Review Summary
We give 4health Original Puppy Formula Dog Food a rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars.
Introduction
4health Original Puppy Formula Dog Food is an above-average dog food that is available at Tractor Supply Co. It’s made in the USA and manufactured Diamond Pet Food, depending on the recipe and ingredients. If you’re wondering why you’ve never heard of this food before, it’s because this brand is sold exclusively in Tractor Supply Co. stores.
The 4health Dog Food line markets its products to families that want the best nutrition without the premium price tag. It does have some questionable ingredients, but they’re smaller concerns compared to the bigger picture.
Comparable Brands:
- Purina
- Iams
- American Journey
At a Glance: The Best 4health Puppy Food Recipes:
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Our favorite
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4health Original Puppy Formula Grain Free |
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4health Original Puppy Formula |
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4health Original Puppy Formula Dog Food Reviewed
About 4health and Tractor Supply Co.
4health is a dog food line sold only online and at select Tractor Supply Co. stores. Founded in 1938, the company has been around for a long time. Although it started out as a small mail-order tractor parts company, it has grown into one of the biggest farming and supply companies to date. Today, the company has over 1,000 active locations that offer a wide range of farming, agricultural, and gardening supplies.
4health pet products are manufactured by Diamond Pet Food, which has manufactured other popular dog food brands in the past. There have been a few recalled (discussed below) items, but the company has otherwise been in good standing.
Which Types of Dogs is 4health Original Puppy Formula Dog Food Best Suited For?
4health Puppy Dog Food is a dog food that’s specifically formulated for puppies’ dietary needs as they grow. Although it’s not the highest-quality dog food available, it’s a good option if you have a Tractor Supply Co. store nearby. 4health Puppy Food is doesn’t contain soy, wheat, or corn, so it’s not stuffed with fillers to lower the cost. Most dogs seem to enjoy this brand’s flavors, which can be good if your new puppy is picky about food.
Which Types of Dogs Might Do Better with a Different Brand?
If your puppy has itchy skin or suffering from yeast infections, 4heart Puppy Food may not work for you. 4Heart usually has multiple protein sources that can cause dry, itchy skin due to food allergies. We recommend sticking to recipes with one animal protein source to limit any allergic reactions as much as possible, like Nutro Wholesome Essentials Puppy Food. If the itching continues, contact your veterinarian to ensure your puppy is not suffering from a more serious condition.
Recall History
4health and Diamond Pet Foods has been recalled a few times, with two cases being voluntary recalls.
- 2012: Diamond Pet Foods manufacturer recalled several cat products due to low levels of B12, which is a necessity for the health and wellbeing of cats.
- 2013: Diamond Pets recalled all batches of food from a specific factory in South Carolina due to possible salmonella contamination.
- 2019: The FDA added 4health to a long list of “grain-free” foods that have been linked to heart disease in cats and dogs
A Quick Look at 4health Pet Food
- Made and manufactured in the USA
- Above-average quality at an affordable price
- Offers a wide range of pet food recipes
- Only available at Tractor Supply Co. website and locations
- Has been recalled twice voluntarily
Discussion of the Primary Ingredients
Chicken
The two Puppy formulas by 4health Dog Food have whole chicken as the first ingredient. It’s important that real meat is one of the top 3 ingredients, but keep in mind that all ingredients are listed by weight. This means the heavier it is, the higher on the list it goes. While this sounds great, the weighing is the tricky part.
Whole meats, chicken included, are always weighed before cooking and processing. The problem with this is that most whole meats are made up of 70-80% water, which will evaporate while it cooks. Just keep this in mind when looking at ingredients, as the “whole meat” ingredient may not be the main source of protein.
Important Tip: It’s still important to have whole meat as one of the first 3 ingredients instead of filler ingredients like corn or soy. Avoid foods that have these fillers as the first five ingredients as they’re used to cut costs and save money, while also giving your dog subpar nutrition.
