Premium Edge Dog Food
Brief Overview
Premium Edge makes dry food for dogs and cats. Real meat is the first ingredient in each formula. Their foods contain no ground corn, wheat, or soy. The company currently makes eight foods for dogs which include foods for puppies, senior dogs, and overweight dogs. The company is owned by Diamond Pet Foods (owned by Schell & Kampeter Inc.). It was formed in 1970. Premium Edge, along with Diamond, is headquartered in Meta, Missouri.
Who Manufactures Premium Edge Dog Food?
Premium Edge is made at Diamond pet food facilities. The company is owned by the same company that owns Diamond. According to Premium Edge: “We have five manufacturing facilities, all located in the United States. One is in northern California, one in central California, one in Missouri, one in South Carolina and one in Arkansas.”
Premium Edge Food Recalls
Premium Edge has had several recalls. In March 2013 the company recalled three varieties of dry cat food for possible low thiamine levels. In May 2012 Premium Edge recalled all of its foods with certain production codes, in a certain date range, because of possible Salmonella contamination as part of a larger Diamond recall. In November 2009 the company recalled two varieties of Premium Edge cat foods because of possible low thiamine levels.
Thanks to Petful.com for this archived information.
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Premium Edge Dog Food Overview
As we mentioned, Premium Edge currently makes eight dry dog foods. According to the company, their foods for dogs offer the following benefits:
ANTIOXIDANT NUTRITION
Guaranteed zinc, selenium and vitamin E. Helps provide optimum health and vigor. Antioxidants combat aging change and protect the cells in the body from the damage of everyday living.
CHELATED MINERALS
Minerals attached to proteins or amino acids, listed as proteinates in the ingredient legend, are easily absorbed by the body for optimal mineral nutrition. This is especially important for growing puppies and reproducing females.
CONTAINS GLUCOSAMINE & CHONDROITIN
Sources of glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate help lubricate the inside of the joints. This helps promote healthy, pain-free movement for your dog.
CONTROLLED CARBOHYRATES
High protein, low carbohydrate formula to help your dog burn excess body fat
DENTAL HEALTH FORMULA
Crunchy kibble helps reduce plaque and tartar, which helps keep teeth strong and healthy.
DRIED CHICORY ROOT
Dried chicory root is a prebiotic that promotes good digestive health by providing energy to the “good” bacteria in the intestines as well as to the cells within the colon.
ENHANCED WITH DHA
DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, has been proven in scientific studies to be critical for development of the puppy’s brain and vision. This omega-3 fatty acid, supplied to the diet by salmon oil, helps puppies learn more quickly.
OMEGA FATTY ACID BLEND
Flaxseed provides omega-3 fatty acids for optimal omega fatty acid balance for optimal skin and coat condition and overall health.
REAL CHICKEN
Number one ingredient in select formulas. Creates superior taste. Real meat is very digestible protein and also low in ash for overall good health.
REAL LAMB
Number one ingredient in select formulas. Creates superior taste. Lamb meat has very digestible protein and is also low in ash for overall good health.
SALMON MEAL
Salmon meal is a quality protein source as well as a source of omega-3 fatty acids.
VEGETABLES & FRUITS
Potatoes, carrots, apples, tomatoes and blueberries provide plant-sourced nutrients to help support overall well-being.
Premium Edge also states in their FAQ section that they use vendors and suppliers that do not use ethoxyquin as a preservative. We recommend reading the FAQ section. It has some good information about the company’s food and about pet nutrition in general.
We do need to point out that while flaxseed, mentioned above is a source of omega-3 fatty acids, since it is a plant-source, dogs are not able to utilize this omega-3 in the same way they can use the omega-3 from fish sources. Flaxseed does have some other benefits, however. Otherwise, we can’t quibble with any of Premium Edge’s claims about the benefits of these ingredients, though some people will argue that crunchy kibble doesn’t really do anything to reduce plaque or keep teeth cleaner.
