GO! Dog Food Review
Go!
dog food dog food products are manufactured by Petcurean Pet Nutrition. The company also produces Now! Grain-Free and Summit dog food formulas.
Go! Natural is marketed as a wholesome formulation wherein the company introduces a “revolutionary way to feed your pet—One Diet for One Life.” The company claims the use of only the best wholesome ingredients to meet the standards of Holistic veterinarians and many pet owners. Each of these dog food formulas has been formulated to meet the AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
Other well-known features which are associated with Go! Natural dog food products include—feeding up to 40% less; the use wholesome ingredients which have passed through government evaluation and assessment; strict quality assurance standards; and solution formulas which have been tailored to address common health problems in dogs.
Among the four Go! Natural dog food formulas, only one is a grain-free formula.
The different dog food formulas contain meat-based protein sources including chicken meal, deboned chicken, turkey meal, salmon meal, salmon, and duck meal.
Chicken and salmon are fresh meat sources which are excellent sources of meat-based protein. However, since they are still in the raw form, these ingredients contain about 80% water that can be lost during processing leaving only a fraction of the original weight of the protein source.
When a fresh meat source is the first ingredient in a dog food product, it is usually followed by a meat meal like chicken meal, turkey meal, salmon meal, or duck meal. These are considered meat concentrates that contain more than 300% protein compared to fresh meat sources.
The carbohydrate fraction of Go! Natural dog food formulas is composed of brown rice, white rice, oatmeal, rice bran, and potato.
Between brown rice and white rice, the former is the better ingredient. Brown rice is considered a whole grain ingredient because the nutrient-filled outer layer of the grain is still intact. It is a good source of dietary fiber, and B-vitamins.
White rice is produced when the bran and the germ layer is removed. The process subsequently gets rid of the nutrients which are present in the bran.
Oatmeal is well-known for its nutritional and health benefits. It is considered as one of the best grains which are incorporated in many pet food formulas today. Compared to other grains, oatmeal can contribute to the total protein content of the dog food because it contains fair amounts of plant-based protein which is equivalent in amount to soy protein or egg. It is also a good source of digestible fiber, B-vitamins, iron, antioxidants and essential fatty acids. Oatmeal is a hypoallergenic ingredient and is ideal for dogs which are prone to dog food allergies. Because of its fiber content, oatmeal is also a desirable ingredient in weight loss dog food formulas and reduction of incidents of digestive problems.
Rice bran is a by-product in the production of white rice. It is a part of the grain which is rich in vitamins, antioxidants, soluble and insoluble fibers which are important in the health of the gastrointestinal tract.
Potatoes are good sources of carbohydrates, fiber, B-complex, calcium, vitamin C and iron. They are also rich in beta-carotene which is a well-known antioxidant.
Sunflower oil is rich in the omega-6 fatty acid, linolenic acid. It is also good for the skin’s health and acts as an antioxidant that can protect the body cells from free radicals.
Go! Natural dog food products contain a prebiotic in the form of inulin which is derived from chicory. Together with special probiotics, these ingredients can help boost digestive and immune functions.
Chelated minerals are also present which allows easier absorption and utilization of important minerals in the body.
Some of Go! Natural dog food ingredients which are deemed controversial include tomato pomace and garlic.
Tomato pomace is a by-product of tomato processing. Although it is a rich source of dietary fiber, B-vitamins, lycopene and vitamin A, tomato pomace is primarily made up of tomato skin that has the potential of containing pesticide residues.
Garlic powder has been linked to a blood problem, Heinz body anemia, in dogs.
Dog owners like the fact that their dogs can easily adapt to Go! Natural dog food formulas when they switch from another dog food brand. Aside from increased energy, their dogs also have better skin and coat appearance. However, there are also some dogs that experience digestive problems after having been fed Go! Natural dog food formulas.
Overall, we believe that GO! produces very high quality dog food and would recommend this brand to our readers.
Please visit the links listed below for GO! dog food reviews by formula.
Have a comment or question about our GO! dog food review? Want to share your experiences with others? We welcome your comments!
GO! Dog Food Formulas:
- Go Canine Chicken Formula
- Go Canine Duck Formula
- Go Natural Salmon & Oatmeal Formula
- Go Grain Free Endurance Formula
GO! Dog Food Consumer Ratings
.