By Mike Sagman
Mike Sagman
Founder
Dr. Mike Sagman, creator of Dog Food Advisor, established the site in 2008 after experiencing the devastating consequences of trusting commercial dog food, which led to the loss of his dog Penny. Read more
& Julia Ogden
Julia Ogden
Content Director
Julia Ogden is the Content Director at Dog Food Advisor, where she spearheads the website’s content strategy and direction. Read more
Updated: November 26, 2024
Verified by Laura Ward
Laura Ward
Pet Nutritionist
Laura Ward holds a BSc (Hons) in Animal Science with a specialization in Nutrition from the University of Nottingham, and has worked in the pet food industry for eight years. Read more
Highly Recommended
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Choosing the right dog food is crucial for your pet’s health and well-being. With numerous brands available, it can be overwhelming to make an informed decision. If you’re considering 4Health dog food for your furry friend, you’ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive 4Health dog food review, we’ll delve into the details of their dry recipes, analyzing ingredients, nutritional content, and recall history to help you determine if 4Health is the best option for your canine companion. DogFoodAdvisor provides unbiased and reader-supported reviews.
Recipe & Label Analysis
Ingredients Analysis
Nutrient Analysis
Recall History
Our Rating
4Health Dry Dog Food: Top Rated Recipes
4Health dog food offers a range of 10 dry recipes, with product ratings spanning from 3 to a high of 5 stars. The average rating across the entire 4Health dry food product line is an impressive 4.5 stars, indicating a generally high level of quality across their offerings.
Check out our Editor’s Top Picks for February for more highly rated dog food options.
The following table summarizes each dry recipe within the 4Health product line, including our rating and the corresponding AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental, or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| 4Health Chicken and Rice Formula | 5 | M |
| 4Health Salmon and Potato Formula | 4.5 | M |
| 4Health Lamb and Rice Formula | 3.5 | M |
| 4Health Beef and Rice Formula | 4.5 | M |
| 4Health Puppy Formula | 5 | A |
| 4Health Small Bites Formula | 5 | M |
| 4Health Large Breed Formula | 4.5 | M |
| 4health Large Breed Puppy | 5 | A |
| 4Health Mature Adult Formula | 3 | M |
| 4Health Healthy Weight Formula | 3 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis: 4Health Chicken and Rice Formula
To provide an in-depth analysis of the 4Health dry dog food line, we’ve selected the 4Health Chicken and Rice Formula as a representative example for detailed recipe and nutrient breakdown. This formula is a popular choice among dog owners and exemplifies the general composition and quality you can expect from 4Health dry products.
4Health Chicken and Rice Formula – Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
| Nutrient | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Protein | 28.9% |
| Fat | 16.7% |
| Carbohydrates | 46.4% |
Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, cracked pearled barley, ground white rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), oatmeal, dried beet pulp, natural chicken flavor, flaxseed, ocean fish meal, potassium chloride, salt, dl-methionine, choline chloride, taurine, dried chicory root, glucosamine hydrochloride, dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, yucca schidigera extract, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteinate, chondroitin sulfate, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 26% | 15% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 29% | 17% | 46% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 25% | 35% | 40% |
Ingredient by Ingredient Analysis of 4Health Dog Food
Let’s break down the key ingredients in 4Health Chicken and Rice Formula to better understand the quality and nutritional value they contribute to this dog food.
The first ingredient is chicken. While chicken is a high-quality protein source, it’s important to remember that raw chicken has a high water content (up to 73%). During the cooking process, much of this moisture is lost, significantly reducing the actual percentage of chicken in the final product.
The second ingredient, chicken meal, is a concentrated protein source. Chicken meal is rendered chicken, meaning it has been cooked to remove moisture and fat, resulting in a protein-rich powder. It contains approximately 300% more protein than fresh chicken, making it a valuable ingredient in dog food. Learn more about meat meals.
Cracked pearled barley is the third ingredient. Barley is a grain providing carbohydrates and dietary fiber. While it offers some nutritional value, especially fiber, its primary contribution to dog food is as an energy source.
Following barley is ground white rice, another carbohydrate source. Ground white rice, or rice flour, is easily digestible and often used in pet foods. It is considered a gluten-free alternative to wheat.
