Holistic Select Dog Food

Brief Overview

Holistic Select is made by WellPet LLC. Holistic Select was formerly part of Eagle Pack, a company that began in 1985. It was launched in 2000 as Eagle Pack Holistic Select before becoming a separate brand. After consolidating several brands in the 2000s, WellPet now owns Eagle Pack, Wellness, and Old Mother Hubbard, along with Holistic Select. The company’s headquarters are in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. Holistic Select makes both dog and cat foods. Their foods are considered to be super premium and are sold through independent pet food retailers and online.

Who Manufactures Holistic Select dog food?

WellPet products, including Holistic Select, are made at the company’s manufacturing facility in Mishawaka, Indiana. The plant began a $20 million expansion in 2012.

Disclosure: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which will direct you to our partner sites. If you purchase the pet foods we recommend through those links, we may earn a small commission – at no extra cost to you.

Holistic Select Recalls 2017

Please Read First: If this statement is still here we are actively watching for new recalls. Below you will find a history of recalls. If you would like to know as SOON as we find out about a recalls visit:https://dogfood.guru/dog-food-recalls/ and fill out our Recall Alert form. We will ONLY email this list in the event of an actual recall. Once we stop watching for Recalls I will remove this statement.

We also encourage everyone to bookmark the site for future reference.

We did not find any recalls for Holistic Select pet foods in the FDA or AVMA databases. (Note that the AVMA database is essentially useless since it only goes back a year now.) Likewise, Eagle Pack has an outstanding production record. Sister company Wellness had some 2012 FDA recalls relating to some of their kibble, but it did not affect Holistic Select.

Holistic Select Coupons

You can join the Holistic Select Club on their site to get specials. The company also has a breeder program and puppy kits for breeders to give to new owners. For coupons, check PetFoodTalk.com, PetFoodDirect.com, and DogFoodHowTo.com. Check Holistic Select’s Facebook page, too. Pet food delivery web sites often have discounts on the food or free shipping.

Holistic Select Dog Food Overview

In contrast to its sister company, Eagle Pack, which only carries a few different kinds of kibble and canned foods (though they are of very good quality), Holistic Select has a lot of different foods. A glance at their product page shows 13 kibbles, six canned foods, and three treats/biscuits. That’s a big selection for a small, boutique brand. They have foods for puppies, adults, mature/senior dogs; dogs with different activity levels; dogs of different sizes; dogs who need to lose or gain weight; dogs with allergies, skin and coat conditions, sensitive stomach, and grain free/gluten free foods.

Holistic Select uses some ingredients that are common in dog foods and some that are less common. For example, some of their foods use chicken meal and lamb meal. They also have foods that use anchovy and sardines and duck meal. They make both grain free dog food and foods with some grains such as rice and oatmeal. (Okay, rice isn’t technically a grain but it’s a very common carb.) Holistic Select often uses more than one meat protein in their foods. Some owners may not like this practice if they have a dog with allergies or food intolerances. Be sure to read the label and ingredient list carefully if your dog has these issues to make sure he can tolerate all of the proteins in the food.

The brand likes to emphasize that “digestive health” is important for total body health. They rightly point out that about 70 percent of a dog’s immune system is centered in the gut. According to the company, Holistic Select has a unique digestive health support system that helps your dog absorb and utilize all nutrients in their food. They say their food provides digestive enzymes and botanicals; prebiotics and probiotics; and natural fiber which seems to be borne out by a look at the ingredient lists for their foods.

The brand’s Adult Health formulas are somewhat lower in protein than some dog owners may like, but they are well above AAFCO and NRC recommendations. They typically come in around 22-24/12-15/4/10 for crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, and moisture percentages. The kcal/cup for these foods is generally around 350-380/cup which makes them moderate in terms of calories. These are maintenance dog foods. Holistic Select also has a number of health formulas for puppies, large breed and small dogs, and senior dogs. Be sure to check the labels for their guaranteed analyses and other specific information.

The company’s grain free formulas have more protein. They are 28-32/13-14/6/10 in terms of protein, fat, fiber, and moisture percentages. The kcal/cup for these foods comes in at around 340-375/cup making them moderate in terms of calories also. The salmon, anchovy and sardine formula is formulated for all life stages while the turkey and lentil formula is a maintenance formula. These formulas rely on a lot of pulses (peas and lentils) and potatoes which can be problematic for many dogs. While some dogs can have problems with corn or wheat, there are a lot of dogs that have trouble digesting the fiber in pulses. Other people say that potatoes irritate their dogs’ digestive tract. While the vast majority of dogs can probably eat most dog foods without much difficulty, if you have a dog who has one of these food problems, it it is big deal.

