Hound & Gatos DRY DOG FOOD Review

With a score of 5.8/10, Hound & Gatos Dry Food is considered a moderate risk dog food. There are 5 recipes that average 28% protein and 35% carbohydrates as calculated. 

The company states that it doesn’t use plant proteins, which is a plus, and means there’s only one added amino acid (taurine) because the recipes get sufficient amino acids from animal protein ingredients. 

However, the recipes do include a variety of grains that elevate the carbohydrate content which cost ingredient quality points. Dogs have no nutritional requirement for carbohydrates but they’re added to dog foods for energy, texture and taste. Starch is also required for extrusion in dry foods. Excessive carbohydrate is an indicator of food quality as it can be used to reduce manufacturing cost. Foods that are high in carbohydrates can raise insulin and cause obesity. Some studies also show that dogs fed a high carbohydrate content have changes to their gut bacteria. There are also starches in the top 5 ingredients where we like to see animal proteins. 

It’s good to see fruits and vegetables on the ingredient list but the recipes are supplemented with added vitamins and minerals which is usually an indicator of low quality ingredients. It’s preferred that vitamins and minerals come from whole food sources that include the full spectrum of cofactors, which makes them safe and bioavailable. While a couple of added vitamins and minerals are acceptable, five or more implies the food is of poor nutritional value. 

When it comes to ingredient safety, the score is reduced because, like all kibbles, Hound & Gatos is ultra-processed. The individual ingredients in dry dog foods are heated several times during processing, which can cause a significant loss of enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and phytonutrients. Processed foods are also linked to higher mortality rates in many species. 

These recipes contain oats, which are known to have a higher pesticide/herbicide residue which poses a significant health risk to plants, animals and soils. Foods with the largest reported amount of residue will be penalized, including crops that are known to be spray-dried with glyphosate. 

The ingredient safety score is also affected by the use of natural flavors. This is often animal digest or MSG, both low quality ingredients with limited safety studies.  

It’s also worth noting that the line contains sodium selenite as a source of selenium. Dogs need selenium, and it’s usually added in very small amounts. However some research suggests that sodium selenite may be associated with potential toxicity, so selenium yeast is the preferred form of this mineral.  

Hound & Gatos does not provide the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. This is important to know since diets rich in omega-6 fats can cause chronic inflammation and disease, and AAFCO allows a very high ratio of 30:1.