Alpo Dog Food Review
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As a brand, Alpo dog food was created in 1936. Alpo has always been marketed toward owners who prefer “real” dogs—people who don’t like “fancy” dog foods. Alpo emphasizes meat and protein in the food and points out that their wet foods contain more protein than Pedigree adult dog food. To find out if Alpo would be a good food for your dog, read our unbiased review.
About Alpo Dog Food
Alpo was founded in 1936 by Allentown Products in Pennsylvania, USA. Several decades later, after being sold to several different companies, the brand was purchased by Nestle SA in 1995.
Over the years, Alpo has been marketed as a food for people who are not interested in “pampering” their dogs. Lorne Greene (Bonanza, Battlestar Galactica) was a long-time television spokesperson. He told viewers that Alpo was so good that he fed it to his own dogs. Ed McMahon (The Johnny Carson Show) was another long-time television spokesperson. Alpo also sponsored the first 60 Minutes television news magazine broadcast in 1968.
Today, Alpo is sold worldwide. It is widely available and priced to appeal to budget-conscious dog owner in the U.S.
Sourcing And Manufacturing
Alpo dog foods are manufactured by Nestle Purina at their own facilities in the United States. Purina has at least 21 manufacturing plants in the U.S.
Purina doesn’t provide much information about sourcing their ingredients, though they do state that there is a long and strict process for becoming one of their sources. You can see some information about their ingredients here. This is the same general information about ingredients that Purina provides for most of their pet foods. You can find an overview of Purina here.
Nestle Purina PetCare, part of Nestle S.A. in Switzerland, has headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri.
Recall History
In 2007, 18 Alpho-wet foods were recalled due to wheat gluten laced with melamine. Nestle Purina PetCare recalled all sizes and varieties of its Alpo Prime Cuts in Gravy wet dog food, the only Purina food involved.
Over 150 brands from different pet food companies were involved in the 2007 recalls due to melamine from China. Since then, all Alpo foods have been produced by Purina in the U.S. Purina has a good safety record and conducts numerous checks and tests on their pet food before shipping.
What Kinds of Dog Food Does Alpo Offer?
Alpo offers wet and dry dog foods, along with dental chews and dog treats. Their product lines include Chop House (wet), Gravy Cravers (wet), Prime Classics (wet), Variety Snaps (treats), Prime Cuts (wet and dry), and T-Bonz (treats). Come and Get It is a kibble.
Alpo’s foods appear to all be for adult maintenance. Alpo also makes foods, especially for small dogs.
On their Purina homepage, Alpo lists 43 products overall.
Alpo Dog Food: Top 5 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Protein (as fed) | kcal/Cup/Can/Tray |
| ALPO Prime Cuts with Beef in Gravy Canned Dog Food, 13.2-oz | Can | 10% | 370 kcal/can |
| ALPO Chop House Rotisserie Chicken Canned Dog Food, | Can | 10% | 362 kcal/can |
| ALPO Come & Get It! Cookout Classic Dry Dog Food | Dry | 18% | 380 kcal/cup |
| ALPO Gravy Cravers Roast Beef Flavor, Chicken Flavor & Beef Flavor Variety Pack Wet Dog Food | Pouch | 10% | 90 kcal/pouch |
| ALPO Prime Cuts Savory Beef Flavor Dry Dog Food | Dry | 18% | 381 kcal/cup |
Alpo: Top Five Recipes Reviewed
We’re taking a look at five of the top-selling Alpo dog foods as found on Chewy.com so you can compare some of the different recipes.
ALPO PRIME CUTS WITH BEEF IN GRAVY CANNED DOG FOOD
Product Info
- Protein: 10% Min
- Fat: 3% Min
- Fiber: 1.5% Max
- Moisture: 80% Max
- Caloric Content: 990 kcal/kg, 370 kcal/can
Ingredients:
ALPO Prime Cuts with Beef in Gravy Canned Dog Food, 13.2-oz is the bestselling Alpo dog food on Chewy.com. This is a chunk dog food with gravy.Here’s a look at the main ingredients in this food:
Water sufficient for processing, poultry, meat by-products, wheat gluten, beef, soy flour, corn starch-modified, added color, salt, MINERALS [potassium chloride, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, potassium iodide, sodium selenite], tricalcium phosphate, choline chloride, VITAMINS [Vitamin E supplement, niacin (Vitamin B-3), thiamine mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 supplement, riboflavin supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin A supplement, folic acid (Vitamin B-9), Vitamin D-3 supplement, biotin (Vitamin B-7)].
