Tractor Supply's 4Health feed is labeled as superior qualityDog FoodIt's meant to compete with premium groceries but at a price more comparable to supermarket brands.
But this dog food really delivershealthy and quality ingredientswith food your dog will love while saving you money?
EUIn our detailed dog food reviews below, we'll tell you how the dog food brand 4Health performs and whether it's worth making an extra trip to this specialist shop to save a little money.
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4flavors and healthy dog food lines
Currently, 4Health offers five lines of dog food, most of which include dry and canned dog food. Each has a slightly different focus and price point.
4Health-Originallinie
The original line of the brand presents recipes with meat without filling. These recipes are not grain-free and contain various mixtures of grains, legumes, and other starches. Each flavor has an average amount of protein and fat compared to other types of dog food.
This line includes age and size specific formulas and weight management recipes.
Available flavors and types:
- Salmon and potato formula
- Chicken and Rice Formula
- Lamb Rice Formula
- Formula for large breeds
- Formula for puppies
- Meat and rice formula
- small bite formula
- Adult formula
- healthy weight formula
4 Free Line of Healthy Grains
These grain-free recipes are qualitatively similar to the original line, but instead of barley, rice and oats they contain starches such as legumes and potatoes. Meat is also the first ingredient in all of these dog food recipes.
This line of foods has size and stage specific formulas and all have an average amount of protein and fat.
Available Flavors and Food Types:
- Meat and potato formula
- Chicken and Vegetable Formula
- White fish and potato formula
- Duck and Potato Formula
- big breeding
- puppy
- Formula for small breeds
4Health Special Care Dog food line
The Special Care dog food line includes canned and dry food as well as treats especially for dogs with special digestive problems. These recipes aren't meat first, instead focusing on easily digestible, hydrolyzed, low-allergen ingredients.
This dog food is lower in protein and fat than other lines and has fewer recipe options available.
Available flavors and types:
- Formula for sensitive skin
- Formula for sensitive stomachs
- Weight control formula
4Health Untamed dog food line
The Untamed line features new protein foods and recipes with more limited ingredients. These are all meat and grain free recipes. This line is also more limited in terms of options and special flavors.
These foods are slightly higher in protein than the original line, but also use plant-based ingredients with a higher protein content.
Available Flavors and Food Types:
- Wild River Lentil and Trout Recipe
- Red Canyon Buffalo Lentil Formula Rezept
- Open Highland Recipe Lamb and Lentil Formula
- Southern Bayou Recipe Lentil and boar formula
The 4Health brand has two lines that mimic ancestral dog food, the Untamed and Strive lines. Both contain meat-based recipes with grain-free or grain-limited ingredients.
4 health effort line
The Effort line was specially developed for moving and active working dogs. These recipes are primarily meat and get at least 87% of their protein from these meat sources rather than legumes and other plant-based sources.
This is the brand's newest line and is currently limited to just two dry food recipes. Both contain higher than average protein and fat levels to nourish active dogs.
Flavors and types of dry dog food available:
- push you 90
- strive 87
4Healthy Dog Food Ingredients Review
For our ingredient overview, we've selected one of their most popular recipes, the original salmon and potato croquette.
Ingredient list:
Salmon
Fresh salmon is a source of high-quality protein, healthy fats and valuable nutrients for dogs. This is an especially good protein for dogs that suffer from food allergies and skin problems.
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Fishmeal is a nutrient-dense, low-water source of processed protein that provides plenty of macro- and micronutrients. Because the specific species of fish included in this meal are not named, it is considered to be meat of slightly lower quality than those that include specific species names.
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Starches like potatoes are used to bind dry fodder during processing. They provide some protein and energy in the form of carbohydrates, but the nutrients they provide are not as biologically available to dogs as low-starch ingredients.
Peas
Peas are a well-tolerated starch that also provides a large portion of protein. However, this protein is less bioavailable than meat protein.
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Barley is another well-tolerated plant ingredient. Unlike other grains, this one is not typically associated with allergies and is easily digested. Provides some nutrients and fiber.
pea flour
Like whole peas, pea flour provides a lot of protein, but in a form that the dog's body can't utilize as well as animal protein. This legume flour is pre-processed, making the nutrients more accessible than the whole form.
egg product
The egg product includes all shell-free egg ingredients such as albumen and yolk, as well as eggs from hatcheries where the chick did not hatch. The quality of this ingredient can vary widely depending on the source. In general, however, eggs provide high levels of protein and other bioavailable nutrients.
rapeseed oil
Fats are important to keep the dog's metabolism going. However, vegetable fats such as rapeseed oil have a significantly lower biological value for dogs than fats from fish and other animals.
