Disclosure: KibbleIQ is reader-supported. When you buy through affiliate links on this page (such as “Shop on Amazon” buttons), we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Our rankings are not influenced by commissions — we score every product using our published methodology before any commercial relationship is considered.
The short answer: Holistic Select wins by 12 points (A/90 vs B/78). Triple marine omega-3 sources (sardine meal, anchovy oil, salmon oil), live named probiotic cultures, and superfood inclusions (pumpkin, papaya, aloe vera) drive the gap. Evanger's holds on whole-vegetable depth (watercress, spinach, parsley) and five named probiotic strains, but the marine omega-3 gap is structural — and the 2017 pentobarbital recall on the canned line adds a manufacturer-trust dimension.

The scores

Evanger's Chicken with Brown Rice Dry: B (78/100) — Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Chicken Fat, Oatmeal.

Holistic Select Adult Health Anchovy, Sardine & Salmon Meal: A (90/100) — Sardine Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Chicken Meal, Pearled Barley.

How the ingredients compare

The top-five ingredients reveal the formulation split between these two brands:

Evanger's: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Chicken Fat, Oatmeal

Holistic Select: Sardine Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Chicken Meal, Pearled Barley

The 12-point gap (Holistic Select wins by 12 points) shows where the v15 rubric weights ingredient breadth, protein density, and supplement depth differently.

Where Evanger's pulls ahead

Unmatched whole-vegetable depth: Watercress, spinach, parsley, beets, lettuce, celery, and carrots on the Evanger's panel are unmatched in our catalog. Holistic Select's superfood lineup (pumpkin, papaya, aloe vera) is differently weighted but does not carry the same leafy-green depth. Shop on Amazon →

Five named probiotic strains plus chicory root prebiotic: Evanger's probiotic stack is slightly deeper in strain count than Holistic Select's live-culture model, though Holistic Select's live-vs-dried distinction may be functionally important (live cultures bypass shelf-stability concerns).

Dried egg at #6: Evanger's includes dried egg as one of the highest-biological-value single protein sources. Holistic Select does not carry egg as prominently.

Where Holistic Select holds its own

Triple marine omega-3 sources: Sardine meal at #1, anchovy oil, and salmon oil give Holistic Select three independent marine EPA/DHA sources. Evanger's has no dedicated marine omega-3 source on the panel. Shop on Amazon →

Cleaner manufacturer-trust track record: Holistic Select (a WellPet brand) has a strong recall track record without the safety incidents that Evanger's 2017 pentobarbital recall represents.

Live probiotic cultures: Holistic Select adds live Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium animalis cultures rather than dried fermentation products. Live cultures may have better shelf-survival once the bag is opened.

The bottom line

Holistic Select wins by a clear 12 points (A/90 vs B/78). Triple marine omega-3 sources, live named probiotic cultures, digestive-support superfoods, and a cleaner manufacturer-trust track record. Evanger's holds on whole-vegetable depth and dried egg inclusion — meaningful within-panel features — but the marine omega-3 gap is the structural deduction that drops Evanger's to a clean B-tier, and the recall context closes the case for owners weighing manufacturer trust over a multi-year feeding window.