Our Ingredients: What’s In Every Formula
Every Loyal Saints formula leads with real meat and organs. We do not use meat meals, by-products or "natural flavors" to mask taste. What you read on the label is exactly what is in the bag — the full list for each formula is below.
Beef Formula
Our bestseller. Built for active dogs, strong digesters, and dogs who need high-protein muscle support.
What’s inside:
- Beef — the first ingredient; complete essential amino acids
- Beef lung, liver, heart and kidney — organ meats; liver is naturally rich in vitamin A, B12, iron, copper and zinc
- Beef fat — an energy-dense animal fat
- Flaxseed and chia seed — fiber and plant omega-3 (ALA)
- Fish oil — marine omega-3s EPA and DHA
- 13 fruits and vegetables — carrot, broccoli, blueberry, apple, tomato, shiitake mushroom, orange, cranberry, pumpkin, spinach, beet, tart cherry and strawberry
- Chlorella — a whole-food freshwater algae
- Mixed tocopherols — a natural preservative (a form of vitamin E)
- Tricalcium phosphate, sea salt, potassium chloride — added minerals that balance the formula — there is no synthetic vitamin premix
Full ingredient list, as printed on the bag: Beef, Beef Lung, Beef Liver, Beef Heart, Beef Kidney, Beef Fat, Tricalcium Phosphate, Flaxseed, Chia Seed, Carrot, Broccoli, Blueberry, Apple Cider Vinegar, Sea Salt, Fish Oil, Honey, Potassium Chloride, Mixed Tocopherols (natural preservative), Apple, Tomato, Shiitake Mushroom, Orange, Cranberry, Pumpkin, Spinach, Beet, Tart Cherry, Strawberry, Chlorella.
Complete & balanced for All Life Stages, including growth of large-size dogs (70 lb or more as an adult). Human-grade quality ingredients; no corn, wheat, soy, artificial preservatives or fillers.
Chicken Formula
Our gentlest formula. A popular first freeze-dried raw food for dogs new to raw and for picky eaters.
What’s inside:
- Chicken — the first ingredient; highly digestible, with a complete amino acid profile
- Chicken heart and liver — organ meats; heart is a natural source of taurine, liver of vitamin A, B vitamins and iron
- Flaxseed and chia seed — fiber and plant omega-3 (ALA)
- Fish oil — marine omega-3s EPA and DHA
- 13 fruits and vegetables — carrot, broccoli, blueberry, apple, tomato, shiitake mushroom, orange, cranberry, pumpkin, spinach, beet, tart cherry and strawberry
- Chlorella — a whole-food freshwater algae
- Mixed tocopherols — a natural preservative (a form of vitamin E)
- Tricalcium phosphate, sea salt — added minerals that balance the formula — there is no synthetic vitamin premix
Full ingredient list, as printed on the bag: Chicken, Chicken Heart, Chicken Liver, Flaxseed, Carrot, Broccoli, Blueberry, Apple Cider Vinegar, Tricalcium Phosphate, Sea Salt, Fish Oil, Honey, Chia Seed, Mixed Tocopherols (natural preservative), Apple, Tomato, Shiitake Mushroom, Orange, Cranberry, Pumpkin, Spinach, Beet, Tart Cherry, Strawberry, Chlorella.
Complete & balanced for All Life Stages, including growth of large-size dogs (70 lb or more as an adult). Human-grade quality ingredients; no corn, wheat, soy, artificial preservatives or fillers.
Turkey + Salmon Formula
Our only formula with whole salmon. Built for coat, skin, joint support, and senior dogs.
