Frequently Asked Questions

Halo makes a variety of nutritious diets that meet the specific nutritional needs of dogs and cats during various lifestages, such as puppy or kitten, adult or senior. We also offer nutritious recipes for indoor cats, cats with sensitive stomachs, small breed dogs, and those dogs and cats that could benefit from a lower calorie, healthy weight diet to help get fit and stay trim. And if your dog has protein sensitivities or you would like your dog to take part in your meatless lifestyle, we have a wholesome vegan recipe—in wet and dry formulas—that provides complete and balanced nutrition.    

We believe each and every animal impacts our lives and ultimately plays a role in improving our collective well-being. So we’re abandoning the long-held one-way view of animal management purely for human benefit, for one where we take care of each other—people, animals, and planet. This is why our mission is to change the way companion animals are fed and farm animals are raised...for the better. It includes delivering great cat food and dog food made with WHOLE meat and no "meat meal" (like "chicken meal" or "fish meal") that your pet will love, supporting shelter pets and helping nourish and transform them to give them their very best chance at a forever home, and rejecting the factory farm model of close-confinement, growth hormones, antibiotics, and genetically modified feeds. Instead, we foster naturally raised animals, regenerative soils, and environmental balance.

We believe that in the end, the truth always comes out. And in this case, it generally comes out a bit better. Because of Halo's super digestibility, you can expect to pick up after your pet a little bit less. When you feed an easier-to-digest food, your pet utilizes more of it. And the more nutrition your pet benefits from, the less you pick up as waste.

HALO is committed to delivering exceptional cat food and dog food that you can trust and your pet will love.  For over 30 years we have made very conscious decisions in how we make our pet food, who we source our ingredients from, and which animal welfare groups we partner with.  We at HALO are pet parents ourselves, and like you, our pets mean the world to us.  We believe that what you feed your pet has a big influence on their quality of life.  Every day, we're proud to do our part in bringing a healthy, nutritious, totally meal-free pet food to you and your pets.

Halo uses real WHOLE meat, poultry, or fish (no “meat meals”), non-GMO vegetables, and proteins that are certified humanely raised. All of these ingredients are substantially more expensive than the ingredients commonly used by most pet food companies. The use of these premium ingredients yields pet foods with super digestibility.

Real WHOLE meat, poultry, and fish are more digestible than "meat meal" or "poultry meal," which means cats and dogs can retain and use more of the nutrients in the food.

Unlike most pet foods, Halo uses real WHOLE meat, poultry, or fish, and no rendered "meat meal" of ANY kind. WHOLE protein is more digestible than "meat meal," like "chicken meal" or "fish meal," so your pet can retain and use more of the nutrition you pay for.

If your pet has already been eating Halo dry diets, it should not be necessary to transition to the new formulas. Our new recipes include many of the same quality ingredients as the previous formulas. Halo's OrigiNative™ proteins and non-GMO fruits and vegetables enhance the quality of these new recipes. Dogs and cats eating non-Halo recipes should slowly transition from their old brand to Halo. Learn more about how to switch your pet to Halo.

Your pet may not notice the difference, because just as it’s always been, Halo will still be made with real WHOLE meat, poultry, or fish, and never ANY “meat meal” like "chicken meal" or "fish meal". Halo will still have fruits and vegetables, added vitamins and minerals, no corn, wheat, or wheat gluten, and no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. However, what's new about Halo will matter to you, farm animals, and the planet. Halo will now have more real WHOLE protein, non-GMO vegetables, and OrigiNative™ humanely raised and sourced meat, poultry, and fish.  

While pets get excited by the great aroma of Halo’s real WHOLE meat, poultry, or fish, their unique digestive enzymes need a little time to adapt completely to a new food. For most cats and dogs, that’s about 7-10 days, and for sensitive stomachs, about 2-3 weeks. Guidelines for changing your pet’s current dry or wet food to Halo dry or wet food*:

• Days 1-3 75% old food, 25% Halo
• Days 4-5 50% old food, 50% Halo
• Days 6-7 25% old food, 75% Halo
• Days 8+ 100% Halo

*Pets with sensitive stomachs may need to transition a little more slowly to avoid any digestive upset.

If your pet's favorite recipe is no longer available, select a whole grain or grain free recipe with the same or a similar protein.

We recommend switching to a lamb diet if you had formerly fed pork to you dog. 

