Horizon Pet Food Pulsar Small Breed All Life Stage
Dry Extruded complete
Is Horizon Pet Food Pulsar Small Breed All Life Stage a good dog food?
We score it 53/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
Why this score?
This recipe achieves an overall score of 53 out of 100 based on several key factors. The inclusion of ingredients without printed percentages contributed -10.6 points, while the overall quality of the ingredient list added +6.8 points. Additionally, the processing format adjusted the score by -6.7, and being labelled nutritionally complete contributed +2.3 points.
100% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
- Recipe53
- Nutritionalmedium100
- Transparency60
- Safety100
- EvidenceNot recorded
The Recipe score measures how attractive and transparent the declared ingredient list is. It is not, by itself, proof that the food is nutritionally appropriate for long-term feeding. The Nutritional and Evidence scores measure what we can verify towards that stronger claim.
Why you might choose it
- Scores 53, in the top quarter of dry foods we track.
- Doesn't list grain ingredients.
- Declares energy content, which most labels omit.
Why you might not
- Meat makes up an estimated 7% of the dry matter (9% as fed); carbohydrates dominate.
- 100% of the recipe mass has no printed percentage, so the exact split cannot be verified.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
- Protein
- 30%
- Fat
- 16%
- Fibre
- 5.70%
- Ash
- 9.60%
- Moisture
- 10%
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- 1.60%
- Omega-6 fatty acids
- 2.70%
- Calcium
- 1.35%
- Phosphorus
- 0.95%
- Sodium
- 0.39%
Energy: 393 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Nutritional additives
Vitamin A acetate; Vitamin D3 supplement; Vitamin E supplement; Vitamin B12 supplement; Riboflavin; Niacin; Folic acid; Pyridoxine hydrochloride; Thiamine mononitrate; D-Calcium pantothenate; Biotin; L-Ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C); Ferrous sulphate; Iron proteinate; Zinc sulphate; Zinc proteinate; Manganous oxide; Manganese proteinate; Copper sulphate; Copper proteinate; Calcium iodate; Selenium yeast
Technological additives
Mixed tocopherols (preservative in chicken fat)
Feeding guide
Servings per day (standard 8 oz cups) by weight (lbs): Puppy/Adult/Senior - <30 lbs: 0.50/0.33/0.25; 5 lbs: 0.75/0.50/0.50; 10 lbs: 1.33/0.75/0.75; 15 lbs: 1.75/1.25/1.00; 20 lbs: 2.33/1.50/1.25; 25 lbs: 2.75/1.75/1.50.
Reviews
Trustpilot: 3.7/5 · 1 reviews
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for all lifestages
- Labelling or feeding guide is aimed at small dogs
- Grain-free: no grain ingredients listed
- Doesn't list beef, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists dried chicken protein
- Your dog avoids turkey: the label lists turkey
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists salmon protein
- You want a single-protein recipe: this one lists more than one animal protein
These points are derived from declared ingredients and analysis, not a substitute for veterinary advice. If your dog has a diagnosed condition, food choice is a medical nutrition decision: speak to your vet. Use the homepage filter to find foods that fit your dog.
Ingredients (56)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicken Meal | Dried chicken protein | meat | good | - | 2.4 |
| 2 | Red Lentils | Lentils | veg | medium | - | 2.3 |
| 3 | Turkey | Turkey | meat | medium | - | 2.3 |
| 4 | Pea Flour | Pea flour | carb | medium | - | 2.3 |
| 5 | Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, source of vitamin E) | Chicken Oil and Fat | oil | medium | - | 2.3 |
| 6 | Flax Seed | Linseed | veg | good | - | 2.3 |
| 7 | Alfalfa Meal | Alfalfa Meal | fibre | medium | - | 2.2 |
| 8 | Pea Fibre | Pea Fibre | fibre | medium | - | 2.2 |
| 9 | Salmon Meal | Salmon Protein | meat | good | - | 2.2 |
| 10 | Egg Product | Egg | meat | good | - | 2.2 |
| 11 | Carrots | Carrots | veg | good | - | 2.2 |
| 12 | Apples | Apples | veg | good | - | 2.1 |
