ALPO Dog Food Review

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About Alpo Dog Food

Alpo has been in the dog food industry for almost 80 years, and is almost synonymous with low quality dog food. The company also revolutionized the pet food marketing industry, bringing in the likes of Lorne Greene and Ed McMahon, among others, to help promote their food on television commercials across the country.

Among its most successful marketing campaigns is the claim that Alpo is targeted at the owners of “real dogs”, as opposed to the owners of pampered pets. Today, their campaign is a variation of that, claiming that they have what dogs really want, and that they aren’t fettered by dog foods that are based on the latest human trend diets. According to their website, “Dogs have, and always will, love meat — tender, mouthwatering meat. Unfortunately, this simple truth tends to get lost in the shuffle as brands today try to incorporate the latest human ‘diets’ into their dog food products. But ALPO isn’t fooled by these over-complicated, flash-in-the-pan trends”.

Alpo dog food is simple and packed full of vitamins and minerals. They have adult dog food ranges such as their Alpo Prime Cuts dry dog food, and they cater for puppies too. Whatever your dog needs, you can count on Alpo to provide it.

Today, the brand is owned and operated by a subsidiary of the international giant Nestlé, and provides a number of food options, from wet and dry foods as well as treats, for customers to feed their four legged friends.

Alpo Dog Food Reviews

Alpo was found in 1936, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, by Robert F. Hunsicker, and has subsequently been bought and sold several times over the years. The company was initially purchased in 1964 by the Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company, who sold the brand 16 years later, to Grand Metropolitan. Finally, Alpo was purchased by their current owner, Nestlé, in 1995.

After Nestlé’s 2001 purchase of Purina, Alpo, and Nestlé’s other pet food brand Friskies were merged together to form the Nestlé Purina Petcare Company. Today, it currently remains as part of the Nestlé Purina Petcare Company, occupying a niche where it is marketed primarily to buyers on a budget.

Apollo Dog Food Reviews of Ingredients

Much as one might expect, Alpo food is of a pretty low quality. The food is also chock full of artificial coloring and additives, so if you are of the health-conscious variety, it might be best to avoid this brand unless you are particularly low on cash and need something in a pinch. Think of it, in a way, like the McDonald’s of the dog food world. It is cheap, your pet might like it, but it is definitely not good for them in the long run.

Let’s take a look at specific dog food from Alpo to show the kind of ingredients this dog food contains.

Apollo Dog Food Full Ingredients And Analysis

Here’s the ingredients found in Alpo’s “Come and Get It” dog food. One thing of note just looking at the kibble pieces on the bag is there are clearly artificial dyes used, as the kibbles include red, green, yellow, and brown pieces.

Alpo clearly states that their dog food is  “formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance of adult dogs.” Although their ingredients are clearly stated on the packet, it is incredibly hard to find where those ingredients were sourced. This unfortunately brings them down a level in comparison to other dog food manufacturers on the market.

One of the biggest red flags that a dog food can have is the first few ingredients being corn products. Remember that Alpo must list the ingredients in order of what is most heavily used. Looking at “Come and Get It”, there are two corn ingredients listed before we get to anything that could be considered a protein source! This is indicative of a cheaply made dog food.

Other issues I see are “egg and chicken flavor“, animal digest is very non-descript in terms of what parts of what animals are being used, and salt being in the top 10 ingredients isn’t ideal either.

There are 4 different food dyes found in this dog food which is something you want to avoid. Recently there has been growing pressure in the US to ban controversial food dyes that are linked to a slew of health issues in lab mice and humans. The Center for Science in the Public Interest published a report about legal, risky food dyes that flagged all 4 of the food dyes used in this dog food as potentially dangerous and requiring more study.

Looking at the nutrient breakdown below, this food is on the lower side of protein compared to most other dog food brands. This seems to be due to the high corn content which primarily contributes carbohydrates.

Alpo dog foods cost about $.50/lb which is incredibly cheap. Most dog foods with quality ingredients cost around $2.50/lb. It’s clear the heavy use of corn results in a cheaper price.

Here is An Explanation of Some of Their Ingredients

Dog food ingredients are notoriously hard to understand. Let’s face it, some of us don’t even check the ingredient list for our own food, let alone for our pups. The lack of knowledge and understanding surrounding the ingredients that go into our dogs’ food has made dog owners all over the world panic and rush to buying human-grade dog food for our furry friends. 

Is human-grade food really necessary? Maybe if we take the time out to learn the ingredients used to make dog food, we wouldn’t be so worried. Below is a breakdown of some of the most interesting and confusing ingredients commonly found in dog food. 

