Rating
Type
Hot Extruded / Dry
Grain
Grain Free for Specific Recipes
Origin
United States
Recipes
3
Is Rootlab Dry Dog Food Good?
Rootlab Dry Dog Food is a pet food line with a 3-star rating — around 31% of all the pet food we review fall in this tier.
They seem to have nutrition ratio similar to a common pet food, and contain mainly named ingredents. We think they are fine, and it might be great to give your pets some extra meaty food or treats.
What We like
- Use Organic Minerals to Improve Absorption
- No Potential Allergens like Corn, Soy, Gluten, and Dairy products
What We Concern
- More than 37% Carbs
- Include Plant Protein in Top 5 ingredients
- Numberous Controversial Ingredients
- Seems No Probiotics to Aid Digestion
- Include Ingredients that might be Related to Poor Digestion
- Contain Ingredients that might be Uncertain
「Chief of Food」Fat Hill
Recipes Rating
Recipes could have different ingredients in the same product line. We rate each recipe and list them from higest to lowest ratings.
Higher protein and lower carbs recipes are rated higher
Recipe and 1st Ingredient
Rating
Grain Free
RootLab Invasive Asian Carp & Barley
1️⃣Anchovy and Sardine Meal 🍚Carbs：45% 3
RootLab Invasive Green Crab & Egg
1️⃣Crab 🍚Carbs：45% 3
RootLab With Cricket
1️⃣Sorghum 🍚Carbs：40% 3
Tips
Recipes have similar ratings., and some of the recipes contains grains.
Recipe to review
To rate Rootlab Dry Dog Food, we will take one representative recipe to evaluate the nutrition, ingredients and meat content of this product line.
We have chosen RootLab With Cricket.
Nutrition Label
Pet food show guaranteed analysis on their labels. It includes moisture and does not reflect the level of carbs — which we prefer lower for dogs and as low as possible for cats.
From the label of RootLab With Cricket
Protein
25%
Fat
14%
Fiber
5.5%
Carbs
?%
Calculate the dry value (no moisture) on a dry matter basis will help us to estimate the carbs level and other nutrition without water — so we can get a better idea about the ratio.
(We think the ideal nutrition profile would be Protein > Fat > Carbs)
| Nutrition | Our Ideal | Dry Value | Like? |
| Protein | 30% or more | 28% | |
| Fat | 15% or more | 16% | |
| Carbs | Less than 28% | 40% | |
| Fiber | Less than 5% | 6.3% |
Ingredients Overview
40 ingredients are listed on the label. We research their quality to pet and use our best judgement to group them in the proportion of Prefer, Concerned, and Notice ingredients in the bar chart.
♨ Allergen
0 units
🌋 Indigest
4 units
⁉ Uncertain
3 units
Organic Minerals Seems to Include
Probiotics Seems Not Included
Prefer
Concerned
Notice
Neutral
Click an ingredient to see the detail
Sorghum
Carbs A type of gluten-free grain, high in carbs and with a similar level of protein as quinoa.
Neutral An acceptable filler with higher nutrition value compared to rice, corn, and wheat.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Canola Meal
Plant Protein Concentrate 🌋
A ground meal made of canola seed after oil extraction. It contains around 36% plant-based protein.
Concerned High level of plant-based protein is not easy to digest and offers less biological value. Good quality pet foods should obtain sufficient protein from animal sources.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest Unpalatable for most animals, it also contains a high content of plant-based protein which is hard for digestion.
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Dried Egg Product
Animal Protein A processed form of eggs, a less expensive option compared to whole eggs. It could mean anything from egg yolk, white, and eggshell.
Concerned A less preferable egg ingredient that is made of unspecified egg parts - which quality is concerned.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Cassava Root Flour
Carbs Known as tapioca, a starchy ingredient that is high in carbs and used as a filler in grain-free pet food.
Neutral An acceptable, inexpensive filler without gluten.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Crickets
Insect Protein Cricket is a considered a complete protein source, meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids. More research are required to make a solid conclusion about crickets for dogs/cats.
Neutral A novel insect protein with great digestibility and biological value.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Beef Fat Preserved With Mixed-tocopherols
Fat The layer of fatty acid at the top similar to the one you see while cooking a beef soup. It is one of the quality animal-based fat sources with higher omega 6s.
Prefer A high-quality animal fat with high digestibility and biological value.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Pea Protein
Plant Protein Concentrate 🌋
Extracted protein from pea in a dry process. It contains 45 - 55% protein, which will significantly boost up the overall protein content of pet foods.
Notice High level of plant-based protein is not easy to digest and offers less biological value. Good quality pet foods should obtain sufficient protein from animal sources.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest The process will concentrate the level of oligosaccharides, which is a 3 - 5 carbon short-chain sugar that is indigestible by dogs / cats. It offers much less biological value (less absorbed by the body) to pets compared to animal protein.
