NOTICE: Due to shortage issues, ALPO products may currently be out of stock at some retailers. In the mean time, we recommend checking out our Best Dog Foods for 2024.
The Alpo Dog Food brand was founded in 1936 in Allentown, Pennsylvania with the goal of creating a simple, nutritious food that offered big, meaty taste. Today, a full 80 years later, Alpo claims to be delivering on that promise.
The name Alpo comes from an abbreviation of Allen Products – the original name of the company – and if you believe what you read on the brand website, it is a name that can be used synonymous with “meat”.
The Alpo website uses taglines like “more than meats the eye” and “don’t complicate your dog’s food – get to the meat of it”, driving home the idea that their products are meat-rich and full of flavor.
Alpo claims that their recipes haven’t changed much in 80 years because dogs haven’t changed – they still crave the flavor of meat.
What the website does not talk about, however, is the fact that their products contain by-products, fillers, and artificial additives. A quick review of some of Alpo’s products reveals that this brand is not all it claims to be.
Read on below for our in-depth Alpo dog food reviews.
The brand makes a big deal about saying that their products are made with “real meat” and loaded with meaty flavor. A quick review of their products reveals, however, that most of these meat flavors are artificial and the meat used in their products comes from unnamed, mostly low-quality sources.
It is also important to note that most of Alpo’s recipes make use of by-products, low-quality fillers, artificial colors/flavors, and synthetic supplements that offer limited bio-availability for dogs.
Alpo’s products may be complete and balanced in the most basic sense of the term, but this brand does not use quality ingredients in their products.
First 5 ingredients: Ground Yellow Corn, Meat And Bone Meal, Soybean Meal and Beef Fat
This Alpo dry dog food is marketed as a hearty, flavorful recipe with a crunchy texture and savory beef flavor, claiming to be packed with high-quality protein and 23 added vitamins and minerals, including calcium for strong bones and joints. It promises 100% complete and balanced nutrition for adult dogs.
However, the ingredients list reveals that the nutrition mainly comes from sub-par ingredients, with ground yellow corn as the first ingredient instead of meat.
Corn is difficult for dogs to digest, has limited nutritional value, and can trigger food allergies. The recipe also includes soybean meal, a potential allergen and plant-based protein.
The primary meat source is meat and bone meal, which is an unnamed and questionable protein source due to inconsistent quality. Additionally, corn gluten meal, another plant-based protein with limited nutritional value, is included.
The remaining ingredients consist mainly of fats, flavors, colors, and supplements, with beef tallow being the main fat and flavor source, along with egg and chicken flavor.
Beef tallow, a low-quality and inexpensive fat, is a key ingredient in this dog food, which also includes numerous artificial additives like colors and flavors and various synthetic supplements.
These supplements are necessary to ensure nutritional balance due to the lack of natural quality nutrition in the recipe but are not chelated, making them hard for dogs to absorb.
Though the kibble meets the AAFCO Nutrient Profiles for adult dog maintenance, it does so without high-quality ingredients. The first ingredient is a carbohydrate (corn-based), and the sole animal protein is from an unnamed source.
The recipe lacks natural nutrient sources (like fruits and vegetables), chelated minerals, and probiotics. Consequently, long-term feeding of this product could negatively impact your dog’s health.
2. ALPO Prime Cuts with Beef in Gravy
First 5 ingredients: Water sufficient for processing, Poultry, Meat by-products, Wheat Gluten and Beef
This canned dog food, marketed as “loaded with tasty goodness” and containing “genuine flavor,” claims to have 10% more protein than the leading competitor and be complete and balanced for adult dogs, with beef as the main ingredient.
However, the actual label reveals discrepancies: chicken is the primary protein source, followed by meat by-products and unnamed liver before any beef is mentioned.
Although chicken as the main ingredient is positive, the recipe quickly declines in quality. The meat by-products and liver are from unnamed sources, and the amount of beef is unclear.
The remaining ingredients include fillers, artificial flavors, and synthetic supplements, with soy flour and rice flour offering limited nutritional value and potential allergy risks. Thickeners like guar gum and carrageenan are used, with carrageenan potentially being carcinogenic for pets.
The synthetic supplements ensure nutritional balance but are less biologically valuable than natural sources like fresh fruits and vegetables, and much of their integrity is lost during high-temperature cooking.
While this pet food offers better nutritional value than their dry food recipes due to two named animal protein sources, the benefits are undermined by the use of unnamed by-products, organ meats, low-quality fillers, and artificial additives. There are better wet food options available for your dog.
3. Come & Get It! Cookout Classic
First 5 ingredients: Ground Yellow Corn, Corn Germ Meal, Beef and Bone Meal, Soybean meal and Beef Fat
This is a grain-inclusive dry dog food inspired by backyard barbecues. It features beef, chicken, and pork flavors.
