Is Horizon Pet Food Pulsar WG Chicken a good dog food?
We score it 51/100 (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 51 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.
- Recipe51
- Nutritionalmedium87
- Transparency60
- Safety100
- Evidencemoderate100
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 51, in the top quarter of dry foods we track.
- Single named animal protein: chicken.
- Declares energy content, which most labels omit.
Why you might not
- Meat makes up an estimated 4% of the dry matter (5% 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
- 24%
- Fat
- 14%
- Fibre
- 3.70%
- Ash
- 8.40%
- Moisture
- 10%
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- 1%
- Omega-6 fatty acids
- 0.30%
- Calcium
- 1.30%
- Phosphorus
- 1.20%
- Sodium
- 0.19%
Energy: 362 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 sulfate; Iron proteinate; Zinc sulfate; Zinc proteinate; Manganous oxide; Manganese proteinate; Copper sulfate; Copper proteinate; Calcium iodate; Selenium yeast; Magnesium oxide; Taurine (min) 0.20%; Zinc 459 mg/kg; Choline chloride; DL-Methionine; L-Lysine; Threonine
Feeding guide
Servings per day based on standard 8 oz cups: 5 lb (Puppy 0.66 / Adult 0.33 / Senior 0.33), 10 lb (1 / 0.66 / 0.5), 20 lb (1.75 / 1.25 / 1), 40 lb (3 / 2 / 1.66), 60 lb (4 / 2.66 / 2.25), 80 lb (5 / 3.25 / 2.75), 100 lb (6 / 3.75 / 3.25), 120 lb (6.75 / 4.5 / 3.66). Transition over 6 days: 1/4 new food for 2 days, 1/2 new food for 2 days, 3/4 new food for 2 days, full transition after 6 days.
Reviews
Trustpilot: 3.7/5 · 1 reviews
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for all lifestages
- Single named protein: chicken
- Doesn't list beef, turkey, lamb, fish, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids grain: the label lists barley
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 (57)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicken Meal | Dried chicken protein | meat | good | - | 2.3 |
| 2 | Whole Grain Hulless Barley | Barley | carb | medium | - | 2.3 |
| 3 | Whole Grain Rye | Rye | carb | good | - | 2.3 |
| 4 | Chicken | Chicken | meat | medium | - | 2.3 |
| 5 | Whole Grain Oats | Oats | carb | medium | - | 2.2 |
| 6 | Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, Source of Vitamin E) | Chicken Oil and Fat | oil | medium | - | 2.2 |
| 7 | Flaxseed | Linseed | veg | good | - | 2.2 |
| 8 | Quinoa | Quinoa | carb | good | - | 2.2 |
| 9 | Dicalcium Phosphate | Dicalcium phosphate | supplement | medium | - | 2.2 |
| 10 | Carrots | Carrots | veg | good | - | 2.1 |
| 11 | Apples | Apples | veg | good | - | 2.1 |
| 12 | Broccoli | Broccoli | veg | good | - | 2.1 |
| 13 | Bok Choy | unmatched | - | - | - | 2.1 |
| 14 | Cabbage | Cabbage | veg | good | - | 2.1 |
| 15 | Blueberries | Blueberries | veg | good | - | 2.0 |
| 16 | Salt | Salt | additive | medium | - | 2.0 |
| 17 | Potassium Chloride | Potassium Chloride | supplement | medium | - | 2.0 |
| 18 | Inulin | Inulin | fibre | good | - | 2.0 |
| 19 | Threonine | Threonine | supplement | medium | - | 2.0 |
| 20 | Choline Chloride | Choline | supplement | good | - | 1.9 |
| 21 | Taurine | Taurine | supplement | good | - | 1.9 |
| 22 | Yucca Schidigera Extract | Yucca Schidigera | supplement | good | - | 1.9 |
| 23 | L-Lysine | Lysine | supplement | medium | - | 1.9 |
| 24 | DL-Methionine | Methionine | supplement | good | - | 1.9 |
| 25 | Hydrolyzed Yeast | Yeast | supplement | good | - | 1.8 |
| 26 | Dried Aspergillus Niger Fermentation Extract | unmatched | - | - | - | 1.8 |
| 27 | Pineapple | Pineapple | veg | good | - | 1.8 |
| 28 | Dried Trichoderma Longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract | unmatched | - | - | - | 1.8 |
| 29 | Dried Rhizopus Oryzae Fermentation Extract | unmatched | - | - | - | 1.8 |
| 30 | Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product | Enterococcus Faecium | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 31 | Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product | Lactobacillus casei | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 32 | Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product | Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 33 | Dried Bifidobacterium Bifidum Fermentation Product | Bifidobacterium bifidum | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 34 | Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product | Lactobacillus plantarum | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 35 | Vitamin A Acetate | Vitamin A | supplement | good | - | 1.6 |
| 36 | Vitamin D3 Supplement | Vitamin D3 supplement | supplement | good | - | 1.6 |
| 37 | Vitamin E Supplement | Vitamin E | supplement | good | - | 1.6 |
| 38 | Vitamin B12 Supplement | Vitamin B12 | supplement | good | - | 1.6 |
| 39 | Riboflavin | Riboflavin | supplement | good | - | 1.6 |
| 40 | Niacin | Niacin | supplement | good | - | 1.5 |
| 41 | Folic Acid | Folic acid | supplement | good | - | 1.5 |
| 42 | Pyridoxine Hydrochloride | Pyridoxine hydrochloride | supplement | good | - | 1.5 |
