Holistic Select Dog Food Review

WebsiteHolistic Select
Available from:Pet Circle  

Holistic Select is one of the reasonably priced mid-range foods available in Australia. Let’s take a look at the Chicken & Rice formula…

There are four main ingredients in the food of which chicken meal is the first, but it’s likely outweighed by the three grain ingredients which follow – brown rice, white rice, and oatmeal. We can assume it’s 1 part chicken to 3 parts grain, and this ties in with the moderate 24% protein. At least the grains are decent, especially brown rice and oatmeal. If you want more meat check out Earthborn Holistic as the premium big sister.

Holistic Select Dog Food Review

There’s a wide range of ingredients in the food. We find pork meal, chicken fat, anchovy and sardine meal – all these boost the levels of quality meat and fish products as well as bringing vital nutrients and oils to the food. Menhaden fish oil is a nice inclusion, great for heart health and a healthy coat.

There’s a whole range of fruits and veggies in the food which can’t be a bad thing, as well as a decent range of vitamins and minerals.

Apart from being slightly heavy on grains this is definitely one of the better foods, and it helps that it’s easy to get hold of. Recommended.

Ingredients

Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Ground White Rice, Oatmeal, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Pork Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Anchovy & Sardine Meal, Flaxseed, Dried Egg Product, Menhaden Fish Oil, Carrots, Pumpkin, Cranberries, Tomato Pomace, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Potassium Chloride, Apples, Peas, Organic Quinoa, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Beta-Carotene, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid], Minerals [Zinc Polysaccharide Complex, Iron Polysaccharide Complex, Copper Polysaccharide Complex, Manganese Polysaccharide Complex, Sodium Selenite, Cobalt Carbonate, Potassium Iodide], Papaya, Dried Kelp, Blueberries, Pomegranate, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Inulin, Mixed Tocopherols added to preserve freshness, Yucca Schidigera Extract, DL-Methionine, Ground Cinnamon, Ground Fennel, Ground Peppermint, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus licheniformis Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus niger Fermentation Product, Lecithin, Choline Chloride, Rosemary Extract.

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7.8 Total Score
Earthborn on a Budget

PROS
  • Good choice of meat and fish ingredients, fruits, veggies, essential oils, vitamins, and minerals.
CONS
  • Grain heavy.

David D'Angelo

David D'Angelo has worked as a scientist since graduating with a BSc (Hons) in 2000. In addition, David holds a CPD accredited Diploma in Pet Nutrition as well as being CPD accredited VSA (Veterinary Support Assistant). However, his experience and involvement in the pet food industry for 15+ years has given true insight into pet food, formulations, science, research, and pet food marketing. Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | Pinterest

19 Comments
  1. Looks like some changes are going down with this food, sadly the rabbit and lamb I was going to buy once I use Blackhawk has disappeared from Petcircle and per the website it’s getting a new recipe.

    I hope they don’t ruin it, the recipe was perfect and the only reason I was going to buy it ugh.

    • Hi Pet Barn has the “Holistic Select” Rabbit & Lamb, I saw it the other day but it has chickpeas, Lentils & Peas, a bit hard to digest if dog has stomach problems, good if you have a healthy dog…I always look at Holistic Select want to get it then look at down at Patch & put it back lol..
      Pet Barn has Prime SKD Raw Crocodile bone with beautiful light pink meat, 2-3 weeks ago I showed Patch the crocodile meaty bone, now Patch always pulls me towards the fridge section where the crocodile & kangroo raw meaty bones are & the Prime SKD Rolls, have you tried the SKD Crocodile & Tapioca, or Kangaroo & Pumkin, Lamb & Rosemary they have made smaller rolls for small dogs now, Patch loved the Crocodile roll when it first came out a few years ago.. I think we are starting to have better pet food in Australia, FINALLY

      • I did try a sample roll of the lamb no one really liked it, mentioned crocodile to my mum one time she freaked out and said there’s no way in hell your giving them crocodile.

        Rusty these days doesn’t get much kibble so I don’t think that a few here and there would cause much issue, I’ve got him almost full time on the freeze dried and air dried in hopes of slowing the murmur down.

        The new recipe will be listed on their revamped website in September they wrote on Facebook, I guess if I don’t like it I could visit Petbarn and buy the old formulation while it still exists.
        I have a feeling the new formulas might be full of tapioca and what not, I’ve given Rusty a few of Angels kibbles with tapioca and nothing happened, I don’t think it was the ingredients themselves in the food that made him sick but rather the disastrous fibre content.

