Holistic Select Grain Free is a kibble line of 10 recipes. None contain grain, and every one lists peas or lentils, with chickpeas also common among the first ingredients. Most recipes lead with a named meat or fish meal. Chicken is the most common animal protein, appearing in 6 recipes, followed by fish in 4 and pork in 3.
Protein runs from 26% to 35% as fed, fat from 12% to 18%, and estimated starch from 27.5% to 39.5%. The line averages 30.3% protein, 33.9% starch and 422 kcal per cup, against a kibble catalog average of 26.9% protein, 37.4% starch and 395 kcal per cup. The small and mini breed recipes sit at the high protein, low starch end; the senior and adult large breed recipes sit at the other.
Legumes are in every recipe and potato appears in several, so owners avoiding those have no option here. Several recipes are marked discontinued. The ones not marked that way are Senior Health Chicken Meal & Lentils, Deboned Turkey & Lentils, Duck Meal, and Salmon Anchovy & Sardine Meal.
| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grain-Free Small & Mini Breed Puppy Health | 35% | 17% | 27.5% | 481 | Anchovy and Sardine Meal, Chicken Meal, Chickpeas |
| Adult Health Small & Mini Breed Grain-Free | 35% | 16% | 28.5% | 481 | Anchovy and Sardine Meal, Chicken Meal, Peas |
| Puppy Health Grain-Free Anchovy, Sardine & Chicken Meal Recipe | 32% | 18% | 29% | 450 | Anchovy and Sardine Meal, Chicken Meal, Chickpeas |
| Adult Health Grain-Free Deboned Turkey & Lentils Recipe | 32% | 13% | 33.5% | 376 | Deboned turkey, turkey meal (source of glucosamine), peas |
| Adult Health Grain-Free Rabbit & Lamb Meals Recipe | 31% | 13% | 34% | 351 | Rabbit Meal, Lamb Meal, Chickpeas |
| Adult Health Grain-Free Duck Meal Recipe | 29% | 13% | 37% | 441 | Duck Meal (source of Glucosamine), Chickpeas, Peas |
| Adult & Puppy Health Grain-Free Salmon Anchovy & Sardine Meal Recipe | 29% | 14% | 36% | 448 | Salmon, Potatoes, Peas |
| Senior Health Grain-Free Chicken Meal & Lentils Recipe | 27% | 12% | 39.5% | 417 | Chicken Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate), Chickpeas, Peas |
| Puppy Large & Giant Breed Grain-Free | 27% | 16% | 35% | 388 | Lamb Meal, Chicken Meal, Potatoes |
| Adult Large & Giant Breed Grain-Free | 26% | 14% | 38.5% | 388 | Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Lentils |
| Line average | 30.3% | 14.6% | 33.9% | 422 |
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.
35% protein · 17% fat · 27.5% starch · 481 kcal/cup · Puppy
Made for small and mini breed puppies, this recipe has the least estimated starch in the line at 27.5% and ties for the most protein at 35%. At 481 kcal per cup, it suits small puppies eating small portions, though it is marked discontinued.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of Grain-Free Small & Mini Breed Puppy Health35% protein · 16% fat · 28.5% starch · 481 kcal/cup · Adult
The adult small and mini breed recipe pairs 35% protein with 28.5% estimated starch and contains potato, which the small breed puppy version does not. It suits owners of small adult dogs wanting high protein at 481 kcal per cup, though it is marked discontinued.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of Adult Health Small & Mini Breed Grain-Free32% protein · 18% fat · 29% starch · 450 kcal/cup · Puppy
This puppy recipe has the most fat in the line at 18% and the highest calories per kg at 4022, with anchovy and sardine meal ahead of chicken meal. It suits owners wanting a calorie dense, fish led puppy kibble, though it is marked discontinued.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of Puppy Health Grain-Free Anchovy, Sardine & Chicken Meal Recipe32% protein · 13% fat · 33.5% starch · 376 kcal/cup · Adult
The only recipe in the line with turkey, it starts with deboned turkey and turkey meal and lists 32% protein with 13% fat. At 376 kcal per cup, it suits owners of adult dogs who want a poultry option other than chicken.
