Great Life Limited Ingredient Dog Food Review

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Just like humans, pets can develop sensitivities, intolerances, and allergies to certain food ingredients. In fact, it is estimated that about 10% of all allergies in dogs are food-related. Food allergies, sensitivities and intolerances can produce a wide range of symptoms including itchy skin, hair loss, skin infections, increased bowel movements, nausea and vomiting. Unfortunately it can be difficult to pin down the culprit when it comes to dog food allergies because many commercial dog food formulas contain a very extensive list of ingredients. Food allergies cannot be cured or treated – the only way to deal with them is to find a dog food formula that does not contain the ingredient in question. Many dog owners who have dogs with food allergies or sensitivities switch to limited ingredient dog foods. These dog foods are designed to be free from common food allergens including wheat, corn, dairy, and soy – they are also often made with alternate protein sources like buffalo, kangaroo, and more. If your dog suffers from food allergies or intolerances, you may want to switch him to a limited ingredient food like Evolve Maintenance Dog Food. Before you go out and buy this pet food, however, you should consider the ingredients it is made with and their impact on its overall nutritional value.

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Compare Our Great Life Limited Ingredient Dog Food Review To These Reviews From Real Great Life Customers

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Ingredients List

Buffalo, Tapioca, Yams, Bok Choy, Zucchini, Blueberries, Freeze Dried Buffalo Liver, Freeze Dried Kale Sprouts, Freeze Dried Red Clover Sprouts, Inulin, Probiotics in a micro-encapsulated complex (Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product Dehydrated, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus Fermentation Product Dehydrated, Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product Dehydrated,Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product Dehydrated, Bifidobacterium Thermophilum Fermentation Product Dehydrated, Bifidobacterium Longum Fermentation Product Dehydrated, Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product Dehydrated, Bacillus Subtillus Fermentation Product Dehydrated), Vitamins (Dl-methione, Lecithin, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamone Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Folic Acid) Minerals (Calcium Pantothenate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acids Chelate, Manganese Amino Acids Chelate, Cobalt Amino Acids Chelate, Selenium), Wild Salmon Oil.

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Explanation of Top 5 Ingredients

The top 5 ingredients included in Great Life Limited Ingredient Dog Food are: buffalo, tapioca, yams, bok choy, and zucchini. Below you will find a brief explanation of each of these ingredients:

Buffalo – The fact that buffalo is listed first on the ingredients list for this product tells you several important things. First, it tells you that a high-quality source of animal protein is present in the highest volume out of all the ingredients used in this formula. Second, it tells you that this dog food does not contain common animal protein allergens like chicken and beef. There is one thing you need to be wary of with this ingredients, however, and that is the fact that it may contain up to 80% water. When the dog food is cooked and most of that moisture is removed, the meat content that remains will be much lower than the original weight of the ingredient. It is possible, then, that tapioca and other carbohydrate-based ingredients are actually present in higher volumes than meat in this formula.

Tapioca – Because Evolve Maintenance Dog Food is grain-free, there must be an alternative ingredient to bind the ingredients together and to provide dietary fiber – tapioca is that ingredient. Tapioca is a starchy carbohydrate made from the root of the cassava plant. This ingredient is gluten-free, grain-free, and non-GMO. Tapioca does contain some vitamins and minerals including calcium and Vitamin C, but it is low in protein and fat. This being the case, it can only be considered of moderate nutritional value to your dog.

Yams – Commonly confused with sweet potatoes, yams are a starchy carbohydrate that provide some nutritional value to your pet in the form of various vitamins and minerals. This ingredient also provides dietary fiber and energy in the form of calories. For the most part, however, this ingredient is only considered to be of moderate nutritional value to your dog.

Bok Choy – This ingredient is a healthy addition to your dog’s food as long as it has been properly cooked so that your dog’s body can digest it and absorb the nutrients. Bok choy is rich in calcium which helps your dog to develop strong bones and teeth – it is also a good source of vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, and vitamin K.

Zucchini – A type of squash, zucchini is another ingredient which can provide some valuable vitamins and minerals to your dog but it is only a moderately valuable source of nutrition. Zucchini is rich in vitamin C, manganese, vitamin B-6 and vitamin K. Though vegetables like this only provide moderate nutritional value for your dog, they may be a more biologically valuable source of vitamins and minerals than the supplements that many dog foods utilize. Vitamins and nutrients derived from natural sources are typically easier for your dog’s body to absorb than nutritional supplements.

Other Notable Ingredients

Aside from the top five ingredients, there are several other notable ingredients found in Great Life Limited Ingredient Dog Food. Some of these ingredients include: freeze-dried buffalo liver, freeze-dried sprouts, enzymes, probiotics, chelated minerals and wild salmon oil. Freeze-dried buffalo liver can be considered a valuable source of protein in this dog food formula. Because it has been freeze-dried, most of the moisture content has already been removed – this makes a highly concentrated source of protein. Though this ingredient is a valuable addition, it would be better to see it higher up on the ingredients list – perhaps in place of one of the three vegetable ingredients listed within the top 5.

This Great Life Limited Ingredient Dog Food formula contains several types of freeze-dried sprouts including kale sprouts and red clover sprouts. These ingredients provide some dietary fiber for your pet and they may also be relatively high in protein. It is important to note, however, that plant-based protein sources are less biologically valuable to your dog than animal-based proteins. Some dog food manufacturers use plant-based protein sources to increase the protein content of their products without actually adding more meat. The fact that this Great Life Limited Ingredient Dog Food formula only contains one animal-based protein source in high volume leads one to question whether this may be the case

Other notable ingredients including this dog food formula are enzymes, probiotics, chelated minerals and wild salmon oil. The addition of enzymes to this dog food formula may help your dog to digest the product properly. Probiotics are ingredients that help to support the growth and maintenance of beneficial bacteria in the gut which help to support healthy digestion as well. Chelated minerals are minerals that have been chemically bound to protein molecules which makes them easier for your dog’s body to absorb and utilize. The final notable ingredient in this formula is wild salmon oil. This is an excellent source of both DHA and EPA, two types of omega-3 fatty acids. It is also highly beneficial that these fats come from an animal-based source rather than a plant-based source like flaxseed. Animal-based fats are more biologically valuable for your dog.

Conclusion

Overall, this Great Life Limited Ingredient Dog Food can be considered an above-average source of nutrition for your dog, especially if he has food sensitivities or allergies. This formula is not only gluten-free and grain-free, but it is free from potatoes and GMO ingredients as well. This dog food formula is recommended for dogs of all life stages and it has a decent amount of animal-based proteins and fats as well as gluten-free, grain-free carbohydrates in the form of fresh and freeze-dried vegetables. Compared to the typical commercial dog food formula, this formula provides valuable nutrients from high-quality sources, making them more biologically valuable for your dog.

Paw Rating

This Great Life Limited Ingredient Dog Food formula receives a paw rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. It is highly beneficial to see a high-quality source of animal protein like buffalo listed first on the ingredients list as well as a gluten-free, grain-free carbohydrate like tapioca instead of a filler ingredient made from corn or wheat. This formula is also loaded with beneficial additives like enzymes, probiotics, and chelated minerals. Overall, if you are looking for a high-quality commercial dog food formula for your pet (especially if he suffers from food allergies, intolerances, or sensitivities), this Great Life Limited Ingredient Dog Food formula may be a good option to consider.

Review Last Updated On 1/13/2016