The remaining food ingredients consist largely of added synthetic vitamins and minerals, with a few notable exceptions.
This food recipe, like many other 4Health recipes, contains dried seaweed, carrots, apples, spinach and cranberries. These whole grain superfoods are nutrient dense and packed with valuable vitamins and minerals to complement the less bioavailable synthetic nutrient supplements.
Dogs were built to get food from meat, bones, and organs. Your short digestive tract struggles to extract vitamins and minerals from plants, and you can't utilize plant proteins as well as animal proteins.
Like other recipes from this brand, this one contains multiple fermentation products that act as a source of live probiotics. These important microorganisms help regulate digestion and improve immune function.
In general, this recipe contains two animal-grade ingredients listed first. It also uses high-quality plant-based ingredients and several nutrient-dense whole foods and a long list of probiotics.
4Healthy protein content
The salmon and potato nutritional formula contains 25% protein according to guaranteed analysis. Although this amount is average compared to most dog foods, we should consider using peas and pea flour. These two protein-rich plant ingredients should contribute some of that total protein amount, but with fewer digestible proteins than meat proteins.
Because of this, we would rate this particular recipe at an average or below average protein level. It would still be a suitable food to feed the average pet, but we do not recommend it for dogs where it is involveddog sportthe whyworking canines.
However, some of this brand's other lines contain higher protein recipes, most notably the Strive line. High in meat and protein, these recipes are more than suitable for performance dogs and those struggling to maintain their weight.
4 Healthy fat content
At 14% fat based on the Guaranteed Analysis, this particular food recipe is average. Much of the fat comes from fish ingredients, which are high in omega fatty acids. However, using canola oil as a source of full fat is less desirable.
>>>Does your dog need to lose a few pounds? Here are our tips for thatbest diet dog food.
Still, this recipe has just the right amount of fat and fatty acids for the average dog.
All of this brand's lines are medium fat, with the exception of the Effort line, which has a high fat content of 20% in both flavors.
Dog food with a high content of high-quality fats supports the health of your dog's coat and skin. Fats are also important for brain development and organ health.
Benefits of the 4Health Diet
The vast majority of this food brand's foods contain recipes featuring meat without cheap fillers. While they contain some less desirable plant-based ingredients like canola oil, bean meal, and potatoes, the overall ingredients are higher quality and more nutritious than regular dog food.
The number of food line options and flavor options within the 4Health lines is also something worth celebrating. There are multiple proteins to choose from, along with specific dog diets for weight management, sensitivity and performance meaning most owners will find a food from this brand to suit their dogs.
Having multiple flavors and types of food from the same company also makes food rotation easier, which can help keep your dog from getting bored at dinner.
Here are some additional benefits of this food brand:
- Above average protein content
- Low or above average fat content
- Use named animal ingredients
- No fillers or red flag ingredients are used.
- Grain-free and legume-free varieties available
- Accessible
Opposites from 4Health dog food
Overall, there's a lot to love about this food brand. However, there are some specific meal recipes that stand out for having less than desirable ingredients.
Many of the wildline foods contain large amounts of legumes. These protein-rich plant-based ingredients allow manufacturers to economize on high-quality meat proteins while promoting high-protein foods. Because these plant proteins contain varying amounts of different amino acids, they don't offer the same nutritional quality as meat-rich foods.
Choosing the wrong food for your dog can lead to digestive upset, itchy skin and behavioral problems. It can also lead to higher vet bills and premature aging down the road. Choosing a quality diet may cost a little more now, but it's worth it in the long run.
The specialty line also uses many of those high-protein, plant-based ingredients and doesn't use recipes that prioritize meat. This can cause problems in some dogs, especially those with certain amino acid deficiencies and health issues. Although these diets offer very specific nutrition for dogs with allergies and other digestive issues, they would only be worthwhile if high quality diets with limited ingredients were used orhomemade dietsit didn't work well enough.
Here are some additional negatives of this brand:
- Some recipes contain few meat ingredients.
- Vegetable oils are used instead of animal fats.