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Pea Starch
Carbs, Plant Protein 🌋
The starchy part of peas after protein is extracted for pea protein products. It mainly consists of carbs and around 13% plant-based protein.
Concerned A controversial filler with limited nutrition value to dogs / cats.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Dried Yeast
Plant Protein Concentrate Made from fungus and often used to make beer, a rich source of minerals such as selenium. B-complex vitamins, and chromium. It contains around 40% protein.
Concerned A controversial ingredient, some believe it can support the immune system, while others say it can be linked to allergies and bloating. However, no scientific research can provide a concrete conclusion.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Dried Beet Pulp
Carbs The leftover pulp after sugar is extracted from sugar beets, contains higher fiber and less sugar compared to whole beets.
Concerned Controversial - Some say it is a good dietary fiber source, some believe it is just an inexpensive filler.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Natural Flavor
Food Additive Made of extracts from plant or animal sources to improve the taste of food.
Concerned Contrary to its name, natural flavors are highly processed and contain many chemical additives.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Mono Phosphate
Supplement An inorganic form of phosphate, has 5 - 15% less absorption rate compared to the organic form. Phosphorus is essential for various body functions, especially critical to maintain normal metabolism.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional minerals.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Mono And Dicalcium Phosphate
Supplement 🌋⁉
A supplement for calcium and phosphorus. It is mainly used to improve the texture of pet foods. It is also found in some toothpaste as a polishing agent.
Notice A risky supplement that can cause health issues, backed by research studies.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest It does not absorb any water, almost insoluble, and becomes very hard in digesting.
⁉
Uncertain Studies show that it can cause the formulation of kidney stones.
Calcium Carbonate
Supplement An inorganic form of calcium, it is essential in the formation of bones / teeth and different cellular functions. Compare to organic form, it has 5 - 15% less absorption rate to the body.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional minerals.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Sunflower Oil
Fat The oil derived from sunflower seeds, high in either omega 6 and 9 fats, low in saturated fat and is packed with natural anti-oxidant vitamin E.
Neutral An acceptable source of fat from plants.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Potassium Chloride
Supplement An inorganic form of potassium, which offers 5 - 15% less absorption rate to the body. It is essential for important functions like nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, and carbon dioxide / oxygen transport.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional vitamins.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
L-lysine Monohydrochloride
Supplement One of the essential amino acids that dogs and cats cannot produce by themselves therefore must be obtained from the diet. Usually, pet foods with a high amount of meat and legumes do not require this supplement as they are high in lysine naturally.
Neutral A safe supplement to improve the completeness of essential amino acids profile (the building block of protein).
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Fish Oil
Fat ⁉
An oil extracted from unspecified fish, a source of animal fats.
Notice Unspecified animal products from unknown sources. Its quality is highly concerned, often seen in low quality pet foods.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain Unnamed fish products could source from sick, deadly animal bodies. It is a potential risk for severe illness.
Salt
Others Mainly added to enhance the flavor, might cause kidney and blood pressure issues in a larger dose. High-quality pet foods should get a sufficient amount from raw meat, additional salt is not necessary.
Concerned A controversial ingredient that might cause health issues, unnecessary for the risk.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Vitamin E Supplement
Supplement Supplement for vitamin E, which is an important antioxidant that protects oxidative damages on cellular membranes by free radicals. A deficiency will result in symptoms like anorexia, depression, and dermatitis.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional vitamins.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Niacin
Supplement Known as vitamin B3, essential to maintain healthy GI tracts, skin/coat, and nervous system.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional vitamins.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Vitamin A Supplement
Supplement Supplement of vitamin A, it is essential for healthy skin, normal vision, and immune function.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional vitamins.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Calcium Pantothenate
Supplement An organic form of calcium, it is essential in the formation of bones / teeth and different cellular functions. Compare to inorganic form, it has 5 - 15% more absorption rate to the body.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional minerals.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Thiamine Mononitrate
Supplement An organic form of thiamine, has 5 - 15% more absorption rate than the inorganic form. It is important for energy production and glucose metabolism.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional minerals.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Vitamin B-12 Supplement
Supplement Supplement for vitamin B12, which is vital for carbon transfer and propionate metabolism. A deficiency will result in symptoms similar to gastrointestinal disorders, such as diarrhea and weight loss.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional vitamins.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Riboflavin Supplement
Supplement A synthetic supplement for vitamin B2. which is vital for the body's metabolism and health.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional vitamins.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
Supplement A synthetical supplement of vitamin B6, which is an essential element for nearly every part of metabolism.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional vitamins.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Folic Acid
Supplement A synthetic form of folate, which is also known as vitamin B9. It plays an important role to support the body's functions, such as cell growth.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional vitamins.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex
Supplement ⁉
The synthetic form of vitamin K3, it has been banned as a supplement for humans (toxic in large doses), but still consider "OK" for use in pet foods.
Notice A risky supplement that can cause health issues, backed by research studies.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain Repeated or long-term consumption may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.