According to the sources we checked, Premium Edge foods do appear to have an ash content that is somewhat lower than many other premium dog foods. Considering the dog food industry average is about 7 percent, Premium Edge foods are estimated to have a slightly lower ash figure than this percentage. Here is what Premium Edge has to say about ash:
Ash is the non-combustible portion of the diet. This means that when a sample of the food is burned in a special oven called an ash oven, the portion that remains is ash. Just like a fireplace, but much hotter and more controlled. We do not add an ingredient called ash to the food, but our foods (and all other pet foods out there as well) do contain ash.
Ash comes primarily from the bone content of the dry protein ingredients, such as chicken meal. Chicken meal is made from chicken meat and bone and is a natural source of essential minerals. Dry protein ingredients such as chicken meal typically contain 70% protein (fresh meats are only 20-25% protein because of their high water content). This ingredient also is made up of some fat, some moisture, a little bit of fiber, and ash.
Ash levels in pet foods should be controlled, especially in adult or senior diets. Excess ash will contribute excess minerals to the diet, potentially leading to health problems. Ingredients such as chicken by-product meal are much lower in ash than chicken meal or lamb meal, but many individuals choose not to feed diets that contain by-product meal to their pets.
Dog lovers should know about ash in dog food. It’s often over-looked and misunderstood when considering dog foods but it’s an important indicator about what’s in the food. If the ash percentage is very high it can cause problems for your dog because of mineral excesses.
Here’s an overview of the Premium Edge formulas.
Premium Edge dry foods
Chicken, Rice & Vegetables Adult Dog Formula
Real Chicken is the #1 Ingredient
Healthy Immune System Support
Skin & Coat Management System
Contains Glucosamine & Chondroitin
Crunchy Kibble Helps Reduce Plaque
Premium Edge Chicken, Rice & Vegetables Adult Dog Formula provides your active adult dog with optimal nutrition for optimal health. This formula is enhanced with real chicken for great taste, fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints and many other features to help your adult dog live a happy, healthy life.
First Five Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, ocean fish meal, whole grain brown rice, cracked pearled barley
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 26 percent, Crude Fat (min) 15 percent, Crude Fiber (max) 3 percent, Moisture (max) 10 percent
Calorie Content
3,777 kcal/kg (353 kcal/cup) Calculated ME
Premium Edge® Chicken, Rice & Vegetables Adult Dog Formula is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.
Lamb, Rice & Vegetables Adult Dog Formula
Real Lamb is the #1 Ingredient
Healthy Immune System Support
Contains Glucosamine & Chondroitin
Skin & Coat Management System
Crunchy Kibble Helps Reduce Plaque
This real lamb and vegetables formula provides your adult dog with optimal nutrition for optimal health. Enhanced with omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, antioxidants for overall good health, taurine for a healthy heart, and glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints, this meal is packed with good nutrition.
First Five Ingredients: Lamb, lamb meal, whole grain brown rice, cracked pearled barley, oatmeal
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 21 percent, Crude Fat (min) 12 percent, Crude Fiber (max) 4.5 percent, Moisture (max) 10 percent
Calorie Content
3,521 kcal/kg (329 kcal/cup) Calculated ME
Premium Edge® Lamb, Rice & Vegetable Adult Dog Formula is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.
Senior Dog Lamb, Rice & Vegetables Formula
Real Lamb is the #1 Ingredient
Healthy Immune System Support
Contains Glucosamine & Chondroitin
Skin & Coat Management System
Crunchy Kibble Helps Reduce Plaque
This real lamb and vegetables formula provides your senior dog with optimal nutrition for optimal health. Enhanced with omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, extra antioxidants for overall good health, taurine for a healthy heart, and glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints, this meal is packed with good nutrition.
First Five Ingredients: Lamb, lamb meal, oatmeal, whole grain brown rice, cracked pearled barley
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 20 percent, Crude Fat (min) 10 percent, Crude Fiber (max) 4 percent, Moisture (max) 10 percent
Calorie Content
3,421 kcal/kg (320 kcal/cup) Calculated ME
Premium Edge® Senior Dog Lamb, Rice & Vegetables Formula is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.