Spot's Stew wet dog food has a new name, Halo Adult Dog Recipe, and it's available in either Chicken, Beef, Lamb, or Salmon & Turkey. The former "Spot's Stew" canned Wholesome Chicken included pasta, which has been removed. Spot’s Stew wet dog formulas were updated to include more premium whole meat, poultry, or fish, non-GMO vegetables and fruit, and any AAFCO required nutritional adjustments. Moisture in these recipes remains between 82% to 85%. These diets have been renamed Halo.

The Original Spot's Stew chicken formula was reformulated to include more chicken for a higher amount of protein and fat, fewer carbohydrates with the removal of pasta, and non-GMO vegetables in smaller pieces.

In palatability tests comparing the previous Halo recipes to the new formulas, the vast majority of cats (17 out of 20) and dogs (14 out of 20) preferred the new formulas.

Instead of organic, Halo has chosen to source our proteins from producers and ranchers that raise their animals naturally and humanely, or fish within sustainable wild ocean fisheries. All Halo meat, poultry, and fish proteins are either GAP (Global Animal Partnership) or MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) certified. We are proud of our OrigiNative™ sourced proteins and non-GMO vegetables and fruits.

At Halo, we continue on our mission to "Change the Way Companion Animals are Fed and Farm Animals are Raised...for the Better." Our commitment is to deliver the finest pet nutrition available. All of our meat, poultry, and fish proteins come from animals processed for human food in USDA- and FDA-inspected facilities. We never use animal proteins that are not fit for your family's dinner table.

Our food is produced in manufacturing facilities designed specifically for pet food. That means that the people are trained in the nutritional requirements for pets, and the equipment is designed to make products specifically for dogs and cats. Because those facilities don't manufacture human food, we aren't allowed to use the term "human grade" on our labels.

To ensure the highest quality, we begin with humanely raised and sustainably sourced ingredients. Our meat, poultry, and fish proteins are third-party certified by the Global Animal Partnership or Marine Stewardship Council. We say YES to WHOLE meat, poultry, and fish, and non-GMO fruits and vegetables, and NO to rendered "meat meal," like "chicken meal" or "fish meal," artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

In addition, Halo has moved away from factory-farmed meat sources to OrigiNative™ proteins, including certified humanely sourced by GAP AND MSC, which may also help pets (mainly dogs) that have protein sensitivities. Will your pet notice these formula enhancements? Yes! Third-party testing has shown our new formulas have even higher palatability than our previous yummy ones, being preferred by 14 out of 20 dogs and 17 out of 20 cats.

All the vegetables Halo uses in our recipes are sourced from non-GMO farms. Non-GMO, however, does not guarantee pesticide free. Similarly, an organic designation does not guarantee pesticide free either.

No. Our beef recipes are formulated with WHOLE muscle beef and beef hearts. While beef gullets are a source of chondroitin and glucosamine, they are also high in thyroid hormones.

We begin with humanely raised and sustainably sourced ingredients. Our meat, poultry, and fish proteins are third-party certified (Global Animal Partnership or Marine Stewardship Council). We say YES to whole meat and non-GMO fruits and vegetables and NO to rendered “meat meal,” artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

WHOLE meat, poultry, and fish are more digestible and therefore bioavailable than "meat meal," like "chicken meal" or "fish meal," meaning cats and dogs can utilize more of the nutrients found in real WHOLE meat protein than "meat meal".

All fish utilized in Halo's kibble diets are wild caught in sustainable ocean fisheries as certified by the Marine Stewardship Council.

Many egg-laying birds are continuously confined in "battery cages" where they don't have room to stretch their wings. Halo is not only committed to sourcing cage free poultry, but we also are working with farmers who are certified to raise their flocks in an environment that allows the birds to express their natural behavior.

“Meat meal” is a powdered material made when the remnants of slaughterhouses and fish processing factories are rendered, high-heat processed, and dehydrated. This “meat meal” is not suitable for human consumption.

We believe WHOLE Meat Makes a Whole Lot of Difference™, because real WHOLE meat, poultry, and fish are more digestible than "meat meal," (like "chicken meal" or "fish meal") which means cats and dogs can retain and use more of the nutrients in the food.

Halo’s dry cat food and dog food recipes are made with a dry version of DreamCoat®, Halo’s top-selling liquid skin and coat supplement, which includes non-GMO soy protein concentrate, flaxseed, and Vitamin E supplement that supplies the necessary vitamins and Essential Fatty acids needed to support healthy skin and a shiny coat. We choose to include non-GMO soy protein concentrate—and NOT soy meal or soy flour—in all of our kibble recipes because soy protein concentrate is a great source of the essential fatty acids that mirror the ingredients in our original DreamCoat.