Although it is not particularly high in protein at 18%, it meets the AAFCO nutritional standards for adult dogs, containing concentrated protein sources like beef and bone meal, and pork and bone meal.
Ground yellow corn is the most plentiful ingredient, making it wheat-free but containing corn and soy, which some dogs may be sensitive to.
The recipe includes 23 essential vitamins and minerals for complete nutrition, with calcium for strong bones and linoleic acid for skin and coat health. Popular among dogs for its crunchy texture and meaty flavors, it is affordable and appeals to even picky eaters.
Overall, while not the highest in protein, it provides essential nutrients and excites dogs at mealtime with its tasty, crunchy pieces.
4. T-Bonz Porterhouse Flavor Treats
First 5 ingredients: Ground Wheat, Water, Wheat Flour, Corn Gluten Meal and Sugar
These grain-inclusive treats are packed with meaty flavors that dogs love, designed as bite-sized, chewy, steak-shaped pieces perfect for training rewards.
Although the first five ingredients do not include meat, the recipe contains real beef along with chicken by-product meal, liver, and bacon fat for a richer flavor. Natural porterhouse steak flavor and smoke flavors add to the distinct smoky taste.
Designed as a treat and not a meal, they include sugar, corn syrup, artificial flavors, and colors, along with unnamed animal ingredients like liver and animal digest.
Customer reviews highlight that dogs love the beefy flavor and soft texture, making them suitable for small breed and older dogs.
While popular for their flavor and affordability, these treats are not ideal for those seeking all-natural, healthy options.
5. Small/ Medium Dental Chews
First 5 ingredients: Rice, Water, Glycerin, Gelatin, and Chicken by-product meal
These grain-inclusive chews are designed for small to medium-sized dogs, helping to clean their teeth and reduce tartar build-up while satisfying their chewing needs.
Enriched with chicken by-product meal, they offer a savory flavor and are free from artificial flavors or colors, though they do contain carrageenan, BHA, and BHT.
The star-shaped treats are great as rewards or light snacks, providing entertainment and dental benefits. Dog owners appreciate the value and affordability of these treats, often dividing them for smaller dogs.
However, some prefer more expensive, all-natural options without additives.
6. Variety Snaps Little Bites
First 5 ingredients: Wheat flour, Beef Tallow, Wheat Gluten, Lecithin and Calcium Phosphate
These bite-sized baked snacks for dogs are packed with beef, chicken, liver, and lamb flavors. Ideal for training rewards or light snacks, they're perfect for tiny breeds but enjoyed by dogs of all sizes.
The first five ingredients are wheat flour, beef tallow preserved with mixed-tocopherols, wheat gluten, lecithin, and calcium phosphate.
They also contain calcium for strong bones and teeth, and their crunchy texture helps clean teeth by removing plaque and tartar.
Free from artificial flavors and preservatives, these treats do contain artificial food coloring. Reviews show they are a hit with both small and large dogs, including picky eaters. These versatile, affordable biscuits offer great value.
Who Makes Alpo?
The Alpo brand belongs to the Purina family of brands which is currently produced and manufactured by the Nestle Purina PetCare Company. Originally the Ralston Purina company, Purina was acquired by Nestle in 2001 and merged with the Friskies PetCare Company.
Today, Nestle Purina PetCare is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri and it is the second-largest pet food manufacturer in the world and the largest in the United States.
Is It Made in the USA?
The Nestle Purina PetCare Company is the second-largest global manufacturer of pet food products with operations in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Though Purina pet foods are available all over the globe, the Alpo website states in their FAQs that Alpo products are all proudly manufactured in the United States.
Where Do They Get Their Ingredients?
Their website talks about the brand’s goal of producing meaty, flavorful diets for dogs and states that their goal hasn’t changed in 80 years of existence and their products haven’t either. They talk a lot about meat, specifically mentioning animal proteins like beef, chicken, lamb, and turkey.
According to the brand website, Alpo’s gravy recipes contain 25% more protein than the competition that their proteins come from high-quality sources.
Nowhere on the Alpo website, however, is it stated exactly where all of that meat comes from. The FAQs mention that all of Alpo’s products are made in the U.S., but there is nothing to be said about where they get their ingredients.
Food Recalls
The Alpo brand belongs to the Purina family of brands which are produced and manufactured by the Nestle Purina PetCare Company. Though Nestle Purina has operations all over the world, Alpo products are made in the United States.
What Alpo doesn’t tell you, however, is where they get their ingredients – this alone is a red flag. It is also worth noting that Alpo has been affected by one significant recall in recent history – this recall took place in 2007. Here are the details for that recall:
In March 2007, the FDA issued a recall for Alpo canned products having a “Best By” date of February 2009 – more than a dozen individual recipes were affected. This recall was issued due to wheat gluten containing melamine.
