Is Ol Roy Good Dog Food? An Honest Look
We all want to feed our dogs well without going broke. When you walk down the pet aisle, the low prices can make you wonder, Is Ol Roy good dog food? I have asked myself this exact question while holding a massive, cheap bag of it at the store.
In this guide, I want to share exactly what I found when I looked past the price tag. We will look at the ingredients, how dogs react to it, and if the cash savings are truly worth it in the end.
Is Ol Roy Good Dog Food
Let’s get straight to it. If you are asking if Ol Roy is a premium, highly nutritious option, the answer is no. But if you are asking if it keeps a dog full on a tight budget, it does do that.
I remember a time when money was tight, and that giant red bag at Walmart looked like a lifesaver. I bought it, and my dog ate it right up. The strong scent and added fats make it very appealing to dogs. They do not know the difference between a cheap filler and a prime cut of fresh meat.
However, after a few weeks, I noticed some real changes. My dog had less energy and seemed to poop twice as much. This is a classic sign of a food filled with cheap carbs and low meat content. Technically, it meets basic rules set by feed officials. But surviving on bare minimums is not the same as thriving.
Pros and Cons of Ol Roy
Every dog food has good and bad points. Here is a clear look at the pros and cons based on my real-world checks.
| Type | Feature | My Experience |
| Pro | Very cheap | It saves a lot of money at the checkout line. |
| Pro | Easy to find | You can buy it easily at almost any Walmart. |
| Pro | Dogs like it | The added fat spray makes dogs eager to eat it. |
| Con | Low meat quality | It uses mystery meat meals, not fresh chicken or beef. |
| Con | Lots of fillers | Ground corn is often the very first thing inside. |
| Con | Artificial dyes | It uses chemical colors that dogs simply do not need. |
Ingredient Quality: Is Ol Roy Good Dog Food?
When you look at the back of the bag, things get clear quickly. The very first item is usually ground yellow corn. Dogs are built to eat meat. Corn is just a cheap filler used to bulk up the heavy bag.
Next, you will see things like meat and bone meal. This is not fresh meat. It is leftover scraps from the meat trade. It gets cooked down at very high heat. They also add fake colors to make the kibble look appealing to humans. Dogs do not care what color their food is.
| Ingredient | Reality |
| Ground Corn | A cheap filler that is hard for dogs to digest well. |
| Meat Meal | Mystery meat scraps cooked down into a dry powder. |
| BHA & BHT | Chemical preservatives used to keep the fat from going bad. |
Nutritional Value: Is Ol Roy Good Dog Food?
Ol Roy meets the basic rules set by the AAFCO. This means it is legal to sell as a complete meal. But meeting the bare minimum is not a high bar for health.
The food is heavily packed with carbs. Carbs make the food very cheap to produce. Sadly, too many carbs can make your dog gain fat quickly. They also do not give your dog lasting, steady energy. You might notice your dog acts lazy after a big meal of this kibble.
Protein Content: Is Ol Roy Good Dog Food?
Dogs thrive on rich, real animal protein. Ol Roy gets a huge chunk of its protein from plants. Ingredients like soy and corn boost the total protein numbers on the label.
Plant protein does not have all the right building blocks for a dog. Even the animal meat they do use is very low grade. It just does not compare to real, named meats like deboned turkey, lamb, or salmon. Your dog needs real meat to build strong muscles.
| Protein Source | Why It Matters |
| Whole Chicken | Easy for a dog to digest, absorb, and use for muscle. |
| Soy Grits | A plant protein that is much less ideal for a dog’s body. |
| Bone Meal | A heavily processed, lower-quality animal protein source. |
Digestibility: Is Ol Roy Good Dog Food?
This is where I noticed the biggest issue in my own yard. When a food is mostly corn and wheat, a dog cannot process it well. Their stomachs are not made to break down huge amounts of grain.
What goes in must come out. Because they cannot digest the cheap fillers, they poop much more. You will be cleaning up the yard twice as often. The waste is often large and soft. Some dogs also get itchy skin or upset stomachs from all the artificial dyes and heavy grains.
| Signs of Poor Digestion | What Causes It |
| Huge, frequent stools | The dog cannot absorb the heavy corn and wheat fillers. |
| Itchy, red skin | Allergic reactions to cheap soy, wheat, or fake dyes. |
| Low energy levels | Sugar and carb crashes from a lack of real, steady meat. |
Flavor Appeal: Is Ol Roy Good Dog Food?
You might wonder why dogs eat it so fast if it is bad. Well, dogs love junk food just like we do. They do not read the labels before they eat.
The dry kibble is sprayed with heavy animal fats. This makes it smell great to them. It also uses fake smoke and bacon flavors. Your dog thinks it is getting a huge treat. In reality, it is just clever flavoring masking a very basic, corn-heavy recipe.
| Why Dogs Like It | The Hidden Truth |
| Bacon scent | It is just an artificial smoke flavor sprayed on top. |
| Greasy texture | The kibble is coated with animal fat to add basic taste. |
| Chewy soft bits | They use chemicals like propylene glycol to keep it soft. |
Final Thoughts
So, where does this leave us? I learned the hard way that saving a few dollars at the store often costs more later. Because the food is mostly filler, you have to feed them more of it to keep them full. You also might face vet bills from poor health or itchy skin later on.
If your budget is very tight right now, do not feel bad. We all do our best for our pets. But if you can, try to find a mid-tier food. Brands like Purina ONE cost just a little bit more but offer much better real meat. Your dog will be healthier, and you will clean up much less waste in the yard.
FAQs for Is Ol Roy Good Dog Food
Who makes Ol Roy dog food?
Walmart makes and sells Ol Roy. It is their exclusive store brand. The brand was named after Sam Walton’s personal hunting dog to offer a budget-friendly pet food option.
Has Ol Roy dog food ever been recalled?
Yes, Ol Roy has faced recalls in the past. These safety issues involved things like salmonella risks and potential drug traces in the meat. Always check current recall lists.
Is Ol Roy good for dogs with allergies?
No, it is not great for allergies. It contains heavy amounts of corn, wheat, soy, and artificial colors like Red 40. These are very common triggers for itchy skin and upset stomachs.
Why is Ol Roy dog food so cheap?
It is cheap because it uses very low-cost ingredients. Ground corn is used to fill the bag instead of real meat. It also uses generic meat scraps and artificial flavorings to cut costs.
What is a better alternative to Ol Roy?
If you need an affordable choice, Purina ONE or Iams is much better. They use real meat as the first ingredient and avoid many of the cheap fillers found in Ol Roy.