Another reason we selected soy protein concentrate is its digestibility for cats and dogs. Clinical trials have shown it to be higher in both protein and fat digestibility than poultry “meals”. In fact, it contains all the essential and non-essential amino acids of beef.

The common use of soy meal or soy flour in pet foods is what has given soy a bad reputation. Both these materials attract and hold large amounts of water while in the digestive tract, causing large, wet, nasty poop. Soy protein concentrate has been processed to remove the fibers and other carbohydrates from the soy to remove this activity, improve digestibility, and concentrate the amount of essential fatty acids delivered to your pet.

At Halo, we scrutinize every ingredient that goes into our pet food to make sure you can feed your cat or dog with unconditional love, for a happy pet, from the inside out. So, in the same way that we choose real WHOLE meat, poultry, and fish, and no “meat meal,” like “chicken meal” or “fish meal,” and why we use non-GMO vegetables and fruits, we are picky about soy. Non-GMO soy protein concentrate starts with the whole soy bean; it is not a byproduct like soy meal.

Halo defines corn and white rice as "fillers". These are carbohydrates that may raise blood sugar levels rapidly and create hormonal signals that may have negative long term effects on metabolism and weight gain. Although corn and white rice are often thought of as staples of an American diet, they are not optimal for pets in the large quantities used by many pet food companies. Corn and rice are often the main ingredients in other foods and treats because they are a less expensive way to fill up a bag and still meet basic energy requirements. This has led to many pet foods and treats that are high in carbohydrates, relatively low in meat protein, and are a contributing factor to the pet obesity epidemic. These corn and rice based diets may also contribute to chronic symptoms of maldigestion, such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea.

Chicken livers are rich in important vitamins and minerals; a valuable part of your pet's diet, and a key reason we include them in our formulas. Chicken liver, in fact, used to be regularly served on family dinner tables. Contrary to popular myth, chicken liver is not a "cheap filler". Chicken liver is more expensive than chicken meat, especially because of our commitment to only source ingredients from humanely raised flocks. Another myth is that chicken livers store toxins. While livers filter out toxins, they don't store those toxins. Toxins are excreted out of the body. Instead, livers are chock full of great vitamins and antioxidants that are important to good health.

You may occasionally notice that the Halo dry food you purchase appears two-toned or marbled, when other pet foods may have a more consistent color. Is there something wrong with the food? Absolutely not! The occasional variation in the color and shape of Halo kibble comes from the fact that we use WHOLE, natural ingredients in our food and no “meat meal” of ANY kind.

If you look at the ingredients lists of Halo pet foods, you’ll see that they contain WHOLE protein— sometimes two different kinds (e.g., chicken and salmon)—along with real dried egg, whole grains, legumes, and oils. All are WHOLE, natural, OrigiNative® ingredients as Nature intended, including non-GMO sourced fruits and vegetables. We blend these ingredients and make them into kibble at a precise temperature for a set time to ensure our kibble is super digestible, since over-cooking or using excessive heat can damage or cook out nutrients. This also results in our ingredients retaining more of their natural colors, which can change slightly from harvest to harvest, and can be seen in the kibble.

What we don’t include in our pet food is just as important. We don’t use “meat meals” (like “chicken meal” or “fish meal”) of ANY kind.

You may also notice that pieces of Halo kibble are not completely uniform in shape. Some pieces can be oblong, not perfectly round, while others can appear folded or dented. This is another sign that your Halo pet food is made with all-natural WHOLE meat, which is full of moisture (about 76%), because when we blend the ingredients, it makes for a very soft “dough” that we cut into kibble. The kibble gets knocked around as it’s being made so, being as soft as it is it means it can get pushed out of shape slightly.  In comparison, rendered “meat meal,” which is a dehydrated powder, makes for a firmer kibble that maintains a more uniform shape when it’s manufactured.

Again, this is just a part of using all-natural, real WHOLE meat, and we at Halo are more concerned with making a healthy, nutritious, and highly palatable food your pet will LOVE, than making sure every piece of kibble looks exactly the same. So, the next time you notice a little color variation or a dented kibble when you are feeding your cat or dog Halo pet food made with real WHOLE meat, poultry, or fish, and no “meat meal” of any kind, you can think, “this is just perfect”.