Price Comparison
What many dog owners love about the Alpo brand is that it is very affordable. You have to keep in mind, however, that the lower the price of a product, the lower the quality is likely to be – this certainly seems to be the case for the Alpo brand.
The price for a 16-pound bag of Alpo dry food ranges from about $16 to $30, depending on the recipe. You can purchase 13.2-ounce cans of Alpo wet products in cases of 12 for $15 to $25 which gives you an average price of around $1.70 per can.
Their Selections
The brand is known primarily for its wet food recipes, though there are a few options for dry dog food and dog treats. According to their website, the brand’s ground recipes contain 10% more protein than the leading competitor’s product and their gravy recipes contain 25% more protein than the competitor’s product.
Alpo also states that their products are 100% complete and balanced for adult dogs, made from high-quality protein sources and formulated with 23 essential vitamins and minerals. Alpo uses animal proteins like beef, chicken, lamb, and turkey to ensure that their products are “yummy and delicious – pawfect”.
Dry Products
They are primarily a wet food brand, though they do offer a limited selection of dry products – two, to be exact. Alpo dry food is 100% complete and balanced for adult dogs and full of meaty flavor. Here are the dry food recipes Alpo has to offer:
Prime Cuts Savory Beef Flavor
Come & Get It Cookout Classics
Canned Products
Though the company does offer a limited selection of dry recipes, most of their products are wet or soft. Alpo’s Meal Helpers line of soft products is designed for use as a mix-in to add flavor to your dog’s traditional diet. Alpo also offers four lines of wet products. Here is a list of the wet food products Alpo has to offer:
Chop House Wet Food Recipes:
Filet Mignon & Bacon Flavor Cooked in Savory Juices
Prime Rib Flavor Cooked in Savory Juices
Roasted Chicken & Top Sirloin Flavors Cooked in Savory Juices
T-Bone Steak & Ribeye Flavor Cooked in Savory Juices
T-Bone Steak Flavor in Gourmet Gravy
Beef Tenderloin Flavor in Gourmet Gravy
Rotisserie Chicken Flavor in Gourmet Gravy
Prime Cuts Wet Food Recipes:
With Lamb & Rice in Gravy
With Beef in Gravy
With Turkey & Bacon in Gravy
With Beef, Bacon & Cheese in Gravy
With Chicken & Wholesome Veggie Accents in Gravy
Stew with Beef and Vegetables in Gravy
London Grill & Wholesome Veggie Accents in Gravy
Gravy Cravers Wet Food Recipes:
Roast Beef Flavor in Gravy
With Beef in Gravy
With Chicken in Gravy
Prime Classics Wet Food Recipes:
With Beef
With Chicken & Rice
With Beef Plus Bacon & Cheese
Alpo Dog Treats
In addition to offering an assortment of wet food options and several dry food products, Alpo also has several lines of dog treats. The Twist-Ables line of treats combines two meaty flavors in one savory treat and the Variety Snaps line features four flavors in every crunchy bite.
Tbonz are steak-shaped dog treats with real beef flavor and Dental Chews are designed to help maintain your dog’s dental health. Here is a list of the dog treats Alpo has to offer:
Treats:
Dental Chews Small/Medium
TBonz Filet Mignon Flavor
TBonz Ribeye Flavor
TBonz Porterhouse Flavor
TBonz BBQ Pork Flavor
TBonz Beef & Cheese Flavor
TBonz Chicken Flavor
Variety Snaps Little Bites Pouch
Variety Snaps Little Bites with Beef, Chicken, Liver & Lamb Flavors
Variety Snaps Little Bites with Beef, Bacon, Cheese & Peanut Butter Flavors
Variety Snaps Big Bites with Beef, Chicken, Liver & Lamb Flavors
Twist-Ables Beef & Cheese Flavors
Parting Words
Alpo dog food brand offers a range of products that cater to various needs and preferences for dog owners.
While Alpo positions itself as a quality dog food provider, it's important to note that some ingredients used, such as artificial colors and preservatives, may raise concerns for pet owners looking to protect their dogs from potential health issues.
The company does provide affordable options that many find convenient for feeding their dogs. However, reviews and star ratings for Alpo can vary widely, with some praising its value and taste while others criticize ingredient quality.
If you are looking to feed your dog a diet that aligns with higher nutritional standards, it might be beneficial to compare them with other food companies that prioritize more natural ingredients.
Overall, while Alpo may meet basic dietary needs, pet owners should carefully consider their dog's specific health requirements when choosing a suitable food.
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For an impressive duration of four years, Elaine has been embarked on a voyage as a freelance writer within the domain of dog care. The profound fondness she nurtured for animals, ignited by the cherished companionship of her family's treasured pets during her developmental years, has flourished into a genuinely satisfying vocation focused on everything related to dogs.
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