- Some recipes contain more than desirable amounts of plant-based ingredients
- Some recipes contain below average animal protein
- Some recipes rely heavily on synthetic nutrients
4 Healthy Dog Food Price Tag
Given the overall quality of this brand's diets, we're still impressed by the price of most of these lines.
The original and grain-free lines in particular are priced low enough to compete with many supermarket brands, but contain much higher quality ingredients.
Some of the lines, including the Effort, Special Care, and Indomitable lines, are priced closer to premium groceries. However, given the quality of the ingredients and the particular focus of these lines, these foods are still very cheap for what you get.
It's important to note that the price of this brand varies wildly depending on where you buy it.
You don't have to go for a fancy brand name dog food to give your dog what they need. Just look for a diet that includes key animal ingredients and one that doesn't contain fillers like corn and soy or red flag ingredients like chemical preservatives.
4 Healthy Dog Food Recall History
The brand is owned by Tractor Supply but manufactured by Diamond Pet Food, which is also responsible for all or part manufacturing of brands such as Taste of the Wild, Canidae, Chicken Soup and Diamond.
Because this food is packaged in large facilities along with many other brands and recipes, large-scale recalls are more likely to occur.
However, since it was launched in 2010, the brand has only been phased out once.
In 2012, the brand was included in Diamond Pet Food's recall of several types of dog food due to possible Salmonella contamination. Salmonella bacteria do not generally pose a threat to healthy adult dogs, but can cause illness in dogs with certain health conditions and in puppies. It is more dangerous to owners who may be handling contaminated pet food.
Which dogs can benefit from 4Health?
Because this brand offers a large number of lines and recipes, there is likely to be a food for almost every dog need.
The Original range contains enough protein and fat for the average pet, especially less active pets. This line also includes diets with slightly different macronutrient compositions specifically for puppies and large breeds.
Grain-free line is a good, less expensive line for dogs with grain sensitivities. Like the original range, this food is best suited for dogs with an average activity level due to its protein and fat content.
The special care line is made for dogsallergiesjdigestive sensitivities. It's a good choice for dogs that have not done well with other hypoallergenic foods, but it's not a good choice for dogs without special dietary needs.
>>>Does your dog suffer from unknown allergies? learn howgo on an elimination dietto find the cause of your symptoms.
For dogs with some less severe allergies or sensitivities, the Indomitable line is the best option. These limited-ingredient foods contain more animal protein than the specialty range, but the use of less common meat and plant-based ingredients means even dogs with allergies can tolerate many of the flavors.
Finally, the Strive line is perfect for performance and working dogs due to its high animal protein content. These recipes also contain extra taurine, making them a great choice for dogs at a higher risk of DCM, such as dogs with catsWork hard,golden, Ofhuge damage.
large breeds likeMastenThey are prone to many health problems stemming from a diet lacking in certain nutrients. This applies to large breed puppies and adult dogs. Be sure to work with your veterinarian to find the right food for your breed.
Which dogs should NOT be fed 4Health?
While most dogs do well with any of the 4Health lines, there are certain breeds and types of dogs that certain recipes should be avoided.
Grain-free and Indomitable lines use large amounts of legumes in their recipes. Since the FDA has found an association between higher DCM rates and legumes, dogs prone to the condition should not be fed these diets.
We also caution against using limited ingredients or a special diet for a dog that does well on regular dry food. These diets tend to be less nutrient-dense and can cause problems if fed exclusively for long periods of time. The benefits of using these foods should outweigh this risk to the dog.
The last word on 4Health dog food
In general, dog food brand 4Health has a long list of high quality diets with different approaches to meet all canine needs. Most of 4Health's dog food recipes contain primarily real meat and are packed with high-quality animal-based ingredients and nutrient-dense plant-based foods.
And all of this quality comes at a below-average price considering what you're getting.
With all these factors in mind, we recommend this food for the average owner.
Other recommended dog food products
Looking for something different? Here are some dog foods that are similar to those from 4Health but offer something different.
- Orijen brand dog food is priced higher but offers more than 14 animal-derived ingredients listed first, a rare find among dry dog foods. (See oursOrijen dog food reviews).
- Pure Balance dog food is another retail owned food that comes with a lower price point and quality ingredients. (Check out our full Pure Balance dog food reviews.)
- Wellness Ration is another food line that offers quality and nutritional value. They also have multiple food lines and recipes to choose from, so you can find exactly what you need for your dog. (See oursWellness dog food reviews).
