Halo

Halo Information

Halo is an established and longstanding pet food brand first founded in 1986 when a cat named Spot experienced skin and digestive issues, and his owner wanted better food to help combat these issues.

Since then, Halo has grown to be a regular presence in the industry and has seen increased influence and visibility since Ellen DeGeneres took partial ownership.

While it’s not clear exactly where this location is, Halo states that all of their products are produced at a US manufacturing facility.

Halo is available at thousands of retail pet food stores across the United States and can also be bought online from several large pet food websites like Chewy, Amazon, and Petco.

In Canada, Halo can exclusively be purchased at PetSmart stores or from PetSmart’s website.

Halo Product Range

Dog Food

Halo has a moderate product range of dog food products which includes dry dog food, wet/canned dog food, dog treats, and dog supplements.

Their dry dog food range includes several specialized recipes such as those for puppies, senior dogs, and small breed dogs. It also includes two vegan recipes, which are very rare and quite controversial.

While many brands tend to make their wet/canned food generic or non-age-specific, Halo has both Puppy and Senior dog food recipes in wet form.

Halo’s dog supplements aim to combat several health issues, including a sensitive stomach, immune support, and joint and hip support.

Cat Food

Halo’s cat food range is similar in size to their dog food range and includes a mix of dry cat food, wet/canned cat food, and cat treats. At this time, Halo has not yet produced any cat supplements.

Halo’s dry cat food range includes niche recipes for Kittens, Senior Cats, and Indoor cats, which are the three most common types.

Halo’s wet/canned cat food range is quite large and varied and offers two types of wet/canned cat food in Pate and Stews.

Halo Nutrition

Dog Food

The nutrition offered by Halo dog food recipes varies but is generally average to above average when compared to other dog food brands.

This nutritional profile consists of average to above-average levels of protein and fat but considerable proportions of carbohydrates.

This kind of nutritional profile is suitable for most dogs but may not be ideal for those that are more active or have higher protein requirements.

You can see an example of the nutrition provided by a Halo dry dog food recipe below.

If you’d like to learn more about canine nutrition, we highly recommend you check out our Dog Food Guide.

Cat Food

The nutrition provided by Halo cat food is similar to their dog food range and would be best described as average to above average when compared to other cat food brands.

This nutritional profile consists of considerable proportions of protein and fat but proportions of carbohydrates that are higher than ideal.

Cat nutrition is extremely important given they are obligate carnivores. This means that they do not need to consume high levels of plant-based food.

If you are interested in reading more about feline nutrition and what it means to be an obligate carnivore, head on over to our Cat Food Guide.

Halo Ingredients

Halo states on their website that they select every ingredient based on its premium quality and nutritive value. All of their meat ingredients are sourced from the United States, Canada, or New Zealand, and all of their plant-based ingredients are non-GMO.

High-Quality Meat & Fish Ingredients

• Chicken
• Turkey
• Duck
• Salmon
• Whitefish
• Lamb
• Beef

Halo uses a moderate range of high-quality meat and fish ingredients in its recipes. All of the above examples are reliable sources of animal-based protein and fat which should be at the core of every dog or cat’s diet.

Many of these ingredients are industry favorites and used by the vast majority of brands. Examples include Chicken, Turkey, and Salmon.

These ingredients are so popular among manufacturers as they are easy to source, relatively affordable, and packed full of valuable nutrition.

Several of Halo’s recipes utilize liver-based ingredients, which are an excellent addition to pet food recipes.

Organ meat such as this can greatly enhance the flavor of a recipe as well as boost the levels of some beneficial vitamins and minerals.

Other Notable Ingredients

Many of Halo’s recipes utilize the three most popular legume ingredients used in pet food which are Peas, Chickpeas, and Lentils.

These legumes are so popular as they are relatively affordable yet very dense sources of nutrition, including carbohydrates, plant-based protein, and fiber,

However, in recent years there have been concerns about links between the high usage of legumes in dog food and an increased rate of Canine Heard Disease.

You can learn more about this link in our article Best Dog Foods Without Peas.

However, Halo doesn’t just utilize legume ingredients like many brands and does include some grain ingredients such as Oat Groats and Pearled Barley.

Grain ingredients can be controversial additions to pet food recipes, with many being strongly against their use.

However, there are also strong supporters of grains, especially among those that feed brands such as Purina or Royal Canin.

Regardless of opinion, grain ingredients can provide pets with a mix of nutrition in the form of carbohydrates, plant-based protein, and fiber.

You can learn more about the specific nutrition Barley can provide in our article Barley In Dog Food.

Lastly, Halo makes some use of starch ingredients such as Sweet Potatoes and Tapioca. Starch ingredients are the last of the regular plant-based additions to pet food and are extremely dense sources of carbohydrates.