Skin & Coat Salmon, Potato & Vegetables Adult Dog Formula
Complete Skin & Coat Management
Real Salmon is the #1 Ingredient
Healthy Immune System Support
Contains Glucosamine & Chondroitin
Crunchy Kibble Helps Reduce Plaque
This formula is made with fish and potatoes to benefit dogs with sensitive skin or allergies. Omega-3 fatty acids from canola oil, flaxseed and fish meal work together to enhance the health of your dog’s skin and coat. Antioxidants help protect overall health and added glucosamine and chondroitin promote healthy joints.
First Five Ingredients: Salmon, ocean fish meal, potatoes, peas, cracked pearled barley
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 25 percent, Crude Fat (min) 14 percent, Crude Fiber (max) 3 percent, Moisture (max) 10 percent
Calorie Content
3,500 kcal/kg (327 kcal/cup) Calculated ME
Premium Edge® Skin & Coat Adult Dog Formula is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.
Healthy Weight I Weight Reduction Formula
Real Chicken is the #1 Ingredient
Made with Salmon Meal
Healthy Immune System Support
Skin & Coat Management System
Contains Glucosamine & Chondroitin
Crunchy Kibble Helps Reduce Plaque
Great tasting formula with high protein and low carbohydrates to promote weight loss. Designed to be fed to otherwise healthy overweight adult dogs, this formula contains 44% protein, added L-Carnitine, antioxidants and omega fatty acids.
First Five Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, peas, fish meal, potatoes
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 44 percent, Crude Fat (min) 12 percent, Crude Fiber (max) 5 percent, Moisture (max) 10 percent
Calorie Content
3,500 kcal/kg (347 kcal/cup) Calculated ME
Premium Edge® Healthy Weight Adult Dog Weight Reduction Formula is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.
Healthy Weight II Weight Control Formula
Real Chicken is the #1 Ingredient
Healthy Immune System Support
Skin & Coat Management System
Contains Glucosamine & Chondroitin
Crunchy Kibble Helps Reduce Plaque
Great tasting formula with low fat to help your dog maintain a healthy lean body condition, especially after weight loss. Enhanced with omega fatty acid balance, L-Carnitine, antioxidants, glucosamine and chondroitin, this formula will keep your adult dog happy and healthy.
First Five Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, oatmeal, whole grain brown rice, cracked pearled barley
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 25 percent, [Crude Fat (min) 8 percent Crude Fat (max) 10], Crude Fiber (max) 3 percent, Moisture (max) 10 percent
Calorie Content
3,262 kcal/kg (305 kcal/cup) Calculated ME
Premium Edge® Healthy Weight II Adult Dog Weight Control Formula is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.
Puppy Small & Medium Breed Chicken, Rice & Vegetables Formula
DHA for Brain & Eye Development
Real Chicken is the #1 Ingredient
Healthy Immune System Support
Skin & Coat Management System
Crunchy Kibble Helps Reduce Plaque
Premium Edge® Puppy provides your puppy and pregnant or nursing adult dog with optimal nutrition for optimal health. This formula is enhanced with DHA to support brain and eye development, real chicken for great taste, fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, and many other features to help your puppy grow into a strong, vibrant adult dog.
First Five Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, cracked pearled barley, millet, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols)
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 29 percent, Crude Fat (min) 18 percent, Crude Fiber (max) 3 percent, Moisture (max) 10 percent
Calorie Content
3,836 kcal/kg (359 kcal/cup) Calculated ME
Premium Edge® Chicken, Rice and Vegetables Puppy Formula for Small and Medium Breeds is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages except for growth of large size dogs (70 lbs or more as an adult).
Puppy Large Breed Lamb, Rice & Vegetable Formula
DHA for Brain & Eye Development
Real Lamb is the #1 Ingredient
Healthy Immune System Support
Skin & Coat Management System
Crunchy Kibble Helps Reduce Plaque
This real lamb formula provides your rapidly growing large breed puppy with optimal nutrition for optimal health. Enhanced with DHA for ideal brain and vision development, lower fat and calorie content along with added L-Carnitine to control growth rate, antioxidants for overall good health, and added probiotics for digestive health. A great tasting meal for a great looking pup.
