Go dog food

By the standards of the modern pet industry, Go! dog food is considered a newcomer among other commercial pet food products on the Russian market. While many owners have already appreciated this brand's products, for most, these diets remain a novelty.

Brand history

Looking at the packaging of this food, you'll inevitably see a small maple leaf in the top corner, a symbol of the country where it's produced. There's no need to guess—this is Canadian food, produced by Petcurean Pet Nutrition. Go! Diets are just one of the company's brands, whose product portfolio also includes Now Fresh, Summit, Spike treats, and the newest addition, Gather diets. Each of these has its own following in Russia, judging by the number of online reviews.

Petcurean is a very young family-owned company, founded in 1999 as a small production facility focused on producing the highest quality pet food. According to the manufacturer, all raw materials used in Go food are sourced from nearby farms and delivered fresh to the factory.

Everything is grown in environmentally friendly regions of Canada—the Fraser and Okanagan Valleys—without the use of growth hormones, chemical additives, or other artificial ingredients. All products undergo rigorous multi-stage quality control, and Go! dog food is certified by various organizations, confirming its compliance with the high standards stated. However, the best confirmation of the quality of Go! dog food is the feedback from satisfied and grateful dog owners who have truly appreciated this brand's products.

Assortment

Petcurean offers consumers three lines of Go! food, which together comprise nine different recipes.

The Go! Fit+Free (F+F) line consists of a single formula—a grain-free pet food for pets of all ages (suitable for puppies, adults, and senior dogs). The Russian distributor's website adds the phrase "4 types of meat" to the name. The manufacturer emphasizes that this formula has the highest meat content of all Go! diets, and is free of wheat, corn, soy, and beef.

The next line is the Sensitivity+Shine (S+S) formulas, designed for dogs with sensitive digestion and special dietary needs. Six different food formulas are available. Two menus are suitable for both puppies and adults and include oats as the sole grain, while the other four are designated as Limited Ingredient.

This phrase means that the diet was created with a limited number of additional ingredients to avoid allergic reactions in pets with food intolerances. Pursuing the same goal, these diets contain only one type of protein (duck, salmon, venison, or turkey), and are free of grains, potatoes, chicken, and gluten. Go!S+S dry dog ​​food for allergy sufferers has proven itself, and satisfied owners' reviews confirm this.

The Go! Daily Defense (DD) category features whole-grain diets designed for dogs of all ages. Two menus are available: chicken and lamb. The grains are sourced from whole brown and white rice, as well as oatmeal.

On the official Petcurean website, we see that each line also includes wet food, or more precisely, canned food, but, unfortunately, only dry Go dog food is available on the Russian market.

Analysis and evaluation of composition

The manufacturer emphasizes that each diet is prepared using only fresh fruits and vegetables and low-temperature cooking techniques to preserve the beneficial properties of all ingredients. Each recipe also contains prebiotics, probiotics, and antioxidants. All these factors qualify Go food as a holistic dog food, although this is not stated on the packaging.

For a detailed analysis of the ingredients, our resource selected Go! Fit+Free All Life Stages dog food, as it's one of the brand's most popular dog food options, based on the number of reviews on various forums. This menu is marketed as everyday nutrition for pets at any stage of life. To fully meet the different energy and nutrient needs of a puppy versus a sedentary adult, it's recommended to simply adjust the daily feeding amount.

So, let's look at the guaranteed nutrient content:

• Proteins – 35.6% – above average;
• Fats – 16.6% – normal level;
• Fiber – 2.8% – below average;
• Humidity – 8% – average value;
• Ash content – ​​8.9% – within normal limits.

This balance implies a carbohydrate content of approximately 28-30% by weight, which can be considered a positive aspect of the recipe. However, the fiber content is lower than even the minimum recommended for dry dog ​​food. This aspect clearly deserves approval.

It's also worth noting the high protein content. Protein is certainly one of the most important nutrients in a dog's diet, and it should be abundant, but not every pet can handle such a high protein content. This recipe is designed to cater to animals of varying activity levels and at all life stages.

The entire ingredient list for Go! Fit+Free dog food includes over 50 components, not counting vitamin and mineral supplements. That's impressive! Comparing the English and Russian versions of the ingredients list immediately reveals numerous translation inaccuracies. Therefore, we'll focus on the original. The top five ingredients are:

• Chicken – 54%;
• Turkey fillet – 10%;
• Trout fillet – 10%;
• Potato;
• Peas;

The manufacturer explains that the "chicken" component means: chicken meal plus chicken fillet, chicken fat and natural chicken flavoring (boiled broth).

