Pulsar Dog Food Review From a Pet Nutritionist
Pulsar, made by Horizon Pet Nutrition in Saskatchewan, offers several genuine premium formulation touches at a mid-tier price. As a Certified Companion Animal Nutritionist, I broke down the ingredients, the science, and one formulation choice worth understanding clearly before you buy.
Pulsar is one of the more affordable ways into the Canadian premium kibble category.
Made by Horizon Pet Nutrition out of Rosthern, Saskatchewan, it sits in an interesting spot in the market: chelated minerals, guaranteed probiotic counts, and a rotational, multi-protein product line at a price point closer to mid-tier than boutique.
As a Certified Companion Animal Nutritionist, I get asked about Pulsar fairly often, usually from owners who want the formulation quality of a premium brand without the top-tier price tag. This review takes a close, ingredient-by-ingredient look at Pulsar’s grain-free and whole grain recipes, the company’s manufacturing setup, and the nutrition science behind the claims, including one formulation choice I think is worth flagging clearly before you buy.
About Pulsar
Horizon Pet Nutrition was founded in 2006 by Jason Skotheim and Jeff English, with two families combining resources to build their first pet food processing facility in Rosthern, Saskatchewan. The company has since added a second plant next door and manufactures, packs, and ships all of its own products rather than relying on outside co-packers. Most Horizon employees live in the same area where much of the company’s ingredients are also sourced.
Pulsar is Horizon’s most popular and most affordable line, sold alongside the company’s higher-tier Legacy and Taiga lines and its large-breed-focused Complete line. Third-party recall trackers report no history of a Pulsar recall since the company’s founding.
If you’re comparing Pulsar against more boutique options, you may also want to read my Farmina dog food review or my Fromm dog food review, and for the mechanics of how a kibble like this actually gets made, I break that down in how kibble is made.
Pulsar Product Line Overview
Pulsar’s dry dog food lineup spans five proteins, each available in both grain-free and whole grain formats.
| Format | Grain Status | Available Proteins | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grain-Free | Grain-free | Chicken, salmon, turkey, lamb, pork | Pulses (peas, lentils) as the carbohydrate base |
| Whole Grain | Grain-inclusive | Chicken, salmon, turkey, lamb, pork | Barley, rye, oats, and quinoa as the carb base |
| Small Breed | Both available | Chicken, turkey, salmon blend | Smaller kibble, leaner fat for weight management |
| Complete (Large Breed) | Grain-inclusive | Chicken | Freeze-dried organ meats added |
| Taiga | Grain-free | Varies | Moderate protein tier, larger 35 lb bags |
Yes, for most healthy dogs. Five proteins across two carbohydrate formats gives owners a genuine rotational option, and the whole grain line is a useful choice for owners who prefer grains over legumes as a carbohydrate source. There is no dedicated veterinary prescription line, so dogs with diagnosed medical conditions will need a different solution for that specific need.
Recipe Breakdown
I selected three recipes representing Pulsar’s different formats. Tap any recipe below to expand its full ingredient list, guaranteed analysis, and my nutritional notes.
| Crude Protein (min) | 28.0% |
| Crude Fat (min) | 15.0% |
| Crude Fiber (max) | 5.0% |
| Moisture (max) | 9.0% |
| Taurine (min) | 0.20% |
| Probiotics | 600 million CFU/lb |
| Calories | 408 kcal/cup |
Meal is not a low-quality ingredient on its own, it’s a concentrated protein source, but a recipe that leans entirely on meal rather than including fresh meat as a genuine higher-order contributor is a real formulation difference from brands that lead with fresh meat. Red lentils and peas form the carbohydrate base, chosen for a lower glycemic profile.
| Crude Protein (min) | 28.0% |
| Crude Fat (min) | 15.0% |
| Crude Fiber (max) | 5.0% |
| Moisture (max) | 9.0% |
| Omega-3 (min) | 4.0% |
| Probiotics | 600 million CFU/lb |
| Calories | 410 kcal/cup |
The omega-3 level in this recipe (4.0% minimum) is notably strong, reflecting the marine source, and salmon oil supplies EPA and DHA directly.
| Crude Protein (min) | 24.0% |
| Crude Fat (min) | 14.0% |
| Crude Fiber (max) | 3.7% |
| Moisture (max) | 10.0% |
| Probiotics | 600 million CFU/lb |
| Calories | 391 kcal/cup |
Barley, rye, oats, and quinoa form the grain base, with quinoa specifically included for its lower glycemic impact. Protein is intentionally lower than the grain-free line, typical of whole grain kibble generally.
In-Depth Nutrition Review
This is the section where I want to be most direct, since it’s the clearest formulation pattern across Pulsar’s entire line. Every recipe leads with a meat meal (chicken meal, salmon meal), and while a smaller quantity of the corresponding fresh meat does appear further down each ingredient list, it comes after the legume or grain carbohydrates, meaning it contributes meaningfully less to the finished recipe than the meal does. Meat meal is a legitimate, concentrated protein source and is not inherently lower quality than fresh meat, but a formulation that relies on meal as the primary protein source, rather than including fresh meat as a genuine co-contributor, is a real point of difference from brands that lead with substantial fresh meat inclusion. Protein levels themselves (24-28% across the reviewed recipes) are solid and appropriate for adult maintenance.