First Five Ingredients: Lamb, lamb meal, ground white rice, cracked pearled barley, peas
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 27 percent, Crude Fat (min) 15 percent, Crude Fiber (max) 3 percent, Moisture (max) 10 percent, Calcium 1.2, Phosphorus 1.0.
Calorie Content:
3,656 kcal/kg (342 kcal/cup) Calculated ME
Premium Edge® Puppy Large Breed Lamb, Rice & Vegetable Formula is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages.
As you can see from looking over these kibbles, Premium Edge uses meat as the first ingredient, often followed by a named meat meal. These are not grain free foods. They use ground white rice, cracked pearled barley, millet, oatmeal, and brown rice. Some formulas also use peas, potatoes, and other ingredients often found in grain free foods as a substitute for grains. The foods also use named fats such as chicken fat.
Overall, the protein percentages for the food range from a very low 20 percent (in the senior dog food) to 44 percent (in the Healthy Weight I Weight Reduction Formula). Fat percentages range from a very low 8-10 percent (Health Weight II Weight Control Formula) to 18 percent (Puppy Small & Medium Breed Chicken, Rice & Vegetables Formula). All figures are from the Guaranteed Analyses.
From what we see so far, most of these foods look good. We do have qualms about a senior dog food with 20 percent protein (guaranteed analysis) since current research indicates that, unless a senior dog has kidney problems, there is no reason why s/he should not eat a normal protein percentage. Many senior dogs may even need higher than normal protein percentages as it becomes more difficult for them to digest and absorb nutrients with age. Without enough protein they can begin to experience some muscle wasting and experience other health problems.
Likewise, the Lamb, Rice & Vegetables Adult Dog Formula is low in protein. The estimated dry matter figures for this food are 23.3 percent protein, 13.3 percent fat, 5 percent fiber, and 51 percent carbohydrates.
We’ll look more closely at one of the foods below in our review.
Premium Edge Chicken, Rice & Vegetables Adult Dog Food Formula Review
Premium Edge Chicken, Rice & Vegetables is one of the company’s top selling, best-rated foods on Chewy.com and other sites so we thought it would be a good food to review.
According to Premium Edge, this food is for active adult dogs from 1 to 7 years old. In addition to fresh chicken, the food also contains fresh fruit and vegetables for natural antioxidants and whole grains as carbohydrates. Chelated minerals let your dog easily absorb the minerals. L-Carnitine helps metabolize fat into energy and lean muscle. Yucca schidilgera, added to many dog foods today, helps reduce stool odor and may provide some other benefits. The food also contains glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support. In addition, the food contains lots of probiotics (“fermentation products” in the ingredient list). Probiotics and digestive enzymes help with good digestion.
As we’ve already mentioned, Premium Edge does not use any ground corn, wheat, or soy in their foods. We were initially concerned about the phrase “ground corn” used by the company but, looking over the ingredients in their dog foods, we did not see any kind of corn used. Perhaps they use a form of corn in their cat foods.
The first five ingredients in this food are: Chicken, chicken meal, ocean fish meal, whole grain brown rice, and cracked pearled barley. Chicken here refers to whole chicken so it contains a lot of moisture. If the moisture were removed, this ingredient might fall lower in the ingredient list. However, chicken meal is the next ingredient and it typically contains about 65-70 percent protein and 12 percent fat. There should be plenty of chicken protein in the food. Chicken is a good source of vitamin B6, niacin, and phosphorus.
The third ingredient in the food is ocean fish meal. Again, since this is a meal it means that most of the moisture was removed before it was used to make the dog food. Although “ocean fish meal” is a vague term you can expect it to be high in protein. It usually refers to cold water fish that are high in fatty acids. It could refer to herring, sardines, or other fish. Premium Edge says in the FAQ that they do not use suppliers that use ethoxyquin.
The fourth ingredient is whole grain brown rice. Brown rice is considered to be slightly more nutritious than white rice. Brown rice has the inedible outer hull removed; white rice is the same grain with the hull, bran layer and cereal germ removed. Brown rice is rich in thiamine, calcium, magnesium, fiber, and potassium. It features anti-oxidants and fiber. It also releases sugar into the bloodstream slowly so your dog won’t experience spikes in his blood sugar levels. (The food also includes ground white rice farther down the ingredient list.)
