Heart To Tail Dog Food Review [Updated May 2023]: Everything You Need To Know

Heart to Tail is a popular pet food brand available exclusively at Aldi Supermarket. With both wet and dry options, this line of pet food is designed to provide your furry friend with a healthy and delicious meal.

Our review will cover all the important details, from the ingredients used to the nutritional value of each product.

We understand that finding the right pet food for your furry friend can be a daunting task, especially with so many options to choose from. Our Heart to Tail Dog Food review aims to provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision about your pet's diet.

Heart to Tail Dog Food Reviews

Whether you're a seasoned pet parent or a new pet owner, we believe that the Heart to Tail Dog Food review will be a valuable resource for you. With our comprehensive analysis of the brand's product line, you can feel confident in choosing the right pet food for your furry friend's health and happiness.

Reviewed Heart to Tail Dog Foods

1. Heart to Tail Complete Nutrition
2. Heart to Tail Beef Stew with Rice, Carrots & Peas
3. Heart to Tail Pure Being Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
4. Heart to Tail Pure Being Salmon & Potatoes Recipe
5. Heart to Tail Beef Flavored Sticks
6. Heart to Tail Bacon Curlz
7. Heart to Tail Dental Sticks

 

1. Heart To Tail Complete Nutrition

Rating: 2/5 stars

True to its name, the Heart to Tail dry dog food offers a full-scale of nutrients to enhance the overall health of your dog. This dog food variation boasts its content will improve your dog’s vitality, strength, and the health of their hearts.

What we love about this:

• This dog food variation contains the complete nutrition that our canine pals need. In its ingredient list, it contains an acceptable amount of Vitamin D3 supplement, Vitamin E supplement, choline chloride, potassium chloride, zinc sulfate, calcium carbonate, and folic acid.
• One pet food review states that this Aldi dog food is their canine's favorite! When given options, most dogs usually choose this over other brands.
• It is on the affordable scale of dog food brands.

Why we are on the fence about this:

• Corn grain is listed as the first ingredient of this pet food. Considered a cheap dog food filler and it is a non-essential nutrient for our pooches, corn grain is not advisable for dogs who are on a grain-free diet.
• By checking the ingredient, the Aldi Complete Nutrition Dog Food contains meat by-products that are waste leftover from processed animals used for human consumption.
• This pet food is considered a by-product meal from Aldi dog food, which means it only contains a relatively low amount of protein and fat.

This dog food contains so many fillers and no real meat. While we are usually fine with meal forms, this dog food uses the cheap kind.

For example, this food does not even specify what kind of meat was used. Is it chicken? Is it turkey? The ingredients do not indicate anything. The meats in this recipe are listed down only as’ meat and bone meal’ and ‘poultry byproduct meal.’

Also, quality dog foods should always start with a meat product unless it is made specifically to treat a condition (as can be seen in veterinary diets).

This formulation starts with whole grain corn instead. As we’ve mentioned above, corn is fine as long as it is not the leading ingredient in a dog food diet.

2. Heart to Tail Beef Stew with Rice, Carrots & Peas

Rating: 4/5 stars

Aldi’s Heart to Tail Beef Stew with rice, carrots & peas offers dogs a balanced diet crafted with wholesome ingredients. It features carefully selected ingredients to give your dogs as complete a nutrition as possible.

What we like about this:

• It contains no artificial colors or flavors.
• The recipe contains real beef (second ingredient).
• There are no wheat, soy, or gluten ingredients included.
• Features healthy carbs like rice.

Why we are on the fence about this:

• The protein content is a little low (8%) even for wet food.

Much better than its dry food counterpart, this Aldi Heart to Tail recipe features more natural and whole food ingredients. The meat is specifically named (beef), and there are none of those unnecessary ingredients that only act as fillers.

Although the formulation doesn’t start off with animal-based protein, this is to be expected in wet food recipes. Broth is usually found in either the first or second slot in canned dog foods. In this recipe’s case, beef broth leads the list while beef follows.

The only thing that we’d like to be improved on is the protein level. At 8%, it seems a little low when most canned dog foods have at least a crude protein content of 10%.

Overall, however, this formulation is a good choice to give your pups on a regular basis.

3. Pure Being Chicken and Brown Rice

Rating: 4/5 stars

Unlike the Heart to Tail range, Aldi’s Pure Being formulation tends towards wholesome and quality ingredients. It contains no artificial preservatives and relies on natural ones instead.