        Ivory Coat Venison is up next on the kibble rotation table after Holistic and I really wish that Frontier got a kangaroo formula, Angels really taken a liking to kangaroo and Rusty well he likes everything but I don’t doubt he’d like it too, specially since he already gets chicken as a base.

        • Hi I’d stick with just feeding air & freezed dried formua’s & wet tin raw Ziwi Peak formula’s.. I know in America they don’t get the Holistic Select, Rabbit & Lamb formula so maybe the Rabbit formula is being changed so the American customers can get it as well.. I posted the Rabbit & Lamb formula on a F/B skin allergy group when it had just come out & a few people wanted to try the Rabbit & Lamb but they couldn’t get it in America, it’s just made for Australian customers, maybe it too expensive to make with Rabbit meal or it wasn’t selling real well but it is always all sold out at Pet Barn when I go there…

        • I’m going to need some kibble eventually though after all Angel is just way too picky for the freeze dried, the dried she at least eats but I don’t feel Ziwi will give her anything she needs fish oil wise, specially now that the only fish variety left she reacted badly to.

          I’ll see which one I get then if you feel that the holistic is a really bad idea.

        • Hi no I don’t think Holistic is a bad idea but the freeze dried & Air dried would be healthier it’s less processed, I wish Patch could eat air & freeze dried foods, my cat can, she loves the Ziwi Peak & has a very shinny coat.. Ziwi Peak would be balanced properly…
          Can your dogs eat Turkey? Turkey is a really good source of protein it’s a clean meat it has 19 essential amino acids.. here’s link on how healthy turkey is http://www.naturalnewsblogs.com/lets-talk-turkey-about-amino-acids/
          Holistic Select has their Turkey & lentils grain free formula it came out before the Rabbit & Lamb formula, or Ivory Coat has their Reduce fat Turkey or Meals For Mutts have just brought out their new CN Vital Health Holistic Turkey & Vegetables for
          or CN Cool Health Fish & Vegetables for joint, mobility, pancreas & skin & coat both formula’s high in Omega’s & low in carbs, it’s the Turkey & veggie formula is protein-16% min & fat-16 % it has Beta Glucans to raise immunty & digestive health also good for your dogs heart health, it also stops dogs from having UTI, too much to write down, its on MfM site or on My Pet Warehouse sells their 2 new formulas & has all the info both formula’s are very high in omega 3, 6 & 9, I was going to get the Turkey & Veggies for Patch but it’s more expensive then then their other formula’s, My Pet warehouse has 2.5kg for $35 but Pet Quarters want $40 so if Patch gets his acid reflux or gets his pain I’d have to return it & pay for postage if I buy online but Pet Quarters girl said as long as I have 1/2 a bag MfM is money back if Patch has a problem, I need another dog so she can eat what Patch can’t eat… MfM Turkey & Veggies is the next kibble I’m trying..
          I buy the K-9 Natural Green Lipped Mussels for the extra omega 3 & Glucosamine & Chondroitin for Patches skin & joints.. the Sunday pets green lipped mussels arent as big as K-9 Naturals mussels, K-9 Natural mussels are nice & big.

        • Hi Susan, do you think you would get a dog from RSPCA or a puppy .
          I’m sure Patch would love a play mate & it would help him feel better,
          also 2 dogs eat more leftovers.

        • Hi, I got Patch a kitten last year when the cat passed away age 14yrs old, Patch got depressed, so I took him to the RSPCA & the RSPCA let him pick a kitten he picked 5 month old kitten named Indy, she has a bent tail, had bad ear mites that had just been treated while she was at teh RSPCA then when I brought her home she had bad ear infection from the ear mites, the RSPCA treated everything, she has a bent ear & is a very small in breed cat a bit scared of men, I wanted the male ginger kitten, but Indy & Patch ran straight to each other & really liked each other & it’s his cat…..
          I want a girl dog, Blacktown pound has heaps of beautiful homeless cats & dogs but I live in a unit & walking Patch 3-4 times a day gets a bit too much some days & he’s got his IBD, getting another dog might be more stressful. I have C.R.E.S.T Scleroderma, Arthritis in back, hips, knees, Patch likes all the attention when the cleaner comes or a work man to fix something & they say hello to Indy (cat) Patch runs over & licks them & starts jumping up look at me look at me he’s very friendly & loves attention a big sook, if I got another dog it would be a bit too much & Patch likes his quiet time & nanna naps, I couldn’t get a puppy he doesnt have the patience anymore when he’s unwell he’s 9yr old in November, as it was he would stress out when Indy would wake up thru the night….