What’s inside:
- Turkey — the first ingredient; lean, easily digestible protein
- Turkey liver and heart — organ meats; naturally rich in vitamin A, B vitamins and iron
- Salmon — wild-caught Alaskan salmon; marine omega-3s EPA and DHA
- Flaxseed and chia seed — fiber and plant omega-3 (ALA)
- Fish oil — marine omega-3s EPA and DHA
- 13 fruits and vegetables — carrot, broccoli, blueberry, apple, tomato, shiitake mushroom, orange, cranberry, pumpkin, spinach, beet, tart cherry and strawberry
- Chlorella — a whole-food freshwater algae
- Mixed tocopherols — a natural preservative (a form of vitamin E)
- Tricalcium phosphate, sea salt — added minerals that balance the formula — there is no synthetic vitamin premix
Full ingredient list, as printed on the bag: Turkey, Turkey Liver, Turkey Heart, Salmon, Flaxseed, Chia Seed, Carrot, Broccoli, Blueberry, Tricalcium Phosphate, Apple Cider Vinegar, Sea Salt, Fish Oil, Honey, Mixed Tocopherols (natural preservative), Apple, Tomato, Shiitake Mushroom, Orange, Cranberry, Pumpkin, Spinach, Beet, Tart Cherry, Strawberry, Chlorella.
Complete & balanced for All Life Stages except growth of large-size dogs (70 lb or more as an adult) — for a large-breed puppy, choose Beef or Chicken.
Where Our Ingredients Come From
Loyal Saints is made in the Midwest, in an FDA-registered and inspected facility. Every ingredient is recorded by where it comes from, and every batch is lot-tracked through the supply chain. Here is what that record shows.
🥩 Beef
USDA-inspected, American-raised beef from Wisconsin, Texas, Nebraska, Kansas and Florida. Muscle meat, lung, liver, heart and kidney — never rendered meal or by-product meal.
🍗 Chicken
USDA-inspected, American-raised chicken from Mississippi, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas and Alabama. Muscle meat, heart and liver — never "chicken meal."
🦃 Turkey
USDA-inspected, American-raised turkey from Michigan and Indiana. Muscle meat, heart and liver.
🐟 Wild Salmon
Wild-caught Alaskan salmon — Alaska does not permit salmon farming. Whole salmon in the Turkey + Salmon recipe, not fish oil alone.
🥬 Produce
Blueberries from Oregon, carrots and apples from Michigan, broccoli from California, and a U.S.-grown blend of tomato, shiitake, orange, cranberry, pumpkin, spinach, beet, tart cherry and strawberry. Flaxseed and fish oil come from Canada and chlorella from Portugal.
🏭 Facility
Made in an FDA-registered and inspected facility in the Midwest, to a signed specification that requires negative results for Salmonella, Listeria and E. coli O157:H7. Our first production lots of all six bags tested negative.
Our Sourcing Commitments
- We will never use rendered protein (meat meal, by-product meal, or animal digest)
- We will never use artificial preservatives (BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin)
- We will never use corn, wheat, or soy as primary ingredients
- We will never purchase ingredients through commodity channels without farm traceability
- We will never claim ingredients we cannot verify — if we cannot confirm sourcing, we do not use it
Freeze-Drying and Nutritional Science
How Freeze-Drying Preserves Nutrition
Freeze-drying (lyophilization) is a two-phase process. First, ingredients are frozen to approximately -40°C, converting all moisture to ice. Then, under high vacuum, the ice sublimates directly to vapor — bypassing the liquid phase entirely. The result is a product that retains its structure, flavor, color, and critically, its nutritional profile.
Because no heat is applied, freeze-drying preserves nutrients that are vulnerable to thermal degradation:
- Enzymes (proteases, lipases, amylases) — destroyed at temperatures above 48°C. Intact in freeze-dried raw. Destroyed in all heat-processed pet food.
- B vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B12) — water-soluble and heat-sensitive. Retain 85–95% activity in freeze-dried products vs. 40–60% in extruded kibble.
- Vitamin C — degraded by heat and oxidation. Naturally present in fresh ingredients; retained in freeze-dried products.
- Amino acid structure — high-heat processing (extrusion at 125–150°C) can cause Maillard reaction, reducing lysine and other essential amino acid bioavailability. Freeze-drying preserves the native protein structure.
- Omega fatty acids — susceptible to oxidation under heat. Protected in freeze-drying through rapid freezing and vacuum environment.
Bioavailability vs. Nutrient Content
Two dog foods can contain the same amount of protein on a guaranteed analysis label and deliver dramatically different nutrition. The difference is bioavailability — the proportion of a nutrient that can actually be absorbed and used by the body.
A 2019 study in the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition found protein digestibility of raw meat-based diets ranged from 85–93%, compared to 75–84% for standard dry diets. Part of the gap is processing: high heat can damage amino acids such as lysine and lower protein digestibility.