Ash identifies minerals in the diet that mainly come from meat and bone. Whole meat has less ash. For example, at Halo we use whole chicken and no “chicken meal”. The ash in "chicken meal" can vary greatly depending upon the quality and amount of bone used in the rendering process. Since Halo wet and dry diets have no "meat meal," like "chicken meal" or "fish meal," the ash content is low. Low ash in a diet is an indicator that whole meat protein is being used.

We use WHOLE muscle beef and beef hearts in our beef recipes. Like steak, beef heart is a muscle, so it has similar consistency, but hearts deliver even more protein and nutrients, including all essential amino acids, zinc, selenium, and phosphorous. We use WHOLE hearts, including the cap, which provides some key nutrients and a little natural fat. That is why you will find some fat at the top of the can.

Yes. Taurine and L-carnitine in Halo Vegan diets are not of animal origin. 

Yes. Dogs are omnivores (not obligate carnivores, like cats). The nutritional value of a dog diet is measured by its essential amino acids—the building blocks of protein—not by the protein type. Halo's Garden of Vegan® delivers all these essential nutrients through meat-free protein, and is a complete and balanced recipe.

We recommend Halo's Garden of Vegan™ dog food for dogs one year old and up.

Dogs are omnivores, meaning they can get their nutrients from either plant or animal sources. Halo Garden of Vegan® provides dogs with an alternative to a meat based diet that delivers equivalent essential nutrients and is complete and balanced for dogs.

Many users of Halo Garden of Vegan feed their dogs this recipe either because they wish to extend their own vegan lifestyle to that of their companion animal, or because their dogs are experiencing allergic reactions to common meat based dog food recipes.

At Halo, our mission—"to change the way companion animals are fed and farm animals are raised...for the better"—drives everything we do. With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recent update about a potential connection between diet and instances of a type of heart disease called canine dilated cardiomyopathy or DCM, we want to remind you that the quality of the ingredients and formulations of your pet's food is our highest priority. That's why Halo insists on using only non-GMO vegetables and plant-based ingredients (and NO rice filler) in our Garden of Vegan® kibble diets.

While experts don't know what actually causes DCM, according to the FDA, "taurine deficiency is well-documented as potentially leading to DCM." Taurine is an important amino acid found naturally in meat, poultry, and fish. In some of the DCM cases, the dogs have had low levels of taurine.

We want to assure you that at Halo we include supplemental levels of taurine in our Garden of Vegan dog food since there is no animal protein in it. This is also true for every other formula of Halo dog food, whether it is a meat-, poultry, or fish-based diet, or a plant-based diet. You can feed your dog complete and balanced Garden of Vegan foods daily, with love and confidence.

Halo Garden of Vegan® dog food is available in both cans and as dry kibble. Also, Halo's Vegan Peanut n' Pumpkin Treats provide your dog with a delicious meat-free treat.

While Halo Garden of Vegan® dry dog food still has the same aroma and taste dogs love—which is why your dog probably hasn't noticed the change—you might have noticed that the kibble is a little lighter in color than it used to be. The ingredients we use have not changed. However, instead of using pre-blended carrots, celery, beets, lettuce, parsley, watercress, and spinach, we now add each of these whole, non-GMO vegetables to the recipe individually.

Cats cannot eat a vegan diet, because they are obligate carnivores—meaning they need to eat meat to get a complete and balanced diet.

Pet parents may choose to feed their dog a vegan dog food because it is a holistic alternative diet for protein-sensitive dogs. (And Halo Garden of Vegan® doesn't use any rice so it's a completely plant-based protein from whole grains, green peas, and chickpeas.) It is also an option for vegan pet parents who would like to include their dogs in their meatless lifestyle, or anyone who wants to reduce their carbon paw print, since avoiding meat even one day a week can make a positive impact on the environment.

No. For most pets, grains are a good source of energy and essential nutrients, as well as fiber. If your pet has a grain sensitivity, you may want to choose a grain-free formula. Both dogs and cats can do well on whole grain and/or grain-free diets.

Halo's Garden of Vegan® is a great choice for dogs with protein sensitivities because it contains no meat, dairy, corn, or wheat.

Protein requirements can vary between cats and dogs, especially during the early growth stage. Check with your veterinarian. When analyzing a pet food brand for its protein content, be sure to check the ingredients list to determine what type of protein is being used. If the ingredients list includes any "meat meal," like "chicken meal" or "fish meal," then regardless of total protein level, it isn't an equivalent comparison because real WHOLE meat, poultry, and fish are more digestible than "meat meal". Be sure to look past the first ingredient—which may be whole protein—because very often the second or third ingredient is "meat meal".

