Plus Care

by 9Lives

Overall Score: 47/100

Ingredients

1. WHOLE GROUND CORN (other)
2. CORN GLUTEN MEAL (carbohydrate)
3. POULTRY BY-PRODUCT MEAL (protein)
4. WHOLE WHEAT (carbohydrate)
5. ANIMAL DIGEST (additive)
6. MEAT AND BONE MEAL (protein)
7. ANIMAL FAT (PRESERVED WITH MIXED TOCOPHEROLS) (other)
8. PHOSPHORIC ACID (other)
9. CALCIUM CARBONATE (mineral)
10. SALT (mineral)
11. POTASSIUM CHLORIDE (mineral)
12. CHOLINE CHLORIDE (vitamin)
13. TITANIUM DIOXIDE (other)
14. TETRASODIUM PYROPHOSPHATE (SOURCE OF PHOSPHORUS) (other)
15. TUNA MEAL (other)
16. VITAMINS (VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENT, NIACIN, VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENT, THIAMINE MONONITRATE RIBOFLAVIN SUPPLEMENT, D-CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE, VITAMIN B12 SUPPLEMENT, MENADIONE SODIUM BISULFITE COMPLEX (SOURCE OF VITAMIN K ACTIVITY), VITAMIN D3 SUPPLEMENT, FOLIC ACID, BIOTIN) (other)
17. TAURINE (additive)
18. L-LYSINE (other)
19. MINERALS (FERROUS SULFATE, ZINC OXIDE, MANGANOUS OXIDE, COPPER SULFATE, CALCIUM IODATE, SODIUM SELENITE) (other)
20. EGG PRODUCT (protein)
21. DL-METHIONINE (other)
22. YELLOW 5 (additive)
23. BHA (USED AS A PRESERVATIVE) (other)
24. RED 40 (additive)
25. YELLOW 6 (other)
26. LACTIC ACID (other)
27. NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR (SOURCE OF GRILLED FLAVOR) (other)
28. BLUE 1 (other)
29. ROSEMARY EXTRACT (preservative)

Ingredient concerns

• Corn Gluten Meal (medium concern): Primarily used as an inexpensive plant-based protein booster that can inflate the protein percentage on guaranteed analysis without providing the complete amino acid profile of animal proteins. Its presence in large quantities may indicate the manufacturer is supplementing with cheap protein instead of using more meat.
• Wheat (medium concern): Wheat is a common allergen in dogs and cats. While it provides digestible carbohydrates and some protein, it is frequently used as an inexpensive filler. Pets with wheat sensitivities may experience skin irritation, gastrointestinal upset, or chronic ear infections.
• Animal Digest (high concern): Animal digest does not specify the source species, making it impossible to trace or verify quality. It is essentially a palatability enhancer made from chemically or enzymatically broken-down animal tissues of unspecified origin. Pets with food allergies cannot safely consume products with generic animal digest since the protein source is unknown.
• Meat and Bone Meal (medium concern): Like meat meal, it does not specify the species source. The inclusion of bone increases the ash/mineral content and may lower overall protein digestibility. Quality varies widely between manufacturers. Generally considered a lower-quality protein source.
• Animal Fat (medium concern): Generic 'animal fat' does not identify the source species, raising the same transparency and quality control issues as generic meat meals. The species used may vary between batches, making it unsuitable for pets with specific protein allergies.
• Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (high concern): Menadione (vitamin K3) is a synthetic form of vitamin K that has been banned for use in human dietary supplements in many countries due to toxicity concerns, including potential liver damage, allergic reactions, and cytotoxicity. It can cause oxidative damage to cell membranes. Natural forms of vitamin K (K1 from plants, K2 from bacterial fermentation) are considered safer alternatives. Despite these concerns, it remains widely used in pet food as an inexpensive vitamin K source.
• Sodium Selenite (low concern): Sodium selenite is an inorganic form of selenium with a narrower safety margin than organic forms (such as selenium yeast). It has lower bioavailability and higher potential for toxicity at elevated levels compared to organic selenium sources. Some premium pet foods use selenium yeast instead as a safer alternative.
• Yellow 5 (high concern): Like Red 40, Yellow 5 provides no nutritional value and is added only for appearance. It has been associated with hypersensitivity reactions and behavioral effects in children in multiple studies. Banned or restricted in several countries. The EU requires warning labels on products containing tartrazine. No legitimate reason for its inclusion in pet food.
• BHA (high concern): Classified as a possible human carcinogen (Group 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Animal studies have shown BHA can cause forestomach tumors in rodents. While the FDA still permits its use in pet food at controlled levels, many pet food manufacturers have voluntarily removed it in favor of natural preservatives like mixed tocopherols.
• Red 40 (high concern): Provides no nutritional benefit whatsoever and is added solely for the visual appeal to human buyers, as dogs and cats have limited color vision. Multiple studies have raised concerns about behavioral effects in children, leading the EU to require warning labels on foods containing Red 40. Some animal studies have suggested potential genotoxicity, though results are debated. The FDA maintains it is safe at approved levels, but many veterinary nutritionists recommend avoiding artificial colors entirely.

Dry food, with grains, for the adult life stage.

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