Canidae All Life Stages Dog Food Review (Canned)
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Review of Canidae All Life Stages Canned Dog Food
Canidae All Life Stages canned dog food receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of 4.5 stars.
The Canidae All Life Stages product line includes the 4 canned dog foods listed below.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available… Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Canidae All Life Stages Multi Protein Formula | 4.5 | M |
| Canidae All Life Stages Lamb and Rice Formula | 4 | A |
| Canidae All Life Stages Chicken and Rice | 4.5 | A |
| Canidae All Life Stages Less Active Formula | 3 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Canidae All Life Stages Chicken and Rice was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Canidae All Life Stages Chicken and Rice
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, dried egg product, brown rice, pearled barley, potassium chloride, salt, salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), sunflower oil, sodium tripolyphosphate, agar-agar, choline chloride, canola oil, dried kelp, dried cranberries, Yucca schidigera extract, vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, niacin supplement, ferrous sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, zinc proteinate, manganese sulfate, vitamin A supplement, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, iron proteinate, d-calcium pantothenate, copper sulfate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, manganese proteinate, potassium iodide, riboflavin supplement, copper proteinate, folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement, cobalt proteinate, sodium selenite, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredient Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.1
Chicken is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is chicken broth. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to a dog food, they are a common component in many canned products.
The third ingredient is chicken liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The fourth ingredient is dried egg product, a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary significantly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries — from eggs that have failed to hatch.
In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The fifth ingredient is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The next ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The seventh ingredient lists potassium chloride, a nutritional supplement sometimes used as a replacement for the sodium found in table salt.
The next item is salt (also known as sodium chloride). Salt is a common additive in many dog foods. That’s because sodium is a necessary mineral for all animals — including humans.
However, since the actual amount of salt added to this recipe isn’t disclosed on the list of ingredients, it’s impossible to judge the nutritional value of this item.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other ingredients.
But to be realistic, items located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.
With 5 notable exceptions…
First, we find salmon oil. Salmon oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.
Next, agar agar is a natural vegetable gelatin derived from the cell walls of certain species of red algae. Agar is rich in fiber and is used in wet pet foods as a gelling agent.
In addition, we note the use of canola oil. Unfortunately, canola can be a controversial item. That’s because it can sometimes (but not always) be derived from genetically modified rapeseed.
Yet others cite the fact that canola oil can be a significant source of essential omega-3 fatty acids.
In any case, plant-based oils like canola are less biologically available to a dog than fish oil as a source of quality omega-3 fats.
Next, this recipe contains sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
And lastly, this food includes chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Canidae All Life Stages canned dog food looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 41%, a fat level of 30% and estimated carbohydrates of about 22%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 36% and a mean fat level of 26%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 30% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 72%.
Which means this Canidae product line contains…
Near-average protein. Above-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical wet dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a wet dog food containing a notable amount of meat.
Our Rating of Canidae All Life Stages Canned Dog Food
Canidae All Life Stages is a grain-inclusive canned dog food using a notable amount of named meats as its main source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4.5 stars.
Highly recommended.
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Has Canidae Brand Dog Food Been Recalled?
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls since 2009 related to Canidae.
- Canidae Dog Food Recall (5/5/2012)
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
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More Canidae Brand Reviews
The following Canidae dog food reviews are also posted on this website:
- Canidae All Life Stages Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Canidae Dog Food Review
- Canidae Grain Free Pure Dog Food Review (Canned)
- Canidae Grain Free Pure Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Canidae Under the Sun Grain Free Dog Food Review (Dry)
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