        • I’m friended with her on Facebook she’s looking for a friend for Patch but it’s going to take time to find that perfect soul for both her and him.
          He or she will come to her when they least expect it.

        • I just realised the new recipes and stuff is on their USA website not Australian website, I don’t doubt that we will get the same changes in time but I figured with the rabbit and lamb disappearing from pet circle that the change was for us not USA whoops.

          Had to give the mussels to a friend Rusty hated it and Angel ran away from them every time I tried to give it to them, soaked and un soaked.

          Not a big fan of MfM wish they would be more meat forward and get rid of that vitamin K already, almost every green vegetable has K in it there’s no need for added synthetics.

          Might just go with Ivory a Coat always wanted to try a kibble made from venison, wish we had Tripett here I’d like to try a kibble made with tripe also.

        • Hi, Vitamin K in the Meals For Mutts is from their green seasonal vegetables they use, MfM’s uses green veggies, Bok Choi, Kale, Zucchini, Spinach, Broccolli, Peas all these veggies are high in Vitamin K, all pet foods that use green veggies will be high in vitamin K, we need vitamin K for bone health & blood clotting….
          Vitamin K1 is in your green vegetables, vitamin K2 is in meats, eggs, cheese, dairy products…

        • In their ingredient list vitamin k is mentioned, so far from every brand of food I’ve seen it in it was the synthetic k3 variety, do they mention their k is non synthetic? wish they would use the name or add the 3 to the end so we know if it’s the good version or the bad.
          Menadione Bisulphite or phate is the one I see everywhere, including in the new Blackhawk, savour life also has it and plenty of others.

        • MfM writes their ingredient writes their ingredient list like the vet prescription diets write their Nutrient & Caloric content list, MfM write every single thing in the food but when you read other brands ingredient list they do not write all their vitamins & minerals in their foods, I really don’t think it’s synthetic K-3 cause MfM has always said their foods are holistic & healthy they use “natural fats & oils derived from turkey” or what meat they are using for that formula, MfM use natural oils from foods instead of adding canola, sunflower, salmon or fish oils like other pet foods use, i’d say MfM are writing all the vitamins that are coming form all their veggies & meats…. other brands like Optimum & Supercoat write all their vitamins as well in the ingredient list but they don’t add any healthy greens like broccoili, peas, kale, zucchini, bok choi, spinach to get vitamin K, Purina Supercoat adds animal fats doesn’t say from which animal & Optimum new grainfree formula’s add vegetable oil, the protein is nice & high in the new grain free Optimim beef & chicken formula’s, protein- 35% fat-13%, better then Purina new grainfree formula’s but I still wouldn’t feed it….
          I would go on MfM Face book page & send them a msg asking can Bill reply back & write your email address or phone nb if you want him to answer your questions you have & hopefully Bill their vet nutritionist will answer all your questions you have about MfM formula’s, when you send email to the MfM food site no one repsonds back, I emailed about 1-2 months ago about their new CN Vital Holitsic Turkey formula that has just come out when I sent msg on their f/b page they reply back straight away asking for my contact details so someone can call me back…..

  2. What about the Dried Beet Pulp as the 7th ingredient, is that a worry?

    • Hi Anthony, if your not happy with the Beet Pulp then have a look at the Holistic Select grain free formulas, I just tried the Salmon, Anchovy & Sardines & Potatoes, it’s really easy to digest, high in omega 3 fatty acid for the skin, joints, brain, there’s also their new Rabbit & Lamb Meal kibble, it’s always sold out when I go to Pet Barn, you don’t see any Rabbit kibbles & no Beet Pulp in the Holistic Select grain free formulas..

    • 7th is pretty low, I wouldn’t worry about it, there’s worse ingredients to worry about.

  3. The Adult Health Anchovy, Sardines & Salmon Meal recipe is excellent for dogs with skin problems….Holistic Select have a new grain free kibble coming out 2016, Adult Health Rabbit & Lamb meal recipe… http://holisticselect.com.au/recipes.aspx?pet=dog

  4. Im looking for a good kibble for a German shorthair pointer. Any suggestions?

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