Yes. Halo makes healthier carbohydrate choices by using whole grains such as barley and oats and vegetables like sweet potatoes. These carbohydrates are nutrient-dense and they supply energy as well as high levels of fiber for digestive health and high levels of vitamins and minerals for overall health.

“Holistic” is a core component of our philosophy of Holistic. Whole. Humane. When we say holistic, we are referring not just to the pet food we make, but how we make it. Holistic means we don’t think about one without the other. We see People, Pets, and Planet as an interconnected relationship. This has led us to make very conscious decisions in how we make our pet food, who we source our ingredients from, which animal welfare groups we partner with, and what changes we strive for as we pursue our mission to change the way companion animals are fed and farm animals are raised…for the better.

Holistic means we believe every animal impacts our lives and ultimately plays a role in improving our collective well-being—including companion animals, farm animals, and sheltered animals. So beyond our goal of delivering the healthiest, most bioavailable and holistic whole food nutrition to our companion animals, we want to do it in a way that treats our life-giving animals in a manner that is sustainable, natural, and respectful of every animal’s life cycle, and that lessens the impact on our planet.

Our use of non-GMO vegetables and fruits means all the vegetables and fruits in Halo pet food are sourced from farmland that prohibits the use of Genetically Modified Seeds. As part of our commitment to OrigiNative™ sourcing, we work to lessen the vicious cycle of relentlessly tilling our soils and adding heavy amounts of chemical fertilizers and herbicides needed by Genetically Modified crops, thereby allowing the land to function as it has for eons—as a carbon sink versus a runaway carbon pump.

The Guaranteed Analysis statement is measured in percent “As Fed,” which means that the food contains water when the diet is analyzed. To compare different diets, it is recommended to convert the nutrient from an “As Fed” basis to “Dry Matter” basis, which removes the water from the food. Converting the nutrient maximums and minimums in a Guaranteed Analysis to “Dry Matter” basis allows a comparison of any food in wet or dry form to another food.

Halo chooses not to use any "meat meal" (like "chicken meal" or "fish meal") in our products because while such “meals” are high in protein, they are not as digestible as real WHOLE meat, poultry, or fish, so cats and dogs may not get the same degree of nutrients out of their food as they can with a diet made with real WHOLE protein.

Real WHOLE meat, poultry, and fish are more digestible than "meat meal," like "chicken meal" and "fish meal," which means your cat or dog can utilize more of the nutrients in the food.

Our products meet and exceed the industry definition of "natural". AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) defines "natural" pet food as having ingredients from ONLY plant, animal, or mineral sources. We are dedicated to a higher standard. That's why we trademarked the term OrigiNative™ to describe our commitment to sourcing humanely-raised meat and poultry raised without growth hormones or antibiotics as growth promotants, and sustainably harvested wild-caught fish.

There are a variety of reasons. Not all animals drink as much water as they should. Wet foods can be a good source of hydration if your cat or dog doesn't drink a lot of water. It also means that your pet can enjoy a larger portion of wet food per meal without adding more calories to their diet. Wet foods may also be a practical choice for some health conditions. For example, an older pet that has lost some olfactory senses may be more inclined to eat a food that has a richer scent and flavor, like wet foods. Canned food is also a good alternative if your pet is ill and cannot smell as well, or doesn't have much appetite. Feeding wet food assures that your pet is getting the protein, vitamins, and minerals they need to maintain their health. Wet foods are also a good option for cats and dogs with missing teeth, poorly aligned jaws, or smaller mouths.

Halo selects every ingredient we use based on its premium quality and nutritive value. Each ingredient comes with a certificate of analysis and country of origin. All Halo meat proteins are sourced from the US, Canada, or New Zealand. Because of our commitment to using non-GMO vegetables and fruits, we also source plant-based ingredients from Europe, where GMO crops are prohibited by law. Any ingredient sourced internationally comes from verified responsible suppliers. 

Yes. Halo uses OrigiNative™ proteins, which means we foster farming practices that treat our life-giving animals in a manner that is sustainable, natural, non-degrading to our environment, and respectful of every animal's normal lifecycle. As part of our commitment to OrigiNative™ sourcing, we work to lessen the vicious cycle of relentlessly tilling our soils and adding heavy amounts of chemical fertilizers and herbicides needed by Genetically Modified crops, thereby allowing the land to function as it has for eons—as a carbon sink versus a runaway carbon pump.

