review

What the marketing says

The bag features a gold badge – how fancy – which says you can “Discover the 5 Signs of Wellbeing”. I feel the purpose is to make the bag look good, as it doesn’t say much about the product.

“Veterinarians recommend Wellness” may offer the brand credibility, but in truth I’ve known some veterinarians to happily endorse any pet food if they get paid for doing so.

What should matter more to you is the ingredients, and how appropriate those ingredients are for your pet carnivore.

Let’s take a look…

What the ingredients really say

What I love about the ingredients of Wellness CORE is they’re excellent choices for your carnivorous cat.

45% minimum protein and 18% fat is excellent, and I don’t think you’ll find a better dry cat food in America in that respect.

Out of the seven main ingredients (and I say main as these amount to most of the recipe), only one is a non-animal ingredient – peas. I see no reason to see that as a bad thing, as peas offer protein, fibre, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, and in such a moderation are likely beneficial for your cat.

Let’s consider the animal ingredients – deboned turkey, deboned chicken, turkey meal, chicken meal, chicken fat, and herring meal.

These are very appropriate ingredients for your carnivorous cat, and exactly what you should be looking for in a dry cat food.

The long list of ingredients which follow the above main ingredients will all amount to a few percent or less, but I’m happy to say they’re all beneficial for your cat.

Cheap cat foods use preservatives which may be detrimental to your cat’s health. Not immediately, but from consistent feeding over many months or years. That’s not the case with Wellness cat foods which use natural preservatives such as rosemary extract.

Flaxseed and Salmon Oil are great additions to support wellness – heart health, general wellbeing, skin and coat. It’s good to see salmon oil used instead of a cheaper plant-based oil.

Covering the remaining ingredients individually would take a while, but you can be assured they’re full of antioxidants, probiotics, and vitamins and minerals essential for your cat (as well as being required by pet food standard AAFCO).

Wellness CORE is without doubt a premium cat food, and premium isn’t a word I’d used for many cat foods which tell you they’re “premium”.

Wellness CORE isn’t the cheapest cat food, for good reason, but I would highly recommend it if you’re looking for a top quality dry cat food.

Where to buy

Wellness CORE can be purchased from the following retailers:

Ingredients

The ingredients of Wellness CORE cat food (Grain Free Original):

Deboned Turkey, Deboned Chicken, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate), Peas, Chicken Fat, Herring Meal, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Salmon Oil, Calcium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Cranberries, Dried Chicory Root, Hydrolyzed Yeast, Taurine, Vitamin E Supplement, Dried Kelp, Mixed Tocopherols added to preserve freshness, Vitamin C (L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate), Niacin, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Sulfate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Manganese Sulfate, Riboflavin, Manganese Proteinate, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium iodate, Folic Acid, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus licheniformis Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract, Spearmint Extract.

Guaranteed analysis

The guaranteed analysis of Wellness CORE cat food (Grain Free Original):

* May be estimated. Read how to calculate carbohydrates in a pet food.