Stella and Chewy's Stella's Essentials Wholesome Grains Chicken & Ancient Grains Recipe For Small Breed Dogs Review
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Review of Stella and Chewy's Stella's Essentials Wholesome Grains Chicken & Ancient Grains Recipe For Small Breed Dogs
According to our data, this Stella and Chewy's recipe provides complete & balanced nutrition for all life stages. In other words, this formula is AAFCO approved.
Stella and Chewy's Stella's Essentials Wholesome Grains Chicken & Ancient Grains Recipe For Small Breed Dogs is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages.
Review of Ingredients
In our review of Stella and Chewy's Stella's Essentials Wholesome Grains Chicken & Ancient Grains Recipe For Small Breed Dogs, we'll examine all 46 ingredients and highlight the nutritional contribution of each ingredient.
While the first few ingredients typically dominate the recipe's composition, ingredients in small quantities can still have a meaningful impact on the overall nutritional profile of the recipe.
Chicken is a lean, easily digestible source of protein that provides essential nutrients for your dog's growth and maintenance. It's also a great source of vitamins and minerals to support overall health.
Chicken meal is a highly concentrated source of protein made from dehydrated and ground chicken. It provides essential amino acids for your dog's muscle development, tissue repair, and overall growth, making it a valuable ingredient for maintaining your dog's health and well-being.
Pearled barley is a wholesome, easily digestible grain that provides dogs with a source of dietary fiber, which promotes healthy digestion and helps maintain stable blood sugar levels. It is also rich in vitamins and minerals that support overall health.
Oatmeal is a highly digestible and nutritious source of carbohydrates that provides your dog with energy, fiber, and essential nutrients for a healthy digestive system and overall well-being.
Chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols) is a source of essential fatty acids like omega-6 which help to maintain a healthy skin and coat. The tocopherols act as natural preservatives.
Brown rice is a whole grain that provides an excellent source of carbohydrates, fiber, and essential nutrients for your dog. The fiber content can aid in digestion and help maintain a healthy weight, while the carbohydrates provide energy for an active lifestyle.
Natural chicken flavor is a dog food ingredient used to enhance the taste and aroma of the product, making it more appealing to your pet. It is derived from real chicken and does not contain any artificial additives or chemicals. This natural flavoring helps encourage your dog to eat and enjoy their meals.
Tomato pomace is a fiber-rich ingredient that can help support healthy digestion and maintain a healthy weight in dogs.
Flaxseed is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fiber, and essential nutrients, which can support your dog's skin, coat, and digestive health.
Millet is a gluten-free grain that provides essential nutrients like magnesium, copper, and phosphorus, promoting your dog's heart health and bone health.
Chicken liver is a nutrient-rich organ meat that provides your dog with protein, fat, and vitamin A. It's also a great source of iron, copper, niacin, zinc, and phosphorus.
Quinoa is a nutrient-dense, gluten-free grain that provides your dog with essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. It supports healthy digestion and overall well-being, making it an excellent choice for a balanced and nutritious dog food.
Calcium carbonate is a valuable source of calcium, an essential mineral for strong bones and teeth, and for supporting proper muscle function in your dog.
Dicalcium phosphate is a calcium and phosphorus supplement that helps to support the development and maintenance of strong bones and teeth in dogs.
Potassium chloride is an essential mineral supplement that helps maintain your dog's electrolyte balance and supports healthy nerve and muscle function.
While salt is a necessary component of a dog's diet, providing essential minerals such as sodium and chloride for proper cellular function, it should be provided in moderation to avoid health issues like hypertension or kidney damage.
L-threonine is an essential amino acid that supports the immune system, muscle growth, and the production of collagen in dogs, contributing to a healthy skin, coat, and joints.
Salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols) is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which promote healthy skin, coat, joints, and brain function. Mixed tocopherols, a natural form of vitamin E, help preserve the oil, ensuring its freshness and nutritional value for your dog.
Inulin is a natural prebiotic fiber that supports the growth of beneficial bacteria in your dog's gut, promoting digestive health and overall immune function.
Pumpkin is a nutritious and fiber-rich ingredient that can help support your dog's digestive health. Its high fiber content can aid in maintaining a healthy weight and promoting regular bowel movements.
Organic blueberries are a nutrient-dense fruit rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. They can help support your dog's overall health by promoting a strong immune system, reducing inflammation, and providing essential nutrients for healthy skin and coat.
Taurine is an essential amino acid that supports heart health, vision, and development and function of skeletal muscle.
Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant spice that can help support your dog's joint health, immune system, and overall well-being.
Chicken cartilage is a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin, which are beneficial for joint health.