All Halo wet formulas (packaged in cans) are recyclable. Our current dry foods are not in recyclable labelled bags. However, we do use lightweight packaging made from plastic that can use up to 80% less material than traditional pet food packages. This pacakging material is specifically designed to protect the freshness of our holistic foods. Many large metropolitan areas have waste-to-energy programs that use environmentally friendly incinerators to burn waste and create electricity, instead of putting it in a landfill. Our packaging is a suitable fuel for use in these programs.

Halo diets are made in US manufacturing facilities.

Pet food allergies are often protein related which is one reason why most Halo diets are formulated with a single species protein such as turkey and turkey liver, chicken and chicken liver, or fish combinations, so if your dog has a chicken allergy, for example, you can choose one of the other protein formulas. Also, all Halo diets are formulated to be free of animals raised with antibiotics, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Whole grain and grain free recipes are also available.

Halo makes two gluten-free cat foods, however, gluten-intolerance (celiac disease) is exceedingly rare in dogs and cats. All Halo natural dog food products (canned and dry) and the dry natural cat food (with the exception of the Grain-Free recipe) contain gluten in the form of barley and/or oats.

Halo delivers complete, balanced real WHOLE meat, poultry, and fish wet and dry kibble diets for dogs. If your dog loves the taste of freeze dried meat, serve Halo’s Liv-a-Littles® freeze dried treats.

For pets with sensitivities, Halo offers diets utilizing real WHOLE meat, poultry, and fish protein sources that are commonly known to be less allergenic, such as duck, salmon, or turkey. Our Garden of Vegan® formula replaces meat, poultry, or fish protein with peas and chickpeas.

Specially formulated hypoallergenic diets (for animals that require them) are available through your veterinarian.

Halo does not make raw cat food or raw dog food. However, Liv-a-Littles® are a great alternative treat if you wish to add freeze dried chicken breast or wild caught salmon to your pet's diet.

Halo’s Garden of Vegan® dog food is a great choice if you are looking for vegetarian dog food or vegan dog food. Garden of Vegan® dry kibble or canned dog food gives your dog a holistic, balanced meat free alternative with complete nutrition.

When it comes to a dog with allergies, Halo can be a good choice because in a natural diet like Halo’s, artificial ingredients and rendered “meat meals”—which may be contributors to allergies—will be avoided and thus lessen the potential for adverse food reactions. Pets may also react to artificial dyes, preservatives and additives in food, which are not found in any Halo recipe.

Halo's new recipes for senior cats and senior dogs are formulated to support the changing metabolism and activity level of older pets. Our senior recipes are made with reduced calories and fat, as compared to other Halo adult diets, to match the decreased activity and metabolism of senior pets, and with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to help support your senior pet's immune system. We recommend switching your cat to senior food after his or her 7th birthday, and dogs between the ages of 5 and 10, depending on their size.

Compared to other Halo adult diets, Halo healthy weight formulas have reduced calories and fat to support weight reduction and fiber to help your pet feel full. Feeding guidelines on the bags provide options for weight reduction to ideal weight and weight maintenance. Learn more about our Healthy Weight Dog .

If you are looking for a healthy dog food, you need to look closely at all the ingredients—and not just the first one. We think the healthiest dog food is made with real WHOLE meat, poultry, or fish, and no "meat meal" of ANY kind. Even if a dog food says its first ingredient is WHOLE meat, poultry, or fish, be sure to keep looking. Any type of "meat meal," like "chicken meal" or "fish meal," anywhere in the ingredients list means that all of the meat, poultry, or fish used is not WHOLE protein. Real WHOLE meat, poultry, and fish are more digestible than “meat meal”. Consequently, the more digestible the food, the more your dog can use. Customers who feed Halo often remark on how their pet has visibly changed after eating Halo, reporting shiny coats, bright eyes, and more energy.

We believe that WHOLE Meat Makes a Whole Lot of Difference™ and that’s why Halo uses real WHOLE meat, poultry, or fish, and no “meat meal” of ANY kind because real WHOLE meat, poultry, and fish are more digestible, which means your cat can retain and utilize more of the protein in each bowl. If you want to make sure you’re choosing the best cat food, look at the ingredients and make sure there is no “meat meal” of any kind, including “chicken meal” or “fish meal”.