| 13 | Broccoli | Broccoli | veg | good | - | 2.1 |
| 14 | Bok Choy | unmatched | - | - | - | 2.1 |
| 15 | Cabbage | Cabbage | veg | good | - | 2.1 |
| 16 | Blueberries | Blueberries | veg | good | - | 2.0 |
| 17 | Mono-dicalcium Phosphate | Dicalcium phosphate | supplement | medium | - | 2.0 |
| 18 | Salt | Salt | additive | medium | - | 2.0 |
| 19 | Calcium Phosphate | Calcium phosphate | supplement | medium | - | 2.0 |
| 20 | Choline Chloride | Choline | supplement | good | - | 2.0 |
| 21 | Fructooligosaccharides | Fructo-oligosaccharides | supplement | good | - | 1.9 |
| 22 | Hydrolyzed Yeast | Yeast | supplement | good | - | 1.9 |
| 23 | Yucca Schidigera Extract | Yucca Schidigera | supplement | good | - | 1.9 |
| 24 | Taurine | Taurine | supplement | good | - | 1.9 |
| 25 | Dried Aspergillus Niger Fermentation Extract | unmatched | - | - | - | 1.9 |
| 26 | Pineapple | Pineapple | veg | good | - | 1.8 |
| 27 | Dried Trichoderma Longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract | unmatched | - | - | - | 1.8 |
| 28 | Dried Rhizopus Oryzae Fermentation Extract | unmatched | - | - | - | 1.8 |
| 29 | Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product | Enterococcus Faecium | supplement | good | - | 1.8 |
| 30 | Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product | Lactobacillus casei | supplement | good | - | 1.8 |
| 31 | Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product | Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 32 | Dried Bifidobacterium Bifidum Fermentation Product | Bifidobacterium bifidum | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 33 | Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product | Lactobacillus plantarum | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 34 | Vitamin A Acetate | Vitamin A | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 35 | Vitamin D3 Supplement | Vitamin D3 supplement | supplement | good | - | 1.6 |
| 36 | Vitamin E Supplement | Vitamin E | supplement | good | - | 1.6 |
| 37 | Vitamin B12 Supplement | Vitamin B12 | supplement | good | - | 1.6 |
| 38 | Riboflavin | Riboflavin | supplement | good | - | 1.6 |
| 39 | Niacin | Niacin | supplement | good | - | 1.6 |
| 40 | Folic Acid | Folic acid | supplement | good | - | 1.5 |
| 41 | Pyridoxine Hydrochloride | Pyridoxine hydrochloride | supplement | good | - | 1.5 |
| 42 | Thiamine Mononitrate | Thiamine mononitrate | supplement | good | - | 1.5 |
| 43 | D-Calcium Pantothenate | Calcium pantothenate | supplement | good | - | 1.5 |
| 44 | Biotin | Biotin | supplement | good | - | 1.5 |
| 45 | L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C) | L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate | supplement | good | - | 1.4 |
| 46 | Ferrous Sulphate | Iron sulfate | supplement | good | - | 1.4 |
| 47 | Iron Proteinate | Iron Proteinate | mineral | good | - | 1.4 |
| 48 | Zinc Sulphate | Zinc sulfate | supplement | medium | - | 1.4 |
| 49 | Zinc Proteinate | Zinc Proteinate | supplement | good | - | 1.4 |
| 50 | Manganous Oxide | Manganese (II) Oxide | supplement | good | - | 1.3 |
| 51 | Manganese Proteinate | Manganese proteinate | supplement | good | - | 1.3 |
| 52 | Copper Sulphate | Copper sulphate | supplement | good | - | 1.3 |
| 53 | Copper Proteinate | Copper proteinate | supplement | good | - | 1.3 |
| 54 | Calcium Iodate | Calcium iodate | supplement | medium | - | 1.2 |
| 55 | Selenium Yeast | Selenium | mineral | good | - | 1.2 |
| 56 | Magnesium Oxide. | Magnesium Oxide | supplement | good | - | 1.2 |
Brand
- Website
- https://horizonpetfood.com/
- Phone
- 1.306.500.7270
- Address
- Box 268 - 710 8th Street East, Rosthern, Saskatchewan, Canada S0K 3R0
- Contact page
- horizonpetfood.com
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-19
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- horizonpetfood.com
Recall history is presentation-only and never affects the score. Dates are when we recorded the data, not when the manufacturer last changed the recipe.
Spotted a mistake in this listing? Report it here and we'll take a look.
