Heritage Ranch by H-E-B Dog Food Review 2023: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Review Summary

Founded in 1905 in Texas, H-E-B is a grocery store chain that has expanded throughout Texas and into Mexico. This company’s aim is to provide community support and affordable, healthy food options for people in these areas. To better serve their communities, H-E-B released a line of dog and cat food and treats under the name Heritage Ranch by H-E-B.

While these foods may not be the highest quality foods on the market, they are surprisingly nutritious for a grocery store brand. If you live in Texas and are looking for nutritious dog food on a budget, keep reading to learn more about the Heritage Ranch by H-E-B dog food.

At a Glance: The Best Heritage Ranch by H-E-B Dog Food Recipes:

Heritage Ranch by H-E-B Dog Food Reviewed

Who makes Heritage Ranch by H-E-B Dog Food and where is it produced?

Heritage Ranch by H-E-B dog food is produced for H-E-B grocery stores. This grocery store chain is scattered throughout the state of Texas. They also have a Mexican grocery store chain called Mi Tienda. The ingredients for Heritage Ranch by H-E-B dog foods are acquired from a variety of sources across the world, but the foods are produced in the US.

Which type of dog is Heritage Ranch by H-E-B Dog Food best suited for?

Heritage Ranch by H-E-B is available in puppy food and maintenance food for adult dogs. They do not currently have a senior-specific recipe or a high-protein recipe for weight gain and active dogs.

Which type of dog might do better with a different brand?

All but one of these foods have some form of chicken protein, making this food unsuitable for dogs with sensitivities to chicken.

Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula

Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

Chicken:

Chicken is a fantastic lean protein source for dogs. It’s lower in calories and fat than many other protein sources. It’s a good source of B12, which supports energy levels and nervous system function. It’s also a good source of selenium, which supports immune system health and function.

Chicken Meal:

Chicken meal is often considered to be a low-quality ingredient in dog food, but it’s actually about 300% higher in protein than chicken meat. Chicken meal helps support muscle mass and a healthy weight. It’s a good source of glucosamine, which is fantastic for supporting joint health and mobility.

Brown Rice:

Brown rice is a complex carbohydrate, which means it is rich in nutrients and helps support healthy metabolism and energy levels. It’s easy to digest, making it a good ingredient for supporting digestive health. It’s a good source of multiple nutrients, including iron, calcium, phosphorus, B vitamins, magnesium, and phosphorus.

Oatmeal:

Like brown rice, oatmeal is a complex carbohydrate that is high in fiber and supports healthy digestion, energy levels, and metabolism. It can help maintain healthy blood sugar levels, although it’s important to discuss this with your vet if your dog has diabetes or other medical conditions that impact their blood sugar levels. Oatmeal can help support satiety between meals, which can make it an effective ingredient for weight loss.

Broth:

Different varieties of the Heritage Ranch by H-E-B dog food use different types of broth, so the nutrient profile varies between recipes. Depending on the protein source, broth is not only hydrating, but it can also be a good source of a variety of nutrients, like B vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, amino acids, and collagen.

Protein Content

The protein content of Heritage Ranch by H-E-B foods varies based on the recipe, but all of the dry foods work out to around 23%–26% protein on a dry matter basis. Most dogs require between 18%–30% for adult dogs and 22%–30% for puppies and juvenile dogs that are still growing. This puts the Heritage Ranch by H-E-B foods right in the perfect protein content range for most dogs.

Grain-Forward vs Grain-Free

Heritage Ranch by H-E-B foods offer both grain-forward and grain-free diet options. This is important because some grain-free diets and diets containing legumes, like peas, chickpeas, and lentils, have shown a connection to heart disease in dogs. Most vets recommend that dogs are on grain-forward diets to ensure their nutritional needs are met, and they don’t develop preventable heart disease. By offering grain-forward and grain-free diets, this company has great potential for meeting the specific dietary needs of a variety of dogs.

Pricing

Although this brand meets the nutritional needs of most dogs, it is priced in the same range as most grocery store brands. This means that these foods are likely to suit most budgets while still providing your dog with all the nutrition they need to stay healthy.

Chicken

Almost all Heritage Ranch by H-E-B foods contain chicken, a common allergen for many dogs. This means that these foods are not a great option for dogs with sensitivities to chicken proteins. The exception to this is the Heritage Ranch by H-E-B Grain Free Salmon & Chickpea Dry Dog Food, which does contain chicken fat, but fat lacks the proteins that irritate allergies.

A Quick Look at Heritage Ranch by H-E-B Dog Food

Recall History

At the time of writing, Heritage Ranch by H-E-B has no recall history.

Reviews of the 3 Best Heritage Ranch by H-E-B Dog Food Recipes

1. Heritage Ranch by H-E-B Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food

The Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food recipe is a solid option if you’re looking for a budget-friendly, grain-forward food for your dog. This food contains chicken as the primary protein source, and it has 25% protein content and 15% fat content, making this suitable for most adult dogs.

This is a good source of omega fatty acids, which help support skin, coat, and joint health. It contains vegetables, like dried carrots and dried sweet potatoes, and grains, like oatmeal and brown rice, for added fiber to support digestive health. It contains 349 calories per cup of food, making it moderate in nutrient density.

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2. Heritage Ranch by H-E-B Grain Free Salmon & Chickpea Dry Dog Food

The Grain Free Salmon & Chickpea Dry Dog Food is a great option if your dog needs a chicken-free diet. This food does contain chicken fat, but this is unlikely to irritate any chicken allergies your dog may have. This food does contain chickpeas as the third ingredient. Chickpeas and other legumes have shown a potential connection to causing heart disease in dogs, so it’s best to discuss these risks with your vet before transitioning your dog.

This food has a 26% protein content and 15% fat content. It’s a great source of omega fatty acids, supporting skin and coat health. It’s also a good source of DHA, which supports brain health. This food is a good source of fiber and will help support a healthy digestive system. For a grain-free diet, this is a budget-friendly food option.

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3. Heritage Ranch by H-E-B Grain Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Wet Dog Food

The Grain Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Wet Dog Food is a grain-free food, but it is also free of legumes, so it has a lower risk of causing heart disease. Make sure to discuss this with your vet, though. This food contains chicken and chicken liver, so it’s not suitable for dogs with sensitivities to chicken.

This food contains around 40% protein content on a dry matter basis and 27% fat on a dry matter basis, putting it higher than most other foods. Because this is a wet food, it isn’t as budget-friendly as dry foods, but this is an affordable wet food option if that is your dog’s preference. It’s a good source of omega-fatty acids and provides enough protein to support muscle mass and a healthy body weight.

What Other Users Are Saying

Conclusion

Overall, Heritage Ranch by H-E-B makes great dog food for tighter budgets. This is a good grocery store option for people who live in Texas and Mexico. It isn’t the highest quality dog food brand on the market, but these foods are designed to meet the nutritional needs of most puppies and adult dogs.

When it comes to grain-free diets and foods containing legumes, make sure to discuss these with your vet before transitioning your dog. Your vet will be able to give you thorough information about the potential risks of feeding these foods to your dog. The grain-forward recipes from Heritage Ranch by H-E-B are good options for most dogs.

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Featured Image Credit: heb.com