We believe that WHOLE Meat Makes a Whole Lot of Difference™ and that’s why Halo uses real WHOLE meat, poultry, or fish, and no “meat meal” of ANY kind because real WHOLE meat, poultry, and fish are more digestible, which means your dog can retain and utilize more of the protein in each bowl. If you want to make sure you’re choosing the best dog food, look at the ingredients and make sure there is no “meat meal” of any kind, including “chicken meal” or “fish meal”. Customers who feed Halo often remark how their pet has visibly changed after eating Halo, reporting shiny coats, bright eyes, and more energy.

We think the best dry dog food is made with real WHOLE meat, poultry, or fish, and no "meat meal," because real WHOLE meat, poultry, and fish are more digestible, and the more digestible the protein, the more bioavailable it is. That means your dog can retain and use more of the nutrition you pay for. Halo's dry dog food has super digestibility.

Halo's new kitten recipes are formulated for growth and development during your kitten's first year. They are made with premium protein for muscle development, and healthy fat for energy and skin and coat support. Our kitten food has essential vitamins and minerals, plus antioxidants for a developing immune system. All kitten recipes have DHA for brain and eye development. We think the best food for kittens is made with real WHOLE meat, poultry, or fish and no "meat meal" of ANY kind, making it more digestible so your kitten can utilize more of the nutrients in the food.

Halo's new puppy recipes are formulated for growth and development during your puppy's first year. They are made with premium protein for muscle development, and healthy fat for energy and skin and coat support. Our puppy food also has essential vitamins and minerals, plus antioxidants for a developing immune system. Plus, the puppy Game Bird Medley recipe has DHA for brain and eye development. We think the best puppy food is made with real WHOLE meat, poultry, or fish, and no "meat meal" of ANY kind, because real WHOLE meat, poultry, and fish are more digestible, so your puppy can utilize more of the nutrients in the food.

Halo's small breed dog food is made with premium protein to support strong muscles, healthy fats for energy and skin and coat support, and essential vitamins and minerals, plus antioxidants. It's also designed for their high metabolism. Compared to other Halo adult diets, our small breed dry dog food is made with smaller pieces of kibble to fit better in their mouths. We think the best dog food for small dogs is made with real WHOLE meat, poultry, or fish and no "meat meal" of ANY kind because small breed dogs have short digestive tracts, so the high digestibility of WHOLE protein is important for them to get the most nutrients out of their food.

Protein in Halo dry cat diets ranges from 33% to 30%. Protein requirements vary by breed, lifestage, and activity level. Kittens, for example, require more protein during the growth period. Beyond the amount of protein, it's also important to look at the quality of the protein. That's why Halo uses real WHOLE meat, poultry, or fish and no rendered "meat meal" of ANY kind. WHOLE protein is more digestible than "meat meal," which means it's more bioavailable to your cat, who can retain and use more of the nutrition you're paying for.

Protein in Halo dry dog diets ranges from 28% to 20%. Protein requirements vary by breed, lifestage, and activity level. Puppies, for example, require more protein during the growth period. Beyond the amount of protein, it's also important to look at the quality of the protein. That's why Halo uses real WHOLE meat, poultry, or fish and no rendered "meat meal" of ANY kind. WHOLE protein is more digestible than "meat meal," which means it's more bioavailable to your dog, who can retain and use more of the nutrition you're paying for.

No. Halo puppy diets are formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for growth except for growth of large-size dogs (70 lbs or more as an adult).

Whole grains are nutritious and healthy for our pets providing fiber, B vitamins and minerals. Dogs and cats can digest starches, which incude whole grains, since these grains are gound and cooked. Whole grains are a good-quality, easily-digested carbohydrate source.

Having grain free dog or cat foods gives you a choice if you suspect your pet has grain allergies. Grain free diets do include carbohydrates such as potatoes and beans. Halo's grain free diets include complex carbohydrates as either starches or fiber, which digest more slowly and are absorbed and utilized by your pet.

Research shows that indoor cats are not as active as outdoor cats. When they do not get enough exercise it is easy to add extra pounds, so Halo offers three diets. These recipes provide complete nutrition, with the same whole meat protein and high quality ingredients but with lower fat and fewer calories than our adult cat recipes. Feeding guidelines on the bags provide options for weight reduction to ideal weight and weight maintenance. Also, Halo's indoor cat food recipes have essential fatty acids to help support house cats’ skin and coat.

Our sensitive stomach dry cat food is made with highly digestible protein sources (i.e. turkey and turkey liver, or seafood medley) and whole grains to support optimal digestion. Wet diets contain barley grass and are a source of extra hydration.