Chicken fat is the fifth ingredient, a rendered product of chicken. Chicken fat is a high-quality source of linoleic acid, an essential omega-6 fatty acid vital for a dog’s health. Despite its less appealing name, chicken fat is a beneficial ingredient in dog food.
Oatmeal is the sixth ingredient, a whole grain rich in B-vitamins and dietary fiber. Depending on processing, oatmeal can also be gluten-free, adding another digestible carbohydrate and fiber source to the formula.
Explore our Editor’s Top Dog Food Picks for February for more recommendations.
Dried beet pulp is included next, a somewhat controversial ingredient. Beet pulp is a byproduct of sugar beet processing, known for its high fiber content. While some view it as a filler, beet pulp can offer benefits for intestinal health and blood sugar regulation in dogs. We consider beet pulp in reasonable amounts to be an acceptable ingredient in dog food. Read about the benefits of fiber in dog food.
Natural chicken flavor is added to enhance palatability, making the food more appealing to dogs.
Flaxseed follows, a great plant-based source of omega-3 fatty acids. Ground flaxseed also provides soluble fiber. However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, which contributes to the overall protein content of the food.
The ingredient list continues with ocean fish meal, another concentrated protein source. The term “ocean fish” is quite general. The quality of fish meal can vary depending on the types of fish used, which impacts the omega-3 fatty acid content. Fish meal is generally made from dried and ground tissues of whole fish and fish cuttings from commercial fishing. ref
Dried chicory root is a source of inulin, a prebiotic fiber. Inulin supports digestive health by promoting beneficial bacteria in the gut. Chicory root provides natural soluble dietary fiber and acts as a prebiotic.
Taurine, an amino acid, is included for heart health. While not considered essential for all dogs, some may benefit from taurine supplementation for heart muscle function.
Sodium selenite is used as a source of selenium. This is a controversial form of selenium, with some considering selenium yeast to be a more natural and preferable source. Learn more about selenium in dog food.
Finally, chelated minerals are included. These are minerals bound to proteins, which enhances their absorption in the digestive system. Chelated minerals are often found in higher-quality dog foods, indicating a focus on nutrient bioavailability. Understand the benefits of chelated minerals.
4Health Dog Food Nutrient Profile
Based on the ingredient list, 4Health Chicken and Rice Formula appears to be an above-average dry dog food.
Our analysis reveals a dry matter protein content of 29%, fat at 17%, and estimated carbohydrates of 46%.
Across the 4Health brand, the average protein content is around 27%, with a mean fat level of 14%. This suggests an average carbohydrate content of 51% for the entire dry food line.
The fat-to-protein ratio is approximately 53%.
Compared to other dry dog foods, 4Health generally offers:
- Near-average protein content.
- Below-average fat levels.
- Above-average carbohydrate content.
Even considering the protein contribution from flaxseed, the nutrient profile suggests a dog food with a significant amount of meat-based protein.
4Health Dog Food Recall History
As of February 2025, there are no reported recalls for 4Health dog food.
For a comprehensive list of dog food recalls since 2009, please visit Dog Food Recalls.
More 4Health Dog Food Reviews
Explore these additional 4health Dog Food Reviews available on our site:
(Note: As the prompt only provided one review, this section would ideally link to other 4Health product reviews on the website, if available.)
Our Rating of 4Health Dry Dog Food
4Health is a grain-inclusive dry dog food that utilizes a considerable amount of named meat meals as its primary source of animal protein. For these reasons, 4Health dog food earns an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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Highly Recommended
Visual representation of the 4.5-star rating for 4Health dog food, emphasizing its high recommendation.
How 4Health Dog Food Compares
Curious how 4Health stacks up against Dog Food Advisor’s top-rated brands? [Compare 4Health to our most recommended dog foods here]. (Link to comparison page if available)
Sources
ref: Association of American Feed Control Officials – https://www.aafco.org
Final Thoughts on 4Health Dog Food
Dog Food Advisor maintains strict impartiality in our reviews and does not accept compensation, gifts, or samples for favorable evaluations. We are reader-supported and may earn a referral fee from online retailers like Chewy or Amazon when you purchase through our links. This helps us sustain our free blog. Thank you for your support.
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