Squirrels

This food is based on animal proteins, with chicken meal playing a key role. In addition to the top three ingredients, the formula also includes herring meal, whole dried egg, duck fillet, and salmon. While these ingredients may not appear significant individually, they contribute significantly to the protein content of this formula. All of these ingredients are high-quality and easily digestible.

It also contains ingredients rich in plant proteins: peas, lentils, tapioca, and chickpeas. Since they appear in the 5th, 6th, and 7th positions, their mass percentage is not significant.

Fiber

Fiber is primarily found in potatoes, but small amounts are also found in legumes (peas, lentils, and others), as well as sweet potatoes, alfalfa, and some vegetables and fruits (carrots, broccoli, spinach, and apples) included in the food. However, judging by the percentage of fiber in the formula, the proportion of these ingredients is very small.

Fats

This diet is rich in both animal and vegetable fats. The former include chicken fat and salmon oil, which are very valuable and beneficial for dogs, as they are rich in linoleic and omega acids and have a positive effect on the condition of the skin and coat, the cardiovascular system, and help prevent a number of diseases.

The plant-based fats included in the product include rapeseed (canola) and coconut oil. They are rich in vitamin E and have a beneficial effect on metabolism. Furthermore, there's a clear indication that natural preservatives were used to preserve these fats, which is a plus.

Additional components

The list of other ingredients in this Go! product takes up about half of the entire list. It includes familiar additives such as various prebiotics and chicory root, which promote healthy digestion. A whole range of medicinal herbs is also present: chamomile, dandelion, fennel, licorice, calendula, and mint. Plants more commonly found in the kitchen as spices—turmeric, cardamom, cloves, rosemary, and parsley—are also included.

Ingredients like pumpkin or zucchini are generally rare in dog food, while bananas, papaya, and pomegranate are downright exotic. The manufacturer also added juniper berries, green tea extract, and rose hips. And to complete the package, they also included berries like blueberries, cranberries, and blackberries.

The list of additives is impressive, but don't be fooled by the small amounts of each. Therefore, it's difficult to determine whether these herbal compositions, fruits, and berries will provide any real benefit to your pet. Perhaps they're just a gimmick to make the product appear more appealing to consumers compared to other dog food brands.

Advantages and disadvantages

A detailed review of Go! Fit+Free dog food revealed no significant flaws in the recipe. The only drawback is the low fiber content. The translation of the ingredients on the Russian website also leaves a negative impression: instead of de-boned turkey, the English version lists "fresh turkey fillet." This seems like an attempt to embellish the product.

Main advantages

• A very detailed and complete composition of the feed is given on the Canadian website;
• No grain components;
• A large amount of high-quality animal proteins;
• A wide range of all kinds of additives;
• Use of natural preservatives for fats;

Reviews of Go food

As expected, reviews of Go! dog food are overwhelmingly positive. The number of fans of this brand's diets is growing not only among dog lovers but also among professional breeders. Here's what we learned from dog owners about their experiences feeding Go! diets:

Karina, the Labrador's owner:

"Our Lab is almost four years old now; we've been buying him Go food since he was a puppy. He's never had any health issues, he's active, looks great, and his coat is vibrant. I'm very happy with the food; I've even recommended it to my dog-loving friends several times. I asked the vet if he needed any additional vitamin supplements, and it turns out this food has everything he needs. It's a shame they don't carry canned food here; I'd love to try that."

Vladimir, owner of a 7-year-old pug:

"I recently switched to this food because my dog ​​developed an allergic reaction to Proplan. She broke out in a rash and scratched herself until she developed sores. I spent a long time trying different foods, first one, then another. Until someone recommended GO! SENSITIVITY with salmon. Within a month, all the sores had healed and the bald spots were starting to close, although she eats it less enthusiastically than her previous food."

The opinion of veterinarians

Veterinarians' reviews of Go! dog food generally agree that the formulas are high-quality, with parameters and ingredients that fully meet the requirements of a super-premium class and are considered holistic nutrition. However, experts note that the protein content is higher than generally accepted standards, which may negatively impact some dogs, especially those prone to kidney disease.

Price

Go! Fit+Free four meats price:

• 0.23 kg – from 235 RUR
• 2.72 kg – from 1390 RUR
• 11.35 kg – from 4018 RUR

Go! Sensitivity+Shine Venison Menu Price:

• 0.23 kg – from 238 RUR
• 2.72 kg – from 2165 RUR
• 11.35 kg – from 5406 RUR

In conclusion, we'd like to add that the quality of Go! brand diets far exceeds that of many similarly priced foods. These formulas are worthy of consideration, especially for those who strive to give their pet only the best. Our resource recommends them as a complete daily diet for your pet.

Read also:

• Holistic dog food
• Hypoallergenic dog foods: rating
• Anorexia in dogs