
An independent Feed Wise evaluation of Horizon Pet Nutrition Pulsar WG Chicken, built from the published ingredient panel, guaranteed analysis, certifications and processing method.
Complete diet: complete and balanced (aafco)
Share of scoring criteria backed by published evidence.
Protein
24%
Fat
14%
Estimated carbohydrate
39.9%
Processing
Extruded
Feed Wise rates this below the standard we look for in this category for Horizon Pet Nutrition Pulsar WG Chicken, an extruded kibble formula. The manufacturer publishes a nutritional adequacy statement, so it can be fed as a complete daily diet for all life stages. Owners should note that portions shown here are calculated from the calorie panel rather than a published chart.
CHICKEN MEAL, WHOLE GRAIN HULLESS BARLEY, WHOLE GRAIN RYE, CHICKEN, WHOLE GRAIN OATS, CHICKEN FAT (PRESERVED WITH MIXED TOCOPHEROLS, SOURCE OF VITAMIN E), FLAXSEED, QUINOA, DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, CARROTS, APPLES, BROCCOLI, BOK CHOY, CABBAGE, BLUEBERRIES, SALT, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, INULIN, THREONINECHOLINE CHLORIDE, TAURINE, YUCCA SCHIDIGERA EXTRACT, L-LYSINE, DL-METHIONINE, HYDROLYZED YEAST, DRIED ASPERGILLUS NIGER FERMENTATION EXTRACT, PINEAPPLE, DRIED TRICHODERMA LONGIBRACHIATUM FERMENTATION EXTRACT, DRIED RHIZOPUS ORYZAE FERMENTATION EXTRACT, DRIED ENTEROCOCCUS FAECIUM FERMENTATION PRODUCT, DRIED LACTOBACILLUS CASEI FERMENTATION PRODUCT, DRIED LACTOBACILLUS ACIDOPHILUS FERMENTATION PRODUCT, DRIED BIFIDOBACTERIUM BIFIDUM FERMENTATION PRODUCT, DRIED LACTOBACILLUS PLANTARUM FERMENTATION PRODUCT, VITAMIN A ACETATE, VITAMIN D3 SUPPLEMENT, VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENT, VITAMIN B12 SUPPLEMENT, RIBOFLAVIN, NIACIN, FOLIC ACID, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, D-CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, BIOTIN, L-ASCORBYL-2-POLYPHOSPHATE (SOURCE OF VITAMIN C), FERROUS SULFATE, IRON PROTEINATE, ZINC SULFATE, ZINC PROTEINATE, MANGANOUS OXIDE, MANGANESE PROTEINATE, COPPER SULFATE, COPPER PROTEINATE, CALCIUM IODATE, SELENIUM YEAST, MAGNESIUM OXIDE
1. CHICKEN MEAL
Tier B, high quality supportive ingredient
Named Rendered Protein
Named rendered animal meal. Concentrated named animal protein, but rendered rather than whole.
2. WHOLE GRAIN HULLESS BARLEY
Tier C, moderate or neutral ingredient
Whole Carbohydrate
Whole carbohydrate source. Evaluated on position, quantity and combined plant load rather than treated as automatically poor.
3. WHOLE GRAIN RYE
Under review by the FeedWise team
Under review
This wording is being matched to the FeedWise ingredient library. It is scored neutrally in the meantime, so it never counts against the product.
4. CHICKEN
Tier A, exceptional food ingredient
Named Animal Protein
Named animal muscle meat. Highest value protein source in the FeedWise model.
5. WHOLE GRAIN OATS
Under review by the FeedWise team
Under review
This wording is being matched to the FeedWise ingredient library. It is scored neutrally in the meantime, so it never counts against the product.
This is the largest single category in FeedWise. It looks at which animal ingredients are present, whether the species is named, whether organs, egg and named fats are included, and whether concentrated plant proteins are diluting the animal content.
Named animal protein first
CHICKEN MEAL is a named animal ingredient in position 1.
Animal Prominence Index
Animal Prominence Index 40 of 100. This is a FeedWise position-weighted measure of how far animal ingredients dominate the ingredient panel. It is a label-position index, not a manufacturer-disclosed recipe percentage.