1.Soybean Meal 

There are many benefits to adding soybean meal to pet food, both for your pet and for the manufacturers. Soybean meal bulks up dog food quite a lot and adds volume to the dog food full of nutrition for your dog. 

Soybean meals are packed with good amino acids and are very high in protein. This ingredient is very cheap, keeping the manufacturing cost down and keeping the RRP low too. 

Although soybean meal is a popular ingredient in pet food, it is often found in meat-free dog foods or pet food for animals with allergies. The fact that it is added to Alpo dog food that is not meat-free is great!

2. Bone Meal

It is important to note that you should never add a shop-bought bone meal to your pet food. The only bone meal that has been added by the manufacturer is suitable for your pet to consume. The amount of bone meal that is added to your pet food is precise and appropriate for your furry friend, and it is a brilliant supplement. 

3. Meat Meal 

Meat meal and whole meat are very different things. Meat meal is processed at a high heat and turned into a powder that is then used to make dry dog food. The meat used to make meat meal is almost always factory off-cuts that are not suitable for human consumption. 

As unappealing as meat meal sounds, it is perfectly safe for your furry friend and is nothing to worry about, even if it is one of the first ingredients on the list. Animal by-products such as bones and beaks are not used to make meat meals.

4. Corn Gluten Meal 

Corn gluten meal is a bit of a controversial ingredient. Feeding your pet food containing corn gluten meal over a long time can cause them to develop severe allergies. Issues such as GI and skin problems are very common in pets that eat food containing corn gluten meal. 

5. Zinc Sulfate 

Zinc Sulfate may sound like an undesirable chemical ingredient, but it is in fact, an incredibly important ingredient in dog food. Zinc sulfate only has a positive impact on your dog’s health. It helps your dogs coat and skin shine; it boosts their immune system and is an important component in helping them digest their food. 

Dry Dog Food Product Line

Alpo makes a variety of products, producing both wet and dry food, as well as treats for pets to enjoy. While they do make a large number of treats, as well as a number of dedicated wet foods such as Chop House, but for this article we are only going to focus on their dry food, since this what make up the most important and largest parts of a dog’s diet. The company also produces the Meal Helpers line, which is a softer topping meant to appeal to picky dogs, and can be added to complement the dry foods during serving time.

See Related Topic: Royal Canin Dog Food Reviews

Prime Cuts

Prime Cuts is the new standard Alpo line, which the company claims is packed with “high-quality protein and 23 vitamins and minerals — including calcium to help support strong bones and linoleic acid to help support healthy skin and coat” as per their website.

Prime Cuts also has a wet food version to offer some variety to our dogs, and is typically among the lowest priced options in any pet store when it comes to dog foods.

Come and Get It

Cone and Get It is the second line of dry foods produced by Alpo, which also has the same vitamins and minerals described above. The difference between this one and the previous entry, however is primarily in the flavors, as well as the fact that this one seems to have a bit more vegetables in it that the standard Prime Cuts line.

Alpo Dog Food Recall History 

Most dog foods have been recalled at least once in their history, and Alpo is one of them. Alpo had all of its stocks of Prime Cuts dog food taken off the shelves back in March of 2007 due to potential melamine contamination. This is the only time we are aware Alpo was recalled, which is very reassuring, especially considering it was more than 13 years ago. 

Alpo Dog Food Customer Reviews 

Here is a little bit about what Alpo customers think of their dog food:

The Good:

Dog wonders with dogs that are of various sizes and breeds can buy all of their dog food from one manufacturer. No more running around looking for a dog food that is appropriate for each of your pups; now, you can buy everything from one manufacturer. 

The Bad:

Many dog owners report their dogs suffering from constipation after just a day or two on Alpo dog food. Constipation can cause your dog to shake and act very strangely, which is very concerning for dog owners. 

Bloody stools and diarrhea are also common side effects of eating Alpo dog food. This usually happens if there is an underlying allergy to one of the ingredients.  

Where to Buy

Alpo, being a product marketed primarily towards budget shoppers, is not very often found in dedicated specialty shops or pet food retailers. Several bigger stores, however, such as Petco or Tractor Supply might carry the brand, but not every store does so check ahead before if you are planning on buying.

Alpo, however, is commonly available on most grocery store shelves and is readily available online through websites such as Amazon and others that cater to the supermarket shopper, such as Walmart.com and Target.com, among others. It can also be ordered directly from the company website itself.

If Alpo doesn’t sound like the right dog food for your furry friend, why don’t you try NomNomNow? They have lots of tasty treats and meals to suit all of your dog’s needs.