Advanced is an all-kibble line organized by purpose: Healthy Weight, Joint Health, Senior Health+, and five Sensitive Support recipes, plus a lamb recipe sold under the AvoDerm Limited Ingredient Diet name. Eight of the nine recipes are grain free and list peas, pea flour or garbanzo beans among the first five ingredients. The one exception is Salmon & Oatmeal, which uses oatmeal and ground white rice instead.
Protein runs from 24% to 30% as fed, fat from 8% to 16%, and estimated starch from 34% to 40%. Animal proteins include fish, turkey, chicken, lamb, duck, beef and egg, and most recipes rely on one or two. The line averages 26.7% protein and 37.3% starch, close to the kibble catalog averages of 26.9% and 37.4%. Calories average 425 kcal per cup, above the catalog average of 395.
The trade-off is limited ingredient variety. Owners avoiding legumes have one option, and owners who want grain have that same one. Calorie density also varies widely, from 350 kcal per cup in Senior Health+ to 497 in Small Breed Beef, so portion sizes do not carry over when switching recipes.
| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joint Health Grain-Free Chicken Meal Formula | 30% | 12% | 36% | 368 | Chicken Meal, Peas, Chicken Cartilage (Source of Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine) |
| Sensitive Support Grain-Free Trout & Pea Formula | 28% | 16% | 34% | 446 | Trout, Salmon Meal, Garbanzo Beans |
| Senior Health+ Grain-Free Lamb & Chicken Meal Formula | 28% | 10% | 40% | 350 | Lamb Meal, Chicken Meal, Peas |
| Healthy Weight Grain-Free Turkey Meal Formula | 27% | 8% | 39% | 385 | Turkey Meal, Peas, Tapioca Flour |
| Sensitive Support Grain-Free Small Breed Turkey Formula | 26% | 15% | 38% | 480 | Turkey, Turkey Meal, Peas |
| Sensitive Support Grain-Free Small Breed Beef Formula | 26% | 16% | 35% | 497 | Beef, Beef Meal, Garbanzo Beans |
| Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Lamb & Sweet Potato Formula | 26% | 14% | 38% | 420 | Lamb, Lamb Meal, Peas |
| Sensitive Support Grain-Free Duck Formula | 25% | 16% | 35.5% | 446 | Duck, Duck Meal, Garbanzo Beans |
| Sensitive Support Wholesome Grains Salmon & Oatmeal Formula | 24% | 14% | 40% | 437 | Salmon (Source of Omega 3), Salmon Meal, Oatmeal |
| Line average | 26.7% | 13.4% | 37.3% | 425 |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Starch is our estimate, since no bag prints it. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
30% protein · 12% fat · 36% starch · 368 kcal/cup · Adult
Joint Health is sold for joint support and has the most protein in the line at 30%, with chicken cartilage listed third as a source of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine. At 368 kcal per cup, it suits adult dogs that eat chicken and egg.
Full review of Joint Health Grain-Free Chicken Meal Formula28% protein · 16% fat · 34% starch · 446 kcal/cup · Adult
Trout and salmon meal lead this fish-only recipe, which has the least estimated starch in the line at 34%, alongside 28% protein and 16% fat. It suits adult dogs whose owners want a fish-based, grain-free kibble with less starch than its line mates.
Full review of Sensitive Support Grain-Free Trout & Pea Formula28% protein · 10% fat · 40% starch · 350 kcal/cup · Senior
Senior Health+ combines lamb meal, chicken meal and fish, and has the fewest calories in the line at 350 kcal per cup, with 10% fat. Its 40% estimated starch ties for the highest, and it suits senior dogs whose owners want fewer calories per cup.
Full review of Senior Health+ Grain-Free Lamb & Chicken Meal Formula27% protein · 8% fat · 39% starch · 385 kcal/cup · Senior
Healthy Weight is made for weight control and has the least fat in the line at 8%, with 10% fiber, the most fiber listed here. Turkey meal and egg supply the animal protein, and its senior labeling suits older dogs whose owners want a leaner kibble.
Full review of Healthy Weight Grain-Free Turkey Meal Formula26% protein · 15% fat · 38% starch · 480 kcal/cup · Adult
This small breed recipe uses turkey as its only animal protein, with turkey and turkey meal as the first two ingredients. At 480 kcal per cup and 15% fat, it suits small adult dogs eating small portions whose owners avoid chicken and fish.
Full review of Sensitive Support Grain-Free Small Breed Turkey Formula26% protein · 16% fat · 35% starch · 497 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
The only beef recipe has the most calories in the line at 497 kcal per cup, and it is the only one labeled for all life stages. Beef and beef meal lead, suiting small dogs from puppyhood on whose owners want a beef-only kibble.
Full review of Sensitive Support Grain-Free Small Breed Beef Formula26% protein · 14% fat · 38% starch · 420 kcal/kg · Adult
This lamb-only recipe carries the AvoDerm Limited Ingredient Diet name and is the only one in the group that contains potato, from sweet potato. With 26% protein and 14% fat, it suits adult dogs whose owners want lamb as the single animal protein.
Full review of Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Lamb & Sweet Potato Formula25% protein · 16% fat · 35.5% starch · 446 kcal/cup · Adult
Duck and duck meal lead the only duck recipe in the line, with no other animal protein listed. It pairs 25% protein with 16% fat and 446 kcal per cup, suiting adult dogs whose owners want a single, less common protein.
Full review of Sensitive Support Grain-Free Duck Formula24% protein · 14% fat · 40% starch · 437 kcal/cup · Adult
The only recipe with grain and the only one without peas or lentils, it leads with salmon and salmon meal, then oatmeal, ground white rice and pumpkin. At 24%, it has the least protein in the line and suits owners who prefer grain-inclusive, legume-free kibble.
Full review of Sensitive Support Wholesome Grains Salmon & Oatmeal FormulaEight of the nine recipes are grain free. The exception is Sensitive Support Wholesome Grains Salmon & Oatmeal, which contains oatmeal and ground white rice.
Joint Health Grain-Free Chicken Meal Formula has the most, at 30% protein as fed. The lowest is Sensitive Support Wholesome Grains Salmon & Oatmeal at 24%.
Eight of the nine recipes contain peas or lentils, usually peas and pea flour along with garbanzo beans. Sensitive Support Wholesome Grains Salmon & Oatmeal is the only recipe without peas or lentils.
Protein is close to the average kibble we review (29.6% on a dry matter basis).
100% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).
89% of recipes are grain-free.
this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 3,205 foods we review
Starch is our estimate from the guaranteed analysis, since no manufacturer prints it. How we work it out
Share of recipes that list each animal protein as an ingredient, not counting oils, fats or flavorings. Useful if your dog has a food sensitivity.
These are not unsafe. They are listed because readers ask about them.
MOST PROTEIN
AvoDerm Advanced Joint Health Grain-Free Chicken Meal Formula Dry Dog Food
33.3% dry matter
LEAST STARCH
AvoDerm Advanced Sensitive Support Grain-Free Trout & Pea Formula Dry Dog Food
34% as fed
FEWEST CALORIES
AvoDerm Advanced Senior Health+ Grain-Free Lamb & Chicken Meal Formula Dry Dog Food
350 kcal per cup
Natural Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Adult Dog Formula
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