Holistic Select’s canned foods are all grain free, which is not unusual for canned foods. Many canned foods are mostly meat (after the water is removed) which is one reason why dogs usually liked canned food so much. These canned foods are generally 12 percent crude protein, 6 percent crude fat, 1 percent crude fiber, and 78 percent moisture. They are formulated for all life stages.

Note: Always be sure to read the label and check the guaranteed analysis for a food. The guaranteed analysis and the ingredients can change; and we can’t always check every food. So make sure about the food you are buying for your dog. For instance, one of Holistic Select’s canned foods has 8 percent fiber instead of 6 percent like all the others. This might be important to some dogs.

The company also makes three kinds of treats/biscuits under the Holistix label. They feature chicken, whitefish, and lamb. Each of these foods includes ingredients such as cranberries, sweet potatoes, applies, blueberries, carrots, and flax seeds. They are wheat-free and naturally preserved.

Holistic Select Grain Free Adult Health Deboned Turkey and Lentils Recipe Dog Food Reviewed

We have selected Holistic Select Grain Free Adult Health Deboned Turkey and Lentils Recipe for this review because it is the newest addition to Holistic Select’s kibbles. Since it is new and grain free, we think people might be interested in learning more about it.

According to the company, the food is grain free; and it has no potatoes (potatoes concern some dog owners because some people associate them with “leaky gut syndrome” and intestinal problems in dogs, though this has not been proven ). Since the food uses turkey, it is also a poultry-based recipe and most dogs like poultry. The food also includes peas, lentils, and chickpeas which are low glycemic foods though this is not an issue for most adult dogs – dog food companies have their own reasons for using these ingredients. Plant-based proteins cost less as a source of protein than meat-based protein.

The first five ingredients in this food, and therefore the ingredients that are likely to make up most of the food, include: Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal, Peas, Lentils, and Chickpeas.

Deboned turkey means that the turkey is whole turkey, with all of the flesh, moisture, and fat still present. Only the bones have been removed. If the moisture were removed, this ingredient would weigh much less and would be found lower in the ingredient list. Deboned turkey, and the second ingredient which is turkey meal, are excellent ingredients for dog food. Turkey has around 50 percent protein (white and dark meat combined) and 50 percent fat. Turkey meal, which has had most of the moisture and fat removed, is a concentrated form of turkey protein. (If you just want to consider turkey breast, then turkey is about 70 percent protein, but we thought it would be more realistic to look at the whole turkey that is probably used in the food.)

The third, fourth and fifth ingredients in this food are all what are called “pulses.” These are legumes that feature lots of plant-based protein. Dog food companies like them because they add a less expensive source of protein to dog foods – meat proteins are expensive ingredients. Pulses are also a source of fiber, vitamins, and some minerals. However, they can be difficult for some dogs to digest, especially if the food contains a lot of peas and beans. And some pulses have “anti-nutrient” qualities which can keep an animal from absorbing the necessary vitamins and minerals so the animal won’t properly thrive. Sometimes there is a delicate balancing act between using pulses that provide vitamins and minerals and trying to avoid using too much of them so they don’t interfere with the absorption of the nutrients. Dog food companies have been adding pulses to dog food for several years but they have been added to animal feed for a longer time so most of the research about them relates to livestock. Their longterm effects on dogs has not yet been studied.

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Peas usually refer to field peas or split peas (yellow or green). Split peas have about 25 percent protein, 72 percent carbs, and 3 percent fat. They are a good source of thiamin, folate, and manganese and a good dietary fiber. We also note that the food contains pea protein later in the ingredient list which will boost the protein percentage of the food.

Lentils is a legume. They are about 27 percent protein, 70 percent carbs, and 3 percent fat. They are also a good dietary fiber and a good source of iron, copper, phosphorus, folate, and manganese.

Chickpeas (garbanzo beans) are another legume. They are about 19 percent protein, 68 percent carbohydrates, and 13 percent fat. They are also a good dietary fiber, and contain copper, folate, and manganese. They are also high in omega-6 fatty acid.

Beyond the first several ingredients in a food, most of the ingredients listed will not be present in large amounts but they can still be important. The food also contains chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols). Chicken fat is a good source of fat for dogs. It’s a named fat so you know the source. It’s also a source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid. And it’s a source of glucosamine that is good for a dog’s joints.

This food also includes tomato pomace. Contrary to some things you will read online, tomato pomace is a good source of soluble fiber, antioxidants, and other nutrients. It is not a cheap filler.

The food also contains pork meal. Pork is a good meat for dogs and pork meal, like other meals, has had most of the moisture and fat removed so it’s a concentrated source of pork protein. This will also increase the protein percentage of the food but with a good meat protein instead of a plant protein.

