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PET TAO CANNED DOG FOOD Review

Average Score

6.7
4 color scale

Food scores are based on ingredient quality and safety. For more information, view our  evaluation criteria.

Pet Tao Solution Chill Canned Dog Food

With an average score of 6.7, Pet Tao’s canned dog food line is considered moderate risk. The foods are formulated based on Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) theories of food energetics, with blood-building (Zing), cooling (Chill) and balancing (Harmony) recipes. 

This line is formulated for supplemental or intermittent feeding only. For each formula, the manufacturer suggests some possible therapeutic benefits of each food. The FDA doesn’t allow therapeutic claims except in prescription dog foods sold by veterinarians, when the consumer would receive veterinary guidance on the use of the food. While Pet Tao foods were formulated by two qualified TCVM veterinarians, no prescription or veterinary authorization is required to buy the foods.  

The line loses points for nearly 24% carbohydrate on average, as calculated on a dry matter basis. This is considered a moderate amount of starch for a canned food.. Large amounts of starch can increase insulin levels, cause obesity and negatively impact gut balance. It would be nice to see a smaller amount of carbohydrate in a canned food.

When it comes to ingredient quality, this line is penalized for 5 added minerals. Five or more added minerals indicate a lower quality food that’s lacking naturally occurring minerals from whole food sources. 

Two recipes include seed oil such as sesame oil. These fats are highly processed or inflammatory because they’re high in omega-6 fatty acids, which can cause systemic and gut inflammation. 

On the ingredient safety side, Pet Tao’s canned dog foods lose points for being highly processed. Canned foods are geated before and after canning, which will cause significant losses in some nutrients. 

Another safety concern is the inclusion of known high pesticide/herbicide foods such as barley, spinach, celery and peppers. These chemicals pose a significant health risk to plants animals and soils. They’re further penalized when they’re in the top 5 ingredients, as they are in the Zing recipe. 

Some Pet Tao canned recipes also contain potato, which is known to be a genetically modified (GMO) crop. There are limited safety studies on genetically modified and Roundup Ready crops, and they lack nutrients compared to non-GMO foods. Again, GMO ingredients are further penalized when they’re in the top 5 ingredients as they are in the Beef Harmony recipe. 

Other concerns are that it’s not stated whether fish ingredients (like catfish or sardines) are farmed or wild caught. Wild caught fish is more nutritious and has a better fatty acid balance. And the food does not provide the omega-6:omega-3 ratio, which is a concern since AAFCO allows a very inflammatory ratio of 30:1. 

Pet Tao Canned Benefits

Pet Tao Canned Concerns

View All Pet Tao Canned Dog Foods

Pet Tao Solution Chill Canned Dog Food
Canned
Pet Tao Solution Chill Canned Dog Food
Pet Tao Harmony Limited Ingredient Canned Dog Food
Canned
Pet Tao Harmony Limited Ingredient Canned Dog Food
Pet Tao Solution Zing Canned Dog Food
Canned
Pet Tao Solution Zing Canned Dog Food
Pet Tao Harmony Beef Canned Dog Food
Canned
Pet Tao Harmony Beef Canned Dog Food

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