What we like about this:

• Is made of carefully selected ingredients that aim to keep the best possible condition of your dog’s heart. 
• It is high in fiber, which is essential in lowering down cholesterol and keeping the liver in its prime condition. 
• The recipe contains a variety of vegetables as natural sources of nutrition.
• Indulging your pets with this meat reward is easy as Aldi sells this at an inexpensive price.

Why we are on the fence about this:

•  It contains canola oil, which is a highly-processed type of oil.

Going the complete opposite way of the Complete Nutrition recipes, this Pure Being formulation keeps it simple and pure.

It does not contain fillers or questionable ingredients. Rather, each ingredient is high-quality and what you can usually see in premium dog food brands.

The first two ingredients are chicken and chicken meal, making this formulation clearly a meat-based one. While we opposed the use of a meat and bone meal in our review (see above) of the Complete Nutrition recipe, here we are absolutely fine.

Why? Because with chicken meal, the specific animal where the meat comes from is named

The recipe contains a favorable amount of meat (aside from chicken and chicken meal, it also boasts of turkey meal and fish meal), wholesome veggies, healthy carbs, and probiotics.

The only thing we feel is somewhat questionable is the canola oil, a type of oil that has undergone heavy processing.

However, canola oil is quite safe and does not really detract much from the recipe’s rating.

4. Pure Being Salmon & Potatoes Recipe

Rating: 1/5 stars

Aldi Pure Being Salmon & Potatoes recipe is a hearty meal that canines will love. Based on an oily fish that’s rich in fatty acids, this dog food will help keep your pets’ fur and skin in good condition while keeping the rest of their body in top shape.

What we like about this:

• It does not contain any artificial colors or flavors.
• The first ingredient is an animal protein — salmon.
• It has no corn, wheat, or soy, all of which are considered common allergy triggers in sensitive canines.

Why we are on the fence about this:

• It features carrageenan, an ingredient that can be quite harmful to dogs.
• Has an unnamed liver ingredient in the list.

Aldi Pure Being Salmon & Potatoes provide dogs with a complete meal that’s meant to provide them with enough energy for a whole day’s worth of adventure.

The first ingredient is an animal-based protein (beef), which is further supported by the inclusion of whitefish and animal liver. Potatoes and ground peas also contribute a bit to the protein level.

However, we take exception to two ingredients in this food. The first and the most serious is carrageenan, a food thickener.

While there isn't any conclusive evidence that carrageenan is bad for your dog’s health, there have been studies suggesting that even food-grade carrageenan can degrade inside the stomach. Once degraded, it can cause inflammation, lesions, and worse.

The second thing we noticed about this Pure Being recipe is the animal liver. While we fully support the inclusion of organ meats in dog food (organs are wholly nutritious), we only do so if the animal where the organ came from is named.

Unfortunately, animal liver is too generic sounding and can mean that the brand is not sure what kind of liver was mixed in either.

5. Heart to Tail Beef Flavored Sticks

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Introduced in sticks, these Aldi Dog food beef dog treats will surely give your canines a healthy heart and body. These items contain almost all the essential ingredients that will keep the best possible condition of your dog’s health.

It also contains a good amount of crude protein and fat, key ingredients that are helpful in keeping a canine's body in tip-top shape.

What we like about this:

• Many dogs love the distinct flavor.
• It is made with real beef and smoked bacon, which turns up the protein level to a nice 20%.
• These dog treats are made of naturally processed ingredients that are easy to eat and digest. 

Why we are on the fence about this:

• The snacks contain sucrose and corn syrup. Both are forms of sugar.

These are rewarding snacks that can fill up your dog’s protein needs in between meals. The treats have a soft texture that makes it easy for older dogs (or those with teeth issues) to chew on. You can also break them up with no problem.

The first ingredient is real beef and smoked bacon gives it that enhanced taste to appeal to dogs. While most of the ingredients are impressive, be aware that the treats contain two types of sugar. Feed sparingly to your pets.

6. Heart to Tail Bacon Curlz

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Crafted to look like real bacon, these snackable treats will keep your dog happy in-between meals.

What we like about this:

• This variant avoids all sorts of artificial colors and flavors that might harm your fur buddies! 
• It contains a 28% level of moisture, perfect for dogs who adore soft treats.
• It is made with a good amount  of protein (16%). 
• Made with real smoked bacon and beef.

Why we are on the fence about this:

• It has corn syrup, which is another form of sugar.

Aldi’s Heart to Tail Bacon Curlz are neat treats for canines who love the taste of bacon. They’re crafted with the real thing (smoked bacon is the second ingredient) plus an additional helping of beef for added flavor and protein boost.

