4Health Dog Food Review (Canned)

The 4Health product line includes the 8 canned dog foods listed below. Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available - Growth (G puppy), Maintenance (M adult), All Life Stages (A), Supplemental (S) or Unspecified (U).

Product	Rating	AAFCO
4Health Lamb and Rice Adult	4.5	U
4Health Chicken and Rice Adult	4	U
4Health Salmon and Potato Adult	4.5	U
4Health Chicken and Vegetable Stew Adult	4.5	U
4Health Puppy Formula	4	A
4Health Beef and Vegetable Stew Adult	5	U
4Health Mature Adult 7+	3.5	U
4Health Beef and Rice Adult	4.5	U

Recipe and Label Analysis

4Health Chicken and 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.

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein = 41%	Fat = 27%	Carbs = 24%
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.5%

Ingredients: Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, brown rice, barley, egg product, dicalcium phosphate, potassium chloride, guar gum, carrageenan, cassia gum, salt, kelp, rosemary extract, cranberry powder, lecithin, Yucca schidigera extract, ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C), zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, vitamin E supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, copper sulfate, sodium selenite, manganese sulfate, niacin supplement, calcium pantothenate, biotin supplement, folic acid supplement, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, calcium iodate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement.

(Red denotes controversial item)

Estimated Nutrient Content
Method	Protein	Fat	Carbs
Guaranteed Analysis	9%	6%	NA
Dry Matter Basis	41%	27%	24%
Calorie Weighted Basis	31%	51%	18%

Ingredient Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Chicken is considered "the clean combination of flesh and skin that derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken".

Chicken is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.

The second ingredient 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 addition component in many canned products.

The third ingredient is chicken liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.

The fourth ingredient is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The next 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 item is egg product, an unspecified (wet or dry?) 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 seventh ingredient is dicalcium phosphate, likely used here as a dietary calcium supplement. 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 Tractor Supply product.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, 4Health canned dog food looks like an above-average wet product. The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 41%, a fat level of 27% and estimated carbohydrates of about 24%. As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 40% and a mean fat level of 26%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 27% for the overall product line. And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 64%. Which means this 4Health product line contains.

Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical wet dog food. Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a canned dog food containing a notable amount of meat.