For this reason, it’s important that their portion size is not excessive or the overall portion of carbohydrates can be too high. Thankfully most of Halo’s recipes do not include a large portion of starch ingredients.

Chicken Fat is one of the most common addition additions to pet food recipes. Its primary uses are to improve the flavor and palatability of a pet food recipe as well as boosting the overall proportion of animal-based fat.

Chicken Fat is often chosen over alternatives as it is easy to source and relatively low-cost. If you’d like to read more about Chicken Fat, take a read of our article Chicken Fat In Dog Food.

Sunflower Oil plays a similar role to Chicken Fat but is a plant-based source of fat. While Chicken Fat is usually used to improve flavor, Sunflower Oil is often used as a binding agent to help hold food together in a consistent texture and appearance.

You can read more about Sunflower Oil in Sunflower Oil In Dog Food.

Flaxseed is an extremely common addition to pet food recipes, especially from premium brands. Flaxseed is best known as an excellent plant-based source of the Omega 3 Fatty Acids.

Many people believe that these Omega Fatty Acids can provide several health benefits to dogs and cats, including an improvement in the condition of their skin, coat, and fur.

However, Flaxseed can provide several more health benefits that many are unaware of. You can read more about these additional benefits in our article Flaxseed In Dog Food.

Brewers Yeast is found in pet food recipes in tiny quantities and is added thanks to its potential health benefits and micronutrients.

Brewers Yeast contains several beneficial vitamins and minerals which can help ensure your pets are receiving a balanced mix.

However, all of the benefits of Brewers Yeast are far from conclusive, and many doubt its effectiveness. You can learn more about Brewers Yeast in our article Brewers Yeast In Dog Food.

Dried Beet Pulp is included in pet food for very different reasons than many of the above-listed ingredients. It is a reliable source of soluble fiber, which can be critical to ensure regular digestion and stools.

However, outside of this fiber content, Dried Beet Pulp provides very little nutritional value. Learn more about Dried Beet Pulp and how it’s produced in our article Dried Beet Pulp In Dog Food.

Lastly, Halo’s wet pet food recipes include ingredients like Guar Gum & Carrageenan.

These ingredients are binding agents and are extremely common in wet pet food. They help hold the ingredients of the food together in a consistent texture.

Outside of this binding property, these ingredients do not provide any meaningful nutrition to pets. Read more about Carrageenan in our article Carrageenan In Dog Food.

Halo Animal Testing

At this time, we have no information on whether Halo participates in invasive or laboratory testing of animals.

We strongly believe that laboratory or invasive testing of animals is a cruel and outdated practice. We hope that in the future, it will be eliminated.

Halo Recalls

Based on our research (FDA, AVMA, DogFoodAdvisor), Halo has not issued any recalls and is, therefore, a recall-free brand.

This is an impressive record given that Halo has been producing food since the 1980s. It is a testament to their high levels of safety and quality during production.

Despite this, we always suggest that pet owners remain vigilant of any future recalls of Halo or any other pet food brand.

Best of Halo

Adult Holistic Wild Salmon & Whitefish Recipe Review

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Time and time again, we find ourselves recommending Salmon-based dog food recipes, and the above Holistic Wild Salmon & Whitefish recipe is no exception.

The recipe includes a large portion of Salmon and Whitefish, which are both high-quality fish ingredients. Salmon is one of the best sources of the Omega 3 Fatty Acids, which many believe can provide dogs with several health benefits.

Thanks to the inclusion of Salmon and other ingredients, the level of the Omega 3 Fatty Acids in this recipe is 1.3% which is far above-average.

Outside of this fish content, Halo utilizes a mix of Oat Groats, Pearled Barley, Peas, Chickpeas, and more to provide a mix of carbohydrates, plant-based protein, and fiber.

Lamb Stew Review

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Lamb is a less common meat ingredient to see in dog food but could be one that is well-suited to wet/canned dog food. This is thanks to its rich flavor and taste, which could make it a very appealing treat for those who choose to provide wet dog food as an occasional treat.

This recipe includes a large portion of Lamb which is joined by a smaller portion of Beef Liver. As we mentioned, Lamb is a very flavorful meant, but organ meat ingredients like Beef Liver are also very palatable and are often used to enhance the flavor of dog food.

Outside of these meat ingredients, there is a surprisingly large selection of plant-based ingredients for a wet dog food recipe, including Pumpkin, Carrots, Barley, Oats, Peas, and more.

However, the portion size of these ingredients is very small, and they provide a modest proportion of carbohydrates and fiber.