Recipe: how the 1-100 score is calculated
Scored with model v3 on 2026-09-26. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.7 | 9.191 | +6.81 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 2.8% | -0.115 | -0.32 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 3.0% | -0.092 | -0.28 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 5.7% | -0.005 | -0.03 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 2.4% | 0.163 | +0.39 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 65.0% | -0.012 | -0.79 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 5.1% | -0.027 | -0.13 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| Additive penalty | -2.45 | 0.222 | -0.54 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.7 | 9.191 | +6.81 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 2.8% | -0.115 | -0.32 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 3.0% | -0.092 | -0.28 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 5.7% | -0.005 | -0.03 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 2.4% | 0.163 | +0.39 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 65.0% | -0.012 | -0.79 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.375 | +0.00 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 5.1% | -0.027 | -0.13 |
| Recipe graded poor | 0.0% | -0.065 | +0.00 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 0 | -0.876 | +0.00 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 0.0% | 0.060 | +0.00 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Frozen or chilled fresh | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | no | 0.707 | +0.00 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| High carb and low meat | no | -1.180 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × printed percentages | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × fresh | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Fresh × high meat | 0.0 | 11.084 | +0.00 |
| Additive penalty | -2.45 | 0.222 | -0.54 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Raw | no | -0.054 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Chilled | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Frozen | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Refrigerated | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Shelf | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Freeze Dried | no | 6.629 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Air Dried | no | 6.331 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Cold Pressed | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Baked | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
| Processing: Dry Semi Moist | no | -6.174 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Muesli | no | -10.146 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Pate | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Chunks | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
- Processing-type offset
- +0.02
- Additives declared on label
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 53.0
- Final score
- 53/100
Contributions are rounded to two decimals, so they may not sum exactly to the subtotal. The full coefficient table is published on the methodology page.
Nutritional: declared analysis vs reference ranges
How the declared analysis compares with FEDIAF reference ranges for adult dogs. The label prints as-fed values; we convert to a dry-matter basis before scoring, and the bands are dry-matter ranges. Scores rise to 100 at the band midpoint: the reference is adequacy, not maximisation. Nutrients with a published upper limit taper again above it; fat is policed through calorie density rather than a direct penalty.
Guaranteed-analysis FEDIAF score: crude minimums and maximums are bounds, not typical values; moisture (a maximum) uses the processing median where available; experimental US score.
| Nutrient | As fed (label) | Dry matter (scored) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 30 | 33.1 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 16 | 17.7 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 5.7 | 6.3 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Calcium | 1.35 | 1.5 (band 0.5 to 2.5%) | 99.8 |
| Phosphorus | 0.95 | 1 (band 0.4 to 1.6%) | 100 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.4 | 1.4 (band 1 to 2%) | 95.3 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 393 | 434.3 | 100 |
Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3): scored as the mean of its declared components (omega-6 100). The FEDIAF minimum for omega-6 is linoleic acid specifically.
Scored over 8 declared nutrients (combined weight 100); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 9.5% from the food type.
Medium confidence: the full five-part analysis is on file; where moisture was not declared it was estimated from the food type.
This measures agreement with published reference ranges, not suitability for an individual dog. For medical conditions, follow veterinary guidance.
Transparency: what the label discloses
How much the manufacturer discloses, measured against the FEDIAF Code of Good Labelling Practice and Regulation 767/2009. Mandatory items dominate the weighting.
| Item | Points |
|---|---|
| Ingredient list on the label (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Printed percentages on the label (voluntary) - not on file | 0/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) | 15/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) | 5/5 |
| Complete/complementary designation (mandatory) | 5/5 |
| Feeding guidance given (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Manufacturer identity and address (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Country of manufacture stated (voluntary) | 10/10 |
| Batch and date labelling (mandatory) - not on file | 0/5 |
Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (Batch and date labelling).
Safety: recall history
Recall and safety-notice history, time-decayed. This dimension is shown alongside the score and never feeds the headline number.
No recalls recorded in our database.
Evidence: what the brand claims, and what supports it
The claims made on the pack and product page, checked against the declared label. We record claims as stated; "consistent" means our stored label data supports the claim, "contradicted" means it conflicts with it. Functional claims are recorded but never scored.
Claims on file; none we can check against the label
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smaller kibbles to ease in chewing and palatibility (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Yucca schidigera for joint health and inflammation mitigation (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Added taurine for heart health (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Hydrolyzed yeast for skin and coat vitality (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Low glycemic ingredients to minimize blood sugar spikes appropriate for small breeds & all life stages (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Boosted anti-oxidants with added fresh fruits & vegetables – no powders (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| 600 million CFU/lb probiotics added post cooking (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Meat dense formula with chicken, turkey and salmon as multi-protein sources (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Fortified with vitamins and chelated minerals (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages except for growth of large size dogs (70 lbs or more as an adult) (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Grain free carbohydrates utilizing legumes to promote low glycemic attributes (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.
Other products from Horizon Pet Food
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