Mixed tocopherols are natural antioxidants used to preserve the freshness of dog food, ensuring your pet receives the highest quality nutrients possible.
Thyme is an aromatic herb that not only adds flavor to your dog's food, but also provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These benefits can support your dog's immune system, digestive health, and overall well-being.
Sage is a natural herb that can be added to dog food for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It may also help support your dog's digestive health and overall immune system.
Choline Chloride is an essential nutrient that aids in brain and liver function, muscle movement, and supports healthy metabolic processes.
Dried kelp is a natural source of essential minerals and trace elements, which help support your dog's thyroid function and overall health.
Zinc proteinate is a highly absorbable form of zinc. It helps support a healthy immune system, skin, and coat in dogs.
Iron proteinate is a chelated form of iron that is more easily absorbed by your dog's body, supporting their red blood cell production and overall health.
Copper Proteinate is a chelated form of copper that's easier for dogs to absorb, aiding in red blood cell formation and iron absorption.
Manganese Proteinate is a chelated form of manganese, a mineral that supports bone health, metabolism and enzymatic reactions.
Sodium selenite is a form of selenium, a necessary trace mineral that supports immune function and thyroid health in dogs.
Calcium iodate is a source of iodine, an essential trace mineral that supports your dog's thyroid function and overall metabolism. It helps maintain proper hormone production and is crucial for overall health and well-being.
Vitamin E supplement is an essential nutrient that helps support your dog's immune system, skin health, and overall wellness.
Thiamine mononitrate is a form of vitamin B1 that helps support your dog's nervous system function, energy metabolism, and overall health.
Niacin supplement is an important source of vitamin B3, which plays a crucial role in supporting your dog's energy metabolism, nervous system function, and overall health. It also aids in maintaining healthy skin and coat, as well as promoting proper digestion.
D-Calcium Pantothenate is a source of pantothenic acid, a B-vitamin that helps in energy metabolism and the synthesis of important compounds in the body.
Riboflavin supplement is a source of Vitamin B2, which is crucial for your dog's energy production, cell function, and overall growth and development.
Vitamin A Supplement is important for supporting vision, immune function, and skin health in dogs.
Vitamin D3 supplement is an essential vitamin that supports bone health, immune function, and overall well-being in dogs. It helps regulate calcium and phosphorus balance in the body, promoting strong and healthy bones.
Vitamin B12 Supplement is an essential vitamin that helps support brain function and the formation of red blood cells.
Pyridoxine hydrochloride is a source of vitamin B6, which is essential for your dog's nervous system function, immune health, and red blood cell production.
Folic acid is a crucial B-vitamin that aids in the synthesis of DNA and supports healthy cell growth. It's essential for maintaining your dog's overall health, particularly during periods of rapid growth.
Rosemary extract is a natural antioxidant that can help protect your dog's body from the harmful effects of free radicals. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can support your dog's overall health and well-being, particularly in regard to joint health.
Review of Guaranteed Analysis
The crude protein content of at least 25.00% is likely provided primarily by the cage-free chicken and chicken meal, which are the first two ingredients listed. Chicken is a high-quality source of protein that supports muscle development and maintenance. Chicken meal is a concentrated form of chicken with most of the moisture removed, which means it has a higher protein content by weight compared to fresh chicken.
The crude fat minimum of 15.00% is likely to come from the chicken fat, salmon oil, and to a lesser extent, the flaxseed. Chicken fat is a common source of animal fat in dog foods and is rich in essential fatty acids, which contribute to healthy skin and coat. Salmon oil is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for cognitive and cardiovascular health. Flaxseed also contributes some fat, particularly omega-3 fatty acids, but it is also a source of fiber.
Crude fiber content is capped at 5.00%, indicating the food is not excessively high in indigestible plant matter. Ingredients contributing to fiber content include pearled barley, oatmeal, brown rice, tomato pomace, and flaxseed. These grains and plant-based ingredients provide dietary fiber which aids in digestion and helps maintain bowel health.
The calorie content of 3750.00 per kg provides an estimate of the energy density of the food. This is influenced by the levels of protein, fat, and carbohydrates in the food, with fats being the most calorie-dense macronutrient followed by proteins and carbohydrates. The chicken fat, oils, and wholesome grains contribute to the caloric content, with the grains providing a source of complex carbohydrates for sustained energy.
Other ingredients like the natural chicken flavor, chicken liver, and various fruits and vegetables contribute to the overall nutrient profile, including vitamins and minerals, but are not the primary contributors to the guaranteed analysis values. Ingredients like calcium carbonate and dicalcium phosphate are added to ensure the food meets the dog's mineral requirements, and chelated minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, etc.) are included for better absorption. Vitamins are supplemented as well to round out the nutritional adequacy of the product.