This means a dog eating freeze-dried raw with 30% crude protein on the label absorbs more of that protein than a dog eating kibble with 32% crude protein. Guaranteed analysis numbers alone do not tell the full nutritional story.
The Role of Organs in a Complete Diet
Organ meat — liver, heart, kidney — represents some of the most nutrient-dense food a dog can consume. It is not a byproduct or inferior cut; it is a concentrated source of vitamins and minerals that exceed muscle meat in several key categories:
- Beef liver: per 100g contains ~20mg iron, ~2500mcg vitamin A, ~70mcg B12, ~5mg copper — all at levels that exceed most synthetic supplementation in kibble
- Heart: classified as muscle meat under AAFCO guidelines; naturally the highest dietary source of CoQ10 and a significant source of taurine — a deficiency linked to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs
- Loyal Saints includes liver and heart in every formula at levels calibrated to provide optimal nutrition without exceeding safe vitamin A thresholds
What We Exclude — and Why
Corn, Wheat & Soy
The most common primary ingredients in mass-market kibble, used because they are cheap and provide the starch necessary for extrusion. Dogs have limited amylase production compared to humans — they did not evolve to eat high-carbohydrate grain-based diets. Common sources of food sensitivity and allergic reaction. We exclude all three entirely.
Meat Meal & By-Product Meal
"Chicken meal" or "meat and bone meal" is rendered protein — cooked at very high temperatures to separate fat from solids, then dried into powder. The rendering process can include materials from multiple undifferentiated species and is not held to human-food safety standards. We use only whole, intact muscle meat and organs.
Artificial Preservatives
BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin are synthetic antioxidants used to extend kibble shelf life. BHA is listed as a possible carcinogen by the World Health Organization. We use natural shelf stability (freeze-drying) — no synthetic preservatives required or included.
Artificial Colors & Flavors
Artificial colors serve no nutritional purpose — they exist to make food appealing to the owner, not the dog (dogs have limited color perception). "Natural flavors" is a catch-all term that can include highly processed flavor compounds. We exclude both. The palatability of Loyal Saints comes from real food, not flavor enhancement.
Carrageenan
A seaweed-derived thickener common in wet/canned dog food. Linked to gastrointestinal inflammation in preliminary research. Not present in any Loyal Saints formula.
Unnamed Protein Sources
"Poultry" (without specifying species), "animal fat," or "meat" (without specifying source) indicates a protein blend of uncertain composition. We specify every protein by species and cut. What is on our label is what is in our product.
Dog Food Nutrition Glossary
A reference guide to terminology on pet food labels and in nutritional research — explained without jargon.
- AAFCO
- Association of American Feed Control Officials. Sets minimum nutritional standards for pet food sold in the United States. "Complete and balanced" on a pet food label means it meets AAFCO minimum nutrient profiles. AAFCO sets floors, not benchmarks — a food can meet AAFCO minimums and still be nutritionally inferior to one exceeding them.
- Bioavailability
- The proportion of a nutrient that is digested, absorbed, and available for use by the body. A food can contain high levels of a nutrient that is poorly absorbed due to the food’s processing or ingredient form. Freeze-dried raw protein is never cooked, and it measures as more digestible: 94% against 82% for extruded kibble in a 2024 controlled study.
- By-product / By-product meal
- Secondary products of processing. In pet food, "chicken by-products" can include lung, spleen, kidneys, brain, liver, blood, bone, and fatty tissue — legally excluding feathers, heads, feet, and intestines. "By-product meal" is rendered (high-heat cooked) by-products. Not inherently harmful, but quality is highly variable and not regulated to human-food standards.
- Crude protein
- A measurement of total nitrogen in a food, used to estimate protein content. Expressed as a percentage of the food’s weight. "Crude" means it is an estimate — it does not measure protein quality, bioavailability, or amino acid completeness. Two foods with identical crude protein percentages can deliver very different nutrition.
- DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid)
- A long-chain omega-3 fatty acid critical for brain development, cognitive function, and vision. Found in highest concentration in wild-caught fatty fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel). Cannot be efficiently converted from plant-based omega-3 sources (ALA) in dogs. Loyal Saints Turkey + Salmon provides DHA from whole wild salmon and fish oil; every formula contains fish oil.
- EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid)
- A long-chain omega-3 fatty acid that helps support a healthy inflammatory response. Supports joint health, coat quality, and cardiovascular function. Sourced alongside DHA from wild-caught fish. Important for dogs with arthritis, inflammatory skin conditions, or joint disease.
- Extrusion
- The manufacturing process used to make kibble. Ingredients are combined into a dough and forced under high pressure through a die (shaping nozzle) while simultaneously exposed to heat (typically 125–150°C). The pellets are then dried, cooled, and coated with fats and flavor enhancers. High heat inactivates enzymes, degrades heat-sensitive vitamins and can damage lysine.
- Feed-grade vs. human-grade
- Feed-grade ingredients meet USDA standards for animal food — they may include material not permitted in human food production, including diseased tissue and certain byproducts. Human-grade ingredients meet the higher standards required for food intended for human consumption. The facility must also be human-grade — human-grade ingredients processed in a feed-grade facility do not maintain human-grade status.
- Freeze-drying (lyophilization)
- A preservation method that removes moisture from food without heat. Ingredients are frozen solid, then placed in a vacuum chamber where the ice converts directly to vapor (sublimation). The result is a shelf-stable product that retains 95%+ of its original nutritional profile — including enzymes, heat-sensitive vitamins, and amino acids — without artificial preservatives.
- Guaranteed analysis
- The label panel on pet food showing minimum percentages of crude protein and crude fat, and maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture. Required by AAFCO for all pet food labels. Does not indicate nutrient bioavailability, ingredient quality, or actual amino acid profile.
- MCT (Medium-chain triglycerides)
- A type of saturated fat found in coconut oil. MCTs are more rapidly absorbed and metabolized for energy than long-chain fatty acids and do not require bile salts for digestion. Studied for cognitive support in aging dogs. Loyal Saints formulas do not contain coconut oil; their fats come from the meat itself, fish oil, flaxseed and chia seed.
- Rendered protein / Meat meal
- The product of rendering — a high-heat (130–180°C) process that separates fat from protein in animal material. The resulting powder (meal) is concentrated protein by weight, but its quality varies with the raw material and the rendering heat. "Chicken meal" is common in kibble and legal but indicates a different product than "chicken" (whole muscle meat).
- Taurine
- An amino acid synthesized by dogs (unlike cats, which require dietary taurine). Associated with cardiac health — taurine deficiency has been linked to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Heart meat is one of the richest natural dietary sources of taurine. All Loyal Saints formulas include heart meat for natural taurine content.
Nutrition FAQs
Is Loyal Saints nutritionally complete for all dogs?
Yes. All Loyal Saints formulas are formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages — the profile that covers growth as well as adult maintenance, so it applies to puppies, adults and senior dogs. All Life Stages is a broader profile, not a higher grade: AAFCO does not rank or approve foods. Our guaranteed analysis and current evidence status are published in full in our Science & Safety Center. We recommend consulting your veterinarian for dogs with specific health conditions or dogs on therapeutic diets.
Why does Loyal Saints use organ meat?
Organ meat — specifically liver and heart — is among the most nutritionally dense food a dog can consume. Liver is the most concentrated natural source of vitamin A, B12, iron, and copper. Heart is a natural source of taurine and CoQ10. In an ancestral canine diet, organ meat made up a significant portion of consumption. We include organs because they provide nutrients that would otherwise require synthetic supplementation.
Does Loyal Saints contain any grains or carbohydrates?
Loyal Saints contains no corn, wheat, soy, rice, or grain-based ingredients. Carbohydrates are present in small amounts from whole vegetables and fruits (pumpkin, carrots, blueberries, etc.) which provide fiber, vitamins, and phytonutrients. These are low-glycemic, whole-food carbohydrate sources — not fillers or starch binders like those required for kibble production. Total carbohydrate content is significantly lower than any kibble.
Is Loyal Saints safe for dogs with food allergies?
Loyal Saints single-protein formulas are well-suited for elimination diets and dogs with suspected protein allergies. Common food allergens in dogs are beef, chicken, dairy, wheat, egg, lamb, and soy. If your dog has a known allergy, select the formula that excludes the problematic protein and introduce carefully. All three formulas are free from wheat, soy, corn, dairy, and egg. Contact us or consult your veterinarian for specific allergy-related guidance.