Chicken fat and salmon oil are the primary fat sources, both preserved with mixed tocopherols (natural vitamin E) rather than synthetic preservatives. The salmon recipe’s 4.0% minimum omega-3 level is genuinely strong, driven by the marine source, while the chicken and whole grain recipes rely more on flaxseed for plant-based omega-3 alongside a smaller marine contribution.
Pulsar offers a genuine choice between a grain-free, legume-based line (peas, red lentils) and a whole grain line (barley, rye, oats, quinoa). Pulses like peas and lentils are nutritious carbohydrate sources for dogs, contributing fiber, plant protein, and a favourable, lower glycemic response compared to more refined starches. Owners who specifically prefer grains over legumes, or vice versa, have that choice within Pulsar’s own lineup.
Carrots, apples, broccoli, bok choy, cabbage, and blueberries appear consistently across the lineup. As with most kibble, these sit well down the ingredient list at modest inclusion levels, contributing fiber and antioxidant variety without being a primary nutritional driver. Yucca schidigera extract and hydrolyzed yeast are included for joint and skin support respectively.
Pulsar uses a genuinely thoughtful mineral approach: chelated proteinate forms (zinc proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, iron proteinate) appear alongside standard sulfate and oxide forms, which supports better overall mineral absorption than relying on standard forms alone. Selenium is sourced from selenium yeast, an organic form with better bioavailability. Taurine is directly supplemented in every reviewed recipe.
Pulsar’s guaranteed, quantified probiotic inclusion (600 million CFU/lb, added after cooking specifically to preserve viability through the low-temperature cooking process) is a genuine formulation strength that supports digestive health in practice. The company does not publish independent feeding trial data, relying on formulation-based nutrient adequacy statements instead.
Strengths & Limitations
- Chelated trace minerals used alongside standard forms across the lineup
- Guaranteed, quantified probiotic count (600 million CFU/lb) added post-cooking
- Direct taurine supplementation in every recipe
- Both grain-free and whole grain formats genuinely available
- No by-products, GMOs, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- Company owns and operates its own manufacturing facilities
- Clean recall record since the company’s 2006 founding
- Every recipe leads with a meat meal rather than substantial fresh meat
- Fresh meat appears only as a secondary ingredient behind carbohydrates
- No dedicated veterinary prescription diet line
- No completed AAFCO feeding trial data published
- Limited public sustainability reporting beyond regional sourcing claims
- Kibble size runs large in some reviews, worth checking for small dogs
Price Review
Pulsar sits in the upper-mid price range for Canadian kibble, generally more accessible than top-tier boutique brands while still offering several premium formulation features. A 25 lb bag typically runs between $70 and $78 CAD depending on the specific recipe and retailer.
Is that cost justified? In my professional opinion, yes, for owners who want chelated minerals, a documented probiotic count, and taurine supplementation without paying top-tier boutique pricing. That said, the meal-first protein sourcing discussed above is a real formulation tradeoff relative to brands charging a similar or even lower price but leading with fresh meat, so I’d encourage owners to weigh that specifically rather than assuming price alone tells the full story. My dog daily feeding calculator can help you estimate your own dog’s daily cost.
Sustainability Review
Horizon sources a meaningful portion of its ingredients regionally, with the company noting that many of its employees live in the same Saskatchewan communities where ingredients are grown, which supports a genuinely short, traceable supply chain for a Canadian-made kibble. The company owns and operates its own manufacturing facilities rather than relying on third-party co-packers, giving it more direct control over its production footprint.
Beyond this, I was not able to find a detailed, independently verified sustainability report covering packaging recyclability or a formal carbon footprint, worth naming directly rather than assuming based on the regional sourcing story alone.
Recalls & Safety
Based on my research, there is no recorded history of a Pulsar or Horizon Pet Nutrition recall since the company’s 2006 founding. Third-party recall tracking services that monitor pet food safety notices report a clean history for the brand. Horizon’s fully in-house manufacturing model, owning and operating its own Saskatchewan facilities rather than distributing production across multiple third-party co-packers, is a structural factor that tends to support more consistent quality control.
“I think Pulsar is a genuinely solid, well-formulated kibble, and I want to give it credit for the specific things it does well.”
Chelated minerals, a real quantified probiotic count, direct taurine supplementation, and a price point that undercuts most of its direct boutique competitors while still offering those features, these are genuine strengths.
Where I’d want every prospective owner to pause is the protein sourcing. Every recipe in this line leads with a meat meal, and while meal is a legitimate protein source in its own right, the fresh meat that also appears on these labels is positioned after the carbohydrate ingredients, meaning it plays a secondary role rather than being a genuine primary protein contributor the way it is in brands that lead with substantial fresh meat inclusion. I don’t think this makes Pulsar a poor food, but it’s the single most important distinction to understand if you’re comparing this brand against a fresh-meat-forward competitor at a similar price point.
I’d recommend Pulsar for many healthy dogs, particularly for owners who want several legitimate premium formulation touches without paying boutique pricing, and who are comfortable with a meal-based rather than fresh-meat-forward protein source. As always, no single food is right for every dog.
Final Rating
| Ingredient Quality | 8 / 10 |
| Protein Quality | 7.5 / 10 |
| Nutritional Balance | 8 / 10 |
| Digestibility | 8.5 / 10 |
| Ingredient Transparency | 8.5 / 10 |
| Product Variety | 8 / 10 |
| Safety & Quality Control | 8.5 / 10 |
| Value for Money | 8.5 / 10 |
| Sustainability | 7.5 / 10 |
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