Liver
No liver in the ingredient panel.
Heart
No heart in the ingredient panel.
Other appropriate organs
No additional organ meats identified.
Whole egg
No meaningful egg inclusion.
Named animal or marine fats
Named animal or marine fat sources: CHICKEN FAT (PRESERVED WITH MIXED TOCOPHEROLS, SOURCE OF VITAMIN E).
Verified animal ingredient proportion
The manufacturer has not published an animal ingredient percentage. Excluded from the score rather than counted against the product.
Plant protein dilution
No concentrated plant proteins detected.
Every ingredient is classified into a quality tier and weighted by its position on the label, so ingredient number one counts far more than ingredient number fifteen.
Position weighted ingredient quality
15 food ingredients assessed by quality tier with early positions weighted most heavily. 41 fortifying nutrients or preservatives excluded from the average.
Estimated carbohydrate, calculated as 100 minus protein, fat, moisture, fibre and ash.
Carbohydrate burden
Calculated with a published ash value carbohydrate of 39.9 percent.
Ingredient based plant load
Plant load assessed as VERY HIGH. Carbohydrate bearing plant ingredients: WHOLE GRAIN HULLESS BARLEY (whole grain), WHOLE GRAIN RYE (whole grain), WHOLE GRAIN OATS (whole grain), QUINOA (whole grain), INULIN (fibre ingredient).
Processing method: Extruded. This category measures food integrity only. Raw handling safety is assessed separately under Safety and Quality Control, so a raw food can score well here and still lose safety points.
Processing method
Extruded processing. Food integrity only. Raw handling safety is assessed separately under Safety and Quality Control.
Animal species clearly identified
Every animal ingredient names its species.
Ingredient sourcing disclosed
Not publicly verified
Country or region identified
Country or region of origin published: Canada.
Manufacturing location identified
Not publicly verified
Detailed nutritional analysis
A detailed nutritional analysis is published.
Traceability information
Not publicly verified
Manufacturer provides sourcing detail
Not publicly verified
Overall formulation transparency
Not publicly verified
Marketing language alone does not count. Anything that has not been published is shown as not publicly verified rather than as a failure.
Complete and balanced for the stated life stage
Horizon Pulsar Chicken Whole Grain Formula for dogs is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages including growth of large size dogs (70 lbs or more as an adult)
Detailed nutritional analysis available
A full guaranteed analysis with energy content is on file.
Qualified formulation expertise
Not publicly verified
Feeding trial or validation
Not publicly verified
Calcium and phosphorus disclosed
Calcium 1.3 percent and phosphorus 1.2 percent disclosed.
Batch testing
Not publicly verified
Pathogen testing
Not publicly verified
Supplier verification
Not publicly verified
Lot traceability
Not publicly verified
Nutrient verification
Not publicly verified
Manufacturing quality program
Not publicly verified
Recall context and corrective action
No recalls on file.
A recall alone does not destroy a score. Severity, cause, frequency, recency and documented corrective action are all considered.
Unknown information is not treated as bad information. It is scored as unverified and it lowers the confidence rating instead.
Canadian retailers on record. Stock and price vary by store and province.
Horizon Pulsar Chicken Whole Grain Formula for dogs is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages including growth of large size dogs (70 lbs or more as an adult)
Only certifications we can confirm from the brand's own documentation or the certifying body appear here. Nothing is assumed — if a program isn't listed, it isn't disclosed for this product.
Not disclosed — no third-party certification is confirmed for this product yet.
| Animal Protein Quality | 11.5 / 25 |
| Ingredient Quality | 14.6 / 20 |
| Carbohydrate and Plant Load | 3.9 / 15 |
| Processing and Food Integrity | 5 / 10 |
| Transparency and Sourcing | 7 / 10 |
| Nutritional Formulation | 8 / 10 |
| Safety and Quality Control | 6 / 10 |
| Total | 56 / 100 |
FeedWise Score 5.6 · Fair · High Confidence
How FeedWise Scores Dog Food →Scored by the FeedWise 100 point model. Read the full methodology.
Community reviews do not affect the Feed Wise score.
Real experiences from Paw Privileges members. Reviews never affect the Wise score — scoring is based only on label evidence.






