Exclusive Dog Food
February 1, 2009
Filed under Dog Food Reviews, Exclusive
Exclusive Dog Food Review
The Exclusive dog food brand is manufactured and marketed by PMI Nutrition. Exclusive pet food formulas are marketed as a “super-premium house brand” that provides “wholesome nutrition from head to tail”. The manufacturer of Exclusive claims the absence of fillers and frozen ingredients that can compromise the quality of any of their dog food formulas.
There are currently eight Exclusive dog dry dog food formulas which are available in the market. Six of these product lines have been designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance while two are tailored for all life stages (puppy formulas). 
Exclusive dog food formulas are marketed as using only fresh chicken and natural lamb combined with quality ingredients to come up with nutrient-rich products to meet every dog’s need.
The protein component of Exclusive dog food products is composed of fresh chicken or natural lamb. These meat-based protein ingredients are listed down as the #1 ingredient.
Fresh chicken and natural lam are good sources of meat-based protein however since they are still in their raw state, they contain about 80% water which can be lost during processing thus leaving only a small amount of available protein source.
To boost protein levels of the dog food product, fresh chicken is paired with chicken meal, a meat concentrate. This ingredient contains 300% more protein than fresh meat sources.
Pearled barley is a rich source of starch and contains both digestible and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber is essential in maintaining the stability of blood sugar levels. Pearled barley is also source of antioxidants, niacin, thiamine, iron, and other essential macro- and micro-minerals.
Whole grain brown rice is a whole grain ingredient. It is a better dog food ingredient compared to white rice because the nutrient-rich bran has not been removed. The bran contains fiber and essential nutrient like manganese, magnesium, and zinc.
Oatmeal serves both nutritional and health benefits. It is a good source of plant-based protein with amounts equivalent to soy protein, meat, milk, or egg. It provides soluble fiber, B-vitamins, and iron. Compared to wheat, oatmeal contains only very small amounts of gluten.
Flax seeds benefit a dog’s skin and coat. It is rich in omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, specifically Alpha-linolenic acid. It is also an excellent source of both soluble and insoluble fiber which can help maintain the stability of blood sugar levels and is important in the health and integrity of the digestive system. The insoluble fiber also prevents constipation. Some experts also claim that flax seed can alleviate hypersensitivity reactions in dogs.
Chicory root powder is known for its inulin content. Inulin is a prebiotic which can nourish the beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract. It also helps in the reduction of gas production.
Salmon meal is rich protein meat concentrate. It is extremely high in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids which protects the body cells against free radicals.
Some of the controversial ingredients of Exclusive dog food formulas include corn gluten meal and beet pulp.
Beet pulp is a by-product when sugar is extracted from sugar beets. Although it is considered a valuable source of fiber and energy, beet pulp has been considered by some dog owners as an ingredient that increases the risk of stomach swelling and plugging of the intestinal villi. However, these problems have only been met in horses with a relatively large daily intake of beet pulp. It is also considered as an inexpensive filler of dog food products.
Corn gluten meal has been used in dog foods as an inexpensive source of protein. It is also considered a low-priced filler.
Exclusive dog food formulas also incorporate chelated minerals and probiotics which can enhance the digestion and absorption process.
Many dog owners are pleased that their dogs which are fed with Exclusive dog food formulas have shiny healthy skin and coats. Aside from being highly palatable, dog owners report of lesser problems with worms and firmer stools. The prices of Exclusive dog food formulas are also considered a positive point. However there are dog owners who have reservations because of the presence of corn gluten meal and beet pulp.
Overall, Exclusive produces a kibble that is above-average and we recommend this dog food brand. While it is not among the best dog food brand, we believe that they produce quality formulas.
Please visit the links listed below for Exclusive dog food reviews by formula.
Have a comment or question about our Exclusive dog food review? Want to share your experiences with others? We welcome your comments!
Exclusive Dog Food Formula Reviews
Exclusive Dog Food Formulas:
- Exclusive Chicken and Rice Large Breed Adult Dog Food
- Exclusive Chicken and Rice Large Breed Puppy Dog Food
- Exclusive Chicken and Rice Puppy Dog Food
- Exclusive Chicken and Rice Performance Dog Food
- Exclusive Chicken and Rice Adult Dog Food
- Exclusive Lamb and Rice Adult Dog Food
- Exclusive Chicken and Rice Senior Dog Food
Exclusive Dog Food Consumer Ratings
| Title | Votes | Rating | Review |
| Exclusive Chicken and Rice Adult Dog Food | 28 | 6.0 | -1.0 |
| Exclusive Chicken and Rice Large Breed Adult Dog Food | 15 | 4.7 | -1.0 |
| Exclusive Chicken and Rice Large Breed Puppy Dog Food | 22 | 7.0 | -1.0 |
| Exclusive Chicken and Rice Performance Dog Food | 22 | 5.8 | -1.0 |
| Exclusive Chicken and Rice Puppy Dog Food | 19 | 4.3 | -1.0 |
| Exclusive Chicken and Rice Senior Dog Food | 23 | 5.1 | -1.0 |
| Exclusive Dog Food | 59 | 7.0 | -1.0 |
| Exclusive Lamb and Rice Adult Dog Food | 28 | 6.6 | -1.0 |
Exclusive Lamb and Rice dog food does not have corn in it. You need to do better research
my dog was on exclusive when he died, all my vet bill latter I still have a dead dog. I now feed Merrick and wouldn’t change my other dog are 100 percent better.