Sensitive Stomach Holistic Seafood Medley Review

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Similar to our dog food recommendation, we are going to recommend another seafood-based recipe for Halo’s best dry cat food recipe. However, this recipe is specialized for cats with sensitive stomachs, which is a growing issue.

Whitefish is the recipe’s primary fish ingredient and is joined by a smaller portion of Salmon. Whitefish is well known as a fish ingredient that is given to pets with unstable stomachs as it often causes less severe reactions than other meat or fish ingredients.

The portion of these fish ingredients is still substantial despite the recipe’s specialization, with a minimum of 32% protein and 16% fat.

Outside of these fish ingredients, the recipe includes Halo’s typical mix of grains and legumes, which includes Oats Groats, Peas, Barley, and several more ingredients.

Indoor Grain Free Turkey & Duck Recipe Pate Review

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Almost all cat owners know their cats go crazy for quality wet cat food and the above recipe from Halo is likely to have the same effect. It utilizes a mix of two poultry ingredients in Turkey and Duck as well as a portion of Turkey Liver.

As we mentioned earlier, organ meat ingredients such as Turkey Liver can greatly enhance the flavor of a pet food recipe and include beneficial vitamins and minerals.

These three ingredients make up the vast majority of the recipe which closely aligns with a cat’s obligate carnivore diet. However, there is a very small portion of Spinach and Sweet Potatoes which add a modest proportion of carbohydrates.

Halo Featured Articles

At this time, Halo has not been featured in any of our articles.

Halo Full Product Range

Dry Dog Food

Holistic Adult Ocean of Vegan Recipe

Small Breed Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe

Senior Holistic Grain Free Turkey, Turkey Liver & Duck Recipe

Small Beed Holistic Healthy Weight Grain Free Wild Salmon & Whitefish Recipe

Small Breed Holistic Grain Free Game Bird Medley

Puppy Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe

Adult Holistic Wild Salmon & Whitefish Recipe

Adult Holistic Healthy Weight Grain Free Turkey, Turkey Liver & Duck Recipe

Adult Holistic Grain Free Surf & Turf Recipe

Adult Holistic Garden of Vegan Recipe

Adult Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe

Wet/Canned Dog Food

Senior Chicken Recipe

Adult Chicken Stew

Adult Garden of Vegan Recipe

Adult Turkey & Salmon Stew

Adult Beef Stew

Adult Lamb Stew

Small Breed Grain Free Turkey & Duck Recipe

Small Breed Grain Free Chicken & Salmon Recipe

Puppy Grain Free Chicken Recipe

Dog Treats

Liv-A-Littles Freeze-Dried Chicken breast Protein Treats

Liv-A-Littles Freeze-Dried Wild Salmon Protein Treats

Healthsome Garden of Vegan Sweet Potato, Carrot, Quinoa Recipe Cookie Dog Treats

Healthsome Garden of Vegan Peanut n’ Pumpkin Dog Treats

Dog Supplements

Sensitive Stomach Supplement for Dogs

Senior Dog Defense Supplement

Joint & Hip Support Supplement For Dogs

Immune Support Supplement For Dogs

Dry Cat Food

Kitten Holistic Grain Free Wild Salmon & Whitefish Recipe

Kitten Holistic Grain Free Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe

Indoor Holistic Healthy Weight Grain Free Wild Salmon & Whitefish Recipe

Indoor Holistic Healthy Weight Grain Free Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe

Sensitive Stomach Holistic Seafood Medley

Adult Holistic Wild Salmon & Whitefish Recipe

Adult Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe

7+ Senior Cat Holistic Grain Free Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe

Wet/Canned Cat Food

Kitten Grain Free Whitefish Recipe Pate

Kitten Grain Free Chicken Recipe Pate

Indoor Grain Free Whitefish Recipe Pate

Indoor Grain Free Turkey & Giblets Recipe Pate

Indoor Grain Free Turkey & Duck Recipe Pate

Indoor Grain Free Seafood Medley Recipe Pate

Indoor Grain Free Salmon Recipe Pate

Indoor Grain Free Chicken Recipe Pate

Indoor Grain Free Chicken & Beef Recipe Pate

Sensitive Stomach Grain Free Rabbit & Garden Greens Recipe Pate

Sensitive Stomach Grain Free Quail & Garden Greens Recipe Pate

Adult Grain Free Turkey Stew

Adult Grain Free Salmon Stew

Adult Grain Free Lamb Stew

Adult Grain Free Chicken Stew

Adult Grain Free Chicken, Shrimp & Crab Stew

Adult Grain Free Chicken & Beef Stew

Cat Treats

Liv-A-Littles Freeze-Dried Chicken Breast Protein Treats

Liv-ALittles Freeze-Dried Wild Salmon Protein Treats