Ol’ Roy Dog Food Reviewed: Pros, Cons, and Ingredient Analysis

Ol’ Roy Dog Food is the private label store brand of Walmart and is named after Sam Walton’s bird dog, Ol’ Roy.

Walmart’s brand of dog food came about in 1981 when Walton got the idea to start a dog food brand that would provide similar quality products as other brands while costing less money.

They contracted with Doane Pet Care Company to make their products. Doane Pet Care, as well as Ol’ Roy, is owned by Mars Corporation, the largest manufacturer of pet food in the world.

There is no information about where Ol’ Roy Dog Food is made.

Doane Pet Care Company is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, with manufacturing facilities. However, it is not stated whether this is the manufacturing site for Ol’ Roy Dog Food.

Ol’ Roy Dog Food is a budget food meaning the brand does not have a special manufacturing way. General pet food production involves mixing wet and dry ingredients, which are then dehydrated and grounded into a powder.

They are then heated under pressure and pushed through a die machine that forms the kibble shapes and textures. The food is then dried, cooled, and coated in things like chicken flavor and animal fat for taste.

Yes, Ol’ Roy Dog Food is good, especially for owners on a budget.

Ol’ Roy is a grain-inclusive dog food that uses meat and bone meal or poultry by-product meal as the primary protein source. A dog can do fine on Ol’ Roy dog food because it provides all of the necessary nutrients a dog needs, but the ingredients are low quality and low in nutrient density.

There are different Ol’Roy Dog Food formulas. Take a look at our product review to find out which recipe is the best dog food from the brand.

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Summary: This soft dog food is a budget-friendly source of complete nutrition that uses beef meal as the primary ingredient for taste and nutrients. The soft and moist nature of the food is easily chewable for young dogs as well as senior dogs or dogs who have teeth issues. Hearty beef and cheddar flavor keep dogs interested while providing vital vitamins and minerals necessary for healthy and happy dogs. It is good value for money and is available in a 4-lbs box available on Amazon and 36 pouches per box at Walmart, which are convenient for easy serving and storage.

Type: Soft & moist dog food

Best for: Adult dogs

Flavor Options: Beef

Price: $4.00/lb

Ingredient Analysis: Beef by-product is the first ingredient. By-product is the usable product other than muscle meats obtained from animal processing meaning the ingredients are low quality. High fructose corn syrup is the second ingredient which is not ideal as it provides no nutritional value, only carbohydrates. The remaining ingredients are processed plants or synthetic additives for vitamins and minerals. Calcium, vitamin E, and niacin are all supplemented, and red 40, yellow 5, and yellow-6 are included for color. It provides all of the nutrition a dog needs but at the cost of using low-grade ingredients.

Review: Most reviews on Walmart’s website are positive, with many customers complimenting the product for being a great meal additive to dry food. They say their dogs who are aging and losing teeth can eat this food and still enjoy it. The most common complaint among negative reviews is the food had made their dogs ill. They suspect the ingredients may have caused the illnesses, even in dogs who had been eating this food for some time.

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Summary: This dry food is formulated to be easily digestible and provide protein for healthy muscles. It is made with meat and bone meal and poultry by-product meal as the primary protein sources. They feature a small selection of flavors available in up to 50-lb bags that are made to keep dogs from becoming bored with mealtime. The ingredients in this product provide every necessary nutrient a dog needs to be healthy, making this a complete nutrition dog food.

Type: Dry dog food

Best for: Adult dogs

Flavor Options: N/A

Price: $0.84/lb

Ingredient Analysis: Ground whole grain corn is the first ingredient, which is a filler and only provides a nominal amount of carbohydrates. Meat and bone meal are the second ingredient and the primary source of protein. This is not ideal as it is not made clear what animal the meat and bone came from. This can cause issues for dogs who may have food allergies. Unspecified animal fat is included for crude fat content, and poultry by-product meal is used for additional protein and flavor. This food has a rich vitamin and mineral profile, mainly due to supplementation.

Review: Many consumers claim their dogs enjoy this food. Some say they have dogs who turned down higher-end brands like Blue Buffalo and Iams in favor of Ol’ Roy. About 10% of consumers did not have a great experience, however. Numerous complaints about wrong delivery or damaged products were made in reviews, as well as comments about their dogs refusing to eat the food altogether.

Ol’ Roy Dog Food makes different product lines and recipes. Here is a list of the brand’s formulas:

Yes, Ol’ Roy Dog Food has been recalled.

Independent testing performed by a TV news investigative team discovered traces of sodium pentobarbital, a euthanasia drug, in samples of the Gravy Train wet food formula.

As a result, a recall was issued on various Ol’ Roy flavors, Gravy Train, Kibbles ‘n Bits, and Skippy canned dog foods.

Another recall in October 2008 was issued due to potential Salmonella contamination of dry pet food products produced by Mars Petcare US.

Various recalls from 1998 to 2008 included salmonella contamination, melamine contamination, and flaking inside cans of wet dog food.

Yes, Ol’Roy Dog Food is worth it.

Ol’ Roy products provide complete nutrition, and they offer formulas for dogs of all life stages, from small breed to large breed, and their products are widely available.

However, they are made with relatively low-quality ingredients of low nutritional value and do not prioritize high-quality animal protein sources.

Unlike more expensive dog food brands like Nutro, Purina Pro Plan, Merrick, or Cesar, this brand relies on things like by-product meals and corn gluten meals. However, that is also the reason its recipes come at an affordable, budget-friendly price.