| 43 | Thiamine Mononitrate | Thiamine mononitrate | supplement | good | - | 1.5 |
| 44 | D-Calcium Pantothenate | Calcium pantothenate | supplement | good | - | 1.4 |
| 45 | Biotin | Biotin | supplement | good | - | 1.4 |
| 46 | L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C) | L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate | supplement | good | - | 1.4 |
| 47 | Ferrous Sulfate | Iron sulfate | supplement | good | - | 1.4 |
| 48 | Iron Proteinate | Iron Proteinate | mineral | good | - | 1.4 |
| 49 | Zinc Sulfate | Zinc sulfate | supplement | medium | - | 1.3 |
| 50 | Zinc Proteinate | Zinc Proteinate | supplement | good | - | 1.3 |
| 51 | Manganous Oxide | Manganese (II) Oxide | supplement | good | - | 1.3 |
| 52 | Manganese Proteinate | Manganese proteinate | supplement | good | - | 1.3 |
| 53 | Copper Sulfate | Copper sulphate | supplement | good | - | 1.3 |
| 54 | Copper Proteinate | Copper proteinate | supplement | good | - | 1.2 |
| 55 | Calcium Iodate | Calcium iodate | supplement | medium | - | 1.2 |
| 56 | Selenium Yeast | Selenium | mineral | good | - | 1.2 |
| 57 | 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 | +6.77 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 10.5% | -0.115 | -1.21 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 2.9% | -0.092 | -0.27 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 5.1% | -0.005 | -0.03 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 2.4% | 0.163 | +0.39 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 63.5% | -0.012 | -0.78 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 6.2% | -0.027 | -0.17 |
| 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 | -2.50 | 0.222 | -0.56 |
| 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 | +6.77 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 10.5% | -0.115 | -1.21 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 2.9% | -0.092 | -0.27 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 5.1% | -0.005 | -0.03 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 2.4% | 0.163 | +0.39 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 63.5% | -0.012 | -0.78 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.375 | +0.00 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 6.2% | -0.027 | -0.17 |
| 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 | -2.50 | 0.222 | -0.56 |
| 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
- +1 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 51.1
- Final score
- 51/100
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 | 24 | 26.5 (band 18 to 40%) | 93.2 |
| Fat | 14 | 15.5 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 3.7 | 4.1 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Calcium | 1.3 | 1.4 (band 0.5 to 2.5%) | 98.1 |
| Phosphorus | 1.2 | 1.3 (band 0.4 to 1.6%) | 100 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.1 | 1.1 (band 1 to 2%) | 75 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 17.6 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 362 | 400 | 100 |
Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3): scored as the mean of its declared components (omega-6 17.6). 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) | 5/10 |
| 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.
100/100 · moderate — 1 checkable claim: 1 consistent, 0 contradicted.
Consistent with the label
- "Meat concentrated formula with chicken protein as single animal protein source" — supported by the declared single protein data.
10 further claims on file that we cannot check against the label.
Moderate: every checkable claim is consistent with the declared label.
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Added quinoa to moderate blood sugar spikes and improve digestion (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Yucca schidigera for joint health and inflammation mitigation (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Hydrolyzed yeast for healthy skin and shiny coat (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Added taurine for heart health (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Low glycemic ingredients to minimize blood sugar spikes (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Fully rotational with all Pulsar formulas appropriate for all breeds & all life stages (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Whole grain carbohydrates utilizing quinoa, barley, rye and oats (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 including growth of large size dogs (70 lbs or more as an adult) (on page) | Nutrient | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| 600 million CFU/lb probiotics added post cooking (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Boosted anti-oxidants with added fresh fruits & vegetables – no powders (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Meat concentrated formula with chicken protein as single animal protein source (on page) | Content | consistent | 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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