Some people don’t like any by-products but named meat by-products can be good for your dog, such as chicken liver or beef kidneys. Here the problem is that “meat by-products” is generic and unnamed. This ingredient is high in animal protein but since you don’t know the source, it’s a little iffy. Alpo uses meat by-products in many of their foods.
Because of the problems that are being studied by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in relation to dietary dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), we do not automatically consider corn and other grain products to be low quality or “fillers.”
According to the dry matter basis (DMB), this food has 50 percent protein, 15 percent fat, and 7.5 percent fiber. This formula has an estimated 12.5 percent carbohydrates. It has 370 kcal per 13.2 ounce can.
Our rating for this food is 3.5 out of 5 stars.
ALPO CHOP HOUSE ROTISSERIE CHICKEN CANNED DOG FOOD
Product Info
- Protein: 9% Min
- Fat: 3% Min
- Fiber: 1.5% Max
- Moisture: 82% Max
- Caloric Content: 818 kcal/kg, 301 kcal/can
Ingredients:
ALPO Chop House Rotisserie Chicken Canned Dog Food, 13-oz is a chunks in gravy food.Here are the ingredients:
Water sufficient for processing, chicken, liver, wheat gluten, soy flour, meat by-products, corn starch-modified, natural flavor, added color, MINERALS [potassium chloride, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, potassium iodide, sodium selenite], natural rotisserie chicken flavor, tricalcium phosphate, salt, calcium carbonate, choline chloride, VITAMINS [Vitamin E supplement, niacin (Vitamin B-3), thiamine mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 supplement, riboflavin supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin A supplement, folic acid (Vitamin B-9), Vitamin D-3 supplement, biotin (Vitamin B-7)]. A524320
As with other Alpo recipes, this formula uses soy flour. Soy can be a problem for some dogs. Soy is a plant source of protein so it also raises the protein percentage without adding more meat to the food.
This recipe also contains added color and added flavors.
This food has 50 percent protein and 15 percent fat, according to the dry matter basis (DMB). It has 7.5 percent fiber. Our estimate of the carbohydrates in the food came out to 12.5 percent, DMB. It contains 362 kcal per cup.
Rated 3 out of 5 stars.
ALPO COME & GET IT! COOKOUT CLASSIC DRY DOG FOOD
Product Info
- Protein: 18% Min
- Fat: 9.5% Min
- Fiber: 6% Max
- Moisture: 12% Max
- Caloric Content: 3,407 kcal/kg, 380 kcal/cup
Ingredients:
ALPO Come & Get It! Cookout Classic Dry Dog Food is one of Alpo’s kibble formulas. Alpo is better-known for their wet/canned foods but their kibbles are also popular.You can take a look at the ingredients:
Ground Yellow Corn, Corn Germ Meal, Beef and Bone Meal, Soybean Meal, Animal Fat Preserved with Mixed-Tocopherols (Form of Vitamin E), Pork and Bone Meal, Egg and Chicken Flavor, Animal Digest, Corn Gluten Meal, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Dried Peas, Yellow 6, Red 40, Choline Chloride, Yellow 5, Natural Grill Flavor, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Lysine Monohydrochloride, Manganese Sulfate, Blue 2, Dl-Methionine, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Garlic Oil, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Folic Acid, Biotin, Sodium Selenite.
We highlight ground yellow corn as the first ingredient only because most dog owners prefer to see a meat protein as the first ingredient in a dog food.
Beef and bone meal (a more precise version of meat and bone meal) is high in meat protein. It also adds fat and a higher ash content to the food. Ash, in pet food terms, is what remains when pet food is burned under controlled conditions. It’s the measurement of the minerals that remain, such as the calcium from the burned bone and the phosphorus from the burned meat. It’s important to know the ash content of a dog food if you are trying to figure out how many carbohydrates a food has. Lower quality pet foods often have higher ash content because they often use lower quality meats that can contain more bone. There is some hope that meat and bone meal (MBM) can be used more efficiently in animal feed in the future.
This food also contains soybean meal; and added flavors and colors.
According to the dry matter analysis for this food, it has 20.5 percent protein, 10.8 percent fat, 6.8 percent fiber, estimated 51.7 percent carbohydrates, and 380 kcal per cup.