How much should I feed my dog?
Use the weight chart printed on your bag, or our feeding calculator, which is set to each formula’s calorie density. Do not use the familiar 2–3% rule — that describes fresh raw, which is mostly water; applied to the dry scoop it overfeeds badly. Rehydrate with water for 5–10 minutes before serving — the food expands 3–4x in volume and becomes easier for some dogs to eat. Adjust based on activity level, age, and body condition score. Our website includes a feeding calculator for personalized estimates.
Does Loyal Saints use wild-caught or farmed salmon?
Wild-caught Pacific salmon. Farmed salmon typically contains 50–60% less EPA and DHA than wild-caught and often contains higher levels of contaminants from concentrated feed lots. Wild-caught salmon is more expensive but significantly more nutritious. The omega-3 content in our Turkey + Salmon formula comes from whole wild-caught salmon plus fish oil — not from farmed salmon or oil alone.
Read the label
The back of the bag, in full.
Every number here is transcribed from the printed panel on the bag you receive — the same Guaranteed Analysis and Daily Serving Guidelines, set in type you can actually read. Nothing rounded, nothing reworded.
A note on portions: freeze-dried raw looks like a small amount in the bowl because the water has been removed, not the food. The familiar “feed 2–3% of body weight” rule describes fresh raw, which is roughly three-quarters water — applying it to what you scoop from this bag would badly overfeed your dog. Feed what the panel says.
Daily Serving Guidelines
All Life Stages, including for growth of large size dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult)
| 6 lbs | 12 lbs | 18 lbs | 25 lbs | 50 lbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¾ cup | 1¼ cup | 1⅔ cup | 2 cups | 3½ cups |
For dogs over 50 lbs, add ½ cup for every additional 10 lbs.
Why so many cups? The Fluff Factor.
A cup measures space, not weight. Freeze-dried food is light and airy — a cup of Beef weighs about 51 g, where a cup of dense kibble often weighs twice that — so the bowl looks fuller for the same nourishment. Big on volume, dense on nutrition.
Feeding a big dog? You don’t need a full bowl of freeze-dried. We recommend making Loyal Saints at least 20–25% of the bowl, swapped in for the same share of their current food. See the quarter-bowl standard →
Guaranteed Analysis
- Crude Protein (min)
- 39%
- Crude Fat (min)
- 29%
- Crude Fiber (max)
- 7%
- Moisture (max)
- 8%
Calorie Content
- Kcal / kg
- 4,500
- Kcal / oz
- 128
- Kcal / cup
- 230
Daily Serving Guidelines
All Life Stages, except for growth of large size dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult)
| 6 lbs | 12 lbs | 18 lbs | 25 lbs | 50 lbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¾ cup | 1¼ cup | 1⅔ cups | 2 cups | 3½ cups |
For dogs over 50 lbs, add ½ cup for every additional 10 lbs.
Guaranteed Analysis
- Crude Protein (min)
- 40%
- Crude Fat (min)
- 27%
- Crude Fiber (max)
- 5%
- Moisture (max)
- 8%
Calorie Content
- Kcal / kg
- 4,500
- Kcal / oz
- 128
- Kcal / cup
- 230
Daily Serving Guidelines
All Life Stages, including for growth of large size dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult)
| 6 lbs | 12 lbs | 18 lbs | 25 lbs | 50 lbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¾ cup | 1⅓ cup | 1¾ cups | 2⅓ cups | 4 cups |
For dogs over 50 lbs, add ½ cup for every additional 10 lbs.
Guaranteed Analysis
- Crude Protein (min)
- 40%
- Crude Fat (min)
- 20%
- Crude Fiber (max)
- 5%
- Moisture (max)
- 8%
Calorie Content
- Kcal / kg
- 3,900
- Kcal / oz
- 111
- Kcal / cup
- 200
Complete and balanced for all life stages per the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles. Beef and Chicken include growth of large size dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult); Turkey + Salmon is for all life stages except growth of large size dogs, so choose Beef or Chicken for a large-breed puppy.