Chicken Meal
4health Dog Foods all contain chicken meal, which sounds like an ingredient that should be avoided. While it may sound potentially unhealthy, chicken meal is actually a protein-rich ingredient. Chicken meal is simply flesh, skin, and sometimes bone that’s processed and made into one ingredient, leaving out the less than savory parts like the heads, feathers, and feet.
Chicken meal, as well as other protein meals, is sometimes considered to be better than whole meat ingredients. This is because it doesn’t lose nearly as much substance when being process compared to whole chicken.
Important Tip: Chicken meal should not be confused with chicken-byproduct, which should be avoided as much as possible in any dog food or treat. Unlike meals, byproducts contain all of the extra parts of the chicken that have little to no nutritional value.
Potatoes
Both 4health Puppy Food recipes contain potatoes or sweet potatoes, which can be healthy and safe for dogs to eat. Sweet potatoes are not only packed with antioxidants and nutrients, but they’re also a great source of carbohydrates. Potatoes are also found in many other dog food brands, so it’s not a rare type of ingredient.
However, there has been an increase in allergic reactions and yeast infections that seem linked to potatoes, especially sweet potatoes. Because they’re carbohydrates, your dog’s body eventually turns it into sugar. This can cause your dog to get chronic yeast infections, itchy skin, and other painful reactions.
Important Tip: If your dog has multiple allergies, stick to foods with only one protein and brown rice as the main carbohydrate source. This will lower the chances of your dog having any reactions.
Peas
Peas are also found in most 4health Dog Food recipes, and it’s no secret why. Peas are a powerhouse of nutrients, packed with protein and carbohydrates. They’re low in cost, too, so they’re found in most brands as well.
Recently, peas have been linked to some heart and skin conditions, so keep this in mind when shopping. The jury is still out in reference to peas, so it’s not something to actively avoid unless your dog starts showing signs of illness or discomfort.
Important Tip: Talk to your veterinarian before changing your dog’s diet. If your dog shows any abnormal signs right after starting a new food, call your vet or your local animal hospital immediately.
Review of Our Favorite 4health Original Puppy Dog Food Recipe
4health Original Puppy Formula Dog Food is a puppy dry kibble at an affordable price. It uses real meat and vegetables, as well as natural ingredients to give your puppy all the nutrition it needs to grow.
The kibble is on the smaller side so your puppy won’t struggle to eat it. It’s crunchy and textured to help keep your puppy’s mouth clean. This kibble seems to be popular in taste with dogs, so it may work if your puppy tends to refuse food. However, it does contain peas and sweet potatoes, which are both considered slightly controversial in recent studies
4health Original Puppy Formula Dog Food is a decent food with quality ingredients. If you’re looking for a dog food that’s mid-range in price, it can be an option for you. For puppies that are showing signs of allergies, we recommend consulting your veterinarian for advice.
Calorie Breakdown:
Guaranteed Analysis:
| Crude Protein: | 27% |
| Crude Fat: | 15% |
| Moisture: | 10% |
| Fibre | 4.5% |
| Omega 6 Fatty Acids: | 2.2% |
Calories per cup:
- Premium brand that isn’t too expensive
- Real meat and vegetable ingredients
- Crunchy kibble with great flavor
What Other Users Are Saying
4health Original Puppy Formula Dog Food is a pretty popular choice for dog owners, often being compared to brands that have been around for much longer. Here are some things that others are saying about 4health Dog Food:
- HerePup – “It is an energy-dense dry dog food that will help keep your active dog in ideal lean body condition.”
- Dog Food Guru – “…each 4Health dog food formula provides the right balance of nutrients to the type of dog it’s designed for.”
- Tractor Supply Co. – As pet owners, we always double-check with Amazon reviews from buyers before we buy something. You can read these by clicking here.
Conclusion
Overall, 4health Original Puppy Formula Dog Food is a decent dog food brand when looking at price and quality. It may not be available except for Tractor Supply Co. stores and their website, but it may be worth checking it out. We are pleasantly surprised by this dog food, especially with its status as a private label brand. Try 4healthy Puppy Food today if you’re in the market for affordable, premium-quality puppy food.
Featured Image Credit: 4health, Tractor Supply Company