The food also has flaxseed. Flaxseed has many benefits such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid which are good for your dog’s skin, coat, and other systems. It’s also a good dietary fiber for dogs. However, if you intend to breed your dog, you should be careful of flaxseed. It is a phytoestrogen which means that it can mimic the functions of estrogen in the body. This can interfere with your dog’s normal hormones which can cause problems if you are trying to breed a litter.

We also note that the food contains “natural fish flavor.” In general, added flavors should not be necessary in good dog foods. “Natural” is always a loaded word in the pet food world. What we, as dog owners, consider natural and what the FDA considers “natural” are not the same thing. The FDA informally defines natural as “nothing artificial or synthetic (including colors regardless of source) is included in, or has been added to, the product that would not normally be expected to be there,” but they have no official definition in their rules and regulations. So, when we see “natural fish flavor” in an ingredient list, it’s hard to say for sure what it is. It could be fish broth or it could be brine from a fishing boat. We just don’t know.

The food also includes pumpkin, cranberries, and apples which provides fiber, antioxidants, and various vitamins and minerals. Some of these ingredients are called “super foods” but that simply means they are loaded with nutrients. It also refers to humans, but they can also be good for dogs. Brewers Dried Yeast is often added to dog food for several reasons. It adds protein and flavor. It also adds most of the B vitamins to help digestion, liver function, the skin and coat, the nervous system, and other organs. Some people also give it to dogs for flea control. The addition of brewers yeast and its B vitamins are also supposed to help dogs (and people) deal with stress.

The food also has a number of digestive ingredients such as inulin and added fermentation products. Inulin is often associated with chicory root. It’s a prebiotic. Fermentation products are pre- and probiotics that help with digestion. They have been added to feed for livestock for many years and there is a lot of research showing that they can help animals absorb food better. They have not been used in dog food very long but they seem to be helpful. Yucca Schidigera Extract is widely used in dog foods. Dog food companies sometimes claim that it will help a dog’s arthritis but it is probably added because it seems to hide the odor from a dog’s stool. It may have other qualities but there is debate about them.

We note that this food has chelated minerals. Chelated minerals are often found in more expensive dog foods. They can make it easier for dogs to absorb the minerals in the food. They are often added to foods that contain a lot of grain since grains can interfere with some of the absorption of minerals in dog food. However, chelated minerals seem to be added to foods with lots of pulses, too.

For the most part, it looks like the ingredients in this food are very good quality, but we have some reservations about all of the pulses/peas/lentils. This food has a high protein percentage and we understand that dog food companies may be under some pressure to provide high protein percentages. However, a lower protein percentage that comes from meat protein would be better than a high protein percentage that uses lots of plant protein. We suspect that some dogs may have problems eating a food with so much peas/lentils, despite having all of the fermentation products to aid digestion. Is it really a coincidence that dog food companies started adding fermentation products at the same time they began adding all the peas and lentils to their foods? We don’t think so. If you try this food and your dog has loose stools or flatulence, try a food that doesn’t have all the peas and lentils and the problem will probably disappear.

This food has 376 kcal/cup meaning it is moderate in terms of calories. It is a maintenance dog food.

Nutrition Statement

Holistic Select Adult Health Deboned Turkey and Lentils Recipe Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

*Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles
Enzyme Functionality Statement: Product contains enzymes. Protease for protein hydrolysis; Cellulase for cellulose hydrolysis; Amylase for starch hydrolysis.
1One Hemoglobin Unit (HUT) of proteolytic (protease) activity is defined as the amount of enzyme that produces, in one minute under specified conditions (40°C, pH 4.7), a hydrolysate whose absorbance at 275 nm is the same as a solution containing 1.10 µg per ml of tyrosine in 0.006N hydrochloric acid.
2One Cellulase Unit (CU) is that activity that will produce a relative fluidity change of one in five minutes in a defined carboxymethylcellulose substrate under the conditions of an assay (40°C, pH4.5).
3One Dextrin Unit (DU) of alpha-amylase activity is defined as that amount of enzyme that will dextrinize soluble starch at the rate of 1g per hour at 30°C.

The dry matter basis figures for this food are: 35.6 percent protein; 15.6 percent fat; 5.6 percent fiber; and 33.9 percent carbohydrates.

This food has a high protein percentage and a moderate fat percentage compared to other kibbles today. The fiber percentage is above average. The carbohydrate percentage is also about average compared to other kibbles. Please keep in mind that although the first two ingredients in this food are meat proteins, this food contains a lot of plant protein which has to affect the protein percentage.

Where can you buy Holistic Select dog food?

You can buy Holistic Select dog food at local independent pet food retailers. You can look up retailers on the company’s web site. You can also purchase the food from some online pet food retailers.

Final Thoughts

In general, we think Holistic Select is a good brand. However, we think some of their foods are better than others. Their grain free foods may be less desirable because of their heavy use of pulses. We like their foods with grains much more and their canned foods are very good.