These aren’t hard treats. With a moisture of 28%, the snacks have a somewhat soft texture that will allow you to break off pieces easily to feed little pups or canines with teeth issues

While the guaranteed analysis of the snacks looks good (protein – 16%, fiber – 3.5%, and fat – 5%) as well as most of the ingredients, we have to caution against feeding these treats more than once in a while.

These contain corn syrup and cane molasses, which are forms of sugar. Sugar is not toxic for dogs, but it can lead to obesity.

7. Heart to Tail Dental Sticks

Rating:  4/5 stars

Although this is not a pet food variation, we thought of adding this to our comprehensive Heart to Tail canine food review as many owners swear by its effectiveness in boosting their dog’s oral health.

This Aldi version of a teeth cleaner will surely make your dog smile.

What we like about this:

• It’s naturally-flavored.
• The dog treats are sold at budget-friendly prices, a plus for many pet owners who are working on a budget.

Why we are on the fence about this:

• It comes in a package that is non-resealable. This is a bit of a hassle as we need to transfer it to another container to avoid moisture and insects when we need to store it up.

These naturally-flavored sticks offer dogs a tastier way to improve their dental health. The snacks help clean the teeth when chewed and prevent tartar buildup.

If you’re not religious about brushing your canine’s teeth daily, these dental sticks might help (although we still recommend brushing your pet’s teeth regularly).

 

Know More About the Aldi Dog Food Products

Aldi supermarket is known to offer various quality products (mostly) at a discounted price range. Currently, this nationwide supermarket chain offers two brands of dog food — Heart to Tail and Pure Being.

These dog food brands are considered cheaper when compared to other alternatives. However, just like most affordable products, these dog foods have to make some compromises to be able to sell their items at such a price that are friendly to most pet owner's pockets.

Despite their cheap price, the Heat to Tail and Pure Being brands still manage to provide the required nutrients to sustain our pet dogs’ needs.

What are the differences between these dog food brands?

These brands differ in their composition. Heart to Tail offers recipes inclusive of grains while Pure Being markets itself as grain-free.

Many reviewers mention that they prefer the Aldi Pure Being recipes since these have a more desirable amount of whole food.

Despite its more expensive price for the consumer, the Pure Being grain-free is looked at by more consumers as the better option when compared to the Heart to Tail range as the former is more complete and made with higher-quality building blocks.

Important Factors to Consider When Buying Dog Food

For dog lovers, picking which among the various range of dog foods available on the market to buy can be quite confusing. To make it easier for you to select the right dog food for your pet, below are several things to consider and important things to avoid:

1. Your dog. Consider the age, breed, size, medical condition, allergies, and preference of your dogs before buying Aldi Heart to Tail dog treats and food items.
2. Check the label. Read the nutritional composition of the dog food you are planning to buy. Make sure that despite its affordable price tag, it should contain an adequate amount of protein, fats, fiber, minerals, and vitamins. “Double-check” is your password in gaining confidence about your dog's diet. Reading the label lets you have peace of mind that you’re not giving foods with unpleasant ingredients in them.
3. Listen to the experts. Veterinarians recommend dog food ingredients that are made of 20-25% protein and 5-8% natural fat or oil. (This is for regular dog food only. Some dogs may have higher requirements for protein or other nutrients.)
   Whether picking grain-inclusive or grain-free food, animal protein should always come first (unless otherwise specified by your vet). Grains or legumes or other alternatives must be minimal only. And it’s always best if the main ingredient in your dog’s food is specified and either fresh or meal form. Byproducts are usually substandard.

Our thoughts about the Heart to Tail Dog Food products

Aldi Heart to Tail and Aldi Pure Being are some of the cheapest dog food lines available on the market.

As always with super inexpensive food, there must be compromises somewhere. With Aldi, what suffers is the quality.

If your goal is to provide your pup with complete nutrition, then Aldi dog foods do that. However, if you want better for your dogs, then there are better alternatives out there. With Aldi pet foods, you need to carefully read the labels.

Our Summing-Up Words

Whatever dog food brand you pick, the most important is to give our dogs balanced nutrition.

“Proportionate” is the password needed in securing the nutritional diets of our dogs, which will let them run, jump, and play for many many years in this world.

Diet is a crucial part of their health, that is why the food we provide them should not only be enticingly sumptuous and nutritionally complete but also completely safe.

Furthermore, we as pet owners should also give our dogs access to all the joy and comfort we could give, to make them enjoy an optimum amount of life.