Full review of Adult Health Grain-Free Deboned Turkey & Lentils Recipe31% protein · 13% fat · 34% starch · 351 kcal/cup · Adult
Rabbit meal and lamb meal lead this adult recipe, the only one in the line with rabbit, and it has the fewest calories in the line at 351 kcal per cup. With 31% protein and 6% fiber, it suits owners wanting a poultry free kibble, though it is marked discontinued.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of Adult Health Grain-Free Rabbit & Lamb Meals Recipe29% protein · 13% fat · 37% starch · 441 kcal/cup · Adult
Duck is the only animal protein listed in this adult recipe, which carries 29% protein and 37% estimated starch at 441 kcal per cup. It suits owners seeking a duck based kibble, though chicken fat appears among its first five ingredients.
Full review of Adult Health Grain-Free Duck Meal Recipe29% protein · 14% fat · 36% starch · 448 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
The only recipe in the line labeled for all life stages, it uses fish alone, led by salmon and menhaden fish meal, with potatoes listed twice among the first five ingredients. At 29% protein and 36% estimated starch, it suits households feeding puppies and adults one food.
Full review of Adult & Puppy Health Grain-Free Salmon Anchovy & Sardine Meal Recipe27% protein · 12% fat · 39.5% starch · 417 kcal/cup · Senior
Sold for senior dogs, this chicken-only recipe has the least fat in the line at 12% and the most estimated starch at 39.5%, with chickpeas, peas, lentils and potatoes following chicken meal. It suits owners of older dogs who want a lower fat kibble.
Full review of Senior Health Grain-Free Chicken Meal & Lentils Recipe27% protein · 16% fat · 35% starch · 388 kcal/cup · Puppy
Made for large and giant breed puppies, this recipe leads with lamb meal and chicken meal, then potatoes, and lists 27% protein and 16% fat at 388 kcal per cup. It suits owners of big puppies wanting a lamb led kibble, though it is marked discontinued.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of Puppy Large & Giant Breed Grain-Free26% protein · 14% fat · 38.5% starch · 388 kcal/cup · Adult
Made for large and giant breed adults, this recipe has the least protein in the line at 26% and 38.5% estimated starch, with chicken meal followed by potatoes, lentils and peas. It suits owners of big adult dogs, though it is marked discontinued.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of Adult Large & Giant Breed Grain-FreeYes. None of the 10 recipes contain grain. All 10 contain peas or lentils, and several, such as Senior Health Chicken Meal & Lentils and Adult & Puppy Health Salmon Anchovy & Sardine Meal, also contain potato.
Grain-Free Small & Mini Breed Puppy Health and Adult Health Small & Mini Breed Grain-Free tie at 35% protein as fed. Adult Large & Giant Breed Grain-Free has the least at 26%.
Yes. Duck Meal lists only duck as its animal protein, Rabbit & Lamb Meals lists rabbit and lamb, and Deboned Turkey & Lentils lists turkey and pork. The Duck Meal recipe does include chicken fat among its first ingredients.
Protein runs higher than the average kibble we review (33.7% vs 30.1% on a dry matter basis).
Starch is lower than average, at 34% of the food as fed.
100% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).
100% 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
Holistic Select Grain-Free Small & Mini Breed Puppy Health Dry Dog Food
38.9% dry matter
LEAST STARCH
Holistic Select Adult Health Small & Mini Breed Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
29% as fed
FEWEST CALORIES
Holistic Select Adult Health Grain-Free Rabbit & Lamb Meals Recipe Dry Dog Food
351 kcal per cup
Our log holds FDA dog food recall notices from 2012 on, so this is not a guarantee that Holistic Select has never had one. See the recall log
We keep reviews of discontinued recipes online, each with suggested replacements, because bags stay on shelves and in pantries for months.
Ten everyday foods. Safe, In Moderation or Never. No googling, no second guesses. Then share your score with your friends, however embarrassing it turns out to be.
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Keys: 1 Safe 2 Moderation 3 Never Enter Next
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