I am checking out possibilities for new dog food. I am wondering why Susan blames Exclusive dog food for her pet’s death, and why she feels Merrick is so much better. Thanks
My Chocolate Lab was raised on Excluxive Lamb and Rice. On occasions that have had to put him on something else temporarily. He looses weight very fast and does not appear to hove as much energy.
I have used Exclusive occasionally but it does have more grain products than I like in a dog food. I think it is better than many dog food brands but certainly not as good as Solid Gold, Merrick, Chicken Soup, California Naturals, and others of that level. I think if a person cannot afford to feed their dogs these top level foods that are mostly meat with very little to no grains, then Exclusive is at least better than most like Dog Chow, Ol Roy, Pedigree, Gravy Train and grocery store brands of dog food which are mostly corn/grain and grain derivatives.
hi i have a pom he just turned 3 in dec has been fine until the last 3 weeks started swelling in his belly and legs and ankles took him to vet they said he is not keep rotein in his body and his kidneys are splilling over which is causing edema swelling vet has him on k/d made by hills its 2 bucks a can he will not eat it iv tryed other things as vet said now there telling me to force feed him there is noway to force feed a cam a day plz help any ideas
Beware! Used to feed our registered Weimeraner Exclusive Chicken and Rice until… profuse shedding and loss of the luster of her once beautiful coat. Went to a higher quality food….after 1 15lb bag the shedding stopped and the beautiful luster came back to her coat. Don’t buy thier story on how good this food is….they get a kickback from PMI…..more you sell more you make. Be sure to research, research and research. Eukanuba works great for our breed.
Dick- You went from an o.k. dog food to a real bottom of the barrel,Exclusive to Eukanuba??? Where did you do your research?? Eukanuba is total crap,I guess you must have looked up bad ingredients and then picked Eukanuba because they are all in there…
I LOVE THE SIZE OF THIS FOOD. IT IS SMALL ENOUGH MY NEW PUPPIES CAN CHEW IT AND SWALLOW IT WITHOUT GETTING CHOKED
EUKANUBA JUST HAD A MASSIVE RECALL ON ALL THIER FOODS
Hi,
I have 3 golden retrievers. They have done great on the exclusive dog food. However just recently all 3 seem to have a dull looking coat. They are brushed daily, and have the best of care. We did deworm them to rule that out. It is strange all 3 at the same time developed dull coats, unless exclusive changed their formula or something???
Perplexed in Wisconsin
That’s because this dog food has corn gluten meal in it and dogs CAN NOT digest corn and the gluten is almost a poison to dogs. So this crap is just going right through them and if it isn’t then it starts to cause issues. The fish meal and salmon oil contain ethoxyquin and banned preservative in human food. It also has a long of grain in it and a lot of dogs have problems with grains. I would recommend any of these foods.
The A list
1. Orijen
2. Acana, Harvest, Pacifica & Grassland only.
3. Blue Wilderness
4. Wellness Core
5. Horizon Legacy
6. Taste of the Wild, wetlands & prairie only, Grain free
7. Go, Grain free only.
8. Acana, the rest of Acana products.
9. Artemis
10. Fromm
11. Merrick, before grain.
12. Evo
The B list
1. Now, Grain free.
2. GO, free Endurance, chicken, salmon only
3. Merrick
4. Evangers
5. Timberwolf
5. Instinct
6. Wellness
7. Solid Gold
8. Precise Holistic Complete, ONLY!
9. Canidae
10. Natures Logic
11. First Mate
12. Kirkland, Costco
12. California Natural
fresh, never frozen chicken is always the first ingredient with exclusive dog and cat food, with the exception of the lamb and rice.
exclusive has just recently enhanced the formula, adding fiber from chicory root and added microbials, like found in yogurt. they added glucosamine and chondroitin to most of the formulas. it is a very good food, but, you can’t expect it to fix genetic problems, illnesses, and, if not feed correctly, your pet won’t get the recommended amounts of key vitamins and minerals.
to the earlier statement….eukanuba is crap
I have been feeding my 16 month old german shepard exclusive for about 6 months and he seems to like it. I also train for marathons and he could still run circles around me for 20+ miles. I have no complaints about this dog food.
My German Shephard has been on Exlsuive, for large active dog, chicken, for all of his 5 years. People talk about his shiney coat and his energy. NON-Stop, He even qualifed as a Police K-9, for his drive and nose. My neighbor started to give her GS Exclusive, and she started to get complaints. I love it…..