Our rating for this food is 1.5 out of 5 stars.
ALPO GRAVY CRAVERS ROAST BEEF FLAVOR, CHICKEN FLAVOR & BEEF FLAVOR VARIETY PACK WET DOG FOOD
Product Info
- Protein: 10% Min
- Fat: 3% Min
- Fiber: 1.5% Max
- Moisture: 82% Max
- Caloric Content of Chicken In Gravy: 912 kcal/kg, 90 kcal/pouch
- Caloric Content of Beef In Gravy: 917 kcal/kg, 91 kcal/pouch
- Caloric Content of Roast Beef Flavor In Gravy: 914 kcal/kg, 90 kcal/pouch
Ingredients:
ALPO Gravy Cravers Roast Beef Flavor, Chicken Flavor & Beef Flavor Variety Pack Wet Dog Food features three different wet foods in pouches. Each pouch is 3.5 ounces. There are eight pouches in each flavor.You can take a look at the ingredients:
Chicken In Gravy: Water Sufficient For Processing, Chicken, Meat By-Products, Wheat Gluten, Turkey, Soy Flour, Corn Starch-Modified, Tricalcium Phosphate, Minerals[Potassium Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite], Added Color, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin (Vitamin B-7)].
Beef In Gravy: Water Sufficient For Processing, Meat By-Products, Poultry, Wheat Gluten, Beef, Corn Starch-Modified, Soy Flour, Added Color, Tricalcium Phosphate, Mineral[Potassium Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite], Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin (Vitamin B-7)].
Roast Beef Flavor In Gravy: Water Sufficient For Processing, Poultry, Meat By-Products, Wheat Gluten, Beef, Soy Flour, Corn Starch-Modified, Added Color, Natural Roast Beef Flavor, Tricalcium Phosphate, Mineral[Potassium Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite], Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin (Vitamin B-7)].
These recipes are chunks in gravy.
All three formulas have similar nutrient contents and calories per pouch.
According to the dry matter analysis for these foods, they have 55.6 percent protein, 16.7 percent fat, 8.3 percent fiber, and 2.8 percent carbohydrates. The chicken and roast beef flavors have 90 kcal/pouch; the beef flavor has 91 kcal/pouch.
Our rating for these foods is 3.5 out of 5 stars.
ALPO PRIME CUTS SAVORY BEEF FLAVOR DRY DOG FOOD
Product Info
- Protein: 18% Min
- Fat: 8.5% Min
- Fiber: 5.5% Max
- Moisture: 12% Max
- Caloric Content: 3,414 kcal/kg, 381 kcal/cup
Ingredients:
ALPO Prime Cuts Savory Beef Flavor Dry Dog Food contains high-quality protein to help fuel muscles.Here are the ingredients:
New: Ground Yellow Corn, Meat And Bone Meal, Soybean Meal, Beef Fat Preserved With Mixed-tocopherols, Corn Gluten Meal, Egg And Chicken Flavor, Natural Flavor, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Minerals [Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite], Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Biotin (Vitamin B-7)], L-tryptophan, L-lysine Monohydrochloride, Red 40, Yellow 5, Calcium Carbonate, Blue 2, Garlic Oil.
This kibble has ground yellow corn as the first ingredient. Meat and bone meal add meat protein but raise the ash content. The formula also uses soybean meal, added flavors, and added colors.
According to the dry matter analysis for this food, it has 18 percent protein, 8.5 percent fat, 5.5 percent fiber, 54 percent carbohydrates, and 381 kcal per cup.
Our rating for this food is 2 out of 5 stars.
How Much Does Alpo Dog Food Cost?
Alpo dog food is inexpensive.
What Do Customers Think of Alpo Dog Food?
Many customers who purchased the foods on Chewy.com liked them. More than 75 percent of customers gave the food five stars. More than 85 percent of customers said they would recommend Alpo dog food to others.
Overall, is Alpo Dog Food A Good Choice?
Alpo dog food has been around for a long time. Lots of dogs have lived long, healthy lives eating Alpo. That said, there are better dog foods, based on the ingredients. Alpo dog foods are plain and inexpensive. The canned/wet foods appear to be better than the kibbles.
Where is Alpo Dog Food Sold?
You can buy Alpo dog foods from Chewy.com and other online retailers. Alpo is also available in most supermarkets and pet stores.