The fifth ingredient is cracked pearled barley. Don’t be put off by the “cracked pearled” description. This simply refers to how the barley has been processed. It’s still barley and still nutritious. Cracked pearled barley is produced from the whole seeds that have been scoured to remove the seed hull and bran. It has a unique nutritional make-up, modest amounts of slowly digested starch and the soluble fiber B-glucan. Barley adds additional protein, complex carbohydrates and vitamins and minerals to the diet. It’s a great source of dietary fiber and manganese. Barley has about 7 percent protein, 3 percent fat, and 90 percent carbohydrates. The nice thing about barley is that it is slow to digest so even though it’s high in carbohydrates, they are released slowly into your dog’s bloodstream – no spikes.
Other ingredients of interest in the food include oatmeal which is another good complex carbohydrate which digests slowly. Chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols) is a good named fat for dogs. The food uses natural chicken flavor which we appreciate. So many dog foods today use “natural flavor” without identifying the source. It’s good to see an identified natural flavor. Dried chicory root is an excellent prebiotic that helps healthy bacteria grow in the gastrointestinal system. Dried kelp is a source of trace minerals such as iodine. Blueberries and cranberries are natural sources of antioxidants. The food also contains egg product which is a good source of animal protein.
Premium Edge also uses potatoes in this food. Many dogs can eat potatoes without any problem but they can be problematic for some dogs, so be advised. The food also contains tomato pomace. We consider tomato pomace to be a good source of soluble fiber, lycopene, and anti-oxidants, but some people think it’s just a filler.
Finally, as already mentioned, the food has lots of fermentation products to improve digestion; and chelated minerals to make it easier for your dog to absorb the minerals in the food.
Overall, the ingredients in this food look good and we don’t see anything to cause concern.
Calorie Content
3,777 kcal/kg (353 kcal/cup) Calculated ME
Nutrition Statement
Premium Edge® Chicken, Rice & Vegetables Adult Dog Formula is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Crude Protein (min)…………………..….26.0%
Crude Fat (min)…………………………….15.0%
Crude Fiber (max)………………………….3.0%
Moisture (max)…………………………….10.0%
The dry matter basis (DMB) figures for this food are: 28.9 percent protein; 16.7 percent fat; 3.3 percent fiber; and 43.9 percent carbohydrates.
This food has moderate protein for a super premium dog food and moderate fat compared to many super premium dog foods. It has average fiber and it is slightly above average in terms of carbohydrates compared to many premium dog foods.
Where can you buy Premium Edge Dog Food?
You can buy Premium Edge dog foods online from Chewy.com or other online sites. You can also check the store locator on the Premium Edge web site to find a retailer near you.
Premium Edge Dog Food Coupons
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We didn’t see any coupons or special offers on the Premium Edge web site. We didn’t find a Facebook page for the company.
Final Thoughts
We think the Premium Edge Chicken, Rice & Vegetables Adult Formula dog food looks like a very good food. Some of the other Premium Edge kibbles also look good. We have some reservations about the senior dog food and the Lamb, Rice & Vegetables Adult Dog Food because of their lower protein levels. It does look like the Premium Edge foods, in general, tend to be high in carbohydrates so this is something you should take into consideration when evaluating these foods. We do want to add that the ingredients in the foods look good. We don’t know the sourcing for the ingredients but just based on reading the labels, they look like good ingredients.
Below is a list of Products reviewed in this article
- Lamb, Rice & Vegetables Adult Dog Formula
- Senior Dog Lamb, Rice & Vegetables Formula
- Skin & Coat Salmon, Potato & Vegetables Adult Dog Formula
- Healthy Weight I Weight Reduction Formula
- Healthy Weight II Weight Control Formula
- Puppy Small & Medium Breed Chicken, Rice & Vegetables Formula
- Puppy Large Breed Lamb, Rice & Vegetable Formula
- Premium EdgeChicken, Rice & Vegetables Adult Dog Food Formula
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