Protein should make up the majority of every cat’s diet, however, many cats appear to benefit from a small to moderate amount of complex carbohydrates (fibers) in their diet. Domesticated, indoor cats benefit from the digestive health that complex carbs (in the form of fiber-rich vegetables, oats and barley) provide. Halo includes only this type of carbohydrate in our cat formulations. All canned cat formulas are grain-free and Halo now offers a Grain-Free Chicken Formula dry food for cats.

Yes. All Halo wet diets come in cans that are BPA free.

Once you open a bag of dry dog food, it should be completely sealed and stored in a cool dry place. You might want to store it in a dog food container. For the best taste, feed within 2-4 months.  

Store cans in a cool, dry place for up to 24 months from the date of manufacture.

Once opened and not consumed, wet food should be stored in a refrigerator for no more than two days.

The" Best Buy Date" is printed on every bag. Unopened bags, stored in a cool, dry place, will last several months.

As part of launching new formulas, we wanted to reinforce our long-standing commitment to using real WHOLE meat, poultry, or fish and no "meat meal" of ANY kind in our dog food and cat food. Our logo now includes this commitment, Because WHOLE Meat Makes a Whole Lot of Difference™. Our new packaging illustrates this and it also helps tell the larger story of how Halo is a mission-driven company that is changing the way companion animals are fed and farm animals are raised...for the better.

Halo selects every ingredient we use based on its premium quality and nutritive value. Each ingredient comes with a certificate of analysis and country of origin. All Halo meat, poultry, and fish proteins are sourced from the US, Canada, or New Zealand. Because of our commitment to using non-GMO vegetables and fruits, we also source plant-based ingredients from Europe, where GMO crops are prohibited by law. Any ingredient sourced internationally comes from verified responsible suppliers. 

Yes, our commitment to OrigiNative™ sourcing means that we say no to factory farming and close confinement, instead we choose to work with farmers and ranchers who raise cage-free flocks and pasture raised herds.

The only animal testing that Halo conducts is to ensure the palatability of our recipes.

At Halo we believe that each and every animal impacts our lives and ultimately plays a role in improving our collective well-being. This includes sheltered animals, and that’s why every time you buy Halo, we donate a bowl of cat food or dog food to shelters to help nourish and transform shelter pets and give them their very best chance at a forever home.

Halo is The HSUS’ Giving Tuesday partner, which means we have committed to provide a bowl of Halo to The HSUS for every dollar donated—helping raise more than $200,000. In partnership with FreeKibble.com and GreaterGood.org, Halo supports The HSUS Animal Rescue Team that feeds pets rescued from natural disasters and extreme abuse, and transports them to high-adoption areas. Also, Halo supports their ALL ANIMALS mission with our OrigiNative™ sourcing initiative, which rejects the factory farm model, and instead uses cage-free, wild-caught, and pasture-raised proteins. We are actively working to evolve ALL animal husbandry practices to a more humane and environmentally sustainable state. We also work with HSUS to help promote Halo Garden of Vegan® and #meatlessmonday.

The only animal testing that Halo conducts is to ensure the palatability of our recipes.

Halo is currently sold in Canada, China (mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan), Japan, Korea, Singapore, and the Philippines. In Canada, Halo is sold exclusively at PetSmart.

Halo dog food and cat food is available in stores and online. Find a store near you or buy from one of our e-commerce partners.

Halo participates in both SuperZoo and Global Pet Expo. Regional pet specialty distributor shows (e.g. Phillips) are also attended by Halo representatives.

Halo consults with a variety of veterinarians, veterinary schools, and pet nutrition experts.

Halo selects every ingredient we use based on its premium quality and nutritive value. Each ingredient comes with a certificate of analysis and country of origin. All Halo meat, poultry, and fish proteins are sourced from the US, Canada, or New Zealand. Because of our commitment to using non-GMO vegetables and fruits, we also source plant-based ingredients from Europe, where GMO crops are prohibited by law. Any ingredient sourced internationally comes from verified responsible suppliers. 

While Halo isn't a certified organic pet food product, we have chosen to source our proteins from producers and ranchers that raise their animals naturally and humanely, or fish within sustainable wild ocean fisheries. All Halo meat, poultry and fish proteins are either GAP (Global Animal Partnership) or MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) certified. We are proud of our humanely sourced proteins and non-GMO vegetables and fruits.