Vitamin D3 Supplement
Supplement Supplement for vitamin D3 (animal-derived), which is essential for calcium homeostasis - to maintain a constant concentration of calcium. A deficiency will result in osteopenia (lower bone mass).
Neutral A safe supplement for additional vitamins.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Biotin
Supplement A water-soluble vitamin B that is important for maintaining healthy skin, coat, and nails.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional vitamins.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Zinc Proteinate
Supplement An organic form of zinc, which is vital in skin function and wound healing, cell replication, the structure and function of biological membranes. Compare to inorganic form, it has 5 - 15% more absorption rate to the body.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional minerals.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Manganese Proteinate
Supplement An organic form of manganese that has 5 - 15% higher absorption rate than the inorganic form. It is essential for normal metabolic function with the body.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional minerals.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Ferrous Sulfate
Supplement An inorganic form of iron. It is essential for the transport and movement of oxygen around the body. Compare to organic form, it has 5 - 15% less absorption rate to the body.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional minerals.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Copper Proteinate
Supplement An organic form of copper, which is important for the production of blood cells, hair coat color pigmentation, and maintaining the nervous system. Compare to inorganic form, it has 5 - 15% more absorption rate to the body.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional minerals.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Calcium Iodate
Supplement An inorganic form of calcium, it is essential in the formation of bones / teeth and different cellular functions. Compare to organic form, it has 5 - 15% less absorption rate to the body.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional minerals.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Sodium Selenite
Food Additive An inorganic selenium supplement. It remains controversial as the long term effect of consuming it is not known, and there is a much safer organic alternative available.
Concerned A food additive that is likely to be safe but unnecessary.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Dl-methionine
Supplement Added to balance the amino acids profile of pet foods with limited amounts of meat protein. Meat / fish naturally contains methionine, which does not require extra supplements. It is sometimes used to help support urine acidification.
Concerned A safe supplement to improve the completeness of essential amino acids profile (the building block of protein). However, it could imply the lack of meat protein - usually in lower quality pet foods.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Taurine
Supplement An essential amino acid (building blocks of protein) to maintain a healthy brain and heart functions.
Prefer A safe supplement to improve the completeness of essential amino acids profile (the building block of protein).
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate
Supplement Supplement for vitamin C, which can help to prevent oxidative damages by radicals, maintain healthy skin, and boost the immune system.
Neutral A safe supplement for additional vitamins.
♨
Allergen N/A
🌋
Related to Digest N/A
⁉
Uncertain N/A
Tips
We find 9 Concerned and 4 Notice ingredients from RootLab With Cricket. Check from the above list to view the details.Concerned
- Canola Meal
- Dried Egg Product
- Pea Starch
- Dried Yeast
- Dried Beet Pulp
- Natural Flavor
- Salt
- Sodium Selenite
- Dl-methionine
Notice
- Pea Protein
- Mono And Dicalcium Phosphate
- Fish Oil
- Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex
Estimated Meat Content
Some pet food uses high plant protein ingredients to boost up the overall protein level — to make it looks like it includes a lot of meat, which is more appealing for customers.
Therefore, protein level itself cannot tell the quality and how much animal ingredients (more digestible than plants) is in the pet food.
Check if protein is overrated by plant protein boost up
Count of Plant Protein
2 / 7 (29%)
in top 7 ingredients Protein Level
28%
in dry matterBy looking at the plant protein in top ingredients and compare with the total protein level, we will try to estimate how much animal ingredients is used in the pet food as Meat Content.
Meat Content
Based on my "godly" guess, the meat content might be Low to medium !
It looks like it contains some amount of meat. Your furbabies would prefer something with more meat!
Rootlab Dry Dog Food Product Line Review
To make a conclusion about the whole product line, we will consider all recipes and their average nutrition ratio.
Recipes Average Compares to Ideal Level
In the total of 3 recipes, the group has an average of 26% protein, 16% fat and 43% carbohydrate.
（Protein and Fat: Prefer Higher丨Carbs: Prefer Lower）
- Protein is -4 (%) less than ideal
- Fat is 1 (%) higher than ideal
- Carbs is 15 (%) higher than ideal
What does it mean?
Overall,Rootlab Dry Dog Food has an carbs level higher than our preferred level.
Conclusion
Throughout the review, we have 3 major opinons about this pet food line:
- Similar nutrition ratio as a common pet food
- Clear, named animal products as main ingredient
- Low to medium level of meat content
Based on these, we can conclude Rootlab Dry Dog Food is a pet food line with a 3 star rating.
Do we recommend Rootlab Dry Dog Food ?
It is a fine pet food, and it might be great to give your pets some extra meaty food or treats.
The review is entirely our own view and opinon. It is for informational reference only and not a purchase advice.
「Chief of Food」Fat Hill
Has an unusual obsession with the taste and ingredients of food, over 5+ years experience in professional eating. As the Chief of Food, he will tell you the truth about food.
"Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish, and Stay Hungry again!"
